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Hello, my Spookyes, thank you so much for joining me
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on this Freaky Friday for a compilation of some of
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the finest scary stories in our illustrious history. Tonight, we're
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diving into some of the most terrifying stories all about vampires,
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blood drinkers who hide in the night, who avoid the sunlight,
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and who can only be killed by very particular means.
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Some of these stories are creepy, some of them are
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even funny, but all of them will keep you enthralled
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as we keep the Halloween spirit alive even in the summertime.
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So grab your cross, get yourself a nice bowl of
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fried garlic, and make sure you're subscribed on your favorite
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podcasting up, because we have something new and scary every
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week here at Weekly Spooky. Now Bring on the Bloodsuckers.
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Convenience Store Vampire by Douglas Watts. After high school, I
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bummed around for the summer until I realized that being
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an adult meant having a job of some sort. Gas
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and food weren't going to pay for themselves. I was
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lucky that my mom hadn't kicked me out of the
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house yet. I was driving down Center Avenue and passed
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a stop and Go. Stop and Go was a chain
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of convenience stores that tried to compete with Seven to eleven.
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It felt like they were every five blocks. No matter
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where you went, there was another one. This one had
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one of those little help wanted signs in the giant
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windows in the front, next to the beer and cigarette posters.
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I figured I had nothing left to lose, so I
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pulled into the little parking lot, got out of my car,
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and went inside. All Stop and Go stores were identical.
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If you'd seen Kevin Smith's movie Clerks, you have a
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pretty good idea of what I was looking at. The
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biggest difference was the space behind the counter was elevated
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by about a foot, so you always had to look
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down on the customers. No idea why. And behind the
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counter was one Janet Rigby, the manager of this particular
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Stop and Go. Janet's measurements were the same as any
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human beach ball. She had fashioned a chair from two
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milk crates wired together. A glance at the bottom of
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the milk crate told me that the constant pressure of
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Janet setting on it was going to cause a collapse soon.
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Now I knew I needed the job. How could I
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miss the day, she went for a tumble. I know
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it was mean, but at the tender age of eighteen,
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stuff like this was funny. We chatted for a minute
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and she let me know it would be a night shift,
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but this particular stop and go didn't stay open twenty
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four hours a day. It closed at two a m.
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Sounded good to me, so I was glad to start
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work the next day. Training took about an hour. I
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learned the register and how to make money orders. Apparently
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a lot of people needed money orders. I met the
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other employee, Kathy, who was cute but always had that
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look in her eye that she wished she was somewhere
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else other than that. I was ready to go, and
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Janet and Kathy left me to my own devices. Center
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Avenue was actually a pretty busy street in Portage, but
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my shift started after five, so I didn't get much
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of a rush, just a few customers straggling in at
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various times of the night. I was so happy to
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see the huge stacks of VHS tapes for rent in
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a rack that was positioned by the door. There was
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a little TV mounted to the rack that had a
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built in VCR and it had a tape that played
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previews of what we had to rent. I asked Janet
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if I could pick some movies to put on the rack,
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and she showed me how to fill out the form
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for the guy who showed up every other week. Being
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a huge horror movie fan, it didn't take long for
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the racks to have a pretty decent selection of horror movies.
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When it was slow, I would take out the preview
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tape and put in one of the movies I picked
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and just stand there with a can of soda and
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watch a movie. To give you an idea of how
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slow it was. One time I watched an entire movie
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before I heard the doorbell ping as someone opened it.
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As far as jobs for eighteen year olds go, it
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was pretty nice. One night, I was watching this movie
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called Track of the Moonbeast. It's about this guy who
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gets a piece of moon rock embedded in him and
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he turns into a monster. The VHS cover is gorgeous,
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but the movie is kind of well less than stellar.
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As I was watching, I felt the short hairs on
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the back of my neck stand up. I turned around
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and a vision of loveliness was standing behind me, tall
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and lanky with a shock of platinum blonde hair. Her
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face was made up with a thin layer of makeup
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and ruby red lipstick made her lips even more pronounced
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than they already were. She had on a T shirt
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with the cover from the Clash London Calling album on it,
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and denim shorts with big black work boots rainbow suspenders
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made popular by Robin Williams on Mork and Mindy complimented
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the rest of the outfit, and when I jumped upon
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seeing her, she flashed a huge smile with white pearly teeth. Sorry,
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it didn't mean it to scare you, she giggled when
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she said it, no problem, I replied, trying to sound
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cool and failing miserably. What you watching? Oh this, yeah,
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track of the Moonbeast. Guy gets infected by a moonstone
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that turns him into a monster. Oh, I've seen this.
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Then she continued to stare at the screen, watching the
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movie with me. After a minute, I decided to be
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brave and said, you want a soda? I can get
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you one for free if you want. No thanks. She
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continued to watch the screen in fascination. I found myself
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looking at her more than the monster movie. It was
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as if I was trying to memorize her face. It
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was like looking at someone made of porcelain. She caught
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me looking once, smiled and went back to watching the movie.
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When it was over, we were the only people in
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the place, and she stretched like a cat before walking
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down the aisles, not really looking for anything. You like
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the movie? She asked. It was okay, to be honest,
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My focus was entirely on her. Then something slipped into
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my mind. I hadn't heard the bell that goes off
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when you open the door. I always heard the bell.
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My brain had trained itself like a Pavlovian response. How
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did she get inside the store? I turned to ask
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her and realized that I was alone in the store.
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Not only did she get in without triggering the bell,
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but she had left the same way. I checked the
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back room where we kept the bottle returns, and there
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was nothing there. I even went in the cooler, and
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nothing empty. I shrugged to no one and finished my
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closing duties and left for the night. After a week,
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I was still wrapped up in that girl. She was
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all I could think of. I came to work hoping
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that she would return, and nothing happened. For about two weeks,
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I was stocked the coolers with beer from the inside.
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We had a couple of rows of singles for people
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that couldn't afford a six pack. Pretty sure we weren't
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supposed to do that, but the boss told me it
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would be fine. I could grab six long necked bottles
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and two hands, which made it go pretty fast. I
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learned to stack cans of beer along my arm, and
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it was about six cans. I was young and didn't
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want to actually do work, so I figured out the
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quickest way to do it. As I stood up with
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six cans of hams, a familiar face was outside the
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glass door of the cooler, smiling at me. I wasn't ready.
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I dropped all the cans. Luckily, only one of them spilt,
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and it whirled around the cooler, spraying hams everywhere. Shit,
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I exclaimed, and went into clean up mode. I needed
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some paper towels and the mop probably, so I stepped
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out of the cooler right into the girl standing there
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waiting for me. I'm sorry, she said, sheepishly, it's okay,
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and cursed myself for it. I hadn't heard the bell again.
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That was even weirder because there was a bell in
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the cooler in case you were working and a customer
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came in. How the hell was she not setting off
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the goddamn bell. I went in the back for the
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mop and paper towels, and when I returned to the cooler,
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she was still there. Let me help. She took the
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roll of paper towels and went into the cooler. Before
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I could say anything. I followed with the mop. We
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cleaned up the mess, and I restocked the shelves. She
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stood there the whole time, watching me, so I never
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got your name. The other night when we were watching
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the movie, she said quietly, it's Arthur, what's yours. My
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name's Elizabeth, And she smiled that amazing smile again, and
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I could feel the blood rush into my head. She
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tilted her head and looked at me as if I
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was some new form of life. And then she slowly
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moved towards me and kissed me on the lips. I
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felt my entire body tingle with electricity, and was amazed
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at how cold her lips were. Then I remembered we
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were in the cooler, and I kissed her back. After
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a few minutes of that, she gently pushed me away.
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I was amazed at how strong she was. I have
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to go, she said, and walked out of the cooler.
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It took me a second to regain my bearings and
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I followed her out. In that split second, I discovered
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I was again alone in the store. The bell broke
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my train of thought, and it was one of my
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regular customers, old Man Johnson. He was the only reason
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we stocked Hams. No one else ever bought a single
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can of that stuff, but old Man Johnson would buy
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a case every three days or so without fail. We
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chatted for a bit, like we always did. He asked
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me if house by the cemetery was worth a rental,
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and I told him it was, so he got that
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with his beer and headed out the store. Two weeks
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went by before I saw Elizabeth again. This time I
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was just hanging out at the counter, so she had
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no way of sneaking up on me. I had been
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counting packs of cigarettes as one of my nightly duties
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and was looking down, but something triggered my peripheral vision
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and I saw her approach the counter. After that, it
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was always a couple of weeks and we talked, watched movies,
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and kissed sometimes. Then one day I came into work
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and Janet was staring at me. Arthur, come with me,
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she said in a serious tone, and I followed her
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to the back room. There was a door that I
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had never even seen before, and she fished a key
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from her smock and opened it. The room was dark
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except for four monitors that showed various areas of the store.
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I knew we had security cameras, but I didn't know
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this room and here was what it fed in cool
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room boss Janet grunted and then messed with a control panel.
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The next thing I saw was me at the counter.
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No one else in the store, but I was talking
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to someone. I was just flipping through various time codes
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on the monitors when I spotted this, Arthur, who are
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you talking to here? I was grateful that the cameras
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were video only, no audio. I was also glad that
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she hadn't come across one where Elizabeth and I were kissing.
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I you know, I was just bored and messing around.
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I leaned closer to the monitor and Janet watched me.
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Look at the screen. Man, it does look like I'm
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talking to someone. Looks really good. Maybe I should be
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an actor or something. I gave a nervous laugh. Janet nodded,
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and then she laughed, her big, booming laugh. I figured
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as much. You're a good kid, Arthur, and you don't
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steal from the store except for the occasional camp a pop.
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She looked at the watch that barely fit around her
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huge wrist. Well, time for you to go to work,
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and time for me to get the hell out of here.
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Let's go. She ushered me out of the room and
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back to my shift. That night, I located the four
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cameras and tried to find a dead spot, the place
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where none of them could see me if Elizabeth returned.
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As I was running the math through my mind, I
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found it odd that the fact that she didn't register
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on the camera was the least of my concerns. With
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each meeting, all I knew is that I would count
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the days until she returned. It was all I wanted.
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I got my wish a few days later, but it
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came at a terrible price. I was sweeping the floors
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when I saw her come through the door again, no bell.
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She saw me and waved, and I continued to sweep
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the floor so I could lead her to the dead
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spot by the giant display of two liter soda bottles.
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In the back corner of the store. She came up
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and hugged me and we kissed. Then I heard the bell.
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A guy came in, and his wide eyes darted everywhere.
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He seemed confused that there was no one manning the counter.
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I spoke up and walked to my post behind the counter.
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As I was about to ask how I could help him,
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the gun came out. Every pore of my body released
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all the sweat that had been lying beneath the surface.
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All I could see was that gun, and I was
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amazed at how huge it was. He shouted at me
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to give him the money from the register. My hands
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felt like they belonged to someone else. As I fumbled
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with the keys to open it, he shouted at me
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to move it or he was going to shoot me.
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And I got it open and put the meager stack
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of bills in a bag for him. He didn't ask
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for a bag, but I did it anyway. As I
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went to hand him the bag, I saw Elizabeth behind him.
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She appeared as if by magic, and her mouth had
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opened to an impossible degree, and all I could see
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was the huge, sharp fangs as they plunged into the
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guy's neck. He twitched and fired at me point blank.
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I could feel a white hot pain lanced through my chest,
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and I knew I was done for. Everything went dark,
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and then I woke up, screaming. Sitting up immediately, I
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looked at my chest, and while the shirt was bloody,
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there was no hole, nothing, and there was the porcelain's smooth,
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beautiful face of Elizabeth. She was stroking my hair and
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smiling at me. Then she explained everything. When the man
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shot me, she knew that she could never lose someone
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who had been so sweet to her, someone who just
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wanted to be with her. She told me she was
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a vampire and had used her powers to turn me
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into a vampire before I had bled out and died.
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I asked about the guy with the gun, and she
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just blew it off and shushed me as she continued
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to stroke my hair. Then she told me the rules
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of vamporism. A lot of them were what you would expect,
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but some movies just got it all wrong. Garlic, for instance,
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and we could eat food if we wanted. I looked
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at all the blood in the store, and when I
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suggested we clean it up, she shook her head. Dawn
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was approaching and that thing about sunlight was totally true.
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I grabbed a piece of paper from the back counter
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and a pen, and in huge letters, I wrote, I
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quit Elizabeth, and I stepped out into the night and
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into an eternity of never ending love blood rage. By
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Rob Fields. It's been seven months since I spoke to you.
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I believe it was during the winter when I was
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sick with the flu. At the time, I was after
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Delphine Brewster, Sloane's daughter Rigby, who had gone on a
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murder spree all because of her love for Franklin Sloane,
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Delphine's stepson, turned into an obsession. I had Rigby prepared
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and was ready to claim her to satisfy my blood lust. Unfortunately,
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my sickness became my undoing and it nearly killed me.
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This allowed Rigby to escape. She's still out there as
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of now, which is seven months from that time. Franklin
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00:17:58.200 --> 00:18:01.880
and I haven't really talked. Delphine still calls me to
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check up on me and make sure I'm okay. I've
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been doing everything I can to keep my sex drive
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in control, but I'm to the point where I must mate.
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It has also been some time since I've claimed a victim.
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In addition to my sex drive, my blood lust is
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also pushing me. It's late August, the summer semester is ended.
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The fall semester won't begin for two more weeks. I
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currently work as a college intern for the Strickfield Police Department. However,
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I'm also a serial killer. I'm sitting alone in my
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dorm room at Strickfield University, brushing my shoulder length, dirty
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blonde hair. I almost always never have a room mate.
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For the record, I have never killed any of my roommates,
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not when all of them were innocent. During my time
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here at Strickfield, you, I've had a grand total of
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three roommates. One flunked out, one got pregnant, and one
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left to live with her boyfriend. I sigh when I
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00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:10.160
think about how I've lived in this dorm room alone.
305
00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:14.319
It's good for being a serial killer. However, I'm in
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desperate need of a mate. Then I hear a knocking
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at my door. I put my brush down and go
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to see who it is. I open the door to
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see my potential new mate, Detective Drake Casmirak morning rage.
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I fake a smile, hey you when I see he's
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got food in his hands. I step aside and invite
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him in. We've got a case, Drake says, I brought
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you breakfast. Then he hands me the coffee he's picked
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up from our campus coffee house, the Bitter End, and
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breakfast from Denoyer's Grill. I remember that Drake lives one
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block from my dorm. The smell of dark roasted coffee
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and the pancakes trigger that physical sensation of hunger. I
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want to sit down to eat, but Drake is quick
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00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:07.839
to tell me we need to go now. You can
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00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:10.680
eat your breakfast on the way. Let me put my
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00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:13.880
shoes on and we'll leave, I say. After I put
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00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:16.039
my sandals on, Drake and I walk to the other
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side of the campus to the fraternity houses. Soon we're
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at the one we need to go into. I was
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able to wolf down my breakfast, but I still had
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my coffee in hand. Two physical tastes that I really
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enjoy in life, coffee and pancakes. Two officers are in
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the bedroom when we come in. They explained that a
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fraternity brother came back and found the body. As long
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as Drake is with me, I'm free to act as
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if I'm a full fledged detective. He lets me walk
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around and look for clues. The first thing I check
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00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:54.799
is the body, which I quickly notice is very pale,
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and then I see the two telltale puncture marks on
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the left side of his neck. I've seen enough on
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the body, and look around the bedroom. I find nothing
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00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:11.720
else of great importance. Find anything, Devereaux, Drake asks me, No,
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I say. Drake examines the body himself. Then he looks
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around the bedroom, but he doesn't find anything. No doubt
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00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:24.400
he'll want to talk to me when we're alone. As
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00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:27.240
soon as Drake tells the officers to go and radio
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in for the coroner, he does just that. I know
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you know something, rage. I give him a blank look.
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There's no point in lying to him. He'll stay on
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me until I give him what he wants. You're not
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going to believe me talk to me, he insists. Did
347
00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:48.799
you see the two marks on the neck? I ask, yeah,
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00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:52.519
hard to miss. What about him? I just come right
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out with it. It's a vampire. Drake gives me a
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funny look. What I told you would and believe me.
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I'm dead serious here, Drake, it's a vampire. He gives
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00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:08.359
me another odd look. I think you're hitting the books
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way too hard. Rage. Fine, I'll go look for the
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vampire myself, I tell him. He quickly takes gentle hold
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of my forearm. No you can't, honey. Remember you are
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still my intern until you graduate, which won't be for
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another year. Yet, you have to have me with you
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in order to conduct an investigation on your own. I
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00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:34.559
fake a smirk. Okay, then, Detective, come with me. I'll
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00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:37.240
prove to you that this was indeed a vampire and
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that vampires are quite real. Our eyes meet. Then Drake
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00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:47.319
leans in and kisses me softly on the lips. I've
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known for many months that he feels emotions for me.
364
00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:53.720
In fact, I knew that from the first day we
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met many months ago, when Chief Kasmirak, Drake's uncle, told
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him that he was to be my mentor from that
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point on. The Chief also told me that we would
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be full partners once I graduated from the university and
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come to work for him full time. This isn't the
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00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:14.960
first time that Drake's kissed me like this. I wrapped
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my arms around him and kiss him back. I've read
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Drake's emotions and know that he's fallen in love with me. Also,
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I'm not blind to his true purpose for coming to Strickfield.
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He's looking to find the Angel of Death and put
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an end to everything. But what he doesn't know is
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that he's kissing the Angel of Death, the name the
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media has given me as a serial killer. Regardless, I've
378
00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:45.759
decided that this man, who is seventeen years older than me,
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will be my new mate. For the record, I'm twenty one.
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We stop kissing, then I tell him if we're caught
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doing this, we could both be in a lot of trouble.
382
00:23:57.799 --> 00:24:01.400
We're supposed to be professional in a student teacher manner.
383
00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:05.039
We've been seeing each other for months. Drake whispers to
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00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:09.359
my lips, are you going to tattle? I'm just saying
385
00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:12.400
those two officers could come back at any moment. I
386
00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:16.480
whisper back. Drake can't resist me and kisses me again.
387
00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:20.680
I kiss him back. I need him so badly that
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00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:24.599
I almost lose control, but I stay focused on just
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00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:28.160
kissing him. When we stop kissing, I take his hand.
390
00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:31.039
Let me show you that I'm not making this up.
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00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:35.039
It is a vampire. How do you know, though, rage
392
00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:39.319
Drake demands, because I've killed three of them before, I
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00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:43.880
admit without hesitation. Yes, I'm taking a big risk and
394
00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:47.559
telling him this, but he needs to know and understand.
395
00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:51.640
It's also part of my plan, which you'll find out
396
00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:54.960
about later. I raise my hand and show him a
397
00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:58.680
book of matches. I did find another clue on the body.
398
00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:03.400
Drake looks a it. Shakers. You weren't going to tell me,
399
00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:07.559
were you? No? But now that you know, you have
400
00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:10.599
to come with me. He's still holding me to him.
401
00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:13.720
Damn right, I'm coming with you. Come on, we'll go
402
00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:17.640
investigate Shakers together. We'll have to wait until they open
403
00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:21.720
at four. They're closed now fine, I'll come by and
404
00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:24.440
pick you up at three point thirty. We share one
405
00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:32.119
more passionate kiss before he walks me back to my dorm.
406
00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:35.279
Drake and I walk into Shakers, a bar on the
407
00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:39.480
outskirts of the village that Strickfield University students tend to frequent.
408
00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:42.319
One of the workers is there when we walk in.
409
00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:46.880
We ain't open for another fifteen minutes, he says. Drake
410
00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:49.599
shows him as badge. That's okay, we just want to
411
00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:52.720
talk to you. Were you here last night? Yeah? I
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00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:56.240
close most every night, he replies. Drake shows him a
413
00:25:56.279 --> 00:26:00.000
picture of the victim. He looked familiar to you. Yeah,
414
00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:03.200
he comes in here and drinks quite a bit, usually
415
00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:06.680
with his fraternity. Don't worry, he's over twenty one. I
416
00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:09.880
know he just graduated. Last night was goth night. He
417
00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:13.759
was in here with some different people, goth people, shiny leather,
418
00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:16.640
dressed in black, look pale. He's been in here with
419
00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:19.359
them a couple of times. He was sure drunk off
420
00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:22.920
his ass last night. Do you know where the goth
421
00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:26.799
people came from? I ask, I mean, do you think
422
00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:30.839
they're from the university or maybe from somewhere else. He
423
00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:33.839
starts to tell us he doesn't really know, but then
424
00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:37.200
he stops himself. Hold it, let me get into the
425
00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:40.480
computer real quick. It's one of those computers that doubles
426
00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:43.480
as a cash register. We wait for him as he
427
00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:48.119
touches the computer screen repeatedly. Then got the record right here.
428
00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:51.680
Everything was paid for with a credit card. The transactions
429
00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:53.960
are still here. The card the guy used didn't have
430
00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:55.640
a signature on the back, so I had to ask
431
00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:58.799
for some ID. It was a student ID from North
432
00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:02.000
Ridgeway University. He hands me a copy of the ID.
433
00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:05.400
We always scan the IDs in case of card fraud.
434
00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:08.759
We ask him a few more questions before we head out.
435
00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:11.519
As soon as we're back in Drake's car, we both
436
00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:15.200
look at the print out again. Looks like we're heading home. Honey,
437
00:27:15.799 --> 00:27:18.319
what you need to go to class? Drake asks quickly.
438
00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:21.480
I thought you were done. No, I mean we need
439
00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:24.680
to head to North Ridgeway. That's where I'm from. You
440
00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:27.720
do realize we have no jurisdiction in North Ridgway, right,
441
00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:32.279
Drake asks, we don't. You're right? Then, I fake an
442
00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:36.119
apologetic look. Maybe I'd better do this on my own.
443
00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:40.480
Drake shakes his head quickly, not happening rage. I told you,
444
00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:43.440
I know what you said. I cut in, But the
445
00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:45.720
person I can get to help us is with the
446
00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:48.640
North Ridgeway PD and I'm telling you right now you
447
00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:54.039
do not want to meet her. She's my mom and
448
00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:57.480
she will eat you alive. What because I may be
449
00:27:57.640 --> 00:28:01.119
seeing you, Drake asks, with a wicked smile. I fake
450
00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:05.319
a sneer you are seeing me, But Mama may want
451
00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:10.920
you all to herself. She's one wickedly wild cougar. I'll
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00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:14.000
take my chances with your mom. I sigh and shake
453
00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:22.559
my head slowly. Okay, you were warned, Mama answers the
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00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:28.240
front door and is so delighted, baby, you finally came home.
455
00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:32.559
Then she sees Drake and who is this yummy guy?
456
00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:36.200
She looks at me again, are you fucking him? Because
457
00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:40.680
if you aren't, I'll gladly take him. Drake is immediately
458
00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:44.160
caught off guard when he sees and hears Mama and
459
00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:47.279
looks mortified. I take his hand and give him a
460
00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:51.559
sympathetic look that says I warned you. Here's the best
461
00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:55.599
way I can describe how Mama differs from me physically.
462
00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:59.599
I've overheard men at the campus describe me as a
463
00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:03.240
really hot chick. They've even commented on how big my
464
00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:07.559
tits are. But Mama, she's fifty but looks like she
465
00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:11.279
could easily pass for around thirty to thirty five. She's
466
00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:15.079
got a very hot body of her own, complete with long,
467
00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:20.200
wavy red hair that practically burns like fire, sparkling green eyes,
468
00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:24.839
six pack abs, and even bigger tits than mine. I'll
469
00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:28.440
let you in on a little secret. Mama's tits are fake.
470
00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:32.359
She got them done when she was actually thirty as
471
00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:37.440
a birthday present to herself. Mine are indeed all natural,
472
00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:41.359
and Mama sometimes looks at me with jealousy. Because of it,
473
00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:45.240
Mama looks at me with a devilish grin. Baby, did
474
00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:47.519
you come home to tell Mama that you're gonna marry
475
00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:53.240
this man? Drake is mortified again. Oh my god, I
476
00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:56.119
let go of Drake's hand and take Mama's. Drake and
477
00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:58.799
I are on a very important case right now. I'm
478
00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:01.799
still an intern at strict PD and he's my mentor.
479
00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:07.200
We came here to look for somebody a vampire. Mama
480
00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:11.480
gets real serious now inside she steps aside and lets
481
00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:15.359
us come in. Mama's got a huge house, enough for
482
00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:18.119
a good ten people to live in. This is the
483
00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:20.759
house I was raised in. Ever since I left for
484
00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:25.039
Strickfield University, she still chooses to live here all by herself.
485
00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:28.319
Since Mama is still the hot cougar, she's out getting
486
00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:31.839
as many young college studs as she can. I catch
487
00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:34.680
her stealing peaks at Drake, and I know I have
488
00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:37.440
to keep him with me. If Mama gets him alone
489
00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:42.119
and works her feminine charms on him, she'll completely devour him.
490
00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:46.880
This woman has both incredible energy and a very high libido.
491
00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:50.279
As ravishing as she still looks at fifty, almost no
492
00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:53.720
man can say no to her. Mama stops checking out
493
00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:56.279
Drake for the moment and motions for us to come
494
00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:59.559
to the den where she keeps her computers. You sure
495
00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:03.319
you're aftter a vampire? Baby? Positive? I tell her about
496
00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:06.599
the puncture marks we found on our victim. Drake hesitates,
497
00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:10.240
but he points a shaky finger at Mama. You you
498
00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:14.960
mean you you actually believe in vampires too. Mama looks
499
00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:17.720
him right in the face. If Baby tells you it's
500
00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:20.799
a vampire, then you better fucking listen to her. I've
501
00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:24.000
had plenty of dealings with those blood sucking motherfuckers myself.
502
00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:28.759
I taught Baby everything I know about vampires, among other things.
503
00:31:29.319 --> 00:31:32.319
I hand Mama the picture from Shakers. Have you seen
504
00:31:32.359 --> 00:31:36.559
this guy before? She shakes her head slowly. I don't believe,
505
00:31:36.599 --> 00:31:40.359
so that's why I've got this computer. She puts the
506
00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:43.359
photo into a scanner next to the black computer, her
507
00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:48.039
dark Web computer. About a minute later, a graphic display
508
00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:52.880
appears of the guy, Maximilian Thorn, with a name like that,
509
00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:55.680
he's likely to be a vampire. She turns to us,
510
00:31:56.119 --> 00:31:58.200
and you came to me because your lead is here
511
00:31:58.680 --> 00:32:00.880
and you need a cop from North Ridgeway to assist
512
00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:06.359
you correct, I reply, but Drake is very observant. Wait51300:32:06.400 --> 00:32:10.440
a minute, assuming vampires are real, aren't they supposed to51400:32:10.559 --> 00:32:15.319
not cast a reflection? Mama's quick. Some vampires use old51500:32:15.359 --> 00:32:18.839
bloodstone to let them cast a reflection. That's old with51600:32:18.880 --> 00:32:21.839
an E on the end. Mama turns to me and51700:32:21.880 --> 00:32:24.559
folds her arms in front of her. You know, Baby,51800:32:25.000 --> 00:32:27.960
I was expecting you home for Christmas. If I didn't51900:32:27.960 --> 00:32:30.759
know better, i'd swear you were avoiding me. Am. I52000:32:30.880 --> 00:32:33.640
really that bad of a mama to you, do? I52100:32:33.759 --> 00:32:37.559
really embarrass you that much. I tell Mama that I52200:32:37.599 --> 00:32:40.400
stayed in Strickfield to help work cases with the police,52300:32:40.559 --> 00:32:44.440
which is true. Also, I've had to claim victims from52400:32:44.480 --> 00:32:48.200
a few of those same cases. In other words, Mama52500:32:48.240 --> 00:32:53.759
does not know that baby is a serial killer. Mama sighs. Unfortunately,52600:32:53.799 --> 00:32:56.559
that's one of the many sacrifices that comes with the badge.52700:32:57.400 --> 00:32:59.000
This is what you get for wanting to follow in52800:32:59.079 --> 00:33:03.640
my footsteps, baby, Baby, Drake brightens up. You're a detective two.52900:33:04.400 --> 00:33:09.920
Mama shows him her badge, Detective Chantelle Devereaux north Ridgeway, PD.53000:33:09.960 --> 00:33:13.279
And yes, I'll help you with your vampire. In fact,53100:33:14.000 --> 00:33:16.400
I know where all the vampire hotspots are here in53200:33:16.480 --> 00:33:19.480
the city. Later that night, the three of us leave53300:33:19.519 --> 00:33:23.000
the house. This time we hop into Mom's fire engine53400:33:23.039 --> 00:33:27.240
red Corvette. Believe me, she loves tearing up the streets53500:33:27.240 --> 00:33:31.559
with her favorite toy. She speeds down one street, then another.53600:33:32.160 --> 00:33:34.640
Eventually she veers right into the parking lot of a53700:33:34.720 --> 00:33:39.839
nightclub called After Hours. After going inside and looking around,53800:33:40.160 --> 00:33:43.839
we don't find anyone matching the description of the photo.53900:33:44.039 --> 00:33:46.119
We get back in the corvette and go to a54000:33:46.160 --> 00:33:51.720
second club, Dark Paradise. No luck there. Third times a charm,54100:33:52.160 --> 00:33:56.359
Third times a charm. When we arrive at Noir, as54200:33:56.400 --> 00:33:58.759
soon as we show the photograph to a bartender, she54300:33:58.839 --> 00:34:03.640
points Maximilians thorn out. We approach him to talk. As54400:34:03.680 --> 00:34:06.839
soon as Mama flashes her badge, he throws his drink54500:34:06.880 --> 00:34:09.880
in her face and turns to run. Drake is very54600:34:09.920 --> 00:34:12.320
surprised at my agility when I put my hands on54700:34:12.360 --> 00:34:15.239
the table and leap right up on top of it.54800:34:15.719 --> 00:34:18.960
Then I launch myself and tackle Maximilian to the floor.54900:34:19.519 --> 00:34:22.000
He snatches me up and shows me his fangs before55000:34:22.039 --> 00:34:24.679
he shoves me away so hard that I fall and55100:34:24.760 --> 00:34:28.119
slide almost all the way to the jukebox looks like55200:34:28.199 --> 00:34:32.719
Maximilian Thorn is our vampire. Drake comes and helps me up.55300:34:33.159 --> 00:34:36.079
Your Mom's already after him. Come on, Drake and I55400:34:36.159 --> 00:34:39.559
catch up with Mama as she finally tackles the vampire.55500:34:39.960 --> 00:34:42.239
He's about to turn and face Mama. When I come55600:34:42.280 --> 00:34:46.599
to her side, I remove my necklace a crucifix and55700:34:46.679 --> 00:34:49.679
hold it out to the vampire. When he's clearly not55800:34:49.760 --> 00:34:53.119
being affected, Mama shoves my arm down and produces her55900:34:53.119 --> 00:34:56.400
own crucifix. Thorn raises his hands in front of him.56000:34:56.400 --> 00:35:00.599
Now I can tell Mama's pissed at me. Reagan. How56100:35:00.599 --> 00:35:02.920
many motherfucking times do I have to tell you you56200:35:03.000 --> 00:35:04.880
need to have faith if you want your cross to56300:35:04.920 --> 00:35:08.599
work on these fucking things? How many times she only56400:35:08.639 --> 00:35:12.400
called me Reagan when she was upset with me? Sorry, Mamma,56500:35:12.920 --> 00:35:17.519
I say. She sighs and speaks calmly. I'm sorry I56600:35:17.559 --> 00:35:20.679
went off on you, but this is very important. She56700:35:20.800 --> 00:35:23.679
puts a hand on my forearm. Remember where you came56800:35:23.719 --> 00:35:27.320
from and who raised you? Right, baby, Mama still holds56900:35:27.320 --> 00:35:30.880
her cross as she grabs Maximilian by his hair. Now,57000:35:30.920 --> 00:35:34.239
you motherfucker, you were at a bar called Shakers. Over57100:35:34.280 --> 00:35:37.440
in Strickfield. I suggest you tell my baby girl here57200:35:37.599 --> 00:35:41.480
everything that she wants to know. Maximilian seems ready to57300:35:41.599 --> 00:35:45.119
argue with Mama, but then he sees me and suddenly57400:35:45.199 --> 00:35:51.159
becomes very scared. What the hell are you? No doubt57500:35:51.159 --> 00:35:53.960
he's seeing what many of my past victims have called57600:35:54.000 --> 00:35:58.360
my evil face. They've said that my eyes have glowed57700:35:58.400 --> 00:36:02.639
red and or that I'm pure evil. I've often wondered57800:36:02.679 --> 00:36:06.239
how I can be truly evil if I'm protecting innocence.57900:36:06.320 --> 00:36:10.159
Time and time again, For the record, I have never58000:36:10.320 --> 00:36:13.800
taken an innocent life, not even when my bloodlust is58100:36:13.880 --> 00:36:17.199
nagging me to be satiated. Every serial killer has a58200:36:17.239 --> 00:36:21.239
code they follow, and I have mine. Mama raised me58300:36:21.320 --> 00:36:23.960
to be a good girl. I truly believe that it58400:36:24.000 --> 00:36:27.320
was because of her teachings and values that I destroy58500:36:27.400 --> 00:36:30.440
the scum that I find and leave the innocence alone.58600:36:31.280 --> 00:36:35.559
Killing innocence is a line I will never cross. Maximilian58700:36:35.679 --> 00:36:38.519
spews out everything he knows to Mama. Just like that.58800:36:39.360 --> 00:36:42.320
He reveals that it was his sister, whose name is Sheranda,58900:36:42.800 --> 00:36:46.320
that drank the fraternity boy. Apparently he thought she was59000:36:46.360 --> 00:36:49.239
going to turn him, but she only intended to feed.59100:36:49.960 --> 00:36:53.519
Maximilian tells Mama that Sheranda's crypt is in the big59200:36:53.559 --> 00:36:57.159
cemetery a few blocks from the university. We listen as59300:36:57.159 --> 00:37:00.320
he gives us all the details. Then he points to me,59400:37:01.360 --> 00:37:04.639
just keep her away from me. Mama looks right at me,59500:37:05.320 --> 00:37:08.719
then she turns back to him. What is your problem59600:37:08.760 --> 00:37:13.079
with my daughter? Maximilian points at me again. Trust me,59700:37:13.599 --> 00:37:17.960
you do not know what true evil is. And he59800:37:18.119 --> 00:37:22.199
just pissed Mama off. She produces a steak and jams59900:37:22.239 --> 00:37:25.599
it right into his heart. He dies after some twitching60000:37:25.679 --> 00:37:29.719
and shrivels up until he becomes bones. He's not a60100:37:29.800 --> 00:37:33.079
master vampire, so we don't also have to decapitate him.60200:37:33.719 --> 00:37:37.440
Mama turns to Drake and me, Okay, I've got weapons60300:37:37.480 --> 00:37:39.239
in the car. I can tell you right now that60400:37:39.320 --> 00:37:42.679
this Sheranda is not going to be alone. She suddenly60500:37:42.679 --> 00:37:46.239
reaches out and slaps Drake's shoulder. Hey, head in the game, boy,60600:37:46.760 --> 00:37:50.039
you just saw one vampire. Shit's about to get real60700:37:50.079 --> 00:37:53.280
from here. Now's not the time to be a fucking pussy,60800:37:53.400 --> 00:37:57.920
especially when you're fucking my baby girl. But Drake sputters again,60900:37:58.039 --> 00:38:01.559
caught off guard by Mama, le's get going, Mama says.61000:38:02.519 --> 00:38:06.400
We enter the North Ridgeway Memorial Cemetery. It's still summer,61100:38:06.440 --> 00:38:09.440
but it happens to be a cool night. Fog is61200:38:09.519 --> 00:38:13.159
all over the graveyard. I can read Drake's face and61300:38:13.320 --> 00:38:16.800
know that he's scared. Personally, I can't blame him. He's61400:38:16.840 --> 00:38:21.880
finally learning that vampires are real. We follow Maximilian's directions61500:38:21.960 --> 00:38:24.039
until we come to the crypt he told us about.61600:38:24.639 --> 00:38:26.679
We have to whisper to talk to each other for61700:38:26.719 --> 00:38:30.239
the moment. There's a vamp outside. Mama. I tell her,61800:38:31.000 --> 00:38:34.320
how do you know he's a vampire? Drake asks, use61900:38:34.320 --> 00:38:37.039
your mirror. There's enough light by the crypt. Turn the62000:38:37.079 --> 00:38:41.679
mirror around and look. Drake gasps and nearly drops his mirror.62100:38:42.039 --> 00:38:45.920
I catch it and give it back. Careful and be quiet.62200:38:46.000 --> 00:38:51.199
Vampires have very very good hearing. No telling how many62300:38:51.239 --> 00:38:55.360
of those fucking bloodsuckers are inside. Mama tells us we're62400:38:55.400 --> 00:38:57.280
just going to have to launch and all out assault.62500:38:57.920 --> 00:39:00.599
She glances at Drake as he's holding a weapon Mama62600:39:00.679 --> 00:39:06.039
gave him. Remember aim for the heart. Mama holds up62700:39:06.039 --> 00:39:09.800
her hand and counts her fingers down from five to zero.62800:39:10.000 --> 00:39:13.280
Now we move Mama takes down the vampire outside by62900:39:13.320 --> 00:39:16.559
firing a steak into his heart. He doesn't even scream63000:39:16.599 --> 00:39:20.239
as he falls over and dies. We enter the crypt63100:39:20.239 --> 00:39:23.519
and find four more vampires, including a girl. She must63200:39:23.599 --> 00:39:26.400
be Saranda. The vampires see the three of us and63300:39:26.480 --> 00:39:29.639
stand up. They show us their fangs and produce their claws.63400:39:29.880 --> 00:39:31.880
Drake and I don't give them time to think. We63500:39:31.960 --> 00:39:34.039
both fire our weapons and catch two of them in63600:39:34.079 --> 00:39:37.320
the heart with steaks. I breathe with satisfaction as my63700:39:37.400 --> 00:39:42.880
bloodlust is finally sated. Ah. That just leaves the one63800:39:42.960 --> 00:39:49.559
remaining male vampire and Sharanda. You won't stop me, Saranda hisses,63900:39:49.920 --> 00:39:55.119
transforming into a giant bat. Then she flies right past us. Baby,64000:39:55.199 --> 00:39:57.920
I I've got this, Mama. I turn and run out64100:39:57.920 --> 00:40:01.639
of the crypt and pursue Saranda. Using the skills I've accumulated,64200:40:01.679 --> 00:40:05.199
both from Mama and my many years as a serial killer,64300:40:05.239 --> 00:40:08.800
I track Saranda to another part of the cemetery. You64400:40:08.840 --> 00:40:12.199
should have never left your pack, Scharanda purrs at me.64500:40:12.800 --> 00:40:15.800
Someone has to destroy you. I tell her you killed64600:40:15.800 --> 00:40:18.199
that fraternity boy and left him dead in his room.64700:40:19.119 --> 00:40:23.840
She laughs coldly. He thought he was so special because64800:40:23.840 --> 00:40:26.519
he was in our company. He wanted to become one64900:40:26.519 --> 00:40:30.639
of us. He thought we were just glamour and high society.65000:40:31.320 --> 00:40:34.559
So I seduced him and finished him off by drinking65100:40:34.639 --> 00:40:38.840
him dry. And by your admission, you've just condemned yourself65200:40:38.840 --> 00:40:43.119
into my hands, I say. Saranda laughs again and raises65300:40:43.159 --> 00:40:46.159
her claws. I produce a crucifix and bring her to65400:40:46.199 --> 00:40:49.920
her knees. I already know the real truth about crosses.65500:40:50.559 --> 00:40:53.880
Faith in a crucifix doesn't mean belief in God or religion.65600:40:54.320 --> 00:40:57.599
It means believing that the crucifix will truly protect you.65700:40:58.400 --> 00:41:01.559
My lack of faith earlier was just an act. And65800:41:01.639 --> 00:41:04.519
though I did kill one vampire a little bit ago,65900:41:04.639 --> 00:41:09.039
which satiated my bloodlust, I still want to kill Charanda.66000:41:09.840 --> 00:41:12.559
Saranda shrieks and launches herself at me to make me66100:41:12.639 --> 00:41:15.519
drop my cross. The two of us fight now. Like66200:41:15.559 --> 00:41:20.039
I told Drake, I've already bested three, now four other vampires.66300:41:20.679 --> 00:41:23.800
Thanks to my photographic memory, I know how they operate66400:41:23.880 --> 00:41:27.480
and can anticipate their moves. Saranda makes the big mistake66500:41:27.800 --> 00:41:30.760
of trying to warp behind me. I have a bottle66600:41:30.760 --> 00:41:32.719
of holy water. In my hand and bring it up66700:41:32.800 --> 00:41:36.559
fast to splash her right in her face. She screams66800:41:36.599 --> 00:41:39.159
and covers her head as she falls to her knees.66900:41:39.599 --> 00:41:42.800
Then she finds out I'm much stronger than I look67000:41:43.079 --> 00:41:45.599
when I quickly raise my foot to her chin and67100:41:45.639 --> 00:41:49.639
connect hard enough to knock her out. Saranda wakes up67200:41:49.760 --> 00:41:52.119
to find that she's secured to the top of a67300:41:52.119 --> 00:41:55.559
burial vault in the middle of another crypt. I've got67400:41:55.559 --> 00:41:59.480
her bound with bungee cords and a crucifix just above67500:41:59.559 --> 00:42:03.760
her heart. No, you've bound me with your accursed cross,67600:42:04.199 --> 00:42:08.679
she growls. You've weakened me. I can't move. Yes, and67700:42:08.760 --> 00:42:12.920
now you belong to me. I show her my smartphone.67800:42:13.719 --> 00:42:16.840
I don't know every victim you've killed, but I do67900:42:16.960 --> 00:42:20.960
have one picture to show you. Remember the fraternity boy68000:42:21.000 --> 00:42:24.960
you killed. His name was Sheldon Hayes. He may have68100:42:25.039 --> 00:42:27.559
been trying to get in with your group, but he68200:42:27.639 --> 00:42:31.639
hadn't taken a life. He was still innocent. You killed68300:42:31.679 --> 00:42:36.679
him in cold blood, and now I claim you, Miranda laughs.68400:42:37.280 --> 00:42:41.480
You think you're going to end the killing with just me? Oh,68500:42:41.519 --> 00:42:43.440
I know there are many more of you out there,68600:42:43.760 --> 00:42:47.199
I assured her, But right now I'm only concerned with68700:42:47.320 --> 00:42:51.360
you tonight. You're going to be my latest victim. You're68800:42:51.480 --> 00:42:55.159
bound by that crucifix, which means you're staying right where68900:42:55.199 --> 00:42:59.159
you are. Miranda locks her eyes with mine and tries69000:42:59.239 --> 00:43:03.079
to glam me, but she's in for a surprise that69100:43:03.119 --> 00:43:06.639
one of her kind would never expect. She winces and69200:43:06.679 --> 00:43:10.760
finally starts screaming. Seeing that I'm not like other human beings,69300:43:11.280 --> 00:43:14.599
she finally turns her eyes away from mine. Like her69400:43:14.639 --> 00:43:19.199
dead brother, she also demands, what the fuck are you?69500:43:19.199 --> 00:43:23.800
You are? You're true evil incarnate. Now she's really frightened.69600:43:24.360 --> 00:43:28.800
Get away from me. I caress the side of her face. Tonight,69700:43:29.360 --> 00:43:32.559
your time as a vampire will end. I produce a69800:43:32.639 --> 00:43:37.599
steak and raise it, and now, Miranda Thorn, let the69900:43:37.679 --> 00:43:42.320
punishment fit the crime. Miranda screams as I bring the70000:43:42.360 --> 00:43:45.159
steak down with both hands and drive it right through70100:43:45.159 --> 00:43:49.039
her heart. I moan in great satisfaction as I feel70200:43:49.039 --> 00:43:53.320
my bloodlust being satiated for the second time tonight. Yes,70300:43:53.880 --> 00:43:57.800
vampires are un dead creatures, but my bloodlust doesn't care70400:43:57.840 --> 00:44:02.239
about that. It's still a kill. And now she joins70500:44:02.280 --> 00:44:05.639
my hundreds upon hundreds of kills that are neatly logged70600:44:05.960 --> 00:44:10.239
in my photographic memory. I watched Miranda shrivel up until70700:44:10.239 --> 00:44:16.360
she's nothing more than bones, not a master vampire rage.70800:44:16.960 --> 00:44:20.320
I turn around to see Drake standing there. What did70900:44:20.320 --> 00:44:24.320
you see? I ask him. He raises his hands. Okay,71000:44:24.360 --> 00:44:26.880
I'm a believer now, and I know I definitely don't71100:44:26.880 --> 00:44:29.960
want to make you mad. If I could feel humor,71200:44:30.000 --> 00:44:33.800
I'd probably find the statement funny. Perhaps one day I'll71300:44:33.800 --> 00:44:38.039
finally come to know emotions and feel humor. Drake had71400:44:38.079 --> 00:44:42.039
seen everything. This is the first time that anyone has71500:44:42.079 --> 00:44:45.880
seen me perform a kill in this case that works71600:44:45.880 --> 00:44:48.920
in my favor and was all part of my plan.71700:44:49.639 --> 00:44:52.880
If Drake ever suspected me of being the Angel of death,71800:44:53.519 --> 00:44:56.480
this should throw him off my trail. Mama finds me71900:44:56.559 --> 00:44:59.800
and congratulates me on my kill. The three of us72000:45:00.000 --> 00:45:02.199
talk about how we're going to close the case of72100:45:02.239 --> 00:45:06.519
Sheldon Hayes since we destroyed all the vampires responsible for72200:45:06.559 --> 00:45:10.400
his murder. Mama suggests just letting the case be cold.72300:45:10.920 --> 00:45:13.719
Drake is quick to agree with her. We head back72400:45:13.800 --> 00:45:15.800
to Mama's house so that Drake and I can get72500:45:15.800 --> 00:45:19.079
in his car and head back to Strickfield. Of course.72600:45:19.639 --> 00:45:21.880
Mamma tells me not to be a stranger and to72700:45:21.880 --> 00:45:25.079
come home more often. She also tells Drake that if72800:45:25.079 --> 00:45:27.960
he hurts me in any way, then he's going to72900:45:28.000 --> 00:45:32.280
answer to her. If you only knew, Mamma, if you73000:45:32.400 --> 00:45:36.679
only knew. When we return to Strickfield University, I let73100:45:36.800 --> 00:45:39.760
Drake walk me back to my dorm. He tells me73200:45:39.840 --> 00:45:41.840
to let him do all the talking to his uncle73300:45:41.880 --> 00:45:45.719
about our case. He assures me everything will be all right.73400:45:46.360 --> 00:45:50.400
When we reach my dorm, I unlock and open my door. Well,73500:45:51.119 --> 00:45:54.000
I guess i'll see at the station tomorrow, Drake says.73600:45:55.039 --> 00:45:58.159
I sense he really doesn't want to leave me, and73700:45:58.239 --> 00:46:01.400
I know I can't let him go. I take his hand,73800:46:02.360 --> 00:46:05.199
stay here with me. It's just me here. I don't73900:46:05.239 --> 00:46:10.199
have any roommates. Drake seems uncertain. Should we be doing this?74000:46:11.199 --> 00:46:13.960
Like you said earlier, I'm your mentor and you're my intern.74100:46:14.639 --> 00:46:17.599
Our eyes meet. We've kept our dating a secret all74200:46:17.599 --> 00:46:21.480
this time, I remind him. Drake and I quickly move74300:46:21.559 --> 00:46:24.079
into the dorm. He kicks the door shut as we74400:46:24.119 --> 00:46:27.679
share a deep, passionate kiss. When we come apart, I74500:46:27.760 --> 00:46:30.239
take his hand again and lead him to my bed.74600:46:31.199 --> 00:46:33.800
My sex drive is literally screaming at me as we74700:46:33.880 --> 00:46:39.840
undress each other. I finally have a mate again. The74800:46:39.920 --> 00:46:43.039
next morning, Drake and I enter the Strickfield PD with74900:46:43.159 --> 00:46:46.920
bags of Denoyer's grill in our hands. We exchange mourning75000:46:46.920 --> 00:46:49.920
pleasantries with Drake's uncle before we head to the break room.75100:46:50.639 --> 00:46:53.000
Since we're alone, we put our food down so Drake75200:46:53.039 --> 00:46:56.480
can pull me to him and kiss me. You think75300:46:56.519 --> 00:46:59.800
your uncle knows, I ask, I really don't care if75400:46:59.800 --> 00:47:03.400
i'lluncle Jeffrey knows. Drake replies, I'm not going to kick75500:47:03.400 --> 00:47:05.920
you to the curb if he does, You do, and75600:47:06.079 --> 00:47:10.159
Mama will be after you. Literally, I remind him. I75700:47:10.199 --> 00:47:13.599
can tell Drake's still intimidated by Mama. I put his75800:47:13.679 --> 00:47:16.719
mind at ease when I kiss him. Then he looks75900:47:16.719 --> 00:47:22.440
into my eyes. I love you, he says. I just76000:47:22.559 --> 00:47:25.400
return his look and caress the side of his face.76100:47:26.320 --> 00:47:30.400
After that, we sit down and have breakfast. He tells76200:47:30.440 --> 00:47:32.719
me he's frustrated that he hasn't been able to catch76300:47:32.760 --> 00:47:36.079
the Angel of Death yet. I know I'm in a76400:47:36.199 --> 00:47:41.159
very dangerous situation now and must always stay many steps76500:47:41.159 --> 00:47:46.519
ahead of him. Oh yes, Drake, you truly have captured76600:47:46.599 --> 00:47:51.320
the Angel of Death more than you realize. My mate,76700:47:58.599 --> 00:48:04.199
The Bad Schoolgirl by Rob Fields. I walk into the76800:48:04.239 --> 00:48:07.639
main entrance of Strickfield High School with a lean donnerly76900:48:08.519 --> 00:48:12.920
or just simply Einstein. Einstein was a name her older brother,77000:48:13.000 --> 00:48:17.239
Martin hung on her because of how unbelievably smart she is,77100:48:18.159 --> 00:48:22.679
how smart exactly is she? Well? Over that blizzard weekend,77200:48:23.119 --> 00:48:27.039
Martin and I had just finished having some hot morning fucking.77300:48:27.480 --> 00:48:29.920
We stopped for some pillow talk and he told me77400:48:30.000 --> 00:48:34.559
that Einstein once took his HDTV apart. She easily put77500:48:34.559 --> 00:48:37.519
it back together, but now he could access all of77600:48:37.559 --> 00:48:42.679
the satellite channels and streaming services for free. She even77700:48:42.760 --> 00:48:46.039
doubled the picture quality. I look at the geek now77800:48:46.079 --> 00:48:49.199
and just want to ring her fucking neck, but of77900:48:49.280 --> 00:48:53.039
course I won't. The problem with Einstein is that she's78000:48:53.039 --> 00:48:56.880
always so fucking direct with me. She never sugarcoats shit.78100:48:57.800 --> 00:49:00.800
For example, I asked her why I fucking put up78200:49:00.800 --> 00:49:04.000
with her. I would have expected her to say because78300:49:04.039 --> 00:49:07.559
I'm sleeping with Martin, but no, she says, it's because78400:49:07.599 --> 00:49:13.039
she's so cute that I really like her. I do78500:49:13.159 --> 00:49:16.840
have to admit, Iinie is cute. I also have to78600:49:16.880 --> 00:49:20.639
admit the little shit does grow on you. We're walking78700:49:20.679 --> 00:49:24.480
the halls of Strickfield High, and I know I'm in hell.78800:49:25.159 --> 00:49:26.800
Just a few days ago, I had to deal with78900:49:26.920 --> 00:49:30.679
Jaren Hatley when she was on the Ultimate Caffeine High79000:49:30.760 --> 00:49:34.000
and tried to send Principal Matthew Van Deist on a79100:49:34.039 --> 00:49:38.480
permanent vacation. Speaking of whom, He's standing right outside the79200:49:38.519 --> 00:49:41.159
door of the main office and he's eyeing both me79300:49:41.320 --> 00:49:44.000
and iine I'll tell him to fuck off if he79400:49:44.039 --> 00:49:47.960
says something to me, but he doesn't. He's definitely checking79500:49:47.960 --> 00:49:50.559
me out, all right. Either he's got an eye for me,79600:49:50.800 --> 00:49:54.960
or it's the fact that I'm wearing this fucking schoolgirl79700:49:54.960 --> 00:49:59.280
outfit again. Plaid mini skirt, white blouse with the sleeves79800:49:59.280 --> 00:50:01.920
torn off and tied up to my tummy, and my79900:50:02.039 --> 00:50:06.599
eighties rebock pump basketball shoes. I've been wearing this fucking80000:50:06.599 --> 00:50:09.440
outfit because if I wear any of Ainy's other clothes,80100:50:09.840 --> 00:50:13.639
I'd feel batshit claustrophobic and shred them. And I don't80200:50:13.719 --> 00:50:17.639
really want to go shopping for new clothes. Okay, iiny80300:50:18.239 --> 00:50:21.119
wear are these vampire cheerleaders you want me to check out,80400:50:21.360 --> 00:50:24.440
I ask, they usually hang out in the north hall.80500:50:24.800 --> 00:50:29.239
Ainy replies in her mousey voice, this way. I let80600:50:29.280 --> 00:50:33.480
Aine lead me to said hallway. Sure enough, six cheerleaders80700:50:33.519 --> 00:50:37.360
are huddled together and yacking away. I immediately see the80800:50:37.400 --> 00:50:42.039
items of old bloodstone they're wearing as jewelry. Old is80900:50:42.119 --> 00:50:46.400
spelled old with an E on the end. See, I'm81000:50:46.440 --> 00:50:50.960
the only vampire who can truly walk freely in the daylight.81100:50:51.719 --> 00:50:55.119
These bitches are using old bloodstone to be able to81200:50:55.159 --> 00:50:58.360
walk in the daytime and not burn. Ainy and I81300:50:58.559 --> 00:51:01.719
just walk right past them. Then I start hearing nearby81400:51:01.880 --> 00:51:07.000
jocks whooping and hollering. Turns out they're doing it to me.81500:51:08.079 --> 00:51:12.280
It's the bad schoolgirl. You're such a badass. Will you81600:51:12.559 --> 00:51:18.039
marry me? How about a date, babe? And that definitely81700:51:18.079 --> 00:51:22.760
pisses off the cheerleaders. Remember most cheerleaders love the attention81800:51:22.960 --> 00:51:25.599
since they are at the top of the food chain81900:51:25.679 --> 00:51:28.679
and the female circuit of high schools. Now that they've82000:51:28.679 --> 00:51:32.280
seen me, they're not going to be so happy. In fact,82100:51:32.559 --> 00:51:36.159
they all turn towards me in advance. The hallway gets82200:51:36.280 --> 00:51:40.320
quiet in a big fucking hurry. I'm ready to defend82300:51:40.320 --> 00:51:44.320
ainy if they decide to vamp out. Who said you82400:51:44.320 --> 00:51:50.280
could walk our hallway? Bitch? Alyssa Meren demands her twin sister,82500:51:50.400 --> 00:51:54.840
Ali grins, this is our hallway. You need special permission82600:51:54.880 --> 00:51:58.039
to walk it. How much money you got? The other82700:51:58.159 --> 00:52:03.440
four just look on in anticipation. I really feel the82800:52:03.480 --> 00:52:06.679
need to laugh. I'll let you in on a little secret.82900:52:07.239 --> 00:52:09.800
Being the one unique type of vamp that I am83000:52:10.119 --> 00:52:13.199
means that I can detect other vamps, whether they're master83100:52:13.440 --> 00:52:18.519
or not. Now these bitches are just regular vamps, which83200:52:18.559 --> 00:52:24.239
means they think I'm completely human. Only other master vamps83300:52:24.239 --> 00:52:28.840
can detect me. In this case, they don't notice my83400:52:29.000 --> 00:52:34.559
eyes are red. I give them the same sexy smile83500:52:34.639 --> 00:52:39.960
that Martin loves so much. Oh, you two are so cute.83600:52:40.639 --> 00:52:45.079
I raise my finger. How about this. You two can83700:52:45.119 --> 00:52:48.639
take turns sucking my dick, and I'll come and go83800:52:48.719 --> 00:52:52.440
wherever the fuck I like. The twins just look at83900:52:52.480 --> 00:52:56.000
each other, mouths wide. They're ready to start a full84000:52:56.079 --> 00:53:00.199
on fight with me. I quickly raise my arm. It's84100:53:00.199 --> 00:53:02.760
not the time. I give them a quick nod to84200:53:02.800 --> 00:53:06.199
my right. They look to see Principal van Deist staring84300:53:06.239 --> 00:53:09.880
attentively down this hallway. The twins each raise a hand,84400:53:10.000 --> 00:53:13.039
telling the others to back off. We'll let you go84500:53:13.199 --> 00:53:17.880
this one time as a courtesy. Ali says, next time84600:53:17.920 --> 00:53:22.159
you come down here, you'll be paying. Alyssa adds. I84700:53:22.320 --> 00:53:25.840
laugh as Ainy and I turn and walk away. Ainie84800:53:25.880 --> 00:53:30.599
asks me, you think that was wise? Bells? What pissing84900:53:30.599 --> 00:53:33.840
them off? Fuck? Yeah, they'll be looking for me exactly85000:53:33.880 --> 00:53:37.320
what I want. I lightly slap her shoulder. Don't worry,85100:53:37.719 --> 00:53:40.719
I've got a plan, and then I smell Principal van85200:53:40.760 --> 00:53:43.840
Deist coming our way. I wait for him to reach us.85300:53:44.440 --> 00:53:48.239
What can I do for you on this very fine day, sir?85400:53:48.719 --> 00:53:52.280
I crack, not even turning around. He takes hold of85500:53:52.280 --> 00:53:55.559
my shoulder and turns me around. Look, I know you're85600:53:55.599 --> 00:53:58.559
new here, but we don't need you starting trouble already.85700:53:59.360 --> 00:54:04.079
I smile. No trouble, no trouble at all. Like you said,85800:54:04.360 --> 00:54:06.880
I'm new here, just want to get familiar with my85900:54:06.920 --> 00:54:11.559
new school. He glares at me. Um, I heard what86000:54:11.639 --> 00:54:16.119
you said to those girls. Yeah, and you're gonna take86100:54:16.119 --> 00:54:18.440
me to the office and wash my mouth out with soap.86200:54:19.239 --> 00:54:21.480
Then I glare back and tell him where only he86300:54:21.559 --> 00:54:24.239
and I, and he can hear me. I would love86400:54:24.880 --> 00:54:29.440
to see you try. He's irritated with me, but he86500:54:29.480 --> 00:54:32.800
knows he can't really do anything. Then I show him86600:54:32.840 --> 00:54:36.679
my schedule. Room two thirty seven is first period. Far86700:54:36.719 --> 00:54:39.159
as I'm concerned, we're allowed to walk the halls freely86800:54:39.199 --> 00:54:41.880
to get to our classes. Maybe you should say something86900:54:41.880 --> 00:54:45.360
to the cheerleaders, unless that is, of course there in87000:54:45.480 --> 00:54:49.480
charge here. When he doesn't answer me, I flash my87100:54:49.639 --> 00:54:53.440
sexy smile again. Way I see it, the students run87200:54:53.440 --> 00:54:56.840
this school. You're just here collecting a paycheck. If you87300:54:56.960 --> 00:55:00.400
really do run things here, then fucking grow a pair.87400:55:01.440 --> 00:55:04.119
As I turn to leave, he grabs my arm again.87500:55:04.840 --> 00:55:09.400
Don't you test me. I'm still smiling my sexy smile.87600:55:10.159 --> 00:55:13.360
That's more like it. I take my arm back now,87700:55:13.480 --> 00:55:16.039
fuck off and help make this school a better place87800:55:17.039 --> 00:55:19.440
Inny and I turn away from the principal and resume87900:55:19.480 --> 00:55:23.239
heading to room two thirty seven. The cheerleaders just glare88000:55:23.280 --> 00:55:25.800
at us as we walk right past them. I even88100:55:25.840 --> 00:55:32.360
make sure to flip the twin bees off. Throughout the day,88200:55:32.400 --> 00:55:35.440
I end up having classes with both Iiny and members88300:55:35.480 --> 00:55:38.280
of the cheerleading squad. I can easily keep an eye88400:55:38.360 --> 00:55:42.119
on said people. The downside is that several horny boys88500:55:42.159 --> 00:55:44.679
are keeping their eyes on me. I hadn't planned on88600:55:44.800 --> 00:55:48.440
being labeled the bad schoolgirl, But what could I do?88700:55:49.079 --> 00:55:51.559
I couldn't just let Jaren Hatley have her way with88800:55:51.639 --> 00:55:55.519
Principal Van dist Oh, well, I don't have to be88900:55:55.559 --> 00:55:58.239
the least bit afraid of the boys. I catch an89000:55:58.239 --> 00:56:01.519
occasional glare from whatever checheerleaders are in my classes, but89100:56:02.159 --> 00:56:05.360
I just give them right back. Thanks to my ultra89200:56:05.480 --> 00:56:09.239
sensitive hearing, another master vampire quality, I can easily hear89300:56:09.280 --> 00:56:13.280
the cheerleaders talking. Tonight is a basketball game in the gym.89400:56:13.760 --> 00:56:16.800
After the game, they're meeting the boys for their ritual.89500:56:17.639 --> 00:56:22.119
They don't say where. Yeah, you bitches do that. You89600:56:22.239 --> 00:56:26.039
go hunt for your victims, and I'll hunt all of you.89700:56:27.039 --> 00:56:29.800
That night, AINI and I are just outside the gym.89800:56:30.440 --> 00:56:32.960
Sure enough, the cheerleaders are inside and the game is89900:56:33.000 --> 00:56:36.400
going on. What are you going to do? Bells? Aine90000:56:36.519 --> 00:56:39.960
asks me. Oh, I think I'll head on in and90100:56:40.000 --> 00:56:43.320
watch the game. I tell her, I can tell Iine's90200:56:43.320 --> 00:56:46.159
a little scared. You can go home if you want.90300:56:46.519 --> 00:56:50.679
I can handle those bitches. Irone shakes her head quickly. No,90400:56:51.559 --> 00:56:53.920
I got you into this. I'm gonna see it through.90500:56:54.880 --> 00:56:57.960
I turn my attention back to the gym. Me too.90600:56:58.800 --> 00:57:02.519
Then I can move on now Iiny's gone from scared90700:57:02.559 --> 00:57:07.239
to upset. No, we can talk about this later. I90800:57:07.280 --> 00:57:11.440
say no. Irony grabs my wrist and pulls me into90900:57:11.440 --> 00:57:14.719
the empty library. Then she points right at me. You91000:57:14.800 --> 00:57:17.239
are not going to just up and leave Martin like that.91100:57:18.159 --> 00:57:21.159
I fold my arms in front of me. I asked91200:57:21.199 --> 00:57:24.559
you this before, I'll ask you again. Am I just91300:57:24.599 --> 00:57:29.119
supposed to wear Martin's college ring? Look? I only stayed91400:57:29.159 --> 00:57:33.119
because you told me there were vampires on the cheerleading squad. Okay,91500:57:33.559 --> 00:57:37.079
I confirmed they're vampires, and I'll deal with them. Once91600:57:37.119 --> 00:57:40.239
I do. Then that's it. I'll give your uniforms back91700:57:40.239 --> 00:57:46.559
and get my shit and finally leave Strickfield. Einstein's really91800:57:46.639 --> 00:57:50.559
pissed now. She shakes her head. I said, no, you91900:57:50.639 --> 00:57:53.760
are not walking out on Martin like that. He's really92000:57:53.800 --> 00:57:56.960
into you, She points right at me, and not just92100:57:57.000 --> 00:58:00.800
because you're fucking him. I narrow my eyes on her.92200:58:01.800 --> 00:58:05.159
What are you saying that Martin's in love with me?92300:58:05.760 --> 00:58:08.119
I don't buy that. We've only known each other for92400:58:08.159 --> 00:58:11.639
about a week. We're just sleeping together, Iiny, that's it,92500:58:12.400 --> 00:58:16.840
and you, what are we supposed to be besties? Hang92600:58:16.880 --> 00:58:19.199
out at them all together and do each other's nails.92700:58:19.639 --> 00:58:24.199
I'm over a hundred fucking years old. I hunt supernatural92800:58:24.320 --> 00:58:28.599
vermin I'm a fucking tabon. I'm a master vampire. A92900:58:28.679 --> 00:58:31.840
normal life will never be in my future. Why can't93000:58:31.880 --> 00:58:35.599
you understand that? Stop acting all high and mighty bells,93100:58:36.239 --> 00:58:40.880
Iiny snaps, and stop running away all the time. Who93200:58:40.920 --> 00:58:44.800
the fuck is running away? I demand? I don't have93300:58:44.920 --> 00:58:48.039
any family left to run away from. I'm the last93400:58:48.079 --> 00:58:50.400
in my family tree. I'm alone in this world, and93500:58:50.440 --> 00:58:53.119
that's the way it has to be. I unfold my93600:58:53.280 --> 00:58:56.719
arms and raise my finger. Has it ever occurred to93700:58:56.760 --> 00:58:59.519
you that my being in your house is potentially putting93800:58:59.559 --> 00:59:02.920
you Annie Martin in terrible danger? All an enemy would93900:59:02.960 --> 00:59:04.960
have to do is know that I'm staying with you both,94000:59:05.239 --> 00:59:07.719
and they'll come at me through the two of you.94100:59:08.599 --> 00:59:12.400
I point to the gym case in point those bitches94200:59:12.480 --> 00:59:15.119
know you're with me. What's to keep them from attacking94300:59:15.159 --> 00:59:18.880
your house? Heiny and I continue to argue. Some of94400:59:18.880 --> 00:59:22.559
Ininy's shit gets to be repetitive. I've finally had enough94500:59:22.599 --> 00:59:25.639
and walk out of the library. Iiny's right behind me.94600:59:26.239 --> 00:59:30.840
We're not done here, Bells, you're risking bodily harm, Einstein,94700:59:31.559 --> 00:59:34.320
I tell her when she grabs my wrist again, you94800:59:34.360 --> 00:59:37.079
are not just going to up and leave Martin like that,94900:59:37.559 --> 00:59:42.239
Iiny hisses. I don't turn to her. I really don't95000:59:42.280 --> 00:59:45.000
have time for this shit right now. We'll talk about95100:59:45.000 --> 00:59:47.679
it when we're done with what I'm here for. I95200:59:47.719 --> 00:59:52.400
look inside the gym. Fuck, the game's over. The cheerleaders95300:59:52.400 --> 00:59:55.199
are gone. I turn to Ainy. I could have been95400:59:55.280 --> 00:59:58.000
keeping an eye on those bitches, but no, you had95500:59:58.000 --> 01:00:01.280
to get all fucking emotional on me. I turned to her,95601:00:01.480 --> 01:00:03.599
Why don't you just go home. I'm gonna have to95701:00:03.639 --> 01:00:06.320
track them down now before they hurt innocence. You're just95801:00:06.320 --> 01:00:09.480
slowing me down here. I march right into the gym95901:00:09.719 --> 01:00:13.400
to start tracking the vampire bitches. Unfortunately, I can hear96001:00:13.440 --> 01:00:17.960
Aine crying behind me. I can't worry about that right now.96101:00:18.559 --> 01:00:23.480
But then I suddenly stop dead in my tracks. God96201:00:23.599 --> 01:00:28.079
damn it. Thornton Jillian never had any fucking feelings when96301:00:28.119 --> 01:00:30.559
he was a master vampire. You'd think that when his96401:00:30.639 --> 01:00:34.159
blood mixed with mine, i'd have no feelings either. True,96501:00:34.280 --> 01:00:38.119
I'm a master vampire, but I'm my own breed. I96601:00:38.199 --> 01:00:42.800
still have my humanity, which means I still have feelings.96701:00:42.840 --> 01:00:46.719
And now I feel like a complete piece of shit96801:00:47.079 --> 01:00:51.119
for hurting Aine's feelings. I turn around and walk back96901:00:51.119 --> 01:00:56.440
to her. Okay, come on, she doesn't move. I have97001:00:56.480 --> 01:01:00.119
to make this right. Okay, I admit it. I'm I'm97101:01:00.159 --> 01:01:02.840
a fucking hardcore cunt. You should know by now that97201:01:02.920 --> 01:01:05.320
I don't have a filter. I say what I feel.97301:01:05.480 --> 01:01:08.559
I'm just telling you the honest truth here. This is97401:01:08.599 --> 01:01:13.039
the hardest thing for me to say. I'm sorry. Okay,97501:01:14.000 --> 01:01:15.760
I know I was harsh, but I just wanted you97601:01:15.800 --> 01:01:19.599
to understand. I can't be with anybody on a full97701:01:19.639 --> 01:01:24.639
time basis. I just can't. Ini gets her shit together.97801:01:25.519 --> 01:01:28.320
Martin's been taking care of me ever since our parents died.97901:01:28.760 --> 01:01:31.159
He's been working at Mire and Automotive during the week98001:01:31.320 --> 01:01:33.840
and Friday nights and weekends at Denoyer's Grill just to98101:01:33.920 --> 01:01:35.960
keep a roof over our heads and the bills paid,98201:01:36.719 --> 01:01:40.760
all while taking classes at Strickfield. You He's all I have.98301:01:42.199 --> 01:01:45.280
I just want the best for him. I know he's98401:01:45.320 --> 01:01:48.519
really into you. My brother's been with other girls, but98501:01:49.320 --> 01:01:51.920
he's never looked at them the way he looks at you. Bells.98601:01:52.960 --> 01:01:57.119
I'm begging you, please don't hurt him. I put a98701:01:57.159 --> 01:02:01.320
hand on Iiny's shoulder, and I will talk about things98801:02:01.360 --> 01:02:08.880
and go from there. But I make no promises. She nods, okay, okay,98901:02:09.559 --> 01:02:13.079
Now come on, let's go find those cheerleaders. We turn99001:02:13.159 --> 01:02:16.119
and head to the girl's locker room. As I suspected,99101:02:16.119 --> 01:02:18.920
they're not in the showers. I've been around them long99201:02:19.039 --> 01:02:21.920
enough to get their sense. When we go outside, I99301:02:21.960 --> 01:02:26.519
see their footprints in the snow until they stop dead.99401:02:26.920 --> 01:02:30.880
They flew away, Iiny. I tell her they turned into99501:02:30.880 --> 01:02:33.679
bats and flew off. I can't go after them since99601:02:33.679 --> 01:02:37.760
I can't change form. You're a vampire. You can't change form.99701:02:38.199 --> 01:02:41.880
Iinny shrieks. If I can, I've never figured out how99801:02:41.880 --> 01:02:44.199
to do it. I'll have to leap in order to99901:02:44.239 --> 01:02:47.719
go after them. If you're coming, then you're gonna have100001:02:47.760 --> 01:02:51.119
to hang on tight. I grab Iiny and leap high100101:02:51.159 --> 01:02:53.599
into the night sky. I still have their sense in100201:02:53.639 --> 01:02:57.039
the air. I manage to go a full three miles100301:02:57.079 --> 01:03:00.480
before I have to land and take another leap glad.100401:03:00.519 --> 01:03:03.639
Iine remember to wear a jacket. The scent is getting100501:03:03.679 --> 01:03:07.079
stronger as I land near a forest. Then I look100601:03:07.119 --> 01:03:10.079
and see some cars. I recognize a few of them100701:03:10.599 --> 01:03:14.079
and know they belong to some of the jocks. Stupid,100801:03:14.760 --> 01:03:18.519
stupid boys. They probably met up with the cheerleaders. Thinkin100901:03:18.559 --> 01:03:22.280
they're gonna get laid. Yeah, they'll fucking get laid, all right,101001:03:22.840 --> 01:03:26.159
It's gonna get dangerous inside these woods. Ainy, I whisper,101101:03:26.760 --> 01:03:30.079
you need to stick close to me. When I tell you, you101201:03:29.800 --> 01:03:34.599
run and hide. Got it, bells, she whispers back. I101301:03:34.719 --> 01:03:37.639
take Iine's hand and lead her into the woods. The101401:03:37.679 --> 01:03:41.360
bitches aren't that far away now. Their scent is very strong.101501:03:42.039 --> 01:03:44.760
Thanks to my vampire vision, I can easily see in101601:03:44.800 --> 01:03:46.639
the dark as if it's still the light of day.101701:03:47.239 --> 01:03:49.840
We walk a little bit until we move behind a101801:03:49.880 --> 01:03:53.440
big redwood. There are four guys there with the cheerleaders.101901:03:53.840 --> 01:03:56.599
They're all around a camp fire. It looks as if102001:03:56.639 --> 01:03:58.960
two of them are flat on their backs while the102101:03:58.960 --> 01:04:02.639
other two are in a trance. I know I could102201:04:02.639 --> 01:04:06.320
have saved them if i'd acted sooner, but I have feelings.102301:04:06.719 --> 01:04:09.199
I guess it's no wonder why other vampires I've taken102401:04:09.280 --> 01:04:12.360
down tell me that having feelings is my biggest weakness.102501:04:13.199 --> 01:04:16.159
Fuck them. I lean over to any and whisper in102601:04:16.199 --> 01:04:20.239
her ear. Stay here. I see her nod before I102701:04:20.320 --> 01:04:22.679
let go of her hand. I take off my shoes102801:04:22.679 --> 01:04:25.079
and hand them to her. Then I move and leap102901:04:25.119 --> 01:04:28.039
over to the other side of the fire. Everybody hears103001:04:28.079 --> 01:04:32.280
me land when I reveal myself. Everybody that can look does.103101:04:33.039 --> 01:04:36.000
The twin mir and bees point right at me. You103201:04:36.039 --> 01:04:40.280
shouldn't have come here, Ali hisses, six of us to103301:04:40.400 --> 01:04:46.280
one of you. Alyssa notes, you really came out here alone,103401:04:47.320 --> 01:04:50.800
One of the other cheerleaders asks, in surprise. I put103501:04:50.800 --> 01:04:55.480
my hand to my chin. Hm, six of you to103601:04:55.679 --> 01:05:00.760
one of me. I lower my hand and look at them. Yeah, yeah,103701:05:00.840 --> 01:05:07.039
you're right. Those are definitely bad odds yours. Then I103801:05:07.239 --> 01:05:10.920
vamp out, changing my face and readying my claws. Then103901:05:11.119 --> 01:05:17.079
the bitches scream what the fuck? The bitches are actually104001:05:17.360 --> 01:05:20.719
scared of me. I guess so, because they all turn104101:05:20.840 --> 01:05:23.920
tail and run. The two guys that are still tranced104201:05:24.039 --> 01:05:27.159
just stand there. I check on the two guys that104301:05:27.199 --> 01:05:31.000
are down. Ainie approaches me. I'm ready to tell her104401:05:31.079 --> 01:05:34.800
she should have stayed put, but I know she's concerned.104501:05:35.599 --> 01:05:40.440
Are they dead bells? I feel for pulses? No, thankfully,104601:05:41.039 --> 01:05:44.800
And then I finally understand. I know why those bitches104701:05:44.840 --> 01:05:49.320
are wearing the Old bloodstone. AINI what made you think104801:05:49.360 --> 01:05:53.760
they were vampires? I saw them smile and chow fangs104901:05:53.880 --> 01:05:58.239
like yours, she tells me. Alyssa also showed me her claws.105001:05:58.320 --> 01:06:05.360
But but they have to be vampires. They turned into bats, right, Yeah,105101:06:05.719 --> 01:06:09.000
they did, but they freaked out when they saw me, Iini,105201:06:09.119 --> 01:06:12.679
they can't possibly know that I'm a master vampire. You105301:06:12.800 --> 01:06:17.760
mentioned old bloodstone bells, right, And here's what I determined.105401:06:18.400 --> 01:06:22.800
If they were true vampires, they could use old bloodstone105501:06:22.840 --> 01:06:26.199
to be able to walk in the daylight. However, they105601:06:26.239 --> 01:06:29.119
would have to keep their stones charged by drinking twice105701:06:29.119 --> 01:06:34.119
as much innocent blood, and by innocent I mean virgin blood.105801:06:34.960 --> 01:06:38.239
I've been listening around school. I haven't heard a single105901:06:38.320 --> 01:06:42.559
story about any bodies being drained of blood, or of106001:06:42.800 --> 01:06:47.199
that many people even disappearing. So we get to the106101:06:47.840 --> 01:06:53.119
other possibility. Those bitches are practicing witchcraft and are using106201:06:53.119 --> 01:06:58.360
the Old Bloodstone to turn themselves into vampires. Though they106301:06:58.360 --> 01:07:02.599
can walk by daylight, which means their transformations aren't complete.106401:07:03.039 --> 01:07:05.800
They have to charge their stones with soul energy in106501:07:05.920 --> 01:07:10.400
order to maintain their powers and continue their transformations. What106601:07:10.480 --> 01:07:14.840
they don't realize is once their transformations are complete, they106701:07:14.840 --> 01:07:17.400
would need virgin blood to charge their stones to be106801:07:17.480 --> 01:07:20.800
able to walk around during the daylight. I think you106901:07:20.840 --> 01:07:25.000
and I both know that pure virgin blood is very107001:07:25.039 --> 01:07:28.480
hard to come by in this day and age. I107101:07:28.559 --> 01:07:31.280
point to the guys. You keep an eye on them.107201:07:31.679 --> 01:07:35.320
I'm going after those fucking bitches. They didn't turn into107301:07:35.320 --> 01:07:38.519
bats this time. I can easily find the six girls107401:07:38.920 --> 01:07:42.920
thanks to both their sense and their footprints. Seriously, I've107501:07:42.960 --> 01:07:45.719
heard over the years that cheerleaders can be such fucking airheads,107601:07:45.760 --> 01:07:49.679
but this is too much. I easily find two of107701:07:49.719 --> 01:07:52.920
them together. They're both holding each other. Their faces are107801:07:52.920 --> 01:07:56.719
half vamped. Suddenly they scream and try to come at me.107901:07:57.840 --> 01:08:01.119
Classic rookie mistake. Match the both of them up and108001:08:01.199 --> 01:08:04.079
toss them over my shoulders. They both hit the snowy108101:08:04.119 --> 01:08:07.199
ground and moan. I'm on both of them. Before they108201:08:07.239 --> 01:08:10.039
realize it, they scream as I reach my claws out108301:08:10.079 --> 01:08:14.440
for them and relieve them of their old bloodstone jewelry108401:08:14.679 --> 01:08:17.920
to make them human again. I hold one girl to108501:08:18.039 --> 01:08:21.000
me as I glam the other to get information. When108601:08:21.039 --> 01:08:24.079
I get what I want, I glam the other. Unlike108701:08:24.199 --> 01:08:27.399
normal vampires, who can only glam as a means of hypnosis,108801:08:27.439 --> 01:08:31.000
I can both bend people to my will and actually108901:08:31.039 --> 01:08:35.279
look into their memories, whether they remember or not. I109001:08:35.359 --> 01:08:38.560
come to find that these bitches have indeed killed people109101:08:38.600 --> 01:08:42.399
by taking their souls to charge their old bloodstone jewelry.109201:08:42.520 --> 01:08:46.560
I could easily kill these two, but I'm not a butcher. No,109301:08:47.399 --> 01:08:50.359
I have a much more suitable punishment for them. I109401:08:50.520 --> 01:08:55.159
peer so deeply into their psychees and corrupt them so109501:08:55.239 --> 01:08:59.199
that they ultimately end up going insane. I let the109601:08:59.239 --> 01:09:02.399
girls go and pursue the others to more scream. As109701:09:02.399 --> 01:09:04.399
they come out of their hiding places and attack me,109801:09:04.680 --> 01:09:08.720
I easily swap them away like flies. They truly have109901:09:08.880 --> 01:09:12.239
no idea of how fast a full vampire can move,110001:09:12.600 --> 01:09:16.479
even more so for a master. I'm on both of110101:09:16.520 --> 01:09:19.479
them before they can even get up. So tell me,110201:09:20.159 --> 01:09:22.560
was this thing with using old bloodstone to turn yourselves110301:09:22.600 --> 01:09:27.439
into vampires? Your idea? I ask, knowing full well that110401:09:27.560 --> 01:09:31.880
it's not we just wanted to live forever. One of110501:09:31.920 --> 01:09:36.079
them says, we just wanted to be important. The other says,110601:09:37.000 --> 01:09:39.199
you don't know what it's like to be invisible to people.110701:09:40.880 --> 01:09:43.479
I'm not sure whether they can see me smile or not,110801:09:43.760 --> 01:09:48.640
but I find what they say funny. Actually, yes, I110901:09:48.800 --> 01:09:51.560
do know what it means to be invisible to people.111001:09:52.039 --> 01:09:54.600
The only difference between you two and me is I111101:09:54.760 --> 01:09:58.800
choose to be invisible. But you two such stupid girls.111201:09:59.000 --> 01:10:03.880
You took lives selfish reasons. Well now you'll have all111301:10:03.920 --> 01:10:07.079
the attention you two could ever want. I'll see to111401:10:07.119 --> 01:10:11.479
that personally. I take their old bloodstone and also make111501:10:11.560 --> 01:10:15.640
them insane. That just leaves the little twin miran bees.111601:10:16.600 --> 01:10:20.159
Like the others, they made the mistake of screaming before attacking.111701:10:20.720 --> 01:10:23.479
These two are fully vamped out and want to give111801:10:23.520 --> 01:10:26.359
me a fight. Looks like these twin girls are the111901:10:26.399 --> 01:10:30.319
strongest out of what was their squad. They've probably siphoned112001:10:30.359 --> 01:10:35.119
more energy compared to the others. Well, they are mirans.112101:10:35.359 --> 01:10:38.119
All they care about is money and power. But being112201:10:38.159 --> 01:10:43.039
a mirror means so very little to a tabon. While112301:10:43.039 --> 01:10:46.319
Alyssa and Ali are close enough to being full vampires112401:10:46.560 --> 01:10:50.119
they're finding out that there are bigger predators out there112501:10:50.159 --> 01:10:53.119
than them. They try to fight me with just basic112601:10:53.159 --> 01:10:57.199
street fighting. I'm a master of many different martial arts.112701:10:57.560 --> 01:10:59.680
To finish them off, I thrust my foot into one112801:10:59.680 --> 01:11:03.039
twin gut so hard I can hear her spine crackle112901:11:03.119 --> 01:11:07.359
hard in many places. Then she falls onto her back.113001:11:08.399 --> 01:11:10.920
As for the other twin, I quickly bring my other113101:11:10.960 --> 01:11:13.760
foot up over my shoulder and connect with her neck.113201:11:14.439 --> 01:11:18.119
The slight crack tells me that I've damaged her spine also,113301:11:18.720 --> 01:11:22.880
she falls Immediately After relieving the twins of their stones,113401:11:23.079 --> 01:11:27.359
they become fully human once more. Only now the two113501:11:27.399 --> 01:11:31.800
of them are paralyzed for life. I could drive them insane,113601:11:31.880 --> 01:11:36.039
but I feel like I've done enough. No, I won't113701:11:36.119 --> 01:11:39.159
let them die out here. I bring the cheerleaders back113801:11:39.199 --> 01:11:41.880
to the camp fire where Ainie is. I know she113901:11:41.960 --> 01:11:43.920
has a smartphone, so I tell her to call nine114001:11:43.960 --> 01:11:47.640
one one and ask for some ambulances. I still feel114101:11:47.720 --> 01:11:50.760
soul energy inside these stones, so I recite the spell114201:11:50.880 --> 01:11:53.000
to release the energy and send it back to the114301:11:53.079 --> 01:11:56.199
rightful owners. The two guys that were flat on their114401:11:56.239 --> 01:11:59.319
backs begin to move again. I make sure they're okay114501:11:59.720 --> 01:12:02.119
before or I glam them and make them forget all114601:12:02.159 --> 01:12:05.720
about me. You better get out of her bells. Aini114701:12:05.840 --> 01:12:08.760
tells me. I can see the flashers coming over there.114801:12:09.359 --> 01:12:13.880
I'll get this. I see where Iini's pointing. Good idea.114901:12:14.479 --> 01:12:17.239
You gonna be okay if I leave you here. Irony115001:12:17.319 --> 01:12:22.279
grabs my wrist one more time. Please don't leave Strickfield.115101:12:22.640 --> 01:12:25.439
Don't leave Martin. I'll be at the house when you115201:12:25.479 --> 01:12:29.680
get home, iine. I promise. Also, I promised you that115301:12:29.760 --> 01:12:34.119
i'd talk to Martin. I'll be waiting for you when115401:12:34.119 --> 01:12:37.199
Inini lets go. I leap into the air and am115501:12:37.239 --> 01:12:40.199
long gone before the police and ambulances get there. I115601:12:40.279 --> 01:12:44.600
have no doubt that Einstein will take care of everything. Well.115701:12:45.119 --> 01:12:48.520
I won't go into every detail about all the sappy shit.115801:12:49.239 --> 01:12:52.119
It's two weeks later and it's Friday at Strickfield High School.115901:12:52.319 --> 01:12:54.680
I look at my nails that Iini polished for me.116001:12:55.600 --> 01:12:59.359
God damn you, heiny as you can tell. I did116101:12:59.439 --> 01:13:01.800
keep my word to Ainie and remained at the house.116201:13:02.439 --> 01:13:05.680
Martin was already home when I got there. He looked116301:13:05.680 --> 01:13:09.800
tired from his classes. Still he had enough energy to116401:13:09.840 --> 01:13:12.920
come and take me in his arms. As much as116501:13:12.960 --> 01:13:15.920
I wanted to tell Martin that we were done and116601:13:16.000 --> 01:13:20.399
that I wanted to leave Strickfield, I realized I just116701:13:20.520 --> 01:13:25.439
couldn't do that to him, not like that. Again. Part116801:13:25.479 --> 01:13:27.760
of me wished that I'd lost my emotions when I116901:13:27.800 --> 01:13:34.600
became a master vampire. But I love and need to feel,117001:13:34.760 --> 01:13:38.880
which is something very few vamps can do. Martin and117101:13:38.920 --> 01:13:41.880
I made love for the first time that night. Normally117201:13:41.880 --> 01:13:45.319
we just fuck. As for Iini, I think she pretty117301:13:45.359 --> 01:13:49.079
much knew that I was sticking around. The next morning,117401:13:49.439 --> 01:13:52.199
still two weeks ago, Martin had to go to work117501:13:52.239 --> 01:13:55.880
and then classes. He would be gone all day. It117601:13:55.960 --> 01:13:58.399
was just Irony and me and we went to school,117701:13:59.359 --> 01:14:02.039
wouldn't you know both of us were called into the117801:14:02.079 --> 01:14:05.479
principal's office. Turned out that the talk of the school117901:14:05.560 --> 01:14:08.880
was that the cheerleading squad was permanently gone. It was118001:14:08.920 --> 01:14:11.640
in the Strickfield newspaper that something had happened to them118101:14:11.680 --> 01:14:13.760
in the woods near the south end of the village.118201:14:13.800 --> 01:14:17.640
Limits four of them were committed to a facility called Glenview,118301:14:18.000 --> 01:14:22.119
which was near North Ridgeway. As for the twins, they118401:14:22.239 --> 01:14:25.319
ended up in a special hospital over in Shore City,118501:14:25.720 --> 01:14:27.840
where they would be cared for for the rest of118601:14:27.880 --> 01:14:31.359
their lives. It didn't surprise me that their parents didn't118701:14:31.399 --> 01:14:36.520
want to care for them themselves. Fucking rich misers. Anyway,118801:14:37.119 --> 01:14:40.560
getting back to Principal Van dest he had both Iiny118901:14:40.600 --> 01:14:43.840
and me in front of him. He pointed right at us.119001:14:44.279 --> 01:14:46.439
I don't know what happened with the cheerleaders, but I119101:14:46.520 --> 01:14:49.680
know I know that you two had something to do119201:14:49.760 --> 01:14:54.039
with it. I roll my eyes. Can you even prove119301:14:54.359 --> 01:14:57.920
any of this shit? If not, go fuck yourself and119401:14:58.000 --> 01:15:00.920
let us go back to class. Oh oh, you're going119501:15:00.960 --> 01:15:03.319
back to class all right. He stood up and put119601:15:03.319 --> 01:15:07.239
his palms on the desk. He had this weird smirk119701:15:07.279 --> 01:15:09.640
on his face. I want you to to go see119801:15:09.680 --> 01:15:13.199
Miss Temple in her office. Now. I believe you know119901:15:13.279 --> 01:15:16.079
the way, Aileen, you can take our new student to120001:15:16.119 --> 01:15:20.239
meet her. When Aileen got up, I was a bit reluctant.120101:15:21.039 --> 01:15:23.039
I wanted to see what else this shit heel had120201:15:23.079 --> 01:15:26.000
to say. When he told me to get going, I120301:15:26.079 --> 01:15:29.079
got up before we left. I made sure he saw120401:15:29.119 --> 01:15:31.640
me give him the finger and flick my tongue. I120501:15:31.760 --> 01:15:34.279
NEI took us to the gym and to Miss Temple's office.120601:15:34.279 --> 01:15:37.520
There turned out she taught a few of the gym classes,120701:15:37.680 --> 01:15:41.000
a few of the English classes, and was also the120801:15:41.079 --> 01:15:45.800
cheerleading coach. She looked really fucking happy to see us.120901:15:46.600 --> 01:15:49.600
There were four other girls there too. I won't go121001:15:49.680 --> 01:15:53.199
into details on them, but just seeing the six of us,121101:15:53.680 --> 01:15:58.279
we had the strangest mix there. Miss Temple couldn't wait121201:15:58.359 --> 01:16:00.560
to tell the six of us that you were all121301:16:01.359 --> 01:16:06.319
the new fucking cheerleader squad. Bull shit. I quickly told121401:16:06.359 --> 01:16:09.960
her and stepped back. You can fucking kiss my ass,121501:16:10.800 --> 01:16:13.960
believe it or not. Miss Temple wasn't even upset with me.121601:16:14.640 --> 01:16:19.279
She just simply said language. Then she explained that Principal121701:16:19.359 --> 01:16:22.439
Van Deist had personally hand picked the six of us121801:16:22.800 --> 01:16:26.319
to be the new cheerleaders of Strickfield High. I still121901:16:26.319 --> 01:16:29.520
told Miss Temple to go fuck herself. Then I about122001:16:29.560 --> 01:16:31.760
lost my fucking shit when I saw that Iini and122101:16:31.800 --> 01:16:35.359
the others gladly accepted their uniform and shoes as much122201:16:35.399 --> 01:16:38.840
as I protested. Iine looked so happy to have been122301:16:38.880 --> 01:16:42.439
given such an opportunity. I would have also told Iini122401:16:42.560 --> 01:16:45.119
to go get fucked, but we've had time to bond122501:16:45.159 --> 01:16:49.039
over the last several days, so not only am I122601:16:49.279 --> 01:16:52.920
possibly developing feelings for Martin. I've gotten used to having122701:16:52.960 --> 01:16:57.800
Iiny around. I think I've said this before, but she122801:16:57.920 --> 01:17:00.880
fucking grows on you. As soon as we were back122901:17:00.920 --> 01:17:04.079
out in the hallway, I grabbed Iiny's shoulders. I am123001:17:04.319 --> 01:17:09.039
so gonna fucking kill you. Now you won't, she said quickly.123101:17:09.680 --> 01:17:15.680
I'm your best friend again, Always so fucking direct. Getting123201:17:15.720 --> 01:17:19.840
back to now I'm wearing a fucking cheerleader uniform. It'll123301:17:19.840 --> 01:17:23.800
be another game night as a full fledged cheerleader. Oh123401:17:24.039 --> 01:17:27.760
and now I'm known as both the bad schoolgirl and123501:17:28.439 --> 01:17:32.079
the bad cheerleader. Aine told me she had a reason123601:17:32.159 --> 01:17:34.479
for the two of us joining the squad, and it123701:17:34.600 --> 01:17:36.880
wasn't for us to show off our tits and asses123801:17:36.880 --> 01:17:40.359
in front of the crowds at the basketball games. Aine123901:17:40.359 --> 01:17:43.039
explained that a lot of shit goes on here in Strickfield.124001:17:43.520 --> 01:17:45.840
She promised me there would be more than enough work124101:17:45.880 --> 01:17:49.319
to keep me here for a very long time. In124201:17:49.399 --> 01:17:52.399
other words, we'd be keeping our eyes and ears open124301:17:52.479 --> 01:17:56.439
for shit to investigate. Over time, I would learn other124401:17:56.479 --> 01:18:00.960
interesting things about the other four cheerleaders. So I sigh124501:18:01.079 --> 01:18:04.279
to myself and realize I've gotten too close to the124601:18:04.319 --> 01:18:09.479
Donner Lease and the great food at Denoyer's grill. Looks124701:18:09.520 --> 01:18:14.640
like I'm stuck in this fucking village indefinitely. Seriously, why124801:18:14.720 --> 01:18:17.640
couldn't I have lost my feelings when Thornton Jillian's blood124901:18:17.640 --> 01:18:29.640
mixed with mine over one hundred years ago? Caroline Quinn125001:18:30.119 --> 01:18:36.439
Vampire Hunter by Mike Ascuie. Halloween always brings out the125101:18:36.479 --> 01:18:39.560
weird ones. Can you remember a time when it didn't125201:18:39.600 --> 01:18:43.439
bring out the weird ones? I can't, now, tossing all125301:18:43.479 --> 01:18:48.760
sorts of things people consider fantastic and impossible only fifty125401:18:48.840 --> 01:18:54.079
years ago, and now it's only weirder. It's also a125501:18:54.079 --> 01:18:58.920
lot more dangerous. See, fifty years ago, something happened and125601:18:58.960 --> 01:19:03.039
no one can explain it. People just were born different,125701:19:03.880 --> 01:19:09.960
different how well Suddenly people could fly, people could turn invisible,125801:19:10.119 --> 01:19:14.520
and sometimes those special people had bad days and people125901:19:14.840 --> 01:19:18.880
ended up dead. Now tossing the fact that some things126001:19:18.920 --> 01:19:23.720
we considered myth and legend were also real real life monsters,126101:19:23.800 --> 01:19:27.359
vampires werewolf's, shape shifters and stuff that would make Stephen126201:19:27.439 --> 01:19:31.439
King say, what in the actual fuck? It's a real126301:19:31.479 --> 01:19:36.239
shit show, but it's home and frankly it's a living126401:19:37.079 --> 01:19:40.960
I deal with problems that the usual police or even126501:19:41.079 --> 01:19:46.079
gifted individuals can't. My name is Caroline Quinn, and I'm126601:19:46.159 --> 01:19:49.520
something a little different than what you might expect. I'm126701:19:49.520 --> 01:19:53.319
not a super and I'm not a cop, but something126801:19:53.399 --> 01:19:56.640
in between those things. I don't report to anyone per se,126901:19:57.560 --> 01:20:01.079
but I do draw a paycheck. I'm what's known as127001:20:01.520 --> 01:20:05.520
a troubleshooter. I am contracted by the government to deal127101:20:05.560 --> 01:20:11.720
with quote issues that require discretion and most importantly, plausible deniability.127201:20:12.359 --> 01:20:15.199
See it's okay to have your local neighborhood asshole in127301:20:15.239 --> 01:20:17.880
a cape deal with some lunatic who can level a127401:20:17.920 --> 01:20:23.760
building with a punch, But sometimes you deal with something different. Again.127501:20:24.239 --> 01:20:26.680
You know how I mentioned that whole creatures of myth127601:20:26.720 --> 01:20:30.880
and legend, Well, those same things cause trouble, and your127701:20:30.920 --> 01:20:34.960
average person isn't equipped to deal with the truly paranormal.127801:20:35.680 --> 01:20:38.680
People can accept superpowers, but you start bringing in the127901:20:38.800 --> 01:20:42.239
undead and all that shit, Well, let's say they don't128001:20:42.399 --> 01:20:46.079
deal with it well at all. Suddenly what goes bump128101:20:46.079 --> 01:20:48.960
in the night is real and makes Freddy Krueger look tame.128201:20:49.039 --> 01:20:53.239
In comparison, governments try very hard to suppress a lot128301:20:53.279 --> 01:20:57.199
of the truly scary shit, but sometimes it gets out128401:20:58.119 --> 01:21:00.960
thanks to Instagram. I'm sure he needed to see one128501:21:01.000 --> 01:21:04.720
of America's top superheroes get torn apart by vampires, or128601:21:04.720 --> 01:21:07.079
a group of teenagers get pulled under the water by128701:21:07.159 --> 01:21:10.600
an ancient shark god near New Zealand. You might ask,128801:21:11.079 --> 01:21:16.279
why try to hide it? We have literal superheroes. Well,128901:21:16.760 --> 01:21:21.239
something happened, and those things are becoming more frequent, almost129001:21:21.319 --> 01:21:24.119
like a natural response to the rise of the gifted.129101:21:24.960 --> 01:21:28.840
It's almost like undeath finds a way. I'm sure there129201:21:28.880 --> 01:21:32.880
is a philosophical or religious explanation, or maybe even scientific129301:21:32.920 --> 01:21:36.520
reason behind it. But if there is, I don't know it,129401:21:37.159 --> 01:21:39.840
and I don't care to know it. I get paid129501:21:39.920 --> 01:21:42.319
to deal with it. How do I deal with it?129601:21:42.880 --> 01:21:47.399
I'm tough, supernaturally tough, even by the standards set by129701:21:47.439 --> 01:21:51.960
the gifted community. I'm an anomaly. There aren't many like me,129801:21:52.039 --> 01:21:55.199
and that is probably a good thing. I've heard more129901:21:55.239 --> 01:21:59.479
than a few whispered conversations worrying about what she and130001:21:59.560 --> 01:22:05.039
her represent. In short, they think I'm a threat. I'm130101:22:05.079 --> 01:22:09.520
also something that seems to be somewhere between them and130201:22:09.760 --> 01:22:13.560
the gifted. They believe However, better to have that threat130301:22:13.600 --> 01:22:17.319
under control than on your side. A fucking cocktail of130401:22:17.359 --> 01:22:21.800
supernatural and superpowered? Did I mention I get some perks130501:22:21.840 --> 01:22:25.000
from this gig. I get two weeks of paid vacation130601:22:25.119 --> 01:22:27.600
a year, which can be revoked at any time should130701:22:28.039 --> 01:22:32.359
the situation dictate. Isn't that just swell? I got to130801:22:32.399 --> 01:22:35.720
go to Disney World once till some undead goon tried130901:22:35.760 --> 01:22:38.840
to kill some kid in a Mickey Mouse costume. I131001:22:38.880 --> 01:22:40.880
got a free pair of mouse ears for my trouble.131101:22:41.600 --> 01:22:44.960
So where does that bring us now? A few days131201:22:45.000 --> 01:22:47.279
ago I got a tip that led to a small131301:22:47.319 --> 01:22:51.399
town in rural upstate New York. Your quiet, little sleepy131401:22:51.439 --> 01:22:54.359
town that has a Denny's, a big box retailer, and131501:22:54.760 --> 01:22:58.560
people get excited when Starbucks comes to town. The information131601:22:58.760 --> 01:23:01.319
was compiled by a computer forensic person I knew in131701:23:01.359 --> 01:23:04.119
the FBI who had an eye for this sort of thing.131801:23:04.760 --> 01:23:08.079
Her name was Rhianne and she was also my ex girlfriend.131901:23:08.479 --> 01:23:13.000
Aren't workplace romances complicated? Still? She and I were good132001:23:13.119 --> 01:23:16.760
till we weren't. The information dealt with a very strange132101:23:16.800 --> 01:23:19.199
set of deaths that had occurred over the last few132201:23:19.239 --> 01:23:22.880
months in the local old age communities, a lot of132301:23:22.960 --> 01:23:27.840
dead old timers and not passing away from natural causes either. Normally,132401:23:27.880 --> 01:23:29.920
this would have just slid under the radar and been132501:23:30.000 --> 01:23:33.760
filed away under so sad, too bad, But I guess132601:23:33.880 --> 01:23:36.319
some in turn did some blood work up and it132701:23:36.399 --> 01:23:39.800
got sent to the wrong lab and that got Rhanne's attention.132801:23:40.560 --> 01:23:43.000
Certainly makes my job easier than having to rely on132901:23:43.039 --> 01:23:46.720
AI and search algorithms. I still don't trust computers and133001:23:46.800 --> 01:23:49.920
probably never will. I had to be dragged out of133101:23:50.039 --> 01:23:53.279
using a flip phone in the last ten years. I133201:23:53.319 --> 01:23:57.079
stopped for breakfast before driving into Hope Springs. I traveled133301:23:57.079 --> 01:23:59.319
in a little camper van, and while it wasn't the133401:23:59.359 --> 01:24:02.920
most glamor, it wasn't a half bad place to sleep133501:24:03.000 --> 01:24:06.600
and even had a mini refrigerator and solar panels. It133601:24:06.720 --> 01:24:09.520
wasn't Howard Johnson, but it was home for most of133701:24:09.520 --> 01:24:13.039
the year. Sitting down and eating an overpriced plate of133801:24:13.079 --> 01:24:16.600
bacon and eggs, I started to look over the files.133901:24:17.319 --> 01:24:20.159
Rhianne always did me a solid and compiled it into134001:24:20.159 --> 01:24:25.479
easy to understand pieces, and compartmentalization was her specialty. For134101:24:25.560 --> 01:24:29.680
about four months twenty or so. Unusual deaths were recorded134201:24:29.680 --> 01:24:32.359
in the city's corner's report, and all of them had134301:24:32.359 --> 01:24:35.279
an unusual marker in the blood work. One of the134401:24:35.319 --> 01:24:38.159
recently deceased had a busy body of a son who134501:24:38.199 --> 01:24:41.560
demanded to know what happened to dear old dad and134601:24:41.680 --> 01:24:45.239
demanded a full autopsy and evidently had the pull to134701:24:45.279 --> 01:24:48.159
make it happen despite a coroner who could not have134801:24:48.279 --> 01:24:51.640
cared less the sun probably wanted some kind of an134901:24:51.680 --> 01:24:56.079
insurance payout or something equally as heartless. Isn't family great?135001:24:56.920 --> 01:25:02.760
Sipping at my disgusting black liquid allegedly coffee, something stood135101:25:02.760 --> 01:25:06.760
out to me that unusual marker in the blood work135201:25:06.880 --> 01:25:10.960
was some kind of thing I'd seen before. Without getting135301:25:11.039 --> 01:25:14.439
all technical and probably losing your interest, it was a135401:25:14.479 --> 01:25:17.439
foreign element and it didn't belong in the body of135501:25:17.439 --> 01:25:21.439
an eighty nine year old man. It was gifted blood135601:25:21.800 --> 01:25:25.520
and contained trace elements of what has been widely identified135701:25:25.560 --> 01:25:30.560
as vampiric blood. I stopped eating and kept reading the135801:25:30.560 --> 01:25:34.279
files over and over again. Over the course of four135901:25:34.319 --> 01:25:38.479
months and twenty bodies, this particular blood pattern occurred over136001:25:38.600 --> 01:25:43.039
ten times. Someone or something was preying on the elderly136101:25:43.119 --> 01:25:46.399
and was using them to feed but not turning them136201:25:46.399 --> 01:25:50.600
into more of them. Normally, a vampire would create a136301:25:50.600 --> 01:25:54.079
little army and we'd have a small problem on our hands.136401:25:54.520 --> 01:25:58.640
Some of the more unique gifted heroes like Photonic or136501:25:58.720 --> 01:26:03.119
Ultraviolet would be as to help. However, recently, after almost136601:26:03.279 --> 01:26:07.720
dying themselves, they were reluctant or flat out refused to assist.136701:26:08.520 --> 01:26:12.720
Usually superior firepower with silver and UV grenades would do136801:26:12.800 --> 01:26:15.520
the job, but you could always count on one of136901:26:15.600 --> 01:26:18.880
the slippery undead fucks getting away, like some kind of137001:26:19.279 --> 01:26:24.039
Houdini and Dracula combined. This one was greedy and didn't137101:26:24.079 --> 01:26:27.239
want to share eating with the old folks. This one137201:26:27.319 --> 01:26:31.239
also was different and maybe was working with a gifted137301:26:31.279 --> 01:26:36.359
person to incapacitate the geezers or something else entirely. Maybe137401:26:36.399 --> 01:26:38.359
they were like me and had a mix of both137501:26:38.479 --> 01:26:42.119
worlds in their blood. Either scenario means I wouldn't be137601:26:42.159 --> 01:26:45.239
out of here by Monday, and with Halloween happening in137701:26:45.279 --> 01:26:48.359
a day, it meant a lot of potential collateral damage137801:26:48.920 --> 01:26:53.800
with civilians nearby. Great Now I have to hunt down137901:26:53.800 --> 01:26:57.560
a potentially superpowered vampire or a regular vampire with a138001:26:57.600 --> 01:27:02.159
super sidekick, you know, working at Applebee's certainly sounds a138101:27:02.159 --> 01:27:06.000
lot less dangerous. Right now, I'd at least make tips138201:27:06.039 --> 01:27:09.159
and not have to worry about half my guts decorating138301:27:09.199 --> 01:27:14.079
the walls or having my soul sucked out. Remember two138401:27:14.079 --> 01:27:18.279
weeks paid vacation plus four oh one K plus blah blah,138501:27:18.319 --> 01:27:21.680
protect your country and save humanity blah blah. Right right,138601:27:21.840 --> 01:27:25.479
I can practically recite the recruiting speech. Just have to138701:27:25.520 --> 01:27:27.359
hold up my end of the bargain and make sure138801:27:27.439 --> 01:27:32.039
super villains or Satan doesn't destroy the planet first. Fuck.138901:27:33.239 --> 01:27:36.960
They could have called people like Megaton or Phase, but no,139001:27:38.000 --> 01:27:41.840
my name comes up first in the rolodex. Do people139101:27:41.880 --> 01:27:46.600
still use those rolodexes? I finish my breakfast and leave139201:27:46.640 --> 01:27:49.399
a few bucks on the table. I throw a rye139301:27:49.439 --> 01:27:52.560
look at my waitress as if saying I'm sorry, I'm139401:27:52.600 --> 01:27:54.560
gonna fuck up your town in a few days, but139501:27:54.640 --> 01:27:58.319
hey have ten bucks. I exit the diner and start139601:27:58.319 --> 01:28:02.000
heading back to my camper van. It's cold in late October,139701:28:02.000 --> 01:28:04.439
and my leather jacket isn't quite as warm as I139801:28:04.479 --> 01:28:07.399
would like. It's at least pretty out here in that139901:28:07.520 --> 01:28:11.000
quaint kind of way. Hope Spring is about another twenty140001:28:11.039 --> 01:28:13.840
miles away and I have nothing but my thoughts and140101:28:13.920 --> 01:28:17.600
a playlist of Megadeth another eighties hair metal. What can140201:28:17.640 --> 01:28:20.479
I say? It sets the mood for killing vampires and140301:28:20.600 --> 01:28:24.319
probably looking sexy while doing it. I won't look sexy140401:28:24.359 --> 01:28:27.000
while doing it because no one is ever going to140501:28:27.079 --> 01:28:29.159
know I did it, and if it ends up on140601:28:29.239 --> 01:28:31.399
Reddit with my face, then I'll have a lot of140701:28:31.439 --> 01:28:34.279
explaining to do and probably no four o one K140801:28:34.439 --> 01:28:37.840
to look forward to. Maybe I'll write a book after140901:28:37.880 --> 01:28:42.039
I retire. I could do a podcast. Any asshole with141001:28:42.119 --> 01:28:44.600
a microphone has one of those these days. Anyway, right141101:28:45.880 --> 01:28:48.239
hit the road and it's a long twenty miles with141201:28:48.319 --> 01:28:52.920
only trees, farm houses and the occasional cow or horse141301:28:52.960 --> 01:28:56.920
outside grazing. There is boring and then there is boring.141401:28:57.439 --> 01:28:59.800
It's an easy drive, though, and besides picking up a141501:28:59.840 --> 01:29:04.039
Chin Harry slurpee on the way, it's uneventful too. Entering141601:29:04.079 --> 01:29:06.800
the city limits and I immediately feel like I have entered141701:29:06.840 --> 01:29:10.920
a Charlie Brown Halloween special. This place has gone absolutely141801:29:11.000 --> 01:29:14.840
all out on the season. There are pumpkins and scarecrows141901:29:14.840 --> 01:29:18.000
and all sorts of window displays. I'm pretty sure I142001:29:18.039 --> 01:29:21.520
saw a life size Pennywise, the clown welcoming me into142101:29:21.560 --> 01:29:25.359
the jewel of upstate New York. Well, I'm sure this142201:29:25.479 --> 01:29:29.520
is tax dollars well spent. Rheanne had arranged a visit142301:29:29.560 --> 01:29:32.119
for me to examine the latest victim before they were142401:29:32.159 --> 01:29:36.439
sent off to the funeral home. Oh joy, cadaver fresh,142501:29:36.640 --> 01:29:39.239
just like Mom used to make. You Know what I142601:29:39.359 --> 01:29:42.520
like about dead people. They're easy to get along with,142701:29:42.960 --> 01:29:47.439
they're quiet, and they always listen. Wait, no, I take142801:29:47.479 --> 01:29:50.319
that back. Most of the dead people I deal with142901:29:50.359 --> 01:29:54.600
are supernaturally strong, fast, and probably have lived a few centuries,143001:29:54.960 --> 01:29:58.720
and have razor sharp fangs and claws. I did, however,143101:29:58.880 --> 01:30:02.199
kill one Scottish vam with an accent so thick I143201:30:02.239 --> 01:30:05.560
couldn't stop laughing when he threatened me. It was like143301:30:05.680 --> 01:30:09.319
killing a blood sucking version of Shrek. Wasn't so bad143401:30:09.399 --> 01:30:13.600
once I unloaded one of the vampire killing shotguns into him. Still,143501:30:14.000 --> 01:30:18.560
you haven't lived until you fought vampire Shrek. I still143601:30:18.600 --> 01:30:22.000
giggle about that one, even though he dislocated my shoulder.143701:30:22.680 --> 01:30:25.520
That's the one thing I didn't expect. I thought I143801:30:25.640 --> 01:30:29.319
was invincible, or at least damned close to it. For143901:30:29.359 --> 01:30:34.359
some strange reason, things like them can hurt me anything unnatural,144001:30:34.920 --> 01:30:37.920
not human. I've been put in the hospital a few144101:30:37.920 --> 01:30:40.279
times and even had a few close calls. I don't144201:30:40.319 --> 01:30:43.399
like to remember. It's likely the only thing that puts144301:30:43.439 --> 01:30:46.079
me in the ground. I'd still not want to take144401:30:46.119 --> 01:30:48.800
one of the phase's energy discharges to the face, just144501:30:48.840 --> 01:30:52.479
to be sure. I'm too damn pretty to die like that.144601:30:53.960 --> 01:30:56.199
Driving around town and it's like I was in a144701:30:56.199 --> 01:30:59.880
weird cross between Halloween Town and the wet dream of144801:31:00.119 --> 01:31:04.079
a spirit Halloween executive. I eventually found the coroner's office,144901:31:04.159 --> 01:31:07.279
tucked away near a cute little Dutch bakery and a145001:31:07.319 --> 01:31:10.960
Mennonite furniture store. Pulled up the van to the building's145101:31:11.000 --> 01:31:13.479
parking lot and grabbed my gear bag and my Federal145201:31:13.520 --> 01:31:17.439
ID and my shoulder holster for my sidearm. I had145301:31:17.479 --> 01:31:21.520
the absolute worst hair day when they took that photo, too.145401:31:21.640 --> 01:31:23.800
They didn't seem too thrilled when I wanted to give145501:31:23.920 --> 01:31:27.279
finger guns either. No one has a sense of humor145601:31:27.319 --> 01:31:35.880
these days, anyway. I made my way up to the145701:31:35.920 --> 01:31:39.079
door and hit the buzzer. A couple of minutes passed145801:31:39.119 --> 01:31:42.279
before a board looking black gentleman approached the glass door,145901:31:42.920 --> 01:31:46.800
I'm assuming this was the coroner for Hope Springs, Percy Downer.146001:31:47.600 --> 01:31:49.720
He kind of looked like the guy from the John146101:31:49.760 --> 01:31:52.800
Wick movies and had this quiet confidence about him. But146201:31:52.840 --> 01:31:55.079
he didn't look too happy to see me when he146301:31:55.119 --> 01:31:58.760
saw the ID badge on my breast pocket. Mister Downer,146401:31:59.119 --> 01:32:02.600
I smiled and said through the glass door, yes, and146501:32:02.720 --> 01:32:06.359
you are. He didn't return my warmth. It was gonna146601:32:06.399 --> 01:32:10.119
be one of those days, wasn't it, Special Agent Carolyn Quinn,146701:32:10.560 --> 01:32:14.479
Federal Bureau of Investigation. My field office should have called ahead.146801:32:15.119 --> 01:32:17.319
They better have called ahead, or this was going to146901:32:17.359 --> 01:32:21.000
be a fun time, fast talking mister personality over here147001:32:22.079 --> 01:32:25.439
they did. Seems like a bit unusual to send an147101:32:25.520 --> 01:32:28.119
FBI agent out here to examine what is clearly a147201:32:28.119 --> 01:32:31.640
heart attack. I smiled back at him and even tried147301:32:31.640 --> 01:32:35.199
to straighten out my breasts and try my womanly wiles147401:32:35.239 --> 01:32:40.039
on him. Please work. I just want to examine the body,147501:32:40.520 --> 01:32:45.119
confirm my suspicions, and actively begin my investigation and get147601:32:45.159 --> 01:32:49.079
back on the road. Well, I just go where Washington147701:32:49.119 --> 01:32:51.840
tells me to go. I don't imagine it'll be anything147801:32:51.880 --> 01:32:54.840
too involved. I mean, if you wanted to take off147901:32:54.880 --> 01:32:57.760
and grab lunch. I don't think I'll be longer than148001:32:57.800 --> 01:33:01.199
an hour. He frowned when I said take off for lunch.148101:33:01.880 --> 01:33:04.439
This was the kind of guy who liked his workspace148201:33:04.760 --> 01:33:09.760
and didn't appreciate outsiders interfering in his little corner. Look,148301:33:09.800 --> 01:33:13.600
Agent Quinn, there isn't anything to see here. Mister Carey's148401:33:13.640 --> 01:33:16.800
son has already had me do the initial autopsy, and148501:33:16.880 --> 01:33:20.199
I found nothing out of the ordinary. I'm starting to148601:33:20.239 --> 01:33:24.279
lose my patience and any potential head start. I'm relatively148701:33:24.319 --> 01:33:26.840
sure that the bloodsucker doesn't know I'm in town yet.148801:33:27.239 --> 01:33:30.000
I'm also not wearing a giant neon sign that says148901:33:30.319 --> 01:33:34.239
vampire killer either, so I probably have the element of149001:33:34.279 --> 01:33:38.079
surprise so far. Mister Downer, if you want me to149101:33:38.079 --> 01:33:40.319
call the field office and make this a whole thing,149201:33:40.439 --> 01:33:43.479
I can do that, but I'd really rather not. So149301:33:43.600 --> 01:33:45.439
why don't we just let each other get out of149401:33:45.439 --> 01:33:48.520
each other's way and let me do my job. Let149501:33:48.520 --> 01:33:50.680
me make it interesting to you. Why don't you go149601:33:50.720 --> 01:33:53.039
out to lunch on Uncle Sam's tab and invoice the149701:33:53.079 --> 01:33:56.960
field office on my authorization. Just don't break the bank. Okay.149801:33:57.840 --> 01:34:01.239
His demeanor changed when I said charge it to the government.149901:34:02.199 --> 01:34:04.479
I probably won't get into too much trouble. I mean,150001:34:05.079 --> 01:34:08.239
how much could the guy realistically eat and drink? Why150101:34:08.279 --> 01:34:10.439
don't you take your lab in turn with you. I150201:34:10.479 --> 01:34:13.079
think your name is Michelle. Right, go out, have a150301:34:13.119 --> 01:34:15.199
great lunch and a few drinks, and I'll call you150401:34:15.239 --> 01:34:18.840
when it's time to come back and lock up. Fine,150501:34:19.359 --> 01:34:22.319
I'll get miss Crawford and we'll be down at hitch Steakhouse.150601:34:22.680 --> 01:34:26.319
You have my number, I nodded. I think you could tell.150701:34:26.359 --> 01:34:28.399
I just wanted to get this over with as quickly150801:34:28.439 --> 01:34:30.960
as I could. He opened the door and led me150901:34:31.000 --> 01:34:33.840
to the mortuary and his lockers all sealed up tight.151001:34:34.640 --> 01:34:37.640
Downer gestured toward a series of slabs near the middle151101:34:37.720 --> 01:34:41.159
row and said I'd find my guest in locker three.151201:34:42.279 --> 01:34:44.479
I noticed there was a lot of blood on the151301:34:44.520 --> 01:34:49.199
examination tables, and some looked fairly fresh. The Bureau thanks151401:34:49.239 --> 01:34:54.119
you for your assistance and cooperation in this matter. Agent Quinn.151501:34:55.159 --> 01:34:59.079
Please do not disturb the lower row. Those ladies came151601:34:59.119 --> 01:35:00.880
in this morning, and I I haven't had a chance151701:35:00.920 --> 01:35:04.000
to properly do anything with them. They didn't come in151801:35:04.079 --> 01:35:09.920
a very pleasant or complete manner. Gross I waited a151901:35:09.960 --> 01:35:12.680
few minutes while Downer and his assistant left the morgue152001:35:12.680 --> 01:35:16.279
and I was alone with my new friends. All right,152101:35:16.399 --> 01:35:18.239
let's get to work and see what we got here.152201:35:19.000 --> 01:35:21.439
I slide open the drawer where my first guest of152301:35:21.479 --> 01:35:24.920
honor is supposed to be. According to what Rhianne sent me,152401:35:25.000 --> 01:35:29.039
this was Phil Carey, age eighty nine. His naked body152501:35:29.119 --> 01:35:31.960
was stark white, as most corpses are, and it would152601:35:32.000 --> 01:35:34.520
have been nothing out of the ordinary, except if you152701:35:34.600 --> 01:35:37.960
knew what to look for. A lot of newer vampires152801:35:38.000 --> 01:35:41.800
took blood from unusual places, and this one was no different.152901:35:42.560 --> 01:35:45.920
There was a small set of puncture wounds behind his153001:35:46.079 --> 01:35:48.960
right knee. It was pretty easy to miss due to153101:35:49.000 --> 01:35:52.479
the scar tissue back there, suggesting he'd probably had knee153201:35:52.479 --> 01:35:55.359
surgery or some kind of an injury when he was younger.153301:35:56.079 --> 01:35:59.079
I kept looking over the body with my examination gloves153401:35:59.119 --> 01:36:02.439
and gently turned over the old man, well as gently153501:36:02.479 --> 01:36:06.199
as I could. Old guy wasn't exactly heavy, but for153601:36:06.239 --> 01:36:09.680
some reason I was having a hard time moving. The153701:36:09.720 --> 01:36:12.640
body seemed not as stiff as I was expecting either,153801:36:13.359 --> 01:36:17.560
almost like rigor mortis hadn't totally set in. What in153901:36:17.640 --> 01:36:20.760
the fuck? I turned away for a second to grab154001:36:20.800 --> 01:36:23.399
my phone and maybe call Rihanne and see what else154101:36:23.520 --> 01:36:25.640
was pulled up in that lab report that I missed.154201:36:26.279 --> 01:36:31.680
This guy shouldn't be this uh fresh, This is so weird.154301:36:32.520 --> 01:36:36.479
No sooner did I think that, than something absolutely unearthly154401:36:36.640 --> 01:36:41.279
split the room with a ear shattering howl. The sound154501:36:41.439 --> 01:36:44.039
vibrated off of every surface and seemed to rattle my154601:36:44.079 --> 01:36:46.119
ear drums in my head, and I couldn't get my154701:36:46.159 --> 01:36:48.840
bearings for a second, as it was like someone set154801:36:48.880 --> 01:36:52.079
off a flash bang right next to my face. The154901:36:52.119 --> 01:36:54.720
body of Phil Carey sat straight up on the slab155001:36:54.800 --> 01:36:57.720
and looked right at me. I froze for a second.155101:36:58.239 --> 01:37:02.039
I'd never seen a new vampire animate before. The old155201:37:02.079 --> 01:37:05.239
man looked confused as the scream emitted from his cracked,155301:37:05.239 --> 01:37:08.840
cold lips. He looked wildly around the room and locked155401:37:08.840 --> 01:37:13.960
onto me in terror, panic, and something else I can't describe.155501:37:14.159 --> 01:37:17.000
Did he want help? What did you do to me?155601:37:17.600 --> 01:37:20.640
The man screamed. I reached into my jacket and tried155701:37:20.720 --> 01:37:24.119
unlatching my side arm, a specialty nine millimeters pistol with155801:37:24.199 --> 01:37:29.079
silver bullets. Okay, it's game time. The old man looked155901:37:29.119 --> 01:37:31.680
down at the y incision in his chest and he156001:37:31.760 --> 01:37:35.680
started screaming again, and this time there was pain, rage,156101:37:35.760 --> 01:37:38.960
and sadness. As he cried out. I held my ground.156201:37:39.319 --> 01:37:42.000
His body started to change and morph into his new156301:37:42.239 --> 01:37:47.239
un life. Soon mister Carey would have enhanced strength, armor156401:37:47.399 --> 01:37:51.359
like skin, and even wings if he wanted. His fingernails156501:37:51.359 --> 01:37:54.439
grew into nasty looking claws, and he started cutting into156601:37:54.439 --> 01:37:57.199
his own chest and started pulling out his own guts156701:37:57.239 --> 01:38:00.720
through the fresh incision on his chest. What the fuck156801:38:00.760 --> 01:38:03.000
are you doing? I blurted out as I level my156901:38:03.039 --> 01:38:06.359
weapon at his head. He kept screaming and started pulling157001:38:06.359 --> 01:38:09.840
his chest open, and eventually his entrails were everywhere, but157101:38:09.960 --> 01:38:14.760
he still was alive. I guess blood and viscera and157201:38:14.800 --> 01:38:18.039
everything that was inside was now on the outside. I157301:38:18.119 --> 01:38:24.039
steeled myself and pulled the trigger one, two, three. I157401:38:24.119 --> 01:38:26.800
put three rounds into his head and he stopped screaming.157501:38:26.800 --> 01:38:30.159
After his head exploded like a watermelon filled with firecrackers,157601:38:30.800 --> 01:38:33.359
the body fell off the examination table and into a157701:38:33.399 --> 01:38:36.479
pile of blood, gore, and what was left of his head.157801:38:37.079 --> 01:38:39.960
I put another two rounds into his heart, just to157901:38:40.000 --> 01:38:44.760
be sure. Always double tap the heart or completely incinerate158001:38:44.800 --> 01:38:48.279
the torso usually you take out the head and the158101:38:48.319 --> 01:38:53.720
heart and it'll stop him. Usually, Okay, never seen that before.158201:38:54.239 --> 01:38:58.119
That was new and fucking terrifying. I stopped for a158301:38:58.199 --> 01:39:01.039
second and look around the carnage, and it's one of158401:39:01.079 --> 01:39:04.199
the worst places I've ever been to. I was at158501:39:04.239 --> 01:39:08.039
the vampire Nest in twenty eighteen in Boston, and that158601:39:08.199 --> 01:39:10.920
was messed up and even the soupers won't talk about it.158701:39:11.439 --> 01:39:16.199
Blood gore and missing limbs, dead agents. That was the day.158801:39:16.239 --> 01:39:19.960
That Nightshade lost her eyes when the vampire Lord stuck158901:39:20.000 --> 01:39:24.520
his claws into her face. That's a sound you never forget.159001:39:25.399 --> 01:39:27.520
One of the worst days we ever suffered as a159101:39:27.560 --> 01:39:32.479
task force, but we won. I guess thirty of us,159201:39:32.520 --> 01:39:35.840
including a few soupers, went in. Only seven of us159301:39:35.880 --> 01:39:39.079
came back out alive or close enough to not be159401:39:39.199 --> 01:39:42.279
considered a casualty. I start to catch my breath and159501:39:42.359 --> 01:39:45.520
I can hear banging and muffled screams coming from inside159601:39:45.560 --> 01:39:50.119
the freezers. You've gotta be fucking shitting me. There's more159701:39:50.159 --> 01:39:53.000
of these things. I'm in a goddamn nest with no159801:39:53.119 --> 01:39:55.600
backup and not nearly enough AMMO on me to do159901:39:55.640 --> 01:39:58.199
the job. All my specialty stuff is in the van160001:39:58.279 --> 01:40:02.560
and locked up. But I'm not invincible, and I'm certainly160101:40:02.560 --> 01:40:05.760
not equipped to deal with this by myself. Time to160201:40:05.800 --> 01:40:10.880
go Downer had said the new bodies didn't come in intact.160301:40:11.399 --> 01:40:14.439
I can use that to my advantage. If they reanimate160401:40:14.479 --> 01:40:17.000
without all their limbs, then maybe I wouldn't be dealing160501:40:17.000 --> 01:40:21.159
with the Golden Ghules at full power. Okay, grannies, I160601:40:21.199 --> 01:40:24.760
have an idea hold that thought. I'll be right back.160701:40:25.640 --> 01:40:28.399
I ran into the morgue and then right outside into160801:40:28.439 --> 01:40:32.199
the now pouring rain, and straight into my van, tossing160901:40:32.279 --> 01:40:34.960
open the doors and into the secured compartment by my161001:40:35.079 --> 01:40:38.760
tiny fridge. They say that happiness is a warm gun,161101:40:39.279 --> 01:40:44.359
and in this particular instance, happiness and security was delivered161201:40:44.359 --> 01:40:47.439
by a top of the line paranormal defense contractor and161301:40:47.520 --> 01:40:51.960
an alleged coven of witches from Salem. All right, motherfuckers,161401:40:52.600 --> 01:40:56.079
I grab Sweet Baby Jane, my custom automatic twelve gage161501:40:56.079 --> 01:40:59.479
shotgun with a carbon fiber finish with pink highlights and161601:40:59.520 --> 01:41:03.039
a laser sight buckshot with silver and some other stuff161701:41:03.039 --> 01:41:06.039
that I don't totally understand, but all I know it161801:41:06.079 --> 01:41:09.920
turns the undead into Swiss cheese. All I know right161901:41:09.960 --> 01:41:13.880
now is that baby Jane is hungry. The big surprise, though,162001:41:13.920 --> 01:41:17.479
doesn't so much go boom as it goes pop. The162101:41:17.520 --> 01:41:22.520
real piece of hardware I came for ultraviolet grenades. Those162201:41:22.560 --> 01:41:26.439
same DoD eggheads developed a way to deliver a concentrated162301:41:26.479 --> 01:41:30.520
blast of ultraviolet energy in a small package, no bigger162401:41:30.560 --> 01:41:33.760
than a pack of smokes. These things could really fuck162501:41:33.840 --> 01:41:36.159
up a bloodsucker's day if you could get them in162601:41:36.239 --> 01:41:39.159
an enclosed area and you didn't mind risking the chance162701:41:39.199 --> 01:41:43.880
of going blind and maybe contracting cancer. Walk back inside162801:41:43.920 --> 01:41:46.279
the mortuary and I can hear the banging of the162901:41:46.399 --> 01:41:50.560
undead against the steel coolers and the occasional confused yelp.163001:41:51.119 --> 01:41:54.239
I slide around into the shotguns chamber and make my163101:41:54.319 --> 01:41:59.359
way back into the examination room. Move forward slowly, cautiously,163201:41:59.720 --> 01:42:02.720
and be ready to unload hell into whatever face decides163301:42:02.760 --> 01:42:06.479
to come up and say hello. Good news is that163401:42:06.520 --> 01:42:09.039
they don't know how to break the seal on the lockers,163501:42:09.439 --> 01:42:13.319
and for now I have the element of surprise. Creeping163601:42:13.399 --> 01:42:16.199
up the first locker, I can hear whatever is inside163701:42:16.239 --> 01:42:20.159
just absolutely freaking out, as much as a part of163801:42:20.199 --> 01:42:22.720
me is afraid on some level for getting my throat163901:42:22.800 --> 01:42:25.279
ripped out by b Arthur. Here there is a bit164001:42:25.319 --> 01:42:28.680
of a sadistic joy crawling through my body. I sling164101:42:28.720 --> 01:42:30.680
the shotgun at my side and grip one of the164201:42:30.720 --> 01:42:34.399
small black UV grenades and inch my way towards the164301:42:34.439 --> 01:42:38.399
cooler trick or treat, I say, as I open the164401:42:38.439 --> 01:42:41.199
door and quickly pull the pin and throw the small164501:42:41.239 --> 01:42:45.640
device inside and seal the door once again. An audible164601:42:45.720 --> 01:42:50.399
voice exclaims what A second later, a brilliant flash and164701:42:50.399 --> 01:42:53.760
the satisfying thump of a contained detonation within a confined164801:42:53.800 --> 01:42:57.960
space are music to my ears. That's two dead vampires164901:42:58.239 --> 01:43:01.439
and it's not even lunchtime yet. You could call this165001:43:01.600 --> 01:43:05.399
a kill streak, couldn't you? Not bad? But no time165101:43:05.439 --> 01:43:08.640
to get sloppy. The screeching sound of steel being torn165201:43:08.680 --> 01:43:11.239
from its moorings fills the room as the second undead165301:43:11.279 --> 01:43:14.039
Grandma makes her way out of her makeshift tomb. The165401:43:14.079 --> 01:43:16.840
steel door flies off across the room and embeds itself165501:43:16.880 --> 01:43:19.720
in the wall by the entrance. Downer isn't going to165601:43:19.760 --> 01:43:22.560
be happy with what I did to his workspace. In165701:43:22.640 --> 01:43:26.600
my defense, they started it. The blood at least adds165801:43:26.600 --> 01:43:30.680
some color, So there's that. The creature started clawing its165901:43:30.720 --> 01:43:33.600
way out of the locker, and its twisted aged face166001:43:33.680 --> 01:43:38.159
emerged with a furious rage, and it locked eyes with me. Normally,166101:43:38.279 --> 01:43:41.319
this would be absolutely terrifying to come face to face166201:43:41.359 --> 01:43:44.680
with an undead vampiric horror, but when it's an undead166301:43:44.760 --> 01:43:48.159
vampiric horror of a bingo lady in her late seventies,166401:43:48.640 --> 01:43:51.720
it loses a little bit of the fear factor. She166501:43:51.840 --> 01:43:53.920
was still a threat to me due to her newly166601:43:54.000 --> 01:43:57.960
unleashed strength and speed and toughness, but if I'm lucky,166701:43:58.279 --> 01:44:00.960
she'd be like a baby elephant how to walk for166801:44:01.000 --> 01:44:05.079
the first time and be clumsy. Fortunately she hadn't been166901:44:05.159 --> 01:44:07.560
undressed yet, so I didn't have to witness something that167001:44:07.680 --> 01:44:10.600
could have seared my eyes out. The creature fell out167101:44:10.600 --> 01:44:13.520
of the locker and onto the cold floor and started167201:44:13.520 --> 01:44:17.039
to transform into her new unlife before my very eyes.167301:44:17.560 --> 01:44:21.039
Bones snapped into new places, a pair of thin, bony167401:44:21.079 --> 01:44:24.039
wings started to form and unfurl from her back and167501:44:24.159 --> 01:44:28.319
tear from her little blue nightgown, and finally, her skin167601:44:28.479 --> 01:44:31.439
started to take on an ashen gray shade as it167701:44:31.520 --> 01:44:35.840
solidified into an armor like hide. I've never seen a167801:44:35.880 --> 01:44:38.960
new vampire gain so many of its new abilities so167901:44:39.119 --> 01:44:43.119
quickly after reanimating. This was something new, and this was168001:44:43.159 --> 01:44:46.479
definitely something I wasn't quite expecting so early on a168101:44:46.520 --> 01:44:49.760
Friday morning. The grenades wouldn't do a lot since the168201:44:49.840 --> 01:44:52.760
space was too open unless I landed it right on168301:44:52.800 --> 01:44:57.199
her shoulder, so that was out for the time being. Immediately,168401:44:57.319 --> 01:45:00.159
without really thinking about it, I had Baby Jane back168501:45:00.199 --> 01:45:03.359
in my arms and ready to unleash Hell upon this fiend.168601:45:04.159 --> 01:45:07.000
The old lady unfurled her new wings and stretched them168701:45:07.000 --> 01:45:10.760
out and knocked over several tables of supplies. She looked168801:45:10.800 --> 01:45:13.960
amazed at her new body and didn't seem too phazed168901:45:14.039 --> 01:45:18.520
that she was now among the planet's paranormal population. I169001:45:18.560 --> 01:45:21.600
aimed the shotgun at her, and immediately its green laser169101:45:21.680 --> 01:45:24.640
engaged and painted a picture on the center of her mass.169201:45:25.359 --> 01:45:27.600
She didn't seem to take notice of the six foot169301:45:27.640 --> 01:45:31.079
blonde federal agent aiming a fully automatic shotgun at her.169401:45:31.479 --> 01:45:34.199
She extended her arms forward and started looking at her169501:45:34.239 --> 01:45:38.119
new hands, which had now formed into wicked, long sickle169601:45:38.239 --> 01:45:41.279
like claws. I racked the slide and made sure that169701:45:41.319 --> 01:45:44.600
it was ready to sing that twelve gage buckshot showtune.169801:45:45.119 --> 01:45:48.600
As soon as the slide clicked, the creature's eyes immediately169901:45:48.720 --> 01:45:53.279
narrowed and focused on me. We both held tents at170001:45:53.319 --> 01:45:55.880
the standoff here in the Hope Springs Morgue, and not170101:45:56.039 --> 01:45:59.119
one made a move or sound. The only sound we170201:45:59.119 --> 01:46:02.000
could both hear was an ancient wall clock that was170301:46:02.039 --> 01:46:05.600
suspended above the lockers, and it was clicking up towards170401:46:05.640 --> 01:46:11.119
noon eleven fifty nine. The second hand was swinging around170501:46:11.159 --> 01:46:14.079
towards the bottom, and the last thirty seconds of the170601:46:14.119 --> 01:46:18.239
morning was counting down. The old lady opened her mouth170701:46:18.279 --> 01:46:21.000
with her new fangs and drooled as she smiled at me.170801:46:21.640 --> 01:46:24.159
I smiled back at her, part of it to relieve170901:46:24.239 --> 01:46:26.359
the tension I was feeling in my own body, and171001:46:26.439 --> 01:46:29.119
part of it was hoping it would unnerve her a171101:46:29.279 --> 01:46:32.399
touch as to why I was being so confident. She171201:46:32.479 --> 01:46:36.920
didn't seem phazed by my bravado or the shotgun. Twenty171301:46:36.960 --> 01:46:40.600
seconds left, she took a step towards me and tore171401:46:40.640 --> 01:46:43.520
off what remained of her blue nightgown and growled at me.171501:46:44.119 --> 01:46:48.319
I stood my ground. Are you prepared to die, young lady?171601:46:49.199 --> 01:46:52.960
I grinned and tightened my grip and slowly prepared to171701:46:53.000 --> 01:46:58.039
squeeze the trigger on my weapon. Not today. Fifteen seconds171801:46:58.399 --> 01:47:01.359
she took another step towards me, and now less than171901:47:01.399 --> 01:47:04.640
ten feet separated us, and I swear she grew another172001:47:04.640 --> 01:47:07.479
two feet in height as she took that single stride.172101:47:07.840 --> 01:47:12.039
Ten seconds Wait for it, I thought, she leaped at172201:47:12.039 --> 01:47:15.079
me with a supernatural speed and swiftness, and threw her172301:47:15.239 --> 01:47:19.880
entire body forward and her claws reaching for me. Showtime172401:47:19.960 --> 01:47:23.800
as the clock struck noon. Part of my abilities, besides172501:47:23.840 --> 01:47:26.600
being tough, is that I'm also as quick as most172601:47:26.600 --> 01:47:30.000
of the night creatures themselves, if I can judge things right.172701:47:31.439 --> 01:47:34.760
This time, my luck paid off as I suspected it would.172801:47:35.159 --> 01:47:37.560
I twisted my body at the last second and let172901:47:37.600 --> 01:47:41.199
her fly right past me and crash into the workstation behind.173001:47:41.840 --> 01:47:44.720
As the old woman flew past and crashed into the173101:47:44.720 --> 01:47:47.840
equipment as well, I fired off a few rounds from173201:47:47.880 --> 01:47:51.840
the shotgun. Two quick succession blasts erupted from the weapon173301:47:51.880 --> 01:47:56.279
and shredded her new wings into confetti. These particular shotgun173401:47:56.399 --> 01:48:00.920
rounds were particularly nasty too, as those said defense contractors173501:48:00.960 --> 01:48:04.600
decided to pack something a little extra besides the magic173601:48:04.640 --> 01:48:09.840
adjacent mojo into them magnesium pellets and silver and enchanted173701:48:09.880 --> 01:48:13.920
pellet shards, dragon's breath shotgun shells with a little bit173801:48:13.960 --> 01:48:17.039
extra The rounds lit her up and she was doused173901:48:17.039 --> 01:48:20.880
and flamed as well. The monster yelped in pain and174001:48:20.920 --> 01:48:24.399
surprise as her armored hide didn't have an answer to174101:48:24.439 --> 01:48:27.439
that little one. It didn't seem to slow her down much,174201:48:27.439 --> 01:48:30.119
as she quickly got to her feet for yet another attack.174301:48:30.560 --> 01:48:32.760
This time, I wasn't so quick, and I got the174401:48:32.800 --> 01:48:35.880
full force of this creature barreling into me with tremendous174501:48:36.039 --> 01:48:39.399
and unexpected force. The blow knocked the wind out of174601:48:39.399 --> 01:48:41.560
me and sent my weapon from my hands across the174701:48:41.640 --> 01:48:45.079
room and under an examination table. I was knocked against174801:48:45.079 --> 01:48:48.199
a steel table and left gasping for air. The old174901:48:48.239 --> 01:48:51.039
woman delivered another sucker punch into my gut, and I175001:48:51.079 --> 01:48:53.760
doubled over in pain and was left gasping for air.175101:48:54.640 --> 01:49:02.439
I'm in trouble here, guys. The monster grabbed a hold175201:49:02.479 --> 01:49:04.800
of my head and started raising it up to her175301:49:04.840 --> 01:49:08.520
face directly. Her grip was powerful and would not be175401:49:08.640 --> 01:49:13.880
easily broken. I said, are you prepared to die? She175501:49:14.039 --> 01:49:17.920
hissed at me, through her fangs. She started squeezing my head,175601:49:17.920 --> 01:49:20.000
and I could feel things start to go black and175701:49:20.079 --> 01:49:23.239
my consciousness start to fade. She was gonna knock me175801:49:23.319 --> 01:49:26.880
out before she likely tore me apart limb from limb.175901:49:27.520 --> 01:49:31.520
This old bitch isn't exactly playing fair. Well. I don't176001:49:31.560 --> 01:49:34.119
have to play fair either. I thrust my arms up176101:49:34.119 --> 01:49:37.039
between hers and tried to force them apart from squeezing176201:49:37.079 --> 01:49:40.199
me further. I just got enough force together to loosen176301:49:40.199 --> 01:49:42.560
her grip and knock her hands free from my head.176401:49:43.239 --> 01:49:46.119
I started raining blows upon her face and just let176501:49:46.119 --> 01:49:48.880
fly every bit of anger, rage, and even a bit176601:49:48.920 --> 01:49:51.119
of fear that I'd built up over the course of176701:49:51.119 --> 01:49:55.640
our confrontation. My fist kept connecting against her skull and176801:49:55.680 --> 01:49:58.800
blood kept flying out, And while she kept trying to176901:49:58.880 --> 01:50:01.720
dodge and hold back my my assault, she didn't stand177001:50:01.760 --> 01:50:05.640
a chance. I felt my fists crushed the bones in177101:50:05.680 --> 01:50:08.560
her face as her skull began to disintegrate under me.177201:50:09.239 --> 01:50:11.720
I had her pinned against a table, and she had177301:50:11.760 --> 01:50:15.640
nowhere to run and couldn't fly. This thing was at177401:50:15.680 --> 01:50:18.680
my mercy, and today was not a day to expect177501:50:18.720 --> 01:50:22.479
mercy from someone you just tried to murder. I hit177601:50:22.520 --> 01:50:24.920
her until there was nothing left of her head and177701:50:25.000 --> 01:50:27.560
left the body to hit the floor in a bloody pile.177801:50:28.000 --> 01:50:31.600
After what seemed like forever, I left the body in177901:50:31.640 --> 01:50:35.159
a disgusting heap of meat in a corner and retrieved178001:50:35.159 --> 01:50:40.479
my weapons. Wait, gotta make sure, and it's probably overkill.178101:50:41.199 --> 01:50:43.680
I grabbed one of the UV grenades I had left178201:50:43.760 --> 01:50:46.640
and put it inside what remained of her torso and178301:50:46.720 --> 01:50:52.199
pulled the pin and quickly left the room. Boom. Cool178401:50:52.279 --> 01:50:55.560
kids don't look back at explosions. Now. I can add178501:50:55.600 --> 01:50:58.640
that to my list of cool action movie things I've178601:50:58.720 --> 01:51:02.359
done and I will ever tell anyone about because they'll178701:51:02.399 --> 01:51:07.359
never believe me. Nope, keep walking. Emerging outside in the178801:51:07.359 --> 01:51:10.680
cold October rain was refreshing, as it not only washed178901:51:10.680 --> 01:51:14.119
off the blood and gore of the last encounter, but179001:51:14.319 --> 01:51:17.920
was oddly refreshing too. I stood outside in the rain179101:51:18.000 --> 01:51:20.760
and just let the adrenaline of the melee wash over me.179201:51:22.199 --> 01:51:27.199
I needed to relax, but too bad, I don't smoke anymore. Finally,179301:51:27.279 --> 01:51:30.560
the combat rush was over and my breathing returned to normal.179401:51:31.560 --> 01:51:34.000
This was gonna be a problem, and probably one that179501:51:34.079 --> 01:51:37.520
a single troubleshooter won't be able to handle on her own.179601:51:38.079 --> 01:51:41.079
I'm gonna need help, and there's probably no way around this.179701:51:41.840 --> 01:51:43.920
You call for help in a situation like this, and179801:51:43.960 --> 01:51:47.359
it's going one of two ways. You're either overreacting and179901:51:47.399 --> 01:51:51.199
it's fine, or end up with a situation like Boston180001:51:51.800 --> 01:51:54.560
and it's one step away from calling in the proverbial180101:51:54.640 --> 01:51:57.960
air strike and a room of old white dudes looking180201:51:58.000 --> 01:52:01.159
for a reason to enact the Cradle of Liberty protocol.180301:52:01.960 --> 01:52:05.560
Cradle of Liberty was basically the nuclear option for all threats,180401:52:05.960 --> 01:52:09.640
super and paranormal, and had only ever been deployed once180501:52:09.720 --> 01:52:12.960
since the seventies. You used it when you had absolutely180601:52:13.079 --> 01:52:18.119
zero choice, and collateral damage wasn't a primary concern. Survival was,180701:52:18.399 --> 01:52:20.640
and the cost would be paid, and it didn't matter180801:52:20.680 --> 01:52:23.840
how it was accomplished. No one alive today would talk180901:52:23.880 --> 01:52:27.039
about what it would entail, but we all knew that181001:52:27.119 --> 01:52:30.199
it was the last possible option, and no one wanted181101:52:30.239 --> 01:52:33.159
to be the one to sanction its use. I thought181201:52:33.199 --> 01:52:35.159
I had it figured out and this was not a181301:52:35.279 --> 01:52:41.039
vampire nest, but instead some new undead douche being greedy.181401:52:41.119 --> 01:52:43.560
It seems that I may be wrong. If the last181501:52:43.640 --> 01:52:48.840
encounter was any indication of what's going on. Super vampires181601:52:48.880 --> 01:52:51.279
are on the loose and this town is ground zero,181701:52:51.439 --> 01:52:55.119
or something much much worse is on the horizon. I181801:52:55.159 --> 01:52:57.960
don't like what I'm seeing here, and something is definitely181901:52:58.000 --> 01:53:01.560
not adding up like it should. I'm pretty fucking terrible182001:53:01.600 --> 01:53:04.199
at math, but I sure as shit know that two182101:53:04.199 --> 01:53:09.000
plus two ain't ten. I don't like this. Remember why182201:53:09.000 --> 01:53:14.600
you're doing this, Quinn? Two weeks paid vacation. Oh yeah,182301:53:14.640 --> 01:53:18.760
and saving the world or some shit. I made a182401:53:18.800 --> 01:53:21.840
call first to Rheanne and let her know that I182501:53:21.920 --> 01:53:25.439
was probably in over my pretty little head. I wasn't182601:53:25.439 --> 01:53:28.079
too thrilled to call the FEDS, but they'd have a solution,182701:53:28.239 --> 01:53:32.520
and at least Rheanne was a calming influence. She always182801:53:32.600 --> 01:53:34.760
knew what to say to talk me down off the ledge,182901:53:34.760 --> 01:53:37.039
and it didn't hurt that she sounded cute when she183001:53:37.279 --> 01:53:42.119
was concerned about me. I miss her. The second call183101:53:42.239 --> 01:53:45.520
was a little harder to make. I called the Department,183201:53:45.920 --> 01:53:50.119
which is code for the Department of Paranormal Resources, a183301:53:50.199 --> 01:53:54.159
subset of the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. Layers183401:53:54.239 --> 01:53:58.319
upon layers upon layers of bureaucracy, but also they had183501:53:58.359 --> 01:54:03.319
resources and people that you're average, gifted or troubleshooter didn't183601:54:03.319 --> 01:54:06.439
have access to. I was told to sit tight and183701:54:06.479 --> 01:54:10.920
hold my position while they assessed the situation and confer183801:54:11.119 --> 01:54:16.560
with partners within paranormal research and defense. Great, I get183901:54:16.600 --> 01:54:19.079
to cool my jets in the middle of vampire City.184001:54:20.279 --> 01:54:22.439
I got lucky and a cleanup crew was at the184101:54:22.439 --> 01:54:26.239
Hope Springs Corner office within an hour, and Percy Downer184201:54:26.359 --> 01:54:30.279
was offered a generous payout for his silence and a184301:54:30.319 --> 01:54:35.199
two week vacation. Must be nice, though odds are he'll184401:54:35.199 --> 01:54:38.920
be sent to Langley for an extensive debrief and probably184501:54:38.960 --> 01:54:41.760
psychic mind probe to see if he knows more than184601:54:41.800 --> 01:54:45.199
what he's letting on. Guy like that is probably next184701:54:45.279 --> 01:54:48.760
level boring. Then again, I didn't expect to fight a184801:54:48.800 --> 01:54:52.880
retirement home in a morgue, so who knows enjoy Virginia.184901:54:53.960 --> 01:54:56.399
I drove away from the Corner's office and pulled up185001:54:56.439 --> 01:54:59.359
in a nearby hotel and booked a room. It had185101:54:59.399 --> 01:55:02.079
only been a few hours since the confrontation. In my185201:55:02.199 --> 01:55:05.399
mind wasn't ready to let go of what happened. The185301:55:05.479 --> 01:55:08.279
thing that bothered me the most is how quickly those185401:55:08.319 --> 01:55:11.920
things moved and how quickly they reanimated into their new185501:55:12.000 --> 01:55:15.920
un life. The real question that bothered me is why185601:55:15.960 --> 01:55:20.359
didn't this happen before with the other victims. Why was185701:55:20.399 --> 01:55:23.920
this happening now? There has to be a reason for it.185801:55:24.479 --> 01:55:26.960
Was there a new vampire lord attempting to make a185901:55:27.039 --> 01:55:30.840
nest in this town? How does the superpowered angle figure186001:55:30.880 --> 01:55:34.880
into it? Was someone or worse something creating a vampire186101:55:35.000 --> 01:55:38.800
super hybrid? What in the hell was happening in Hope Springs,186201:55:38.840 --> 01:55:43.640
New York. I laid down in the hotel's uncomfortable bed186301:55:43.680 --> 01:55:46.079
and put my head down on the pillow and felt186401:55:46.159 --> 01:55:50.239
every bump and bruise from today's encounter. My wounds would186501:55:50.279 --> 01:55:53.760
heal by mourning, but still, that old lady tossed me186601:55:53.800 --> 01:55:56.680
around pretty good. And if I hadn't gotten a lucky break,186701:55:57.079 --> 01:55:59.640
I'm sure she'd be picking me out of her fangs186801:55:59.720 --> 01:56:04.239
right now now. I could have died today. I got lucky,186901:56:05.159 --> 01:56:09.159
or I got sloppy. Drifting off to a strange and187001:56:09.279 --> 01:56:13.039
unusual sleep, I passed out and had nightmares all night.187101:56:14.279 --> 01:56:17.840
The following morning, I was awakened by my phone ringing187201:56:17.880 --> 01:56:21.439
off the hook and about thirty missed calls. I tried187301:56:21.439 --> 01:56:23.720
to get my eyes to focus on the tiny screen187401:56:23.800 --> 01:56:27.960
and see who had called. It was Rheanne. I called187501:56:27.960 --> 01:56:30.840
her back, and immediately I knew something was wrong from187601:56:30.880 --> 01:56:33.840
the second she answered the other line. Where the hell187701:56:33.840 --> 01:56:36.640
have you been? I've been trying to call you all night?187801:56:36.640 --> 01:56:38.840
Are you okay? Are you all right? What the hell187901:56:38.920 --> 01:56:42.680
happened to you? I tried to sound cool and brave,188001:56:43.199 --> 01:56:45.239
but I get the feelings she wasn't in the mood188101:56:45.319 --> 01:56:50.199
for my particular brand of humor. Well, I went to188201:56:50.239 --> 01:56:52.720
the morgue to see a corpse and got jumped by188301:56:52.720 --> 01:56:56.640
three of them instead. She exhaled loudly. I could tell188401:56:56.680 --> 01:57:01.079
it was a mix between frustration and relief. Are you okay, Quinn?188501:57:01.479 --> 01:57:04.439
Talk to me? Rhianne's voice had this thing in it188601:57:04.479 --> 01:57:07.039
that made you want to confess what you were really feeling,188701:57:07.560 --> 01:57:12.319
especially when you didn't want to honestly, No, I'm not.188801:57:13.479 --> 01:57:16.079
Something is pretty fucked up here in upstate New York.188901:57:16.560 --> 01:57:19.119
One of those things almost got the best of me.189001:57:19.760 --> 01:57:24.079
I've never fought anything like them before. Something is very,189101:57:24.239 --> 01:57:27.960
very wrong here, Caroline. If I'd known, I would have189201:57:28.039 --> 01:57:30.680
never sent you there in the first place. She was189301:57:30.760 --> 01:57:33.279
sorry beyond words, and part of me could hear that189401:57:33.359 --> 01:57:36.159
she was on the verge of crying, almost like I189501:57:36.199 --> 01:57:39.479
could feel her lip tremble on the phone. I know189601:57:39.560 --> 01:57:41.960
you had no clue. I'm waiting on the call from189701:57:42.079 --> 01:57:45.439
the department on what we're going to do next. I189801:57:45.520 --> 01:57:49.079
don't have a good feeling about this. I'm legitimately worried189901:57:49.159 --> 01:57:51.680
what this could all mean. On one hand, I had190001:57:51.680 --> 01:57:55.920
always quietly suspected that the paranormal war was escalating on190101:57:55.960 --> 01:57:59.199
some level. I was living proof that hybrids of some190201:57:59.399 --> 01:58:02.479
type were posts possible, even if we don't know exactly190301:58:02.520 --> 01:58:06.359
what I was. There were other troubleshooters who were a190401:58:06.399 --> 01:58:11.319
mix of paranormal and superpowered, but were remarkably few in numbers,190501:58:12.159 --> 01:58:15.920
like less than fifty identified across the entirety of North America.190601:58:17.279 --> 01:58:21.000
I should let you rest, but Caroline, you be careful190701:58:21.039 --> 01:58:24.039
out there. I know you think you're invincible and like190801:58:24.119 --> 01:58:26.640
nothing can hurt you. But you're human, like the rest190901:58:26.680 --> 01:58:30.840
of us, know when to run. Okay, she said I191001:58:30.920 --> 01:58:35.159
was human. There are days I wish I was. I'm191101:58:35.199 --> 01:58:39.399
not human. I don't know what I am. Honestly, I191201:58:39.479 --> 01:58:42.399
will look when I get back to the city, why191301:58:42.399 --> 01:58:44.479
don't we get together and maybe get dinner in a191401:58:44.520 --> 01:58:49.039
movie like old times. I'd like that. I'll talk to191501:58:49.039 --> 01:58:52.199
you soon, Quinn. She paused for a second, and I191601:58:52.239 --> 01:58:56.000
could tell she stopped herself from saying something more before191701:58:56.039 --> 01:59:00.199
she hung up the phone. I love you too. I191801:59:00.239 --> 01:59:02.960
sat in the hotel room and stared at the peeling191901:59:03.039 --> 01:59:07.119
wallpaper and was just alone with my thoughts. What am192001:59:07.159 --> 01:59:09.840
I going to do? How am I going to do it?192101:59:10.479 --> 01:59:14.479
I finally asked myself the hard question of the day.192201:59:14.680 --> 01:59:19.039
How many people are going to die? The phone rang again.192301:59:20.039 --> 01:59:22.000
I wanted it to be Rheanne and for her to192401:59:22.079 --> 01:59:24.359
talk me out of this assignment and to come back192501:59:24.399 --> 01:59:26.520
to New York, and for her to convince me to192601:59:26.600 --> 01:59:31.239
leave this world behind and run. It wasn't Rheianne. It192701:59:31.399 --> 01:59:34.279
was the Department, and it was the secured line that192801:59:34.319 --> 01:59:38.720
you never wanted to call you directly, Director James Carlson,192901:59:38.880 --> 01:59:43.239
Department of Paranormal Resources, the guy whose desk issues the orders,193001:59:43.600 --> 01:59:46.399
and the guy who could sign your death warrant should193101:59:46.399 --> 01:59:49.880
the need arise. This was about to turn my Halloween193201:59:50.039 --> 01:59:55.439
into a fucking horror show. Agent Quinn, the situation has changed.193301:59:55.640 --> 01:59:58.399
We're preparing to activate the Cradle of Liberty protocol in193401:59:58.439 --> 02:00:01.039
the city of Hope Springs. Assets will be on the193502:00:01.039 --> 02:00:05.439
scene within the next hour. My orders, sir, Megaton and193602:00:05.479 --> 02:00:08.159
Phase will be on scene and the Hammer and Carpenter193702:00:08.159 --> 02:00:11.239
teams will support them. You coordinate with the other gifted193802:00:11.239 --> 02:00:14.199
on scene. I want that nest burned to the ground.193902:00:14.600 --> 02:00:17.880
Burn the city to the ground if you have to, sir,194002:00:18.880 --> 02:00:23.560
What about the civilians? Like I said, the situation has changed,194102:00:23.920 --> 02:00:28.560
consider all civilians as hostile. What in the fuck did194202:00:28.600 --> 02:00:31.960
he just say? Were they really going to activate the194302:00:32.000 --> 02:00:35.359
Cradle of Liberty protocol? What the hell did they even mean?194402:00:36.359 --> 02:00:38.840
The line went dead and a text message appeared with194502:00:38.880 --> 02:00:41.920
a set of coordinates and a timestamp of one hour.194602:00:43.439 --> 02:00:46.920
Oh fuck, this was it, wasn't it. The paranormal war194702:00:47.840 --> 02:00:51.600
just escalated. An hour later, I was at the arranged194802:00:51.640 --> 02:00:54.720
meeting place and the air was grim. It was a194902:00:54.760 --> 02:00:58.119
small farmhouse that had been requisitioned for use as a195002:00:58.159 --> 02:01:04.720
staging area. Heavy equipment and helicopters and the Supers showed up.195102:01:05.399 --> 02:01:09.239
Before the world changed fifty years ago, superheroes wore colorful195202:01:09.279 --> 02:01:12.720
costumes and capes and were larger than life and existed195302:01:12.760 --> 02:01:17.199
purely as fiction. Now, in the time of Kevlar, synthetic195402:01:17.239 --> 02:01:20.560
fabrics and utility ruled the day, and it was less195502:01:20.640 --> 02:01:23.840
tights and spandex and more tactical gear with a few195602:01:23.920 --> 02:01:28.479
colorful adornments. A few of the more outlandish supers wore195702:01:28.560 --> 02:01:32.199
stuff that people only wore at Halloween, but most were195802:01:32.279 --> 02:01:36.399
modest about their abilities. It should be noted that very195902:01:36.439 --> 02:01:39.600
few people can successfully pull off wearing a cape and196002:01:39.640 --> 02:01:42.960
actually have it look cool. A group of about twelve196102:01:42.960 --> 02:01:45.079
of us stood by the barn and watched as a196202:01:45.079 --> 02:01:48.520
man descended from the sky with a purple cape billowing196302:01:48.560 --> 02:01:53.039
behind him very dramatically. Megaton always knew he had to196402:01:53.079 --> 02:01:56.000
make an entrance and always made sure that you knew196502:01:56.159 --> 02:01:58.800
he was on the scene, and that he was the196602:01:58.840 --> 02:02:03.479
best and brightest of all the gifted world. I didn't196702:02:03.520 --> 02:02:07.520
care for him, but I couldn't deny how powerful he was, strong,196802:02:08.000 --> 02:02:11.720
tougher than me, and the unique ability to repel the196902:02:11.760 --> 02:02:15.159
force used against him. Oh and he could also fly197002:02:16.319 --> 02:02:19.880
a shimmering red light beside him. As Megaton landed and197102:02:19.920 --> 02:02:24.439
from a glowing red portal stepped phase the woman known197202:02:24.479 --> 02:02:29.640
as Phase, whose gifts allowed her limited teleportation and energy manipulation.197302:02:30.359 --> 02:02:34.359
She was a real showstopper, but young and often reckless197402:02:34.720 --> 02:02:38.640
when she was in combat against paranormal threats. The Supers197502:02:38.680 --> 02:02:42.760
were fine fighting against other gifted and villains like Hurricane197602:02:42.840 --> 02:02:47.279
and Dread, but paranormal entities were a different breed. The197702:02:47.359 --> 02:02:50.840
last Super to arrive pulled up on a tricked out motorcycle.197802:02:51.560 --> 02:02:55.720
He was a combat expert known as Mnemonic. His ability197902:02:55.880 --> 02:02:59.479
was to learn in a new, instantaneous manner, and he198002:02:59.600 --> 02:03:02.840
used his abilities to learn all sorts of martial arts198102:03:02.880 --> 02:03:05.760
and weaponry. He was a show off, but let me198202:03:05.840 --> 02:03:09.359
tell you he was the best shot likely on the198302:03:09.520 --> 02:03:13.640
entire planet Earth. While all of us were here now198402:03:14.159 --> 02:03:16.800
and it was time to get to work, the team198502:03:16.880 --> 02:03:21.600
leader for Hammer and Carpenter squad stepped forward typical military198602:03:21.640 --> 02:03:27.000
bravado and swagger that depended on superior firepower and overwhelming numbers.198702:03:27.439 --> 02:03:30.439
Trust me, I've seen this movie before and it never198802:03:30.560 --> 02:03:33.800
ends well for the guys with the guns. But this198902:03:34.000 --> 02:03:37.640
is the hand we've been dealt. Captain Tony King and199002:03:37.680 --> 02:03:42.399
Lieutenant Tanya Dante. They nicknamed these two TNT and for199102:03:42.479 --> 02:03:45.560
good reason a lot of shit tended to blow up199202:03:45.600 --> 02:03:50.159
in their presence. Okay, we have a good, actionable intelligence199302:03:50.399 --> 02:03:53.000
and we're going to act on it immediately. Hope Spring's199402:03:53.039 --> 02:03:55.960
retirement community is a vampire nest and is about to199502:03:56.039 --> 02:03:59.359
be as infested as a place can get. Think of199602:03:59.359 --> 02:04:02.600
a goddamn cockroach infestation, and you've got a pretty good199702:04:02.640 --> 02:04:05.800
idea of what we're up against. We do have an advantage.199802:04:06.079 --> 02:04:09.079
The vamps are new, inexperienced, and still not used to199902:04:09.119 --> 02:04:12.359
their powers. This means the new staff from the Pentagon200002:04:12.399 --> 02:04:15.720
should make short work of them. Our significant threat has200102:04:15.760 --> 02:04:19.720
been identified as a new hybrid type vampire lord. We200202:04:19.760 --> 02:04:23.119
believe it to be an individual named Terry Fisher. We200302:04:23.159 --> 02:04:25.800
know how strong they can be, but this new lord200402:04:25.880 --> 02:04:28.560
seems to only be recruiting from the weak and feeble,200502:04:29.039 --> 02:04:32.239
so not exactly fighting the Russians or the North Koreans. Here,200602:04:32.920 --> 02:04:35.560
Dante said matter of factly, as she laid out the200702:04:35.600 --> 02:04:39.560
information for all of us, Captain King stepped forward and200802:04:39.600 --> 02:04:42.800
pointed to the group of about twelve soldiers behind him200902:04:43.159 --> 02:04:46.479
and gestured toward their weapons. We have state of the201002:04:46.600 --> 02:04:49.399
art fire power and enough ammunition to shoot at anything201102:04:49.439 --> 02:04:52.319
that moves. We have enhanced fire support in terms of201202:04:52.359 --> 02:04:56.319
a troubleshooter and their superpowered allies. There is no reason201302:04:56.359 --> 02:04:58.359
we can't wrap this up by morning and be home201402:04:58.399 --> 02:05:01.119
for breakfast. I'd like to go get a grand Slam201502:05:01.119 --> 02:05:06.159
at Denny's afterwards. So who's with me? I sighed? I201602:05:06.239 --> 02:05:09.640
was surrounded by overconfidence and itchy trigger fingers and show201702:05:09.640 --> 02:05:12.920
offs with superpowers. Is it too late to go work201802:05:12.920 --> 02:05:17.239
at Applebee's? I looked at the assembled superpowered individuals and201902:05:17.319 --> 02:05:20.239
approached them and tried to be as friendly as I could.202002:05:20.920 --> 02:05:23.800
I worked with Megaton and Phays before in Boston, but202102:05:23.880 --> 02:05:26.960
I'd never worked with Mnemonic. I don't like going into202202:05:27.000 --> 02:05:30.199
a combat situation with people I don't trust, and especially202302:05:30.239 --> 02:05:33.560
people who had declined to help when their country needed them.202402:05:33.800 --> 02:05:36.359
I told them what happened this morning at the Morgue,202502:05:36.520 --> 02:05:39.239
and they laughed at me. They wanted to know how202602:05:39.279 --> 02:05:42.840
the great Agent Caroline Quinn could get her ass kicked202702:05:42.840 --> 02:05:45.920
by an old man and a few ladies from Bingo.202802:05:46.039 --> 02:05:49.239
I told them to take this seriously. This wasn't your202902:05:49.319 --> 02:05:53.199
usual bloodsucker. They didn't want to hear it. They laughed203002:05:53.239 --> 02:05:56.399
it off and said it would be easy. I remember203102:05:56.399 --> 02:06:00.439
how Boston happened, and Megaton and Phase should have too.203202:06:01.000 --> 02:06:03.920
King and Dante barked orders across the staging area for203302:06:03.960 --> 02:06:06.560
everyone to get ready. As we were wheels up in203402:06:06.640 --> 02:06:10.079
five minutes and got on board of the choppers. I203502:06:10.119 --> 02:06:13.720
went and got my gear loaded up and enhanced protective vest,203602:06:14.119 --> 02:06:17.520
my trustee, Baby Jane, and a few of the UV grenades.203702:06:18.319 --> 02:06:20.439
I guess we were as ready as we were gonna be.203802:06:21.439 --> 02:06:29.880
This was gonna be bad, wasn't it. As the helicopters203902:06:29.920 --> 02:06:33.439
flew over Hope Springs, it was kind of pretty in204002:06:33.479 --> 02:06:37.039
a sense. It was Halloween night and tricker treaters could204102:06:37.079 --> 02:06:40.079
be seen walking down the streets with their parents or friends.204202:06:41.079 --> 02:06:43.960
This town had no idea what was happening in it.204302:06:44.680 --> 02:06:47.199
You could almost feel the sense of fun and joy204402:06:47.279 --> 02:06:50.159
that people were having. I wish I didn't have to204502:06:50.159 --> 02:06:54.319
bring hell to this little place, but it can't be helped.204602:06:55.000 --> 02:06:57.720
The two aircraft cut through the night sky and headed204702:06:57.760 --> 02:07:01.359
towards the retirement home and presumably where this was going204802:07:01.399 --> 02:07:04.640
to end. I glanced out the side door and saw204902:07:04.760 --> 02:07:09.000
Megaton keeping pace with us. Megaton still had that stupid,205002:07:09.399 --> 02:07:13.319
over confident smile on his face. One of the things205102:07:13.359 --> 02:07:16.319
I learned very early on in my career was never205202:07:16.399 --> 02:07:20.920
underestimate your enemy, no matter how weak they appear. An205302:07:21.039 --> 02:07:24.720
enemy is most dangerous when they are cornered, and especially205402:07:24.760 --> 02:07:28.199
when they're on their own turf. We started to begin205502:07:28.279 --> 02:07:31.279
our descent onto the lawn of the retirement home, which205602:07:31.399 --> 02:07:33.680
was a two story structure that looked like it was205702:07:33.720 --> 02:07:38.000
built fairly recently. It looked super modern and almost out205802:07:38.039 --> 02:07:40.119
of place for a town that looks like it was205902:07:40.159 --> 02:07:45.119
taken out of a postcard advertising for rural charm. Captain206002:07:45.199 --> 02:07:48.119
King slid the side door open of the helicopter and206102:07:48.199 --> 02:07:50.720
looked back at all of us in his command and206202:07:50.840 --> 02:07:55.439
patted his weapon. Okay, kids, it's time to visit Grandpa,206302:07:56.279 --> 02:07:59.039
he cheered as he pulled down his night vision goggles206402:07:59.039 --> 02:08:02.760
above his eyes. No sooner did the words leave his mouth.206502:08:03.800 --> 02:08:08.319
Things began to go immediately wrong. King was yanked out206602:08:08.319 --> 02:08:11.000
of the door and thrown screaming towards the ground by206702:08:11.000 --> 02:08:15.239
an unseen assailant. Everyone couldn't comprehend what just happened to206802:08:15.279 --> 02:08:19.880
the Hammer Squad commander, and everyone's jaw was just hanging open.206902:08:20.960 --> 02:08:25.199
Panic was not unlike fire when panic spreads uncontrolled. It207002:08:25.279 --> 02:08:30.000
spreads fast, just like a forest blaze. Suddenly, without warning,207102:08:30.000 --> 02:08:33.479
the helicopter lurched forward and pitched itself towards the ground207202:08:33.520 --> 02:08:36.399
in an out of control spiral. Soldiers fell out of207302:08:36.439 --> 02:08:39.520
the open hatch door and tumbled to their deaths. You207402:08:39.600 --> 02:08:42.279
are not surviving that kind of a fall, with that207502:08:42.399 --> 02:08:45.479
kind of force. I held onto my seat as best207602:08:45.520 --> 02:08:48.640
I could and tried to unlatch my safety harness. I207702:08:48.680 --> 02:08:52.880
kneaded out fast. We smashed into the ground hard and207802:08:52.960 --> 02:08:56.520
glass and metal flew everywhere as the helicopter split Apart207902:08:56.520 --> 02:09:00.479
from the impact, fire and small explosions had happened all208002:09:00.520 --> 02:09:03.680
around us as we skidded across the lawn and finally208102:09:03.720 --> 02:09:06.399
came to a stop when we hit the entranceway of208202:09:06.439 --> 02:09:10.760
the structure. My safety harness and enhanced our ability probably208302:09:10.840 --> 02:09:15.720
kept me alive. Probably everyone else was not so lucky.208402:09:16.119 --> 02:09:18.359
The other soldiers who were still in their seats did208502:09:18.359 --> 02:09:21.279
not survive the crash. One of them seemed to have208602:09:21.319 --> 02:09:24.319
caught shrapnel to the face and neck, the other had208702:09:24.359 --> 02:09:27.039
her neck snapped by the force of the crash, and208802:09:27.119 --> 02:09:30.560
another soldier whose face I couldn't see, had been messily208902:09:30.600 --> 02:09:34.039
disemboweled by a piece of debris. I could hear the209002:09:34.079 --> 02:09:37.279
other craft land safely, and then I heard the sounds209102:09:37.279 --> 02:09:43.000
of gunfire outside and people screaming time to go. I209202:09:43.159 --> 02:09:45.680
escaped my harness and the wreckage of the crash, and209302:09:45.760 --> 02:09:49.119
pushed my way out of the shattered helicopter. The others209402:09:49.119 --> 02:09:51.520
had landed safely, but it didn't matter, as they were209502:09:51.560 --> 02:09:55.560
completely surrounded by flying creatures, and they weren't shooting with209602:09:55.640 --> 02:10:00.359
any precision. They were shooting wildly and without thinking to209702:10:00.359 --> 02:10:03.880
empty their magazines at anything that moved. If you can209802:10:03.960 --> 02:10:08.039
believe it, this is where things went from bad to worse.209902:10:09.079 --> 02:10:12.560
Tanya Dante stood back to back with Mnemonic in an210002:10:12.600 --> 02:10:16.399
attempt to keep some sense of combat awareness. The pair210102:10:16.439 --> 02:10:19.039
at least were shooting with purpose and even hitting a210202:10:19.079 --> 02:10:22.199
few of the creatures in the air and potentially even210302:10:22.319 --> 02:10:24.920
killing a few, but I couldn't be sure from all210402:10:24.920 --> 02:10:29.680
the muzzle flashes. Fall back, fall back, goddamn it, Dante210502:10:29.800 --> 02:10:33.279
yelled at anyone who would listen. No sooner did she210602:10:33.399 --> 02:10:36.479
yell that something swooped out of the sky and picked210702:10:36.520 --> 02:10:39.720
her up by her shoulders and carried her into the air.210802:10:40.520 --> 02:10:43.439
The lieutenant wasn't going down without a fight, though, as210902:10:43.479 --> 02:10:46.079
she kept firing her weapon. As she ascended into the211002:10:46.079 --> 02:10:50.720
sky with her captor, the monster used its tremendous strength211102:10:50.760 --> 02:10:53.640
to throw her against a second story building wall with211202:10:53.800 --> 02:10:59.720
enough force to shatter concrete. Mnemonic looked at me and211302:10:59.800 --> 02:11:02.800
utter her terror and started to run away from the fight.211402:11:03.680 --> 02:11:06.199
He didn't make it fifty feet before he was swarmed.211502:11:06.840 --> 02:11:10.159
The creatures tore the poor hero to pieces within seconds,211602:11:10.239 --> 02:11:13.680
and fountains of blood spewed from what remained of his body.211702:11:14.960 --> 02:11:19.840
That's enough, A powerful voice echoed across the battlefield, and211802:11:19.960 --> 02:11:24.720
for a second, everyone stopped fighting and shooting, and all211902:11:24.760 --> 02:11:29.399
eyes focused in that direction. A person in medical scrubs212002:11:29.399 --> 02:11:33.239
emerged from behind the crashed helicopter near the entrance and212102:11:33.359 --> 02:11:36.760
started walking towards the center of all of us. The212202:11:36.800 --> 02:11:41.119
shimmering light distortion appeared beside this new stranger, and FaZe212302:11:41.159 --> 02:11:43.720
stepped out and started to engage in hand to hand212402:11:43.800 --> 02:11:48.560
combat with his new enemy. She started kicking and punching212502:11:48.920 --> 02:11:52.840
with her attacks enhanced with her bioelectric energy, and while212602:11:52.920 --> 02:11:57.119
spectacular looking, it didn't seem to hurt this person at all.212702:11:57.560 --> 02:12:00.640
They just kept walking towards the middle of the ground.212802:12:01.720 --> 02:12:07.880
They kept walking towards me. Stand still. Fuck her, Phase212902:12:08.000 --> 02:12:10.479
yelled as she kept up, but none of her attacks213002:12:10.520 --> 02:12:14.479
seemed to affect them. Finally, enough light was present that213102:12:14.560 --> 02:12:16.439
I could get a good look at this person in213202:12:16.479 --> 02:12:20.159
the scrubs. It was a man in his early twenties213302:12:20.279 --> 02:12:24.039
or maybe mid twenties at most. He walked with a213402:12:24.159 --> 02:12:28.600
stride and purpose that someone who knows their untouchable does.213502:12:29.520 --> 02:12:32.079
Fase stood in front of him and cupped her hands213602:12:32.119 --> 02:12:36.399
together and thrust them forward and hurled a huge bolt213702:12:36.399 --> 02:12:40.159
of blue, crackling lightning. The discharge filled the air with213802:12:40.279 --> 02:12:43.039
so much power that I could feel my hair pick213902:12:43.159 --> 02:12:47.079
up on a static charge. The man kept walking past214002:12:47.119 --> 02:12:52.760
Phase and towards me. I said stop. Fase teleported right214102:12:52.800 --> 02:12:55.359
in front of him and attempted to stand in his way,214202:12:56.119 --> 02:12:59.560
and just as she rematerialized, the man grabbed her by214302:12:59.600 --> 02:13:04.840
the throat. No, the man snapped her neck and tossed214402:13:04.880 --> 02:13:07.640
her lifeless body to the ground with a wet smack.214502:13:08.439 --> 02:13:12.079
Megaton chose his moment to dive bomb the man from214602:13:12.119 --> 02:13:16.640
somewhere high above and create a huge impact crater. The214702:13:16.680 --> 02:13:21.680
two struggled in exchanged blows while entangled in each other's limbs. Okay,214802:13:22.399 --> 02:13:25.079
maybe this will make a difference. Maybe this is the214902:13:25.199 --> 02:13:28.560
edge we need. Megaton grabbed hold of the man and215002:13:28.640 --> 02:13:31.399
flew straight up into the sky, out of sight, and215102:13:31.520 --> 02:13:37.520
for a moment, everyone stopped again, absolutely transfixed by what happened.215202:13:38.399 --> 02:13:43.640
Vampire and soldier alike just stood there and waited. You215302:13:43.640 --> 02:13:47.239
could hear a thunderous clash of blows above us, high215402:13:47.319 --> 02:13:50.319
in the clouds, and it echoed so loudly that the215502:13:50.319 --> 02:13:55.399
remaining glass near us vibrated and threatened to shatter. Megaton215602:13:55.560 --> 02:14:00.439
had this guy on the ropes America? Fuck yeah, take that, dcula.215702:14:02.079 --> 02:14:08.760
Then silence, thud. A body hit the ground with such215802:14:08.760 --> 02:14:12.399
impact that it exploded and coated everything nearby in a215902:14:12.439 --> 02:14:17.039
shower of blood and gore. The gentle flapping of leather216002:14:17.159 --> 02:14:20.760
wings carried upon the night wind. The man and the216102:14:20.760 --> 02:14:25.720
scrubs had transformed into his monstrous and vicious vampire lord form.216202:14:25.960 --> 02:14:29.119
In his left hand, he held what was left of216302:14:29.199 --> 02:14:33.279
Megaton's head. He smiled as he held it and looked216402:14:33.279 --> 02:14:36.720
at me as he took a bite out of Megaton's216502:14:36.720 --> 02:14:41.960
face and chewed on his flesh. Finish the others off.216602:14:42.880 --> 02:14:47.680
Leave this one to me, he quietly whispered, and no216702:14:47.840 --> 02:14:51.640
sooner did those words leave his ashen gray lips than216802:14:51.680 --> 02:14:54.960
the other soldiers fell silent as they too joined their216902:14:55.000 --> 02:14:59.840
friends as killed in action. This is it, Caroline Quinn.217002:15:00.640 --> 02:15:04.880
This is where you die. Rhianne. I'm sorry I wasn't217102:15:04.960 --> 02:15:09.039
better to you. The menacing vampire lord flew right down217202:15:09.079 --> 02:15:11.319
in front of me and stood up to his full217302:15:11.399 --> 02:15:17.800
hulking height and towered above me. Jesus, this guy was huge.217402:15:17.880 --> 02:15:21.000
We share the same blood, you and I. We're the217502:15:21.039 --> 02:15:25.279
next step in ascending what humanity can be. We are217602:15:25.399 --> 02:15:30.640
better than the cattle around us. Great. Not only am217702:15:30.640 --> 02:15:32.640
I gonna die here, but I have to listen to217802:15:32.680 --> 02:15:41.359
this dickhead monologue before he kills me or something worse. Think, okay, okay,217902:15:41.359 --> 02:15:45.439
maybe that'll work. A piece of the shredded helicopter about218002:15:45.479 --> 02:15:48.039
as long as a baseball bat and sharp as hell.218102:15:48.640 --> 02:15:51.560
I can probably reach it if I can keep this218202:15:51.680 --> 02:15:57.439
idiot talking and inching me backwards. How are we alike exactly?218302:15:58.079 --> 02:16:02.119
I'm not exactly feeling the whole undead vibe or looking218402:16:02.239 --> 02:16:07.039
like something from a horror movie. Keep him talking. I've218502:16:07.079 --> 02:16:10.560
known about others like you for a long time. You218602:16:10.640 --> 02:16:14.039
aren't as special as you think you're what was created218702:16:14.119 --> 02:16:17.760
long ago by those who helped us escape the confinements218802:16:18.199 --> 02:16:22.880
of the void. Okay, I have no fucking clue what218902:16:22.920 --> 02:16:26.239
this guy is talking about. I know who I am219002:16:26.840 --> 02:16:31.399
and more or less where I came from. Right, I219102:16:31.520 --> 02:16:34.040
slowly back up and keep my eye on a piece219202:16:34.079 --> 02:16:38.239
of shrapnel I'm hoping to turn into a weapon. Void.219302:16:38.360 --> 02:16:43.280
Huh sounds like a nightclub. Your attempts at delaying your219402:16:43.360 --> 02:16:47.440
fate are amusing, but it stops here. Join others like219502:16:47.479 --> 02:16:50.920
yourself and take your place at the unholy throne at219602:16:50.920 --> 02:16:54.520
the head of humanity. Turn this diseased world into a219702:16:54.559 --> 02:16:59.399
paradise for those wronged by that from above. I am219802:16:59.479 --> 02:17:02.879
not getting into a religious debate with this goddamn monster.219902:17:03.760 --> 02:17:06.559
I stop, and I can feel my hand touch the220002:17:06.600 --> 02:17:11.079
hot steel of the shrapnel. You know what I'm good.220102:17:11.920 --> 02:17:14.239
I grab the piece of metal like a sword and220202:17:14.360 --> 02:17:18.000
absolutely throw all of my momentum into a forward swing220302:17:18.239 --> 02:17:22.159
at this thing's head. It blocks the strike with its220402:17:22.200 --> 02:17:26.959
clawed hand. Oh shit, it gets a solid grip on220502:17:27.000 --> 02:17:29.719
my left arm and breaks it at the wrist and220602:17:29.879 --> 02:17:33.520
throws me aside roughly. I tumble toward the helicopter near220702:17:33.559 --> 02:17:38.040
the entranceway and skid right into the doorframe. The Vampire220802:17:38.120 --> 02:17:44.280
Lord continues advancing towards me. Okay, that didn't work. I220902:17:44.360 --> 02:17:48.280
quickly assessed my situation and I got one last Hail221002:17:48.360 --> 02:17:51.760
Mary as it were. Just inside the wreckage is one221102:17:51.760 --> 02:17:56.520
of the helicopter mounted weapons, and it looks relatively intact221202:17:56.639 --> 02:18:00.280
despite its crash. The barrel appears to be fought, and221302:18:00.360 --> 02:18:04.559
it seems spolled up to the magazine. I start crawling221402:18:04.600 --> 02:18:07.479
my way inside the crash and try my best not221502:18:07.600 --> 02:18:11.639
to get burned by the dying fires. You chose to221602:18:11.799 --> 02:18:14.879
hide like a coward rather than live as a god221702:18:14.959 --> 02:18:20.319
among mortals. Okay, it's time to shut the fuck up.221802:18:20.879 --> 02:18:23.799
I pull myself forward and aim the mounted minigun out221902:18:23.799 --> 02:18:26.719
the ruined door and squeeze the triggers on both sides222002:18:26.760 --> 02:18:29.600
of the weapon. It hums to life with an electric222102:18:29.719 --> 02:18:33.360
whirl as it begins to spin its rotating barrels. This222202:18:33.479 --> 02:18:37.360
mini gun fires more of the enhanced AMMO except at222302:18:37.440 --> 02:18:40.840
seven point six y two, which means that our Vampire222402:18:40.959 --> 02:18:44.120
Lord friend pretty much liquefies when I hit him with222502:18:44.319 --> 02:18:48.719
hundreds of rounds, if not thousands of rounds per minute.222602:18:48.799 --> 02:18:51.479
He doesn't even have a chance to look surprised before222702:18:51.520 --> 02:18:56.120
I completely turn him into paste. There isn't much left222802:18:56.159 --> 02:18:59.760
of him besides a pair of shoes, and I'm totally222902:18:59.760 --> 02:19:03.840
okay with that. Silence fills the air once again as223002:19:03.920 --> 02:19:07.159
soon as I stop firing and the barrels wind down223102:19:07.200 --> 02:19:12.959
as the electric motor disengages, I won I take myself223202:19:12.959 --> 02:19:16.120
outside of the ruined chopper and back outside into the223302:19:16.239 --> 02:19:19.840
night once again. I stand up and cradle my broken223402:19:19.879 --> 02:19:23.719
wrist and notice a distinct lack of undead in my223502:19:23.840 --> 02:19:27.959
immediate area. I fiddle inside my vest and look for223602:19:28.079 --> 02:19:32.600
my phone and call in to Director Carlson. Agent Quinn. Here,223702:19:32.959 --> 02:19:38.000
operation to success. Vampire Lord eliminated, the other vampires escaped.223802:19:38.280 --> 02:19:43.239
My team is gone. Everyone is gone Megaton phase mnemonic,223902:19:44.000 --> 02:19:48.799
everyone except me. This wasn't a success, not by a224002:19:48.799 --> 02:19:54.000
long shot. Understood beginning Cradle of Liberty protocol, your country,224102:19:54.040 --> 02:19:58.200
Thanks you for your service, Agent Quinn. Wait what total224202:19:58.239 --> 02:20:01.680
elimination of the target zone and f fifteen minutes. Goodbye,224302:20:01.680 --> 02:20:06.040
Agent Quinn. The line went dead, and so did every224402:20:06.159 --> 02:20:10.239
light in the city, and it was darkness and the224502:20:10.280 --> 02:20:14.799
sound of something sinister in the evening air. This was224602:20:14.920 --> 02:20:19.440
not my idea of a Halloween prank. This is definitely224702:20:19.479 --> 02:20:22.920
not a treat. This had to be a trick, right,224802:20:25.879 --> 02:20:37.520
This was not worth two weeks of vacation. Doorway to224902:20:37.680 --> 02:20:46.440
Horror by Rob Fields perspective, Madeline Donnerly, you just know225002:20:46.520 --> 02:20:49.879
it's Friday for a couple reasons. The first is because225102:20:49.879 --> 02:20:52.000
you know as soon as you're done with school it's225202:20:52.040 --> 02:20:55.399
the weekend. The second is a couple hands slamming on225302:20:55.440 --> 02:21:00.120
the table I'm sitting at in the cafeteria at lunchtime. Yes,225402:21:00.799 --> 02:21:05.639
I ask Ariel Miron, I hate you mouse, Ariel growls,225502:21:06.120 --> 02:21:09.319
Then she points right at me. I will never give up.225602:21:09.360 --> 02:21:11.920
I will see you scared out of your wits one225702:21:11.920 --> 02:21:16.479
of these days. I'm laughing inside now. If only Ariel225802:21:16.520 --> 02:21:19.159
knew how many opportunities she could have had to see225902:21:19.159 --> 02:21:23.840
me get scared. Well, I sure ain't gonna tell her. Still,226002:21:24.239 --> 02:21:27.079
I can't really say she'll never get me. I'm sure226102:21:27.079 --> 02:21:30.239
one of these days will be her lucky day. Ariel226202:21:30.280 --> 02:21:34.159
puts her hands on the table again. Softer now, Slumber226302:21:34.200 --> 02:21:37.559
party at my house tonight, same time as last Friday.226402:21:38.520 --> 02:21:41.079
You still bringing those Christmas movies over? You said, you226502:21:41.200 --> 02:21:44.280
just got unless you want me to bring some other stuff.226602:21:44.559 --> 02:21:49.239
I reply, no, bring those. Also, Mona said she's got226702:21:49.239 --> 02:21:52.479
a movie for us to see tonight. She sits down. Now,226802:21:52.959 --> 02:21:56.079
you ever heard of a movie called Doorway to Horror?226902:21:57.280 --> 02:22:00.200
Can't say I have. Then I pull out my phone227002:22:00.239 --> 02:22:03.120
and do some searching. I ain't even seeing it on227102:22:03.159 --> 02:22:06.520
IMDb or any of the other sites. Now I did227202:22:06.639 --> 02:22:10.440
find an old VHS horror game called Doorways to Horror,227302:22:11.079 --> 02:22:14.440
not exactly the same thing, I don't think. Did Mona227402:22:14.520 --> 02:22:18.760
tell you where she got it? Nuh uh. Ariel looks uneasy.227502:22:19.600 --> 02:22:22.840
Once in a while, Mona will find something she's not227602:22:22.959 --> 02:22:27.000
you or Bailey, though you two know your movies. Speaking227702:22:27.040 --> 02:22:29.680
of Bailey, that's one of the movies we're seeing tonight.227802:22:30.319 --> 02:22:35.000
It's a Christmas horror story. Ariel raises her finger. Oh hey,227902:22:35.559 --> 02:22:39.360
gatecode changed yesterday. She tells it to me. You got228002:22:39.360 --> 02:22:43.639
it mouse yep. Then Ariel narrows her eyes on me.228102:22:44.479 --> 02:22:47.719
You haven't seen Carter around here, have you? I shake228202:22:47.799 --> 02:22:51.040
my head. Don't tell me he's posting videos of you228302:22:51.120 --> 02:22:55.840
on Facebook again? She nods quickly. He always seems to228402:22:55.879 --> 02:22:58.920
be there whenever I got Stewart with me. She points228502:22:58.959 --> 02:23:02.440
right at me. You're not covering for him? Are you228602:23:02.440 --> 02:23:05.760
you think I forgot you? Two are best buds. I228702:23:05.879 --> 02:23:09.520
promise you I ain't covering for him. Ariel holds out228802:23:09.520 --> 02:23:12.719
her little finger. You willing to pinky promise on it?228902:23:13.600 --> 02:23:16.879
I make the pinky promise with her. I really don't229002:23:16.879 --> 02:23:19.680
know where he is. Maybe he's with the other guys.229102:23:20.399 --> 02:23:24.600
Ariel shakes her head. Nope, look I look to where229202:23:24.639 --> 02:23:28.200
she's pointing. Bill Chapman, Richie Horton, and Brian Chunk are229302:23:28.239 --> 02:23:32.440
coming into the cafeteria. No Carter, though. A moment later,229402:23:32.559 --> 02:23:36.879
the guys come over to us. Ariel confronts him, where's Carter?229502:23:37.360 --> 02:23:40.319
I know you guys know where he is. What makes229602:23:40.360 --> 02:23:42.399
you think we'd even tell you if we did know?229702:23:42.920 --> 02:23:46.680
Chapman replies, he's the tough guy with the burr haircut.229802:23:47.719 --> 02:23:51.440
I'm not above administering decisive methods of torture on you guys.229902:23:51.840 --> 02:23:56.440
Ariel replies, all I have to do is divide and conquer.230002:23:57.280 --> 02:24:01.159
Chunker points at her and tells the other two, Ah, this,230102:24:01.399 --> 02:24:04.920
I gotta see. He's the husky guy wearing the cargo230202:24:04.959 --> 02:24:07.920
shorts with an open Hawaiian shirt over a black T shirt.230302:24:08.959 --> 02:24:12.520
Don't temp fate you, guys, Horton warns him. He's the230402:24:12.600 --> 02:24:16.520
skinny guy wearing the glasses with circular lenses. I keep230502:24:16.559 --> 02:24:19.399
telling you how evil Ariel Mirron is. One of these230602:24:19.479 --> 02:24:21.280
days you're going to wish you'd have listened to me.230702:24:22.040 --> 02:24:26.159
Ariel smirks. I'd be listening to Horton if I were you. Guys,230802:24:26.680 --> 02:24:29.319
she points to him, But you're not off the hook.230902:24:30.040 --> 02:24:33.440
Horton grins and looks her in the eyes. Why don't231002:24:33.479 --> 02:24:37.479
you just look over your left shoulder. Ariel quickly turns231102:24:37.520 --> 02:24:40.639
and sees my buddy and next door neighbor, Carter Cross.231202:24:41.360 --> 02:24:44.399
The next thing we know, Ariel's running off and chasing231302:24:44.479 --> 02:24:48.239
Carter down. Yesterday he recorded a video of Ariel and231402:24:48.360 --> 02:24:53.040
Stuart at Denoyer's grill. He slipped away and started running231502:24:53.040 --> 02:24:56.360
around and wreaking havoc. I know this because she texted231602:24:56.399 --> 02:24:59.920
me asking for help nine one one at Denoyer's Stuart.231702:25:01.200 --> 02:25:04.200
Fortunately for Ariel, I happen to be in the area231802:25:04.239 --> 02:25:07.120
on my mongoose and stopped in. I was able to231902:25:07.120 --> 02:25:10.280
get Stuart to calm down and behave. I don't know232002:25:10.319 --> 02:25:13.120
what it is about that little guy, but he likes232102:25:13.200 --> 02:25:15.920
me enough to where he always minds me. I don't232202:25:15.920 --> 02:25:19.600
even have to yell at him anyway. Carter was already232302:25:19.639 --> 02:25:23.079
there before me and recording Ariel losing her mind. He232402:25:23.159 --> 02:25:26.680
put the video on Facebook and got everybody laughing at her.232502:25:27.360 --> 02:25:29.760
When the guys get their lunches, they come and sit232602:25:29.840 --> 02:25:32.959
with me. The four of us have some good conversation232702:25:33.600 --> 02:25:41.520
before we gotta go back to class. That night, I'm232802:25:41.520 --> 02:25:45.559
walking to Ariel's house. When I reach the Mirngated community,232902:25:45.639 --> 02:25:48.639
I punch in the new code and go in. Never233002:25:48.680 --> 02:25:51.280
seems to fail. Every time I walk to Ariels on233102:25:51.360 --> 02:25:54.239
Friday nights. There's always a few Mirrans who walk past233202:25:54.319 --> 02:25:58.360
me and give me looks like I don't belong inside.233302:25:58.440 --> 02:26:00.760
I gotta walk a few blocks before I get to233402:26:00.840 --> 02:26:03.879
Capital Court. When I reach the double doors, one of233502:26:03.920 --> 02:26:08.639
them opens. Ariel appears and says, wow, you're actually here233602:26:08.719 --> 02:26:12.319
before Mona and Bailey mouse. Then she steps aside and233702:26:12.399 --> 02:26:15.719
lets me come in. It's about twenty minutes later when233802:26:15.760 --> 02:26:20.079
Mona Abels and Bailey Downs finally show up. Sorry, Ariel,233902:26:20.479 --> 02:26:23.520
Mona says, I had to help mom with something at home.234002:26:24.239 --> 02:26:27.920
You're good, Ariel replies, After the week I've had, I234102:26:27.959 --> 02:26:29.920
just want to hang with my girls and let loose.234202:26:30.440 --> 02:26:32.719
At least your aunt never drops Stewart off here while234302:26:32.719 --> 02:26:36.959
we're having our slumber parties, Bailey says, Ariel points right234402:26:37.000 --> 02:26:39.399
at her. You do not even get to say that.234502:26:40.239 --> 02:26:43.200
Mona and Bailey laugh a little. Ariel gives me that234602:26:43.280 --> 02:26:46.079
look that asks why she puts up with them. I234702:26:46.200 --> 02:26:48.639
give her a smirk that says not to worry about it.234802:26:49.319 --> 02:26:53.280
After some socializing, Ariel gets the pizza's order. From there,234902:26:53.319 --> 02:26:56.680
we start spinning some movies. First up is a Christmas235002:26:56.719 --> 02:26:59.399
horror story. As soon as the name of the town235102:26:59.479 --> 02:27:03.559
is mentioned, and Bailey gives us all weird looks. First235202:27:03.639 --> 02:27:07.600
Ginger snaps, and now this one. She mutters, what other235302:27:07.680 --> 02:27:11.520
movies have the town named the same as mine? Orphan Black?235402:27:11.799 --> 02:27:16.319
I reply, it's a TV series. Bailey points right at Ariel.235502:27:17.120 --> 02:27:19.120
Why do I get the feeling you had something to235602:27:19.120 --> 02:27:21.680
do with this? Was this because Mona and I weren't235702:27:21.719 --> 02:27:23.719
spending the night at the mall with you last weekend?235802:27:24.440 --> 02:27:27.559
Then Ariel grabs a pillow and throws it at Bailey.235902:27:28.000 --> 02:27:31.959
She catches it and laughs. Ariel points at her, not funny.236002:27:32.479 --> 02:27:35.879
Then she smirks, Okay, Bailey, you can go out and236102:27:35.879 --> 02:27:44.440
get our pizzas. Then Bailey gets off the couch. Fine perspective.236202:27:45.079 --> 02:27:50.000
Bailey downs after I bring our pizzas in. Mouse resumes236302:27:50.040 --> 02:27:52.799
the Blue Array of a Christmas Horror Story. I have236402:27:52.840 --> 02:27:55.639
the feeling Ariel put Mouse up to bringing this movie236502:27:55.639 --> 02:27:58.559
over in spite of the fact that it takes place236602:27:58.559 --> 02:28:01.479
in a town with the same name as mine. It236702:28:01.559 --> 02:28:04.719
is a really good horror anthology, though I really love236802:28:04.799 --> 02:28:08.280
the twist and the Santa versus Crampis story. We also236902:28:08.319 --> 02:28:11.680
watched the original Black Christmas and Silent Night Deadly Night.237002:28:12.239 --> 02:28:14.120
We don't get to lay down for the night. After237102:28:14.159 --> 02:28:17.319
three movies, Mona announces that she's got a movie she237202:28:17.440 --> 02:28:22.000
wants us to see, which is called Doorway to Horror.237302:28:22.639 --> 02:28:27.520
When Ariel asks what it's about, Mona doesn't know. Believe237402:28:27.520 --> 02:28:30.000
it or not. I found it just sitting on a237502:28:30.040 --> 02:28:33.200
table in study hall. It's a burned blu ray, but237602:28:33.440 --> 02:28:36.760
it plays. I put it in my laptop and checked it.237702:28:37.399 --> 02:28:40.239
The opening scene looks really creepy, so I thought i'd237802:28:40.280 --> 02:28:43.920
bring it to the sleepover to share. Ariel turns to Mouse,237902:28:44.479 --> 02:28:46.879
I'm guessing you didn't turn up anything else on it.238002:28:47.600 --> 02:28:50.799
Mouse shrugs. I tried all kinds of searches when I238102:28:50.840 --> 02:28:54.879
got home. Nothing. So we sit back and let Mona238202:28:54.959 --> 02:28:58.360
spin her find. There are all kinds of Christmas things238302:28:58.399 --> 02:29:01.079
in the movie, but the town looks like something out238402:29:01.079 --> 02:29:05.200
of a post apocalyptic story. We're eating more pizza and238502:29:05.280 --> 02:29:07.479
drinking some more of the cokes that Mona and I238602:29:07.639 --> 02:29:11.000
snuck over in our backpacks. You gotta love that missus.238702:29:11.000 --> 02:29:14.799
Miran won't let her own family drink any sugary sodas238802:29:15.200 --> 02:29:18.840
it's diet or nothing. The four of us are talking238902:29:18.879 --> 02:29:22.559
about the movie once it's over. There really wasn't any239002:29:22.600 --> 02:29:27.000
dialogue or anything. Maybe David Lynch lost the one copy239102:29:27.040 --> 02:29:29.879
of a new movie he was working on. I half joke.239202:29:30.719 --> 02:29:33.280
We've seen some pretty weird stuff since we started doing239302:29:33.319 --> 02:29:37.360
our sleepovers years ago. Ariel says, you've brought over stuff239402:29:37.399 --> 02:29:41.079
like this before. Mouse, I ain't denying it. She agrees.239502:29:41.719 --> 02:29:44.520
Doorway to Horror still don't ring a bell with me, though.239602:29:45.120 --> 02:29:49.200
Guess you made a rare find. Mona, Yeah, kudos. I239702:29:49.280 --> 02:29:52.440
tell my best friend we talk for a little while239802:29:52.520 --> 02:29:56.079
longer before we're finally yawning our heads off. The nice239902:29:56.079 --> 02:29:58.520
thing about this big living room is there are enough240002:29:58.559 --> 02:30:01.440
couches for all of us to sey sleep on. Ariel240102:30:01.520 --> 02:30:03.799
sleeps on one too, even though her bedroom is the240202:30:03.840 --> 02:30:07.120
first one on entering the hallway. It don't take us240302:30:07.120 --> 02:30:14.120
all long to fall asleep. Perspective Mona Abels. I'm the240402:30:14.120 --> 02:30:17.000
first one to wake up. I yawn and feel how240502:30:17.040 --> 02:30:20.440
parched I am. Knowing we still got cans of coke left,240602:30:20.479 --> 02:30:24.319
I grab one and feel grateful. I stop drinking and240702:30:24.440 --> 02:30:29.200
notice something weird. Did I just take a power nap240802:30:29.280 --> 02:30:32.399
or something? Because it still seems like it's dark out.240902:30:33.079 --> 02:30:36.479
I look at my smart watch and see it's blank241002:30:36.600 --> 02:30:40.879
across the screen. I find my smartphone underneath my pillow241102:30:41.159 --> 02:30:43.879
and see the same blanks where the date and time241202:30:43.920 --> 02:30:47.719
should be. Then I see Mouse's phone and look at hers.241302:30:48.719 --> 02:30:53.799
She's got the same blanks too. Seriously, what gives I241402:30:53.840 --> 02:30:56.239
need to see what time it is? As soon as241502:30:56.239 --> 02:30:58.680
I come out of my comforter, I'm quickly wrapping my241602:30:58.799 --> 02:31:02.639
arms around myself in starf shivering. Boy, it's really cold241702:31:02.639 --> 02:31:05.799
in Ariel's mansion, so cold I can see my own241802:31:05.840 --> 02:31:09.559
breath like when I'm outside. I see Ariel's bedroom door241902:31:09.559 --> 02:31:13.079
open and peek inside. My eyes are wide when I242002:31:13.159 --> 02:31:17.719
see there's no windows. I mean the cold's just blowing242102:31:17.799 --> 02:31:20.639
right into the house. I walk down the hall to242202:31:20.680 --> 02:31:23.280
the next bedroom and see there ain't no windows there either.242302:31:24.040 --> 02:31:26.920
Then I hear movement and return to the living room.242402:31:27.520 --> 02:31:30.920
Ariel's getting out from underneath her comforter why is it242502:31:31.000 --> 02:31:36.159
so cold in here? Then Ariel sees me, mona, why242602:31:36.159 --> 02:31:39.959
aren't there any windows? Ariel? I ask? She gives me242702:31:40.040 --> 02:31:44.520
a weird look. What no, I'll show you. I grab242802:31:44.559 --> 02:31:47.440
Ariel's hand and bring her to her own room. You242902:31:47.559 --> 02:31:51.200
have got to be kidding me, Ariel gasps. We move243002:31:51.280 --> 02:31:54.319
to a few other rooms and see no windows. We243102:31:54.440 --> 02:31:58.040
go into the bathroom. Normally there's scented pillar candles on243202:31:58.079 --> 02:32:00.680
either side of the mirror. On the sink, looks like243302:32:00.760 --> 02:32:03.959
there's only one that remains of the said candles. When243402:32:03.959 --> 02:32:07.360
we come back out, we see Bailey and Mouse are up. Now, boy,243502:32:07.440 --> 02:32:11.920
it sure got cold fast. Bailey states, what I wouldn't243602:32:11.959 --> 02:32:15.840
give for some hot coffee right now? Mouse mutters. Then243702:32:15.959 --> 02:32:19.280
Mouse turns and walks to the front window. She turns243802:32:19.319 --> 02:32:22.319
to us fast. There's only a big window shade here,243902:32:22.680 --> 02:32:26.959
as in no big window here. What's going on? Ariel?244002:32:27.639 --> 02:32:31.600
Ariel goes to Mouse and sees for herself. What on244102:32:31.680 --> 02:32:36.600
earth is going on here? Beats me. Mouse answers, and244202:32:36.680 --> 02:32:39.840
what time is it? Ariel snaps, That's what I've been244302:32:39.840 --> 02:32:43.079
trying to find out. I say, our phones and watches244402:32:43.120 --> 02:32:46.879
ain't working. Ariel quickly goes to the closet and starts244502:32:46.920 --> 02:32:49.840
tossing us our jackets. We take them and head into244602:32:49.879 --> 02:32:53.319
separate rooms to get changed. We're all dressed to go244702:32:53.399 --> 02:32:58.600
outside now. But when we do go outside, what the244802:32:59.280 --> 02:33:03.959
bailey gasps? Everything looks like what we saw in your movie, Mona.244902:33:04.479 --> 02:33:08.719
Ariel states, ah, man, you gotta be kidding me. Mouse245002:33:08.840 --> 02:33:13.319
groans not again. We all look right at Mouse. Now,245102:33:13.920 --> 02:33:18.159
do you know something about this? Ariel asks her. If245202:33:18.200 --> 02:33:21.280
we are where I think we are, we're gonna be245302:33:21.319 --> 02:33:27.639
in terrible danger. Fast. Mouse quickly answers, just spit it out. Mouse,245402:33:27.959 --> 02:33:35.879
I snap, we ain't in strickfield. No more perspective, Ariel, Mirron,245502:33:37.000 --> 02:33:41.680
I give Mouse wide eyes. Excuse me, I was really245602:33:41.719 --> 02:33:45.280
hoping to never see this place ever again. Mouse groans.245702:33:45.959 --> 02:33:49.319
Then she tells us we need to go back inside.245802:33:49.360 --> 02:33:52.399
We go back inside the house. Then I get an245902:33:52.440 --> 02:33:56.959
idea and turn on my smartphone. Flash, what in the246002:33:57.719 --> 02:34:02.879
are you serious? Mona adds, no, we're not seeing things.246102:34:03.520 --> 02:34:07.479
My house is trashed, and I mean trashed. Then I246202:34:07.520 --> 02:34:12.840
point right at Mouse. Okay, start talking. Mouse springs up246302:34:12.879 --> 02:34:15.680
the night in October when she went to the Horror246402:34:15.760 --> 02:34:18.920
Thon at the Strickfield Centennial Theater with her twin cousin246502:34:19.000 --> 02:34:23.760
Aileen Carter Cross and Bela Tabon. They had watched a246602:34:23.799 --> 02:34:26.920
screening of a film called The Portal. It was like246702:34:27.000 --> 02:34:30.959
everything had changed. Places were trashed, much like my house.246802:34:31.440 --> 02:34:34.879
Windows were mostly missing in the homes. It was night246902:34:35.040 --> 02:34:41.200
all the time. But what was worse, everybody was a vampire.247002:34:42.799 --> 02:34:45.639
The four of them barely escaped this place and made247102:34:45.639 --> 02:34:48.840
it back to Strickfield. Mouse says, we're in an alternate247202:34:48.920 --> 02:34:53.840
universe where it's all vampires. We're all in terrible danger.247302:34:54.239 --> 02:34:58.280
She finishes any of those vampires sees us, they'll be247402:34:58.399 --> 02:35:05.600
after us. It's like Marvel zombies. After everybody suddenly became vampires,247502:35:05.600 --> 02:35:07.680
they drank up all the living people they could get247602:35:07.680 --> 02:35:11.639
their hands on. Now like those zombies. After a few days,247702:35:12.600 --> 02:35:16.200
they're out of food. Bailey quickly waves her hands in247802:35:16.200 --> 02:35:20.239
front of her. Okay, okay, assuming Mouse isn't making this247902:35:20.360 --> 02:35:24.600
stuff up here, how did we get here? It had248002:35:24.639 --> 02:35:27.920
to have been that movie Mona brought over Doorway to Horror.248102:35:28.399 --> 02:35:32.760
Mouse guesses. Mona points right at Mouse. Oh no, you don't.248202:35:32.959 --> 02:35:35.520
You ain't blaming me for this, you wicked little rodent.248302:35:36.120 --> 02:35:38.520
I raise my hand in front of me. No, I248402:35:38.559 --> 02:35:41.319
think Mouse is right, Mona. Everything we saw in that248502:35:41.440 --> 02:35:44.639
disc you brought over was much like where we are now.248602:35:45.360 --> 02:35:47.920
Nobody's blaming you about this place, but you did bring248702:35:47.959 --> 02:35:51.879
that disc over. Let's find the disc then, Mouse says,248802:35:52.360 --> 02:35:54.799
we can watch it again and get back home. We248902:35:54.879 --> 02:35:57.120
had to rewatch the portal to get back home two249002:35:57.159 --> 02:36:01.159
months ago. We searched through everything. All the movies Mouse249102:36:01.200 --> 02:36:04.600
brought over are still here, but the disc Mona brought249202:36:05.559 --> 02:36:10.520
is gone. Where is it? Mona shrieks, Oh, wait here249302:36:10.559 --> 02:36:13.399
it is. She raises it up for us to see.249402:36:13.520 --> 02:36:16.680
I point to Mona. Keep hold of that. Now we249502:36:16.799 --> 02:36:19.479
just have to find something to watch it on. That'll249602:36:19.479 --> 02:36:23.440
be easier said than done. Mouse says, powers a little249702:36:24.120 --> 02:36:28.159
hard to come by here. They shattered every window, every mirror.249802:36:28.879 --> 02:36:30.760
I don't know how they're keeping at night here, but249902:36:31.559 --> 02:36:35.799
they're doing it. Then I see Bailey move toward the kitchen.250002:36:36.280 --> 02:36:38.239
I follow her and see her opening one of the250102:36:38.239 --> 02:36:42.879
two refrigerators. She turns to me, whatever food we've got,250202:36:43.280 --> 02:36:45.159
we're going to have to ration it until we can250302:36:45.200 --> 02:36:50.200
find more. Without power, the refrigerators aren't working. Also, we250402:36:50.239 --> 02:36:52.239
can't eat a single bite of the food in either250502:36:52.280 --> 02:36:56.000
of them. I point to the cupboards. We search them250602:36:56.000 --> 02:36:58.159
in the pantry and find a few things we can250702:36:58.200 --> 02:37:02.360
take with us head back out to the others. There's250802:37:02.399 --> 02:37:06.840
not much here, maybe for a day two tops. I250902:37:06.920 --> 02:37:10.239
divide the food evenly between all of us, including the251002:37:10.280 --> 02:37:13.520
cokes and what was left of the pizzas. What are251102:37:13.520 --> 02:37:17.159
we doing, Mona asked, you heard Mouse? I tell her251202:37:17.799 --> 02:37:20.200
we've got to find something to play this disc to251302:37:20.200 --> 02:37:22.639
get back home. We're going to have to leave and251402:37:22.719 --> 02:37:26.000
find some place. In fact, I quickly unplug the Blu251502:37:26.159 --> 02:37:28.760
ray player and stuff it in my backpack. We make251602:37:28.799 --> 02:37:32.040
a quick plan and agree we need to go downtown.251702:37:32.840 --> 02:37:37.319
We stay together, everybody, I stress before we leave. Mouse251802:37:37.360 --> 02:37:42.840
hands everybody crosses. She made whatever you do, don't lose them.251902:37:43.040 --> 02:37:46.280
Mouse just gave me an idea. We probably should stop252002:37:46.319 --> 02:37:51.159
by a church, Bailey suggests, Mouse points to her good thinking.252102:37:51.840 --> 02:37:54.479
We all wish each other good luck before we head252202:37:54.479 --> 02:38:01.440
out through the front doors. Perspective, Madeline Donner, so much252302:38:01.479 --> 02:38:04.120
for us going to churches. We hit a few in252402:38:04.200 --> 02:38:08.280
downtown village and saw they were wrecked. The windows were252502:38:08.319 --> 02:38:12.280
all broken out, pews were destroyed or overturned. Even the252602:38:12.319 --> 02:38:15.520
altars were busted up. What was even worse were the252702:38:15.559 --> 02:38:19.719
skeletons with their religious garbs still on. Only thing I252802:38:19.760 --> 02:38:23.399
can figure is whatever happened to turn people into vampires252902:38:23.440 --> 02:38:28.600
didn't hit everybody. The ones that weren't turned became food253002:38:28.680 --> 02:38:31.559
for the vamps. At least, our trips to the two253102:38:31.680 --> 02:38:35.520
churches weren't total washouts. We managed to find some holy253202:38:35.600 --> 02:38:39.200
wafers and even some holy water itself. Sure would be253302:38:39.280 --> 02:38:41.799
nice if we had squirt guns like in The Lost Boys,253402:38:42.399 --> 02:38:45.079
but all we found were a few vials and bottles.253502:38:46.079 --> 02:38:48.319
We leave the second church and sneak over to a253602:38:48.360 --> 02:38:51.719
few markets. We don't find much in terms of food,253702:38:52.520 --> 02:38:56.319
just dry goods and a few cans of soup. The253802:38:56.399 --> 02:38:59.680
refrigerators and freezers probably haven't been working in a very253902:38:59.719 --> 02:39:03.040
long long time, so the food in him won't be254002:39:03.120 --> 02:39:06.959
any good. We duck in back of Wilder's Market to254102:39:07.000 --> 02:39:10.479
work out another plan. Everybody has ideas to bring to254202:39:10.520 --> 02:39:14.079
the table. Then Ariel suggests heading out to Strickfield Town254302:39:14.159 --> 02:39:18.760
Center mall. Mona turns to her. You do realize how254402:39:18.760 --> 02:39:23.040
far the mall is from downtown village, right and on foot?254502:39:23.120 --> 02:39:27.479
Who said anything about walking? Ariel replies. Then she looks254602:39:27.520 --> 02:39:30.559
my way. We find a car and get Mouse here254702:39:30.600 --> 02:39:34.200
to drive it. Mona gives her a weird look. You254802:39:34.319 --> 02:39:38.239
have got to be kidding me. Ariel shakes her head. Nope,254902:39:38.719 --> 02:39:41.120
you should have seen her drive at the mall last weekend.255002:39:41.799 --> 02:39:46.200
Bailey sighs, Okay, let's do it. There are plenty of255102:39:46.239 --> 02:39:49.159
cars outside. I would imagine we can find one that works.255202:39:49.840 --> 02:39:55.079
Ariel slaps my arm. You up for it, Mouse, I shrug.255302:39:55.879 --> 02:40:00.000
I guess I ain't got a choice. Mona groans, Yeah,255402:40:00.360 --> 02:40:04.559
we're gonna die. Bailey scoffs at Mona. Oh have a255502:40:04.559 --> 02:40:08.920
little faith, will you? Mona groans again. Then she notices something.255602:40:09.840 --> 02:40:14.680
You know, we've seen a lot of Christmas stuff. You255702:40:14.680 --> 02:40:18.280
think all this went down during the holidays. She looks sad.255802:40:18.319 --> 02:40:22.840
Now put a time for something like a vampire apocalypse255902:40:22.879 --> 02:40:26.200
to happen. The rest of us are sad for a moment.256002:40:27.120 --> 02:40:29.559
Then we head out back to the parking lot, where256102:40:29.559 --> 02:40:32.520
there's a nice selection of cars to choose from. We256202:40:32.600 --> 02:40:36.159
can't be picky, you guys, Bailey says, just find one256302:40:36.159 --> 02:40:39.840
that's got keys. I raise my finger. Just one thing.256402:40:40.479 --> 02:40:43.200
Once we get a car started, if there's any vamps nearby,256502:40:44.120 --> 02:40:46.719
they're gonna hear it. We gotta be ready for that.256602:40:47.959 --> 02:40:51.639
And you know this how, Mona sneers. I don't want256702:40:51.680 --> 02:40:53.719
to tell her how I know without giving away my256802:40:53.799 --> 02:40:58.879
connection to Mary Worth and cousin Aleen's bff Bells, I256902:40:59.040 --> 02:41:04.680
just know. Okay, yeah, we're gonna die, Mona repeats. We257002:41:04.760 --> 02:41:07.879
split up and look for cars. After some minutes, Mona257102:41:07.920 --> 02:41:11.040
gets our attention. We come over to her. Keys are257202:41:11.040 --> 02:41:14.600
in the ignition, doors are unlocked. When Ariel starts looking257302:41:14.680 --> 02:41:18.159
it over, Bailey groans, come on, it's not going to257402:41:18.159 --> 02:41:23.000
be a fancy limo you're used to being in. Ariel gasps, really, Bailey,257502:41:23.319 --> 02:41:25.280
I'm checking the car to make sure it looks good,257602:41:25.319 --> 02:41:31.000
you know, For flat tires and stuff. Okay, sorry, Bailey mutters,257702:41:31.520 --> 02:41:35.559
looks good. Ariel says, Okay, Mouse, get behind the wheel257802:41:35.559 --> 02:41:39.840
and hope this thing starts. Ah man, I squeak when257902:41:39.879 --> 02:41:42.639
I open the door and get in. Now I feel258002:41:42.639 --> 02:41:47.239
Ariel's hand on my shoulder. Are you actually scared? Mouse?258102:41:48.280 --> 02:41:52.760
I glance over my shoulder. Ah please, which is a lie?258202:41:53.360 --> 02:41:56.680
This little mousey is definitely scared. I just don't want258302:41:56.719 --> 02:41:59.520
Ariels see in it on me. I turn the key258402:41:59.600 --> 02:42:08.719
and perspective. Bailey downs the engine. Cranks and cranks and cranks. Ugh,258502:42:09.479 --> 02:42:16.040
you guys, look, Oh god, Mona shrieks. Vamps start the car. Mouse,258602:42:16.520 --> 02:42:20.719
I'm trying, Mouse cries. The vampires are leaping from car258702:42:20.760 --> 02:42:24.319
to car, or they're running. It's when they're almost to258802:42:24.440 --> 02:42:29.120
us that the car finally starts. Go mouse, go, Ariel yells.258902:42:29.639 --> 02:42:33.360
Mouse has to study the controls, okay, hoping I can259002:42:33.399 --> 02:42:36.520
do this. Never drove a stick. Now, I put a259102:42:36.559 --> 02:42:39.639
hand on her shoulder. You're a gamer. Mouse. You're not259202:42:39.719 --> 02:42:42.600
here with us right now. You're in Roth's rings playing259302:42:42.600 --> 02:42:47.239
a racing game. Go with that. Okay, let's hope I259402:42:47.280 --> 02:42:51.360
got this. Mouse stammers, just as the vamps are shattering259502:42:51.360 --> 02:42:54.319
the windows. Mouse puts the car in gear and stutters259602:42:54.360 --> 02:42:58.280
a little. Then she takes a deep breath and shifts again.259702:42:59.399 --> 02:43:03.920
Finally we're moving away. We pull out of the parking259802:43:03.959 --> 02:43:06.799
lot and out onto main street. Mouse hits the clutch259902:43:06.840 --> 02:43:09.760
and shifts again. Looks like she's got the hang of260002:43:09.799 --> 02:43:13.719
it now. There ain't no mirrors on this car, Mona says,260102:43:13.799 --> 02:43:17.120
riding shotgun, you wouldn't see any vamps in the mirrors260202:43:17.120 --> 02:43:20.559
even if we did have them. Mouse tells her, no reflections.260302:43:21.600 --> 02:43:24.959
The little squeaker's right, Ariel says, looking out the back,260402:43:25.559 --> 02:43:30.040
we got bats coming fast. I hate you Mouse, Yeah yeah,260502:43:30.159 --> 02:43:34.120
Mouse mutters, we good on gas. Mona asks Mouse, don't260602:43:34.159 --> 02:43:37.000
know gas. Gage just shot from half a tank all260702:43:37.040 --> 02:43:39.840
the way down to the big e fast. Hopefully we'll260802:43:39.840 --> 02:43:42.440
be able to get to the mall. Then I'm having260902:43:42.479 --> 02:43:46.680
second thoughts. I didn't think this through. Maybe the mall's261002:43:46.760 --> 02:43:52.079
ravaged too. Everything's probably ravaged, Bailey, Ariel says, But we261102:43:52.200 --> 02:43:54.399
have to try and look for someplace that has power.261202:43:54.840 --> 02:43:58.680
In fact, I think I have an idea. Ariel explains261302:43:58.719 --> 02:44:00.600
that the hardware store in the mall all should have261402:44:00.639 --> 02:44:04.680
gasoline power generators. All we have to do is find one.261502:44:04.799 --> 02:44:06.840
Then we would siphon the gas out of the cars261602:44:06.840 --> 02:44:09.479
at the mall and power it from there. We find261702:44:09.520 --> 02:44:12.280
a TV, hook up the Blu ray player, and then261802:44:12.639 --> 02:44:16.879
we're back home. That'll be easier said than done. I say,261902:44:17.799 --> 02:44:21.040
but what else is there? Mouse keeps the car going.262002:44:21.600 --> 02:44:24.879
Ariel and I are still seeing the bats flapping after us.262102:44:25.440 --> 02:44:27.319
We have to get them off our backs if we're262202:44:27.360 --> 02:44:31.120
gonna make your plan work, Ariel, Mouse has something. I262302:44:31.159 --> 02:44:33.879
got an idea for that. When we get to the mall,262402:44:34.040 --> 02:44:36.959
I'll drive around to the under mall parking garage. I262502:44:37.000 --> 02:44:40.280
won't pull inside, though, I'll drop you three off there,262602:44:40.559 --> 02:44:43.680
and then hopefully the vamps will keep following me. How262702:44:43.719 --> 02:44:46.639
will you make it back? I ask, We can't go262802:44:46.760 --> 02:44:50.520
home without you. Let me worry about that. You guys262902:44:50.520 --> 02:44:53.520
work on getting Ariel's planned to work. I put my263002:44:53.559 --> 02:44:57.000
hand on Mouse's shoulder. You just make sure you get263102:44:57.040 --> 02:45:00.559
back to us and try not to get vamped. We're eaten.263202:45:01.000 --> 02:45:04.239
Mona adds, Hey, I want to go back home too.263302:45:04.600 --> 02:45:07.319
We all got something to return to, right, Trust me,263402:45:07.920 --> 02:45:11.879
I'll make it back. Mouse promises. Ariel takes a deep263502:45:11.920 --> 02:45:15.440
breath then she just says it. Carter Cross asked me263602:45:15.479 --> 02:45:19.000
out last weekend when we were at the mall. I263702:45:19.079 --> 02:45:23.600
never did give him an answer. I turned to her seriously.263802:45:24.479 --> 02:45:29.040
Mona turns around. No way. Then she bumps Mouse's shoulder.263902:45:29.479 --> 02:45:32.920
Did you know you and Carter are bfs? I know264002:45:33.000 --> 02:45:38.600
you tell each other everything. Mouse shakes her head. Uh nope,264102:45:39.159 --> 02:45:41.440
but it's no secret in our group that Carter and264202:45:41.479 --> 02:45:45.639
Ariel like each other. I hate you, Mouse, Ariel growls.264302:45:46.200 --> 02:45:50.959
Mouse shrugs. I'm just saying. Ariel bows her head, looking sad.264402:45:51.680 --> 02:45:54.040
I'm just wishing I would have told him I'd go264502:45:54.079 --> 02:45:57.399
out with him. She raises her head. That's why I264602:45:57.479 --> 02:46:00.440
want to make it and get back home. I'm sure264702:46:00.479 --> 02:46:03.719
you girls have something to return to too, my family.264802:46:04.159 --> 02:46:08.719
I quickly say, Denoyer's grill. Mona gushes, I don't want264902:46:08.719 --> 02:46:11.040
to be stuck here in some vampire universe and no265002:46:11.159 --> 02:46:15.920
Denoyer's grill or no coffee. Mouse adds, I think it's265102:46:15.920 --> 02:46:18.959
safe to say we all loved our lives in Strickfield265202:46:19.000 --> 02:46:23.600
before this happened. I say, then, I thought, did you265302:46:23.639 --> 02:46:27.000
make it out this way when you were here last Mouse? Nope,265402:46:27.479 --> 02:46:30.280
we got as far as Strickfield Academy. Wish I could265502:46:30.319 --> 02:46:33.680
tell you more than what I already know. Okay, we're here,265602:46:34.479 --> 02:46:37.760
turn it in. Mouse turns us into a mall entrance265702:46:37.799 --> 02:46:41.920
and floors it, making sure she shifts when she needs to. Wow,265802:46:42.319 --> 02:46:44.639
I can't believe little Mouse learned to drive playing all265902:46:44.639 --> 02:46:48.559
those racing video games. Honestly, I thought she was an266002:46:48.559 --> 02:46:50.959
odd ball when Ariel invited her to join our group.266102:46:51.680 --> 02:46:54.559
Mona and I didn't like her for the longest time. However,266202:46:55.079 --> 02:46:58.200
Mouse grows on you after a while. I'm just glad266302:46:58.239 --> 02:47:01.200
she's with us right now. She's the reason we're all266402:47:01.200 --> 02:47:06.000
still alive. Get ready, Mouse tells us. Mouse drifts us266502:47:06.040 --> 02:47:08.319
again as we round the mall and head for the266602:47:08.399 --> 02:47:12.040
under mall parking garage. Before we get there, she hits266702:47:12.040 --> 02:47:16.799
the brakes and swerves to a stop. Go. Mouse belts out. Ariel,266802:47:16.879 --> 02:47:19.239
Mona and I quickly get out of the car. After266902:47:19.280 --> 02:47:23.000
we slam the doors shut, Ariel belts back at Mouse. Go.267002:47:24.000 --> 02:47:26.280
Mouse floors it. As we're in the garage and hiding267102:47:26.280 --> 02:47:29.920
out of sight. The bats are flying after Mouse. I267202:47:30.000 --> 02:47:31.760
just hope they don't see the three of us ain't267302:47:31.760 --> 02:47:35.360
in the car with her. Even more so I hope267402:47:35.399 --> 02:47:42.440
they don't get mouse perspective. Mona abels the three of267502:47:42.520 --> 02:47:45.319
us wait for a little bit. We ain't seeing no267602:47:45.440 --> 02:47:49.239
vamps in the sky. I think we're good. They're all267702:47:49.280 --> 02:47:53.040
after Mouse. We better get a move on. Bailey says,267802:47:53.639 --> 02:47:57.000
we may be unborrowed. Time as it is. We walk267902:47:57.040 --> 02:47:59.600
in the under mall parking garage and come to the268002:47:59.639 --> 02:48:03.040
mall entrance. There the doors are ripped right off, so268102:48:03.440 --> 02:48:05.760
no worries on whether that entrance was locked or not.268202:48:06.600 --> 02:48:09.520
We walk the corridor and go up the steps. Soon268302:48:09.559 --> 02:48:12.079
we're in the food court, coming out at the double268402:48:12.120 --> 02:48:15.879
doors besides Scotto's Pizza. Even though it's dark all through268502:48:15.959 --> 02:48:18.760
the mall, we can see enough to see there are268602:48:18.840 --> 02:48:22.840
Christmas decorations all over the place. There's tinsel hanging off268702:48:22.840 --> 02:48:27.639
the ceilings, fully decorated Christmas trees spread out, animatronic scenes268802:48:28.120 --> 02:48:31.840
though they're not working with no electricity. And there's the268902:48:31.879 --> 02:48:35.200
Santa's House not too far from where we are. So269002:48:35.239 --> 02:48:39.440
Almo's hardware is down by J. C. Penny. Ariel says, oh,269102:48:39.520 --> 02:48:42.799
I sure hope, so I groan, what do you mean?269202:48:43.120 --> 02:48:46.959
Arial demands Mouse said, we're in a parallel universe, right,269302:48:47.680 --> 02:48:49.120
How do we know things are going to be the269402:48:49.159 --> 02:48:53.360
same here as back home? I state, She's got a point,269502:48:53.639 --> 02:48:56.600
Bailey tells Ariel, but we still need to check mona.269602:48:57.360 --> 02:49:00.959
Ariel takes a deep breath. Okay, I'm going to head269702:49:00.959 --> 02:49:04.000
out and look around. I'll signal when the coast is clear.269802:49:05.719 --> 02:49:08.840
We should just go out together. Bailey counters, you know269902:49:09.639 --> 02:49:15.680
safety in numbers. Okay, fine, Ariel replies, Come on. We270002:49:15.760 --> 02:49:18.920
start walking away from Scotto's Pizza. We can see the270102:49:19.000 --> 02:49:21.879
malls wrecked, but it doesn't look all that bad. I mean,270202:49:22.479 --> 02:49:24.639
the gates look messed up and some of the store270302:49:24.680 --> 02:49:27.920
signs are damaged. I don't know. It's like someone's gone270402:49:28.000 --> 02:49:31.680
to lengths to try to make this mall look nice again.270502:49:32.879 --> 02:49:37.840
Then I have a gut feeling you guys, I don't270602:49:37.840 --> 02:49:41.319
think we're alone in here. I tell them. Then explain270702:49:41.440 --> 02:49:45.639
why I don't look for this to be easy. Ariel agrees.270802:49:46.200 --> 02:49:50.079
Look out. Bailey suddenly shrieks. We see someone flying right270902:49:50.120 --> 02:49:53.040
at us, and quickly get out of the way. How271002:49:53.159 --> 02:49:57.280
dare you come into my mall of voice roars behind us.271102:49:57.760 --> 02:50:01.000
Then we make the mistake of stopping and looking behind us.271202:50:01.600 --> 02:50:06.600
It's Harmony, Miron, my cousin. Ariel gasps, she owns this mall,271302:50:08.079 --> 02:50:11.280
your cousin. I ask the one who had you hanging271402:50:11.360 --> 02:50:16.840
decorations here last weekend. Ariel nods quickly, Yeah, except she271502:50:17.040 --> 02:50:21.399
wasn't all vamped out like this Harmony is. Then Harmony271602:50:21.440 --> 02:50:25.120
sniffs our way. Her human face suddenly shifts into one271702:50:25.159 --> 02:50:28.680
that looks like the Joker, only with lots and lots271802:50:28.719 --> 02:50:34.399
of sharp teeth food. I'm ready to turn and run,271902:50:34.399 --> 02:50:38.040
but Ariel quickly stops me. We can't outrun her. Use272002:50:38.079 --> 02:50:42.079
your head or better yet. Ariel pulls out her cross272102:50:42.120 --> 02:50:45.600
that mouse made just as Harmony's flying our way. She272202:50:45.719 --> 02:50:48.840
shrieks and suddenly drops to the floor. Bailey and I272302:50:48.959 --> 02:50:53.280
join her and keep Harmony down start walking back. Ariel272402:50:53.319 --> 02:50:56.719
tells us. We do what Ariel says and start moving272502:50:56.760 --> 02:50:59.760
in the direction of J. C. Penny. Harmony gets back272602:50:59.799 --> 02:51:05.559
to feet, but advances very slowly. You really think you're272702:51:05.600 --> 02:51:09.680
going to be safe from me, Harmony hisses. The last272802:51:09.760 --> 02:51:13.559
mortals who came into my mall made a very tasty272902:51:14.079 --> 02:51:18.280
candlelit dinner. She points a very long finger at us.273002:51:19.079 --> 02:51:22.520
I think I'll have you three by candlelight as well.273102:51:23.200 --> 02:51:30.520
She laughs a horrible laughter, especially since today is Christmas. Yeah,273202:51:30.600 --> 02:51:34.120
we don't plan on staying. Bailey tells her, I don't273302:51:34.159 --> 02:51:38.079
care about your plans. Harmony yells, I only care about273402:51:38.120 --> 02:51:42.280
my home. Here at my mall, other vampires and mortals273502:51:42.319 --> 02:51:45.040
tried to take what was mine, but I showed them273602:51:45.079 --> 02:51:51.840
the error of their ways. Nobody takes what's mine. Nobody. Oh,273702:51:51.959 --> 02:51:55.000
we're not here to take anything from you. Ariel says,273802:51:55.760 --> 02:51:59.200
we actually just want to visit your beautiful mall, dear cousin,273902:51:59.639 --> 02:52:02.319
and I'm must say you've done very well with the274002:52:02.440 --> 02:52:07.959
Christmas decorations. Harmony growls a dangerous growl. Then she howls274102:52:08.000 --> 02:52:11.399
at us. The next thing we know, she's suddenly gone.274202:52:12.440 --> 02:52:16.840
Help she's got me. Oh no, she warped right behind Bailey.274302:52:17.280 --> 02:52:20.639
Harmony suddenly pulls Bailey to her and leaps back with her.274402:52:21.200 --> 02:52:24.680
Drop those crosses, or I promise you I'll drink this274502:52:24.719 --> 02:52:28.600
one up for some early Christmas Day punch right here,274602:52:28.840 --> 02:52:34.120
and now, don't do it. Bailey yells, she'll drink me anyway.274702:52:34.920 --> 02:52:38.920
Ariel holds out her hand. Just stop, Harmony, We're not274802:52:39.000 --> 02:52:41.879
here to take anything from your mall. We just want274902:52:41.879 --> 02:52:44.600
to go home, but we need a few things in275002:52:44.639 --> 02:52:48.000
your mall to help us get there. Then Ariel moves275102:52:48.000 --> 02:52:52.280
her arm around like I said, you've really made this275202:52:52.399 --> 02:52:57.040
place look great. I mean, your Christmas decorations are so lovely.275302:52:57.879 --> 02:53:01.600
She raises her finger. But what if we could really275402:53:02.079 --> 02:53:04.680
brighten up the place? I mean, what if we could275502:53:04.760 --> 02:53:08.719
light up the Christmas trees and stuff. Harmony growls again.275602:53:09.200 --> 02:53:12.680
Then she grabs Bailey's head and cocks it to expose275702:53:12.719 --> 02:53:16.639
her neck. She raises her head ready to lower it275802:53:17.200 --> 02:53:22.079
to bite her. Stop what do you want, Harmony? Ariel cries,275902:53:22.840 --> 02:53:29.959
I already have you. You are mortals, you are food. Harmony yells,276002:53:30.319 --> 02:53:36.319
and today you are Christmas dinner. Ariel puts her cross down. Okay,276102:53:36.360 --> 02:53:40.239
look see no cross. Now, I'm going to come to you.276202:53:40.920 --> 02:53:46.639
I'll switch places with Bailey. Okay, then you can have me. Suddenly,276302:53:46.719 --> 02:53:50.879
Harmony appears right behind Ariel and snatches her up. Weren't276402:53:50.920 --> 02:53:55.479
you listening, Mortal? I already have you, She points right276502:53:55.479 --> 02:53:59.879
at me, as for your pathetic crosses. My cross suddenly276602:54:00.079 --> 02:54:03.040
catches fire. I cry out and drop it. The other276702:54:03.120 --> 02:54:06.360
crosses are on fire too. Harmony moves her mouth to276802:54:06.399 --> 02:54:10.719
Ariel's ear, and exactly how will you light up my276902:54:10.840 --> 02:54:15.959
Christmas display when there's no power? She seems to calm277002:54:16.000 --> 02:54:19.879
down a little bit. I would love to see Christmas277102:54:20.000 --> 02:54:24.399
lights one more time. There hasn't been a Christmas since277202:54:24.440 --> 02:54:29.520
the plague came years ago. I'm so very hungry, but277302:54:29.559 --> 02:54:33.159
I would forsake my hunger just to see my mal277402:54:33.280 --> 02:54:39.000
brightly lit for Christmas one more time. We can talk, then,277502:54:39.520 --> 02:54:43.760
Ariel asks Harmony lets her go, then morphs her face277602:54:43.879 --> 02:54:47.799
back to normal. I would hear you. She points to277702:54:47.879 --> 02:54:52.440
a table in the food court. Sit. We reluctantly move277802:54:52.520 --> 02:54:55.680
to the table and sit with Harmony. As ariels digging277902:54:55.719 --> 02:54:59.799
into her backpack, Harmony quickly snatches her wrist. Do not278002:55:00.479 --> 02:55:04.040
try and trick me, and especially do not play on278102:55:04.200 --> 02:55:09.000
my generosity. Ariel pulls out a coke. I just needed278202:55:09.040 --> 02:55:13.920
something to drink. Harmony nods. After Ariel has her drink,278302:55:14.280 --> 02:55:17.280
she explains to Harmony that we can't get the power278402:55:17.319 --> 02:55:21.760
back on completely. However, if Solmo's hardware still has a278502:55:21.760 --> 02:55:25.639
gas power generator, we can siphon gas from the cars.278602:55:26.120 --> 02:55:29.040
Then we can connect extension cords to the Christmas trees278702:55:29.079 --> 02:55:33.000
and the animatronics to get them working at least for278802:55:33.040 --> 02:55:40.079
a little while. Harmony considers Ariel. Then she says, my278902:55:40.280 --> 02:55:43.840
parents were too greedy to install backup generators when they279002:55:43.879 --> 02:55:46.959
built this mall. I wish I'd have thought to correct279102:55:47.000 --> 02:55:52.239
that mistake in life. Okay, I'll take you to Solmo's Hardware.279202:55:53.120 --> 02:55:58.120
One wrong move and it's dinner time. I won't worry279302:55:58.159 --> 02:56:02.600
about Christmas Day candlelight. We leave the food court and279402:56:02.719 --> 02:56:06.040
walk to the hardware store. Using our smartphone lights. We279502:56:06.079 --> 02:56:11.479
look around until we find what we're looking for perspective279602:56:11.840 --> 02:56:16.879
aerial mirror. We find only four gas power generators still279702:56:16.879 --> 02:56:19.719
in the box. We're probably not going to be able279802:56:19.719 --> 02:56:22.559
to light up your whole mall, Harmony, I just want279902:56:22.559 --> 02:56:26.319
the Christmas lights, the big tree, and the displays around280002:56:26.319 --> 02:56:30.360
the food court powered, Harmony replies. I point to Mona,280102:56:31.040 --> 02:56:34.600
grab all the extension chords. I point to Bailey gas280202:56:34.639 --> 02:56:37.840
cans and a rubber hose to siphon the fuel. Harmony280302:56:37.840 --> 02:56:40.120
and I start ripping open the boxes and getting the280402:56:40.159 --> 02:56:44.959
generators ready. When my girls return, we talk. I piled280502:56:45.000 --> 02:56:48.159
up all the extension cords at the store's entrance. Mona says,280602:56:49.000 --> 02:56:50.959
I also piled up as many gas cans as I280702:56:50.959 --> 02:56:55.840
could find, which wasn't much. Bailey ads, Then she glares280802:56:55.879 --> 02:56:59.079
at me. I suppose Mona and I get to siphon280902:56:59.120 --> 02:57:02.760
the gas. Now I get where Bailey's coming from. No,281002:57:03.680 --> 02:57:06.040
I'll go out and do it. We don't have time281102:57:06.040 --> 02:57:10.280
for this. Bailey quickly puts a hand on my shoulder. No,281202:57:11.239 --> 02:57:14.440
you're right, I'm sorry. Go get the generators in the281302:57:14.440 --> 02:57:17.440
extension cord set up. I'll go out and get the gas.281402:57:17.799 --> 02:57:21.120
I ain't letting you go out there by yourself. Mona snaps,281502:57:21.559 --> 02:57:25.159
you know what, let's all go get the gas. I suggest.281602:57:25.559 --> 02:57:27.280
At least it'll be one thing we won't have to281702:57:27.319 --> 02:57:32.680
do later. Harmony suddenly appears. Do not even think about escaping.281802:57:33.120 --> 02:57:36.479
I am too resolved for things such as that. I281902:57:36.559 --> 02:57:39.200
tell Harmony, we're just going down to the parking garage282002:57:39.239 --> 02:57:42.559
to siphon gas from the cars there. Maybe you could282102:57:42.559 --> 02:57:45.079
come with us. You can say we're your slaves if282202:57:45.079 --> 02:57:48.680
any other vampires show up. When she's still not sure,282302:57:48.760 --> 02:57:52.559
I groan Harmony, come on, where are we going to go?282402:57:53.399 --> 02:57:56.840
Harmony accompanies us to the parking garage and watches us282502:57:56.840 --> 02:58:00.840
fill the gas cans. Since she doesn't breathe, she can't282602:58:00.879 --> 02:58:04.399
really help us. She can warp the cans back into282702:58:04.399 --> 02:58:06.959
the mall and bring us more to fill, until we282802:58:07.079 --> 02:58:10.479
filled every single container we were able to find. All282902:58:10.520 --> 02:58:12.520
I have to say is that mouse better still be283002:58:12.600 --> 02:58:17.440
making tracks. Yuck. I'll never get that taste of gasoline283102:58:17.479 --> 02:58:20.799
out of my mouth. Ugh. We go back into the283202:58:20.840 --> 02:58:23.719
mall and work to connect as many extension chords as283302:58:23.719 --> 02:58:26.959
we can to the generators. To show Harmony my plan283402:58:27.079 --> 02:58:30.040
will work. We gas up a generator and plug some283502:58:30.120 --> 02:58:33.719
stuff in. I fire it up. You should have seen283602:58:33.879 --> 02:58:37.280
the bright smile on Harmony's face when she sees a283702:58:37.280 --> 02:58:41.079
few Christmas trees and some lights and a few animatronic283802:58:41.159 --> 02:58:44.440
displays come to life. Then the big tree and the283902:58:44.440 --> 02:58:50.520
Santa House lights burst into life. Yes, Harmony breathes like284002:58:50.600 --> 02:58:54.239
she's a little girl seeing her first Christmas all over again.284102:58:55.319 --> 02:58:57.760
It takes us some more time, but we get everything284202:58:57.799 --> 02:59:01.040
we're able to get hooked up connected. When the generators284302:59:01.079 --> 02:59:05.760
are all running, Harmony's very happy. At one point, she's284402:59:05.840 --> 02:59:08.479
kneeling down in front of the very big Christmas tree284502:59:08.479 --> 02:59:12.159
next to Santa's House. For the record, this tree is284602:59:12.319 --> 02:59:16.200
not in our mall back home, unless our Harmony put284702:59:16.200 --> 02:59:18.280
it in just after she banned us all from the284802:59:18.319 --> 02:59:22.879
mall last weekend. It surprises me that this particular vampire284902:59:23.280 --> 02:59:27.200
seems more interested in Christmas than in drinking our blood.285002:59:27.239 --> 02:59:30.920
I mean, you should see how Harmony's eyes are glowing,285102:59:31.879 --> 02:59:35.840
not literally glowing. I mean, I don't know. Christmas must285202:59:35.879 --> 02:59:41.559
hold some special value in her undead heart somewhere. If285302:59:41.600 --> 02:59:45.440
our Harmony holds Christmas in the same regard, she certainly285402:59:45.520 --> 02:59:49.079
never showed it the way this one does. It's been285502:59:49.280 --> 02:59:54.399
so very long, she whispers. It feels like I've waited285602:59:54.440 --> 02:59:59.680
a lifetime just to experience Christmas Day like this again.285703:00:00.799 --> 03:00:04.360
She slowly turns to look at me. And many of285803:00:04.440 --> 03:00:08.159
us died so long ago when we were suddenly turned285903:00:08.200 --> 03:00:15.680
into vampires. Mona and Bailey slowly approach. Is everything okay?286003:00:16.479 --> 03:00:20.920
Mona asks? We got all we could started up for you. Harmony.286103:00:21.360 --> 03:00:25.559
Bailey ads, sorry, we couldn't get it all working. We286203:00:25.719 --> 03:00:31.639
just didn't have enough generators. Harmony stands up. Now she's286303:00:31.760 --> 03:00:37.239
crying human tears. I heard the ones back home cried286403:00:37.280 --> 03:00:42.239
blood anyway. I never thought vampires were even capable of crying.286503:00:43.000 --> 03:00:47.200
Of course, I recall meeting my first real vampire last weekend.286603:00:48.000 --> 03:00:52.079
Harmony puts gentle hands on both Mona and Bailey's shoulders.286703:00:52.840 --> 03:00:57.159
You gave me enough, then I have a burning question.286803:00:59.079 --> 03:01:05.239
Do you who did this to you? Harmony's still crying softly.286903:01:06.840 --> 03:01:10.399
I can't say for sure how it all began, but287003:01:10.520 --> 03:01:15.319
I do know our esteemed mayor was heavily involved. Mayor287103:01:15.360 --> 03:01:18.520
Patrick Gunter and a few of his converts tried to287203:01:18.559 --> 03:01:23.959
take my mall, but I drove them out. Before Harmony287303:01:24.000 --> 03:01:28.520
can finish her story, we hear fluttering noises coming. Harmony287403:01:28.639 --> 03:01:32.440
hisses in the direction and looks at us. It's Mayor287503:01:32.520 --> 03:01:35.399
Gunter again. He and his army must know you three287603:01:35.399 --> 03:01:40.559
are in here. She says, you are my Christmas dinner mine.287703:01:40.600 --> 03:01:45.360
He can't have you. Mona gulps, you're still gonna kill287803:01:45.440 --> 03:01:49.040
us after what we did for you. Harmony vamps out again,287903:01:49.319 --> 03:01:54.840
making a shriek and raises her claws. He can't have you,288003:01:55.920 --> 03:02:00.239
She snatches up. Bailey. You belong to me now, she288103:02:00.440 --> 03:02:04.319
sounds really crazy. I quickly reach into my pack and288203:02:04.399 --> 03:02:06.559
slap one of the Holy Wafers on the back of288303:02:06.559 --> 03:02:11.200
my hand. Harmony shrieks causing her to drop Bailey. Then288403:02:11.280 --> 03:02:13.600
she holds her hand as she falls to her knees288503:02:14.000 --> 03:02:18.760
and cries again. I hate being this way, she chokes out.288603:02:19.479 --> 03:02:22.719
I've consumed so many mortals just to satisfy my never288703:02:22.799 --> 03:02:25.920
ending hunger. I hate being so hungry all the time.288803:02:26.159 --> 03:02:30.280
I hate that it drives me to this insanity. I288903:02:30.360 --> 03:02:35.520
don't want to kill you, but I'm so very hungry.289003:02:36.239 --> 03:02:39.600
You won't have the chance to satisfy your hunger, Harmony mirror.289103:02:40.319 --> 03:02:43.680
A new voice calls out. We all turn and face289203:02:43.799 --> 03:02:47.360
Mayor Patrick Gunter and his army of the living dead.289303:02:48.399 --> 03:02:51.239
I think it's safe to say we've never been so289403:02:51.399 --> 03:02:55.360
scared in all our lives. Mona quickly leans in and289503:02:55.399 --> 03:02:58.959
whispers that the Blu ray player is set up and ready.289603:02:59.600 --> 03:03:01.920
Then Bailey nods to one of the monitors in the289703:03:01.920 --> 03:03:06.399
food court. The movie Doorway to Horror is playing. Now289803:03:07.120 --> 03:03:10.120
soon we may be able to return home. But now289903:03:10.159 --> 03:03:16.120
I'm feeling despair, just like Harmony Mouse. I choke out.290003:03:16.799 --> 03:03:19.639
We can't leave her here, We can't, you guys, she's290103:03:19.680 --> 03:03:24.040
our friend, she's one of us. Bailey nods quickly, but290203:03:24.079 --> 03:03:27.200
Mona doesn't look so sure. I'm ready to smack her290303:03:27.280 --> 03:03:30.200
arm and tell her to just grow up, But then290403:03:30.840 --> 03:03:34.360
she explains her. Look, if Mouse was gonna find her290503:03:34.399 --> 03:03:37.559
way back here, she would have done it already, right,290603:03:38.520 --> 03:03:44.040
Mona shakes her head. Those vamps probably got her. Don't290703:03:44.040 --> 03:03:46.719
you think Mouse would want us to go back? That's290803:03:46.760 --> 03:03:49.200
why she dropped us off here and sped off herself.290903:03:50.239 --> 03:03:54.200
Mayor Gunter points right at us. You foolish children think291003:03:54.239 --> 03:03:57.200
I can't hear what you're saying. You will end that291103:03:57.319 --> 03:04:02.159
movie immediately. He waves his hand. Two of his vampires291203:04:02.200 --> 03:04:07.120
bring Mouse out. No, these vampires were the bats chasing us.291303:04:07.840 --> 03:04:11.639
They did catch up to Mouse. What happened to you?291403:04:12.280 --> 03:04:16.440
I ask her? Car ran out of gas? She mutters.291503:04:17.319 --> 03:04:19.600
I said the gas gage was busted. I was hoping291603:04:19.959 --> 03:04:22.040
he got away and made it back home. By now,291703:04:22.920 --> 03:04:26.719
Mayor Gunter suddenly grabs Mouse and lifts her up to him.291803:04:27.280 --> 03:04:30.159
You will stop the movie now where I satisfy my291903:04:30.280 --> 03:04:38.079
hunger with this little morsel? Decide fast. I quickly raise292003:04:38.159 --> 03:04:41.479
my hands out in front of me. Okay, okay, stop,292103:04:42.639 --> 03:04:51.639
we surrender perspective. Bailey downs. Mayor Gunter's still holding Mouse292203:04:51.719 --> 03:04:54.200
up to him. He arches her neck and is ready292303:04:54.280 --> 03:04:58.639
to bite her. No way, Mona sneers, I ain't giving292403:04:58.680 --> 03:05:01.399
myself up for a little road. Go ahead and eat her.292503:05:01.760 --> 03:05:04.399
Look at her, Mayor, just look at her. There ain't292603:05:04.440 --> 03:05:07.559
no meat on her bones. She won't have nearly enough292703:05:07.639 --> 03:05:10.719
blood to satisfy you. She probably don't even have half292803:05:10.760 --> 03:05:13.959
the blood the rest of us have. Bailey turns to her,292903:05:14.760 --> 03:05:19.319
what are you doing? Mona ignores her. Don't you see293003:05:19.840 --> 03:05:23.760
she's just a troublesome little rodent. She don't belong with us,293103:05:24.040 --> 03:05:26.760
she never did, so go ahead, put her out of293203:05:26.760 --> 03:05:30.879
her misery. Mouse tightens her jaw and glares right at Mona.293303:05:31.719 --> 03:05:36.200
She doesn't say anything, but if looks could kill, I293403:05:36.239 --> 03:05:38.319
think this is as close to mad as I've ever293503:05:38.360 --> 03:05:42.120
seen Little Madeline donnerly get. Then I see the first293603:05:42.159 --> 03:05:45.879
signs of flickering near the TV and see what looks293703:05:46.000 --> 03:05:51.079
like a portal starting to form. Mayor gun to roars293803:05:51.239 --> 03:05:54.879
with anger. I sent that disk to your universe and293903:05:55.000 --> 03:05:58.040
hope one of you mortals would find it and bring294003:05:58.079 --> 03:06:02.799
more food back to us, proving our latest experiment to success.294103:06:03.520 --> 03:06:07.600
But none of you were returning to your universe last time.294203:06:08.200 --> 03:06:11.319
Stop playing the movie, or I make a quick snack294303:06:11.360 --> 03:06:15.360
out of your friend here, then I'll claim the rest294403:06:16.479 --> 03:06:20.719
take her. Then Mona goads him on. Then she tells Mouse,294503:06:21.520 --> 03:06:24.520
I never did like you. Now I'll finally be rid294603:06:24.559 --> 03:06:27.120
of you. In fact, why don't you have a drink294703:06:27.159 --> 03:06:31.520
of this before you become vampire chow. Mona throws Mouse294803:06:31.559 --> 03:06:36.200
a bottle of water. Then my spirit lifts. Mouse catches294903:06:36.200 --> 03:06:39.079
the bottle and quickly opens it. She splashes the water295003:06:39.120 --> 03:06:43.280
in Mayor Gunter's face, which sizzles and burns immediately. Once295103:06:43.319 --> 03:06:47.040
he drops Mouse, she immediately comes to us. You really295203:06:47.079 --> 03:06:51.920
had me going there. Mouse tells Mona, what oops, I295303:06:51.959 --> 03:06:55.840
guess I gave you the wrong bottle. Mona snaps yeah.295403:06:56.040 --> 03:06:58.799
Mona never likes to show how she really feels to Mouse.295503:06:58.879 --> 03:07:02.399
Buta's not moving to shove Mouse back to the vampires,295603:07:02.440 --> 03:07:06.000
so I know she truly meant to save her. I295703:07:06.079 --> 03:07:10.040
do know my best friend, Mayor Gunter points to all295803:07:10.079 --> 03:07:15.479
of us kill them. Then he really vamps out. I mean,295903:07:15.840 --> 03:07:17.959
if this is a head vampire and he's got an296003:07:18.040 --> 03:07:22.200
ultimate form, this must be it. He's much bigger now,296103:07:22.239 --> 03:07:26.879
he looks much uglier. He looks like a scary bat296203:07:27.000 --> 03:07:30.879
like creature. But with clothes on, he turns and focuses296303:07:30.920 --> 03:07:33.600
on the movie. The portal's not ready yet, but if296403:07:33.600 --> 03:07:37.200
he destroys the TV or the player, we're never going home.296503:07:38.000 --> 03:07:40.799
I'm pulling out my holy water and wafers, and I'm296603:07:40.879 --> 03:07:44.040
ready to make a last stand. Ariel sees what I'm296703:07:44.079 --> 03:07:47.360
doing and is joining me. Just as Mona's digging into296803:07:47.360 --> 03:07:52.000
her pack, Harmony Miron suddenly flies right onto Mayor Gunter's back.296903:07:52.399 --> 03:07:56.760
She's clawing with rage at him. Unfortunately, Harmony's just too297003:07:56.840 --> 03:07:59.760
small and not nearly powerful enough to win against Mayor297103:07:59.799 --> 03:08:04.840
gun Now he's holding her up by her throat. Winning297203:08:04.879 --> 03:08:10.760
the office of mayor was so easy, he brags, Bringing297303:08:10.799 --> 03:08:16.360
this vampire existence to our world was even easier. But297403:08:16.520 --> 03:08:21.959
destroying you, I'm going to enjoy this. You have been297503:08:22.040 --> 03:08:25.559
nothing but a thorn in my side, Harmony Miron. You297603:08:25.680 --> 03:08:28.440
fought to keep me out of office, You even failed297703:08:28.479 --> 03:08:31.639
to stop me from conquering this world, and you will297803:08:31.760 --> 03:08:37.360
fail to save your new friends. But suddenly, Harmony's face297903:08:37.399 --> 03:08:43.079
starts to burn. What gives? Then her mouth practically irrupts298003:08:43.280 --> 03:08:49.319
when she blasts something into his face. Holy yeah, that's it.298103:08:49.600 --> 03:08:52.920
Holy water. She must have found our bottles in our packs,298203:08:52.920 --> 03:08:56.920
and she's really trying to help us get home. Mayor298303:08:56.959 --> 03:09:01.120
Gunter and Harmony both fall. Harmony's face just awful, But298403:09:01.559 --> 03:09:05.799
you should see Mayor Gunter, Harmony got him good. Now298503:09:05.840 --> 03:09:08.760
the other vampires start coming at us. Just as the298603:09:08.840 --> 03:09:12.600
portal is finally open, Harmony forces herself to her feet.298703:09:12.639 --> 03:09:17.399
Now she looks just hideous. I don't think she's going298803:09:17.440 --> 03:09:20.760
to heal up from this. She grabs us and turns298903:09:20.840 --> 03:09:24.360
us to the portal. Get out of here, go back299003:09:24.399 --> 03:09:29.600
to your home you live. What about you? Ariel yells,299103:09:30.040 --> 03:09:33.760
you'll die if you stay here. I can't come to299203:09:33.840 --> 03:09:38.600
your universe with you, Harmony tells her, anticipating what Ariel's thinking.299303:09:39.719 --> 03:09:44.239
I'm so tainted. I've devoured mortals before, and I'll only299403:09:44.280 --> 03:09:49.520
want to devour your people to satisfy my hunger. I'll299503:09:49.520 --> 03:09:52.760
stay here and see that you all get home safely.299603:09:54.079 --> 03:09:58.079
Go now, the four of us turn and run to299703:09:58.120 --> 03:10:04.440
the portal. Harmony's pushing us along, Move faster, closer, closer,299803:10:05.239 --> 03:10:09.559
so close, almost there. When we finally reach the portal,299903:10:09.920 --> 03:10:12.319
I'm wondering if this is going to truly take us300003:10:12.360 --> 03:10:15.760
back home or we'll end up in some other universe.300103:10:16.559 --> 03:10:20.120
I'll destroy the disc once you're through, Harmony promises us,300203:10:20.799 --> 03:10:24.920
thank you for giving me Christmas again, even if just300303:10:26.000 --> 03:10:30.399
for a few short minutes. Now, I give you your300403:10:30.440 --> 03:10:37.680
freedom in return. Merry Christmas. Before we can say anything300503:10:37.680 --> 03:10:40.680
in the way of thanks, Harmony grabs each of us300603:10:40.680 --> 03:10:43.840
with her vampire speed and shoves us through the portal.300703:10:44.639 --> 03:10:48.040
All we see are many flashes of different colored lights,300803:10:48.840 --> 03:10:52.000
kind of Christmasy. Before the four of us will find300903:10:52.000 --> 03:10:59.600
out if we made it home or not. Perspective Mona abels.301003:11:00.680 --> 03:11:03.639
I gasp and suddenly sit up to see. I'm in301103:11:03.719 --> 03:11:08.920
Ariel's living room. I'm seeing everybody else is awake now too.301203:11:09.319 --> 03:11:12.680
Bailey gets off her couch and comes to us, Are301303:11:12.719 --> 03:11:16.000
you guys all right? The rest of us nod quickly.301403:11:16.559 --> 03:11:20.079
There's enough light in here to tell it's probably morning.301503:11:20.879 --> 03:11:24.440
In fact, Ariel goes right to the curtains and opens them.301603:11:25.159 --> 03:11:28.840
Warm light comes in. Then Ariel goes right to Mouse.301703:11:29.440 --> 03:11:33.399
You weren't turned. Mouse shakes her head quickly. Once they301803:11:33.440 --> 03:11:35.799
got me, I really thought i'd had it. All I301903:11:35.840 --> 03:11:40.159
thought about was hoping you guys got home. Yeah, I'm lucky,302003:11:40.200 --> 03:11:44.399
all right, I'm actually surprised when Ariel pulls Mouse into302103:11:44.399 --> 03:11:47.959
her arms and hugs her. Then Mouse hugs her back.302203:11:49.040 --> 03:11:53.079
Eventually they come apart. I always wondered what Ariel saw302303:11:53.120 --> 03:11:57.879
in that wicked little rodent. I mean, she totally clashes302403:11:57.920 --> 03:12:02.760
with the rest of us. She's just nerd. Seriously, why302503:12:02.799 --> 03:12:06.360
does Ariel like her so much? Mouse quickly picks up302603:12:06.360 --> 03:12:10.360
her smartphone. It's almost ten. The rest of us go302703:12:10.479 --> 03:12:13.280
to our phones. I can see my watch is working302803:12:13.360 --> 03:12:17.879
right again. Looks like we're really home, you guys, Bailey says.302903:12:18.680 --> 03:12:20.840
I can even feel how nice and warm it is303003:12:20.879 --> 03:12:25.520
here compared to when we woke up in that vampire universe.303103:12:26.520 --> 03:12:30.959
Then Mouse has a thought and checks something. Yep, looks303203:12:31.000 --> 03:12:33.319
like both your Blu ray player and that disc mona303303:12:33.440 --> 03:12:38.319
Brot are gone. Ariel, she sighs, I really don't care303403:12:38.360 --> 03:12:41.959
about that right now. Then she looks at her phone. Hey,303503:12:42.920 --> 03:12:46.040
it's not Christmas like it was there. We're still in303603:12:46.079 --> 03:12:48.920
the second weekend of December, like before we went to303703:12:49.000 --> 03:12:53.120
that other universe. Then she puts her phone down and303803:12:53.200 --> 03:12:56.399
claps her hands together. You guys don't have to come303903:12:56.440 --> 03:13:00.159
with me, but I'm going out to the mall. But304003:13:00.200 --> 03:13:04.600
we're banned from there. Mouse reminds her, I don't care, Mouse,304103:13:05.079 --> 03:13:10.879
I have to know. Mouse shrugs, okay, but I'm coming304203:13:10.959 --> 03:13:15.399
with you. Bailey and I decide to tag along too,304303:13:15.719 --> 03:13:21.879
Like Ariel said, we gotta know. Ariel calls us an304403:13:21.959 --> 03:13:24.799
uber and takes us out to Strickfield Town Center Mall.304503:13:25.559 --> 03:13:28.239
Once we get dropped off, we waste no time going in.304603:13:29.040 --> 03:13:32.760
It's just like any other December weekend in Strickfield, packed304703:13:32.760 --> 03:13:37.200
with people and nearly every store filled and open. Our304803:13:37.280 --> 03:13:40.680
mall only gets like this around November and December. The304903:13:40.719 --> 03:13:44.840
rest of the year, there are many vacancies. People sometimes305003:13:44.840 --> 03:13:47.680
say the mall's going to close for good eventually, but305103:13:47.799 --> 03:13:52.520
it never does. Yeah, all the decorations are still up,305203:13:52.719 --> 03:13:56.120
Ariel says, looks like we really made it back home.305303:13:56.440 --> 03:14:00.879
Bailey replies, it's daylight and we never saw anybody burning305403:14:00.959 --> 03:14:04.840
up when they were outside. Then Ariel stops us. Hey,305503:14:05.639 --> 03:14:09.360
let's go into Caffeine Junction for breakfast. My treat Mouse,305603:14:09.639 --> 03:14:12.440
I'm going to buy you the biggest coffee they got.305703:14:12.920 --> 03:14:15.959
Go on in, you, guys. I think Ariel's just glad305803:14:15.959 --> 03:14:19.479
we're back home and we're all safe. True to her, word.305903:14:19.600 --> 03:14:22.360
She lets us order whatever we want. When Bailey and306003:14:22.399 --> 03:14:25.520
Ariel both got their orders, they head off to a booth.306103:14:26.399 --> 03:14:28.440
Now it just leaves Mouse and me to wait for306203:14:28.479 --> 03:14:31.719
our stuff. Mouse kind of gives me a look that306303:14:31.840 --> 03:14:36.280
says she ain't sure about me. Just so you know,306403:14:37.040 --> 03:14:39.600
I wouldn't have really let you die back there. I306503:14:39.680 --> 03:14:43.399
tell her, I don't know what Ariels season you, or306603:14:43.399 --> 03:14:46.520
what Bailey sees in you, But why do you hate306703:14:46.600 --> 03:14:50.920
me so much? Mona? Mouse asks, I don't hate you.306803:14:51.360 --> 03:14:54.520
I tell her, I just don't feel like you belong306903:14:54.600 --> 03:15:01.879
with us. You're just so so weird. Maybe to me307003:15:02.159 --> 03:15:05.319
you might be the weird one. She says, you ever307103:15:05.360 --> 03:15:09.159
thought about that? We just look at each other. When307203:15:09.200 --> 03:15:13.879
Ariel and Bailey ain't looking, I extend my hand. Truce.307303:15:14.959 --> 03:15:19.239
Mouse shakes my hand. Truce. I lean in and say,307403:15:20.159 --> 03:15:24.440
you say anything about this, and I'll deny it fair enough.307503:15:25.280 --> 03:15:27.799
When we get our food, we join the others at307603:15:27.840 --> 03:15:31.520
the booth. Surprisingly, we make it through the whole length307703:15:31.520 --> 03:15:35.600
of the mall, just after Ariel's called us another uber harmony.307803:15:35.639 --> 03:15:39.040
Miron is right there, She points to Ariel and Mouse.307903:15:39.799 --> 03:15:42.959
Last I checked, you two are banned from my mall.308003:15:43.559 --> 03:15:45.760
Tell me right now why I shouldn't bring you to308103:15:45.760 --> 03:15:49.639
my office and have you both arrested. Ariel and Mouse308203:15:49.680 --> 03:15:52.879
look at each other. Then Ariel digs into her purse308303:15:53.079 --> 03:15:56.120
and pulls out receipts. She hands them to her and says,308403:15:56.920 --> 03:15:59.040
because I wanted to treat my girls to some of308503:15:59.079 --> 03:16:02.559
your finestabis eblishments. We all ended up having a near308603:16:02.600 --> 03:16:05.959
death experience, and I just wanted us to celebrate that308703:16:06.000 --> 03:16:10.319
we're still alive for another Christmas season. This mall has308803:16:10.319 --> 03:16:13.239
been our hangout place for a long time. You want308903:16:13.239 --> 03:16:16.159
to call the police, you go right ahead. But we309003:16:16.200 --> 03:16:20.120
didn't cause any trouble here. Besides, I thought you like309103:16:20.239 --> 03:16:24.600
the idea of people spending money at your mall. Harmony's309203:16:24.600 --> 03:16:29.479
still holding Ariel's receipts and keeps looking sour at us. Finally,309303:16:29.920 --> 03:16:34.680
she hands back the receipts. Okay, you two can come back,309403:16:35.079 --> 03:16:39.280
she says. Then she points sharply at them. You're on probation.309503:16:39.879 --> 03:16:42.600
In other words, if I ever see cousin Stewart back309603:16:42.639 --> 03:16:45.280
in here with you again, you're all going to be309703:16:45.360 --> 03:16:50.799
permanently banned. Do we understand each other? We all quickly309803:16:50.840 --> 03:16:55.799
tell her we do. Then Harmony nods once. Okay, then,309903:16:56.280 --> 03:17:01.360
but remember, I'll be watching like Santa Claus. I'm always310003:17:01.399 --> 03:17:05.559
watching now that we have our arrangement out of my sight.310103:17:06.680 --> 03:17:10.239
I guess money really does talk, Ariel says and snickers.310203:17:10.680 --> 03:17:14.639
When we're far enough away from Harmony, that means you310303:17:14.680 --> 03:17:18.639
ain't bringing Stuart here ever again. Mouse replies, Then I310403:17:18.719 --> 03:17:24.079
quickly smack Ariel's arm. What was that for? She demands. Look,310503:17:24.520 --> 03:17:27.360
I tell her. We see Ariel's mom and her aunt310603:17:27.399 --> 03:17:31.879
together with Stuart. When they see us, Ariel's mom points310703:17:31.959 --> 03:17:36.440
right at her. Run you, guys, Ariel yells. Aunt Margaret310803:17:36.479 --> 03:17:39.159
wants to hand Stuart off to me. We turn and310903:17:39.239 --> 03:17:41.840
run for all we're worth. Boy, do we ever hear311003:17:41.879 --> 03:17:44.680
Ariel's mom and aunt yelling at her. We run straight311103:17:44.719 --> 03:17:47.719
past Harmony Miron and write out them all Entrance. We311203:17:47.799 --> 03:17:49.719
could tell she was about to call out to us,311303:17:50.120 --> 03:17:53.360
but when she sees Ariel's mom and aunt and Stuart,311403:17:54.120 --> 03:17:57.520
she starts going off on both of them. Now, as311503:17:57.559 --> 03:18:00.600
soon as we're outside the ubers right there, we quickly311603:18:00.639 --> 03:18:04.799
climb in go, Ariel orders him. As soon as the311703:18:04.879 --> 03:18:09.200
driver pulls away, That's when Ariel's mom and aunt are outside.311803:18:09.360 --> 03:18:12.479
Ariel rolls down her window and waves to them, have311903:18:12.600 --> 03:18:16.000
fun with Stuart. You two. Ariel's Mom's going to let312003:18:16.040 --> 03:18:18.760
her have it when they're both home later, but Ariel312103:18:18.840 --> 03:18:22.319
really doesn't care about that. Right now. We needed this,312203:18:22.399 --> 03:18:26.079
you guys, Ariel says. I know it's not quite the312303:18:26.159 --> 03:18:33.760
day yet, but after everything we've been through, well, merry Christmas.312403:18:34.520 --> 03:18:37.920
We don't hesitate and wish her the same. I think312503:18:38.000 --> 03:18:41.120
this is why I'm glad we have our group. I312603:18:41.200 --> 03:18:44.479
still don't think Mouse belongs in it, but Ariel wants312703:18:44.520 --> 03:18:48.719
her around. She's definitely grown on Bailey. I guess I312803:18:48.840 --> 03:18:52.079
tolerate her because she don't cause trouble. To be fair,312903:18:52.159 --> 03:18:55.479
she did risk her life for us both on Halloween313003:18:55.559 --> 03:18:59.559
night and last night. In light of that, I'll keep313103:18:59.600 --> 03:19:03.319
the truth with Mouse, like I said, I'll deny it313203:19:03.360 --> 03:19:08.239
if she says anything about it. Besides, Ariel's right, we've313303:19:08.280 --> 03:19:12.399
all been through the absolute most horrifying experience together to date.313403:19:13.280 --> 03:19:16.120
I can tell you one thing. It'll be one sleep over.313503:19:16.239 --> 03:19:21.440
None of us we'll ever forget. But Ariel's right, at313603:19:21.520 --> 03:19:25.920
least we have another Christmas. Deep down, I'm hoping the313703:19:25.959 --> 03:19:29.840
harmony mirror of that other universe succeeded in destroying that disk,313803:19:30.959 --> 03:19:34.319
because if she didn't, No, I don't even want to313903:19:34.360 --> 03:19:39.280
think about that. It's going to be Christmas soon. Speaking314003:19:39.319 --> 03:19:42.639
of soon, that's when you'll see us again, and with314103:19:42.719 --> 03:19:52.319
a new adventure. In the meantime, Merry Christmas. Well, my Spookyes,314203:19:52.840 --> 03:19:57.559
you've survived over three hours of terror tales involving the314303:19:58.079 --> 03:20:02.680
creatures of the night, so I guess you're tougher than314403:20:02.719 --> 03:20:06.959
you look. Make sure you're subscribed because Weekly Spooky is314503:20:07.000 --> 03:20:11.399
published over three hundred terrifying stories and we have no314603:20:11.520 --> 03:20:15.959
intention of slowing down. In fact, remember in October, we314703:20:16.000 --> 03:20:21.360
publish every single day, so make sure you're subscribed on314803:20:21.399 --> 03:20:24.360
your favorite podcasting app. And if you want to support us,314903:20:24.399 --> 03:20:28.440
head toweeklyspooky dot com slash join for as little as315003:20:28.479 --> 03:20:31.559
one dollar a month, get two bonus shows every month,315103:20:32.360 --> 03:20:35.360
and so much more. But now it's time for me315203:20:35.520 --> 03:20:39.879
to retire to my coffin. Until next time, my spookys,315303:20:40.760 --> 03:20:41.680
I'll see you then,
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