Dec. 13, 2025

Christmas Horror Stories: Snow, Santa & Slaughter

Christmas Horror Stories: Snow, Santa & Slaughter
Apple Podcasts podcast player badge
Spotify podcast player badge
Spreaker podcast player badge
Audible podcast player badge
Castro podcast player badge
RSS Feed podcast player badge
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconSpreaker podcast player iconAudible podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player icon

Trade Hallmark cheer for brutal Christmas horror stories in this binge-length Weekly Spooky special. We’re talking Christmas horror, twisted folklore, and bloody urban legends—killer elves, demonic Santas, zombie outbreaks, and holiday vengeance that turns tinsel into a crime scene. If you crave scary Christmas stories with mature themes, this winter horror stories anthology is your new holiday tradition.

Settle in for seven chilling stories where the North Pole runs red: a cyborg warrior duels a demonic Santa in a blizzard-choked war zone, a drunk mall Santa gets his very own razor-toothed “little helper,” Strickfield’s darkest secrets boil over into violent Christmas horror, and a vengeful elf leads a black-ops mission against the most evil kids on the planet. From department-store Santas under siege to undead yuletide nightmares, every tale dives deep into spooky seasonenergy with candy canes, carols, and carnage.

Inside this Weekly Spooky Christmas horror compilation you’ll hear:

  • Christmas at Pendleton Way Station — by Rob Fields – In a snow-blasted future, a battle-hardened cyborg faces a hellish Santa and his zombified reindeer outside a fortified way station, where one last stand could save what’s left of humanity’s Christmas.
  • Santa’s Little Helpers — by Charles Campbell – A washed-up small-town Santa finally gets some backup: a wide-eyed elf girl with rows of razor-sharp teeth who’s ready to repay every pitying glance and cruel word in blood.
  • Inner Rage — by Rob Fields – In Strickfield, the holiday gloss can’t hide the rot—until bottled-up fury and dark forces ignite a Christmas Eve of payback, turning festive lights into a backdrop for revenge.
  • A Zombie’s Christmas — by Rob Fields – A secret lab, an infected girl, and a seething Catholic school misfit collide as a zombie plague crashes into Christmas, dragging Strickfield into a nightmare of rage, contagion, and holiday hell.
  • Welcome Home — by Mike Ashkewe – A troubled soul returns home for the holidays, only to find that the ghosts of the past aren’t metaphors—they’re hungry, patient, and waiting under the twinkling lights.
  • The Day that Santa Died — by Charles Campbell – When armed security realizes the “elves” stalking a packed department store are real, Christmas Eve becomes a tactical nightmare and the big man in red becomes the ultimate high-value target.
  • Scary Christmas To All — by David O’Hanlon – War-scarred assassin elves, the North Pole’s Black Mittens, and a renegade named Candy Pain threaten to kill Christmas itself—unless Peppermint Ray can carve a path through the naughty list.

Perfect for late-night listening with the tree glowing and the room dark, this episode packs Christmas horror, spooky stories, and full-on splatter into one massive holiday horror anthology. Press play, my spookies… and let the chilling stories of snow, Santa, and slaughter carry you all the way to New Year’s.

🎧 LISTEN NOW and subscribe for spine-tingling horror stories every week!

🎉 Unlock exclusive bonus episodes and support the show on Patreon!
👉 WeeklySpooky.com/Join

📬 Contact Us / Submit Your Horror Story!

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

1
00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:07.120
Hello, my spookyas It's Saturday, December thirteenth, and that means

2
00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:12.919
another long night of Christmas fear. Tonight's binge starts where

3
00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:17.160
the calendar has broken and the night simply won't end

4
00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:23.000
out at a snow choked way station where everyone's terrified

5
00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:27.960
of what Christmas Day brings, and the only one not

6
00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:33.799
afraid of the blizzard is the woman who isn't quite human.

7
00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:38.640
From there, we slip down south to a washed up

8
00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:44.159
small town Santa whose breath smells like bad decisions and

9
00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:49.759
Marlborough's until a little girl in an elf costume appears

10
00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:53.719
in the parking lot. She has no mom, no dad,

11
00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:58.880
and a smile that's all teeth. We'll hear a Christmas

12
00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:04.840
Eve confession from a serial killer doing time feel zombies

13
00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:09.079
crash the holidays thanks to a mad scientist and her

14
00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:14.719
pet bioweapons, and follow someone who comes home for the season,

15
00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:19.439
only to find the house hasn't forgotten what they did,

16
00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:25.040
and neither did the dead. End up in the North Pole,

17
00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:31.760
Santa's in full panic mode, assassin elves stolen sacred documents,

18
00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:37.280
and a rogue former elf called Candy Pain who wants

19
00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:41.799
to rewrite the naughty list in blood, So plug in

20
00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:45.879
the tree, dim the lights, and settle in for another

21
00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:50.760
holiday marathon of horror stories. And we'll have another one

22
00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:54.719
for you next Saturday to make sure you're scared while

23
00:01:54.799 --> 00:02:04.239
you wrap your presence Christmas at pendled Station by Rob Fields.

24
00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:08.120
I have had much time to ponder things since my

25
00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:13.080
birth on October thirty first, two thousand and ninety nine. First,

26
00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:15.599
I would awaken in a crypt and leave it to

27
00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:19.919
find my way to what was once the village of Strickfield.

28
00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:22.879
I would only get to learn very little there, since

29
00:02:22.919 --> 00:02:27.319
I was attacked and captured by a cowardly despot named Sarathos,

30
00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:33.439
who would prove to be my first challenge. After defeating

31
00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:37.280
him and freeing several organic women whom he captured for

32
00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:42.000
an offering to hell Weaver, I received new mission files.

33
00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:45.520
Currently I am en route to the Pendleton way Station.

34
00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:49.400
Bear in mind that this destination is not part of

35
00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:53.439
the village of Pendleton itself. There is a vital component

36
00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:56.360
that I must acquire for when I reach my destination

37
00:02:56.759 --> 00:03:01.800
in Shore City. Upon completion of my own mission objectives.

38
00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:06.280
I should have arrived at Pendleton way Station many days ago,

39
00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:09.120
shortly after I began my journey. I was forced to

40
00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:13.120
engage a pack of werewolves in battle. After defeating them,

41
00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:16.680
I continued on with my journey. Nearly a week later,

42
00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:19.960
I determined that the sun would rise again and needed

43
00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.120
to seek shelter. I found an abandoned dwelling and waited

44
00:03:24.120 --> 00:03:27.199
the seemingly endless day out. I would have to be

45
00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:30.159
with patience, since I recalled in a former life that

46
00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:34.319
sunlight was deadly to me. The day began on the

47
00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:38.680
second week of November and lasted nearly a month. Fortunately,

48
00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:43.120
I do not require sustenance the way organic beings do. However,

49
00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:46.759
I would require plant based nutrition in order to maintain

50
00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:51.400
my skin base. Descending the basement, I discovered many bottles

51
00:03:51.479 --> 00:03:55.479
of vintage wine. Scanning the bottles, I determined the wine

52
00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:59.879
to be quite suitable and gradually consumed it. When earth

53
00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:02.560
had finally moved to where the sun would finally set,

54
00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:05.719
I was able to finally leave the dwelling and continue

55
00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:09.280
on my journey. I walked many desolate roads and through

56
00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:12.560
dense forests until I would reach the railroad tracks that

57
00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:17.040
I required. I had not walked a mile upon the

58
00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:21.319
tracks when a snowstorm began. The winds would remind me

59
00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:25.439
of my birth in that crypt on Halloween night. According

60
00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:29.680
to my internal clock, the day is December twenty first,

61
00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:35.079
two thousand and ninety nine. Unfortunately, these random weather patterns

62
00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:37.560
and long days and nights happened as a result of

63
00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:41.360
the hell Weaver Holocaust of October thirty one, two thousand

64
00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:45.839
and thirty. Hell Weaver was victorious against the Battleguard who

65
00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:49.800
opposed her and conquered the multiverse using the reality sphere.

66
00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:53.959
She only proved victorious because one of the battleguard turned

67
00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:58.480
against her allies and joined hell Weaver. With the epicenter

68
00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:01.240
of the hell Weaver Holocaust being being upon this world,

69
00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:05.079
the Goddess herself unleashed the power of the reality sphere.

70
00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:10.000
It was this event that forever altered Earth's axis. Thanks

71
00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:12.839
to my advanced software, I am able to determine how

72
00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:17.040
long the days, nights and weather patterns will last. The

73
00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:20.600
night shall last until the first hours of December twenty fifth,

74
00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:24.560
two thousand and ninety nine. That shall be sufficient time

75
00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:29.160
for me to reach the Pendleton Way Station. This is

76
00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:31.879
the first time that I have experienced winter weather since

77
00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:34.600
my birth. I can feel the cold in the wind

78
00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:37.959
and the snow. No organic being of this world could

79
00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:42.720
endure these conditions without suitable clothing. Organics would look upon

80
00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:46.040
me and determine that I am not adequately dressed for

81
00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:51.959
these conditions. Myself, however, I am a machine. My skin

82
00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:55.959
base retains its softness and composition in spite of the

83
00:05:56.000 --> 00:06:00.519
negative temperatures. Even my long metallic blonde hair remains dry

84
00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:05.199
and shiny. My clothing is quite wet. However, nevertheless, I

85
00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:08.480
continue my journey and enjoy this change in the weather.

86
00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:12.959
Before the weather was rainy. With the onset of the winter,

87
00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:17.079
the rain has become snow. Just as I do not

88
00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:21.279
require sustenance, I do not require rest. My power core

89
00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:25.560
provides me with limitless energy. Again, I find myself wondering

90
00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.560
why the life I feel was placed into this metallic body.

91
00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:32.319
I have had many days to ponder the meaning of

92
00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:35.279
my very existence. When I was in that dwelling a

93
00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:39.279
waiting for the sun to descend, I was given the memories, appearance,

94
00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:44.839
and powers of a vampire Treylander hybrid named Cassilia Tabon. However,

95
00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:50.639
the memories are currently incomplete. By my calculations, I have

96
00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:54.560
eighty seven percent of her total memories. The remaining memories

97
00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:57.399
were likely lost when her body was left to decompose

98
00:06:57.480 --> 00:07:00.959
in that crypt for two hundred and twelve years. Upon

99
00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:03.920
analyzing the memories used to give me data to feed

100
00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:07.920
my limitless intelligence capacity, I am unable to quickly reconstruct

101
00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:12.079
the necessary algorithms to fill the gaps. When it comes

102
00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:15.120
to the vampire half of Cassilia Tabon, I do not

103
00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:18.240
possess many of the powers that she once had, such

104
00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:21.680
as the ability to transmorph. I believe this is because

105
00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:25.639
of the composition of my indestructible metallic form that my

106
00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:29.720
skin based conceals. I regard the wintry sky and see

107
00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:32.759
only the barrier, that is, the clouds which produce the

108
00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:36.079
great winds and the seemingly endless snow across the lands.

109
00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:41.199
Why am I alive? I ask? I know that my

110
00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:44.199
mission is in my data banks, but yet I do

111
00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:47.079
not understand why I was born as a single machine

112
00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:51.639
who must live among a multitude of organics. Only the

113
00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:55.000
harsh winds respond, though they do not give me the

114
00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:59.240
answers that I seek. All I have is my mission

115
00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:03.759
us accomplish several side objectives before reaching shore City and

116
00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:08.240
fulfilling the final objective there. My ultimate objective will be

117
00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:11.079
to engage in battle with hell Weaver and use all

118
00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:13.879
the power at my disposal to prevent her from creating

119
00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:17.800
this multi universal hell, even at the cost of my

120
00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:22.439
own brief existence. I maintain my present course. When the

121
00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:24.519
snow becomes too high for me to be able to

122
00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:29.319
continue walking, I must make calculated jumps. This weather shall

123
00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:32.679
not prevent me from reaching my first objective. The days

124
00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:36.080
and hours mean nothing to me. It is into December

125
00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:39.360
twenty fifth, two thousand ninety nine when I finally reach

126
00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:43.960
the outskirts of the Pendleton Way Station. Scanning it, it

127
00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:47.480
has the appearance of a fortress. A high wall protects

128
00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:51.519
the dwellings and the few inhabitants within. The main gate

129
00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:54.600
is just ahead. As I am ready to jump over

130
00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:58.480
the wall, the main gate unlocks and begins to open.

131
00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:03.039
It does not open all the way, however, two organic

132
00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:06.759
males come through the opening and approach me. Both are

133
00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:09.960
armed with weapons. You need to go away from here

134
00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:13.679
at once. The left one says, if you stay, you'll

135
00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:16.799
only endanger yourself and all of us. The right one adds.

136
00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:20.000
I scan both of them to determine that they are

137
00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.080
no match. For me. My empathic abilities tell me they

138
00:09:24.120 --> 00:09:27.720
are with great fear. How would there be an endangerment

139
00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:32.440
to either myself or you? I inquire. Now the two

140
00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:36.679
of them regard me with confusion. Don't you know what

141
00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:41.440
Christmas Day brings? The left man asks, If I knew,

142
00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:46.080
I would not need to inquire. I return. The men

143
00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:49.480
regard one another for a moment. Then the left man

144
00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:52.679
gently says, we will bring you inside so you may

145
00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:55.600
warm yourself, but we fear none of us shall be

146
00:09:55.679 --> 00:10:02.320
safe once he comes. Once who come? I inquire? Please

147
00:10:02.360 --> 00:10:07.799
tell me once we're inside, The right man insists, very well,

148
00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:11.639
lead the way. I shall follow you. The men turn

149
00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:15.559
back to the way station entrance and go inside. I

150
00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:19.639
follow close behind. Seeing the inside, it looks very much

151
00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:23.960
like a colony, with basic places for commerce, lodging, a restaurant,

152
00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:28.480
a general store, and a communications office. My objective for

153
00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:32.120
the Pendleton way Station highlights I am required to obtain

154
00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:36.000
a vital component here and cannot continue my mission without it.

155
00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:39.679
Once the main gate is sealed again, I follow the

156
00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:41.919
men until I am brought to their leader's building at

157
00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:44.799
the center of this colony. We ascend the stairway and

158
00:10:44.919 --> 00:10:48.039
enter through the two doors in front. The men take

159
00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:51.840
me to their leader himself. The organic man looks up

160
00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:55.039
from his desk and sees me. What is the meaning

161
00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:58.519
of this. The men who brought me before him explain

162
00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:01.679
that they found me outside of their gates. The leader

163
00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:05.759
quickly stands to his feet, and you brought her inside,

164
00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:08.720
He moves out from behind his desk. It's bad enough

165
00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:10.799
we had to send the women and children into hiding.

166
00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:15.120
Now you've brought a single female before me. Now, the

167
00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:19.200
leader turns and regards me. Don't you have suitable clothing? Women?

168
00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:23.679
Do not worry about me. I tell him I wish

169
00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:28.240
to know with whom you fear. He sneers, Now, truly, woman,

170
00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:31.200
you are foolish if you do not know. I have

171
00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:35.159
not been in existence for very long. I say, would

172
00:11:35.159 --> 00:11:38.840
there be any harm in telling me? He looks me over.

173
00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.320
You are a most unusual woman if you've been out

174
00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:45.080
in that blizzard and are not affected by it, especially

175
00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:49.159
when your clothing is both inadequate and wet. I am

176
00:11:49.200 --> 00:11:53.639
not so easily overcome, I assure him. He makes the

177
00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:57.120
mistake of glancing to his two men. Suddenly they come

178
00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:59.639
at me, Though they are well trained to fight they

179
00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:02.240
are not prepared for one such as I. The men

180
00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:05.440
fall before me easily. I do not harm them in

181
00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:08.879
any way, since I understand this was merely an exercise

182
00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:14.919
to test me. The leader nods a most unusual woman. Indeed,

183
00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:20.240
he regards as men leave us, only stand outside the doors.

184
00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:24.720
The men nod and obey him. Now he regards me again.

185
00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:30.159
Tell me you've at least heard of Santa Claus. I

186
00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:34.399
nod once. I have memories from long ago. Mostly they

187
00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:38.200
are photographs, songs, and tales. He has never been in

188
00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:42.360
my presence. He is quite real. The Leader tells me.

189
00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:47.240
May I have your name? I am Cassilia Tabon, and

190
00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:52.879
yours I am General Rhineboldt Larst. He returns, I've only

191
00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:55.960
been in this highest office for a year tonight. I

192
00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:59.440
assumed this rank and office when our last general was

193
00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:03.440
struck down by Santa Claus last Christmas. I point to

194
00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:07.639
a short stack of blank white paper. May I you

195
00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:12.080
May I pick up a colored pen and astonish Larst

196
00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:15.080
with how quickly I can draw. When I finish, I

197
00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:18.080
present him with the rendering of Santa Claus. As the

198
00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:21.399
woman who was Graham's in a former life had shown

199
00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:27.360
me this man struck your general down, he growls in frustration.

200
00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:31.240
Our people may only wish Santa Claus was the jolly,

201
00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:34.960
old soul of the olden days. Given your picture, I'd say,

202
00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:37.639
given your apparent age, you do not know what has

203
00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:42.039
become of Santa Claus again. Will you please tell me

204
00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:46.960
that I may understand? I inquire. Larst goes behind his

205
00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:50.440
desk and sits. Then he gestures for me to be seated.

206
00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:54.639
I obey and await his story. He tells me that

207
00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:58.480
Santa Claus was indeed the warm and jolly persona of Christmas.

208
00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:02.639
Listening to him and recalling the memories I have of Grams,

209
00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:07.840
the stories have few discrepancies. Are you familiar with the

210
00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:11.679
hell Weaver Holocaust? He asks? You must at least know

211
00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:16.559
that I do. Does your story begin on October thirty first,

212
00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:22.240
two thousand and thirty? I return. Indeed, it does a heavy,

213
00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:26.360
sad sigh. When hell Weaver laid waste to our world

214
00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:29.120
and altered it for the worst. There were many on

215
00:14:29.159 --> 00:14:31.799
this world who couldn't handle the reality of how things

216
00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:35.200
would be. It was believed that Santa Claus was one

217
00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:38.159
of them. Even though he lived up at the North Pole,

218
00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:41.159
the blast wave from the reality sphere even reached his

219
00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:44.519
part of Earth. No reason it wouldn't, since she conquered

220
00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:50.200
the entire multiverse. He leans forward, Exactly what creatures have

221
00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.360
you seen for yourself? I tell him that I have

222
00:14:53.440 --> 00:15:01.039
regarded many, ranging from werewolves to vampires and zombified organics. Well, well,

223
00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:04.279
you shall soon see Santa Claus for yourself this very night,

224
00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:09.480
he states. Every Christmas Eve he takes to the skies

225
00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:14.519
with his monstrous reindeer and mercilessly attacks and kills those

226
00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:18.879
unfortunate enough to be seen by him and his reindeer.

227
00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:21.919
He's even taken some of the people back to the

228
00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:25.879
North Pole to use as his slaves. He mainly attacks

229
00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:30.960
and pillages cities, villages, and way stations such as ours.

230
00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:35.960
He lifts my rendering of Santa Claus. This is what

231
00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:39.320
we wish he could be again. He puts the rendering

232
00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:43.159
down and reaches to a control panel. View the monitor

233
00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:46.879
behind me, tabon, I regard what appears to be footage

234
00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:51.799
captured by one or more cameras or scanners. That is

235
00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:56.080
Santa Claus. Now, he tells me. The man wears a

236
00:15:56.120 --> 00:15:59.240
red and white suit with a stocking cap just the

237
00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:03.039
same as in my drawing. However, his skin is quite

238
00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:07.279
black and his eyes glow hot. If anything, he appears

239
00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:10.759
to be greatly zombified. I will not know for certain

240
00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:14.679
until I can scan him. He no longer leaves presents

241
00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:19.000
for good little boys and girls, Larst says, he doesn't

242
00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:23.399
even leave coal for the bad ones. No, I told

243
00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:27.600
you what he does. He turns the monitor off. Now

244
00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:32.080
the question is what do you do. I'm not a fool,

245
00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:35.000
tab On. You were somehow able to survive out in

246
00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:37.720
that harshest of blizzards. Yet you have come all the

247
00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:40.639
way out here to Pendleton Way Station. You are not

248
00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:43.679
whom you appear to be. Or perhaps you're here because

249
00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:48.080
you want something. Sensing the man is not malevolent, I

250
00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:51.159
take another piece of paper and a pen, I draw

251
00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:53.960
what I am here to obtain and present that rendering

252
00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:58.159
to him. He regards it for a long moment before

253
00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:03.080
he responds to me again. He is with great distrust. Now,

254
00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:07.319
how do you even know about the psionic warp displacer,

255
00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:11.119
he asks? Our scientists worked on that in secret for

256
00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:15.160
the last several years. Now that we've perfected it, you

257
00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:18.240
want to take it from us? I would rather not

258
00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:21.400
just take it from you. I would offer you something

259
00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:25.359
in trade for it. Perhaps, Lars stands and comes around

260
00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:28.200
his desk to stand before me. How do you know

261
00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:31.680
about our device, Taban? We know you were nowhere around

262
00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:35.119
here when it was first conceived. You would be correct.

263
00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:39.599
I agree. Then I stand to face him. What is

264
00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:43.599
the psionic warped displacer worth to you? Larst points to

265
00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:49.480
his doors. Leave here immediately. Suddenly, his two men stationed

266
00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:53.279
outside the doors enter his office. Sir, the man on

267
00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:56.519
the left gasps, we're hearing the bells in the distance.

268
00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:03.359
Santa Claus is coming. Are you and your men ready

269
00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:08.039
for battle? Larst demands what few we are? Sir? The

270
00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:11.759
man on the right answers, we fear we shall not

271
00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:16.279
survive this conflict. I increase my audio sensors and hear

272
00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:19.400
the very jingling bells that the two men have heard themselves.

273
00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:22.599
I scan through the walls and see a vessel in

274
00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:26.480
the unforgiving skies. It appears to be a large sleigh

275
00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:30.799
with what appears to be nine zombiefied reindeer pulling it.

276
00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:35.160
The single reindeer in the very front has a glowing

277
00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:40.279
red nose. I point this Santa Claus comes from that direction.

278
00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:45.119
Larst growls at me. How would you know I regard him? Now?

279
00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:48.319
How will you hope to defeat this being? If he

280
00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:51.599
is as powerful as you and your men claim. Larst

281
00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:54.480
points at me. I am through talking to you. Woman.

282
00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:58.720
Leave here now. I raise my finger. I offered you

283
00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:02.680
a trade. I shall return outside and engage your Santa

284
00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:05.640
Claus in battle. I shall defeat him in exchange for

285
00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:09.880
the psionic warped displacer. Larst and his men laugh. Now,

286
00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:12.480
of course they do not know that I am a

287
00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:17.799
powerful machine. I wait for them to finish. Santa Claus descends.

288
00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:21.680
I warn he shall be within your boundaries very shortly.

289
00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:26.559
General Larst, do we have a bargain? He laughs again.

290
00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:29.960
If you can do what you claim, then it shall

291
00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:34.680
be agreed very well. I turn and exit Larst's office.

292
00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:39.240
I return to the entrance doors and step outside. The

293
00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:42.359
being known as Santa Claus is maneuvering his reindeer over

294
00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:47.160
Pendleton Way Station. Then I hear Santa's laughter. I have

295
00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:50.640
memories from a former life of Gramps laughing with joy

296
00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:54.160
and warmth as Santa would. The laughter I hear now

297
00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:58.240
is a menacing, evil one. The laughter is loud enough

298
00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:01.000
to be heard even through the harsh way winds and snow.

299
00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:06.279
You are a fool tabon, General Larsk calls out from

300
00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:11.039
behind me. I glance over my shoulder. Call your men back, General,

301
00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:15.440
They need not risk their lives tonight. I alone shall

302
00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:18.839
battle Santa Claus and defeat him. As per our bargain,

303
00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:23.519
he shall never be a threat to you again. The

304
00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:26.599
General sees that I am serious and issues the order

305
00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:31.759
for his men to retreat again. Tabon, you are foolish.

306
00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:37.200
Larsk chastises me. Die well. Then he slams the doors

307
00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:41.279
behind me and secures them. I stand and watch Santa

308
00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:44.720
Claus as he flies around in time. His sleigh and

309
00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:49.119
zombified reindeer are hovering near the General's building. I scan

310
00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:53.160
him and determine that he is perhaps a demon. He

311
00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:56.920
is not undead as his reindeer. He looks very much

312
00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:59.759
as General Larsk has shown me in his office for

313
00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:04.720
guarding how menacing his glowing eyes are. Santa Claus regards

314
00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:09.359
me from above and laughs again. His menacing scornful laughter

315
00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:14.200
echoes throughout the blizzard. Time to utilize some of my hardware.

316
00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:17.839
I raise my voice in response to his laughter to

317
00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:21.920
where he can hear me. I offer you one chance, demon,

318
00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:25.559
turn away and leave these people in peace. If you

319
00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:28.519
do not leave, and you choose to engage in battle

320
00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:33.160
with me, you shall fall in defeat. This is my

321
00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:37.200
promise to you. Santa Claus and I regard each other

322
00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:41.759
for a moment, a long moment. Then he breaks the

323
00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:46.720
silence by laughing scornfully at me again. Suddenly my senses

324
00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:49.599
are alerting me to danger. I turn and see many

325
00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:53.319
little figures coming over the wall. They laugh and sneer

326
00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:57.000
as they scurry towards me. This already reminds me of

327
00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:01.319
my first battle against Sarathos. He used his underlings to

328
00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:04.519
engage me because he believed me to be too insignificant

329
00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:09.240
for him to engage himself. If this demonic entity wishes

330
00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:14.000
to see what I'm capable of scanning these smaller life forms,

331
00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:18.079
they are zombified as the reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh, I'm

332
00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:22.079
ready to engage these. I believe Grahams referred to these

333
00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:27.200
creatures as elves. When the first elf leaps at me,

334
00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:30.160
I send it away with a swift blow. With my

335
00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:33.880
mechanical accuracy and speed I send these undead abominations away

336
00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:36.279
from me. As many of them as there are. Not

337
00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:39.079
a single one lays so much as a finger upon me,

338
00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:42.240
and no sooner do I dispatch the last one. I

339
00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:45.400
feel the demon himself dropping from his sleigh with the

340
00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:50.799
intention of landing upon me. When I step aside, Santa

341
00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:54.240
Claus lashes out and shoves me upon my back. The

342
00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:57.519
demon immediately picks me up and hurls me over the wall.

343
00:22:58.079 --> 00:23:00.839
I land hard against a large tree and fall onto

344
00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:04.160
my side. I quickly rise again and move to the wall.

345
00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:06.960
I leap right over it and see Santa Claus still

346
00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:09.960
standing there. I believe he was wondering if I would

347
00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:13.240
truly return. I land on my feet and face him.

348
00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:16.799
You shall require much more than that if you hope

349
00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:21.559
to overcome me. Demon Santa Claus sneers and launches himself

350
00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:24.440
right at me. I await him and catch him. This time,

351
00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:27.200
as he did to me, I throw him over the wall.

352
00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:30.200
I do not await his return. However, I leap over

353
00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:33.319
the wall again myself in pursuit of him. I land

354
00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:36.599
outside the Pendleton Way station. As Santa Claus rises to

355
00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:39.599
his feet again, he roars and comes at me, I

356
00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:42.200
move and go to him. The two of us engage

357
00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:46.039
in a most personal conflict. We throw blow after blow

358
00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:49.640
at one another. Truly, Santa Claus is a more formidable

359
00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:54.319
foe when compared to Sarathos. Suddenly, Santa Claus grabs me,

360
00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:56.839
lifts me off my feet, and drives me into the ground.

361
00:23:57.559 --> 00:24:01.160
He lowers himself and throws more deadly blows directly into

362
00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:04.960
my face. I throttle his throat and remove him from me.

363
00:24:05.039 --> 00:24:08.119
As I ascend to my feet, it becomes my turn

364
00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:11.759
to throw him into the trees. When Santa Claus hits them,

365
00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:15.759
he falls forward. He rises to his feet. Immediately, he roars,

366
00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:20.160
and his eyes glow brighter. I know not what you are,

367
00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:23.880
but I shall claim you this night. You shall become

368
00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:27.480
the centerpiece of my trophy room. Or perhaps I shall

369
00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:31.960
make a rug out of your hide. Such empty promises,

370
00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:35.880
I mutter. Santa Claus roars and comes at me again.

371
00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:39.039
I leap at him in return. We both connect with

372
00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:42.400
our blows and find ourselves upon our backs. We both

373
00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:46.400
rise and engage one another again. What has become of you?

374
00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:50.799
I ask the demon. According to old fables, you used

375
00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:53.880
to bring joy to all the good people of this world.

376
00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:59.519
Things change, girl. The world changed the day Hell Weaver

377
00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:05.480
changed everything on Halloween night of twenty thirty, when the

378
00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:09.799
world became the very essence of Hell itself. My wife,

379
00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.839
my elves, and even my reindeer were slain that night. However,

380
00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:18.680
they would not stay dead. You have seen some of

381
00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:21.680
my elves and all of my reindeer as they are now,

382
00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:28.039
and you seeing how the world became and how worse

383
00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:31.200
it continues to become. There was only so much I

384
00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:35.000
could do. When the blast wave hit, it drove me mad.

385
00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:39.759
At the same time I became this powerful form before you.

386
00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:45.319
And now who really gives a fuck? He laughs his

387
00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:50.440
menacing laughter again. Christmas is my holiday, and on this

388
00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:52.519
one night out of the year, I go out and

389
00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:56.400
collect that that is due to me. But what should

390
00:25:56.400 --> 00:26:01.599
concern you now is your doom. My senses alert me

391
00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:05.559
to attacks coming from different directions. Santa Claus backs away

392
00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:08.240
to watch me engage in battle with all nine of

393
00:26:08.279 --> 00:26:11.720
his reindeer. They all make their undead battle cries as

394
00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:14.880
they come at me. These creatures are nearly double the

395
00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:19.039
size of normal deer. From the memories I possess, either

396
00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:22.720
reindeer or normally the size or they were affected and

397
00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:26.720
altered by the hell Weaver holocaust, just as Santa Claus

398
00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:29.720
himself was. When they come at me, I strike and

399
00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:33.279
attack with the same mechanical speed and reflexes as when

400
00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:36.920
I earlier repelled the elves. The reindeer are not alone,

401
00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:39.880
as more of the elves come at me. How many

402
00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:44.440
of these small creatures does Santa Claus have? I've had

403
00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:46.839
time to experiment and see what I am capable of

404
00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:49.359
doing with my new body. I may not know all

405
00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:53.319
of my capabilities, but I shall in good time. When

406
00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:55.480
I first came to know life, the life force that

407
00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:58.279
I was given needed to become fully integrated with my

408
00:26:58.359 --> 00:27:03.240
new body. To my understanding, the futuristic alien technology used

409
00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:07.119
to create me had to be crafted, configured, and fully

410
00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:10.119
optimized to be able to house my spark that is

411
00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:13.319
my life. Comparing my own life force to the one

412
00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:16.720
that was once Cassilia Tabon, I strive to be all

413
00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:20.039
that she never was. I can feel how active my

414
00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:24.799
secondary programming is within me. It is this guiding force,

415
00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:28.200
when working in unison with my emotions, that compels me

416
00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:31.799
to want to do good. The memories I have that

417
00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:35.839
are of the original Cassilia Tabon are not heroic. The

418
00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:39.400
Tabon family who took her in as a newborn were heroic,

419
00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:43.839
but Cassilia would never strive to become as they were.

420
00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:47.519
My software is working to bridge the gaps and the

421
00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:52.119
memories with greatly complicated algorithms. This will take a great

422
00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:54.839
deal of time and patience for the memories to be

423
00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:59.279
fully reconstructed. But knowing that the original Cassilia Tabon was

424
00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:04.039
not heroic, and feeling my secondary programming working, I know

425
00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:06.559
that I must use what I have been given and

426
00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:11.000
become heroic. My ultimate objective is that I must stop

427
00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:13.920
hell Weaver, even if it means the end of my

428
00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:18.759
brief existence. That means I must not fail against Santa

429
00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:22.160
Claus again. I am keeping my enemies away from me.

430
00:28:22.680 --> 00:28:25.440
Seeing Santa Claus approaching the main gate to the Pendleton

431
00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:28.319
Way Station, I know that he means to breach it

432
00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:32.720
and accomplish his insane objective. His reindeer and elves are

433
00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:37.920
a distraction for me. This must end now. When I

434
00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:40.720
have an opening, I lean into the air and towards

435
00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:45.119
Santa Claus. You shall not be successful in your madness. Demon.

436
00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:49.279
As I reach Santa claus. He turns and suddenly plucks

437
00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:52.640
me right out of the air. Then he sneers and

438
00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:55.599
throws me out into the open, whereas elves and reindeer

439
00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:59.920
suddenly converge and pounce on me. He laughs as horror

440
00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:04.039
will evil laughter again and turns his attention back to

441
00:29:04.160 --> 00:29:07.880
the gates. The reindeer and elves are making their noises

442
00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:11.519
as they try to keep me down and attack. The

443
00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:15.000
elves have weapons from blades to picks. The reindeer are

444
00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:18.200
stomping on me or trying to bite me. My skin

445
00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:21.400
base does not easily yield under the pressure of their teeth.

446
00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:24.559
These creatures are doing anything and everything to keep me

447
00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:27.799
here while their master uses mighty blows to break open

448
00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:31.759
the main gates. He could easily leap over, but he

449
00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:35.799
wants to break in to show the organics inside that

450
00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:40.039
the gates are futile. It takes him three blows to

451
00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:43.359
both force open the gates and make both halves fall.

452
00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:48.079
There shall be no mortals remaining before this night is over.

453
00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:52.680
This shall be your last Christmas. Next year I shall

454
00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:57.000
ravage a new destination. In time, I shall decimate all

455
00:29:57.079 --> 00:30:01.079
of you remaining mortals. You were full to send a

456
00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:04.920
weak female to fight your battles for you most foolish,

457
00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:10.400
indeed and cowardly. Your very existence makes you naughty in

458
00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:14.920
my eyes. But I am not finished. It shall take

459
00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:19.359
far more than these undead abominations to overcome me. The

460
00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:22.759
elves are with distress now as I raise myself to stand.

461
00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:27.839
You shall never defeat one such as I. I declare,

462
00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:33.599
Even with your vast numbers, you shall never overcome a machine.

463
00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:36.160
I stand once more and knock them away from me,

464
00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:39.720
both the elves and the reindeer alike. Killing them will

465
00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:43.079
mean nothing, since they do not have life within their bodies.

466
00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:47.000
Upon repelling enough of them, I turn my attention back

467
00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:53.079
to Santa Claus. He is the one I must ultimately defeat.

468
00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:56.039
I leap forward and reach him again, as he has

469
00:30:56.119 --> 00:31:00.400
ripped the main doors away from General Larsk's station. Will

470
00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:06.039
you ever cease your struggle, you worthless mortal female, he growls,

471
00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:11.079
Not until you're defeated. I return. Then I shall grant

472
00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:16.319
you your death as your final Christmas gift. You shall try.

473
00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:19.960
The two of us engage in battle once more. We

474
00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:24.160
trade many powerful blows, looking to end each other. Each

475
00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:27.400
time that Santa Claus repels me and returns his attention

476
00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:30.640
to entering the General Larsk's building. I leap back to

477
00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:34.440
him to continue our battle. At times I am forced

478
00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:38.400
to repel elves or reindeer. It is then when I

479
00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:42.400
feel something hit my back that I was not expecting.

480
00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:47.359
I see many variables flashing upon my interface, especially when

481
00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:50.039
I am hit again. I regard the reindeer with the

482
00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:53.759
bright red nose from the memories I have with Grams,

483
00:31:54.119 --> 00:31:58.759
I believe his name to be Rudolph. He fires his

484
00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:01.839
laser beam from his no and hits my face. I

485
00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:05.319
sense injuries and damage to my skin base. Now at

486
00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:08.160
the same time, I feel my healing factor working to

487
00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:11.640
repair the damage. Rudolph fires his laser nose at my

488
00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:17.400
face once again. You are unlike anything I have ever seen,

489
00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:22.119
Santa Claus says with disbelief, upon seeing half of my

490
00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:25.960
true face. Then the demon strikes me hard on the

491
00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:30.319
back of my head to send my face into the snow. Nonetheless,

492
00:32:30.359 --> 00:32:33.839
I shall claim you as my prize on this Christmas Day.

493
00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:38.680
Suddenly I'm on my knees. Santa Claus roars and kicks

494
00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.839
me hard in the chin to make me fly away

495
00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:43.440
from him and slam into the wall. I make an

496
00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:47.920
indentation and fall forward. Santa Claus is upon me almost

497
00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:51.039
at once. He lifts me up, slams me against the wall,

498
00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:55.079
and unleashes many powerful blows into me. You are clearly

499
00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:58.160
not a mortal. I know not what you are, but

500
00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:00.519
know that you were foolish to think you can best

501
00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:05.759
Santa Claus. No matter how powerful he is, he still

502
00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:09.720
cannot damage or blemish my mechanical body. I can feel

503
00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:13.440
my skin base repairing itself as the gelatinous substance spreads

504
00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:17.440
itself on the exposed areas that Rudolph created. I can

505
00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:21.319
literally feel my skin based solidifying and becoming my flesh

506
00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:26.440
once more. Even my metallic hair is flawlessly regenerated. I

507
00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:29.920
technically do not require this exterior skin base and am

508
00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:33.519
capable of functioning just as a mechanical being. But my

509
00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:36.720
programming maintains my skin and keeps it as a part

510
00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:39.079
of me. My creators wished for me to have my

511
00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:43.079
exterior covering for specific reasons. Of this, I am certain

512
00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:47.000
I am through letting Santa Claus dominate me in this conflict,

513
00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:50.039
and know I must end it. When I sense Rudolph

514
00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:52.920
firing his red nose at me again. I turn and

515
00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:55.960
suddenly feel my own red beams emitting from my very

516
00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:01.160
optics and passing through my humanoid eyes. Beams conflict with

517
00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:04.640
the reindeers one, I can feel the very power coursing

518
00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:08.800
through my body. To supplement this power I now utilize,

519
00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:12.800
I turn and vampire warp from Santa Claus toward Rudolph.

520
00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:15.159
When I land in front of him, I take hold

521
00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:19.440
of his unique nose and render it useless. Being undead,

522
00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:21.880
the Reindeer does not cry out in pain, but he

523
00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:25.199
does step away, knowing that he can no longer engage

524
00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:28.880
in battle with me. And then, when I vampire warp

525
00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:32.280
back to Santa Claus again, I can see past him

526
00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:36.000
and regard the sun that shall rise again soon. At

527
00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:38.320
this point, I do not believe that I shall be

528
00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:41.760
able to defeat this monster before the sun fully rises.

529
00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:45.559
My life shall come to a very abrupt end once

530
00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:49.639
it does. I feel how strong my emotions and my

531
00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:53.760
secondary programming are becoming. Now. If I am to die shortly,

532
00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:56.719
then I shall do so knowing that I was successful

533
00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:59.880
in keeping Santa Claus from claiming the lives of these

534
00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:05.360
other organics. Santa Claus engages me again. I understand his

535
00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:07.559
way of fighting now and am able to counter him.

536
00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:11.920
I strike one harsh blow right after another. He staggers backward,

537
00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:14.519
but still manages to get in a few more attacks

538
00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:17.800
on me. Refusing to allow him any more leverage against me,

539
00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:21.599
I continue my onslaught and make him stagger. I must

540
00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:25.280
defeat Santa Claus before the sun fully rises and destroys me.

541
00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:29.519
The sun continues, My emotions continue to rise within me.

542
00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:35.880
The demon continues to stagger. Not possible. I continue to

543
00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:40.239
show Santa Claus that it is indeed possible. He falls

544
00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:42.559
to his knees from me. To kick him under his

545
00:35:42.679 --> 00:35:45.639
chin and send him upward, make him do a backflip

546
00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:49.239
and then land hard on his face and chest. He

547
00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:52.840
puts his hands down and raises himself. I step in

548
00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:56.480
and keep pummeling him. I am seeing the first rays

549
00:35:56.599 --> 00:35:59.079
of the Christmas morning sun as they begin to bring

550
00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:04.159
lights to this wintry land. The snow has finally ceased,

551
00:36:04.760 --> 00:36:08.800
but the winds continue their vicious onslaught. Then I see

552
00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:11.679
what is becoming of the elves and the reindeer, at

553
00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:15.440
least the ones that still bear animation. The reindeer walk

554
00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:19.719
around fast and make a strange noise. The elves are

555
00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:23.000
trying to flee, even Santa Claus is showing signs of

556
00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:26.559
slowing down. The sun is lighting the new morning more.

557
00:36:26.599 --> 00:36:30.159
Now a strange vapor begins to emit from the reindeer

558
00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:32.679
and the elves. I look at Santa Claus and see

559
00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:36.239
the vapor rising from him as well. I could run

560
00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:39.840
for safety, but this demon's reign of terror must end. Here.

561
00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:43.519
Santa Claus makes one last feudal effort to fight me.

562
00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:46.679
His blows are at their weakest. Now they feel like

563
00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:52.480
those of an organic child. I understand immediately these abominations

564
00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:57.719
cannot endure the sunlight and are nocturnal creatures. Now I

565
00:36:57.800 --> 00:37:01.039
am with surprise. I gaze up on my skin basin

566
00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:05.440
see that nothing is happening to me. I search my

567
00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:08.480
memories and recall that the original life form could not

568
00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:11.639
exist in the sunlight. She had tried putting her hand

569
00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:14.519
in a sunbeam once, only for it to burn her

570
00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:18.000
and nearly make her hand burst into flames. No such

571
00:37:18.079 --> 00:37:21.519
thing as happening to me now, however, I stand and

572
00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:25.039
watch as Santa Claus and his underlings burn in the sunlight.

573
00:37:25.880 --> 00:37:29.480
I move away and let them. My optics are primarily

574
00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:32.719
on the demon himself. Within my visual scope, I can

575
00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:36.400
see the underlings bursting into flames and turning into ash.

576
00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:40.679
Santa Claus now bursts into flames himself. He roars as

577
00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:43.599
his black flesh flies away from his body to reveal

578
00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:49.079
his large organic skeleton, which is also charred. Perhaps that

579
00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:52.119
last wave from October thirty first, two thousand and thirty

580
00:37:52.599 --> 00:37:55.960
may have been the reason for this. Santa Claus falls

581
00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:59.679
flat now as his skeleton is now burning until nothing

582
00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:04.239
remains but ash. I look upon the skin base of

583
00:38:04.280 --> 00:38:08.599
my own hands and arms to see I'm still intact.

584
00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:12.400
Then I remember back in the village of Strickfield, when

585
00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:16.599
those zombified organics came after me. I also encountered such

586
00:38:16.639 --> 00:38:20.079
creatures along the way to this way station. I activate

587
00:38:20.119 --> 00:38:23.159
my diagnostics program to see that I have vital signs.

588
00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:29.039
I have truly misunderstood the concept of my having life. No,

589
00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:32.119
I am not the undead creature that the life form

590
00:38:32.199 --> 00:38:35.800
before me was. When it comes to the vampire aspect,

591
00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:39.960
I do possess limited powers. I believe that I was

592
00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:43.480
undead based upon the memories I have been supplemented with

593
00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:48.480
to give me data to feed my intelligence capacity. Cassilia Tabon,

594
00:38:48.960 --> 00:38:54.480
being undead was a former life in my new life. Yes,

595
00:38:55.159 --> 00:38:58.360
that is indeed what I truly possess within this mechanical body.

596
00:38:58.960 --> 00:39:02.719
I have the very esa since of true life, the

597
00:39:02.760 --> 00:39:06.719
same as these organic beings. Truly, this shall be a

598
00:39:06.840 --> 00:39:11.559
Christmas morning to be remembered. I cannot help myself and

599
00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:16.039
begin to cry. Wait, how am I capable of tears?

600
00:39:16.599 --> 00:39:19.719
I only have a skin base, yet I produce tears

601
00:39:19.760 --> 00:39:25.559
of happiness. It is fully mourning now I never need

602
00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:31.400
to fear this beautiful sunlight ever again. I feel I

603
00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:35.719
am unworthy of life and having a mechanical body. I

604
00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:39.400
reason it is my conflicting memories from the past and

605
00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:43.679
the new memories I make in the present. After I

606
00:39:43.760 --> 00:39:46.280
conclude my crying, I know that it is time for

607
00:39:46.360 --> 00:39:50.599
me to see General Larsk and to claim my prize.

608
00:39:50.760 --> 00:39:53.400
I walk into his building and soon find him in

609
00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:56.559
his office. His two men are with him and are armed.

610
00:39:57.320 --> 00:40:01.719
Larsk himself regards me to clause is no more? I

611
00:40:01.800 --> 00:40:05.360
tell him. The three men regard me for the longest time.

612
00:40:05.679 --> 00:40:09.599
Then Larsk finally speaks, I cannot allow you to remove

613
00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:13.639
the psionic warp displacer from here. He tells me we

614
00:40:13.800 --> 00:40:18.280
had an arrangement. I remind him. Larsk shakes his head.

615
00:40:18.719 --> 00:40:22.559
Don't care. We are not relinquishing anything to a woman.

616
00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:26.000
I do not recommend forcing me to take it from you,

617
00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:30.639
I say. His men raise their weapons. I emit the

618
00:40:30.719 --> 00:40:33.320
laser beams from my optics that I used a short

619
00:40:33.320 --> 00:40:37.800
time ago and melt their weapons. I also melt General

620
00:40:37.880 --> 00:40:40.840
Larsk's weapon after he draws it. The men are with

621
00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:45.039
fear and do not know how to react. General lars

622
00:40:45.199 --> 00:40:48.599
quickly points to a room off to the side. In

623
00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:52.880
there you'll find the psionic warp displacer in a display case.

624
00:40:53.639 --> 00:40:56.199
My empathic powers tell me that he does not speak

625
00:40:56.239 --> 00:41:00.280
with truth. I utilize my vampire warping power, and here

626
00:41:00.320 --> 00:41:04.119
behind Larsk, I lift him off his feet. Remembering the

627
00:41:04.159 --> 00:41:08.840
design of the psionic warp displacer, I scan Larsk's office.

628
00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:12.760
My optics stop upon his monitor. I lower Larsk and

629
00:41:12.880 --> 00:41:16.559
shatter the screen. The component that I require is now

630
00:41:16.559 --> 00:41:20.559
before me. I turn to Larsk. Santa Claus sought to

631
00:41:20.719 --> 00:41:24.320
end you and your people of this way station. You

632
00:41:24.400 --> 00:41:26.679
and your men should be grateful that you will continue

633
00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:29.880
to live, even in knowing that he shall never return.

634
00:41:30.760 --> 00:41:35.599
Live your lives well while you still have them. Larsk

635
00:41:35.719 --> 00:41:40.000
does not listen. Why do you want the psionic warp displacer, woman?

636
00:41:40.920 --> 00:41:43.920
I require it for my mission to find and defeat

637
00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:47.599
hell Weaver. I answer, it is my mission to make

638
00:41:47.639 --> 00:41:50.719
sure this reality never happens, and that as few lives

639
00:41:50.760 --> 00:41:53.840
are lost as possible. The men are not certain as

640
00:41:53.880 --> 00:41:56.280
to what to make of me, but they question me

641
00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:59.639
no longer. Larsk steps aside to allow me to take

642
00:41:59.679 --> 00:42:02.760
the sign a warp displacer. I scan it to determine

643
00:42:02.760 --> 00:42:06.559
that it is genuine. The side objective is now changed

644
00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:10.599
to complete. I realize that I cannot just keep this

645
00:42:10.719 --> 00:42:15.760
component out in the open. Then I understand and will

646
00:42:15.840 --> 00:42:19.480
a small portal to open before me. I place the

647
00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:24.360
warped displacer within the field and remove my hand. Shortly

648
00:42:24.400 --> 00:42:29.320
after the portal closes. As I leave Larsk's office, he

649
00:42:29.400 --> 00:42:33.239
weakly calls out behind me, you will fail against hell

650
00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:38.239
Weaver Tabon. He shakes his head slowly. I fail to

651
00:42:38.320 --> 00:42:42.239
understand how you could defeat Santa Claus. I glance over

652
00:42:42.280 --> 00:42:48.440
my shoulder, beings such as Santa Claus cannot defeat the machine.

653
00:42:48.559 --> 00:42:51.639
The men are baffled as I turn and finally take

654
00:42:51.719 --> 00:42:54.719
my leave. I walk until I cross through what is

655
00:42:54.800 --> 00:42:59.000
left of the gates of Pendleton Way Station. It is

656
00:42:59.119 --> 00:43:02.039
time for me to venture to the second Side objective,

657
00:43:02.480 --> 00:43:05.360
a place where many of the original Life Forces memories

658
00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:10.079
were forged. I must venture to the Tabon homeland known

659
00:43:10.119 --> 00:43:13.880
as Ravenhurst. There, I must acquire one of the most

660
00:43:13.920 --> 00:43:17.760
powerful and ancient artifacts in the vast Tabon arsenal of

661
00:43:17.840 --> 00:43:22.599
weapons to use in my battle against hell Weaver. In

662
00:43:22.639 --> 00:43:40.239
the meantime, do have yourself a very merry Christmas. Santa's

663
00:43:40.280 --> 00:43:46.159
Little Helper by Charles Campbell. Holiday season in the Valley

664
00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:49.960
is something different, to say the least. It doesn't exactly

665
00:43:50.039 --> 00:43:53.400
drop to freezing. In this part of South Carolina. There

666
00:43:53.519 --> 00:43:56.840
is what locals call cold spells from time to time,

667
00:43:57.480 --> 00:44:00.400
but nothing like the bone chilling freeze that other parts

668
00:44:00.440 --> 00:44:06.119
of the country routinely experience. And today, well today was

669
00:44:06.199 --> 00:44:11.880
Christmas Eve. Ronnie Baxley hated everything about it. Unfortunately, for

670
00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:16.119
the last ten years he and his rotund body were

671
00:44:16.159 --> 00:44:19.119
tapped to be Santa Claus for the Christmas Tree lighting

672
00:44:19.199 --> 00:44:23.039
in downtown Burnett Town. When he first started donning the

673
00:44:23.039 --> 00:44:25.760
red and white suit, the town would pay him fifty

674
00:44:25.800 --> 00:44:29.599
bucks for about five or six hours of work. Now

675
00:44:29.639 --> 00:44:33.000
he makes almost two hundred bucks for begging little valley

676
00:44:33.079 --> 00:44:36.360
rats to sit on his lap. His once white beard

677
00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:40.400
was now something between baby shit yellow and turred brown.

678
00:44:41.239 --> 00:44:44.800
Ronnie had maybe seventeeth left in his head. His breath

679
00:44:44.840 --> 00:44:48.760
smelled of dog shit chased down with sewer water. Ronnie

680
00:44:48.800 --> 00:44:51.639
sucked in his gut and eased into the driver's seat

681
00:44:51.639 --> 00:44:54.639
of his beat up Chevy pickup. He gave the key

682
00:44:54.679 --> 00:44:57.559
a turn, and the engine coughed and gagged like it

683
00:44:57.599 --> 00:45:00.280
had been smoking those Marlboroughs right along with Ronn for

684
00:45:00.320 --> 00:45:03.840
the last thirty plus years. Ronnie turned the dial on

685
00:45:03.880 --> 00:45:06.760
the radio and was met with the sound of jingle bells.

686
00:45:07.239 --> 00:45:11.280
He immediately turned off the radio. The bald tire spun

687
00:45:11.400 --> 00:45:14.519
in the muddy driveway of his decrepit trailer. As he

688
00:45:14.559 --> 00:45:17.960
backed out, Ronnie began to sing in the tune of

689
00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:22.800
the freshly in mind jingle Bells. Driving through the mud

690
00:45:23.320 --> 00:45:26.159
in my fucked up Chevrolet, off to the valley, I

691
00:45:26.320 --> 00:45:30.679
go broke as fuck today. The words trailed off into

692
00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:33.519
a da da da Da da da as his mind

693
00:45:33.559 --> 00:45:37.039
had run out of wit for freestyling. He didn't want

694
00:45:37.079 --> 00:45:39.800
to go to Burnett Town. Ronnie was sick of listening

695
00:45:39.840 --> 00:45:43.079
to the little and some not so little Valley rats

696
00:45:43.159 --> 00:45:46.760
drown on about wanting a PlayStation machine or an Xbox

697
00:45:46.880 --> 00:45:51.559
or some kind of modern gadget. The kids weren't normal anymore.

698
00:45:52.079 --> 00:45:55.559
Face is always stuck in some kind of screen. Few

699
00:45:55.559 --> 00:45:59.519
and far between were the requests for footballs, basketball hoops,

700
00:45:59.559 --> 00:46:03.760
barbie bicycles. As a matter of fact, Ronnie was just

701
00:46:03.800 --> 00:46:06.760
as tired of the parents, especially the ones he knew

702
00:46:06.800 --> 00:46:10.639
from school, with their pity filled eyes. Look at what

703
00:46:10.679 --> 00:46:13.480
has become of Ronnie. Poor guy had a great arm

704
00:46:13.519 --> 00:46:17.159
in high school. He could have gone pro, should have

705
00:46:17.199 --> 00:46:20.360
had a career in the majors, But the valley got

706
00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:24.280
him like it got so many kids. If he saw

707
00:46:24.360 --> 00:46:27.079
one more tear filled eye from a mother looking as

708
00:46:27.079 --> 00:46:30.119
if she were doing the world a service by feeding astray,

709
00:46:30.880 --> 00:46:34.039
he was going to lose his shit. The sun was

710
00:46:34.079 --> 00:46:37.639
already setting when he arrived at town hall. He cursed

711
00:46:37.719 --> 00:46:40.880
daylight Savings time. Every year. When the clock rolled back,

712
00:46:41.320 --> 00:46:43.360
it meant that six pm was going to look the

713
00:46:43.400 --> 00:46:46.920
same as midnight, and that always made Ronnie tired his shit.

714
00:46:47.639 --> 00:46:50.559
Tonight was the one night he couldn't be tired. He'd

715
00:46:50.559 --> 00:46:53.119
have to sit on the big wooden chair, hoping there

716
00:46:53.199 --> 00:46:55.440
was still enough material in the seat of his pants

717
00:46:55.679 --> 00:46:58.360
to keep the splinters out of his ass, while pretending

718
00:46:58.400 --> 00:47:02.039
to listen as Betty Sue Molly May tells him what

719
00:47:02.119 --> 00:47:06.159
kind of iPhone she wants. Because you know, the elves

720
00:47:06.159 --> 00:47:11.880
are fucking masters at cutting edge technology. Ronnie stood by

721
00:47:11.880 --> 00:47:14.679
his truck for a moment or two, taking a long

722
00:47:14.800 --> 00:47:18.119
drag on his last Marlborough. He'd have to wait until

723
00:47:18.159 --> 00:47:20.199
he got paid before he could pick up another pack

724
00:47:20.239 --> 00:47:23.000
from the minute shop. He'd have to bum a couple

725
00:47:23.000 --> 00:47:25.079
from Eddie the Elf to get him through the evening.

726
00:47:25.960 --> 00:47:29.719
Eddie was a tall, skinny man, definitely not built like

727
00:47:29.760 --> 00:47:33.159
an elf, and he was willing to take seventy five

728
00:47:33.239 --> 00:47:36.599
bucks to usher kids to the lap of this sad

729
00:47:36.679 --> 00:47:40.599
excuse of a Santa. Ronnie was wishing for one more

730
00:47:40.679 --> 00:47:46.320
drag when a tiny voice startled him. Merry Christmas, Santa, said,

731
00:47:46.320 --> 00:47:49.440
the little girl suddenly standing next to him. Where the

732
00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:55.000
I mean, hey, little girl, where's your mama, Ronnie asked,

733
00:47:55.280 --> 00:47:58.719
forcing a smile. He had never seen this child before,

734
00:47:59.079 --> 00:48:00.920
and she didn't look like she had an ounce of

735
00:48:01.000 --> 00:48:05.199
valley in her I don't have one, the little girl said,

736
00:48:05.280 --> 00:48:09.440
just above a whisper. Ronnie looked her over. She couldn't

737
00:48:09.440 --> 00:48:12.119
have been more than seven years old, and she was

738
00:48:12.239 --> 00:48:16.320
dressed like a tiny elf. She had long black hair

739
00:48:16.360 --> 00:48:19.360
and the darkest pools for eyes Ronnie had ever seen.

740
00:48:20.159 --> 00:48:22.760
He thought maybe the darkness was playing tricks on him,

741
00:48:23.159 --> 00:48:26.440
but the parking lot was well lit. He knelt to

742
00:48:26.480 --> 00:48:30.360
meet her gaze, keeping his plastic smile. So if you

743
00:48:30.400 --> 00:48:34.280
don't have a mama, is your daddy around? I don't

744
00:48:34.280 --> 00:48:38.480
have one of those either, she whispered. Who's here with you?

745
00:48:39.039 --> 00:48:43.559
Ronnie asked. You are Sannah, the little girl said, as

746
00:48:43.599 --> 00:48:47.800
a grin spread under her nose. Ronnie was taken aback

747
00:48:47.880 --> 00:48:52.000
at the rows of razor sharp teeth that clicked in

748
00:48:52.039 --> 00:48:57.119
front of him. What the fuck are you? Ronnie asked.

749
00:48:57.719 --> 00:49:01.039
He hadn't taken any strong shit, resisted the urge to

750
00:49:01.079 --> 00:49:04.559
reach out and touch her. If she wasn't real, he

751
00:49:04.800 --> 00:49:08.320
just looked like he was talking to himself. But if

752
00:49:08.360 --> 00:49:13.480
she was real, she might just bite his fucking fingers off.

753
00:49:14.719 --> 00:49:21.880
I'm Santa's little helper, she whispered. What's your name? Ronnie asked.

754
00:49:22.440 --> 00:49:25.400
He knew he should be scared, but it was just

755
00:49:25.480 --> 00:49:30.119
the opposite. He couldn't explain it, but he was feeling

756
00:49:30.159 --> 00:49:38.320
giddy Sarah, She replied, Well, Sarah, I already have a helper.

757
00:49:38.599 --> 00:49:42.800
His name is Eddie, the Eelf. Ronnie said he could

758
00:49:42.800 --> 00:49:47.199
now hear people mulling around Sassafras Park, sight of the

759
00:49:47.239 --> 00:49:52.000
tree lighting and lapsitting. Eddie's not going to make it tonight,

760
00:49:52.760 --> 00:49:57.079
the little girl said, with a certainty that Ronnie instantly believed.

761
00:49:58.280 --> 00:50:04.480
Oh really, how do you know that, Ronnie asked, He's dead,

762
00:50:05.440 --> 00:50:10.559
she replied, And how do you know that? Ronnie found

763
00:50:10.639 --> 00:50:15.079
himself asking he wasn't going to help you, Santa. He

764
00:50:15.199 --> 00:50:18.480
was going to hurt you, like all the rest, she replied.

765
00:50:20.119 --> 00:50:26.559
Ronnie smiled with an understanding that made the girl grin back. Okay,

766
00:50:26.599 --> 00:50:37.199
then let's go see the valley rats, Ronnie said. The

767
00:50:37.239 --> 00:50:40.840
front doors of town Hall were wide open. There was

768
00:50:40.880 --> 00:50:44.239
a small line of husbands receiving cups of hot cocoa

769
00:50:44.599 --> 00:50:48.679
for their wives and tots. Sarah, stuck by Ronnie's side.

770
00:50:48.920 --> 00:50:51.719
As he strode past the line of kids hooping and

771
00:50:51.800 --> 00:50:56.519
hollering for their tortured Santa. He waved a stained glove

772
00:50:56.599 --> 00:50:59.280
in the air for their approval. As he sat on

773
00:50:59.360 --> 00:51:04.079
the big wood in chair. Elma Trudeau, an office administrator

774
00:51:04.079 --> 00:51:06.960
for the town of Burnett Town, leaned in and whispered

775
00:51:06.960 --> 00:51:10.960
in his ear. Where's Eddie, she asked, while staring a

776
00:51:11.000 --> 00:51:15.920
hole through Sarah. He's sick, Ronnie replied, which elicited a

777
00:51:15.960 --> 00:51:19.679
closed mouth smile from Sarah. It was a smile that

778
00:51:19.800 --> 00:51:25.599
sent a feeling of despair through Elma. Who's going to

779
00:51:25.639 --> 00:51:29.719
control the line, Elma asked, with a tone that clarified

780
00:51:29.840 --> 00:51:33.639
she was not willing to assume the role. I'm Santa's

781
00:51:33.679 --> 00:51:39.400
little helper, Sarah replied, surely, you can't suggest that a child.

782
00:51:39.639 --> 00:51:42.000
Oh and by the way, whose child is this anyway?

783
00:51:42.639 --> 00:51:46.960
She's not from around here, Alma said. She's my niece.

784
00:51:47.159 --> 00:51:50.960
Her name is Sarah, and she's visiting from Atlanta. Ronnie replied,

785
00:51:51.800 --> 00:51:55.639
I call bullshit, Ronnie, you don't have any family, Alma said,

786
00:51:55.920 --> 00:51:59.280
I would suggest you go back to your office, Elma.

787
00:51:59.679 --> 00:52:05.880
Sarah intervened, revealing her teeth. What the fuck? Alma? Whispered

788
00:52:06.159 --> 00:52:09.280
as she backed away. You should listen to her and

789
00:52:09.320 --> 00:52:13.440
go back to your office, Ronnie echoed, and stood. Elma's

790
00:52:13.480 --> 00:52:17.320
hands trembled and eyes widened as she slowly backed away.

791
00:52:18.639 --> 00:52:23.320
Ho Ho, ho, Eddie, the elf is not feeling well.

792
00:52:23.400 --> 00:52:27.840
So Santa has a new helper today, Ronnie announced to

793
00:52:27.920 --> 00:52:31.800
the expanding line of children. There were cheers and shouts

794
00:52:31.800 --> 00:52:35.280
from the boys and girls. Sarah moved quickly to the

795
00:52:35.280 --> 00:52:38.000
front of the line and lifted the retractable belt from

796
00:52:38.000 --> 00:52:41.960
the stanction. Mary Jenkins and her little boy Sam were

797
00:52:42.000 --> 00:52:45.199
the first in line. Sarah giggled as she reached for

798
00:52:45.280 --> 00:52:50.000
Sam's hand. He took it without hesitation. As Mary stepped through,

799
00:52:50.760 --> 00:52:53.280
Sarah looked back as if to tell the next kid

800
00:52:53.639 --> 00:52:56.639
she would have to wait her turn. Before taking Sam

801
00:52:56.719 --> 00:53:00.000
to Santa. Ronnie resisted the urge to roll his eye

802
00:53:00.239 --> 00:53:04.039
at Mary Jenkins, who is now Mary Utly, she was

803
00:53:04.079 --> 00:53:06.800
a cheerleader in high school and he actually had clumsy

804
00:53:06.840 --> 00:53:09.800
sex with her once in the boy's locker room. It

805
00:53:09.920 --> 00:53:13.599
was definitely nothing memorable for her, because, as he recalled,

806
00:53:14.119 --> 00:53:17.320
he was almost done before they got started. The kid

807
00:53:17.400 --> 00:53:19.280
sat on his lap and he could feel the look

808
00:53:19.280 --> 00:53:22.119
of pity for Mary boring into the side of a skull.

809
00:53:23.239 --> 00:53:27.280
Poor Ronnie. I can't believe we actually fucked once. Look

810
00:53:27.320 --> 00:53:32.280
at him now, poor poor Ronnie. Sam was blabbing to

811
00:53:32.360 --> 00:53:35.480
Ronnie about a video game, and Sarah tapped Mary on

812
00:53:35.519 --> 00:53:39.760
her arm with a sharp, pointy fingernail. What is it,

813
00:53:40.159 --> 00:53:44.000
Mary asked, taken out of her pitiful thoughts of Ronnie.

814
00:53:44.199 --> 00:53:48.719
Santa doesn't like you, and neither do I, Sarah said.

815
00:53:49.719 --> 00:53:53.480
Mary's eyes widened in surprise as Sarah smiled at her

816
00:53:53.880 --> 00:53:55.119
with clicking teeth.

817
00:53:55.800 --> 00:53:59.599
Sam. Let's go, Mary shouted as she grabbed Sam by

818
00:53:59.599 --> 00:54:01.599
the arm as he was still in the midst of

819
00:54:01.639 --> 00:54:06.239
explaining why this particular PlayStation game was a must to

820
00:54:06.280 --> 00:54:10.079
have under the tree. Mary pulled him so violently Sam's

821
00:54:10.159 --> 00:54:14.039
arm almost came clean out of its socket. Mom ow,

822
00:54:15.039 --> 00:54:18.920
Sam screamed as she began dragging him away. Let's go,

823
00:54:19.559 --> 00:54:23.639
Mary shouted. Sarah moved quickly, grabbing Mary by her not

824
00:54:23.840 --> 00:54:27.880
so dainty wrist. Mary's mouth drew back in disdain as

825
00:54:27.920 --> 00:54:32.039
the little girl's skin to skin touch was icy cold.

826
00:54:32.440 --> 00:54:36.920
You're not nice. You deserve what's coming to you, Sarah said,

827
00:54:37.480 --> 00:54:41.440
and then released her grip. Mary dragged a screaming Sam

828
00:54:41.480 --> 00:54:44.960
behind her. While all this was going on, nobody in

829
00:54:45.000 --> 00:54:48.880
the line of kids sensed what kind of craziness was happening.

830
00:54:49.760 --> 00:54:53.000
Crazy shit was par for the course on Highway four

831
00:54:53.039 --> 00:54:58.239
twenty one, even on Christmas Eve. Ronnie watched in joy

832
00:54:58.320 --> 00:55:03.119
and amazement. This was making him so happy. Sarah clicked

833
00:55:03.119 --> 00:55:05.280
her teeth at him as she went to get the

834
00:55:05.320 --> 00:55:10.039
next kid. Barbara Spradley was next with her kid, Lisa.

835
00:55:10.800 --> 00:55:14.159
Ronnie wasn't a fan of the Spradley clan. They were

836
00:55:14.199 --> 00:55:18.559
pretty much Valley Royalty, owning several businesses on this stretch

837
00:55:18.559 --> 00:55:21.920
of road. The six year old scampered up to Sannah,

838
00:55:22.440 --> 00:55:26.960
holding Sarah's cold hand. She had the distinct Spradley dimple

839
00:55:27.000 --> 00:55:30.239
in her chin, with eyes so big she almost looked

840
00:55:30.239 --> 00:55:34.400
like a character from a Doctor Seuss book. Hey Thanta,

841
00:55:35.079 --> 00:55:38.679
Lisa said, with a lisp, Hey, little one, what do

842
00:55:38.719 --> 00:55:41.960
you want for Christmas? This year? I want a Barbie

843
00:55:42.039 --> 00:55:45.960
Dreamhouse and a couple of new Barbie because I cut

844
00:55:46.000 --> 00:55:49.920
the hair off the other ones, and uh Ethie bake oven,

845
00:55:50.559 --> 00:55:54.920
Lisa finished. Ronnie was taken aback with Lisa. She was

846
00:55:54.960 --> 00:55:59.239
a little girl that actually wanted little girl gifts. It

847
00:55:59.320 --> 00:56:02.440
was nothing that needed the smart descriptor or required the

848
00:56:02.519 --> 00:56:07.039
timed mashing of buttons on a video game controller. Again,

849
00:56:07.199 --> 00:56:11.280
these requests were few and far between, but when they came,

850
00:56:11.400 --> 00:56:15.199
it made Ronnie feel somewhat normal for a few seconds.

851
00:56:16.119 --> 00:56:19.159
Sarah noted the genuine smile on Ronnie's face and felt

852
00:56:19.199 --> 00:56:22.360
his approval, so she stayed quiet and gave Barbara a

853
00:56:22.400 --> 00:56:28.000
closed mouth smile, which Barbara politely returned. The next kid

854
00:56:28.039 --> 00:56:31.280
was big, and so was his father. It was Travis

855
00:56:31.360 --> 00:56:35.800
Cheatham and his son, Little Travis. Sarah reached for Little

856
00:56:35.840 --> 00:56:39.079
Travis's hand and he jerked away, giving her the finger

857
00:56:39.119 --> 00:56:42.400
in the process. Big Travis chuckled as if to say,

858
00:56:42.880 --> 00:56:48.480
that's my boy. Sarah smiled, Hey, fuck nut, Big Travis

859
00:56:48.480 --> 00:56:52.119
shouted as Little Travis pulled himself up onto Ronnie's lap.

860
00:56:52.800 --> 00:56:55.880
Ronnie groaned at the weight of almost two hundred pounds

861
00:56:56.239 --> 00:57:00.639
of this. Eleven year old Ronnie remembered Big Travis. They

862
00:57:00.639 --> 00:57:05.119
were once teammates, but never friends. Big Travis always had

863
00:57:05.159 --> 00:57:08.840
a jealous streak, and he loved seeing Ronnie like this.

864
00:57:10.280 --> 00:57:13.519
Big Travis ran a shady lawn care company in the valley,

865
00:57:14.079 --> 00:57:18.800
mostly cash transactions. He liked tossing his weight around figuratively

866
00:57:18.880 --> 00:57:22.440
and literally. His kid was two hundred pounds and Big

867
00:57:22.480 --> 00:57:27.280
Travis was over three bills almost four. Hey, fuck nut,

868
00:57:27.400 --> 00:57:31.960
my dad is talking to you, little Travis repeated. That's

869
00:57:32.000 --> 00:57:36.960
not very nice. Sarah intervened before Ronnie could speak. Who

870
00:57:37.000 --> 00:57:41.079
asked you, you little bitch, Little Travis replied, while looking

871
00:57:41.119 --> 00:57:45.280
back at the approving smile of his pops. Listen here,

872
00:57:45.679 --> 00:57:47.760
you will be getting coal in your stocking. You can't

873
00:57:47.800 --> 00:57:50.559
talk to my little Shut the fuck up, Ronnie. You

874
00:57:50.639 --> 00:57:54.320
are a fucking loser. Nobody loves you, You stink like ass,

875
00:57:54.360 --> 00:57:56.920
and you're the sorriest sack of shit Santah I've ever seen.

876
00:57:57.480 --> 00:58:00.760
Little Travis didn't get the last word out. Sarah moved

877
00:58:00.800 --> 00:58:04.480
with catlike quickness. She jerked Little Travis from Ronnie's knee

878
00:58:04.519 --> 00:58:06.760
and sank her teeth into the side of his neck,

879
00:58:07.119 --> 00:58:11.000
ripping out his trachea and one fell swoop. Blood spewed

880
00:58:11.039 --> 00:58:14.480
like a geyser from the dying kid's neck. Big Travis

881
00:58:14.519 --> 00:58:17.639
was still trying to register what he was seeing. The

882
00:58:17.679 --> 00:58:21.079
color had flushed from his face. Kids were now screaming.

883
00:58:21.800 --> 00:58:25.519
Sarah leaped from Little Travis and lunged at Big Travis,

884
00:58:25.639 --> 00:58:30.320
her claws digging into his soft, flabby flesh. She scaled

885
00:58:30.400 --> 00:58:32.400
up and around his back like a lizard on a

886
00:58:32.400 --> 00:58:39.639
brick wall. Ronnie was smiling. Ronnie was laughing. Ho ho

887
00:58:39.639 --> 00:58:44.639
ho fuck nut, Ronnie shouted as Sarah raked her claws

888
00:58:44.679 --> 00:58:49.079
across Big Travis's face, opening gouges and his fat cheeks.

889
00:58:49.519 --> 00:58:52.360
Big Travis grabbed Sarah by the hair with his huge

890
00:58:52.400 --> 00:58:56.840
hands and pulled with all his strength. Sarah didn't budge.

891
00:58:57.039 --> 00:58:59.239
She was now clicking her teeth in front of his

892
00:58:59.320 --> 00:59:03.239
frightened eye. You aren't a nice man. You can't treat

893
00:59:03.280 --> 00:59:07.079
Santa like that and live. Sarah pressed the sharp claws

894
00:59:07.119 --> 00:59:10.440
of her thumbs right into Big Travis's eyes. They went

895
00:59:10.559 --> 00:59:13.519
so deep she could feel the soft tissue beneath them.

896
00:59:14.119 --> 00:59:18.360
Big Travis fell face first as Sarah leaped from his chest.

897
00:59:18.920 --> 00:59:23.519
Her movements were fluid and fast. Now this shit had

898
00:59:23.559 --> 00:59:27.519
everyone's attention. Children were screaming, mothers were calling for fathers,

899
00:59:27.639 --> 00:59:31.320
and gunshots began to fill the air. This had gone

900
00:59:31.400 --> 00:59:35.280
well beyond regular four to twenty one crazy shit. Ronnie

901
00:59:35.360 --> 00:59:38.239
was smiling as he watched Santa's little helper go to work.

902
00:59:38.719 --> 00:59:42.400
She was blindingly fast. She was eviscerating every man with

903
00:59:42.480 --> 00:59:46.000
a gun. Ronnie felt the pain in his chest he

904
00:59:46.159 --> 00:59:49.800
was hit, but he was still grinning. The blue lights

905
00:59:49.840 --> 00:59:53.000
of the Burnett Town Police were now everywhere. There would

906
00:59:53.039 --> 00:59:56.079
be no tree lighting this year, and Sarah was still

907
00:59:56.119 --> 00:59:59.119
moving through the crowd. She was in a blood frenzy

908
00:59:59.159 --> 01:00:03.199
of death and destruction. Ronnie felt the warmth of blood

909
01:00:03.239 --> 01:00:07.360
flowing from his wound. Shots were still ringing out, but

910
01:00:07.440 --> 01:00:10.320
there were less of them. Ronnie stood in front of

911
01:00:10.320 --> 01:00:13.400
the wooden chair, watching the mayhem in front of him.

912
01:00:13.800 --> 01:00:16.760
Not five minutes ago, the kids were in line with

913
01:00:16.840 --> 01:00:20.320
their pity filled mothers, waiting to beg him for shit

914
01:00:20.440 --> 01:00:24.159
he could never afford himself. The way these people treated

915
01:00:24.239 --> 01:00:27.960
Ronnie over the years was shameful. No words of encouragement

916
01:00:28.000 --> 01:00:32.519
from any of them, just fucking pity. That's why Ronnie

917
01:00:32.599 --> 01:00:38.719
hated Christmas. But not this year, no, sir. The girl

918
01:00:38.960 --> 01:00:43.719
was his vengeance. She knew she could sense the ones

919
01:00:43.760 --> 01:00:46.480
that had been cruel to Ronnie and the ones that

920
01:00:46.559 --> 01:00:51.039
didn't offer help only pity. Sarah could smell it on

921
01:00:51.119 --> 01:00:56.280
them as she literally cut through town Merry Christmas to all,

922
01:00:57.320 --> 01:01:01.119
and to all a good night, he shouted. As one

923
01:01:01.199 --> 01:01:06.159
more shot rang out, it found its mark, hitting it

924
01:01:07.039 --> 01:01:12.719
in the forehead. The last thing he saw was Sarah's

925
01:01:12.760 --> 01:01:19.760
face and her clicking teeth. As everything went dark. Ronnie

926
01:01:19.800 --> 01:01:24.519
died right there, but he died with the solace that

927
01:01:24.599 --> 01:01:30.559
he'd experienced the best Christmas ever. It was finally his

928
01:01:30.760 --> 01:01:35.519
happy ending. Sarah was his elf of vengeance, and he

929
01:01:35.599 --> 01:01:47.360
loved her for it. The Day that Santa Died by

930
01:01:47.480 --> 01:01:54.679
Keith Tomlin. Excerpts from Santa's Bodyguard, My Journey from Vietnam

931
01:01:54.800 --> 01:01:59.079
to the North Pole, an autobiography by Jonathan L. Copeland,

932
01:01:59.440 --> 01:02:02.840
as features in the December twenty eleven issue of The

933
01:02:02.840 --> 01:02:07.559
weather Be monthly True Crime journal. Writer's note, I hate

934
01:02:07.559 --> 01:02:10.519
to start the story off with exposition, but I need

935
01:02:10.559 --> 01:02:12.840
to make sure that the realities of the situation are

936
01:02:12.920 --> 01:02:16.440
understood by the reader. These are explained in detail in

937
01:02:16.480 --> 01:02:20.079
the book version, but readers of this excerpt may benefit

938
01:02:20.119 --> 01:02:24.360
from knowing the following one. There are around two thousand

939
01:02:24.400 --> 01:02:27.920
elves in existence. The vast majority of these elves are

940
01:02:27.960 --> 01:02:32.000
living a happy life working for Santa. There are, however,

941
01:02:32.039 --> 01:02:36.440
a few that, in their terms, escaped from the North Pole.

942
01:02:37.320 --> 01:02:41.920
These elves, called renegades, vowed to release their fellow elves

943
01:02:42.000 --> 01:02:46.239
from their enslavement of their oppressor. For the record, I

944
01:02:46.280 --> 01:02:49.400
have not seen any indication that Santa was anything but

945
01:02:49.599 --> 01:02:53.199
kind and generous to those who worked for him. Two

946
01:02:53.960 --> 01:02:58.480
many supernatural phenomena surround Santa Claus and Christmas. Many of

947
01:02:58.519 --> 01:03:01.599
these are well documented in pots popular culture, such as

948
01:03:01.679 --> 01:03:05.079
flying reindeer and circumventing the entire earth in one night

949
01:03:05.360 --> 01:03:10.199
while delivering presents. However, two lesser known ones affect this story.

950
01:03:10.760 --> 01:03:15.639
The first is that explosives, including gunpowder and by extension, firearms,

951
01:03:16.000 --> 01:03:19.280
do not work around Santa Claus. The same goes for

952
01:03:19.360 --> 01:03:23.679
internal combustion engines. Santa cannot ride in a car, plane,

953
01:03:24.039 --> 01:03:27.519
or helicopter. When I asked him about these and other

954
01:03:27.639 --> 01:03:32.599
unusual occurrences, he would simply shrug and say it's Christmas magic.

955
01:03:33.599 --> 01:03:38.480
I could get no further explanations. John Copeland twenty eleven

956
01:03:39.719 --> 01:03:45.599
December eighteenth, nineteen eighty nine, Cooper's Department Store, Brickton, New Jersey.

957
01:03:46.840 --> 01:03:49.000
The hair on the back of my neck stood up.

958
01:03:49.360 --> 01:03:53.000
I could feel that something was wrong. This sixth sense

959
01:03:53.079 --> 01:03:56.519
saved my life many times in Vietnam, and I've learned

960
01:03:56.519 --> 01:04:00.480
to trust it. I triggered the radio, Steve, how are

961
01:04:00.480 --> 01:04:05.880
things looking. The reply came back, everything looks good here, Boss, Alan.

962
01:04:06.199 --> 01:04:10.320
Everything good on your end. YEP, no issues, just kids everywhere.

963
01:04:10.519 --> 01:04:15.719
Alan replied, Dave, how are you doing? No reply, Dave,

964
01:04:16.679 --> 01:04:23.400
still no reply. Jeff again, no reply, Damn, I sighed.

965
01:04:23.920 --> 01:04:27.440
I triggered the radio again. Okay, Alan, I want you

966
01:04:27.519 --> 01:04:29.800
to stop letting people in. Tell them that Santa has

967
01:04:29.840 --> 01:04:32.639
to feed his reindeer or whatever. Steve, make your way

968
01:04:32.639 --> 01:04:35.519
towards Dave's sector, but be careful. Head on a swivel.

969
01:04:35.960 --> 01:04:39.760
I'll head to where Jeff was. After Alan and Steve confirmed,

970
01:04:39.760 --> 01:04:42.239
I head off down an aisle stacked with boxes of

971
01:04:42.280 --> 01:04:45.760
board games. A look to my right confirmed that Santa

972
01:04:45.880 --> 01:04:48.960
was still in the winter Wonderland village that Cooper's Department

973
01:04:49.039 --> 01:04:51.800
store set up for him. Kids were lined up across

974
01:04:51.840 --> 01:04:55.639
the sales room floor and down the unpowered escalator. I

975
01:04:55.679 --> 01:04:59.320
heard tiny footsteps running behind me. I turned and walked

976
01:04:59.320 --> 01:05:02.840
back towards boarding goods. A blur of motion turned down

977
01:05:02.880 --> 01:05:05.719
an aisle in the baseball section. I quickly covered the

978
01:05:05.719 --> 01:05:08.599
ground between me and the mouth of the aisle. Peering

979
01:05:08.639 --> 01:05:11.480
around the corner, I saw a child no older than

980
01:05:11.559 --> 01:05:16.079
six standing there, giggling, his mouth covered in chocolate. I

981
01:05:16.159 --> 01:05:20.360
cautiously made my way towards him. Hi, there are you lost?

982
01:05:20.800 --> 01:05:25.280
Where are your parents? I asked? They over there, he said,

983
01:05:25.360 --> 01:05:29.039
pointing somewhat in the direction of Santa's village. I approached

984
01:05:29.039 --> 01:05:33.639
closer every nerve, screaming, what are you doing here? Don't

985
01:05:33.679 --> 01:05:36.559
you want to meet Santa? The little man gave me

986
01:05:36.679 --> 01:05:39.239
candy and said that you wanted to play hide and seek,

987
01:05:39.760 --> 01:05:43.320
the child said, grinning. I began to answer when my

988
01:05:43.400 --> 01:05:46.800
instincts told me to duck. A long blade whipped across

989
01:05:46.840 --> 01:05:50.320
the aisle, barely missing my head. Out of habit and training,

990
01:05:50.519 --> 01:05:53.000
my hand reached for a pistol at my waist. I

991
01:05:53.119 --> 01:05:56.360
then remembered I was not carrying a firearm and instead

992
01:05:56.679 --> 01:05:59.599
grabbed a wooden baseball bat, just in time to block

993
01:05:59.639 --> 01:06:03.079
another strike from the short sword. The sword dug into

994
01:06:03.119 --> 01:06:05.199
the wood deep enough to catch, and I was able

995
01:06:05.239 --> 01:06:07.199
to twist the bat to the side and rip that

996
01:06:07.320 --> 01:06:10.000
sword out of the grip of a short creature standing

997
01:06:10.039 --> 01:06:12.760
on the top shelf. I dropped the bat and grabbed

998
01:06:12.760 --> 01:06:15.960
its legs turned and swung it across the aisle, hitting

999
01:06:15.960 --> 01:06:18.519
its head on a metal bin full of baseball bats.

1000
01:06:19.039 --> 01:06:21.599
I let go and it landed on the floor, its

1001
01:06:21.679 --> 01:06:25.079
neck twisted at an impossible angle. I heard the kid

1002
01:06:25.119 --> 01:06:28.760
behind me running away, yelling for his mother. I got

1003
01:06:28.760 --> 01:06:31.639
my first look at the creature and cursed. It was

1004
01:06:31.679 --> 01:06:34.920
around three feet tall, with a thin, narrow face, long

1005
01:06:34.960 --> 01:06:39.679
gray beard, and pointy ears. Guys, I said into the radio,

1006
01:06:40.119 --> 01:06:42.960
we got elves. Time to shut it down. Alan, they

1007
01:06:42.960 --> 01:06:46.079
don't usually attack civilians. Make sure everybody makes it safely

1008
01:06:46.119 --> 01:06:49.079
off the property. Steve, make your way to me. I'll

1009
01:06:49.079 --> 01:06:52.800
be with the big guy immediately. The guys acknowledged. I

1010
01:06:52.960 --> 01:06:55.719
changed channels in radio to have the reindeer sleigh sent

1011
01:06:55.760 --> 01:06:58.840
for a roof extraction. As I begin to quickly walk

1012
01:06:58.880 --> 01:07:01.360
toward the Winter Wonderland and set up, I tripped a

1013
01:07:01.400 --> 01:07:05.000
fire alarm mounted on a wall. Sirens and flashing lights

1014
01:07:05.000 --> 01:07:07.440
filled the story as a pre recorded voice played over

1015
01:07:07.480 --> 01:07:10.519
the sound system asking all guests to leave the building

1016
01:07:10.800 --> 01:07:13.920
in an orderly fashion via the nearest exit in the

1017
01:07:13.920 --> 01:07:17.719
Winter Wonderland set store employees began helping crying children and

1018
01:07:17.760 --> 01:07:22.480
worried parents exit the roped off queue. Santa, looking majestic

1019
01:07:22.519 --> 01:07:25.400
in his classic red robes with white trim, was reassuring

1020
01:07:25.400 --> 01:07:28.239
everyone and asking them to be careful on the way out.

1021
01:07:28.840 --> 01:07:31.519
I walked up to Santa, my eyes trying to scan

1022
01:07:31.639 --> 01:07:36.079
everyone and everything at once, my nerves screaming. Santa noticed

1023
01:07:36.079 --> 01:07:39.280
my approach and turned to me, concern etched into his

1024
01:07:39.320 --> 01:07:43.719
ageless face. John, my boy, what is going on? Is

1025
01:07:43.760 --> 01:07:47.599
everyone okay? He asked, his deep voice rising above the

1026
01:07:47.639 --> 01:07:52.480
surrounding chaos. I shook my head, No, sir, the renegades

1027
01:07:52.480 --> 01:07:54.800
are here. I have a few people missing, but I

1028
01:07:54.840 --> 01:07:59.679
haven't heard any issues with the civilians. Oh my, he said, pausing,

1029
01:08:00.159 --> 01:08:03.840
how did they find me? Unclear? At this point, I replied,

1030
01:08:04.280 --> 01:08:07.599
around Christmas, there are thousands of actors posing as Santa

1031
01:08:07.679 --> 01:08:11.239
around the world, meeting children, leading parades, and doing other

1032
01:08:11.320 --> 01:08:14.440
Christmasy duties. For years, I tried in vain to get

1033
01:08:14.480 --> 01:08:18.439
the real Santa to cancel his personal appearances, but he refused,

1034
01:08:18.840 --> 01:08:21.039
saying that the only way to know what children really

1035
01:08:21.079 --> 01:08:23.199
want is to get out there and talk to them.

1036
01:08:23.640 --> 01:08:26.199
I was able to stop him from announcing his appearances,

1037
01:08:26.560 --> 01:08:29.000
hoping that the sheer number of other Santas would act

1038
01:08:29.039 --> 01:08:32.880
as decoys and serve as a form of Christmas camouflage.

1039
01:08:33.000 --> 01:08:35.800
We can worry about that later, Sir. Now, we need

1040
01:08:35.840 --> 01:08:37.920
to get you to the roof for pickup. I told

1041
01:08:38.000 --> 01:08:40.920
him I'll go once I know the children are safe.

1042
01:08:41.239 --> 01:08:44.319
He replied, Sir, we need to get you out of

1043
01:08:44.399 --> 01:08:48.239
here when the children are safe. Santa said, with a

1044
01:08:48.279 --> 01:08:51.760
bit of an edge in his voice. Roger that I

1045
01:08:51.840 --> 01:08:53.880
knew that. Once he made up his mind, there was

1046
01:08:53.960 --> 01:08:57.079
no changing it. I turned to face the dwindling crowd,

1047
01:08:57.159 --> 01:09:01.399
scanning for dangers. I spoke into the radio, Alan, what's

1048
01:09:01.439 --> 01:09:05.560
the situation, Alan answered, a bit breathless. The crowd streaming

1049
01:09:05.560 --> 01:09:07.680
out of the building is thinning out a bit. I

1050
01:09:07.720 --> 01:09:11.039
saw some short figures, non children entering through the loading dock.

1051
01:09:11.439 --> 01:09:14.479
Steve went after them. Stay with the crowd, make sure

1052
01:09:14.520 --> 01:09:18.039
nothing happens to them, I said, Steve. Head up to me.

1053
01:09:19.039 --> 01:09:25.159
No answer, Steve. Still nothing, damn, I thought, as I

1054
01:09:25.159 --> 01:09:28.079
put the radio into a holster on my belt. After

1055
01:09:28.159 --> 01:09:31.000
a few tense minutes, some of the longest of my life,

1056
01:09:31.199 --> 01:09:35.319
Alan's voice came over the radio. Boss employees are saying

1057
01:09:35.359 --> 01:09:39.319
the store should be empty. Roger that heading to the roof,

1058
01:09:39.640 --> 01:09:44.279
I replied, that's when the lights went out. The world

1059
01:09:44.319 --> 01:09:47.319
went black except for the flashing lights of the fire alarm.

1060
01:09:48.199 --> 01:09:51.960
Moments later, the emergency lights came on, their dim pale

1061
01:09:52.039 --> 01:09:56.039
lights combined with the fire lights, casting an eerie shadow.

1062
01:09:57.199 --> 01:10:01.720
Sir I said, we need to go now. A somber

1063
01:10:01.760 --> 01:10:07.239
looking Santa nodded, Yes, John, I believe you're right. Weaving

1064
01:10:07.279 --> 01:10:10.399
through the aisles and holiday displays, I led Santa toward

1065
01:10:10.439 --> 01:10:14.640
the back stairway. As we entered housewares, three diminutive figures

1066
01:10:14.680 --> 01:10:16.920
emerged out of the darkness at the end of the aisle,

1067
01:10:17.640 --> 01:10:20.560
the amber alarm lights shining off of the short steel

1068
01:10:20.640 --> 01:10:24.680
swords they were wielding. I pulled Santa behind me and

1069
01:10:24.760 --> 01:10:27.800
turned to face the attackers. Out of the corner of

1070
01:10:27.840 --> 01:10:30.680
my vision, I saw a dark shape launch itself from

1071
01:10:30.720 --> 01:10:34.520
the top shelf towards Santa. I sidestepped to intercept, putting

1072
01:10:34.520 --> 01:10:38.119
my body between Santa and the threat. I raised my

1073
01:10:38.199 --> 01:10:40.800
left arm to block the assault in A long, thin

1074
01:10:40.920 --> 01:10:44.720
blade pierced my forearm. The weight of the small body

1075
01:10:44.800 --> 01:10:47.159
forced my arm back, and the tip of the knife

1076
01:10:47.199 --> 01:10:51.199
cut a long, cruel gash in my cheek. I grabbed

1077
01:10:51.199 --> 01:10:54.199
the attacker an older, gray haired elf with my right

1078
01:10:54.239 --> 01:10:57.880
hand and awkwardly chucked the flailing body at the other three,

1079
01:10:58.199 --> 01:11:06.880
who were now running down the aisle, swords raised. One

1080
01:11:06.920 --> 01:11:09.319
of the attackers tripped over the thrown Elf, while the

1081
01:11:09.359 --> 01:11:12.199
other two slowed down now that I had turned my

1082
01:11:12.239 --> 01:11:16.399
attention to them. As they cautiously walked forward, I pulled

1083
01:11:16.399 --> 01:11:19.000
the knife from my forearm, causing a fresh wave of

1084
01:11:19.039 --> 01:11:21.880
blood to flow. I held the knife at the ready.

1085
01:11:22.560 --> 01:11:25.159
As a Green Beret in Vietnam, my unit was often

1086
01:11:25.239 --> 01:11:29.039
at a numeric disadvantage when we encountered the enemy. In

1087
01:11:29.079 --> 01:11:31.439
those situations, I found that it was best to cause

1088
01:11:31.479 --> 01:11:35.920
confusion in the enemy by doing the unexpected, which usually

1089
01:11:35.960 --> 01:11:39.920
came down to a quick and bloody display of extreme violence.

1090
01:11:40.560 --> 01:11:43.600
I whispered to Santa, keep an eye out behind you.

1091
01:11:43.960 --> 01:11:47.840
I'll be right back. I didn't wait for an answer. Instead,

1092
01:11:47.880 --> 01:11:50.000
I roared at the top of my lungs and began

1093
01:11:50.079 --> 01:11:52.439
to run towards the elves as fast as I could.

1094
01:11:53.039 --> 01:11:55.680
This startled them, and they raised their swords in a

1095
01:11:55.720 --> 01:11:58.640
defensive posture. As I got within a few feet of

1096
01:11:58.640 --> 01:12:01.239
the elf on the right side, I went into a

1097
01:12:01.239 --> 01:12:05.439
feet first baseball slide. The polished and waxed floor, assisting

1098
01:12:05.479 --> 01:12:08.800
me with a surprising lack of resistance. I hit him

1099
01:12:08.880 --> 01:12:11.439
just under his right knee. The crack of the bones

1100
01:12:11.520 --> 01:12:14.479
was louder than the fire alarm. As he fell, he

1101
01:12:14.520 --> 01:12:16.880
tried to strike me, but only took out a small

1102
01:12:17.000 --> 01:12:20.000
slice of my left arm. Most of the damage was

1103
01:12:20.039 --> 01:12:23.920
absorbed by my suit jacket. At this time, I realized

1104
01:12:23.920 --> 01:12:25.880
that I had slid too close to the bottom of

1105
01:12:25.920 --> 01:12:29.520
the shelf and it was restricting my movements. My initial

1106
01:12:29.560 --> 01:12:31.399
hope was to take out the right elf with the

1107
01:12:31.439 --> 01:12:34.640
baseball slide, then spin to face away from the upright

1108
01:12:34.640 --> 01:12:37.279
attacker and use my feet to keep him at bay

1109
01:12:37.720 --> 01:12:40.880
until I can find an opportunity to stand up. Not

1110
01:12:41.039 --> 01:12:43.680
the best plan I've ever come up with, but better

1111
01:12:43.720 --> 01:12:47.359
than none. The middle attacker approached and batted away my

1112
01:12:47.399 --> 01:12:50.479
ineffectual attempts to fend him off with my injured arm.

1113
01:12:51.119 --> 01:12:53.319
He raised his sword and plunged it down at me.

1114
01:12:53.840 --> 01:12:56.279
At the last moment, I was able to turn and

1115
01:12:56.319 --> 01:12:59.479
took the strike on my left side. Using what little

1116
01:12:59.479 --> 01:13:02.319
strength I had in my left arm, I tried to

1117
01:13:02.319 --> 01:13:04.680
push him away as he grabbed the sword with both

1118
01:13:04.720 --> 01:13:08.479
hands and leaned into it. That's when I stopped pushing

1119
01:13:08.880 --> 01:13:11.840
and pulled him toward me, his sword passing through me

1120
01:13:11.920 --> 01:13:15.399
and striking the floor. Shock showed on his face as

1121
01:13:15.399 --> 01:13:18.640
he fell forward, unable to compensate for the lack of resistance.

1122
01:13:19.399 --> 01:13:22.439
I stared into his face inches from mine as I

1123
01:13:22.479 --> 01:13:25.119
brought my right hand up and plunged the dagger into

1124
01:13:25.119 --> 01:13:28.239
his side over and over again. I felt the front

1125
01:13:28.239 --> 01:13:30.720
of my shirt grow wet with his blood, and the

1126
01:13:30.800 --> 01:13:34.199
light in his eye slowly dimmed. I let go, and

1127
01:13:34.319 --> 01:13:37.840
he slumped over his eyes, staring sightlessly at the ceiling.

1128
01:13:38.720 --> 01:13:41.560
Using the shelves to pull myself up, I grasped the

1129
01:13:41.640 --> 01:13:44.680
hilt of the small sword and pulled it free. Wincing

1130
01:13:44.760 --> 01:13:48.560
from the pan, rolling my left shoulder, I deduced that

1131
01:13:48.640 --> 01:13:51.000
the wound on my side was less serious than I

1132
01:13:51.039 --> 01:13:55.159
originally thought. No vital organs were hit. I look at

1133
01:13:55.199 --> 01:13:58.479
the three living elves lying on the ground. The one

1134
01:13:58.520 --> 01:14:01.079
with the broken leg was still clutching it and rolling

1135
01:14:01.119 --> 01:14:05.039
around moaning. The one I threw was still lying dazed

1136
01:14:05.079 --> 01:14:07.439
on the tile floor, while the one that tripped over

1137
01:14:07.520 --> 01:14:10.640
him was just rising to his feet, his cold eyes

1138
01:14:11.319 --> 01:14:14.960
boring into me. I took a step and kicked him

1139
01:14:15.199 --> 01:14:18.840
hard in the face. A wet crunch could be heard

1140
01:14:18.880 --> 01:14:21.199
as a shelf split the back of his skull open

1141
01:14:21.560 --> 01:14:25.000
and wedged into his brain. I then struck the elf.

1142
01:14:25.039 --> 01:14:27.760
He tripped over with the sword until he stopped moving.

1143
01:14:28.520 --> 01:14:30.920
I verified that the elf with the broken leg wasn't

1144
01:14:30.960 --> 01:14:35.359
a threat before looking over at Santa. Santa Claus stood

1145
01:14:35.359 --> 01:14:39.960
there speechless, his ashen white face registering both shock and disgust.

1146
01:14:40.520 --> 01:14:44.600
He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Sir,

1147
01:14:45.239 --> 01:14:48.880
we should be going, I said, looking around for additional threats.

1148
01:14:49.800 --> 01:14:51.920
Santa shook his head like he was coming out of

1149
01:14:51.920 --> 01:14:54.439
a trance. He looked at the carnage in front of

1150
01:14:54.479 --> 01:15:00.600
him and asked, was that necessary, sir, Let's go, I replied.

1151
01:15:01.359 --> 01:15:04.479
Santa took one last look at the bodies before him

1152
01:15:04.680 --> 01:15:08.119
and slowly nodded. We made our way past the jewelry

1153
01:15:08.119 --> 01:15:10.680
counter and into women's wear. I grabbed a couple of

1154
01:15:10.720 --> 01:15:13.079
scarves from a bin and bound my wounds as best

1155
01:15:13.079 --> 01:15:16.560
I could. Santa gave me a disapproving look, but softened

1156
01:15:16.560 --> 01:15:18.800
when I told him that I would pay for them later.

1157
01:15:19.319 --> 01:15:22.319
I almost added if we live, but chose to keep

1158
01:15:22.319 --> 01:15:26.720
that part to myself. We heard movement behind us, at

1159
01:15:26.800 --> 01:15:30.319
least four sets of footsteps heading our way. I began

1160
01:15:30.399 --> 01:15:33.840
pushing Santa to move faster, hoping to reach the stairway

1161
01:15:33.840 --> 01:15:37.279
to the roof before the renegades caught us. My sixth

1162
01:15:37.319 --> 01:15:39.880
sense was screaming that there was something I was missing,

1163
01:15:40.279 --> 01:15:43.239
but years of an action had blunted the tactical sense

1164
01:15:43.560 --> 01:15:48.479
that had been honed into a razor's edge in Foreign Wars. Finally,

1165
01:15:48.520 --> 01:15:50.640
I saw the gap in the shelves along the back

1166
01:15:50.680 --> 01:15:54.319
wall with a bright red sign that read emergency exit.

1167
01:15:54.960 --> 01:15:58.279
As we neared it, something flew by and smacked into

1168
01:15:58.319 --> 01:16:00.920
the wall ahead of us. I looked back and a

1169
01:16:00.960 --> 01:16:04.800
small figure was frantically trying to reload a crossbow. I

1170
01:16:04.880 --> 01:16:08.079
pushed Santa faster, almost knocking him off his feet, and

1171
01:16:08.119 --> 01:16:11.359
we slammed into a metal exit door. A shrill alarm

1172
01:16:11.439 --> 01:16:14.560
began going off, further adding to the chaos of the situation.

1173
01:16:15.319 --> 01:16:18.159
I slammed the door shut and looked around. Stairs were

1174
01:16:18.199 --> 01:16:20.159
going up on the left and down on the right.

1175
01:16:20.800 --> 01:16:23.439
Also on the right was a mop and bucket. I

1176
01:16:23.520 --> 01:16:26.159
grabbed the mop and wedged it between the bottom step

1177
01:16:26.199 --> 01:16:29.079
and the door. It wouldn't last long, but it should

1178
01:16:29.119 --> 01:16:32.399
slow them down. Santa was trying to catch his breath,

1179
01:16:32.399 --> 01:16:35.319
and as much as I hated to do it, I

1180
01:16:35.399 --> 01:16:39.000
couldn't give him time to rest. Sir, the roof is

1181
01:16:39.039 --> 01:16:42.560
one flight up. Were almost there, I said, as reassuringly

1182
01:16:42.600 --> 01:16:46.279
as I could. He nodded and began climbing. I did

1183
01:16:46.279 --> 01:16:49.039
my best to keep watch both ahead and behind us.

1184
01:16:49.479 --> 01:16:51.720
When we made the turn to the final set of stairs,

1185
01:16:52.119 --> 01:16:55.680
I began hearing yells and pounding from below. I readied

1186
01:16:55.680 --> 01:16:58.199
the sword that I still carried, and prompted Santa to

1187
01:16:58.239 --> 01:17:01.239
climb even faster. When we finally made it to the

1188
01:17:01.279 --> 01:17:05.359
roof access door, we paused. I pushed Santa against the

1189
01:17:05.359 --> 01:17:07.479
wall and stood in front of him, sword at the ready.

1190
01:17:08.000 --> 01:17:12.079
I radioed the reindeer team. What's the status of the sleigh,

1191
01:17:12.319 --> 01:17:15.479
I asked, we're landing now, the roof is clear. Where

1192
01:17:15.479 --> 01:17:20.319
it go was the reply? I sighed. Finally something was

1193
01:17:20.399 --> 01:17:25.119
going our way. Ready, Sir, I asked Santa. He chuckled,

1194
01:17:25.640 --> 01:17:29.119
I can almost taste the hot chocolate now. As I

1195
01:17:29.199 --> 01:17:31.760
nodded to him, I heard a crash from below us

1196
01:17:31.800 --> 01:17:35.079
and yells of triumph. Santa opened the roof door and

1197
01:17:35.119 --> 01:17:38.720
I followed close behind him, facing the stairway. As soon

1198
01:17:38.760 --> 01:17:41.840
as I backed onto the roof, I knew something was wrong.

1199
01:17:42.760 --> 01:17:46.279
It wasn't until later that I realized that it was

1200
01:17:46.319 --> 01:17:50.079
the lack of noise. Nine reindeer make a ton of

1201
01:17:50.119 --> 01:17:53.840
noise even when they're just standing still, and the roof

1202
01:17:54.760 --> 01:17:58.880
was eerily quiet. As I heard Santa say, oh my,

1203
01:17:59.800 --> 01:18:02.880
I turned and noticed an odd contraption set off to

1204
01:18:02.920 --> 01:18:05.840
the left. It had a four inch tube and two

1205
01:18:05.920 --> 01:18:09.640
large tanks behind it. Three elves were standing around it,

1206
01:18:09.960 --> 01:18:13.600
two holding long daggers while the third carried a short spear.

1207
01:18:14.399 --> 01:18:18.359
One elf yelled now, and the one with the spear

1208
01:18:18.479 --> 01:18:21.680
brought it down on a lever and the machine roared.

1209
01:18:22.479 --> 01:18:25.920
I suddenly realized that this was a huge air cannon.

1210
01:18:26.520 --> 01:18:30.279
A metal ball shot out, flying towards Santa's chest. I

1211
01:18:30.399 --> 01:18:32.760
tried to leap in front of him to intercept the threat,

1212
01:18:32.800 --> 01:18:35.119
but it seemed like I was moving in slow motion.

1213
01:18:35.880 --> 01:18:37.640
I was able to get my left arm up in

1214
01:18:37.680 --> 01:18:40.800
front of the cannon ball. It ricocheted off of my arm,

1215
01:18:40.920 --> 01:18:45.039
shattering bone and struck Santa in the stomach. I fell

1216
01:18:45.119 --> 01:18:47.479
to the ground and must have blacked out for a

1217
01:18:47.520 --> 01:18:50.479
few seconds. When I came to, I saw that Santa

1218
01:18:50.600 --> 01:18:53.840
was lying on the roof about six feet away, flanked

1219
01:18:53.840 --> 01:18:56.880
by the three elves from the cannon. Another three elves

1220
01:18:56.920 --> 01:18:58.920
were approaching from the other side of the roof, and

1221
01:18:58.960 --> 01:19:02.600
four more had emerged from the stairway. Still dazed, I

1222
01:19:02.640 --> 01:19:07.159
watched the elves surround Santa, who lay there gasping for breath.

1223
01:19:07.960 --> 01:19:10.560
The elf with the spear stepped forward and jammed it

1224
01:19:10.600 --> 01:19:14.720
into Santa's chest. That broke the dam, and the others

1225
01:19:14.800 --> 01:19:18.439
rushed ahead, plunging their knives into the large man over

1226
01:19:18.760 --> 01:19:22.520
and over again. Blood began to pull on the roof,

1227
01:19:22.560 --> 01:19:26.119
and the elves handmade boots made red footprints as they

1228
01:19:26.159 --> 01:19:29.159
splashed through the puddle, eagerly elbowing their way through the

1229
01:19:29.199 --> 01:19:34.119
frenzied mob to take another stab. I gave up trying

1230
01:19:34.159 --> 01:19:37.039
to stand and slumped back to the ground. All of

1231
01:19:37.039 --> 01:19:40.439
my will to fight drained out of me. I screamed,

1232
01:19:40.479 --> 01:19:43.039
but the only thing I could hear was the pounding

1233
01:19:43.079 --> 01:19:46.880
of my heart and the soft, wet thud of the

1234
01:19:46.960 --> 01:19:51.000
knives hitting their mark. I hung my head and wept,

1235
01:19:51.600 --> 01:19:56.399
but soon the sounds of the slaughter stopped. I thought

1236
01:19:56.439 --> 01:19:59.199
that I would look up to find myself surrounded by

1237
01:19:59.239 --> 01:20:04.319
bloodthirsty heathens. However, when I opened my eyes, I saw

1238
01:20:04.399 --> 01:20:07.359
that the elves had backed up, staring at the body

1239
01:20:07.399 --> 01:20:10.920
on the ground. Lights began pulsing from each of the

1240
01:20:10.960 --> 01:20:14.800
dozens of Santa's wounds. The light became brighter, and the

1241
01:20:14.840 --> 01:20:18.399
elves stumbled back further, one falling down, but none of

1242
01:20:18.439 --> 01:20:21.279
them took their eyes off of the corpse in front

1243
01:20:21.319 --> 01:20:24.960
of them. Santa's body began to shake and rose in

1244
01:20:25.000 --> 01:20:28.359
the air like some ragdoll held up by an invisible hand.

1245
01:20:29.119 --> 01:20:31.600
The light became blinding, and I had to turn away

1246
01:20:31.640 --> 01:20:34.520
from the blazing nova that the fat man had become.

1247
01:20:35.399 --> 01:20:38.119
There was a loud crackle and then a deafening thump,

1248
01:20:38.319 --> 01:20:41.760
followed by a light so bright that it rivaled the sun.

1249
01:20:42.640 --> 01:20:45.199
After a few minutes, I opened my eyes and tried

1250
01:20:45.199 --> 01:20:48.000
to blink away the spots that danced in front of them.

1251
01:20:48.800 --> 01:20:51.319
Santa's body still hung in the air, but the light

1252
01:20:52.039 --> 01:20:57.239
was beginning to dim as his wounds slowly closed. I

1253
01:20:57.359 --> 01:20:59.439
was struck by the thought that he looked like a

1254
01:20:59.479 --> 01:21:04.880
white bearded Jesus crucified on an invisible cross. I felt

1255
01:21:04.920 --> 01:21:08.159
like I was going mad and began to laugh. That

1256
01:21:08.399 --> 01:21:11.439
stopped when I noticed the charred and smoking bodies of

1257
01:21:11.479 --> 01:21:16.399
the renegade elves scattered around the roof. Hearing a scraping sound,

1258
01:21:16.439 --> 01:21:19.479
I turned to see that one of the elves survived.

1259
01:21:19.760 --> 01:21:21.960
Most of its body was charred, and it was using

1260
01:21:22.000 --> 01:21:25.520
its one good arm to pull itself along. I stumbled

1261
01:21:25.520 --> 01:21:28.359
to my feet, the pain in my arm inside beginning

1262
01:21:28.359 --> 01:21:32.159
to throb as the adrenaline wore off. I shuffled over

1263
01:21:32.199 --> 01:21:35.199
to the remaining elf and flipped it over onto its back.

1264
01:21:35.760 --> 01:21:38.479
The majority of its face was burnt black, except for

1265
01:21:38.520 --> 01:21:41.680
the area around its right eye. I could feel the

1266
01:21:41.800 --> 01:21:45.640
hate radiating from it as it looked past me, focused

1267
01:21:45.680 --> 01:21:51.279
on something behind me. Oh, Clarence, Santa said, walking up

1268
01:21:51.319 --> 01:21:55.119
to look down at the elf. My poor boy. I

1269
01:21:55.199 --> 01:22:01.279
wish I could help you help, Clarence croaked between hard lips.

1270
01:22:01.760 --> 01:22:08.800
Let us go, Santa shook his head. If I could,

1271
01:22:09.640 --> 01:22:15.199
I would, but it's out of my control. Liar, set

1272
01:22:15.880 --> 01:22:22.119
us free, Clarence said, his anger giving strength to his voice.

1273
01:22:22.159 --> 01:22:25.760
Santa got down on one knee and grabbed Clarence's good hand.

1274
01:22:27.159 --> 01:22:30.840
You don't think I've tried to leave. It affects me

1275
01:22:31.680 --> 01:22:35.159
just like it affects you. After two days away from

1276
01:22:35.199 --> 01:22:37.800
the North Pole, I start feeling the tug of the

1277
01:22:37.840 --> 01:22:42.359
place trying to pull me back. After a week away,

1278
01:22:42.800 --> 01:22:46.840
I can't sleep, I can barely eat, and that's just

1279
01:22:46.920 --> 01:22:50.319
the start of the struggle. All I can think of

1280
01:22:50.479 --> 01:22:53.479
is my workshop and my overwhelming need to get back

1281
01:22:53.520 --> 01:22:58.880
to it. I finally just accepted my fate and embraced

1282
01:22:58.920 --> 01:23:04.720
my role in life. I we bring joy to the

1283
01:23:04.840 --> 01:23:08.760
children of the world, and that's a worthy way to

1284
01:23:08.880 --> 01:23:14.760
spend one's life. Doubt showed in Clarence's face, and he

1285
01:23:14.840 --> 01:23:23.880
whispered a final word. Who Santa patted his hand. It's

1286
01:23:23.920 --> 01:23:27.479
the spirit of Christmas that calls to us, that pulls

1287
01:23:27.560 --> 01:23:30.520
us back. Its magic is fueled by the hopes and

1288
01:23:30.640 --> 01:23:34.399
dreams of children all over the world. As long as

1289
01:23:34.399 --> 01:23:38.000
there are children who believe in Christmas, the Christmas Spirit

1290
01:23:38.119 --> 01:23:43.039
will be there to guide us. We Santa stopped talking

1291
01:23:43.079 --> 01:23:46.800
as a groan escaped from Clarence's mouth and the light

1292
01:23:46.880 --> 01:23:52.359
in his eyes went out. Santa bowed his head and wept.

1293
01:23:53.520 --> 01:23:56.600
After a few minutes, he gently placed the ELF's hand

1294
01:23:56.640 --> 01:24:01.359
on the ground and stood, wiping his face. I radioed

1295
01:24:01.359 --> 01:24:05.239
the sleigh team, and after verifying their identification, found that

1296
01:24:05.279 --> 01:24:08.359
they never received the original request for a rooftop pickup.

1297
01:24:09.159 --> 01:24:12.640
After scheduling the pickup, I turned to Santa and noticed

1298
01:24:12.640 --> 01:24:14.760
that he was poking a finger through one of the

1299
01:24:15.199 --> 01:24:20.000
dozens of cuts in his jacket. John, he said, confused,

1300
01:24:21.079 --> 01:24:29.640
what happened? Well, sir, you died, I replied, did I know? So?

1301
01:24:30.039 --> 01:24:35.880
How did I undie? He asked, unclear? You started floating

1302
01:24:35.880 --> 01:24:38.680
in the air and burst into a bright light, and

1303
01:24:38.760 --> 01:24:47.920
now you're alive. Really, hm strange? Santa shrugged. Christmas Magic,

1304
01:24:48.399 --> 01:24:56.520
he said, yes, sir, Christmas Magic epilogue. In the dark

1305
01:24:56.600 --> 01:25:01.000
space between two air units, Frederick the Elf lowered the

1306
01:25:01.039 --> 01:25:04.319
crossbow and placed it next to the backpack of the

1307
01:25:04.359 --> 01:25:09.279
electronic equipment he used to intercept the radio transmissions. He

1308
01:25:09.439 --> 01:25:12.960
tore his gaze off Santa and closed his eyes to

1309
01:25:13.039 --> 01:25:17.520
quell his rage. With that rage subsiding, the poll of

1310
01:25:17.560 --> 01:25:22.039
the North returned. He spent a few minutes conquering that urge,

1311
01:25:22.319 --> 01:25:27.359
his shaking hands finally growing still. Calm descended, and he

1312
01:25:27.479 --> 01:25:32.520
began to review what he learned. Santa can't be killed,

1313
01:25:32.920 --> 01:25:36.600
at least not in traditional ways. Santa is not the

1314
01:25:36.640 --> 01:25:40.000
source of the pull, but he is a willing participant

1315
01:25:40.479 --> 01:25:44.119
in the oppression of the elves. The Spirit of Christmas

1316
01:25:44.159 --> 01:25:46.159
is the force that tries to pull them back to

1317
01:25:46.199 --> 01:25:49.880
the North Pole. Human children all over the world give

1318
01:25:49.960 --> 01:25:53.960
power to the Spirit of Christmas. To lessen the pull

1319
01:25:54.039 --> 01:25:57.399
of the Spirit of Christmas, we need to decrease what

1320
01:25:57.520 --> 01:26:04.199
gives it power, namely human children. Frederick opened his eyes.

1321
01:26:05.159 --> 01:26:08.159
He knew what he had to do. Now was the

1322
01:26:08.239 --> 01:26:11.680
time for planning. He cocked his head and seemed to

1323
01:26:11.720 --> 01:26:15.720
hear sleigh belts off in the distance. He took one

1324
01:26:15.840 --> 01:26:20.359
last look at Santa and his bodyguard before slinking off

1325
01:26:21.159 --> 01:26:24.920
into the darkness. Thank you for reading The weather Be

1326
01:26:25.039 --> 01:26:28.800
monthly True Crime Journal. Please check out next month's issue,

1327
01:26:28.920 --> 01:26:31.680
where we will have the next installment of excerpts from

1328
01:26:31.760 --> 01:26:37.920
John Copeland's autobiography. In that article, titled Infanticide, Generation Blood,

1329
01:26:38.279 --> 01:26:48.359
he explores one of the bloodiest terror campaigns in human history.

1330
01:26:51.319 --> 01:26:57.439
Scary Christmas to All by David o'hanley. Santa paced the

1331
01:26:57.520 --> 01:27:02.159
ancient floorboards of his study. The world had changed, Toys

1332
01:27:02.159 --> 01:27:05.600
were bought in stores, and fewer children believed in the

1333
01:27:05.600 --> 01:27:09.359
magic of Santa. There were many tasked with keeping the

1334
01:27:09.399 --> 01:27:13.560
balance of good and evil, but technology was quickly pushing

1335
01:27:13.600 --> 01:27:17.880
them all into the realm of mythology. The fat Man

1336
01:27:17.920 --> 01:27:21.279
had gone to extremes to keep his operation relevant long

1337
01:27:21.399 --> 01:27:25.159
past its expiration date, but it wouldn't matter much longer.

1338
01:27:26.039 --> 01:27:29.439
Santa chewed the end of his cigar and stopped pacing

1339
01:27:29.479 --> 01:27:33.199
in front of the wooden chest. The lock laid broken

1340
01:27:33.319 --> 01:27:36.199
next to the splinters of wood where the thieves had

1341
01:27:36.279 --> 01:27:41.840
carelessly chopped open the ancient ornate chest. The contents had

1342
01:27:41.840 --> 01:27:46.159
been replaced with a manifesto scrawled into Mittean script. In

1343
01:27:46.199 --> 01:27:49.520
one night, they would undo centuries of legend and tip

1344
01:27:49.560 --> 01:27:55.119
the scales forever unless they could be stopped. Santa struck

1345
01:27:55.159 --> 01:27:57.239
a match and held it to the tip of the cigar,

1346
01:27:57.920 --> 01:28:01.920
knowing there was only one solution, only one operative elf

1347
01:28:02.000 --> 01:28:07.840
enough for the task. I'm freezing my fucking ornaments off, Peppermint,

1348
01:28:07.920 --> 01:28:10.880
Ray declared, as he stepped into the study and kicked

1349
01:28:10.880 --> 01:28:13.800
the door shut behind him. This is one hell of

1350
01:28:13.840 --> 01:28:19.079
a storm, nothing compared to what is coming, Santa said somberly.

1351
01:28:19.680 --> 01:28:22.479
I called you in for a very important assignment. Ray,

1352
01:28:23.479 --> 01:28:27.520
I finally get to kill Jeff Bezos. Ray perked up. No,

1353
01:28:28.920 --> 01:28:32.239
it worked with toys, r us. Ray argued. If we

1354
01:28:32.359 --> 01:28:35.159
take out Amazon and Walmart, they'll have to come to

1355
01:28:35.279 --> 01:28:38.920
us for toys. We'll be back in business full tilt buggy,

1356
01:28:39.920 --> 01:28:44.199
maybe next year. Ray Santa stepped away from the Pilford chest.

1357
01:28:45.079 --> 01:28:50.159
If there is one fuck me with a nutcracker, Ray gasped.

1358
01:28:50.760 --> 01:28:53.760
The elf went to the box. His face twitched with

1359
01:28:53.840 --> 01:28:57.399
conflicting emotions as he knelt to retrieve the manifesto from

1360
01:28:57.439 --> 01:28:59.680
the spot that should have held one of the North

1361
01:28:59.720 --> 01:29:05.880
Pole three sacred documents. He skimmed the pages of lunatic ramblings.

1362
01:29:06.560 --> 01:29:09.279
He's going to give out toys to the entire naughty list,

1363
01:29:09.800 --> 01:29:15.479
Ray said, who would do this? He calls himself candy

1364
01:29:15.640 --> 01:29:26.359
pain sugarplum. Gary flicked a frozen booger from his finger.

1365
01:29:27.000 --> 01:29:29.920
His bulbous nose almost glowed from the bite of the

1366
01:29:29.960 --> 01:29:35.039
winter storm blowing across the Great Lakes. Elves didn't chill easily,

1367
01:29:35.479 --> 01:29:38.720
but the storm made him pull the parka tighter around him.

1368
01:29:39.199 --> 01:29:43.359
Gary liked to eat paint, specifically orange, and had lost

1369
01:29:43.399 --> 01:29:46.680
his job making toys long before the bubble burst. For

1370
01:29:46.760 --> 01:29:50.159
everyone else. He'd been cleaning the stables for the past

1371
01:29:50.159 --> 01:29:53.920
two centuries, which he didn't mind. The reindeer never made

1372
01:29:53.920 --> 01:29:56.560
fun of him, at least they would have if they

1373
01:29:56.560 --> 01:30:00.159
could talk, but they couldn't, so Gary was content with

1374
01:30:00.199 --> 01:30:04.000
his new occupation. He stabbed his finger back into his

1375
01:30:04.079 --> 01:30:07.920
nostril to mine another frozen snot nugget. As dumb as

1376
01:30:07.960 --> 01:30:11.600
Gary was, even he knew the storm was their fault.

1377
01:30:12.479 --> 01:30:15.920
It had started moments after they pilfered the Naughtylist and

1378
01:30:16.039 --> 01:30:20.840
intensified with every toy they delivered along their path. Candy

1379
01:30:20.920 --> 01:30:25.119
Andy knew it too. Gary watched the Elvin David koresh

1380
01:30:25.199 --> 01:30:30.119
saw through the security guard's neck with a serrated silver blade.

1381
01:30:30.159 --> 01:30:32.720
Gary always wanted to be one of the Black Mittens

1382
01:30:33.159 --> 01:30:36.439
sant as elap core of assassins that purged the evilest

1383
01:30:36.520 --> 01:30:41.279
names from the Naughtilist with absolute ruthlessness. Gary had never

1384
01:30:41.359 --> 01:30:44.359
even gotten to issue a coal citation to a bad kid,

1385
01:30:44.800 --> 01:30:48.159
let alone gotten to bump one off. Andy told him

1386
01:30:48.199 --> 01:30:52.199
he was lucky for that war changes in elf and

1387
01:30:52.239 --> 01:30:55.479
the Naughtilist had become the North Pole's version of Vietnam.

1388
01:30:56.159 --> 01:30:59.760
The Black Mittens were so backlogged that they'd started working

1389
01:30:59.840 --> 01:31:02.560
to and Christmas in July. Just to keep from drowning

1390
01:31:02.600 --> 01:31:05.760
in the swelling sea of evil caused by the influx

1391
01:31:05.800 --> 01:31:10.039
of department store toys. Andy wiped the blade clean and

1392
01:31:10.119 --> 01:31:13.640
sheathed it. His short, powerful arms cast the line of

1393
01:31:13.680 --> 01:31:15.960
his grappling hook all the way to the top of

1394
01:31:16.000 --> 01:31:19.279
the watch tower. Gary stared in awe as the elf

1395
01:31:19.319 --> 01:31:22.560
scurried up the structure despite the brutal onslaught of wind.

1396
01:31:23.439 --> 01:31:26.239
Gary darted from the bushes and waited inside the guard

1397
01:31:26.279 --> 01:31:29.319
shack for his signal. Andy hadn't told him what the

1398
01:31:29.359 --> 01:31:31.960
signal would be, just that he'd know it when he

1399
01:31:32.039 --> 01:31:35.640
saw it. A moment later, the sniper's corpse crashed to

1400
01:31:35.680 --> 01:31:39.439
the icy pavement, His intestine stretched up from his torn

1401
01:31:39.479 --> 01:31:42.439
abdomen all the way back to the top of the tower.

1402
01:31:43.079 --> 01:31:46.199
Gary giggled and stepped out of the shack, looking up

1403
01:31:46.239 --> 01:31:50.399
at the meaty garland glistening with already frozen blood. He

1404
01:31:50.479 --> 01:31:53.840
plucked it, fascinated by the wet twang it made, and

1405
01:31:53.920 --> 01:31:58.960
waited another moment for Andy's signal. Nothing happened. Gary looked

1406
01:31:59.000 --> 01:32:03.920
down at the body and gasped, Oh, you're the signal.

1407
01:32:05.039 --> 01:32:08.560
He darted back inside and pulled the lever ice cracked

1408
01:32:08.560 --> 01:32:12.119
from the hinges as the gates forced themselves open despite

1409
01:32:12.119 --> 01:32:16.840
the accumulating snow. The vibration rattled loose icicles from the

1410
01:32:16.840 --> 01:32:21.279
bronze lettering overhead. The elf looked up and sounded out

1411
01:32:21.279 --> 01:32:26.560
the letters. It was easy enough even for him, Kill you.

1412
01:32:27.800 --> 01:32:30.720
Gary squinted through the snowflakes to make sure he read

1413
01:32:30.720 --> 01:32:36.399
it correctly. There it was, in big, blocky font kill you.

1414
01:32:37.880 --> 01:32:41.239
Andy repelled down the tower and gracefully hit the ground.

1415
01:32:41.640 --> 01:32:45.039
He waved for Gary to come through. The ditzy elf

1416
01:32:45.119 --> 01:32:49.159
waddled between the still opening gates and pointed at the letters.

1417
01:32:49.600 --> 01:32:53.239
Say Andy, what ah Andy had him by the throat

1418
01:32:53.279 --> 01:32:56.319
before he could say another word. I won't tell you again,

1419
01:32:56.960 --> 01:33:03.279
he snarled. It's pain, Andy, Pain. The name wasn't the

1420
01:33:03.319 --> 01:33:06.680
only thing he'd changed about himself. His uniform had been

1421
01:33:06.720 --> 01:33:09.680
replaced with leather and spikes, and around his neck he

1422
01:33:09.760 --> 01:33:13.039
wore a heavy chain of sterling candy canes. For every

1423
01:33:13.079 --> 01:33:17.039
elf that died under his command. Each ornament was spaced

1424
01:33:17.079 --> 01:33:20.439
out with the withering, rotten ear of a naughty child.

1425
01:33:21.439 --> 01:33:26.479
Sorry candy pain, Gary gulpt. I was just wondering about

1426
01:33:26.479 --> 01:33:31.720
the sign, is all. It's a strange name for an orphanage. Orphanage.

1427
01:33:32.199 --> 01:33:36.960
Candy Pain laughed. Krieger Illinois Youth, a fender unit better

1428
01:33:37.000 --> 01:33:41.279
known as Kill You Island. Candy Pain swept an arm

1429
01:33:41.319 --> 01:33:44.920
at the structure. The former mental asylum was little more

1430
01:33:44.960 --> 01:33:48.520
than a shadow through the snowfall. The tiny island had

1431
01:33:48.560 --> 01:33:53.039
always been a place of evil and violence. It attracted

1432
01:33:53.079 --> 01:33:57.720
it the way rot attracts flies. Krieger sat far enough

1433
01:33:57.720 --> 01:34:00.479
on Lake Michigan to make it the perfect place to

1434
01:34:00.520 --> 01:34:04.199
lock away the most dangerous juvenile delinquents in the state.

1435
01:34:05.159 --> 01:34:07.760
Many of the residents had received their lump of coal,

1436
01:34:08.199 --> 01:34:10.359
while others had skipped straight to the top of the

1437
01:34:10.439 --> 01:34:14.600
naughty list. Somewhere in the pint sized penal colony was

1438
01:34:14.640 --> 01:34:21.600
the mission objective. The Kinder Cannibal, Little Robbie Mocker Christmas

1439
01:34:21.680 --> 01:34:31.239
Dies Tonight. Candy Pain snarled. Santa's glare was hard and

1440
01:34:31.359 --> 01:34:34.800
cold as gun metal. Missus Claws sat the tray of

1441
01:34:34.840 --> 01:34:38.319
sugar cookies next to the scales. On one side a

1442
01:34:38.359 --> 01:34:42.000
glittery glass ornament and on the other a lump of

1443
01:34:42.079 --> 01:34:46.439
coal mined by Crampis himself. The two pans had never

1444
01:34:46.479 --> 01:34:49.880
been level, but they never teetered too far in one

1445
01:34:49.960 --> 01:34:55.239
direction either Now the coal moved lower by the minute.

1446
01:34:55.960 --> 01:34:59.600
No point in watching it, dear, the missus said, offering

1447
01:34:59.680 --> 01:35:02.760
up one one of the cookies. Santa took the snowman

1448
01:35:02.880 --> 01:35:07.800
shaped cookie and chomped the head off. If he fails,

1449
01:35:07.840 --> 01:35:12.439
Santa started, then do something about it. She slid into

1450
01:35:12.439 --> 01:35:16.159
his lap. The sleigh is packed and ready hand out

1451
01:35:16.199 --> 01:35:19.159
as many toys as possible by Ray the time he

1452
01:35:19.279 --> 01:35:24.359
needs to destroy. Candy pain raise no match for him,

1453
01:35:24.399 --> 01:35:28.680
Santa admitted, I should have sent everyone. Then we'd be

1454
01:35:28.760 --> 01:35:31.960
burying a lot of dead elves for New Years. Missus

1455
01:35:32.000 --> 01:35:35.479
Claws said, Ray will win this fight because he's just

1456
01:35:35.560 --> 01:35:38.840
as much a symbol of Christmas as you are. Santa

1457
01:35:38.960 --> 01:35:42.640
raised a wooly brow. I don't think we're talking about

1458
01:35:42.680 --> 01:35:46.880
the same elf. How many wars have you delivered presents through?

1459
01:35:47.439 --> 01:35:50.920
How many communities have come together in times of disaster,

1460
01:35:51.680 --> 01:35:56.600
fed one another during famines, saying carols through plagues. Christmas

1461
01:35:56.640 --> 01:36:00.479
is not a holiday, it's not presents, it's not even

1462
01:36:00.560 --> 01:36:06.319
Santa Claus. It's an unyielding spirit, she said, coiling the

1463
01:36:06.359 --> 01:36:09.800
curls of his beard around her fingers. The true meaning

1464
01:36:09.840 --> 01:36:14.920
of Christmas is love. That's why it always endures no

1465
01:36:15.000 --> 01:36:19.560
matter what turmoil comes. Peppermint Ray is the embodiment of

1466
01:36:19.600 --> 01:36:23.880
the Christmas spirit. He's a sadistic munchkin that enjoys killing.

1467
01:36:24.319 --> 01:36:29.399
Santa huffed, You enjoy your work too, She kissed his forehead,

1468
01:36:30.039 --> 01:36:31.840
Which is why you need to get off your fat

1469
01:36:31.880 --> 01:36:35.199
ass and get to it. Keep the scales moving in

1470
01:36:35.319 --> 01:36:39.000
our favor. Dear Ray will do his job, and tomorrow

1471
01:36:39.399 --> 01:36:47.439
we'll drink our eggnog from Candy Andy's skull. Brute Cake

1472
01:36:47.479 --> 01:36:51.800
flew around the island a second time. Bonfires burned high

1473
01:36:51.840 --> 01:36:56.680
despite the battery of subzero winds. Inmates danced and fired

1474
01:36:56.760 --> 01:37:01.680
captured guns into the air and celebration. An explosion illuminated

1475
01:37:01.720 --> 01:37:05.800
scores of dead guards, making bloody snow angels in the yard.

1476
01:37:06.640 --> 01:37:10.039
Ray could smell burnt flesh wafting up on the smoke.

1477
01:37:10.720 --> 01:37:15.560
He checked the magical compass, and the needle pointed straight down.

1478
01:37:16.840 --> 01:37:19.640
Looks like the little shits opened their Christmas presents early.

1479
01:37:20.000 --> 01:37:24.359
He groaned, you ready for Christmas dinner? Pal? The reindeer

1480
01:37:24.439 --> 01:37:29.159
rumbled excitedly. Good. It's colder than Prancer's pecker up here,

1481
01:37:29.319 --> 01:37:31.880
and I want all the feeling in my fingers when

1482
01:37:31.920 --> 01:37:37.319
I closed them around Andy's throat. Fruitcake snorted, shit, you're right,

1483
01:37:38.000 --> 01:37:42.159
we need tunes. Ray turned on the bluetooth speaker hanging

1484
01:37:42.159 --> 01:37:45.560
from Bruitecake's saddle. He nodded his head as the bells

1485
01:37:45.600 --> 01:37:49.640
tinkled and the music began. The reindeer let out a long,

1486
01:37:49.840 --> 01:37:54.840
hoarse call of agreement. That's right, Candy, Andy, all I

1487
01:37:54.920 --> 01:38:01.079
want for Christmas is you to die. The raindew changed course,

1488
01:38:01.479 --> 01:38:05.520
speeding toward the island. Ray drew his scimitar and shifted

1489
01:38:05.520 --> 01:38:08.560
to the side to hack down one of the escaped convicts.

1490
01:38:09.000 --> 01:38:12.840
Bullets whizzed by his head. His steed banked hard, nearly

1491
01:38:12.880 --> 01:38:16.119
flinging Ray from the saddle. A pair of teens cut

1492
01:38:16.159 --> 01:38:20.439
loose with their festively painted assault rifles. Brute Cake twisted,

1493
01:38:20.520 --> 01:38:24.199
flying over them upside down and then biting one's head

1494
01:38:24.560 --> 01:38:28.760
while Ray impaled the other. The skull crunched loudly between

1495
01:38:28.800 --> 01:38:32.640
the reindeer's teeth. In the chaos, Ray almost missed the

1496
01:38:32.680 --> 01:38:36.600
incoming call. He turned down the music and answered the phone.

1497
01:38:36.840 --> 01:38:40.920
While Brute Cake flew into a group of delinquents Peppervent

1498
01:38:41.000 --> 01:38:47.560
party line. He said gleefully. Ray, it's wait, is that gunfire?

1499
01:38:48.079 --> 01:38:51.920
Missus Claws asked, Not everyone plays with the same kinds

1500
01:38:51.920 --> 01:38:55.119
of toys. A bullet tore Ray's hat off. Can I

1501
01:38:55.239 --> 01:38:59.479
call you back? No, you cannot, missus Claws said sternly.

1502
01:39:00.119 --> 01:39:02.319
This is going to be really hard for you. But

1503
01:39:02.399 --> 01:39:04.800
you can't kill any of the kids on that island.

1504
01:39:05.680 --> 01:39:08.319
Ray tugged the reins to pull Brute Cake up and

1505
01:39:08.359 --> 01:39:11.800
away from the field of battle. Two murder munchkins hung

1506
01:39:11.840 --> 01:39:16.000
from his bloody antlers. Ray cleared his throat. Uh, the

1507
01:39:16.439 --> 01:39:20.520
service is really bad with this storm and all, Ray said.

1508
01:39:20.880 --> 01:39:24.199
I didn't hear you. You said kill all the naughty kids, right,

1509
01:39:24.840 --> 01:39:29.680
none of them? Ray? Oh, so yeah, we can do that.

1510
01:39:30.439 --> 01:39:34.479
Ray mind shooting himself in the head. Why exactly are

1511
01:39:34.520 --> 01:39:38.720
we not killing them? The scales have tipped too far.

1512
01:39:39.720 --> 01:39:43.439
Her voice sounded sullen and distant. It wasn't the storm

1513
01:39:43.479 --> 01:39:47.119
making Ray's knees shake. If she was worried, then it

1514
01:39:47.159 --> 01:39:51.000
really was the end of Christmas. Brute Cake tilted his

1515
01:39:51.079 --> 01:39:53.960
head to slide one of the bodies closer so he

1516
01:39:54.000 --> 01:39:58.159
could take a bite. Ray rolled his eyes. What was

1517
01:39:58.199 --> 01:40:01.039
done was done, so his faithful steed might as well

1518
01:40:01.119 --> 01:40:07.800
enjoy the spoils. Okay, no more killing, Ray reluctantly agreed.

1519
01:40:08.680 --> 01:40:14.239
What's the plan? Give them gifts, she told him, restore

1520
01:40:14.319 --> 01:40:18.680
the image of Santa, remind them that Christmas is about

1521
01:40:18.760 --> 01:40:23.560
love and love is second chances? Ray, How am I

1522
01:40:23.600 --> 01:40:27.720
supposed to get past them without killing them? Make them toys? Ray,

1523
01:40:29.039 --> 01:40:32.399
I didn't exactly pack for that sort of thing. I

1524
01:40:32.439 --> 01:40:37.119
have no toys. Improvise. You were a toy maker, long

1525
01:40:37.159 --> 01:40:42.079
before you were a killer, she reminded him, A terrible one,

1526
01:40:42.319 --> 01:40:46.880
the worst, she agreed. Naughty kids now get crappy toys,

1527
01:40:46.920 --> 01:40:50.439
and thanks to you, we have a warehouse full of those.

1528
01:40:51.359 --> 01:40:55.520
Glad I could help, Ray said, deadpanned. The other elves

1529
01:40:55.520 --> 01:41:00.479
are mobilizing. What about candy pain, silly Ray, Her voice

1530
01:41:00.520 --> 01:41:06.239
perked up. Everyone knows peppermint kills pain. Ray ended the

1531
01:41:06.279 --> 01:41:09.760
call with a pointed smile. He tugged the reins and

1532
01:41:09.800 --> 01:41:13.680
directed Brute Cake toward the roof of the prison. A

1533
01:41:13.720 --> 01:41:18.279
mob of children surrounded him with pilfered nightsticks, shanks, and torches.

1534
01:41:18.960 --> 01:41:22.239
Ray hopped down from his saddle. A bigger kid stepped

1535
01:41:22.239 --> 01:41:24.439
out of the group to meet him, wielding an axe

1536
01:41:24.439 --> 01:41:29.279
adorned with mistletoe. We didn't invite you to the Christmas party,

1537
01:41:29.760 --> 01:41:32.840
the boy said, in a pubescent squeak. Why don't you

1538
01:41:32.920 --> 01:41:42.279
and Rudolph fuck off? Brute Cake shook his head violently,

1539
01:41:42.319 --> 01:41:46.000
flinging the corpses from his antlers. He snorted and scraped

1540
01:41:46.000 --> 01:41:49.399
his hoof through the snow. Blood soaked his snout and

1541
01:41:49.479 --> 01:41:53.239
bubbled in his nostrils. To be fair, you do have

1542
01:41:53.319 --> 01:41:58.199
a red nose right now, Ray patted the animal side. Look, Dallas,

1543
01:41:58.560 --> 01:42:02.760
we're here on important pole business. How'd you know my name?

1544
01:42:03.279 --> 01:42:06.600
The boy demanded. I read the naughty List like it's

1545
01:42:06.640 --> 01:42:10.600
the Sunday paper, Ray said, before you chopped up your family,

1546
01:42:10.920 --> 01:42:14.399
you made the list for smashing your sister's gerbil. The

1547
01:42:14.479 --> 01:42:18.680
crowd gasped. And I know you, and you and you,

1548
01:42:19.520 --> 01:42:22.359
Ray said, as he turned and pointed at various children.

1549
01:42:22.880 --> 01:42:25.920
He wagged his finger at one of them, especially you.

1550
01:42:26.720 --> 01:42:31.520
That was some innovative work you did, kiddo. What what

1551
01:42:31.560 --> 01:42:36.479
do you want, Dallas asked, to give you presents? Ray

1552
01:42:36.520 --> 01:42:40.760
threw his hands into the air. Christmas is about second chances.

1553
01:42:41.199 --> 01:42:43.880
The fat Man's had a change of heart. Go on

1554
01:42:44.039 --> 01:42:47.039
back to your cells before you catch a cold. Tomorrow

1555
01:42:47.560 --> 01:42:53.159
everyone gets gifts. I already got my present. Dallas. Hefted

1556
01:42:53.159 --> 01:42:57.479
the axe. I said, I wouldn't kill anyone else tonight,

1557
01:42:57.600 --> 01:43:00.680
so try to run really fast so that I don't

1558
01:43:00.720 --> 01:43:04.199
look like a lyar. Ray pulled the be dazzled grenade

1559
01:43:04.239 --> 01:43:08.760
from his pocket. Five second fuse, eight meter kill zone.

1560
01:43:09.239 --> 01:43:13.680
It's doable, but just barely. The elf jerked the pin

1561
01:43:13.840 --> 01:43:17.800
free and the children scattered. Ray ran for the edge,

1562
01:43:17.960 --> 01:43:21.159
knowing his stumpy legs would never get him clear in time.

1563
01:43:21.920 --> 01:43:25.039
He jumped over the side, casting his grappling hook for

1564
01:43:25.079 --> 01:43:28.960
the drain pipe as the device exploded behind him. He

1565
01:43:29.079 --> 01:43:32.640
planned on crashing through the window like John mcclan, only

1566
01:43:32.840 --> 01:43:37.199
Nakatomi Plaza didn't have bars over the windows. Ray struck

1567
01:43:37.239 --> 01:43:40.319
the iron grid and bounced off, twisting on the rope

1568
01:43:40.359 --> 01:43:43.800
like the world's ugliest ornament. He hit it again, but

1569
01:43:44.000 --> 01:43:47.680
caught hold. Ray pulled his dagger and used it to

1570
01:43:47.760 --> 01:43:51.680
unscrew the grate. He kicked out the glass and shimmered inside.

1571
01:43:53.239 --> 01:43:57.520
Fuck me with a nutcracker, he groaned. Whatever gets your

1572
01:43:57.600 --> 01:44:00.640
rocks off, the woman said, before grabbing Ray by the

1573
01:44:00.720 --> 01:44:05.000
throat and slinging him into a graffitied wall. Ray's tiny

1574
01:44:05.039 --> 01:44:08.680
form shattered the sheet rock. A female guard towered over him.

1575
01:44:08.840 --> 01:44:13.159
Her cutoff trousers revealed thick muscular thighs, each one as

1576
01:44:13.159 --> 01:44:17.279
big around as Ray himself. Scalps dangled from her pistol

1577
01:44:17.279 --> 01:44:21.000
belt that hung below a hardened eight pack of abdominal muscles.

1578
01:44:21.680 --> 01:44:24.920
Ray's eyes widened when he saw she was topless and

1579
01:44:25.039 --> 01:44:28.960
pinned her badge, threw her left nipple. She patted a

1580
01:44:29.079 --> 01:44:32.840
nightstick against her palm. Growls and barks came from one

1581
01:44:32.840 --> 01:44:35.520
of the cells. Two of the guards came out, wearing

1582
01:44:35.560 --> 01:44:39.920
nothing but dog ears and tails. This is the pro

1583
01:44:40.079 --> 01:44:44.119
bowl of fucking psychopaths, he said, struggling to his feet.

1584
01:44:44.840 --> 01:44:49.720
I'm Commander Thatcher. The woman's voice boomed. Long before Mindy

1585
01:44:49.840 --> 01:44:53.640
the thrasher Thatcher had taken over Kreager Island. She'd been

1586
01:44:53.640 --> 01:44:58.239
a women's wrestling champion and longtime resident of the Naughty List.

1587
01:44:58.800 --> 01:45:02.000
It was no wonder Candy had picked Kill You Island

1588
01:45:02.279 --> 01:45:06.520
to deliver his coup de gras to Christmas sicken boys.

1589
01:45:07.359 --> 01:45:10.680
The two guards snarled and scurried at Ray on all fours.

1590
01:45:11.279 --> 01:45:14.560
The elf juked around one, letting them crash together with

1591
01:45:14.640 --> 01:45:18.239
a yip. He ran down the hall, hurtling, gnawed bodies,

1592
01:45:18.680 --> 01:45:21.600
and slid to a stop as another guard dog crawled

1593
01:45:21.640 --> 01:45:25.359
out to block his path. Only this time it was

1594
01:45:25.439 --> 01:45:29.640
an actual dog. The terrier, wearing a mask of leather straps,

1595
01:45:30.039 --> 01:45:35.279
dragged a length of intestines behind him. You're breaking the law, convict,

1596
01:45:35.840 --> 01:45:39.920
Thatcher shouted, my law. Now get your scrawny ass back

1597
01:45:39.920 --> 01:45:44.399
in your cell. Convict Ray tugged at his pointy ears,

1598
01:45:44.880 --> 01:45:49.760
You dumbass, I'm an elf. The terrier growled, gimp. Doesn't

1599
01:45:49.800 --> 01:45:52.119
give a shit what gang you're in. Neither do I.

1600
01:45:52.800 --> 01:45:56.880
Thatcher tapped the baton with each step closer. Bad children

1601
01:45:56.920 --> 01:46:01.479
spend the night with the dogs. The human stalked alongside

1602
01:46:01.520 --> 01:46:05.680
their mistress. They gnashed their bloody teeth, slinging pink saliva

1603
01:46:05.800 --> 01:46:10.000
with each bark. This cell block belonged to Lucifer Lloyd.

1604
01:46:10.640 --> 01:46:13.960
Thatcher tugged at a scalp on her belt. So did

1605
01:46:13.960 --> 01:46:18.079
this he thought he was the devil. Think you'll scream

1606
01:46:18.119 --> 01:46:21.039
as much as the devil when I peel your skull. Elf,

1607
01:46:21.960 --> 01:46:24.920
keep talking and I'll do it myself. Ray cupped a

1608
01:46:24.960 --> 01:46:28.680
hand to his ear. Hear that is it time to

1609
01:46:28.720 --> 01:46:34.479
make the cookies. That is just a hurtful stereotype. Ray barked.

1610
01:46:35.039 --> 01:46:38.760
You haven't seen how hurtful I can be yet. Thatcher laughed,

1611
01:46:39.479 --> 01:46:41.560
I was going to give you a witty one liner.

1612
01:46:42.000 --> 01:46:45.079
Ray said, better make it a zinger, because it'll be

1613
01:46:45.159 --> 01:46:48.880
your last words. Thatcher drew the bowie knife from her belt.

1614
01:46:49.279 --> 01:46:53.199
Ray backed away from her. She clanked the weapons together rhythmically.

1615
01:46:53.800 --> 01:46:58.039
The human animals howled for elf meat. Ray continued back

1616
01:46:58.079 --> 01:47:00.880
pedaling until he felt the wet nose of the terrier

1617
01:47:01.039 --> 01:47:04.920
touch his hand. The dog let out a deep, throaty

1618
01:47:05.039 --> 01:47:10.520
growl and licked his fingers. Don't you know, Ray said,

1619
01:47:10.520 --> 01:47:14.479
with a giggle. Elves are one with nature, even psycho

1620
01:47:14.560 --> 01:47:18.199
mutch like this. One. Gimp nuzzled its head under his arm,

1621
01:47:18.479 --> 01:47:21.920
and Ray gave him pets. Thatcher stopped in her tracks.

1622
01:47:22.439 --> 01:47:24.479
I bet I know what a good puppy like you

1623
01:47:24.600 --> 01:47:30.600
wants for Christmas, Ray chirped, happily chew toys. The terrier

1624
01:47:30.680 --> 01:47:34.640
bolted down the corridor, launching itself at the wannabees. The

1625
01:47:34.680 --> 01:47:38.159
second pounced on him, biting into the dog's shoulder. Gimp

1626
01:47:38.199 --> 01:47:41.600
didn't even make a yip before swinging around and tearing

1627
01:47:41.640 --> 01:47:45.560
out the man's throat. Thatcher stumbled backwards, slipping in the

1628
01:47:45.640 --> 01:47:49.800
arterial spray. The dog in the remaining guard locked up

1629
01:47:50.439 --> 01:47:54.239
gimp latched onto the man's crotch, drawing a high pitch wail.

1630
01:47:55.000 --> 01:48:00.079
Good boy, you found his squeaker. Ray slouched. Shit, I

1631
01:48:00.159 --> 01:48:04.039
feel like Michael Vick watching this. Thatcher scrambled down the

1632
01:48:04.039 --> 01:48:07.279
hallway with the dog on her heels. Ray whistled as

1633
01:48:07.319 --> 01:48:10.159
he skipped away from the carnage to find the stairwell.

1634
01:48:10.680 --> 01:48:14.239
He crept down stealthily, stopping to listen at the door.

1635
01:48:14.960 --> 01:48:18.319
He could hear a ruckus beyond, and decided to try

1636
01:48:18.359 --> 01:48:22.279
another floor. Ray could rewrite the naughty list from memory.

1637
01:48:22.640 --> 01:48:26.279
He knew who else housed on kill U Island. Some

1638
01:48:26.359 --> 01:48:28.560
of them wouldn't make it easy to keep his word

1639
01:48:28.640 --> 01:48:33.039
to missus Claws. On the third floor, Ray paused to listen.

1640
01:48:33.640 --> 01:48:37.760
His ears twitched at the melodic giggling. Normal people do

1641
01:48:37.840 --> 01:48:40.640
not giggle in the middle of a prison riot. He

1642
01:48:40.680 --> 01:48:44.319
didn't need heightened sentences to hear the screams that came next.

1643
01:48:45.000 --> 01:48:48.039
The naughtiest inmate on the island was locked up in

1644
01:48:48.079 --> 01:48:51.640
the basement. Ray knew that's where Pain would be going

1645
01:48:52.279 --> 01:48:56.439
if he wasn't there already. Unfortunately, that meant crossing the

1646
01:48:56.479 --> 01:49:00.319
east wing of the facility. He knelt suddenly put his

1647
01:49:00.359 --> 01:49:03.920
palm to the floor. Toy makers had to have an

1648
01:49:03.920 --> 01:49:08.199
amazing sense of touch. It helped with stalking naughty children

1649
01:49:08.239 --> 01:49:12.439
as well. Someone was coming up the stairs. His wide

1650
01:49:12.520 --> 01:49:17.399
nostrils flared, taking in the scent chemicals clung to his nosehairs.

1651
01:49:18.279 --> 01:49:21.199
He had a pretty good idea who it was and

1652
01:49:21.319 --> 01:49:26.399
exactly what the kid had asked for this Christmas. Ray

1653
01:49:26.600 --> 01:49:29.760
was out of options. He slid through the door, closing

1654
01:49:29.800 --> 01:49:33.680
it gently behind him. The five girls didn't notice him

1655
01:49:33.880 --> 01:49:36.199
as they played ring around the rosie with one of

1656
01:49:36.239 --> 01:49:41.039
their dismembered but not dead cellmates. The arms and legs

1657
01:49:41.039 --> 01:49:45.960
still twitched and danced next to the wriggling torso. Ray slumped,

1658
01:49:46.960 --> 01:49:51.520
Bridget and Patty Booth led the sing song chant all

1659
01:49:51.640 --> 01:49:55.199
together in a circle, wee saying the name of the

1660
01:49:55.239 --> 01:50:00.800
most wicked thing, mister Jolly the Smiling King, except the

1661
01:50:00.880 --> 01:50:06.720
sacrifice that we bring, mister Jolly the Smiling King, master

1662
01:50:06.880 --> 01:50:10.319
of all that bite and staying for you we kill

1663
01:50:10.560 --> 01:50:15.199
and dance and saying enough, Ray whistled and clapped his hands.

1664
01:50:15.800 --> 01:50:18.279
The girls quit dancing, and the circle broke into a

1665
01:50:18.359 --> 01:50:22.079
human chain that blocked the hall. They stared at the

1666
01:50:22.079 --> 01:50:26.640
elf quizzically, this looks like a really fun slumber party,

1667
01:50:27.079 --> 01:50:30.880
Ray pointed at the sacrifice. Well maybe not for her,

1668
01:50:31.039 --> 01:50:33.800
but you need to get to bed now. Santa is

1669
01:50:33.840 --> 01:50:37.399
bringing everyone presents, but only if you're sound asleep when

1670
01:50:37.399 --> 01:50:41.960
he gets here. Fuck Santa, Pat squeaked. We don't need

1671
01:50:42.000 --> 01:50:45.760
that judgmental bastard. Yeah, like, I've got two of those

1672
01:50:45.800 --> 01:50:50.439
at home. Bridget added, they're called parents. We have the

1673
01:50:50.520 --> 01:50:55.359
Smiling King. The other girls said in unison. Oh yeah,

1674
01:50:55.479 --> 01:50:59.960
that was creepy. Ray patted the air. Hate to tell you,

1675
01:51:00.319 --> 01:51:04.399
but your creepy pasta is a little undercooked. There is

1676
01:51:04.520 --> 01:51:08.159
no mister Jolly is coming, the dismembered girl said, with

1677
01:51:08.199 --> 01:51:12.439
a mouthful of blood. It worked, Hail the Smiling King.

1678
01:51:13.239 --> 01:51:16.840
The lights flickered in the hallway. You've got to be

1679
01:51:16.960 --> 01:51:21.920
fucking kidding me. Ray drew his scimitar. It's a stupid

1680
01:51:22.079 --> 01:51:27.800
internet story, what Santa, Bridget asked. If you believe in something,

1681
01:51:28.119 --> 01:51:33.600
really believe it's real. Santa is real, Elves are real,

1682
01:51:34.720 --> 01:51:39.439
mister Jolly is real. This is what we really want

1683
01:51:39.439 --> 01:51:46.279
for Christmas. Pat said, mister Jolly, the smiling king. A

1684
01:51:46.359 --> 01:51:50.319
deep voice sang inside a cell the name of the

1685
01:51:50.359 --> 01:51:56.319
most wicked thing. The lights went out completely. The inhuman

1686
01:51:56.479 --> 01:52:00.800
voice laughed. Ray's eyes adjusted quickly, and he saw the

1687
01:52:00.840 --> 01:52:05.800
girls jumping about giddaly. Spindly fingers gripped the bars of

1688
01:52:05.880 --> 01:52:10.119
the cell. Spiders scurried from his sleeves and over the

1689
01:52:10.199 --> 01:52:16.000
claw like digits. Ray heard muffled buzzing. The entity still

1690
01:52:16.079 --> 01:52:20.159
hiding in the abyss wretched, and the swarm of wasps

1691
01:52:20.199 --> 01:52:24.239
billowed out into the corridor. Ray bolted for the door.

1692
01:52:25.039 --> 01:52:30.439
He cranked on the handle. It wouldn't budge. A widow

1693
01:52:30.520 --> 01:52:34.159
twisted gracefully on a strand of silk until it rested

1694
01:52:34.159 --> 01:52:38.159
on his nose. Ray flicked it away and followed the

1695
01:52:38.199 --> 01:52:42.399
string up to a shiny cufflink. A lithe deathly hand

1696
01:52:42.520 --> 01:52:47.000
held the door at the top. Ray turned slowly and

1697
01:52:47.119 --> 01:52:50.119
looked up at the demonic thing the children had summoned.

1698
01:52:50.840 --> 01:52:54.159
It glared down at him with bulging eyes ringed with

1699
01:52:54.279 --> 01:52:59.079
ragged flesh where lids had been cut away. Its gaunt

1700
01:52:59.119 --> 01:53:03.359
face hung open, and an oversized smile held together with

1701
01:53:03.560 --> 01:53:11.239
rawhide stitching. The king is holding court, it hissed, without

1702
01:53:11.319 --> 01:53:15.920
moving its mouth. Sorry, Pally, but I like my creepy

1703
01:53:16.000 --> 01:53:21.079
pastas with extra red sauce. Ray swung the Tomatian's sword

1704
01:53:21.119 --> 01:53:25.079
across the creature's torso, slicing a wide gash that erupted

1705
01:53:25.079 --> 01:53:29.000
with insects. They spilled over peppermint Ray, biting and stinging

1706
01:53:29.039 --> 01:53:32.239
his flesh. He dived between the monster's legs and rolled

1707
01:53:32.279 --> 01:53:35.079
across the floor to squish as many as he could.

1708
01:53:35.760 --> 01:53:43.960
The lights flicked back on mister Jolly was gone. Ray

1709
01:53:44.039 --> 01:53:48.039
looked around. The child coltists were slumped on the floor,

1710
01:53:48.720 --> 01:53:53.199
covered in masses of swollen welts, and all wearing impossibly

1711
01:53:53.279 --> 01:53:57.840
wide smiles. Ray touched a raised knot on his cheek

1712
01:53:58.560 --> 01:54:03.840
and gingerly plucked the singer from the center. I don't

1713
01:54:03.840 --> 01:54:06.319
care if I did just see you. I don't believe

1714
01:54:06.319 --> 01:54:10.039
in you, he shouted, So there, you can't hurt me.

1715
01:54:11.520 --> 01:54:15.119
The lights flickered and Ray screamed. The door opened at

1716
01:54:15.119 --> 01:54:19.359
the opposite end of the hall. Mister Jolly's laughter echoed

1717
01:54:19.960 --> 01:54:25.520
from the other side. Fucking crazy dominatrix, bitch, people acting

1718
01:54:25.600 --> 01:54:31.399
like dogs and lunatics everywhere, Now a supernatural monster. This

1719
01:54:31.600 --> 01:54:35.399
is worse than Christmas with Crampus. Ray threw his hands

1720
01:54:35.439 --> 01:54:40.119
into the air. What's next? The door banged open behind him,

1721
01:54:41.399 --> 01:54:48.159
chest nuts roasting on an open fire. The little boy sang.

1722
01:54:48.840 --> 01:54:51.199
Ray dropped to the ground as the jet of napalm

1723
01:54:51.239 --> 01:54:54.520
blazed over him. He turned over and watched Milo the

1724
01:54:54.600 --> 01:54:59.239
Pyro blast the nearest cell with his flamethrower. Doesn't anyone

1725
01:54:59.319 --> 01:55:02.159
in this fuck king place just want a teddy ruxpin?

1726
01:55:03.079 --> 01:55:07.640
Ray kipped up to his feet. Listen, Milo, you're a

1727
01:55:07.680 --> 01:55:10.760
pretty good kid. I mean, who hasn't burned down a

1728
01:55:10.840 --> 01:55:15.520
house or seven? Right? Do you know who I am? Yeah?

1729
01:55:16.039 --> 01:55:20.560
You make those awesome cookies with fudge. Milo smiled. I

1730
01:55:20.760 --> 01:55:25.319
like those, No I do not. Ray saw the boy's

1731
01:55:25.359 --> 01:55:29.960
eyes fill with hate. Do not just make the fudge ones?

1732
01:55:30.079 --> 01:55:35.159
I make them all. I'm the head cookie chef that

1733
01:55:35.319 --> 01:55:39.800
sounds made up. Milo said, Look at these shoes, Milo,

1734
01:55:40.479 --> 01:55:44.079
Ray wiggled his foot. Look at these pointy fucking ears.

1735
01:55:44.479 --> 01:55:48.000
Do I look like a garden gnome? No? I look

1736
01:55:48.399 --> 01:55:52.319
like an elf. Elves don't lie about serious shit, and

1737
01:55:52.359 --> 01:55:55.520
there is no shit more serious than cookies to an

1738
01:55:55.560 --> 01:56:01.640
elf cool. Milo jabbed the flamethrower towards him. I'm going

1739
01:56:01.680 --> 01:56:05.159
to burn this place down now. Can't deliver cookies to

1740
01:56:05.239 --> 01:56:08.920
a pile of ash. Ray shrugged, health code and all that.

1741
01:56:09.840 --> 01:56:13.199
I just signed a deal with Santa. The naughty nice

1742
01:56:13.239 --> 01:56:16.399
thing is over. Naughty kids are getting presents now, and

1743
01:56:16.479 --> 01:56:21.520
he knows how much you love my cookies. Then why

1744
01:56:21.560 --> 01:56:27.279
be nice? Milo torched another cell because there's better presence

1745
01:56:27.319 --> 01:56:31.159
for the nice kids. Ray waved his hand. They're still

1746
01:56:31.199 --> 01:56:35.119
working out the details, but point is, you get cookies

1747
01:56:35.159 --> 01:56:40.800
on Christmas morning if you stop setting fires the striped

1748
01:56:40.800 --> 01:56:45.039
ones too, he asked. Ray looked over his shoulder at

1749
01:56:45.079 --> 01:56:49.119
the open door. A spider crawled along the jam, and

1750
01:56:49.279 --> 01:56:54.600
somewhere down the stairs he heard jolly snickering. He turned

1751
01:56:54.640 --> 01:56:59.199
back to Milo and smiled. Let me borrow that flamethrower

1752
01:56:59.560 --> 01:57:03.640
and I'll throwing cookies so special that only elves have

1753
01:57:03.800 --> 01:57:11.560
ever tasted them. Ray watched the jellied petroleum burn on

1754
01:57:11.600 --> 01:57:15.600
the cinder block wall with a bemused grin. He blasted

1755
01:57:15.640 --> 01:57:18.760
the flamethrower down each set of stairs to clear the path,

1756
01:57:19.119 --> 01:57:23.680
until he finally arrived in the basement. A rusted gate

1757
01:57:23.800 --> 01:57:28.680
stood ajar next to an unmanned security desk. Bare bulbs flickered,

1758
01:57:29.000 --> 01:57:33.199
casting shadow puppets on the walls. The heavy steel doors

1759
01:57:33.199 --> 01:57:38.479
of solitary confinement cells were open. Smells drifted down the

1760
01:57:38.520 --> 01:57:43.720
corridor that made Ray's stomach growl. Someone was cooking burgers.

1761
01:57:44.800 --> 01:57:49.439
His face paled. They didn't cook burgers in prison basements.

1762
01:57:50.159 --> 01:57:53.119
It had to be a Christmas request, and if anyone

1763
01:57:53.159 --> 01:57:57.279
in the hole was requesting delicious all meat patties, it

1764
01:57:57.399 --> 01:58:01.399
had to be Robbie Mocker. Vomit hit the back of

1765
01:58:01.479 --> 01:58:05.479
Ray's teeth, but he choked it back down. Each cell

1766
01:58:05.520 --> 01:58:09.399
he passed was empty. The aroma grew stronger, and despite

1767
01:58:09.439 --> 01:58:14.119
knowing that or who was in those paddies, Ray had

1768
01:58:14.119 --> 01:58:18.159
to admit that the smell was exquisite. He rounded the corner,

1769
01:58:18.279 --> 01:58:22.720
his finger tense against the trigger. Sugar plum. Gary shoved

1770
01:58:22.720 --> 01:58:25.359
an arm into the meat grinder and hopped off the

1771
01:58:25.399 --> 01:58:29.319
step ladder to work the crank. Ray watched the arm

1772
01:58:29.439 --> 01:58:33.439
descend into the machine. The process made the hand wave

1773
01:58:33.520 --> 01:58:36.159
at him as it disappeared and came out the other

1774
01:58:36.319 --> 01:58:40.000
end in ropeie pink strands that dropped into a bowl.

1775
01:58:40.600 --> 01:58:43.600
Gary pinched two balls of the meat and smashed them

1776
01:58:43.640 --> 01:58:47.000
onto an electric griddle. He slapped cheese on a pair

1777
01:58:47.079 --> 01:58:51.600
that were already cooking. The toaster popped noisily, almost causing

1778
01:58:51.680 --> 01:58:56.439
Ray to torch the makeshift kitchen prematurely, Gary, who sucked

1779
01:58:56.439 --> 01:59:01.239
at everything, was a short order savant. Hurry up out there,

1780
01:59:01.640 --> 01:59:04.159
Candy pain barked from the last cell on the left.

1781
01:59:04.560 --> 01:59:10.560
He's still hungry. Order up, Gary declared, happily. Then bring

1782
01:59:10.600 --> 01:59:12.560
it here, Gary, It's not a present if you don't

1783
01:59:12.560 --> 01:59:17.119
deliver it. Ray whistled. Gary turned and dropped the burger.

1784
01:59:17.840 --> 01:59:20.760
The lights went out, and Ray pulled the trigger, filling

1785
01:59:20.800 --> 01:59:25.600
the hallway with fire and smell of burning gingerbread. Gary's

1786
01:59:25.600 --> 01:59:29.600
immolated body bounced off the walls before collapsing next to

1787
01:59:29.680 --> 01:59:34.159
the table. Through the flickering flames, Ray saw the unnatural

1788
01:59:34.239 --> 01:59:38.600
smile hiding in the dark. Mister Jolly unfolded himself from

1789
01:59:38.600 --> 01:59:42.039
the tight space, his legs stepping over his torso like

1790
01:59:42.079 --> 01:59:47.119
a spider. Before he stood upright, wasps crawled along his lips.

1791
01:59:47.880 --> 01:59:52.319
Ray raised the flamethrower. I brought my bug spray this time, Pally,

1792
01:59:52.760 --> 01:59:56.119
You ever been burned alive? I have it sucks and

1793
01:59:56.199 --> 01:59:58.359
as much as it would jingle my bells to find

1794
01:59:58.359 --> 02:00:03.359
out how flammable you are, I got some more pressing issues.

1795
02:00:04.760 --> 02:00:09.000
Don't you want to smile? Ray? The King asked, you

1796
02:00:09.079 --> 02:00:13.680
could smile forever I will be after I kill you.

1797
02:00:13.960 --> 02:00:16.920
But let's stick a pin in that just for now.

1798
02:00:17.840 --> 02:00:22.800
When you want to play, just sing, mister jolly sank

1799
02:00:23.279 --> 02:00:28.680
into the shadows, sing for the King, the most wicked thing.

1800
02:00:30.159 --> 02:00:33.520
Ray let the flamethrower fall to the floor and stepped

1801
02:00:33.560 --> 02:00:37.680
into the doorway of the kinder cannibal cell. The obese

1802
02:00:37.760 --> 02:00:40.600
child used his fingers to force the last bite of

1803
02:00:40.680 --> 02:00:46.720
burger into his overstuffed mouth. Is that enough? Candy? Paine asked?

1804
02:00:46.960 --> 02:00:49.880
Are you satisfied? Now? Have I granted you the buffet

1805
02:00:49.960 --> 02:00:54.239
you most wanted for Christmas? Robbie shook his head and

1806
02:00:54.319 --> 02:00:58.359
his cheeks kept moving afterwards. He was in kindergarten when

1807
02:00:58.359 --> 02:01:02.680
he realized he liked the taste of people. Then one

1808
02:01:02.760 --> 02:01:06.159
day in third grade, he decided to turn his class

1809
02:01:06.159 --> 02:01:09.880
into a goddamn Denny's. At his trial, he said, people

1810
02:01:09.920 --> 02:01:13.920
whose names end in vowel sounds taste better. Ray knocked

1811
02:01:13.920 --> 02:01:17.199
on the door as he entered the tiny room. You'll

1812
02:01:17.239 --> 02:01:22.560
never get away with this, Ray snickered, get it, Yule, Yeah,

1813
02:01:22.600 --> 02:01:25.439
you never did have a sense of humor. I knew

1814
02:01:25.439 --> 02:01:29.239
he'd send you candy. Pain said, if I give the

1815
02:01:29.319 --> 02:01:32.840
naughtiest kids the presence they want the most, then this

1816
02:01:33.000 --> 02:01:38.199
whole system burns. Without Santa, humans will destroy themselves through

1817
02:01:38.239 --> 02:01:43.039
their own avarice. Ray tapped his ear. Do you hear

1818
02:01:43.119 --> 02:01:49.720
that the sleigh bells? Pain scoffed. I know your corny

1819
02:01:49.800 --> 02:01:53.399
lines as well as I know your tactics. I got

1820
02:01:53.439 --> 02:01:56.800
some mistletoe hanging off my belt. How about you kiss

1821
02:01:56.840 --> 02:02:01.760
me under it? Ray pointed at the ceiling. The storm's over, dipshit.

1822
02:02:02.239 --> 02:02:06.439
Santa's giving naughty kids presents too, Because you're right, humans

1823
02:02:06.439 --> 02:02:11.359
are greedy, and you you're jealous of that. Candy. Pain

1824
02:02:11.520 --> 02:02:14.600
rose from the bunk. His hand moved to his dagger.

1825
02:02:15.199 --> 02:02:18.520
When you put love into things instead of people, it

1826
02:02:18.640 --> 02:02:23.000
becomes greed. Christmas has shown us that, but it's shown

1827
02:02:23.079 --> 02:02:26.760
us what they can do when they love each other too.

1828
02:02:27.000 --> 02:02:30.840
Ray drew his knife. For all we've got going for us,

1829
02:02:31.760 --> 02:02:36.640
elves can't love. You're wrong, because I'm going to love

1830
02:02:36.800 --> 02:02:41.680
gutting you, Ray, Ray Robbie muttered, in a spew of

1831
02:02:41.720 --> 02:02:46.960
crumbs a sound. The cannibal scurried through the discarded leftovers

1832
02:02:47.079 --> 02:02:50.039
and clamped his teeth into Ray's leg. He chewed the

1833
02:02:50.119 --> 02:02:53.279
muscle until he gnawed deep enough for a good solid bite,

1834
02:02:53.640 --> 02:02:55.760
and jerked his head back with a hunk of elf

1835
02:02:55.840 --> 02:03:00.359
meat oozing between his lips. Yo mean, rob, he said

1836
02:03:00.399 --> 02:03:04.600
as he chewed. I want more. I want elf burgers

1837
02:03:04.600 --> 02:03:08.199
for Christmas. Ray limped out of the room. He tried

1838
02:03:08.239 --> 02:03:11.000
to think of a plan that didn't involve stabbing the

1839
02:03:11.119 --> 02:03:14.920
kid in the face, but it was the most appealing option.

1840
02:03:15.760 --> 02:03:19.640
Gingerbread wafted to his schnauz. Ray looked at the knife

1841
02:03:19.680 --> 02:03:23.399
in his hand. In his very long life, he'd never

1842
02:03:23.520 --> 02:03:28.000
known missus claws to be wrong about anything. He hobbled

1843
02:03:28.000 --> 02:03:32.039
to Gary's burnt corpse and collapsed next to it. He

1844
02:03:32.119 --> 02:03:35.520
cut away a slab of blackened muscle and tossed it

1845
02:03:35.560 --> 02:03:39.279
onto a single paper plate. Ray held the plate up

1846
02:03:39.319 --> 02:03:44.039
as the kinder cannibal sprang on him once more. Merry Christmas,

1847
02:03:44.640 --> 02:03:49.399
he squeaked. Robbie snatched the plate from him and sniffed it.

1848
02:03:50.520 --> 02:03:56.520
I want burgers. That is better than burger's. Ray said that, well,

1849
02:03:57.279 --> 02:04:02.840
that's a Gary Meal. Gary. Robbie accented the vowel sound

1850
02:04:02.880 --> 02:04:07.960
and took a bite. Gary meal is yummy, too, seasoned

1851
02:04:07.960 --> 02:04:11.960
with my secret blend of herbs and napalm. Ray snapped

1852
02:04:12.000 --> 02:04:14.479
off one of Gary's ribs and got to his feet.

1853
02:04:14.840 --> 02:04:18.319
Every Gary Meal comes with a prize too. Ray worked

1854
02:04:18.319 --> 02:04:21.239
at the bone with his dagger, putting his Elvin toy

1855
02:04:21.279 --> 02:04:24.279
making abilities to task. As he quickly whittled it into

1856
02:04:24.319 --> 02:04:28.359
a figure. He stretched to hand it to Robbie. All

1857
02:04:28.479 --> 02:04:32.319
kids deserve toys for Christmas, and that is special because

1858
02:04:32.680 --> 02:04:36.960
it's just for you. It's a limited edition. What is it,

1859
02:04:37.399 --> 02:04:42.960
Robbie asked. It's a superhero looks like a fish. That's

1860
02:04:42.960 --> 02:04:47.560
because it's Aquaman. Ray rolled his eyes. Look pally. Last year,

1861
02:04:47.600 --> 02:04:50.399
I would have just killed you. So shitty action figures

1862
02:04:50.439 --> 02:04:53.079
are a step up. Now, how about you go back

1863
02:04:53.079 --> 02:04:55.279
to your room and I'll make you another Gary Meal.

1864
02:04:55.960 --> 02:05:00.199
You're fucking dead. Candy Pain charged down the hall, spring

1865
02:05:00.199 --> 02:05:02.880
off Robbie's back and launching himself into the air with

1866
02:05:02.960 --> 02:05:06.439
his dagger cocked back. The light glinted on the serrated

1867
02:05:06.439 --> 02:05:10.680
teeth of the blade. Ray jumped back, narrowly dodging the attack.

1868
02:05:11.159 --> 02:05:14.560
Pain slashed for Ray's throat. A spray of indigo blood

1869
02:05:14.640 --> 02:05:18.920
drenched both elves faces. Ray twisted his dagger and pulled

1870
02:05:18.920 --> 02:05:22.279
it free. Guess you don't know my tactics that well,

1871
02:05:22.319 --> 02:05:28.800
after all, Candy Andy. Ray let the elf fall. Robbie

1872
02:05:28.840 --> 02:05:34.119
crawled to him. Candy Andy, He accented the final sound

1873
02:05:34.119 --> 02:05:39.479
of each word, double yum. Andy's gurgling screams echoed down

1874
02:05:39.479 --> 02:05:42.560
the halls. As the kinder cannibal dragged the elf to

1875
02:05:42.640 --> 02:05:46.640
his cell for a late night snack. Ray listened to

1876
02:05:46.680 --> 02:05:50.279
the begging until it was replaced with noisy chewing. He

1877
02:05:50.319 --> 02:05:56.359
pursed his lips and nodded, Merry Christmas, pally. Ray limped

1878
02:05:56.399 --> 02:06:00.479
around a pool of shadow and locked the cell and

1879
02:06:00.560 --> 02:06:15.800
to all a good night inner. Rage by Rob Fields,

1880
02:06:16.920 --> 02:06:22.760
chapter one. Christmas Eve is here again, only this year

1881
02:06:23.680 --> 02:06:27.039
and the many others that follow I'll be spending it

1882
02:06:27.079 --> 02:06:31.439
at glen View Correctional Facility, which is located just a

1883
02:06:31.520 --> 02:06:36.159
short drive from North Ridgeway. This place has been my

1884
02:06:36.279 --> 02:06:40.239
home ever since I turned myself in shortly after bringing

1885
02:06:40.279 --> 02:06:45.399
down the Queen of Hearts serial killer. You see, I

1886
02:06:45.640 --> 02:06:50.479
was also a serial killer known as the Angel of Death.

1887
02:06:52.119 --> 02:06:55.079
Keep in mind, I never referred to myself as that.

1888
02:06:55.239 --> 02:06:59.159
It was simply what the media called me, mainly because

1889
02:06:59.199 --> 02:07:04.159
I only killed people who I believe deserved to die,

1890
02:07:04.920 --> 02:07:10.680
like high profile criminals and other serial killers. I might

1891
02:07:10.800 --> 02:07:13.359
still be a serial killer today if I hadn't met

1892
02:07:14.199 --> 02:07:20.000
Detective Drake Kasmarak. Drake seemingly came to Strickfield, where I

1893
02:07:20.079 --> 02:07:23.439
was attending university at the time, to fill a detective

1894
02:07:23.439 --> 02:07:27.159
opening that his uncle had in the police department. In truth,

1895
02:07:27.760 --> 02:07:32.920
Drake was in Strickfield to find and capture me. Drake

1896
02:07:33.000 --> 02:07:35.800
had done much homework and determined I was in that

1897
02:07:36.039 --> 02:07:40.000
very village. Shortly after he arrived at the station, I

1898
02:07:40.079 --> 02:07:43.479
showed up at the request of Chief Jeffrey Kasmarak. I

1899
02:07:43.560 --> 02:07:48.439
was a police intern and assigned to Drake. I believe

1900
02:07:48.479 --> 02:07:50.960
it was right then and there that Drake fell madly

1901
02:07:51.039 --> 02:07:55.439
in love with me. At the time, I couldn't feel emotions,

1902
02:07:55.960 --> 02:07:58.880
but I knew there was an ulterior motive for his

1903
02:07:59.000 --> 02:08:03.239
being in Strickfield. As Drake mentored me during my off

1904
02:08:03.279 --> 02:08:07.159
campus hours, I decided to take my mentor as my

1905
02:08:07.239 --> 02:08:11.399
new mate and applied myself to being his perfect girlfriend.

1906
02:08:12.399 --> 02:08:15.159
Little did he realize that the serial killer he was

1907
02:08:15.239 --> 02:08:20.000
looking for was right under his nose and in his bed.

1908
02:08:21.319 --> 02:08:25.319
Why was Drake determined to capture me? Years ago, during

1909
02:08:25.359 --> 02:08:28.279
my time in high school, I had killed a former

1910
02:08:28.319 --> 02:08:33.119
North Ridgeway High teacher named Annie Judge. She was prostituting

1911
02:08:33.119 --> 02:08:39.560
herself and selling drugs to my fellow students, even underaged kids.

1912
02:08:40.079 --> 02:08:42.479
When a girl turned up missing and I discovered she

1913
02:08:42.680 --> 02:08:48.239
was dead, I trapped Annie Judge and ended her. Little

1914
02:08:48.239 --> 02:08:51.319
did I realize that this particular kill would come back

1915
02:08:51.359 --> 02:08:55.479
to haunt me in the form of Drake, who was

1916
02:08:55.520 --> 02:09:00.239
Annie's former lover. Maybe Drake wanted to fall in love

1917
02:09:00.279 --> 02:09:03.680
with me, and maybe he didn't. I've never asked him this.

1918
02:09:04.520 --> 02:09:06.760
Even though I was putting myself in danger of him

1919
02:09:06.800 --> 02:09:09.920
discovering me being a serial killer, I chose to be

1920
02:09:10.079 --> 02:09:14.600
with him, knowing that he was a good man. Choosing

1921
02:09:14.640 --> 02:09:18.199
to remain with Drake was what ultimately became my undoing

1922
02:09:18.279 --> 02:09:21.600
as a serial killer. Drake loved me so much that

1923
02:09:21.640 --> 02:09:25.399
he wanted to marry me, to which I accepted his proposal.

1924
02:09:26.640 --> 02:09:29.319
The Queen of Heart's Killer had a personal vendetta with

1925
02:09:29.359 --> 02:09:32.119
me and let me know she wanted to finish a

1926
02:09:32.159 --> 02:09:37.479
prior conflict from before. I was ready to kill Rigby Brewster,

1927
02:09:38.159 --> 02:09:41.760
the Queen of Hearts, but Drake begged and pleaded with

1928
02:09:41.800 --> 02:09:45.239
me not to end her. It was in that one

1929
02:09:45.319 --> 02:09:48.560
moment that he took me in his arms and kissed me.

1930
02:09:49.680 --> 02:09:53.079
It was that one magical moment, that one triggering event

1931
02:09:53.840 --> 02:09:58.000
I waited my whole life for Drake had finally caused

1932
02:09:58.039 --> 02:10:01.560
me to feel the very emotions I had longed for.

1933
02:10:02.640 --> 02:10:06.359
In that moment, I knew I loved Drake the same

1934
02:10:06.439 --> 02:10:10.479
way he loved me. Even though Drake had finally found

1935
02:10:10.520 --> 02:10:14.359
the person who had killed any judge, he couldn't forsake me.

1936
02:10:14.960 --> 02:10:18.239
He still wanted to marry me. I can swear by

1937
02:10:18.279 --> 02:10:20.479
it that Drake is one of the most honest cops

1938
02:10:20.479 --> 02:10:24.079
you'll ever meet. He was always by the book on everything,

1939
02:10:24.760 --> 02:10:28.399
even when he was mentoring me in my university years.

1940
02:10:28.800 --> 02:10:33.119
But this one time, Drake was willing to look the

1941
02:10:33.159 --> 02:10:38.199
other way, not just because he loved me, but because

1942
02:10:38.239 --> 02:10:44.079
I never killed innocent people or children. The problem with that, however,

1943
02:10:44.279 --> 02:10:48.720
was that my new emotions came back on me. I

1944
02:10:48.760 --> 02:10:52.319
had a horrible nightmare of me killing some random person

1945
02:10:52.359 --> 02:10:55.560
the way I've done so many hundreds of killers and

1946
02:10:55.640 --> 02:11:00.800
criminals before. That was when I told Drake to arrest me,

1947
02:11:01.720 --> 02:11:03.960
even though it hurt him deep to have to do it.

1948
02:11:04.520 --> 02:11:07.239
He read me my rights and took me to the station.

1949
02:11:08.199 --> 02:11:12.319
I confessed to being the Angel of Death to Chief Cosmarak.

1950
02:11:13.199 --> 02:11:16.159
I was found guilty at my trial and sentenced to

1951
02:11:16.199 --> 02:11:20.720
life here at the glen View Correctional Facility. However, I

1952
02:11:20.760 --> 02:11:25.000
wouldn't be placed with the general population. My mama, Detective

1953
02:11:25.079 --> 02:11:28.600
Chantelle Devereaux, and Drake both had influence on the account

1954
02:11:28.640 --> 02:11:32.079
of their reputations as detectives and went to bat for me.

1955
02:11:33.119 --> 02:11:36.479
It was decided that I could have certain privileges in

1956
02:11:36.560 --> 02:11:40.479
return for my services. I would help solve cases when

1957
02:11:40.479 --> 02:11:44.920
they were presented to me. Because of my highly photographic memory.

1958
02:11:45.720 --> 02:11:49.960
I was a great service in this aspect. Plus, I

1959
02:11:50.119 --> 02:11:55.560
think like a killer. I'm in my very own special cell,

1960
02:11:55.680 --> 02:11:58.840
which gives me many of the comforts of home. It's

1961
02:11:58.960 --> 02:12:02.079
kind of like having a little apartment, except I can't

1962
02:12:02.119 --> 02:12:05.399
always come and go when I please. I do get

1963
02:12:05.439 --> 02:12:08.520
to go outside, but I'm all by myself and am

1964
02:12:08.560 --> 02:12:12.520
constantly watched by the guards. Mama and Drake can both

1965
02:12:12.560 --> 02:12:16.199
come visit me anytime they want. I've even had visits

1966
02:12:16.199 --> 02:12:21.079
from both Chief Kasmarak and Chief Montgomery Cobbs, my mom's boss.

1967
02:12:21.640 --> 02:12:25.880
You'd think i'd be regretting turning myself in here's the irony,

1968
02:12:25.920 --> 02:12:30.079
though I don't. I've been at peace ever since I

1969
02:12:30.119 --> 02:12:35.079
got locked up. The only thing that really hurts is Drake.

1970
02:12:36.479 --> 02:12:38.800
I couldn't even begin to tell you how many times

1971
02:12:38.840 --> 02:12:41.640
I've told him to forget about me and find someone

1972
02:12:41.640 --> 02:12:44.560
else who would be better suited for him, but he

1973
02:12:44.600 --> 02:12:48.760
will not turn away from me. In fact, he still

1974
02:12:48.760 --> 02:12:51.800
wants to marry me. Even though I'm in glen View

1975
02:12:52.359 --> 02:12:55.439
for the rest of my life. Drake still won't give

1976
02:12:55.479 --> 02:12:59.239
me up. Every so often he proposes to me again

1977
02:12:59.279 --> 02:13:01.720
and wants to give me back my engagement ring that

1978
02:13:01.760 --> 02:13:06.000
I returned to him once he arrested me. My problem

1979
02:13:06.039 --> 02:13:08.319
here is that Drake challenges me to look him in

1980
02:13:08.359 --> 02:13:10.960
the eyes and tell him I want him out of

1981
02:13:10.960 --> 02:13:14.119
my life. If I can just tell him that, he'll

1982
02:13:14.119 --> 02:13:18.319
respect my wishes and never come back. But every time

1983
02:13:18.359 --> 02:13:21.560
I try, I burst into tears and clutch him to me.

1984
02:13:22.720 --> 02:13:25.399
Mama told me that you can't just turn emotions on

1985
02:13:25.479 --> 02:13:30.000
and off. I hate when she's right. So Drake and

1986
02:13:30.079 --> 02:13:35.359
I are still together. Like I said, it's Christmas Eve.

1987
02:13:35.960 --> 02:13:39.720
I'm sitting in my cell visiting with Mama. She's proud

1988
02:13:39.760 --> 02:13:42.920
of me for having helped solve some heavy cases in

1989
02:13:43.000 --> 02:13:47.039
the last month. Unfortunately, Mama won't be able to spend

1990
02:13:47.039 --> 02:13:51.279
the night with me since she's on duty. She said

1991
02:13:51.319 --> 02:13:55.000
she'd be back in the afternoon for Christmas. I told

1992
02:13:55.000 --> 02:13:58.039
her I'd be okay since Drake was coming and would

1993
02:13:58.039 --> 02:14:01.159
be spending the night with me. After Mama and I

1994
02:14:01.239 --> 02:14:05.720
wish each other Merry Christmas, she leaves. Now it's just

1995
02:14:05.840 --> 02:14:16.960
me and the guard at her station. Chapter two. Chessie

1996
02:14:16.960 --> 02:14:19.199
Carver has been one of the guards assigned to sit

1997
02:14:19.239 --> 02:14:21.920
outside my cell since I was first placed in here.

1998
02:14:22.760 --> 02:14:24.720
At first, she didn't know what to make of me,

1999
02:14:25.439 --> 02:14:28.840
but in time we started talking to each other. We

2000
02:14:28.880 --> 02:14:33.239
came to build trust and understanding between us. In fact,

2001
02:14:33.279 --> 02:14:35.920
it's getting close to the evening when Drake shows up

2002
02:14:36.239 --> 02:14:40.199
and sees us playing chess. When he sees me pondering

2003
02:14:40.239 --> 02:14:44.279
my next move, he asks me if I'm okay. I

2004
02:14:44.319 --> 02:14:46.920
look up at him. This is what I get for

2005
02:14:47.000 --> 02:14:51.199
teaching Chessie everything I know about chess. Drake watches us

2006
02:14:51.239 --> 02:14:56.880
finish our game. Chessie beats me barely. After I congratulate

2007
02:14:56.920 --> 02:14:59.560
her on a game well played, she leaves my cell

2008
02:14:59.600 --> 02:15:03.399
and return turns to her station. Of course, she locks

2009
02:15:03.479 --> 02:15:07.520
Drake and I in. Drake again makes my emotions rise

2010
02:15:07.600 --> 02:15:11.279
when he lays a huge bag of Denoyer's grill down

2011
02:15:11.279 --> 02:15:14.279
on the table. I told you i'd bring you something

2012
02:15:14.319 --> 02:15:18.479
wonderful for dinner, Drake reminds me. I start to cry

2013
02:15:18.520 --> 02:15:24.439
a little when I smell those delicious pancakes and the burghers. Wow,

2014
02:15:25.159 --> 02:15:28.520
everything's still warm. You must have floored it from Denoyers

2015
02:15:28.520 --> 02:15:31.000
all the way here. What did you do turn on

2016
02:15:31.039 --> 02:15:35.319
the siren when you left there? Drake laughs. No, Actually,

2017
02:15:35.880 --> 02:15:38.239
there weren't too many people on the road on Christmas Eve.

2018
02:15:39.319 --> 02:15:41.720
I look at the clock and see it's around six

2019
02:15:42.399 --> 02:15:45.880
by now. Many people are probably home or with family

2020
02:15:45.920 --> 02:15:49.760
and friends to enjoy Christmas Eve. Having Drake here with

2021
02:15:49.840 --> 02:15:52.119
me makes me glad I don't have to spend tonight

2022
02:15:52.560 --> 02:15:56.720
or tomorrow alone. Before I never really cared whether I

2023
02:15:56.800 --> 02:16:00.239
was alone or not, not when I didn't have feeling

2024
02:16:01.880 --> 02:16:08.199
you okay, rage, Drake asks, Yeah, I quickly reply, I'm fine.

2025
02:16:09.239 --> 02:16:11.760
We look at each other for a little bit. Then

2026
02:16:11.920 --> 02:16:15.760
Drake moves and sets the table. When he's done, he's

2027
02:16:15.840 --> 02:16:19.159
laid out a nice feast of breakfast and dinner foods.

2028
02:16:19.600 --> 02:16:24.000
Dig in, Drake invites me. Chessie gets up and leaves

2029
02:16:24.039 --> 02:16:27.279
for a little bit. Normally she's not supposed to do that,

2030
02:16:27.479 --> 02:16:30.239
but she kind of makes it a point when Drake

2031
02:16:30.279 --> 02:16:33.600
and I are together like this. She's heard us talking

2032
02:16:33.600 --> 02:16:37.920
to each other before and hasn't heard anything taboo. She's

2033
02:16:37.959 --> 02:16:41.399
even been there when we've made out. I've even told

2034
02:16:41.399 --> 02:16:44.520
her I'm not the least bit bothered by her. Still

2035
02:16:45.079 --> 02:16:49.079
she gives us alone time At times. Drake and I

2036
02:16:49.159 --> 02:16:53.239
have our Denoyer's grill feast and talk about whatever. Drake

2037
02:16:53.319 --> 02:16:55.520
again thanks me for all I do with helping the

2038
02:16:55.520 --> 02:17:00.360
police force in spite of my current situation. Can I

2039
02:17:00.399 --> 02:17:03.360
finish eating? I clear off the table and throw away

2040
02:17:03.399 --> 02:17:07.559
the trash. Before I can sit down, Drake takes hold

2041
02:17:07.600 --> 02:17:10.079
of my wrist and eases me to sit on his lap.

2042
02:17:10.959 --> 02:17:13.319
We look at each other for a long moment before

2043
02:17:13.440 --> 02:17:16.760
we have some kisses. Since Drake will be spending the

2044
02:17:16.840 --> 02:17:19.159
night with me tonight, I can't wait until we can

2045
02:17:19.200 --> 02:17:23.000
be intimate. The more we kiss, the more I'm finding

2046
02:17:23.040 --> 02:17:26.120
it hard to be able to wait. Eventually, we do

2047
02:17:26.280 --> 02:17:30.479
stop so we can catch our breaths. I love you,

2048
02:17:31.280 --> 02:17:34.479
he tells me. I close my eyes and bow my

2049
02:17:34.559 --> 02:17:37.680
head a little. I still say you could do so

2050
02:17:37.799 --> 02:17:41.120
much better than me. He puts his finger under my

2051
02:17:41.200 --> 02:17:44.360
chin and raises my head back up. I open my

2052
02:17:44.440 --> 02:17:49.239
eyes and look into his. Just tell me to my face,

2053
02:17:50.280 --> 02:17:52.680
just say it and mean it, and I'll leave you

2054
02:17:52.760 --> 02:17:57.920
right now. Once again, he's challenging me. I don't even

2055
02:17:57.920 --> 02:18:00.000
get to have another attempt. When I feel the tears

2056
02:18:00.239 --> 02:18:04.440
on my face when Drake holds me, I can't help

2057
02:18:04.479 --> 02:18:10.040
holding him back. You deserve better, I persist. When I

2058
02:18:10.079 --> 02:18:14.319
finish crying, Drake has the engagement ring out again again.

2059
02:18:14.399 --> 02:18:16.440
I try to tell Drake to leave me and never

2060
02:18:16.479 --> 02:18:20.399
look back, but the tears come more than ever. It

2061
02:18:20.479 --> 02:18:24.200
hurts more and more each time, thinking of a life

2062
02:18:24.879 --> 02:18:28.399
without Drake. I don't care that you're in here rage,

2063
02:18:28.920 --> 02:18:32.159
Drake tells me again, like he's told me so many

2064
02:18:32.200 --> 02:18:35.799
times before, I can come see you whenever I want.

2065
02:18:35.879 --> 02:18:39.399
I can even stay with you. We should be living

2066
02:18:39.440 --> 02:18:43.360
together in our own place, not here in prison. I

2067
02:18:43.440 --> 02:18:47.680
tell him I don't care where we are. He insists,

2068
02:18:48.159 --> 02:18:51.280
you'll always have me in your life. I'm never letting

2069
02:18:51.319 --> 02:18:55.120
you go. I quickly get off Drake's lap and tighten

2070
02:18:55.159 --> 02:18:58.479
my fists. But what will your family say about you

2071
02:18:58.600 --> 02:19:02.440
marrying a serial killer? I told you how many lives

2072
02:19:02.479 --> 02:19:06.760
I've taken. Drake gets up to confront me. I don't

2073
02:19:06.799 --> 02:19:10.399
care what my family says. I only care about you.

2074
02:19:11.639 --> 02:19:15.360
I really tighten my fists now. I won't let you

2075
02:19:15.479 --> 02:19:19.000
throw away your life on me, Drake. I feel myself

2076
02:19:19.440 --> 02:19:24.440
really shaking now, I'm practically sobbing. Just as I'm about

2077
02:19:24.520 --> 02:19:28.399
to scream for him to leave me, I fall to

2078
02:19:28.440 --> 02:19:33.879
my knees. Drake lowers himself and comforts me, as he's

2079
02:19:33.920 --> 02:19:38.520
also done so many times before. Am I really so

2080
02:19:38.680 --> 02:19:43.440
scared of losing him? Yes? I'm reminded of that again

2081
02:19:43.520 --> 02:19:47.520
when we're kissing. I can't wait any longer. It's when

2082
02:19:47.520 --> 02:19:50.840
I hear CHESSI fastening the locks on my cell that

2083
02:19:50.920 --> 02:19:54.799
she knows we need our alone time. It's once we

2084
02:19:54.840 --> 02:19:58.360
hear her leave and lock that door behind her that

2085
02:19:58.440 --> 02:20:00.920
we quickly work to get each other. There's clothes off

2086
02:20:03.040 --> 02:20:08.000
chapter three, Drake and I are spooned up together under

2087
02:20:08.000 --> 02:20:12.200
the covers and watching TV. I can't help looking at

2088
02:20:12.200 --> 02:20:15.760
the engagement ring again. He placed it on my finger

2089
02:20:15.799 --> 02:20:19.200
and challenged me to take it off. It feels so

2090
02:20:19.360 --> 02:20:23.079
wrong on so many levels, But at the same time,

2091
02:20:23.159 --> 02:20:26.360
I know I can never remove it. I know I

2092
02:20:26.479 --> 02:20:31.000
truly belong to him. You're going straight to hell with me.

2093
02:20:31.600 --> 02:20:35.399
I tell him, you know that, right, If that's where

2094
02:20:35.440 --> 02:20:39.399
we're getting married, then I accept. He tells me. We

2095
02:20:39.520 --> 02:20:43.079
kiss again, Then we get dressed and sit with each other.

2096
02:20:44.120 --> 02:20:47.920
After a time, Chessie comes back in and unlocks my cell.

2097
02:20:49.040 --> 02:20:52.120
When I look to her for an explanation, she reminds

2098
02:20:52.159 --> 02:20:54.520
me that I'm allowed my time to leave my cell.

2099
02:20:55.440 --> 02:20:58.000
Drake's allowed to take me to the rooms designated my

2100
02:20:58.079 --> 02:21:01.920
free spaces. While other prisoners here can access these rooms

2101
02:21:02.000 --> 02:21:04.879
during their times, they're not supposed to know when I'm

2102
02:21:04.920 --> 02:21:08.440
even here. That's why I have my own private area

2103
02:21:08.799 --> 02:21:12.479
and don't have a cellmate. Also, I can access rooms

2104
02:21:12.559 --> 02:21:15.399
like the library because the other prisoners are locked up

2105
02:21:15.440 --> 02:21:18.200
for the night. As long as Drake or Mama is

2106
02:21:18.239 --> 02:21:22.120
with me, a guard doesn't always have to be Drake

2107
02:21:22.159 --> 02:21:25.399
and I head into the library and sit again. He

2108
02:21:25.479 --> 02:21:28.440
tells me he wants to marry me. I tell him

2109
02:21:28.440 --> 02:21:30.959
he knows my answer. Since I can't bring myself to

2110
02:21:30.959 --> 02:21:36.680
remove the ring, I look at it again. I'll go

2111
02:21:36.799 --> 02:21:40.440
straight to hell with you, he promises me, taking and

2112
02:21:40.479 --> 02:21:44.520
holding my hands. Nothing is ever going to separate us,

2113
02:21:45.040 --> 02:21:49.120
not even this prison. I squeeze his hands back. I

2114
02:21:49.239 --> 02:21:52.639
truly do want better for him, but my emotions won't

2115
02:21:52.719 --> 02:21:57.799
let me lose him. I love him way too much. However,

2116
02:21:58.120 --> 02:22:00.319
Drake and I were about to have our love put

2117
02:22:00.360 --> 02:22:04.559
to the test this very night. The test was about

2118
02:22:04.559 --> 02:22:07.719
to start once we got up and started walking around

2119
02:22:07.760 --> 02:22:10.719
the safe rooms again. We walk out into one of

2120
02:22:10.760 --> 02:22:14.360
the hallways and head to the little theater. We go

2121
02:22:14.440 --> 02:22:16.719
in and head up to the projection booth to see

2122
02:22:16.719 --> 02:22:19.879
what we can watch together. Drake and I have watched

2123
02:22:19.920 --> 02:22:23.239
movies in here together before. He tells me he's found

2124
02:22:23.280 --> 02:22:26.040
a good Christmas movie for us to watch and puts

2125
02:22:26.079 --> 02:22:30.079
it in as soon as he turns the digital projector on.

2126
02:22:31.159 --> 02:22:39.760
That's when the terror begins. Chapter four. Drake reaches me

2127
02:22:39.840 --> 02:22:42.840
when he sees me bent over the body of Sherman

2128
02:22:42.959 --> 02:22:46.440
Biggs near the screen. One of the older guards I

2129
02:22:46.479 --> 02:22:50.479
got along with. We had many conversations in the library

2130
02:22:50.479 --> 02:22:55.120
on nights careful rage. Drake warns me, don't let the

2131
02:22:55.159 --> 02:22:58.000
other guards here see her. You can vouch for me,

2132
02:22:58.360 --> 02:23:02.079
I remind him. Quickly, Look at these. I point to

2133
02:23:02.120 --> 02:23:06.520
the two puncture marks on Sherman's neck. This would explain

2134
02:23:06.559 --> 02:23:10.159
why the body's pale. When Drake looks at me, I

2135
02:23:10.200 --> 02:23:13.399
can tell he really doesn't want to believe it. Oh,

2136
02:23:13.440 --> 02:23:15.840
if Mama saw the look on his face right now,

2137
02:23:16.000 --> 02:23:20.120
she'd be given him Hell. Why won't you believe? I ask?

2138
02:23:21.000 --> 02:23:24.440
You've seen vampires for yourself, Drake. Mama and I have

2139
02:23:24.520 --> 02:23:27.399
both proven to you they're real. You were with us

2140
02:23:27.440 --> 02:23:31.239
the night we took down Sheranda Thorn. You've seen vampires

2141
02:23:31.239 --> 02:23:34.440
with your own two eyes. Drake seems to be at

2142
02:23:34.440 --> 02:23:39.000
a loss for words. I groan, annoyed at his continued disbelief.

2143
02:23:39.760 --> 02:23:42.840
If Mama was here right now, she'd slap you upside

2144
02:23:42.840 --> 02:23:46.639
the head. Now he's giving me that look. I know

2145
02:23:46.799 --> 02:23:50.559
Drake's never been comfortable around Mama. He's endured her for

2146
02:23:50.639 --> 02:23:54.600
my sake. I point to Drake, you stay close to me,

2147
02:23:55.680 --> 02:23:59.600
Stay close to you. You're not even armed rage, Drake

2148
02:23:59.680 --> 02:24:04.319
counter pulling his gun. He's right looking around. I can't

2149
02:24:04.360 --> 02:24:06.799
pick up any of the chairs and break them for stakes,

2150
02:24:07.159 --> 02:24:11.479
since they're all metal and attached to the floor. Suddenly

2151
02:24:11.520 --> 02:24:15.159
I have an idea. I grab Drake's hand. Let's go,

2152
02:24:16.040 --> 02:24:19.840
rage Drake protests. I lead Drake through one room after

2153
02:24:19.879 --> 02:24:24.000
another until we come into the chapel. Fortunately, this supposedly

2154
02:24:24.079 --> 02:24:27.799
holy place is open twenty four to seven. I pull

2155
02:24:27.840 --> 02:24:31.760
open the door and we both gasp. There's blood all

2156
02:24:31.799 --> 02:24:34.639
over the altar from the priest who's hanging from the

2157
02:24:34.719 --> 02:24:39.000
large cross overshadowing it. I had a feeling you would

2158
02:24:39.040 --> 02:24:44.440
come here eventually, Reagan Devereaux. A feminine voice calls out.

2159
02:24:45.319 --> 02:24:48.040
We look to see the telltale woman getting up from

2160
02:24:48.040 --> 02:24:52.079
one of the pews and turning to face us. She

2161
02:24:52.239 --> 02:24:55.399
looks like she's in her early forties. I can see

2162
02:24:55.399 --> 02:24:58.760
the facial features and immediately know who this woman is

2163
02:24:58.840 --> 02:25:04.079
related to. Yes, you recognize me, do you not? Then

2164
02:25:04.120 --> 02:25:09.920
she chuckles, you remember my daughter whom you destroyed. Your

2165
02:25:09.959 --> 02:25:16.360
mother took my son. However, Sherandah was my favorite. Maximilian

2166
02:25:16.479 --> 02:25:19.639
was a fool. It was no wonder that he died.

2167
02:25:20.559 --> 02:25:25.079
She points to me. But you you killed my daughter,

2168
02:25:25.280 --> 02:25:30.319
and I must now rectify that by killing you. She

2169
02:25:30.479 --> 02:25:35.600
smiles wickedly. And the man you love. She holds her

2170
02:25:35.639 --> 02:25:39.760
hands outward. Naturally, you came here to seek weapons to

2171
02:25:39.799 --> 02:25:43.799
fight us with. When she sees the look on my face,

2172
02:25:44.399 --> 02:25:48.319
she knows she's got the upper hand. You did not

2173
02:25:48.600 --> 02:25:52.159
think I would come to this prison alone. Oh, I

2174
02:25:52.239 --> 02:25:56.239
will battle with you myself. I just needed my minions

2175
02:25:56.280 --> 02:25:59.399
to make sure it would be just the two of us.

2176
02:26:00.440 --> 02:26:02.760
There are no other guards here to help you now,

2177
02:26:03.719 --> 02:26:06.959
she raises her finger, and you need not worry about

2178
02:26:07.000 --> 02:26:12.280
the prisoners. They shall remain locked in their cells. Ah,

2179
02:26:13.040 --> 02:26:16.479
here they are now. Now I see there are other

2180
02:26:16.639 --> 02:26:21.120
vampires emerging from their hiding places. Their hissing noises and

2181
02:26:21.159 --> 02:26:24.000
their red eyes tell me, Drake and I are going

2182
02:26:24.040 --> 02:26:27.639
to have our hands full. Have you taken care of

2183
02:26:27.799 --> 02:26:32.760
every last guard here? The Thorn Woman asks, we have

2184
02:26:33.639 --> 02:26:38.399
one of the answers. Excellent. Then she looks back at me.

2185
02:26:39.479 --> 02:26:43.719
We shall play a little game, you and I. Suddenly

2186
02:26:43.760 --> 02:26:46.239
she appears right in front of me and knocks me

2187
02:26:46.319 --> 02:26:50.079
on my ass. When Drake raises his gun, she snatches

2188
02:26:50.120 --> 02:26:53.879
it from him and crushes it much to his horror

2189
02:26:53.920 --> 02:26:59.079
and disbelief. Next, she grabs Drake and tosses him to

2190
02:26:59.159 --> 02:27:04.079
her minions. They grab him and keep him with them.

2191
02:27:04.360 --> 02:27:06.639
When I get up, the woman is in my face. Now.

2192
02:27:07.559 --> 02:27:11.520
I could easily kill you right now, but that would

2193
02:27:11.559 --> 02:27:15.200
be far too easy. Miranda would never want me to

2194
02:27:15.319 --> 02:27:19.600
kill you easily. No, I taught her to be more

2195
02:27:19.680 --> 02:27:24.920
ruthless than that. Oh, where are my manners? I know

2196
02:27:25.079 --> 02:27:28.840
your name, but you need to know mine. I believe

2197
02:27:28.920 --> 02:27:32.440
you must know I am a thorn, but you may

2198
02:27:32.520 --> 02:27:38.040
call me Miranda. When she sees me looking uneasily at Drake,

2199
02:27:38.440 --> 02:27:41.840
she turns my attention back to her. You need not

2200
02:27:42.000 --> 02:27:47.120
worry about your lover, Reagan, she addresses her minions. Under

2201
02:27:47.159 --> 02:27:50.440
no circumstances are any of you to harm that mortal

2202
02:27:50.840 --> 02:27:54.360
in any way. He is to be the prize in

2203
02:27:54.440 --> 02:27:59.399
our contest. Am I understood? When I hear the minions

2204
02:27:59.440 --> 02:28:03.440
agree to commands, Miranda turns her attention back to me.

2205
02:28:04.920 --> 02:28:08.319
Here are the rules of our contest. I shall give

2206
02:28:08.360 --> 02:28:13.000
you a fifteen minute head start. From there, I shall

2207
02:28:13.040 --> 02:28:16.600
hunt you down myself. My underlings will keep your lover

2208
02:28:16.760 --> 02:28:21.239
safe and secure. You have until the end of Christmas Eve.

2209
02:28:22.399 --> 02:28:25.840
Just under three hours, if you are still alive at

2210
02:28:25.840 --> 02:28:29.440
the stroke of midnight, or in the unlikely event that

2211
02:28:29.520 --> 02:28:34.079
you and me, both you and your lover have earned

2212
02:28:34.120 --> 02:28:39.440
your freedom and your lives. However, when I find and

2213
02:28:39.559 --> 02:28:43.879
destroy you, then my reward shall be both vengeance for

2214
02:28:44.000 --> 02:28:48.559
my daughter, and I shall lay claim to your lover

2215
02:28:48.920 --> 02:28:54.000
by siring him and making him my new husband. Then,

2216
02:28:54.079 --> 02:28:58.520
Miranda laughs coldly. The fear on both of you is

2217
02:28:58.559 --> 02:29:03.920
so ripeically taste it on my own tongue. She points

2218
02:29:03.959 --> 02:29:09.120
to the clock. Your fifteen minute head start begins. Now,

2219
02:29:09.959 --> 02:29:14.000
if I were you, Reagan, I'd be taking every advantage

2220
02:29:14.520 --> 02:29:18.920
of that time. I have no choice. Fortunately, I know

2221
02:29:19.040 --> 02:29:21.680
enough about glen View to have an advantage over these

2222
02:29:22.079 --> 02:29:25.959
blood sucking freaks. I just know I have to save Drake.

2223
02:29:26.760 --> 02:29:32.600
I turn around and run out of the chapel. Chapter five.

2224
02:29:34.239 --> 02:29:36.760
It doesn't take me long to find some tools to

2225
02:29:36.840 --> 02:29:39.799
help me. I came across a few of the bodies

2226
02:29:39.840 --> 02:29:43.239
of the guards. Naranda wasn't lying when she said her

2227
02:29:43.280 --> 02:29:47.159
minions took them all down. They're all pale, which means

2228
02:29:47.200 --> 02:29:50.559
they were drained of their blood. I find keys and

2229
02:29:50.719 --> 02:29:53.360
key cards on the first guard. On the next one,

2230
02:29:53.399 --> 02:29:56.079
I find a gun and take it. I won't be

2231
02:29:56.120 --> 02:29:58.120
able to use it against Aranda or any of the

2232
02:29:58.159 --> 02:30:01.399
other vampires, but it's better to have a gun than

2233
02:30:01.479 --> 02:30:05.719
have nothing at all. I won't let Miranda take me unarmed.

2234
02:30:06.399 --> 02:30:08.680
If I go down against her, then I'm going down

2235
02:30:08.719 --> 02:30:12.440
knowing I was fighting. I've been counting the time in

2236
02:30:12.479 --> 02:30:16.280
my mind. So far i haven't seen her. When I

2237
02:30:16.319 --> 02:30:18.840
come into the gymnasium, I see the big clock on

2238
02:30:18.879 --> 02:30:22.760
the middle wall and see Nearanda has kept her word.

2239
02:30:23.559 --> 02:30:26.360
I've got one minute left before she'll start pursuing me.

2240
02:30:27.239 --> 02:30:30.559
I'm shaking as I'm trying to keep my focus. I've

2241
02:30:30.600 --> 02:30:33.719
never gotten used to the feeling of fear. I hate

2242
02:30:33.760 --> 02:30:37.360
to admit it, but I'm really scared. I'm scared that

2243
02:30:37.440 --> 02:30:40.959
Miranda will kill me, but I'm more afraid she'll make

2244
02:30:41.000 --> 02:30:45.399
good on her promise to Drake. The fifteen minutes are up. Now,

2245
02:30:45.920 --> 02:30:49.799
Nearanda lets me know when I hear the long shrill whistle.

2246
02:30:50.920 --> 02:30:54.079
Hard to believe that vampire kept her word. I'll have

2247
02:30:54.159 --> 02:30:57.959
to consider the possibility that she may be a master vampire.

2248
02:30:58.479 --> 02:31:00.520
If she is, then I'll have to both stake her

2249
02:31:00.600 --> 02:31:04.399
and cut her head off. Then I remember telling Drake

2250
02:31:04.440 --> 02:31:06.600
how Mama would have slapped him upside the head for

2251
02:31:06.639 --> 02:31:10.959
his disbelief. Mama would give me hell if she knew

2252
02:31:11.000 --> 02:31:13.680
I wasn't thinking straight and not calling upon the lessons

2253
02:31:13.680 --> 02:31:18.200
about vampires and other supernatural beings she taught me. No,

2254
02:31:19.200 --> 02:31:21.959
Mama's not going to find my dead body. I'm not

2255
02:31:22.079 --> 02:31:25.719
going to let Mama down again, not like this. Mama

2256
02:31:25.760 --> 02:31:28.280
taught me better than that. I'm not going to let

2257
02:31:28.360 --> 02:31:31.600
the man I love down either. I may not have

2258
02:31:31.680 --> 02:31:36.840
the bloodlust anymore, but that doesn't count against vampires. They're

2259
02:31:36.879 --> 02:31:41.639
already dead. I still have my highly photographic memory. I

2260
02:31:41.719 --> 02:31:45.200
still remember each in every kill I've ever done, how

2261
02:31:45.239 --> 02:31:49.200
they died, what date, and what I destroyed them for.

2262
02:31:50.040 --> 02:31:54.079
I remember everything Mama taught me regarding the supernatural. My

2263
02:31:54.239 --> 02:31:58.000
mind is how I'll destroy you, Neranda. Just as I'm

2264
02:31:58.000 --> 02:32:01.120
contemplating a plan, I hear some clacking on the floor.

2265
02:32:01.159 --> 02:32:03.879
As I reached the end of a long hall, I

2266
02:32:04.000 --> 02:32:07.239
turn and see a large wolf looking right at me,

2267
02:32:08.120 --> 02:32:11.639
and no, it's Neranda. She changed into a wolf and

2268
02:32:11.680 --> 02:32:15.559
tracked me down by my scent. The wolf growls and

2269
02:32:15.639 --> 02:32:19.239
runs swiftly towards me. I'm ready to turn and run.

2270
02:32:20.680 --> 02:32:24.440
But I don't have to do I. In that moment,

2271
02:32:24.479 --> 02:32:27.360
I lose my fear and look right at Miranda as

2272
02:32:27.360 --> 02:32:31.440
she's closing the gap between us. I've got grim determination

2273
02:32:31.639 --> 02:32:35.920
now and know how I'm winning this round. That's it, Queenie,

2274
02:32:36.520 --> 02:32:39.360
just keep on coming. I'll show you how I've dealt

2275
02:32:39.360 --> 02:32:43.600
with bad dogs. In fact, a very bad dog was

2276
02:32:43.600 --> 02:32:46.760
my first kill. A very bad dog was how I

2277
02:32:46.879 --> 02:32:50.959
learned I was a serial killer. Just as Miranda is

2278
02:32:51.000 --> 02:32:53.360
ready to leap up and at me, I drop my

2279
02:32:53.440 --> 02:32:56.120
gun and suddenly snatch her and drive her right to

2280
02:32:56.200 --> 02:32:59.520
the floor. Just as quickly, she springs back to her

2281
02:32:59.520 --> 02:33:02.280
feet and bites me on the wrist. Even though I

2282
02:33:02.319 --> 02:33:06.319
no longer have my bloodlust, I still feel very little pain.

2283
02:33:07.399 --> 02:33:10.319
This is a double edged sword for me. I just

2284
02:33:10.360 --> 02:33:13.200
told you the positive side. The negative is that I

2285
02:33:13.200 --> 02:33:16.079
can become injured and not know it, which means I

2286
02:33:16.120 --> 02:33:21.799
can potentially bleed to death. Now I'm mad. Wow, I

2287
02:33:21.840 --> 02:33:25.239
really love being mad. I'm wishing I could have felt

2288
02:33:25.239 --> 02:33:28.159
this emotion much sooner. I'm so mad right now that

2289
02:33:28.239 --> 02:33:31.559
I roar and kick Neranda hard in her chest enough

2290
02:33:31.600 --> 02:33:34.520
to make her break her hold on my wrist while

2291
02:33:34.559 --> 02:33:37.200
she's stunned. I lower myself to take hold of the

2292
02:33:37.239 --> 02:33:39.920
back of her head and her muzzle and snap her

2293
02:33:39.959 --> 02:33:45.200
head hard enough to hear her neck break. Miranda yelps

2294
02:33:46.079 --> 02:33:50.680
and goes limp. No, I haven't defeated her, but I

2295
02:33:50.760 --> 02:33:54.440
have temporarily stunned her and bought myself a little time.

2296
02:33:55.520 --> 02:33:58.920
I spring and slide the door shut before I run again.

2297
02:34:00.159 --> 02:34:02.479
I know these doors are sealed enough to prevent smoke

2298
02:34:02.520 --> 02:34:06.000
from penetrating them, which happened many years ago when prisoners

2299
02:34:06.000 --> 02:34:10.200
got loose and rioted. This was long before I was born,

2300
02:34:10.280 --> 02:34:14.120
by the way, Also, Mama was at university and wasn't

2301
02:34:14.159 --> 02:34:18.520
in North Ridgeway around that time. I'm already concocting another

2302
02:34:18.600 --> 02:34:22.079
plan and am finalizing the details when I hear the

2303
02:34:22.120 --> 02:34:25.600
sliding door give way Nearanda had to have returned to

2304
02:34:25.600 --> 02:34:28.280
her human form after she healed from her neck injury.

2305
02:34:29.360 --> 02:34:32.719
She either snapped the locks on the sliding door or

2306
02:34:32.879 --> 02:34:36.479
she warped past it. As long as Naranda can't see me,

2307
02:34:37.159 --> 02:34:41.239
she can't warp right to me. Unfortunately, turning off all

2308
02:34:41.239 --> 02:34:45.000
the lights won't help me since she has vampire vision.

2309
02:34:46.159 --> 02:34:49.520
I hear clacking on the floor again and know she's

2310
02:34:49.600 --> 02:34:53.239
returned to her wolf form, likely tracking my blood this

2311
02:34:53.399 --> 02:34:58.479
time precisely what I was counting on. In fact, Miranda,

2312
02:34:58.959 --> 02:35:02.760
I already know how I'm going to defeat you. At least. Yes,

2313
02:35:02.879 --> 02:35:05.680
you kept your word by giving me a fifteen minute

2314
02:35:05.719 --> 02:35:08.719
head start that you promised, but that doesn't mean you'll

2315
02:35:08.799 --> 02:35:11.559
keep your word about releasing Drake when I defeat you,

2316
02:35:12.239 --> 02:35:15.239
and trust me when I say, your punishment shall most

2317
02:35:15.319 --> 02:35:21.680
certainly fit the crime. Like I said, you're dead, even

2318
02:35:21.719 --> 02:35:25.719
though I no longer have my insistent bloodlust commanding me

2319
02:35:25.799 --> 02:35:28.879
to take lives from before. I don't have to feel

2320
02:35:28.879 --> 02:35:33.680
guilty about killing you since you're not alive. But in

2321
02:35:33.760 --> 02:35:36.680
order for me to accomplish my objective and defeat you

2322
02:35:37.000 --> 02:35:40.360
and your minions, I have to get to one specific

2323
02:35:40.440 --> 02:35:45.159
area of the prison. It'll be there where we finish

2324
02:35:45.200 --> 02:35:48.959
our game. I run down a couple flights of stairs

2325
02:35:49.000 --> 02:35:51.120
to get to the ground floor and head to the

2326
02:35:51.200 --> 02:35:54.680
laundry room. When I get inside, I quickly remove my

2327
02:35:54.799 --> 02:35:58.799
clothes underwear too. First, I take care of my bites

2328
02:35:58.840 --> 02:36:03.319
by rinsing them out and using clean cloths to bandage them. Now,

2329
02:36:03.360 --> 02:36:05.200
I grab some dirty clothes out of one of the

2330
02:36:05.319 --> 02:36:10.520
washpiles and quickly put them on. These clothes really stink,

2331
02:36:10.959 --> 02:36:13.280
but they may be enough to conceal my own scent.

2332
02:36:14.159 --> 02:36:17.280
After slipping my feet into shoes, I find I get

2333
02:36:17.319 --> 02:36:21.000
out of the laundry room and resume my destination. A

2334
02:36:21.040 --> 02:36:25.600
few moments later, I hear a loud, shrill scream sounds

2335
02:36:25.600 --> 02:36:29.040
to me like Nearanda's lost my scent. I know I

2336
02:36:29.040 --> 02:36:32.200
can't gloat too much. Nearanda knows other ways she can

2337
02:36:32.239 --> 02:36:36.079
pick me up again. She's been a vampire for far

2338
02:36:36.159 --> 02:36:41.040
too long to not have other means of detection, including

2339
02:36:41.120 --> 02:36:47.559
picking up the smell of my blood again. Chapter six,

2340
02:36:48.879 --> 02:36:52.239
I'm proven right. When I go to cross through another hallway.

2341
02:36:53.040 --> 02:36:56.399
I'm about to shut that sliding door behind me when

2342
02:36:56.440 --> 02:37:01.280
I feel Neranda's close. Suddenly the door or comes flying away.

2343
02:37:01.959 --> 02:37:04.840
Miranda gasps with either happiness that I'm giving her a

2344
02:37:04.959 --> 02:37:08.680
challenge or that she's finally caught up to me. Who

2345
02:37:08.680 --> 02:37:13.040
can say, Please, do not make this easy for me, Reagan,

2346
02:37:13.559 --> 02:37:16.440
She says, I still wish to have fun with you.

2347
02:37:17.239 --> 02:37:22.760
She licks her lips, and your blood tastes just delicious.

2348
02:37:23.440 --> 02:37:25.719
I was hoping I wouldn't have to use these yet,

2349
02:37:25.959 --> 02:37:29.200
I tell her but you're not leaving me with much choice.

2350
02:37:29.760 --> 02:37:32.319
I step up to her as she's putting her hands

2351
02:37:32.319 --> 02:37:34.920
on my arms. I grab the neck of her form

2352
02:37:35.000 --> 02:37:37.639
fitting dress and pull it open to drop what's in

2353
02:37:37.680 --> 02:37:42.319
my hand inside. Miranda shrieks and screams when she feels

2354
02:37:42.360 --> 02:37:45.040
the holy wafers. I manage to snap up at the

2355
02:37:45.040 --> 02:37:49.000
bloody altar burning her flesh. Both her skin and the

2356
02:37:49.120 --> 02:37:52.479
gown are aflame. Since she's going to have to sort

2357
02:37:52.520 --> 02:37:55.959
that out, I've got time to run again. I don't

2358
02:37:56.000 --> 02:37:58.159
know how much time I'm going to have before Noranda

2359
02:37:58.239 --> 02:38:01.120
will be back to hunting me again. I can see

2360
02:38:01.120 --> 02:38:04.200
the blood from my wrists soaking through my makeshift bandage.

2361
02:38:04.719 --> 02:38:08.159
She'll smell that again and easily pick up the trail. Also,

2362
02:38:08.639 --> 02:38:11.120
since she got close enough to me, she'll know the

2363
02:38:11.159 --> 02:38:14.840
scent of these stinky clothes. Fortunately, I'm almost where I

2364
02:38:14.879 --> 02:38:17.920
need to get to. I reach the women's shower room.

2365
02:38:18.360 --> 02:38:20.639
Before I go in, I quickly get naked and turn

2366
02:38:20.639 --> 02:38:22.879
on the water to hear all the nozzles fire up

2367
02:38:22.920 --> 02:38:26.239
at once. I walk inside and stand underneath a spray

2368
02:38:26.280 --> 02:38:29.840
of steamy water at the back center. When Miranda enters

2369
02:38:29.879 --> 02:38:33.799
and sees me, Oh, the look of confusion on her face.

2370
02:38:34.639 --> 02:38:38.159
What is the meaning of this, Reagan? She asks? Then

2371
02:38:38.239 --> 02:38:43.239
she smirks, are you Are you offering yourself to me

2372
02:38:44.040 --> 02:38:48.280
to save your lover? Is that what you really think?

2373
02:38:48.879 --> 02:38:51.879
I murmur, running my hands from the front to the

2374
02:38:51.920 --> 02:38:56.760
rear of my long, wet, dirty blonde hair. She's really

2375
02:38:56.879 --> 02:39:00.600
confused now when I raise my finger for her to see. Next,

2376
02:39:00.639 --> 02:39:04.040
I move my finger to my neck and trace down

2377
02:39:04.200 --> 02:39:07.559
in between my large breasts all the way to my

2378
02:39:07.639 --> 02:39:11.559
belly button. Then I trace my finger across my skin,

2379
02:39:12.520 --> 02:39:16.959
just underneath my breasts. The water continues to spray down

2380
02:39:17.000 --> 02:39:20.440
on me as I just stand there and wait for her.

2381
02:39:21.479 --> 02:39:25.159
I'm all yours, Miranda. I tell her all you have

2382
02:39:25.239 --> 02:39:29.159
to do is just join me in the shower. Then

2383
02:39:29.200 --> 02:39:34.000
I smirk, if you can. She's still not sure what

2384
02:39:34.040 --> 02:39:37.680
I've got in mind, but she walks towards me. The

2385
02:39:37.760 --> 02:39:41.159
showers are wetting her down. It's when she starts to

2386
02:39:41.200 --> 02:39:44.319
come under my spray that she suddenly cries out in

2387
02:39:44.399 --> 02:39:47.600
pain and hisses as she gets away from me. What

2388
02:39:47.799 --> 02:39:51.360
is this, she demands? Then she tries to come and

2389
02:39:51.399 --> 02:39:55.239
grab me again. Like before, her skin burns when the

2390
02:39:55.280 --> 02:39:58.639
water spraying from my nozzle touches her as for me,

2391
02:39:59.399 --> 02:40:02.600
I'm fine. The water's warm to hot, but not burning

2392
02:40:02.639 --> 02:40:06.920
me in the slightest. In fact, the water feels very relaxing.

2393
02:40:07.520 --> 02:40:11.120
Miranda tries grabbing me a couple more times. In determination,

2394
02:40:11.319 --> 02:40:13.959
she warps behind me and wraps her arms around me.

2395
02:40:14.479 --> 02:40:17.280
I cry out when she sinks her fangs into me again,

2396
02:40:17.840 --> 02:40:20.680
this time at my shoulder. She holds on for as

2397
02:40:20.719 --> 02:40:23.520
long as she can as she drinks from me. I

2398
02:40:23.559 --> 02:40:26.760
can actually feel the pain of her fangs in my flesh.

2399
02:40:27.159 --> 02:40:32.079
But why does this feel so wonderful? I think I

2400
02:40:32.159 --> 02:40:35.920
love pain. Miranda can't hold onto me anymore, since she's

2401
02:40:35.959 --> 02:40:38.440
in way more pain from the water than what she's

2402
02:40:38.479 --> 02:40:42.000
giving me. She finally lets go and warps away from

2403
02:40:42.000 --> 02:40:47.600
my shower spray shit, I'm bleeding again, Neranda glares at

2404
02:40:47.600 --> 02:40:51.079
me now, much to my surprise, she's not the least

2405
02:40:51.159 --> 02:40:55.639
bit angry with me. Yes, you are giving me quite

2406
02:40:55.639 --> 02:41:00.799
the challenge, Reagan Devereux, She licks her lips. Your blood

2407
02:41:00.920 --> 02:41:04.639
is so incredibly delicious. I think I may just keep

2408
02:41:04.680 --> 02:41:08.799
you and drink from you on special occasions. Perhaps you

2409
02:41:08.879 --> 02:41:12.159
shall be the special reserve label blood. I drink after

2410
02:41:12.239 --> 02:41:16.120
I marry your man. I can see the steam coming

2411
02:41:16.159 --> 02:41:19.920
off of her burning skin. How are you able to

2412
02:41:19.959 --> 02:41:23.920
be safe from me under your shower? It's not this

2413
02:41:24.120 --> 02:41:27.920
shower alone, I inform her. It's any shower I happen

2414
02:41:28.000 --> 02:41:31.280
to stand underneath. I start to close up my chosen

2415
02:41:31.360 --> 02:41:34.520
vampire trap when I leave the nozzle I'm under and

2416
02:41:34.600 --> 02:41:40.000
move to another. See for yourself. Miranda cautiously moves to

2417
02:41:40.040 --> 02:41:44.200
the nozzle I was underneath. Sure enough, her skin's not

2418
02:41:44.319 --> 02:41:48.079
burning under that spray now. Yet she comes too close

2419
02:41:48.120 --> 02:41:51.120
to the spray I'm now underneath, and her skin is

2420
02:41:51.200 --> 02:41:55.840
burning again. She curses me, but is oddly happy at

2421
02:41:55.879 --> 02:41:59.120
the same time. I quickly move to the shower entrance,

2422
02:41:59.159 --> 02:42:02.600
where there are two heavy spraying nozzles. I squat down

2423
02:42:02.639 --> 02:42:04.799
and make the sign of the Cross on the floors. There.

2424
02:42:05.200 --> 02:42:07.280
I make my way around to each of the other

2425
02:42:07.399 --> 02:42:11.680
sprays and make the same sign underneath them. Miranda tries

2426
02:42:11.760 --> 02:42:14.040
to stop me, but has to keep away since the

2427
02:42:14.079 --> 02:42:18.360
water's spraying on me is deadly to her. You think

2428
02:42:18.399 --> 02:42:24.120
you can just seal me in here like this, Noranda yells, exactly.

2429
02:42:24.479 --> 02:42:27.680
I tell her, every shower nozzle in here is deadly

2430
02:42:27.760 --> 02:42:31.959
holy water to you now. In fact, I even disinfected

2431
02:42:32.000 --> 02:42:35.360
my wounds with it. You hurt me, Miranda, but I'm

2432
02:42:35.399 --> 02:42:38.600
sure my pain's nowhere near to what you're feeling right now.

2433
02:42:38.959 --> 02:42:41.360
In fact, I don't even think you could turn into

2434
02:42:41.440 --> 02:42:45.000
mist to be able to escape my trap. Noranda falls

2435
02:42:45.040 --> 02:42:48.079
to her knees. She's not directly under the nozzles, but

2436
02:42:48.120 --> 02:42:50.559
the steam is too much for her. Her skin is

2437
02:42:50.600 --> 02:42:53.600
as red as a lobster's shell. She tries to change

2438
02:42:53.600 --> 02:42:57.000
into a wolf, then a bat. She howls with pain

2439
02:42:57.079 --> 02:43:00.440
before she returns to her human form and fall flat

2440
02:43:00.440 --> 02:43:04.719
on her face and chest on the floor. Now it's

2441
02:43:04.760 --> 02:43:10.879
time to prepare her for old time's sake. Chapter seven,

2442
02:43:12.319 --> 02:43:15.399
Miranda wakes up and finds herself secured to a table

2443
02:43:15.440 --> 02:43:18.799
in the infirmary. She tries to sit up, but finds

2444
02:43:18.920 --> 02:43:22.959
she can't move. Like your daughter before you, I've bound

2445
02:43:23.000 --> 02:43:26.879
you with a crucifix. I tell her you're mine now.

2446
02:43:27.879 --> 02:43:30.920
Miranda is still badly burned from being in holy water

2447
02:43:31.000 --> 02:43:35.559
showers with me. As for me, I'm dry now aside

2448
02:43:35.559 --> 02:43:39.079
from my hair. She looks up at me now, Like

2449
02:43:39.159 --> 02:43:42.520
Shiranda Thorn before her, she tries using her glam on me.

2450
02:43:43.440 --> 02:43:46.600
Then she sees my eyes glowing red, the way Shiranda

2451
02:43:46.840 --> 02:43:50.040
and so many of my other victims before her have seen.

2452
02:43:51.479 --> 02:43:56.000
What are you, Neranda demands, you cannot possibly be a

2453
02:43:56.079 --> 02:43:59.239
human woman. I can feel you're evil, emitting from your

2454
02:43:59.360 --> 02:44:03.000
very eye. I wonder if I'll ever understand why my

2455
02:44:03.120 --> 02:44:07.000
victims think I'm so evil. And then I put my

2456
02:44:07.079 --> 02:44:09.639
hands on the pit of my stomach and feel my

2457
02:44:09.719 --> 02:44:16.040
familiar passenger. I moan softly, knowing my bloodlust has returned.

2458
02:44:17.120 --> 02:44:22.600
Coupled with my new emotions, it feels just amazing. I

2459
02:44:22.639 --> 02:44:25.680
want more than anything to put Nearanda to death and

2460
02:44:25.799 --> 02:44:30.200
claim her. Now, Nearanda sees the plaques displaying the pictures

2461
02:44:30.239 --> 02:44:33.719
of the dead guards I found. You and your minions

2462
02:44:33.760 --> 02:44:36.760
have killed these people. Many of them had families who

2463
02:44:36.879 --> 02:44:40.520
loved them a great deal. I understand your vile nature

2464
02:44:40.559 --> 02:44:45.479
as a vampire, but in my eyes, you're all vicious murderers.

2465
02:44:46.040 --> 02:44:49.159
You even tried to take my love from me, regardless

2466
02:44:49.159 --> 02:44:51.319
of whether you ever planned on keeping your word and

2467
02:44:51.399 --> 02:44:54.799
letting him go. I will not be letting you go.

2468
02:44:55.600 --> 02:44:58.520
Like your daughter before you. You're going to die by

2469
02:44:58.600 --> 02:45:03.920
my hands. Shortly, Miranda opens her mouth to show her fangs.

2470
02:45:04.440 --> 02:45:07.520
My family will never stop coming for you, Reagan Devereux.

2471
02:45:07.719 --> 02:45:10.040
If you kill me here today, you will have enemies

2472
02:45:10.040 --> 02:45:12.799
at every turn. The house of Thorn is a great one.

2473
02:45:13.479 --> 02:45:15.440
Allow me to live, and I shall bring you into

2474
02:45:15.479 --> 02:45:19.600
my house. You would be greatly worshiped for your abilities

2475
02:45:19.840 --> 02:45:23.920
as a prolific killer alone. I consider her a moment.

2476
02:45:24.879 --> 02:45:28.360
Then I tell her, perhaps if you would have approached

2477
02:45:28.399 --> 02:45:30.920
me years ago when I was a child and raised

2478
02:45:30.920 --> 02:45:34.639
me yourself, I might have been as your offering. But

2479
02:45:34.799 --> 02:45:37.920
I was raised by a good and wonderful person who

2480
02:45:37.959 --> 02:45:40.559
taught me to be a good girl and instilled her

2481
02:45:40.639 --> 02:45:43.600
values in me. She even taught me her ways of

2482
02:45:43.639 --> 02:45:47.639
dealing with your kind. I can never take innocence. I

2483
02:45:47.760 --> 02:45:52.200
just can't do it. No, you will die here today.

2484
02:45:52.440 --> 02:45:54.879
If your family comes for me, then they come for me.

2485
02:45:55.799 --> 02:45:59.799
None of us will live forever, nor are we promised tomorrow.

2486
02:46:01.639 --> 02:46:05.639
You are a fool to refuse my offer, Reagan. Noranda

2487
02:46:05.719 --> 02:46:11.959
yells a fool, But today you're the fool, I remind her,

2488
02:46:12.440 --> 02:46:14.639
Or have you suddenly forgotten what I'm about to do

2489
02:46:14.760 --> 02:46:18.000
to you. I reach over to my instruments and pick

2490
02:46:18.079 --> 02:46:21.079
up one of the sharp wooden steaks I made, and

2491
02:46:21.159 --> 02:46:28.879
now Neiranda Thorn let the punishment fit the crime. When

2492
02:46:28.959 --> 02:46:31.879
I raise the steak, she yells for me to stop.

2493
02:46:32.479 --> 02:46:36.440
I do for a moment. Then she asks me how

2494
02:46:36.479 --> 02:46:39.360
I was able to make those showers spray holy water.

2495
02:46:40.040 --> 02:46:42.520
She tells me I must at least tell her that,

2496
02:46:43.559 --> 02:46:47.840
but I don't, and bring the steak right down, hard

2497
02:46:48.399 --> 02:46:53.280
and fast. Nearanda screams when the steak pierces her heart

2498
02:46:53.319 --> 02:46:57.840
from the front to the back. I wait until she

2499
02:46:57.959 --> 02:47:04.239
finally dies. However, her body doesn't immediately start burning into ash,

2500
02:47:04.840 --> 02:47:10.200
which means Neranda Thorn had lived long enough to become

2501
02:47:11.120 --> 02:47:14.680
a master vampire. I pick up the blade I made

2502
02:47:14.680 --> 02:47:17.159
in the maintenance shop a block away and use it

2503
02:47:17.879 --> 02:47:20.920
to decapitate her. I grab her hair and lift her

2504
02:47:20.959 --> 02:47:25.440
head up high. Feeling both my emotions and my bloodlust together.

2505
02:47:26.120 --> 02:47:29.159
I've never been more excited. I've just killed my first

2506
02:47:29.200 --> 02:47:32.719
ever master vampire. Mama will be so proud of me.

2507
02:47:33.600 --> 02:47:38.120
I think I'm even crying with joy now. So how

2508
02:47:38.120 --> 02:47:41.639
did I make the shower spray holy water? Well? When

2509
02:47:41.639 --> 02:47:45.639
I turned eighteen, Mama had me do something really strange.

2510
02:47:45.719 --> 02:47:48.719
She made me sign up online to become an ordained minister.

2511
02:47:49.799 --> 02:47:52.399
Mama and I don't believe in the existence of God

2512
02:47:52.559 --> 02:47:56.159
or Satan, but she explained that using artifacts of the

2513
02:47:56.200 --> 02:47:59.360
holy and being a minister doesn't mean faith in God.

2514
02:47:59.440 --> 02:48:02.360
It means believing that these weapons can protect you against

2515
02:48:02.360 --> 02:48:06.479
the beings who are vulnerable to them. Now do you understand.

2516
02:48:07.079 --> 02:48:09.799
I simply blessed myself and the spots on the floor

2517
02:48:09.840 --> 02:48:13.280
in the shower to turn the water holy. Like I said,

2518
02:48:13.879 --> 02:48:18.280
Mama taught baby well, but today I learned a valuable

2519
02:48:18.360 --> 02:48:21.719
lesson that the master vampire had just killed taught me

2520
02:48:22.479 --> 02:48:26.040
before I ended her. I know what I need to do.

2521
02:48:26.159 --> 02:48:30.159
Now it's time for me to go find Drake and

2522
02:48:30.280 --> 02:48:35.760
show Nearanda's minions that she's lost our contest. After placing

2523
02:48:35.799 --> 02:48:39.680
Nearanda's body in the incinerator, I gathered the stakes I made,

2524
02:48:40.159 --> 02:48:43.879
armed myself with a few crosses, and pocketed several bottles

2525
02:48:43.879 --> 02:48:47.159
of holy water. I'll go down fighting if that's what

2526
02:48:47.200 --> 02:48:52.120
those vampires want. I secure Miranda's head and carry it

2527
02:48:52.159 --> 02:48:59.639
in my hand. I'm coming for you, Drake. Chapter eight.

2528
02:49:04.040 --> 02:49:06.399
You're never going to believe this. I returned to the

2529
02:49:06.479 --> 02:49:08.840
chapel ready for the fight of my life. I was

2530
02:49:08.879 --> 02:49:13.399
truly ready to die to save Drake. I came into

2531
02:49:13.479 --> 02:49:16.440
the chapel and held up Neranda's head for her minions

2532
02:49:16.479 --> 02:49:21.360
to see. Your master is mine, I yelled, honor the

2533
02:49:21.440 --> 02:49:24.479
bargain and let Drake go, or come out here and

2534
02:49:24.520 --> 02:49:28.680
fight me yourselves to keep him. My bloodlust is really

2535
02:49:28.799 --> 02:49:32.280
hungry for more vampires, but it would not get any

2536
02:49:32.319 --> 02:49:37.280
more today. The bodies of Miranda's minions, or rather their

2537
02:49:37.319 --> 02:49:43.280
ashen remains, are everywhere. I do find Drake behind the altar, unconscious.

2538
02:49:43.920 --> 02:49:46.559
I check him over and see he's not bitten, even

2539
02:49:46.680 --> 02:49:51.040
using a mirror to see his reflection. Knowing he wasn't sired,

2540
02:49:51.079 --> 02:49:54.600
I shake him awake as he struggles to come too.

2541
02:49:54.719 --> 02:49:57.559
I know that he was glamed. I look around to

2542
02:49:57.559 --> 02:50:00.239
see if there are any other vampires waiting to attack,

2543
02:50:01.360 --> 02:50:06.559
but they don't. Rage Drake utters, Are you all right?

2544
02:50:06.920 --> 02:50:10.879
I ask, helping him to his feet. Drake gasps when

2545
02:50:10.920 --> 02:50:14.920
he sees Miranda's head on the altar. Then he sees

2546
02:50:14.959 --> 02:50:17.479
the look on my face and knows what I'm about

2547
02:50:17.520 --> 02:50:23.399
to say isn't going to be good. Rage, he utters again.

2548
02:50:24.680 --> 02:50:28.000
I look him in the eyes. I'm not going to

2549
02:50:28.000 --> 02:50:33.159
marry you. Drake. In fact, it's over between you and me.

2550
02:50:34.319 --> 02:50:37.440
I really do mean it this time. I remove the

2551
02:50:37.479 --> 02:50:42.760
engagement ring and place it in his hand. But rage,

2552
02:50:43.000 --> 02:50:46.840
he stammers. He doesn't see me cry like I've done

2553
02:50:46.840 --> 02:50:50.040
many times before when I couldn't allow myself to be

2554
02:50:50.079 --> 02:50:55.719
separated from him. Go and live your life, Drake, Kasmarak.

2555
02:50:56.399 --> 02:50:59.399
I tell him, I'm going to be in this prison

2556
02:50:59.440 --> 02:51:02.440
for the rest of my natural life, and that's not

2557
02:51:02.559 --> 02:51:05.559
fair to you. While you were able to come and

2558
02:51:05.639 --> 02:51:08.040
visit me here and even spend nights with me, you

2559
02:51:08.079 --> 02:51:12.920
can't ultimately live here with me. Ultimately you won't want

2560
02:51:12.959 --> 02:51:17.440
to live with me. I've taken far too many lives.

2561
02:51:17.840 --> 02:51:21.120
I don't even know if I'm human or not. I

2562
02:51:21.280 --> 02:51:26.840
just killed this master vampire, and I loved it. I

2563
02:51:26.879 --> 02:51:30.840
step away from Drake. I mean it. Leave here now

2564
02:51:30.879 --> 02:51:34.760
and go live your life, find yourself another mate to

2565
02:51:34.799 --> 02:51:38.360
be happy with. All I'll ever bring you is misery.

2566
02:51:39.799 --> 02:51:42.239
You may not think so now, but over time you're

2567
02:51:42.239 --> 02:51:45.079
going to wish you'd never met me, or did you

2568
02:51:45.120 --> 02:51:47.760
forget why you came looking for me in the first place.

2569
02:51:48.479 --> 02:51:54.159
I tighten my fists and scream I killed any judge now,

2570
02:51:54.239 --> 02:51:56.440
Drake is finally looking at me the way I knew

2571
02:51:56.440 --> 02:51:59.680
he would. I can see some contempt on his face.

2572
02:52:01.200 --> 02:52:05.639
I killed Annie Judge. I repeat, I will never regret

2573
02:52:05.760 --> 02:52:08.440
killing her, Drake, you and I both know why she

2574
02:52:08.559 --> 02:52:12.520
deserved to die. In fact, I will never regret killing

2575
02:52:12.559 --> 02:52:16.479
any of my victims. I grab and raise Miranda's head again,

2576
02:52:17.360 --> 02:52:22.920
including this master vampire. I glare at him now. He

2577
02:52:23.000 --> 02:52:25.719
gasps when he sees how red my eyes have become.

2578
02:52:27.319 --> 02:52:31.520
Don't you understand I'll never be your perfect mate, I'll

2579
02:52:31.520 --> 02:52:34.319
never be a normal woman, and you deserve so much,

2580
02:52:35.319 --> 02:52:38.239
so much better than me. I put the head back

2581
02:52:38.280 --> 02:52:43.280
on the altar. I release you, Drake, go and live

2582
02:52:43.319 --> 02:52:46.920
the rest of your life. Hopefully you'll be able to

2583
02:52:46.920 --> 02:52:50.799
find someone who can truly make you happy. You're a

2584
02:52:50.840 --> 02:52:56.360
good man, but I am not a good woman. I

2585
02:52:56.440 --> 02:52:58.760
told you a long time ago that I'm damaged and

2586
02:52:58.799 --> 02:53:02.840
can never be made whole again. Leave me now and

2587
02:53:02.920 --> 02:53:07.920
never return here to see me ever again. In fact,

2588
02:53:08.959 --> 02:53:11.559
I will leave instructions that you are banned from seeing

2589
02:53:11.600 --> 02:53:14.959
me unless it's for a case you absolutely need my

2590
02:53:15.040 --> 02:53:19.479
help on. Drake doesn't say anything to me. I know

2591
02:53:19.600 --> 02:53:22.840
I've heard him again. I know I heard him deep

2592
02:53:23.280 --> 02:53:27.200
when I killed Anny Judge, but this will likely hurt

2593
02:53:27.280 --> 02:53:33.200
him just as deep. In time, he will heal. I

2594
02:53:33.280 --> 02:53:35.959
follow behind him where I can see him and he

2595
02:53:36.000 --> 02:53:39.399
can't see me. I watch from an open door as

2596
02:53:39.399 --> 02:53:45.399
he gets into his car and leaves. Wow. I left

2597
02:53:45.440 --> 02:53:48.840
him so distraught that he completely forgot. I can easily

2598
02:53:48.879 --> 02:53:52.879
walk out of Glen View altogether. I could literally be

2599
02:53:52.920 --> 02:53:58.360
a free woman this very night, or rather Christmas Day.

2600
02:53:59.120 --> 02:54:05.600
As the nearby clock strikes midnight. I know I have

2601
02:54:05.719 --> 02:54:07.719
the skills to be able to stay on the run

2602
02:54:07.760 --> 02:54:11.239
and avoid law enforcement. I could even leave the country

2603
02:54:11.239 --> 02:54:17.079
and live somewhere free of this place's rules. The ironic

2604
02:54:17.159 --> 02:54:21.479
truth here is, however, that I really don't want to go.

2605
02:54:23.639 --> 02:54:26.239
I know I've done wrong. In spite of the fact

2606
02:54:26.319 --> 02:54:30.000
I've saved so many lives and claim so many corrupt souls.

2607
02:54:32.079 --> 02:54:35.760
The truth is I still continue to feel very much

2608
02:54:35.840 --> 02:54:40.760
at peace here. It's then, when it begins to snow,

2609
02:54:41.680 --> 02:54:44.040
I stand in the doorway and watch it come down.

2610
02:54:44.959 --> 02:54:47.639
The Christmas lights that line the fence aren't the prettiest

2611
02:54:47.680 --> 02:54:52.520
to look at, but I'll take it. Suddenly I feel

2612
02:54:52.559 --> 02:54:58.159
somebody near me. I turn and see CHESSI carver Reagan.

2613
02:54:59.000 --> 02:55:03.239
She utters. She and I look at each other. I'm

2614
02:55:03.280 --> 02:55:07.600
so overjoyed that she's okay. Looks like she probably got

2615
02:55:07.639 --> 02:55:12.000
knocked out. Chessie sees I can easily escape glen View.

2616
02:55:12.760 --> 02:55:15.520
She doesn't even have her gun on her. She has

2617
02:55:15.559 --> 02:55:20.680
her belt, but no gun. Chessie gives me a beckoning look,

2618
02:55:22.399 --> 02:55:27.319
Please do the right thing, Reagan, don't escape. I give

2619
02:55:27.360 --> 02:55:31.479
her a warm smile and approach her. I think she's

2620
02:55:31.520 --> 02:55:34.959
wondering if I'm going to kill her, but I wrap

2621
02:55:35.040 --> 02:55:38.760
my arms around her. Then I feel her hug me back.

2622
02:55:40.639 --> 02:55:43.719
I just wanted to see the snow. I tell her

2623
02:55:45.120 --> 02:55:51.200
it's Christmas. Now, I'm so glad you're all right. We

2624
02:55:51.280 --> 02:55:56.120
hug for a moment, then we come apart. Chessie seems

2625
02:55:56.159 --> 02:56:00.000
more confident in me now, want to take me back

2626
02:56:00.079 --> 02:56:05.479
to my block. I ask, I promise I won't fight you.

2627
02:56:07.280 --> 02:56:10.799
Chessie nods. I hold out my hands for her to

2628
02:56:10.840 --> 02:56:15.600
cuff me, but she takes my hand. We walk back

2629
02:56:15.639 --> 02:56:17.920
to my block, where I let her open my special

2630
02:56:17.959 --> 02:56:22.639
cell and watch me go back inside. It's only minutes

2631
02:56:22.680 --> 02:56:26.159
after she locks me up that the state police finally

2632
02:56:26.280 --> 02:56:31.200
arrive Chessie tells them everything she knows. Seeing I'm in

2633
02:56:31.239 --> 02:56:36.000
my cell, they don't even question me. As for Drake,

2634
02:56:36.920 --> 02:56:40.440
no one ever knew he was there during Miranda's raid.

2635
02:56:43.920 --> 02:56:48.719
It's one week later New Year's Eve. Chessie actually agreed

2636
02:56:48.760 --> 02:56:51.559
to sit at her station and watch me. Tonight, she

2637
02:56:51.639 --> 02:56:53.760
could have gone to be with her family and friends

2638
02:56:53.760 --> 02:56:57.239
to watch the ball drop or whatever people do to

2639
02:56:57.319 --> 02:57:00.399
ring in the New Year. Mama was all ready to hear,

2640
02:57:00.440 --> 02:57:03.719
and we spent the day together. As for Christmas Eve,

2641
02:57:04.360 --> 02:57:06.920
she got the full story from me on what happened.

2642
02:57:08.079 --> 02:57:10.920
Like I said, she was very proud of me for

2643
02:57:11.000 --> 02:57:15.239
slaying my first master vampire. She was even more proud

2644
02:57:15.280 --> 02:57:18.239
of me for not escaping here when I had the chance.

2645
02:57:19.360 --> 02:57:22.719
She said I was truly a good girl and that

2646
02:57:22.799 --> 02:57:25.879
she raised me right in spite of the fact I

2647
02:57:25.959 --> 02:57:30.239
was a serial killer. She was still sad and wondering

2648
02:57:30.280 --> 02:57:33.879
where she went wrong with me on that I assured

2649
02:57:33.920 --> 02:57:37.520
her it was nothing she did. She also said she

2650
02:57:37.639 --> 02:57:41.879
was very sorry for what happened between Drake and I.

2651
02:57:42.760 --> 02:57:46.879
Speaking of Drake, he hasn't been back here since Christmas Eve.

2652
02:57:47.680 --> 02:57:50.959
Aside from Mama, the only visitor I got was Chief

2653
02:57:51.000 --> 02:57:54.479
Cobbs from the North Ridgeway PD. He had a case

2654
02:57:54.520 --> 02:57:58.319
he wanted my help on. Once I cracked it, he

2655
02:57:58.440 --> 02:58:04.040
thanked me personally. Now I'm here with Chessie. She's not Mama,

2656
02:58:04.159 --> 02:58:07.040
but she's a motherly woman to me just the same.

2657
02:58:08.040 --> 02:58:10.360
She later told me that I had saved her daughter's

2658
02:58:10.399 --> 02:58:13.680
life years ago when a rapist tried to take advantage

2659
02:58:13.680 --> 02:58:18.239
of her. She told me the name of the man. Yes,

2660
02:58:18.479 --> 02:58:22.639
I did kill him for that very reason. I didn't

2661
02:58:22.680 --> 02:58:25.600
admit to it, but Chessie said I didn't have to.

2662
02:58:27.440 --> 02:58:31.280
She even called me a good girl too. As Chessie

2663
02:58:31.319 --> 02:58:33.680
and I are playing another game of chess in my cell,

2664
02:58:34.360 --> 02:58:37.840
she gets a call at her station phone. I wait

2665
02:58:37.879 --> 02:58:41.239
while she goes and answers it. Then she looks my

2666
02:58:41.319 --> 02:58:45.959
way and tells me I have a visitor. She doesn't

2667
02:58:46.000 --> 02:58:47.680
know who it is and asks if I want to

2668
02:58:47.680 --> 02:58:51.399
see the young woman waiting for me. Who would come

2669
02:58:51.440 --> 02:58:54.799
to visit me on New Year's Eve? I wonder out loud,

2670
02:58:56.239 --> 02:58:58.440
Then I nod and tell Chessie it may be a

2671
02:58:58.520 --> 02:59:01.920
law enforcement official with another case for me to work on.

2672
02:59:02.920 --> 02:59:05.079
Chessie confirms the meeting as I come out of my

2673
02:59:05.159 --> 02:59:08.959
cell to walk with her. Chessie takes me to the

2674
02:59:09.040 --> 02:59:12.120
room where I get my cases. But it's not any

2675
02:59:12.200 --> 02:59:16.200
kind of law enforcement person that I've ever seen. It's

2676
02:59:16.239 --> 02:59:21.479
a girl who looks to be either seventeen or eighteen.

2677
02:59:22.399 --> 02:59:27.559
She's very skinny and has long blonde hair. Then I

2678
02:59:27.639 --> 02:59:33.360
see her red eyes and know immediately that she's a vampire.

2679
02:59:34.959 --> 02:59:38.879
I turn to Chessie and nod once, I'll be okay.

2680
02:59:40.319 --> 02:59:44.040
Chessie nods once herself and leaves, locking the door behind me.

2681
02:59:45.719 --> 02:59:51.959
Then I sit down across from this vampire. Reagan Devereux right.

2682
02:59:52.600 --> 02:59:57.719
She asks me, or do you prefer rage? Rage is fine?

2683
02:59:58.159 --> 03:00:05.719
I reply. The girl smiles. My name's Bella Tabon. I'd

2684
03:00:05.799 --> 03:00:08.520
like it very much if we could have ourselves a

2685
03:00:08.600 --> 03:00:27.840
friendly chat. A Zombies Christmas by Rob Fields prologue. Vicky

2686
03:00:27.920 --> 03:00:32.079
van Wert came from a long line of scientists. While

2687
03:00:32.159 --> 03:00:35.040
many of her bloodline had been taken for the better

2688
03:00:35.479 --> 03:00:38.879
in the medical field, Vicky was one of a select

2689
03:00:39.040 --> 03:00:42.040
few who was hand picked to be part of the

2690
03:00:42.079 --> 03:00:47.520
all female secret society known as the Blue Ribbons. In

2691
03:00:47.600 --> 03:00:51.200
civilian life, she would be a barista at Caffeine Junction

2692
03:00:51.680 --> 03:00:55.760
at Strickfield Town, Center Mall. Her status as a barista

2693
03:00:56.280 --> 03:00:59.719
was how she came to meet Shawnee Jerrel and Bev Rourke.

2694
03:01:00.319 --> 03:01:04.879
Many months ago, Vicki had made Shawnee's favorite beverage, only

2695
03:01:04.959 --> 03:01:08.799
to find that she no longer liked it. It wasn't

2696
03:01:08.840 --> 03:01:14.719
long after that that Shawnee and Bev both began eating people.

2697
03:01:15.760 --> 03:01:19.280
Vicki made her escape and went to inform her fellow

2698
03:01:19.319 --> 03:01:23.440
Blue Ribbons about them. They would monitor the zombies before

2699
03:01:23.479 --> 03:01:28.479
mobilizing to capture them. Shawnee and Bev created two more

2700
03:01:28.600 --> 03:01:32.879
zombies to join them, in Lizzie and Libby Marsh, twin sisters.

2701
03:01:33.479 --> 03:01:36.440
The four of them ate up hundreds of patrons in

2702
03:01:36.520 --> 03:01:40.200
both an entire banquet hall in Pendleton and an entire

2703
03:01:40.319 --> 03:01:44.399
movie theater in North Ridgeway. To say these zombies were

2704
03:01:44.479 --> 03:01:49.559
quite ravenous was an understatement. They were eventually apprehended by

2705
03:01:49.559 --> 03:01:52.840
the Blue Ribbons and brought to their secret underground layer

2706
03:01:53.239 --> 03:01:58.120
below Strickfield University. Vicki van Wirt would soon be testing

2707
03:01:58.440 --> 03:02:01.920
some potential new bio weapons for the Blue Ribbons to

2708
03:02:02.120 --> 03:02:07.440
use in their pursuit of world domination. Vicki wasted no

2709
03:02:07.639 --> 03:02:12.000
time in beginning her experiments with these new zombies. She

2710
03:02:12.040 --> 03:02:14.799
had opened up Libby Marsh and was amazed to see

2711
03:02:14.840 --> 03:02:19.840
how she functioned. Even though these zombies were definitely dead creatures,

2712
03:02:20.360 --> 03:02:25.079
some of their vital organs still functioned. Of course, Libby's

2713
03:02:25.120 --> 03:02:28.719
stomach still worked and was in perfect condition in spite

2714
03:02:28.760 --> 03:02:31.879
of all the humans she and her friends had eaten.

2715
03:02:32.959 --> 03:02:36.680
Vicki would determine the metabolism of these zombies was more

2716
03:02:36.719 --> 03:02:39.399
than keeping up with all the living humans they needed

2717
03:02:39.799 --> 03:02:45.399
to satiate their seemingly never ending hunger. Vicki also learned

2718
03:02:45.440 --> 03:02:49.680
that their hearts continued to pump blood throughout their bodies.

2719
03:02:50.559 --> 03:02:54.639
When Vicki was finished, she eventually sewed Libby back up

2720
03:02:55.000 --> 03:02:58.239
after monitoring her for weeks. She was surprised to see

2721
03:02:58.280 --> 03:03:01.040
the flesh would heal up the way any normal human would.

2722
03:03:02.280 --> 03:03:05.360
Now she could easily tell Libby from Lizzie with all

2723
03:03:05.399 --> 03:03:10.120
the scarring on the former's body. Vicki would conduct more

2724
03:03:10.159 --> 03:03:15.079
experiments like the mad scientists she was. Even though she

2725
03:03:15.200 --> 03:03:18.680
always seemed calm and collected, there was a part of

2726
03:03:18.719 --> 03:03:23.200
her that relished the pain and suffering she inflicted on

2727
03:03:23.280 --> 03:03:28.079
her subjects, even if they were her fellow Blue Ribbons.

2728
03:03:28.120 --> 03:03:33.040
In truth, Vicki became cold. Through her years of studying

2729
03:03:33.120 --> 03:03:38.559
science and its wonders. Since being given her for zombies,

2730
03:03:39.000 --> 03:03:42.719
Vicki never seemed to grow tired of running experiment after

2731
03:03:42.840 --> 03:03:47.600
experiment on them. Usually, she liked working alone whenever she

2732
03:03:47.719 --> 03:03:52.239
was conducting experiments. This was most evident during such an

2733
03:03:52.280 --> 03:03:56.440
experiment when one of her two lab assistants, Brooke, got

2734
03:03:56.479 --> 03:04:00.600
careless and let one of the zombies bite her. Vicki

2735
03:04:00.799 --> 03:04:05.559
had perfected a most effective vaccine to counter every kind

2736
03:04:05.600 --> 03:04:10.440
of zombie bite there was. However, she refused to administer

2737
03:04:10.520 --> 03:04:15.520
it to Brook. Cruelly and coldly, Vicki allowed Brook to

2738
03:04:15.559 --> 03:04:20.639
grow ill and eventually die. Brook's body was placed in

2739
03:04:20.760 --> 03:04:24.159
containment where Vicki would see how long it would take

2740
03:04:24.680 --> 03:04:27.840
for her to reanimate, which ranged from a matter of

2741
03:04:27.920 --> 03:04:32.319
minutes to as much as a full day. Vicki began

2742
03:04:32.440 --> 03:04:36.879
running tests on her newest zombie as the other lab assistant, Shelby,

2743
03:04:37.319 --> 03:04:42.280
watched with hatred. Vicki noticed this and banished her from

2744
03:04:42.319 --> 03:04:48.239
the lab, but Shelby was making plans on Christmas Eve,

2745
03:04:48.719 --> 03:04:53.079
Vicki chose to continue conducting experiments on Brook. It was

2746
03:04:53.239 --> 03:04:57.000
music to Vicki's ears as Brooks screamed and fought to

2747
03:04:57.159 --> 03:05:01.959
escape the prison that contained her. When Vicki moved to

2748
03:05:02.040 --> 03:05:06.319
gather the next instruments of her latest experiment, Shelby snuck

2749
03:05:06.319 --> 03:05:09.760
into the lab and deactivated the security lock on Brook's cell.

2750
03:05:10.840 --> 03:05:15.079
Then she quickly hid before Vicki returned. In the meantime,

2751
03:05:15.399 --> 03:05:18.520
Brooke was out of her cell and managed to sneak

2752
03:05:18.639 --> 03:05:23.000
up behind Vicki. She screamed and ran to grab an

2753
03:05:23.040 --> 03:05:26.520
emergency syringe of the zombie vaccine. All she had to

2754
03:05:26.559 --> 03:05:31.399
do was inject Brook to kill her permanently. Vicki found

2755
03:05:31.440 --> 03:05:36.200
the emergency syringes and grabbed one. Upon injecting Brook, she

2756
03:05:36.360 --> 03:05:42.120
was quite surprised that absolutely nothing happened. The zombie vaccine

2757
03:05:42.200 --> 03:05:46.879
was supposed to work instantaneously, but Brooke was still animated

2758
03:05:47.040 --> 03:05:53.319
and mobile. Had this zombie somehow built antibodies to the vaccine.

2759
03:05:53.440 --> 03:05:57.440
Vicki had certainly experimented on her enough with it. No,

2760
03:05:58.079 --> 03:06:02.799
Shelby had changed out every vavaccine syringe with luminescent water.

2761
03:06:03.840 --> 03:06:07.360
Now Vicki found herself backed into a corner with a

2762
03:06:07.600 --> 03:06:11.719
very enraged Brook, foaming at the mouth and raising her

2763
03:06:11.840 --> 03:06:21.239
hands into claws brains. She chanted, No, stay away, Vicky shrieked.

2764
03:06:21.959 --> 03:06:26.079
Brooke growled as she grabbed hold of Vicki. Fortunately she

2765
03:06:26.200 --> 03:06:29.600
didn't have to worry about scratches infecting her. It was

2766
03:06:29.639 --> 03:06:33.520
the zombie's bite that would prove lethal if Brook succeeded

2767
03:06:33.520 --> 03:06:38.920
in doing that very thing. The inhumane human and the

2768
03:06:38.959 --> 03:06:44.079
living dead former lab assistant continued their struggle. Clearly the

2769
03:06:44.200 --> 03:06:50.680
zombie wanted this struggle more. Also, the zombie was quite famished.

2770
03:06:51.840 --> 03:06:54.680
Vicky managed to get away and grab a metal bar,

2771
03:06:55.360 --> 03:07:01.000
which she used to smash Brook right on her noggin. Unfortunately,

2772
03:07:01.559 --> 03:07:06.239
Vicki had forgotten that these particular zombies wouldn't easily be

2773
03:07:06.360 --> 03:07:10.719
destroyed by a heavy blow to the skull. The vaccine

2774
03:07:10.799 --> 03:07:15.600
was currently the only known way these particular zombies would

2775
03:07:15.680 --> 03:07:21.159
cease their animation forever. Then, Vicki remembered where she kept

2776
03:07:21.280 --> 03:07:25.159
more of the zombie vaccine and ran to it. She

2777
03:07:25.280 --> 03:07:28.600
felt Brook closing in quickly, since she could push herself

2778
03:07:28.639 --> 03:07:34.040
harder and faster being undead, Vicki reached her intended drawer

2779
03:07:34.440 --> 03:07:39.559
and pulled a syringe out. No, no, bitch, Brooke teased,

2780
03:07:39.680 --> 03:07:44.479
grabbing her wrist. I want some Christmas dinner first, I'm

2781
03:07:44.479 --> 03:07:47.559
going to eat your heart as an ores deuv, but

2782
03:07:47.600 --> 03:07:52.000
you don't exactly have a heart, do you. Brooke took

2783
03:07:52.079 --> 03:07:55.840
Vicki to the floor again. I owe you for all

2784
03:07:55.879 --> 03:07:59.159
the hell you put me through. I won't stop eating

2785
03:07:59.200 --> 03:08:05.399
you until you're nothing but bones. Again. They struggled on

2786
03:08:05.440 --> 03:08:09.840
the floor as Shelby watched on. Then she decided to

2787
03:08:09.879 --> 03:08:12.959
get in on the action and quietly moved to where

2788
03:08:13.040 --> 03:08:16.360
Vicky had dropped the metal bar. She picked it up

2789
03:08:17.040 --> 03:08:21.040
and went to crack Vicky's head. As Shelby raised the

2790
03:08:21.079 --> 03:08:24.680
weapon to deal the killing blow to Vicki. Her enemy

2791
03:08:24.799 --> 03:08:29.200
saw her in time and rolled off brook As Shelby

2792
03:08:29.239 --> 03:08:32.559
went after Vicki, she hadn't counted on Brooks springing to

2793
03:08:32.600 --> 03:08:39.360
her feet and jumping on her back brainss Brooke chanted

2794
03:08:39.600 --> 03:08:44.559
before biting into the back of Shelby's head. She screamed

2795
03:08:44.600 --> 03:08:48.399
and blood started squirting when Brooke pulled back, tearing a

2796
03:08:48.520 --> 03:08:52.760
huge chunk of scalp away from her victim's head. Vicky

2797
03:08:52.879 --> 03:08:55.799
knew she would have to act quickly before she'd have

2798
03:08:55.959 --> 03:08:59.399
two of the living dead to deal with. She ran

2799
03:08:59.479 --> 03:09:02.559
around her lab table and soon dove for the life

2800
03:09:02.559 --> 03:09:06.520
saving syringe she grabbed hold of it and turned onto

2801
03:09:06.520 --> 03:09:09.680
her back just as Brooke was diving right on top

2802
03:09:09.719 --> 03:09:13.239
of her. As Brook's body slammed on top of her own,

2803
03:09:13.879 --> 03:09:17.239
Vicki injected her at the neck as blood dripped from

2804
03:09:17.239 --> 03:09:21.040
the zombie's mouth and onto her. Brooke only shook for

2805
03:09:21.079 --> 03:09:25.200
a few moments before she went limp onto Vicki and

2806
03:09:25.319 --> 03:09:31.399
remained still forever. Vicky quickly moved the again dead body

2807
03:09:31.479 --> 03:09:36.000
off her and headed to Shelby's fresh corpse. She lifted

2808
03:09:36.000 --> 03:09:38.479
its hands and dragged it to the cell that Brooke

2809
03:09:38.559 --> 03:09:43.319
once occupied. Once Shelby was safely inside, Vicky hurried out

2810
03:09:43.600 --> 03:09:47.200
and secured the cell. She cleaned up the lab and

2811
03:09:47.280 --> 03:09:51.319
disposed of Brook's body in the insiderator. When she returned

2812
03:09:51.319 --> 03:09:54.559
to the lab, she found that Shelby had reanimated and

2813
03:09:54.680 --> 03:09:59.200
was screaming to be let out. Vicky gave Shelby a

2814
03:09:59.319 --> 03:10:03.799
sinisters Now, you'll serve me better than you ever did

2815
03:10:04.159 --> 03:10:08.319
when you were alive. Then Vicki felt a slight tingling

2816
03:10:08.399 --> 03:10:11.680
on her wrist and looked to see the shapes of

2817
03:10:11.719 --> 03:10:16.280
what appeared to be teeth marks. She gasped when she

2818
03:10:16.399 --> 03:10:20.440
realized that even though the skin wasn't broken completely through,

2819
03:10:21.440 --> 03:10:27.159
the marks were red enough to where she had become infected. Unfortunately,

2820
03:10:27.920 --> 03:10:31.479
she didn't have any more zombie vaccine in her laboratory.

2821
03:10:32.479 --> 03:10:36.840
She had more, but it was currently incubating and wouldn't

2822
03:10:36.840 --> 03:10:41.799
be useful until that period was over. Vicky knew she

2823
03:10:41.840 --> 03:10:47.200
would eventually turn I've got to escape, she gasped to herself.

2824
03:10:48.000 --> 03:10:51.879
Then Shelby laughed in her cell. What's the matter, VICKI

2825
03:10:52.479 --> 03:10:55.399
you scared now that your name's on the waiting list.

2826
03:10:56.719 --> 03:11:00.520
Soon you'll let me out of here, then eat our

2827
03:11:00.559 --> 03:11:05.600
way through this entire compound. Vicky immediately left the lab,

2828
03:11:05.959 --> 03:11:10.079
but not before arming the safety protocols to destroy the

2829
03:11:10.239 --> 03:11:15.280
entire space. Shelby would become completely incinerated as a result.

2830
03:11:16.319 --> 03:11:20.280
Vicky escaped the compound, got in her car and drove

2831
03:11:20.360 --> 03:11:25.559
into Strickfield just as it began to snow. It was

2832
03:11:25.680 --> 03:11:38.239
then when she started to feel a little off perspective Railian, Seriously,

2833
03:11:38.959 --> 03:11:42.680
I can't believe this shit. Everybody else gets to spend

2834
03:11:42.680 --> 03:11:46.520
the holiday break with their families, not me. I get

2835
03:11:46.559 --> 03:11:50.040
to spend the entire holiday break here at Strickfield Academy

2836
03:11:50.079 --> 03:11:56.399
with these fucking nuns. Not only did Headmistress Hiltonson suggest

2837
03:11:56.479 --> 03:12:00.079
this punishment to my parents for what I had done?

2838
03:12:00.159 --> 03:12:04.840
My parents were okay with it. Seriously, don't these nuns

2839
03:12:05.000 --> 03:12:09.079
have anything else better to do with their lives? Anyway?

2840
03:12:09.959 --> 03:12:13.159
Here I am in the office on Christmas Day itself,

2841
03:12:13.440 --> 03:12:17.280
with Sister Abigail treating my punishment like it's a regular

2842
03:12:17.360 --> 03:12:22.200
day in religion class. Are you listening to me? Raylene Hollow?

2843
03:12:22.920 --> 03:12:29.639
Sister Abigail demands huh, I mutter rudely. The nun size hard.

2844
03:12:30.479 --> 03:12:34.200
You're just stretching out your punishment further, young lady. I

2845
03:12:34.360 --> 03:12:37.920
raise an eyebrow. I'm sorry. Did I give you even

2846
03:12:38.000 --> 03:12:43.040
the slightest impression that I give a fuck? Sister Abigail

2847
03:12:43.159 --> 03:12:47.360
size hard again. I can't believe how much worse you

2848
03:12:47.440 --> 03:12:51.360
became after your sister Bernadette died on Halloween over a

2849
03:12:51.440 --> 03:12:55.959
year ago. I point right at her. Yeah, think about

2850
03:12:56.000 --> 03:12:59.600
how you'd feel if you lost your sister and you

2851
03:12:59.639 --> 03:13:03.159
knew had Mistress Hiltonson killed her. I shoot right up

2852
03:13:03.200 --> 03:13:06.479
out of my seat. I don't give a shit what

2853
03:13:06.600 --> 03:13:08.760
kind of lies you want to keep telling me here?

2854
03:13:09.319 --> 03:13:14.760
I know, I know the head mistress herself killed Bernadette

2855
03:13:15.799 --> 03:13:19.239
and I think it was right then that something inside

2856
03:13:19.280 --> 03:13:23.840
me finally snapped. Where do you think you're going? Raylen?

2857
03:13:24.479 --> 03:13:28.920
Sister Abigail demands you are under campus arrest until after

2858
03:13:29.000 --> 03:13:33.600
the holiday break. Then I laughed scornfully, eh, and who

2859
03:13:33.680 --> 03:13:38.319
is gonna keep me here? You? Oh, the nun definitely

2860
03:13:38.360 --> 03:13:41.399
intends to keep me here. I quickly pull her to

2861
03:13:41.520 --> 03:13:44.879
me and plant one right on her. Now, Sister Abigail

2862
03:13:44.920 --> 03:13:48.000
is the one fighting to get loose. I finally let

2863
03:13:48.000 --> 03:13:51.520
her go and watch her stagger back. Come to think

2864
03:13:51.559 --> 03:13:54.680
of it, that's how I got in big, big trouble

2865
03:13:54.719 --> 03:13:58.120
to begin with. If those of you who know Bernadette's

2866
03:13:58.159 --> 03:14:01.680
story thought she was bad, you're just now meeting me.

2867
03:14:02.600 --> 03:14:06.319
I'm Bernadette's younger sister by about a year, and even

2868
03:14:06.319 --> 03:14:09.280
my parents will tell you that I'm so much worse

2869
03:14:09.319 --> 03:14:13.680
than her. Bernadette was a bad girl, but she never

2870
03:14:13.760 --> 03:14:15.719
ended up in the kind of trouble I'd get in.

2871
03:14:16.799 --> 03:14:20.200
Why did I get campus arrest? I may look cute

2872
03:14:20.280 --> 03:14:23.920
and geeky on the outside, but even had Mistress Hiltonsons

2873
03:14:24.000 --> 03:14:27.959
told me to my face that Satan's taken over my body.

2874
03:14:28.719 --> 03:14:32.280
In fact, she was the one who busted me. I

2875
03:14:32.360 --> 03:14:36.600
was tutoring Rodney Brams, the dumbass basketball player who just

2876
03:14:36.719 --> 03:14:40.000
happened to be the best our team had. Then he

2877
03:14:40.120 --> 03:14:43.639
got turned on and started touching me. When he touched

2878
03:14:43.639 --> 03:14:46.239
me down there, I was ready to grab a steel

2879
03:14:46.360 --> 03:14:50.399
chair and beat him to death with it. Then he

2880
03:14:50.479 --> 03:14:53.600
showed me some green Rodney told me I could have

2881
03:14:53.680 --> 03:14:56.719
it all if I let him have me. I won't

2882
03:14:56.760 --> 03:15:00.239
say how much money it was, but far bey it

2883
03:15:00.280 --> 03:15:03.360
from me to turn down that kind of cash. So

2884
03:15:04.079 --> 03:15:06.440
I lowered my walls and let Rodney reach up my

2885
03:15:06.520 --> 03:15:10.520
skirt and remove my panties. The truth was, I'd done

2886
03:15:10.600 --> 03:15:14.280
sexual favors for money before, but this was the most

2887
03:15:14.280 --> 03:15:18.200
money I'd ever gotten to date. Rodney was on his

2888
03:15:18.280 --> 03:15:20.959
knees in front of me, taking care of business when

2889
03:15:21.040 --> 03:15:25.680
head Mistress Hiltonson herself came in and saw us. Long

2890
03:15:25.719 --> 03:15:30.879
story short, Hiltonson expelled Rodney. I expected her to expel

2891
03:15:31.000 --> 03:15:34.639
me too. The reason she didn't was because my parents

2892
03:15:34.680 --> 03:15:38.440
are the most powerful lawyers in all of Feltner County,

2893
03:15:39.040 --> 03:15:41.879
maybe even further than that, since they represent many of

2894
03:15:41.879 --> 03:15:46.600
the Mirons here in Strickfield. Also, my parents made generous

2895
03:15:46.639 --> 03:15:51.040
contributions to the academy. No, I'd get to stay at

2896
03:15:51.040 --> 03:15:54.000
the school, but i'd be getting campus arrest for the

2897
03:15:54.040 --> 03:15:58.760
holiday break. Getting back to now, I ran from the

2898
03:15:58.799 --> 03:16:01.319
building and all the way to the main gate, which

2899
03:16:01.399 --> 03:16:05.040
was closed. Yeah, like that ever stopped me. You know

2900
03:16:05.079 --> 03:16:07.600
how many times I've skipped class and climbed over the

2901
03:16:07.639 --> 03:16:11.200
wall to both escape and come back in. Once I

2902
03:16:11.319 --> 03:16:13.799
drop to the other side, I get as far away

2903
03:16:13.799 --> 03:16:18.000
from that damn concentration camp as I possibly can. Oh,

2904
03:16:18.040 --> 03:16:20.799
but I know Sister Abigail's probably on the phone with

2905
03:16:21.000 --> 03:16:25.159
the head mistress. That means she herself will soon be

2906
03:16:25.280 --> 03:16:29.319
coming after me. I keep running and cut through multiple

2907
03:16:29.440 --> 03:16:33.040
yards until I make it into downtown village. I know

2908
03:16:33.079 --> 03:16:35.719
I can't stay here long. It's likely going to be

2909
03:16:35.799 --> 03:16:39.280
the first place Hiltonson will look. There are times when

2910
03:16:39.280 --> 03:16:42.680
I've evaded her, but eight times out of ten she

2911
03:16:42.799 --> 03:16:46.239
finds me. Then she stuffs me into her car and

2912
03:16:46.319 --> 03:16:49.520
brings me back to campus. And by stuffs I mean

2913
03:16:49.600 --> 03:16:53.280
in the trunk. I quickly stop into Roth's rings and

2914
03:16:53.399 --> 03:16:57.040
order a dead eye. I can't function or think properly

2915
03:16:57.440 --> 03:17:01.000
unless I have my caffeine jolt. I don't know why,

2916
03:17:01.079 --> 03:17:03.120
but I've never been able to think like I do

2917
03:17:03.200 --> 03:17:07.280
without caffeine. Can't be mountain dew or monsters. It's got

2918
03:17:07.399 --> 03:17:11.079
to be straight up coffee. Once I get my caffeine,

2919
03:17:11.159 --> 03:17:15.200
I work on drinking it. No, I won't go back home.

2920
03:17:15.680 --> 03:17:17.959
I know my parents will be waiting for me, as

2921
03:17:17.959 --> 03:17:21.600
I'm sure Sister Abigail called them too. I still got

2922
03:17:21.639 --> 03:17:23.840
all the money that Oath paid me for wanting to

2923
03:17:23.879 --> 03:17:27.680
fuck me that day. Hiltonson never even thought to frisk me.

2924
03:17:28.280 --> 03:17:31.680
Of course, none of us mentioned that Rodney was trying

2925
03:17:31.719 --> 03:17:35.440
to pay me for sex. I'm just finishing my coffee

2926
03:17:35.440 --> 03:17:39.280
and leaving Roth's rings when Hiltonson's car screeches to a

2927
03:17:39.319 --> 03:17:44.120
halt just outside. Then the headmistress herself gets out of

2928
03:17:44.120 --> 03:17:49.000
the car, not wearing a habit today. Raylene Hollow, you

2929
03:17:49.120 --> 03:17:54.399
get in this car immediately, she yells, I turn and run.

2930
03:17:55.120 --> 03:17:58.479
Hiltonson's right behind me. For a middle aged nun, she

2931
03:17:58.600 --> 03:18:02.319
sure can run, pretty guy, damn fast. Oh believe me.

2932
03:18:02.479 --> 03:18:06.200
I have every intention of getting my revenge on Hiltonson herself,

2933
03:18:06.959 --> 03:18:10.799
but not just yet. I can't fight her directly since

2934
03:18:10.840 --> 03:18:14.040
she's got a martial arts background. Last time I tried,

2935
03:18:14.079 --> 03:18:16.639
she took my skinny ass to the floor. Just like that.

2936
03:18:17.600 --> 03:18:20.200
I'll have to lose Hiltonson and fight her another day

2937
03:18:20.600 --> 03:18:24.120
when I can better use my mind. I turn down

2938
03:18:24.120 --> 03:18:27.879
an alley and knock over some trash cans. Hiltonson easily

2939
03:18:27.879 --> 03:18:31.079
flips right over them. She never makes things easy for me,

2940
03:18:32.000 --> 03:18:35.920
No wonder she's the headmistress at Strickfield Academy. Even though

2941
03:18:35.959 --> 03:18:38.840
I hate the bitch for what happened to Bernadette, at

2942
03:18:38.879 --> 03:18:42.639
the same time, I actually respect her for backing up

2943
03:18:42.680 --> 03:18:47.719
everything she says. Wow, I can feel that caffeine revitalizing

2944
03:18:47.760 --> 03:18:50.440
me now. I definitely have to get more coffee to

2945
03:18:50.520 --> 03:18:53.959
keep my juices flowing. I finally duck behind a trash

2946
03:18:54.000 --> 03:18:58.879
bin and wait. When Hiltonson gets close enough, I spring

2947
03:18:59.000 --> 03:19:01.799
right out and spear them bitch, the same way WWE

2948
03:19:01.879 --> 03:19:06.959
Superstar Roman Reigns does. It works every time. After knocking

2949
03:19:07.000 --> 03:19:09.799
the wind right out of Hiltonson, I quickly get back

2950
03:19:09.879 --> 03:19:13.200
up and run again. It'll take her a little bit

2951
03:19:13.280 --> 03:19:16.440
to catch her breath. How'll be long gone by then.

2952
03:19:17.360 --> 03:19:19.879
As I'm coming to the end of the alley, I

2953
03:19:19.959 --> 03:19:23.079
see this person leaning on one side against the wall.

2954
03:19:24.239 --> 03:19:28.520
Sounds like a female moaning and groaning. Next thing I know,

2955
03:19:28.680 --> 03:19:32.360
she drops to her knees and pukes. Christ I really

2956
03:19:32.360 --> 03:19:36.520
don't need this. I run and jump over her. When

2957
03:19:36.559 --> 03:19:40.280
I land to run away, she suddenly springs up and

2958
03:19:40.360 --> 03:19:44.200
grabs me. The woman growls intently as she's pulling me

2959
03:19:44.280 --> 03:19:47.520
back to her. I see a tattoo on her inner

2960
03:19:47.600 --> 03:19:51.280
right wrist that's shaped like a breast cancer awareness ribbon,

2961
03:19:51.360 --> 03:19:55.879
except it's all in blue. Get off me, I yell.

2962
03:19:56.639 --> 03:20:00.319
This crazy woman is bigger and stronger than me. Sucks

2963
03:20:00.360 --> 03:20:03.639
to me me when it comes to being small and scrawny. Ah,

2964
03:20:03.680 --> 03:20:05.920
but this bitch is about to learn that you never

2965
03:20:06.479 --> 03:20:10.719
ever fuck with ray Lean Hollow. I quickly move my

2966
03:20:10.840 --> 03:20:13.760
arms around the back of her head, locking my fingers.

2967
03:20:14.280 --> 03:20:16.600
Then I drop my ass and feel my nog and

2968
03:20:16.799 --> 03:20:20.760
bust her chin, making her let me go. I quickly

2969
03:20:20.799 --> 03:20:24.639
get back to my feet and run. The crazy bitch

2970
03:20:24.719 --> 03:20:28.280
is growling louder behind me. I can literally feel the

2971
03:20:28.360 --> 03:20:32.159
caffeine giving me that extra burst of speed. Knowing she's

2972
03:20:32.200 --> 03:20:35.159
catching up to me, I quickly duck into the alley

2973
03:20:35.200 --> 03:20:39.079
next to the Strickfield Centennial Theater as she's about to enter.

2974
03:20:39.399 --> 03:20:42.159
I come out fast and hit my second spear today.

2975
03:20:42.959 --> 03:20:46.239
Normally my spear takes the wind out of anybody. Hell,

2976
03:20:46.639 --> 03:20:50.440
I just stunned Head Mistress Hilton's in This crazy woman

2977
03:20:51.120 --> 03:20:54.399
is back on her feet in seconds. I'm almost to

2978
03:20:54.479 --> 03:20:57.360
my feet when she grabs me and bites me on

2979
03:20:57.399 --> 03:21:01.719
the side of my neck. No, I shriek and again

2980
03:21:01.840 --> 03:21:05.280
push her away. One thing people have found out about

2981
03:21:05.280 --> 03:21:08.520
me at Strickfield Academy, which also got me in trouble

2982
03:21:08.639 --> 03:21:11.760
many many times there is when you back me into

2983
03:21:11.760 --> 03:21:15.920
a corner, I totally lose my goddamn mind and attack

2984
03:21:16.040 --> 03:21:19.879
like a wild dog. If Bernadette was still alive, you

2985
03:21:19.920 --> 03:21:23.559
could have asked her she loved picking on me simply

2986
03:21:23.600 --> 03:21:26.879
because I was her little sister. I couldn't tell you

2987
03:21:26.959 --> 03:21:29.159
how many times I fought her when she pushed me

2988
03:21:29.239 --> 03:21:32.360
too far. I know I got the lion's share of

2989
03:21:32.399 --> 03:21:36.200
our fights. No, Bernadette and I didn't hate each other.

2990
03:21:36.799 --> 03:21:40.360
That was just how our sisterly rivalry worked between us.

2991
03:21:40.760 --> 03:21:44.360
Getting back to now, I scream bloody murder and attack

2992
03:21:44.440 --> 03:21:47.079
the bitch who bit me. I come right at her

2993
03:21:47.079 --> 03:21:50.079
and slam right into her, knocking the back of her

2994
03:21:50.120 --> 03:21:52.319
head into one of the brick buildings in the alley.

2995
03:21:53.040 --> 03:21:55.600
When the woman drops to her ass, I grab two

2996
03:21:55.639 --> 03:21:58.479
handfuls of hair and keep slamming the back of her

2997
03:21:58.520 --> 03:22:02.600
head into the wall again and again. Soon the brick's

2998
03:22:02.639 --> 03:22:06.879
getting splattered with her blood. I can't control myself. I

2999
03:22:06.920 --> 03:22:10.719
was pushed too far. I keep slamming her head into

3000
03:22:10.719 --> 03:22:14.520
the wall again and again. When I finally let her go,

3001
03:22:14.959 --> 03:22:18.559
she stops moving on her own and slumps onto her side.

3002
03:22:19.399 --> 03:22:22.239
I'm really shaking as I look down and see I've

3003
03:22:22.280 --> 03:22:27.079
busted her head open enough to where where I'm calm

3004
03:22:27.200 --> 03:22:30.120
enough to see bits of skull and brain matter on

3005
03:22:30.200 --> 03:22:34.040
the wall. I'm still shaking, but aware enough to know

3006
03:22:35.559 --> 03:22:38.920
I killed her, But I'm not done with her yet.

3007
03:22:39.200 --> 03:22:42.440
I'm still shaking. When I scream bloody murder and raise

3008
03:22:42.520 --> 03:22:46.239
my foot and with everything I've got, I stomp on

3009
03:22:46.280 --> 03:22:49.520
the side of her head and feel her skull collapse.

3010
03:22:50.600 --> 03:22:55.280
More brain matter oozes right out, looking like a tofu scramble.

3011
03:22:56.399 --> 03:23:00.479
I'm still shaking. Why do people feel that they have

3012
03:23:00.559 --> 03:23:04.959
to fuck with me? Why can't people understand I'm way

3013
03:23:04.959 --> 03:23:09.280
too unstable. For the record, this isn't the first time

3014
03:23:09.319 --> 03:23:12.600
I've killed people when they pushed me too far. I

3015
03:23:12.639 --> 03:23:16.360
only ever showed restraint against Bernadette because she was my

3016
03:23:16.479 --> 03:23:20.639
sister and I loved her. I turn and walk away

3017
03:23:20.719 --> 03:23:23.600
from the mess I made. I'm still shaking. When I

3018
03:23:23.639 --> 03:23:27.399
make it back to my house. I have to focus

3019
03:23:28.200 --> 03:23:30.799
to be able to unlock the door and get inside.

3020
03:23:31.840 --> 03:23:35.399
I make my way upstairs into my room. I lay

3021
03:23:35.440 --> 03:23:40.600
down on my bed and hold myself. Calm down, Raylen,

3022
03:23:41.360 --> 03:23:48.680
I tell myself, just calm down. It's all over. You're safe. Now,

3023
03:23:49.360 --> 03:23:55.000
you're safe, You're safe. I'm not sure how long I slept.

3024
03:23:55.760 --> 03:23:59.559
Sometimes sleep or hot and nasty sex are the only

3025
03:23:59.600 --> 03:24:03.360
ways I can bring myself out of my craziness. I

3026
03:24:03.399 --> 03:24:08.399
finally wake up and see it's dark. Wow, I really

3027
03:24:08.440 --> 03:24:13.280
slept all day. I'm surprised had Mistress Hiltonson wasn't sitting

3028
03:24:13.280 --> 03:24:16.200
in my recliner like she was at times when I

3029
03:24:16.239 --> 03:24:20.520
had skipped school. I turn and sit up. You know

3030
03:24:20.600 --> 03:24:24.719
what I feel like going out tonight? I'm nice and

3031
03:24:24.760 --> 03:24:30.920
calm again. I just want to go dancing, maybe get laid. Ah. Shit,

3032
03:24:31.920 --> 03:24:36.680
it's Christmas Day. There won't be any clubs open. Ci

3033
03:24:38.159 --> 03:24:40.719
I don't care. I just want to go do something.

3034
03:24:41.639 --> 03:24:46.440
I'm thinking my only options are the movies, Andy's China, Dragon,

3035
03:24:46.840 --> 03:24:52.840
Denoyer's Grill, Strickfield Video, or the convenience stores. I also

3036
03:24:52.879 --> 03:24:55.959
remember I can't go to Roth's Rings again today. They

3037
03:24:56.000 --> 03:25:00.079
were only open limited hours earlier. I change into some

3038
03:25:00.200 --> 03:25:04.319
yummy clothes and head downstairs. Then I see the answering

3039
03:25:04.360 --> 03:25:08.799
machine and play the two messages from Strickfield Academy. I

3040
03:25:08.879 --> 03:25:13.600
was right about sister Abigail reporting me. Wait a minute,

3041
03:25:13.719 --> 03:25:17.959
Mom and Dad aren't home. Did they just go on

3042
03:25:18.040 --> 03:25:23.319
vacation somewhere while I was stuck in that? Oh? Fuck them.

3043
03:25:24.239 --> 03:25:27.879
Then my tummy suddenly growls, and I know I've got

3044
03:25:27.920 --> 03:25:30.959
to eat something. I open the fridge and see it's

3045
03:25:31.000 --> 03:25:35.399
fully stocked. No junk food, though my parents are such

3046
03:25:35.440 --> 03:25:39.280
health nuts. Screw this. I'm going out and getting some

3047
03:25:39.399 --> 03:25:43.440
junk food tonight. Definitely more coffee too. It's not like

3048
03:25:43.520 --> 03:25:45.319
I need to be on any kind of a diet,

3049
03:25:45.399 --> 03:25:49.079
being a scrawny little thing like I am. I pull

3050
03:25:49.159 --> 03:25:52.520
my insulated jean jacket on and head out into the snow.

3051
03:25:53.360 --> 03:25:57.719
My tummy's growling again. I won't make it to Denoyer's Grill.

3052
03:25:58.399 --> 03:26:02.079
I'll have to stick to downtown Village. I finally make

3053
03:26:02.159 --> 03:26:06.319
it to Convenient Village mart and head inside. Then I

3054
03:26:06.360 --> 03:26:09.920
see the hot dogs rolling around on the machine. I

3055
03:26:09.959 --> 03:26:14.479
also see a single employee mopping the floor. When my

3056
03:26:14.600 --> 03:26:18.239
tummy roars now, I immediately turn to the mop boy,

3057
03:26:18.799 --> 03:26:22.159
grab him to me, and sink my teeth into the

3058
03:26:22.200 --> 03:26:26.159
side of his neck. He screams like a banshee as

3059
03:26:26.239 --> 03:26:30.559
blood gushes and squirts all over the candy racks. When

3060
03:26:30.600 --> 03:26:33.319
the mop boy falls on his back, I drop to

3061
03:26:33.360 --> 03:26:37.120
my knees and start eating. I came here to get

3062
03:26:37.159 --> 03:26:41.520
some junk food. I mean, I'm surrounded by junk food.

3063
03:26:41.639 --> 03:26:45.120
My tummy's getting happy fast with what I'm eating. I

3064
03:26:45.200 --> 03:26:50.559
gobble up all the flesh, muscles, and vital organs. Now

3065
03:26:50.600 --> 03:26:54.159
I've got his brains in my hands. As soon as

3066
03:26:54.159 --> 03:26:58.040
I bite into the gray matter, I feel an immense sensation.

3067
03:26:59.239 --> 03:27:06.639
Everything I ate was just delicious. But the brains, Holy shit,

3068
03:27:06.760 --> 03:27:12.000
are these the absolute bomb. The brains are definitely the

3069
03:27:12.040 --> 03:27:16.280
best part. It doesn't take me long to gobble them

3070
03:27:16.319 --> 03:27:21.000
all up. All that's left is the skeleton, with the

3071
03:27:21.040 --> 03:27:26.760
skull busted open. There's blood everywhere. I'm soaked in it myself.

3072
03:27:27.719 --> 03:27:30.600
I get to my feet and look around the convenience store.

3073
03:27:31.479 --> 03:27:35.879
I definitely want more meat. Then I see the coffee

3074
03:27:35.879 --> 03:27:40.680
pot and go drink it. The caffeine starts amping my

3075
03:27:40.760 --> 03:27:45.479
brain up fast. I look around and don't find any

3076
03:27:45.479 --> 03:27:49.840
other employees. I guess anybody who wants a five finger

3077
03:27:49.959 --> 03:27:53.959
discount here can have a free for all. Knowing what

3078
03:27:54.040 --> 03:27:57.159
I want now, I head back out into the snow.

3079
03:27:58.159 --> 03:28:01.120
It's not long before I see a cup walking together

3080
03:28:01.760 --> 03:28:05.600
and run after them. I'm covered with blood and snow.

3081
03:28:05.680 --> 03:28:08.920
Now I've been out here for quite a while. I've

3082
03:28:08.920 --> 03:28:13.559
eaten six people and still want more. It was that

3083
03:28:13.719 --> 03:28:17.719
crazy bitch I killed earlier. I was just fine, all

3084
03:28:17.760 --> 03:28:23.280
things considering, until she bit me. In fact, I put

3085
03:28:23.319 --> 03:28:25.559
my hand to the side of my neck and feel

3086
03:28:25.600 --> 03:28:29.719
where her teeth broke my skin. It wasn't a clean bite,

3087
03:28:29.760 --> 03:28:33.760
but she broke my skin. She must have been infected

3088
03:28:33.799 --> 03:28:36.040
with something and passed it to me with that bite.

3089
03:28:37.159 --> 03:28:40.879
It's not long before a police car passes me. Suddenly,

3090
03:28:40.920 --> 03:28:44.399
it breaks fast and backs up. When the car reaches

3091
03:28:44.440 --> 03:28:47.360
me again, the two officers get out and point their

3092
03:28:47.399 --> 03:28:51.479
guns at me. The one closest to me points, you're

3093
03:28:51.520 --> 03:28:53.559
the one who left that mess. We're cleaning up at

3094
03:28:53.639 --> 03:28:57.559
convenient village. Mart get on the ground now. The other

3095
03:28:57.600 --> 03:29:00.719
one yells, coming from the front of the car. When

3096
03:29:00.760 --> 03:29:03.639
I run at them, they both shoot me. Next thing

3097
03:29:03.680 --> 03:29:06.760
I know, I'm flat on my back. Guess when people

3098
03:29:06.799 --> 03:29:09.399
at school say I'll blow away in a strong wind,

3099
03:29:10.040 --> 03:29:13.520
they probably weren't wrong. I open my eyes and see

3100
03:29:13.559 --> 03:29:16.760
the cops above me. Suddenly I grab one by the

3101
03:29:16.799 --> 03:29:20.159
hair and bite into his head. He screams only for

3102
03:29:20.239 --> 03:29:23.559
a moment before he drops on top of me. I

3103
03:29:23.639 --> 03:29:25.879
come out from underneath him and start working on his

3104
03:29:25.959 --> 03:29:29.319
head some more. That's when his partner kicks me right

3105
03:29:29.360 --> 03:29:32.120
off him. I get on my feet fast and look

3106
03:29:32.159 --> 03:29:38.159
at him crazily. More brains. The other cop quickly runs

3107
03:29:38.360 --> 03:29:41.600
and gets back in the patrol car. His tires squeal

3108
03:29:41.639 --> 03:29:45.760
as he speeds away. I lower myself and eat some more.

3109
03:29:46.479 --> 03:29:50.959
I'm such a glutton and decide I want the brains first.

3110
03:29:53.079 --> 03:29:57.360
I'm finishing the brains when another car pulls up. Wow,

3111
03:29:58.239 --> 03:30:02.360
head Mistress Hiltonson finally found took her long enough, though,

3112
03:30:03.000 --> 03:30:05.479
I'm surprised she didn't come to my house when I

3113
03:30:05.520 --> 03:30:09.760
was sleeping. Oh the look on her face. What have

3114
03:30:09.840 --> 03:30:13.840
you done? You sinful Jezebel, I hold out the last

3115
03:30:13.879 --> 03:30:18.959
of the officer's brains, finishing another helping of Christmas dinner.

3116
03:30:19.879 --> 03:30:24.040
You can have the last piece of these yummy brains.

3117
03:30:24.799 --> 03:30:28.680
When she looks ready to piss herself, I shrug. Hey,

3118
03:30:29.520 --> 03:30:34.399
don't say I never offered you anything, Hiltonson. Then I

3119
03:30:34.520 --> 03:30:41.040
eat the last bite. She approaches me very slowly. Let

3120
03:30:41.079 --> 03:30:43.959
me help you, child, Let me bring you back to God.

3121
03:30:44.559 --> 03:30:49.399
Only he can save you. I lick my lips. Gee,

3122
03:30:49.879 --> 03:30:53.760
you really think so. I pat my still tight tummy.

3123
03:30:54.440 --> 03:30:59.840
You know I've eaten six people tonight and this guy's brain.

3124
03:31:00.559 --> 03:31:03.920
You'd think my tummy would have burst a long time ago.

3125
03:31:04.319 --> 03:31:07.520
And you want to know what's really fucked up? Now,

3126
03:31:07.559 --> 03:31:13.959
I'm looking the headmistress over. I'm still hungry. Then I

3127
03:31:14.040 --> 03:31:17.840
remove my jean jacket and raise my finger. You know what,

3128
03:31:18.840 --> 03:31:22.280
Now I can get revenge on you for killing Bernadette.

3129
03:31:22.799 --> 03:31:26.959
I tighten my tiny fists. You had no right to

3130
03:31:27.079 --> 03:31:32.120
kill her, you cunt. I had to. Hiltonson tells me

3131
03:31:33.159 --> 03:31:38.680
your sister became just like you. Something happened to her

3132
03:31:39.200 --> 03:31:42.079
to where she got injured in the backwoods of Strickfield

3133
03:31:42.639 --> 03:31:47.040
on Halloween night last year. She died from her injuries

3134
03:31:47.959 --> 03:31:51.840
and became one of the living dead. She created a

3135
03:31:51.879 --> 03:31:55.719
lot of chaos at Strickfield Academy when she started eating

3136
03:31:55.760 --> 03:32:00.840
people herself and making more like her. She came for

3137
03:32:01.000 --> 03:32:06.239
me and I put her and her army down. Satan

3138
03:32:06.360 --> 03:32:09.799
took hold of her. Now it seems the Prince of

3139
03:32:09.879 --> 03:32:14.600
lies has taken hold of you, Raylen. I give her

3140
03:32:14.639 --> 03:32:19.440
a weird look before rolling my eyes. Satan never took

3141
03:32:19.639 --> 03:32:23.440
hold of me, you fucking cook. I was bitten by

3142
03:32:23.440 --> 03:32:27.159
somebody earlier and became infected by whatever it was she

3143
03:32:28.000 --> 03:32:31.920
was infected with. Those cops just shot me, and I'm

3144
03:32:31.959 --> 03:32:37.159
still here. Then I realize I likely died in my sleep.

3145
03:32:37.840 --> 03:32:40.840
When I woke up, I was one of the living dead.

3146
03:32:42.120 --> 03:32:47.200
Like I said, I'm still hungry. I rush right at Hiltonson,

3147
03:32:47.319 --> 03:32:50.399
ready to bite her, when she reminds me she's more

3148
03:32:50.440 --> 03:32:53.920
than capable of taking me in a fight. She's hitting

3149
03:32:53.920 --> 03:32:57.559
me with punches and kicks. Soon I'm on my ass,

3150
03:32:57.959 --> 03:33:00.719
but Hiltonson learns I just won't say day down. When

3151
03:33:00.719 --> 03:33:03.319
I'm back on my feet and coming at her again,

3152
03:33:04.360 --> 03:33:08.079
more cops arrive. The one who escaped me drives his

3153
03:33:08.200 --> 03:33:11.440
car right into me and sends me flying into somebody's yard,

3154
03:33:11.879 --> 03:33:15.239
where I knock over a brightly lit Santa Claus. I

3155
03:33:15.319 --> 03:33:18.559
sit back up and move to run at them. Hiltonson

3156
03:33:18.639 --> 03:33:21.440
quickly drops fast when the cops pull their guns out

3157
03:33:21.799 --> 03:33:25.719
and shoot me up with more bullets. Soon I'm flat

3158
03:33:25.719 --> 03:33:29.120
on my back again. The police all gasp when I

3159
03:33:29.159 --> 03:33:31.920
suddenly sit right up and get back on my feet.

3160
03:33:32.520 --> 03:33:35.840
I quickly change my strategy when I see them reloading,

3161
03:33:36.600 --> 03:33:40.200
not because I know they'll shoot me again. The police

3162
03:33:40.239 --> 03:33:43.440
have the numbers advantage on me, even though I'm one

3163
03:33:43.479 --> 03:33:45.959
of the living dead. It's obvious I'm no stronger than

3164
03:33:45.959 --> 03:33:50.879
I was before. I have to flee Hiltonson's pursuing me again.

3165
03:33:51.520 --> 03:33:53.879
Then I surprise her when I turn around and run

3166
03:33:54.000 --> 03:33:57.360
right at her. For the second time today. I take

3167
03:33:57.440 --> 03:34:01.079
Hiltonson down with another spear. The cops are ready to

3168
03:34:01.120 --> 03:34:03.719
shoot me again, but they see I'm right on top

3169
03:34:03.760 --> 03:34:07.440
of Hiltonson and don't want to risk shooting her. I

3170
03:34:07.520 --> 03:34:10.959
surprise them all again by springing right off Hiltonson and

3171
03:34:11.040 --> 03:34:14.079
jumping into a nearby squad car with the driver's side

3172
03:34:14.079 --> 03:34:17.200
door open. I hear all the shouts and four letter

3173
03:34:17.280 --> 03:34:20.840
words behind me as I drive off with it. I'm

3174
03:34:20.920 --> 03:34:24.079
driving around in my new toy and playing with everything

3175
03:34:24.120 --> 03:34:26.879
I can play with. I really get a kick out

3176
03:34:26.920 --> 03:34:29.840
of turning on the sirens and the flashers. I even

3177
03:34:29.879 --> 03:34:32.600
get on the radio and talk dirty to anyone listening.

3178
03:34:33.200 --> 03:34:35.479
It's only going to be a matter of time before

3179
03:34:35.520 --> 03:34:38.879
both the cops and the headmistress are after me again.

3180
03:34:39.799 --> 03:34:44.600
It's time to do something crazy. I turn onto University

3181
03:34:44.680 --> 03:34:48.360
Drive and stop. I remove my shoes and use one

3182
03:34:48.440 --> 03:34:51.319
to pin the gas pedal down to the floor. The

3183
03:34:51.360 --> 03:34:55.760
car practically flies away after shifting it into drive. Then

3184
03:34:55.799 --> 03:34:58.760
I jump out and land on the road. I get

3185
03:34:58.840 --> 03:35:01.799
up and go hide behind and some bushes. It's not

3186
03:35:01.959 --> 03:35:05.319
long before the other police cars are following my rigged car.

3187
03:35:06.040 --> 03:35:09.840
Hopefully the car stays straight at least long enough for

3188
03:35:09.920 --> 03:35:12.879
me to get away. I get up and decide not

3189
03:35:13.000 --> 03:35:16.120
to return to downtown village. I head in the direction

3190
03:35:16.239 --> 03:35:19.360
of Strickfield Town Center Mall. When I get under a

3191
03:35:19.399 --> 03:35:22.319
street light, I can see my bare knees are busted

3192
03:35:22.360 --> 03:35:25.920
open shit, probably from when I jumped out of the

3193
03:35:25.959 --> 03:35:30.159
police car. I didn't see or feel myself bleeding, but

3194
03:35:30.239 --> 03:35:33.319
I know I'm hurt. Fuck am I even going to

3195
03:35:33.360 --> 03:35:38.040
heal up. Since I'm dead, I've got to be more careful.

3196
03:35:38.799 --> 03:35:40.799
I get hurt too much, it might be the end

3197
03:35:40.879 --> 03:35:44.079
of me. I eventually make it to a truck stop

3198
03:35:44.120 --> 03:35:48.319
down the road from the mall. Ooh, they're open twenty

3199
03:35:48.360 --> 03:35:51.760
four hours too. That means I can clean up in

3200
03:35:51.799 --> 03:35:55.520
one of their showers. But since they are open, that

3201
03:35:55.680 --> 03:36:01.120
also means food. I run straight to Waltz's twenty four

3202
03:36:01.159 --> 03:36:05.399
hour truck stop and head inside. Damn, I never realized

3203
03:36:05.440 --> 03:36:08.680
how huge this place was from the outside. It's like

3204
03:36:08.760 --> 03:36:11.600
a little indoor mini mol In here. They have a

3205
03:36:11.600 --> 03:36:15.520
convenience store, a Popeye's Chicken, a burger king, a waffle house,

3206
03:36:15.920 --> 03:36:18.639
a little store where you can buy different electronics, and

3207
03:36:19.159 --> 03:36:22.920
a cellular phone place too, and not just restrooms, but

3208
03:36:23.159 --> 03:36:27.319
showers too. I see a sign that says a Starbucks

3209
03:36:27.360 --> 03:36:31.440
is coming soon, which reminds me I've got to get

3210
03:36:31.479 --> 03:36:36.280
more coffee. But I also want more food. And there's

3211
03:36:36.319 --> 03:36:39.760
a couple of nice porkers in here, including the one

3212
03:36:40.319 --> 03:36:44.040
behind the counter. When they turn and see me grabbing

3213
03:36:44.079 --> 03:36:47.799
the coffee pot and drinking from it, they ask if

3214
03:36:47.799 --> 03:36:52.479
I'm okay. After I finish chugging the coffee, I give

3215
03:36:52.520 --> 03:36:57.239
them a sweet little smile. I am now I giggle

3216
03:36:57.319 --> 03:37:00.280
a little. I'm thinking maybe I should have saved the

3217
03:37:00.319 --> 03:37:06.440
coffee to enjoy with my food. Even as an undead zombie,

3218
03:37:06.680 --> 03:37:09.760
the feeling of a nice hot shower raining down on

3219
03:37:09.840 --> 03:37:15.040
my naked body is still just the greatest feeling. After

3220
03:37:15.120 --> 03:37:17.360
I've rinsed the shampoo out of my hair and the

3221
03:37:17.440 --> 03:37:20.440
soap off my skin, I can still feel all the

3222
03:37:20.479 --> 03:37:24.200
bullet holes in my torso and the injuries on my knees.

3223
03:37:24.799 --> 03:37:27.239
I think I can even feel a few bullets still

3224
03:37:27.239 --> 03:37:30.600
inside me. It sure took long enough to wash off

3225
03:37:30.639 --> 03:37:33.760
all the blood I was covered in, especially from eating

3226
03:37:33.799 --> 03:37:38.200
those porkers. I moan and finish my shower. Then I

3227
03:37:38.239 --> 03:37:40.479
get out and look for fresh clothes in one of

3228
03:37:40.520 --> 03:37:43.520
the locker rooms. Damn it, am I going to have

3229
03:37:43.559 --> 03:37:46.879
to put my bloody, bullet holed clothes back on. I

3230
03:37:46.920 --> 03:37:50.479
can't find a damn thing my size. These truckers are

3231
03:37:50.520 --> 03:37:55.319
either hulking giants of men or big, motherly looking women.

3232
03:37:56.280 --> 03:38:00.719
You think that any scrawny, petite girls drive semis? Fuck No,

3233
03:38:01.040 --> 03:38:05.680
what bullshit? Then I finally do find some clothes in

3234
03:38:05.760 --> 03:38:08.879
the very last locker I put on another pair of

3235
03:38:08.920 --> 03:38:12.399
shorts to replace the ones I had. They're way shorter,

3236
03:38:12.520 --> 03:38:15.559
but at least they fit. Then I throw on the

3237
03:38:15.600 --> 03:38:18.360
T shirt. I'm about to look for shoes for my

3238
03:38:18.600 --> 03:38:21.879
tiny little feet when I feel someone's eyes right on

3239
03:38:21.959 --> 03:38:27.440
my back. I turn around and see, Oh, come on, really,

3240
03:38:28.040 --> 03:38:32.479
I groan. Head Mistress Hiltonson is back. This time. She's

3241
03:38:32.520 --> 03:38:37.159
wearing an all white outfit, pants, turtleneck, sweater, boots, and

3242
03:38:37.319 --> 03:38:40.879
an overcoat. And if that ain't enough, she's definitely packing

3243
03:38:40.920 --> 03:38:45.760
some hardware. She even has Is that a sword? No

3244
03:38:45.840 --> 03:38:48.879
two ways about it. Hiltonson came looking to put me

3245
03:38:49.040 --> 03:38:52.840
down the same way she put Bernadette down. Now I'm

3246
03:38:52.879 --> 03:38:56.600
starting to shake again. The head nun herself is backing

3247
03:38:56.639 --> 03:38:59.879
me into a corner. I tighten my tiny fists and

3248
03:39:00.120 --> 03:39:05.079
feel myself slipping into that crazy place again. Seriously, Hilton, Sin,

3249
03:39:05.319 --> 03:39:08.680
why can't you just leave me the fuck alone? She

3250
03:39:08.840 --> 03:39:12.440
draws her sword. You know I can't do that, not

3251
03:39:12.559 --> 03:39:16.520
when you've committed a very grave sin, Raylen, thou shalt

3252
03:39:16.559 --> 03:39:19.879
not kill you are a child of Satan. Now and

3253
03:39:20.000 --> 03:39:23.440
I swear before Almighty God, I shall bring you before

3254
03:39:23.520 --> 03:39:28.200
him right here and now. I scream when the craziness

3255
03:39:28.280 --> 03:39:30.559
takes me. Now, I don't even know if I'm at

3256
03:39:30.600 --> 03:39:32.799
the wheel or not. When I run right at hilton'son

3257
03:39:33.319 --> 03:39:35.399
she goes to swipe me with the sword, but I

3258
03:39:35.479 --> 03:39:38.280
spear her one more time. I take her through the

3259
03:39:38.319 --> 03:39:42.040
shower entrance and back out into the large restroom. Now

3260
03:39:42.079 --> 03:39:45.079
I grab her head and start slamming it repeatedly on

3261
03:39:45.120 --> 03:39:51.159
the floor. I'm gonna eat your brains, I sing crazily.

3262
03:39:51.680 --> 03:39:56.760
I'm gonna eat your brains. Even in my crazy state,

3263
03:39:57.360 --> 03:40:01.079
I have again underestimated her. She easily uses her martial

3264
03:40:01.159 --> 03:40:04.239
arts training to get me off her. I'm crazed, but

3265
03:40:04.319 --> 03:40:07.600
not stupid. I quickly get up and run away. It's

3266
03:40:07.639 --> 03:40:10.879
not long before the bitch is after me again. I

3267
03:40:11.000 --> 03:40:14.440
turn and run the wrong way. My eyes open wide

3268
03:40:14.479 --> 03:40:17.559
when I see all kinds of Christmas stuff in here?

3269
03:40:18.479 --> 03:40:21.040
How did I not see this store when I came

3270
03:40:21.079 --> 03:40:24.840
in here? I scream when I feel Hiltonson's sword coming

3271
03:40:24.920 --> 03:40:27.840
right out through my gut, but I'm not in any pain.

3272
03:40:28.399 --> 03:40:32.680
I think I was just surprised. I'm dead right, so

3273
03:40:32.959 --> 03:40:36.840
I don't feel pain. When Hiltonson pulls the sword back out,

3274
03:40:37.159 --> 03:40:41.239
I turn back to her and leap right on her rains.

3275
03:40:42.280 --> 03:40:45.159
Now I'm like a little spider monkey that won't let go.

3276
03:40:45.600 --> 03:40:49.200
I'm ready to bite into Hiltonson's head when I'm feeling

3277
03:40:49.239 --> 03:40:52.520
more gunshots in my side. The force of the bullets

3278
03:40:52.600 --> 03:40:54.959
is making you let her go and fall on my back.

3279
03:40:55.440 --> 03:40:57.760
I don't stay there, though. I get back up and

3280
03:40:57.840 --> 03:41:01.479
run around in this little Christmas store. I'm grabbing snow

3281
03:41:01.520 --> 03:41:05.360
globe displays and throwing them at Hiltonson. She's just knocking

3282
03:41:05.399 --> 03:41:09.319
them away with her sword. There's nowhere for you to escape, Rayleen,

3283
03:41:09.840 --> 03:41:13.200
Hiltonson tells me, just let me give you to God.

3284
03:41:13.319 --> 03:41:18.639
Perhaps he will have mercy upon your tainted soul. Now

3285
03:41:18.680 --> 03:41:22.120
I'm totally overtaken by the craziness. I just can't be

3286
03:41:22.239 --> 03:41:25.760
backed into a corner. I just can't. I scream again

3287
03:41:25.840 --> 03:41:28.040
and run right at her. I know I'm not at

3288
03:41:28.079 --> 03:41:30.879
the wheel now when I feel myself leaping at Hiltonson

3289
03:41:31.040 --> 03:41:33.840
and landing right into the blade of her sword again.

3290
03:41:35.000 --> 03:41:37.680
Her blade can't kill me, but it's making me bleed

3291
03:41:37.840 --> 03:41:41.040
more and more. These skimpy clothes I found are all

3292
03:41:41.079 --> 03:41:44.520
red with blood. Now I grab the blade of Hiltonson's

3293
03:41:44.520 --> 03:41:48.280
sword and pull myself further onto it. Anything to get

3294
03:41:48.319 --> 03:41:50.959
to her. I scream as I grab her hair and

3295
03:41:51.079 --> 03:41:57.760
move to bite her. I hate you, I roar. Now

3296
03:41:57.799 --> 03:42:01.840
I have Hiltonson backed into a corner. She's grabbing boxes

3297
03:42:01.840 --> 03:42:05.239
of Christmas figurines and smashing my head with them. I'm

3298
03:42:05.280 --> 03:42:08.360
far too crazy to give up. Now, I scream one

3299
03:42:08.399 --> 03:42:11.760
more time and bring my teeth nearly to her exposed wrist.

3300
03:42:12.799 --> 03:42:17.879
Never Hiltonson screams with strength I never knew the headmistress

3301
03:42:17.879 --> 03:42:21.840
of Strickfield Academy had. She lifts her sword with me

3302
03:42:22.079 --> 03:42:26.639
still on it, and runs full speed ahead. We stop

3303
03:42:26.680 --> 03:42:29.399
when the tip of the blade hits a wall. Now

3304
03:42:29.479 --> 03:42:33.399
I'm impaled and stuck tight. No matter how much I

3305
03:42:33.479 --> 03:42:36.399
try to move, I'm skewered like meat on a shish kebab.

3306
03:42:36.959 --> 03:42:40.159
I look at Hiltonson and growl again. Then I scream,

3307
03:42:40.760 --> 03:42:43.239
even though I don't breathe any more. I'm heaving and

3308
03:42:43.399 --> 03:42:48.040
struggling like crazy to get free. I'm really feeling scared now,

3309
03:42:48.360 --> 03:42:51.200
like I've never been scared in my whole life, and

3310
03:42:51.319 --> 03:42:56.959
start crying. Then Hiltonson draws one of her guns. I

3311
03:42:57.120 --> 03:43:01.040
really wanted to save Bernadette Raeleine. I really don't know

3312
03:43:01.079 --> 03:43:03.239
what happened to the two of you to fill you

3313
03:43:03.319 --> 03:43:07.079
both with so much hate. It's even stranger that the

3314
03:43:07.079 --> 03:43:10.959
two of you became completely different incarnations of the walking dead.

3315
03:43:11.760 --> 03:43:15.000
More than anything, I would wish nothing better than to

3316
03:43:15.040 --> 03:43:18.360
try and restore you and make you listen to reason.

3317
03:43:19.440 --> 03:43:24.639
But like Bernadette, you yourself are also beyond saving. Now

3318
03:43:25.559 --> 03:43:32.200
she raises her gun, may may May God have mercy,

3319
03:43:33.040 --> 03:43:36.879
And for the first time ever, I see the Headmistress cry.

3320
03:43:38.239 --> 03:43:43.799
Then she lowers her gun. Almighty God, forgive me. I

3321
03:43:43.840 --> 03:43:47.440
can't do it. She looks right at me as I'm

3322
03:43:47.479 --> 03:43:51.360
still crying. I'm going to try and save you, Raylen.

3323
03:43:52.600 --> 03:43:58.719
Her tears actually moved me. God in Heaven, she really

3324
03:43:58.760 --> 03:44:02.120
does care about me. It sure would be the first

3325
03:44:02.120 --> 03:44:08.319
time that anyone ever did. Just like that, my craziness

3326
03:44:08.360 --> 03:44:14.079
fades away. I don't want to be this head Mistress,

3327
03:44:15.000 --> 03:44:20.040
I say, actually feeling regret for what I've done tonight. No,

3328
03:44:21.239 --> 03:44:24.360
I can't be saved. I've killed and eaten so many

3329
03:44:24.399 --> 03:44:32.040
people without remorse, and I'm already getting hungry again. Please

3330
03:44:32.440 --> 03:44:35.079
You've got to stop me, kill me and let me

3331
03:44:35.159 --> 03:44:40.440
face judgment before God Christ. It fucking hurts so much

3332
03:44:40.520 --> 03:44:44.159
now I can't stop crying. I'm a zombie who doesn't

3333
03:44:44.200 --> 03:44:48.239
feel physical pain. But head Mistress Hiltonson just made me

3334
03:44:48.319 --> 03:44:54.200
realize I still have a soul. On Christmas Day, the

3335
03:44:54.280 --> 03:44:59.719
head Mistress actually made me feel that. Shoot me, head Mistress.

3336
03:45:00.280 --> 03:45:03.399
I beg her again. It's the only thing you can

3337
03:45:03.440 --> 03:45:07.239
do for me. I look her in the face. I'm

3338
03:45:07.280 --> 03:45:10.280
ready to answer for what I've done. I hold out

3339
03:45:10.280 --> 03:45:15.079
my hand. If you can't do it, give me the gun.

3340
03:45:15.719 --> 03:45:19.559
You'd think Hiltonson wouldn't have done it, but she actually

3341
03:45:19.639 --> 03:45:23.360
hands me the gun. No, I don't turn it on

3342
03:45:23.399 --> 03:45:26.280
her and shoot her. I put the gun under my

3343
03:45:26.440 --> 03:45:30.600
chin to blow my brains out. I try so hard

3344
03:45:30.639 --> 03:45:36.120
to squeeze the trigger. I can't. I wail. I'm so afraid,

3345
03:45:36.600 --> 03:45:43.559
head Mistress. She approaches me again. Then let me redeem you, child.

3346
03:45:44.520 --> 03:45:48.719
It doesn't have to end this way. Then we both

3347
03:45:48.760 --> 03:45:52.479
hear the sounds of police cars coming. I know Hiltonson

3348
03:45:52.520 --> 03:45:55.920
didn't call them, not when she came after me herself.

3349
03:45:56.760 --> 03:45:59.639
It finally dawns on me, what's going to happen If

3350
03:45:59.680 --> 03:46:03.559
I get taken by the police, I'll become a labrat.

3351
03:46:03.840 --> 03:46:07.280
I'll be dissected and studied, and no, I won't let

3352
03:46:07.280 --> 03:46:10.120
that happen to me. I won't ever feel trapped again.

3353
03:46:11.559 --> 03:46:15.159
Then Hiltonson puts her thumb on my forehead and makes

3354
03:46:15.200 --> 03:46:20.559
the sign of the Cross before Almighty God. I baptize

3355
03:46:20.600 --> 03:46:22.840
you in the name of the Father and the Son

3356
03:46:23.280 --> 03:46:26.799
and the Holy Spirit. Then she puts her hand on

3357
03:46:26.879 --> 03:46:30.319
the side of my face and gives me the last rites.

3358
03:46:31.680 --> 03:46:36.639
I put my hand on hers. Thank you, I whisper.

3359
03:46:38.000 --> 03:46:41.760
I know that you did redeem me. And on Christmas,

3360
03:46:42.879 --> 03:46:45.840
if I do see God, I'll tell him what you

3361
03:46:45.920 --> 03:46:50.000
did for me. We hear the police running towards us.

3362
03:46:50.559 --> 03:46:53.239
As soon as they find both of us, I make

3363
03:46:53.280 --> 03:46:56.399
the sign of the cross, put the gun under my

3364
03:46:56.520 --> 03:47:04.319
chin again and squeeze the trigger. Before everything fades, Head

3365
03:47:04.360 --> 03:47:09.440
Mistress Hiltonson says, may God have mercy upon your soul

3366
03:47:10.159 --> 03:47:17.760
this Christmas night, child, And then I only see the

3367
03:47:17.840 --> 03:47:35.559
bright white light. Welcome Home by Mike Eskewy. Some people

3368
03:47:35.680 --> 03:47:40.280
love coming home for Christmas. It's seeing loved ones, family

3369
03:47:40.360 --> 03:47:44.200
dinners and falling asleep by a roaring fire while it's

3370
03:47:44.239 --> 03:47:49.760
colder than hell outside. This will be different than the usual. Hi,

3371
03:47:50.079 --> 03:47:54.079
how are you son? This year will be explaining where

3372
03:47:54.120 --> 03:47:57.440
the hell I've been for five years and why everyone

3373
03:47:57.520 --> 03:48:02.280
thought I was dead during that time, plus explaining that

3374
03:48:02.440 --> 03:48:08.440
other thing. I'm a werewolf and married and I have

3375
03:48:08.520 --> 03:48:13.799
a kid, plus another one on the way. Yeah, Josh,

3376
03:48:14.040 --> 03:48:17.719
you sure know how to make Christmas memorable. I mean,

3377
03:48:17.799 --> 03:48:21.120
it's not shitting on the carpet on Christmas Morning levels

3378
03:48:21.159 --> 03:48:28.559
of memorable. Oddly enough, still a possibility, though, don't ask.

3379
03:48:29.680 --> 03:48:32.559
I've got a lot of explaining to do to my parents.

3380
03:48:33.159 --> 03:48:37.159
I hope they understand and maybe even accept that their

3381
03:48:37.200 --> 03:48:42.840
son is different than when he left. He's not the aimless,

3382
03:48:43.040 --> 03:48:46.319
horny kid who left one day and never came back

3383
03:48:46.399 --> 03:48:51.840
after a chance encounter with a girl. No, I'm older, wiser,

3384
03:48:51.920 --> 03:48:55.559
and hopefully on the way to being a good father.

3385
03:48:56.520 --> 03:49:01.239
My dad, Bobby Fox, wasn't a bad guy, but he

3386
03:49:01.319 --> 03:49:03.479
didn't care. As long as he could drink down at

3387
03:49:03.559 --> 03:49:06.840
Jason's Pub after his shift at west Hill Secondary School,

3388
03:49:07.879 --> 03:49:11.120
he didn't care. He just wasn't there for me at

3389
03:49:11.120 --> 03:49:14.760
all unless he needed a beer or someone to come

3390
03:49:14.879 --> 03:49:18.479
pick him up when he couldn't drive home. He didn't

3391
03:49:18.760 --> 03:49:21.959
hit me or anything, but he could be mean when

3392
03:49:21.959 --> 03:49:25.799
he wanted to be my wife. Tracy was the only

3393
03:49:25.840 --> 03:49:29.040
one who welcomed me into her pack five years ago.

3394
03:49:29.760 --> 03:49:32.600
It was a chance email that led to a knight

3395
03:49:33.200 --> 03:49:36.159
that could have ended with me as a bloody smear

3396
03:49:36.239 --> 03:49:39.360
on the side of the road, with me being just

3397
03:49:39.440 --> 03:49:45.719
another missing person reported and ignored by Ontario Provincial police. Instead,

3398
03:49:45.840 --> 03:49:49.280
she saw something in me. She saw the real me,

3399
03:49:50.479 --> 03:49:53.799
a vulnerable kid who wasn't that bad a guy, but

3400
03:49:54.520 --> 03:49:58.319
let his hormones get the better of him. Tracy was

3401
03:49:58.360 --> 03:50:03.000
a werewolf or a shifter. She was a gorgeous Ojibwe

3402
03:50:03.159 --> 03:50:07.799
girl who happened to have a supernaturally infused bloodline. She

3403
03:50:07.879 --> 03:50:11.079
was looking for someone to have a family with, and

3404
03:50:11.159 --> 03:50:15.239
she chose me because I was honest. In her world,

3405
03:50:15.680 --> 03:50:18.520
her pups take on traits from the mate and the mother.

3406
03:50:19.239 --> 03:50:22.000
She wanted me because she saw I was honest at

3407
03:50:22.040 --> 03:50:26.360
my core. In return, she offered me a new life

3408
03:50:26.399 --> 03:50:30.319
and a new world that I never dreamed of. I

3409
03:50:30.399 --> 03:50:34.760
woke up the following day as something new. I was reborn.

3410
03:50:35.159 --> 03:50:38.799
I was part of her pack and her kin. Indigenous

3411
03:50:38.799 --> 03:50:42.000
families are pretty close knit up in Cape Crocker, but

3412
03:50:42.159 --> 03:50:47.440
hers was particularly close. It wasn't as easy as walking

3413
03:50:47.520 --> 03:50:50.440
up and meeting her family and shaking hands with Dad

3414
03:50:50.440 --> 03:50:55.159
and her brothers. I had to earn my spot. It

3415
03:50:55.239 --> 03:50:57.760
was a challenge, and I know I'll be tested again

3416
03:50:58.120 --> 03:51:02.079
and rightfully, so let me tell you it was harder

3417
03:51:02.120 --> 03:51:04.840
than any hazing I ever had in the locker room

3418
03:51:04.840 --> 03:51:08.920
at hockey. Learning how to control my new lupine form

3419
03:51:09.399 --> 03:51:13.120
shifting into the warrior form are hybrid between man and

3420
03:51:13.200 --> 03:51:16.840
wolf at will. The hardest part was learning to control

3421
03:51:16.920 --> 03:51:20.760
the anger, the aggression, and the natural need to hunt.

3422
03:51:21.600 --> 03:51:24.879
It's an honor to have this remarkable gift blessed upon me,

3423
03:51:25.959 --> 03:51:29.440
just a stupid kid from Owen Sound. I got a

3424
03:51:29.440 --> 03:51:33.440
beautiful wife, a baby boy I'd do anything for, and

3425
03:51:33.520 --> 03:51:36.959
another one we're expecting in the spring. It was worth

3426
03:51:37.040 --> 03:51:39.799
leaving it all behind for something you only see in

3427
03:51:40.280 --> 03:51:45.760
bad Hallmark movies. Right Still, her dad, Howard, and I

3428
03:51:45.799 --> 03:51:48.799
would come to respect each other, and I'd come to

3429
03:51:48.879 --> 03:51:52.239
love him. He was the literal wise old Indian and

3430
03:51:52.360 --> 03:51:55.879
probably the sharpest guy I've ever met. Also, he could

3431
03:51:55.920 --> 03:51:58.760
tell the funniest jokes I've ever heard, too, and was

3432
03:51:58.840 --> 03:52:03.079
way raunchier than me at my worst. Tracy's family eventually

3433
03:52:03.120 --> 03:52:07.399
accepted me and it really felt like home. We would

3434
03:52:07.440 --> 03:52:10.920
hunt together as a pack, run across the Niagara escarpment

3435
03:52:11.000 --> 03:52:14.239
with our hearts almost tearing out of our chests. We

3436
03:52:14.280 --> 03:52:17.479
would build great bonfires, and we'd howl at the moon,

3437
03:52:17.840 --> 03:52:21.959
and they'd teach me songs in their languages. Fuck. I

3438
03:52:21.959 --> 03:52:29.520
wouldn't trade it for anything. However, I miss my own family,

3439
03:52:30.639 --> 03:52:34.120
and it's time to go home. I want to show

3440
03:52:34.159 --> 03:52:36.479
them that I grew up and am capable of being

3441
03:52:36.520 --> 03:52:39.760
a father. I need to show my own father what

3442
03:52:39.799 --> 03:52:42.920
a real father looks like, even if he's now a

3443
03:52:43.079 --> 03:52:47.120
seven foot tall wolfman and has claws that can cut

3444
03:52:47.159 --> 03:52:51.520
tempered steel. Did I mention because I'm a non blood

3445
03:52:51.520 --> 03:52:55.000
shifter that I'm a little short for my new life.

3446
03:52:55.760 --> 03:52:58.319
I don't look as majestic as others do in the tribe.

3447
03:52:58.360 --> 03:53:02.719
But that's okay. Can't win the lottery all the time, right.

3448
03:53:04.200 --> 03:53:09.079
You can't run from your past forever. Eventually you have

3449
03:53:09.200 --> 03:53:14.520
to go home. It's Christmas time, isn't that when miracles

3450
03:53:14.520 --> 03:53:17.520
and all that shit are supposed to happen. We're on

3451
03:53:17.600 --> 03:53:20.159
the road back to Owen Sound now, and I'm dreading

3452
03:53:20.239 --> 03:53:24.479
facing my mom and dad again. Just outside Hepworth and

3453
03:53:24.559 --> 03:53:28.440
probably about thirty minutes away from the most awkward conversation

3454
03:53:28.559 --> 03:53:32.680
of my life. They'll love Tracy, I know they will.

3455
03:53:33.239 --> 03:53:37.040
My mom will fawn over my son Noah until he

3456
03:53:37.239 --> 03:53:41.879
changes into another seven foot tall monster. Still, she'll get

3457
03:53:41.920 --> 03:53:45.280
over it, and she'll be Grandma Linda to Noah once

3458
03:53:45.360 --> 03:53:50.000
she stops shitting her pants. He's years away from his

3459
03:53:50.040 --> 03:53:53.360
first change, though, but he's already showing the traits of

3460
03:53:53.360 --> 03:53:57.559
his spiritual blood. He'll be stronger than Tracy and I combined,

3461
03:53:57.639 --> 03:54:00.440
and I'd be lying if that didn't put a huge

3462
03:54:00.440 --> 03:54:05.319
smile on my goofy face. However, he's just as much

3463
03:54:05.399 --> 03:54:09.639
theirs as he has mine and Tracy's. We're family. I

3464
03:54:09.719 --> 03:54:12.639
want our families to know each other. I want to

3465
03:54:12.639 --> 03:54:15.680
give my family the Christmas that my parents never gave me,

3466
03:54:15.760 --> 03:54:21.479
and my sister Jenna presents goofy pictures and awkward Christmas dinners,

3467
03:54:22.000 --> 03:54:25.680
the whole shebang. My son Noah is asleep in the

3468
03:54:25.719 --> 03:54:29.959
back seat and makes a little cooing noise. He looked

3469
03:54:30.000 --> 03:54:33.479
so cute in his snowsuit. One of the res aunties

3470
03:54:33.639 --> 03:54:38.000
made him his own little moccasins real deer leather too.

3471
03:54:38.559 --> 03:54:41.280
I reached my hand back and moved his hair out

3472
03:54:41.319 --> 03:54:44.559
of his face. I touched his little cheeks, and I

3473
03:54:44.600 --> 03:54:48.000
can't help but marvel at the thought I helped make

3474
03:54:48.079 --> 03:54:53.360
that I was a dad. Josh, you know we don't

3475
03:54:53.399 --> 03:54:56.479
have to do this. Tracy looked over at me from

3476
03:54:56.520 --> 03:54:59.479
the driver's seat. The drive in the winter is never

3477
03:54:59.600 --> 03:55:03.360
pleasant on Highway six, but she handles it like a pro.

3478
03:55:03.959 --> 03:55:06.959
It's snowing pretty heavily, and I'll wager the highway will

3479
03:55:07.000 --> 03:55:09.200
be closed by the time we get to Owen Sound.

3480
03:55:10.120 --> 03:55:13.319
It always gets closed around this time in December and

3481
03:55:13.479 --> 03:55:18.280
usually stays that way overnight. We do. They deserve to

3482
03:55:18.360 --> 03:55:22.079
know about me, about us, about Noah, and there soon

3483
03:55:22.159 --> 03:55:26.079
to be new grandkid. On one hand, maybe she was

3484
03:55:26.159 --> 03:55:28.799
right they didn't have to know, and maybe it was

3485
03:55:28.840 --> 03:55:33.920
better that I was just missing Wagosh. You know I

3486
03:55:34.000 --> 03:55:37.319
love you and only want what's best. She called me

3487
03:55:37.360 --> 03:55:40.959
that when she wanted to reassure me. Wagosh is the

3488
03:55:41.000 --> 03:55:44.200
Ojibwe word for fox, and her pet name for me.

3489
03:55:45.040 --> 03:55:49.920
Her name was Ogijita, and it meant warrior. Hers was

3490
03:55:50.040 --> 03:55:54.440
significantly cooler than mine. I'm not of blood, so I

3491
03:55:54.479 --> 03:55:57.639
don't get a spirit name like hers. But still she

3492
03:55:57.760 --> 03:56:02.760
calls me Wagosh or Foxy in human company. I did

3493
03:56:02.840 --> 03:56:05.719
feel that pang of guilt, and that image of my

3494
03:56:05.799 --> 03:56:09.479
mother crying in my bedroom and never knowing exactly what

3495
03:56:09.680 --> 03:56:13.040
happened to me. The thought of my sister Jenna never

3496
03:56:13.120 --> 03:56:17.239
knowing either. I didn't want them imagining me rotting in

3497
03:56:17.319 --> 03:56:20.440
a ditch somewhere or being dead at the bottom of

3498
03:56:20.479 --> 03:56:24.319
Georgian Bay. I wasn't that guy. I wanted to be

3499
03:56:24.319 --> 03:56:27.920
better than I was in my previous life. That meant

3500
03:56:27.959 --> 03:56:31.879
going home and facing the music. If we keep them

3501
03:56:31.879 --> 03:56:35.239
out of our lives, then they won't go looking for them.

3502
03:56:35.639 --> 03:56:40.239
They only care about us and hunting us. She glanced

3503
03:56:40.280 --> 03:56:43.159
over at me with those big brown eyes, and I

3504
03:56:43.159 --> 03:56:49.799
could see, for a half second concern hunters. People who

3505
03:56:49.920 --> 03:56:53.440
knew about us shifters and hunted us for a variety

3506
03:56:53.479 --> 03:56:58.840
of reasons. They came prepared, high powered weapons, silver and

3507
03:56:58.920 --> 03:57:03.760
other stuff I've only heard whispered about around campfires. They

3508
03:57:03.840 --> 03:57:07.879
rarely leave survivors. No one knows where they came from

3509
03:57:08.000 --> 03:57:11.639
or even how they knew how to find us. Divine wrath.

3510
03:57:12.520 --> 03:57:14.479
I don't think so. But if you ask me five

3511
03:57:14.600 --> 03:57:17.959
years ago, if I believed in werewolves, I'd have called

3512
03:57:18.000 --> 03:57:20.959
you fucking crazy and sent you up the looney bin.

3513
03:57:21.920 --> 03:57:25.000
A group of hunters got Tracy's brothers a few years back,

3514
03:57:26.159 --> 03:57:28.479
had them cornered out in the bush, and laid a

3515
03:57:28.520 --> 03:57:32.520
trap for them. We only found the lingering smell of gunpowder,

3516
03:57:33.079 --> 03:57:37.479
scraps of their pelts, and a silvered bowie knife stuck

3517
03:57:37.520 --> 03:57:41.440
in a tree. The hunters left a gruesome and cruel

3518
03:57:41.559 --> 03:57:48.319
message scrawled in blood and entrails across the ground, You're next, mongrel.

3519
03:57:49.079 --> 03:57:52.280
We buried what we could under a full moon and

3520
03:57:52.440 --> 03:57:56.639
swore revenge if we ever found them. We burned sweet

3521
03:57:56.680 --> 03:58:01.120
grass and sage and offered tobacco. As per Tracy's family traditions,

3522
03:58:02.200 --> 03:58:05.959
the res held a sacred fire vigil for days. As

3523
03:58:05.959 --> 03:58:09.200
we laid them to rest, I offered them my word

3524
03:58:09.319 --> 03:58:13.319
that I'd see vengeance visited in this world or the next.

3525
03:58:14.239 --> 03:58:17.120
That was the only night I ever saw Tracy cry.

3526
03:58:18.120 --> 03:58:21.159
Her father was stoic, and I didn't see him so

3527
03:58:21.319 --> 03:58:26.399
much as smile For months afterwards. We've been careful ever since,

3528
03:58:27.079 --> 03:58:31.079
watching our backs, patrolling our property on the reserve. We

3529
03:58:31.239 --> 03:58:34.719
know their scent from what was left behind. Smelt like

3530
03:58:34.799 --> 03:58:39.600
old spice, gun oil and stale astro glide. Our heightened

3531
03:58:39.639 --> 03:58:42.559
senses mean we could even sense their spirits to a

3532
03:58:42.600 --> 03:58:46.559
limited extent. They left behind a cockiness you could feel

3533
03:58:46.639 --> 03:58:50.239
seep into your pores. However, at the end of the day,

3534
03:58:51.079 --> 03:58:57.719
they were human. Humans bleed and humans die. They could

3535
03:58:57.799 --> 03:59:02.840
be killed, probably a bunch of dude bros. If we

3536
03:59:02.920 --> 03:59:06.360
ever find them, we'll tear them apart, limb from limb

3537
03:59:06.559 --> 03:59:09.319
and make sure for every second of pain they visited

3538
03:59:09.360 --> 03:59:13.520
on Terry and Shane, we give them something above and beyond.

3539
03:59:14.440 --> 03:59:18.200
It won't be quick, but I will enjoy it. What

3540
03:59:18.399 --> 03:59:23.079
was that old video game saying rip and tear? I

3541
03:59:23.120 --> 03:59:26.360
shook off the memory as we finally rounded the corner

3542
03:59:26.399 --> 03:59:29.360
into spring Mount and were just outside of the city

3543
03:59:29.399 --> 03:59:32.520
limits of Owen Sound. We'd be at my house in

3544
03:59:32.559 --> 03:59:35.920
a few minutes and then well, I don't know what

3545
03:59:36.920 --> 03:59:40.000
I see roads as we passed the car dealerships and

3546
03:59:40.040 --> 03:59:44.559
the truck's wheels slipped ever so slightly. This definitely meant

3547
03:59:44.600 --> 03:59:46.600
they were going to close the roads. By the time

3548
03:59:46.639 --> 03:59:49.959
we got back from my parents' house. Snow was picking

3549
03:59:50.040 --> 03:59:52.559
up too. As we passed the movie theater and the

3550
03:59:52.600 --> 03:59:57.200
old abandoned Blockbuster video. The roads will be impassable within

3551
03:59:57.280 --> 03:59:59.760
an hour. I picked a hell of a day to

3552
03:59:59.840 --> 04:00:03.959
dre didn't. I, Well, it's too late to back out now.

3553
04:00:04.840 --> 04:00:07.559
I'd been by my parents' place a few times as

3554
04:00:07.600 --> 04:00:11.280
a wolf late at night. Tracy would scold me when

3555
04:00:11.319 --> 04:00:13.879
I got back home because she said I wasn't careful

3556
04:00:13.959 --> 04:00:18.239
enough and didn't maximize our gifts to stay hidden. She

3557
04:00:18.319 --> 04:00:21.559
knew I was worried about my folks, but I was careful.

3558
04:00:22.280 --> 04:00:25.280
No one could track me. I was faster than anything

3559
04:00:25.319 --> 04:00:28.520
on four legs had any right to be. No one

3560
04:00:28.600 --> 04:00:33.000
saw me, I'm sure of it. We arrived at my

3561
04:00:33.120 --> 04:00:37.399
parents' house, right by west Hill Secondary School. They're decorated

3562
04:00:37.399 --> 04:00:40.959
for Christmas lights and light up snowmen that I'm pretty

3563
04:00:41.000 --> 04:00:44.680
sure were around since the seventies. We pulled into the

3564
04:00:44.760 --> 04:00:47.959
driveway next to my dad's SUV and mom's shitty Kia.

3565
04:00:48.600 --> 04:00:52.079
I didn't see Jenna's car. Maybe she didn't come home

3566
04:00:52.120 --> 04:00:57.040
this year. That's weird. I unbuckled Noah's car seat and

3567
04:00:57.120 --> 04:00:59.399
started to get him ready to meet his Grandpa, Bob

3568
04:00:59.440 --> 04:01:03.680
and Grandma my folks. I grabbed his bag of stuff

3569
04:01:03.719 --> 04:01:07.399
and our backpacks and slung them over my shoulder. Tracy

3570
04:01:07.520 --> 04:01:10.719
touched my arm and looked around into the early evening air.

3571
04:01:11.760 --> 04:01:16.840
She wasn't just looking, she was looking. She reached out

3572
04:01:16.840 --> 04:01:20.000
with her shifter senses and was actively looking for threats.

3573
04:01:20.840 --> 04:01:23.559
She had brought our family into a new location and

3574
04:01:23.600 --> 04:01:26.360
a place where she didn't know every entrance and exit.

3575
04:01:27.120 --> 04:01:30.000
First and foremost, she was a hunter, a soldier in

3576
04:01:30.040 --> 04:01:34.319
a supernatural war. But she was something else too, a

3577
04:01:34.399 --> 04:01:38.079
mom who would protect her family with tooth and claw.

3578
04:01:39.120 --> 04:01:43.920
Sh Listen. She whispered in a way that only we

3579
04:01:44.079 --> 04:01:47.959
could hear. I wasn't as in tune with things as

3580
04:01:47.959 --> 04:01:50.760
she was. I'm pretty sure she could hear a mouse

3581
04:01:50.799 --> 04:01:54.559
fart the next town over if she tried. Tracy's eyes

3582
04:01:54.600 --> 04:01:57.879
took on a more animalistic look as she was reaching

3583
04:01:57.920 --> 04:02:01.000
out with her senses. It was beautiful in its own

3584
04:02:01.040 --> 04:02:03.360
way and made me love the meld of the beast

3585
04:02:03.440 --> 04:02:07.360
and woman that she was. In our extended senses, we

3586
04:02:07.399 --> 04:02:10.840
could feel the hum of the earth itself, the slight

3587
04:02:10.959 --> 04:02:14.840
tremors that life itself put out. It was like feeling

3588
04:02:14.920 --> 04:02:19.040
the heartbeat of the planet. She hated when I called

3589
04:02:19.079 --> 04:02:22.680
it using the force, but what else could you call it?

3590
04:02:23.440 --> 04:02:28.920
My wife was basically a hot fuckable Luke Skywalker. What

3591
04:02:30.120 --> 04:02:33.559
I don't hear shit, trace couple of cars in the road,

3592
04:02:34.600 --> 04:02:38.920
dog barking, and probably some asshole watching young Sheldon or

3593
04:02:38.920 --> 04:02:43.600
something a few houses down. She wasn't convinced that all

3594
04:02:43.719 --> 04:02:48.600
was clear. She was on red alert for something. There's

3595
04:02:48.639 --> 04:02:51.440
no way the hunters would be so brazen as to

3596
04:02:51.479 --> 04:02:57.200
attack on Christmas Eve, right, Their dude, bro werewolf hunters,

3597
04:02:57.280 --> 04:03:01.799
not the Terminator, I mean worse to worse. We hulk

3598
04:03:01.879 --> 04:03:04.440
out and tear them limb from limb, and then have

3599
04:03:04.559 --> 04:03:08.120
family Christmas coated in the guts of our fallen foes.

3600
04:03:09.040 --> 04:03:13.440
Its Game of Thrones meets the Brady Bunch. It'll be perfect. Now.

3601
04:03:13.479 --> 04:03:16.879
I'll admit that my mind was elsewhere, trying to psych

3602
04:03:17.000 --> 04:03:19.760
up for walking up and knocking on my own front door.

3603
04:03:20.520 --> 04:03:23.200
I could feel my stomach tightened up, and I was

3604
04:03:23.239 --> 04:03:28.000
even a little sick. This was it, game time, Foxy.

3605
04:03:28.799 --> 04:03:31.120
I held Noah in my arms and walked up the

3606
04:03:31.159 --> 04:03:34.600
stairs of our front porch, and Tracy followed behind us,

3607
04:03:34.680 --> 04:03:39.799
still searching out into the night. Knock, knock, hold on.

3608
04:03:40.559 --> 04:03:43.239
I hear my mother yell from behind the closed door.

3609
04:03:43.879 --> 04:03:46.479
She was likely in the kitchen, despite her being a

3610
04:03:46.600 --> 04:03:49.879
terrible cook. There was a reason I worked at Little

3611
04:03:49.920 --> 04:03:53.200
Caesar's down the road for most of my time before college.

3612
04:03:53.680 --> 04:03:55.879
It was shitty pizza, but it was better than what

3613
04:03:55.959 --> 04:04:00.600
we had at home. Distinctive footsteps on the hard floor,

3614
04:04:01.040 --> 04:04:06.200
and they're getting closer. Breathe. Noah reached out his tiny

3615
04:04:06.239 --> 04:04:08.799
hand and poked me in the face, and I giggle.

3616
04:04:09.479 --> 04:04:12.360
Sh You're gonna be a good boy and meet your grandma.

3617
04:04:13.159 --> 04:04:16.159
The door opened up, and my mother, Linda Fox, just

3618
04:04:16.200 --> 04:04:19.079
stared at me like she's seen a ghost and doesn't

3619
04:04:19.120 --> 04:04:22.280
say a word for the space of a heartbeat. Her

3620
04:04:22.319 --> 04:04:29.000
eyes darted to Noah and then to Tracy standing behind me. Uh, Hi, Mom,

3621
04:04:29.799 --> 04:04:33.159
I'm home, I said, kind of sheepishly, and eke out

3622
04:04:33.159 --> 04:04:36.680
a smile. My son waved at my mom, and you

3623
04:04:36.719 --> 04:04:42.680
can see the torrent of emotions ready to be unleashed. Josh,

3624
04:04:43.120 --> 04:04:48.040
you're alive. She started immediately crying and threw her arms

3625
04:04:48.079 --> 04:04:51.440
around Noah and I. My werewolf senses could pick up

3626
04:04:51.479 --> 04:04:55.879
all of her emotions relief, happiness, anger, and so many more.

3627
04:04:56.520 --> 04:05:00.280
Her emotional floodgates threatened to overwhelm me and even Tray

3628
04:05:01.000 --> 04:05:03.840
She hugged Noah and I so tight that he began

3629
04:05:03.920 --> 04:05:08.000
to cry a little bit. Linda, who's at the door,

3630
04:05:08.520 --> 04:05:13.159
don't let the heat out? Oh yeah, Dad, this is

3631
04:05:13.239 --> 04:05:17.559
gonna go well, I can tell Hi. Can we take

3632
04:05:17.600 --> 04:05:22.079
this inside? I escaped Mom's wwe grip on me long

3633
04:05:22.200 --> 04:05:23.959
enough for all of us to get in the house

3634
04:05:24.239 --> 04:05:28.360
and close the door behind us. It's home still though.

3635
04:05:29.040 --> 04:05:31.920
The Christmas tree is up in the living room, hallway

3636
04:05:32.040 --> 04:05:34.959
is decorated with tinsel, and even my stupid wreath I

3637
04:05:35.000 --> 04:05:37.959
made in fifth grade it's still hung up on the

3638
04:05:38.000 --> 04:05:42.120
front door. Noah's eyes were wide with excitement because of

3639
04:05:42.159 --> 04:05:47.920
new people. How where Josh? We thought you were dead?

3640
04:05:48.760 --> 04:05:55.239
Mom stammered between hysterical crying MS. Fox, I'm his wife, Tracy.

3641
04:05:56.120 --> 04:06:00.159
Maybe maybe we should sit down. There's a lot to

3642
04:06:00.239 --> 04:06:04.959
talk about, and frankly, ms Fox, it's gonna sound pretty

3643
04:06:06.079 --> 04:06:09.639
fucked up. There's the woman I love, straight to the

3644
04:06:09.719 --> 04:06:13.600
point and authoritative. All of us made our way into

3645
04:06:13.639 --> 04:06:17.760
our tiny living room, and there was Dad, already half drunk,

3646
04:06:18.120 --> 04:06:24.719
sitting on the couch. This was expected, Play it cool.

3647
04:06:26.719 --> 04:06:30.719
Where the fuck have you been? Dad is concerned, and

3648
04:06:30.760 --> 04:06:34.399
I could tell he cared, but we're going with anger first.

3649
04:06:35.760 --> 04:06:40.840
It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see how it plays out. Hi,

3650
04:06:40.959 --> 04:06:44.440
do you too, Dad? Noah runs out into the living

3651
04:06:44.520 --> 04:06:48.239
room and immediately starts playing with the dog Pip. He'll

3652
04:06:48.239 --> 04:06:50.879
be occupied for a little while while we attempt to

3653
04:06:50.920 --> 04:06:54.120
talk to mom and Dad. I'll fix up that whole

3654
04:06:54.159 --> 04:06:58.159
piece in the Middle East thing too while I'm at it. Oh. Great,

3655
04:06:58.639 --> 04:07:01.040
not only back from the dead, but now you've got

3656
04:07:01.079 --> 04:07:05.159
a kid. Any more surprises, Josh? Should I have a

3657
04:07:05.200 --> 04:07:08.959
heart attack now or wait a little while. Look, I'm

3658
04:07:09.000 --> 04:07:11.920
glad to see you too. Yeah. I've got a lot

3659
04:07:11.959 --> 04:07:15.239
to explain and a lot to say sorry for. I'm

3660
04:07:15.280 --> 04:07:17.399
sorry that I had to go away for a few years.

3661
04:07:17.959 --> 04:07:22.840
I'm sorry that I didn't call. I couldn't And bullshit, Josh,

3662
04:07:23.079 --> 04:07:27.920
Your poor mother and sister thought you were fucking dead. Okay,

3663
04:07:28.680 --> 04:07:32.520
Dad was not fucking around. This was the mean drunk

3664
04:07:32.559 --> 04:07:35.799
I'd seen countless years ago. This was the man who

3665
04:07:35.840 --> 04:07:37.959
called me a loser when I said I was working

3666
04:07:38.040 --> 04:07:41.680
a hot dog kart for a summer during college. Tracy

3667
04:07:41.719 --> 04:07:44.520
sat on the floor with Noah and Pip and watched

3668
04:07:44.559 --> 04:07:47.719
me handle this. She trusted me to keep a cool

3669
04:07:47.799 --> 04:07:51.000
head and deal with Dad. My mom just sat on

3670
04:07:51.040 --> 04:07:53.920
the couch quietly and tried to process everything that was

3671
04:07:53.959 --> 04:07:56.879
happening right in front of her. I could feel it,

3672
04:07:57.639 --> 04:08:02.840
that anger rising inside me behind my eyes. This wasn't

3673
04:08:02.840 --> 04:08:05.520
the anger that someone cuts you off in traffic or

3674
04:08:05.879 --> 04:08:09.440
keyed your car. This was shift or blood pulsing through

3675
04:08:09.479 --> 04:08:13.479
my veins. Hot intensity flooded through me, and I could

3676
04:08:13.479 --> 04:08:22.040
feel something triggering. I can't stop it. Uh oh, beast mode.

3677
04:08:22.159 --> 04:08:26.799
It's morphin tine, motherfucker. My muscles popped and rippled and

3678
04:08:26.840 --> 04:08:31.000
tore through. I felt my height increase and my arms lengthened.

3679
04:08:31.760 --> 04:08:36.000
Then finally, my claws extended from my hands. My face contorted,

3680
04:08:36.040 --> 04:08:40.639
and my werewolf snout tore through my skull, red and

3681
04:08:40.719 --> 04:08:44.600
brown fur coated my body in an instant, and shredded

3682
04:08:44.600 --> 04:08:49.920
my clothes to rags except what little remained of my jeens. No,

3683
04:08:51.760 --> 04:08:55.719
my vocalization reverberated on a frequency that I'm sure God

3684
04:08:55.799 --> 04:09:00.120
himself could hear. Everyone would bear witness to the raw

3685
04:09:00.280 --> 04:09:05.319
power of my werewolf form laid bare today. Dad would

3686
04:09:05.360 --> 04:09:10.760
hear me, and God is my witness. He would listen.

3687
04:09:10.920 --> 04:09:14.760
Mom and Dad froze up and suddenly stopped crying and

3688
04:09:14.840 --> 04:09:19.600
yelling and cowered on the worn couch. I needed to

3689
04:09:19.719 --> 04:09:23.719
grow up, and I couldn't do it around you. My

3690
04:09:23.879 --> 04:09:26.280
head hit the ceiling of the living room as I

3691
04:09:26.360 --> 04:09:29.360
stood at my shifter height. I looked down at my

3692
04:09:29.479 --> 04:09:35.319
parents and saw their fear, but something else as well.

3693
04:09:36.840 --> 04:09:42.040
I don't know what to call it. Mom, Dad. I

3694
04:09:42.120 --> 04:09:44.959
came home because I need you to know me again.

3695
04:09:45.440 --> 04:09:47.879
I need you to meet my wife, meet my son.

3696
04:09:48.440 --> 04:09:54.479
And it's Christmas, guys. The anger started to subside for

3697
04:09:54.559 --> 04:09:58.920
a moment. I was starting to regain my composure. I

3698
04:09:58.959 --> 04:10:02.159
could put together a thought and think straight. I felt

3699
04:10:02.200 --> 04:10:05.360
Noah's hand on my foot, which had transformed into a

3700
04:10:05.399 --> 04:10:09.440
wicked paw appendage. Maybe I could shift back down into

3701
04:10:09.520 --> 04:10:15.000
human form and start to have a conversation with everyone. Daddy,

3702
04:10:15.600 --> 04:10:22.000
are you okay? Gunfire? The living room windows glass exploded

3703
04:10:22.000 --> 04:10:25.360
in a hail of bullets, and the screaming started. The

3704
04:10:25.479 --> 04:10:28.920
hunters had found us, and they intended to finish us off.

3705
04:10:30.280 --> 04:10:33.920
How did they find us doesn't matter, It's go time.

3706
04:10:34.239 --> 04:10:36.799
Tracy grabbed Noah unrolled with him on the floor behind

3707
04:10:36.840 --> 04:10:39.239
the couch. She went back and pulled my mom and

3708
04:10:39.319 --> 04:10:43.040
Dad to the floor. Rapid automatic gunfire cut through the

3709
04:10:43.079 --> 04:10:46.559
air and you could actually see tracer rounds from their weapons.

3710
04:10:47.200 --> 04:10:50.120
These guys were not fucking around. They brought all the

3711
04:10:50.159 --> 04:10:53.399
toys they could to take us down. I don't know you,

3712
04:10:53.559 --> 04:10:57.120
but I know your son and I love him. Protect

3713
04:10:57.159 --> 04:11:00.840
my son and I'll protect yours, Ray said in a

3714
04:11:00.879 --> 04:11:04.239
quick voice. I hit the deck and kept my head

3715
04:11:04.280 --> 04:11:08.200
down and exchanged looks with Tracy. She was readying herself

3716
04:11:08.239 --> 04:11:12.079
for action, preparing to change into her warrior form like me.

3717
04:11:12.920 --> 04:11:16.360
I looked at Noah. He was scared and started to cry.

3718
04:11:17.360 --> 04:11:20.000
Mom and Dad had enough of their senses to guard

3719
04:11:20.040 --> 04:11:23.680
this young child now thrust into their care. Mom held

3720
04:11:23.719 --> 04:11:26.559
Noah closer to her chest and Dad kept his body

3721
04:11:26.600 --> 04:11:29.639
close to both of them. My parents looked at their

3722
04:11:29.680 --> 04:11:33.200
son the werewolf in the living room and didn't say

3723
04:11:33.239 --> 04:11:37.760
a word, but all was communicated with a glance, save us,

3724
04:11:38.440 --> 04:11:42.360
save your son. There was a brief interruption during the attack.

3725
04:11:42.920 --> 04:11:47.559
They're probably reloading. Tracy stood up. She didn't waste any time.

3726
04:11:48.200 --> 04:11:52.879
Full beast mode super cyan fuck around and find out time.

3727
04:11:53.680 --> 04:11:58.200
John Wick with teeth, claws and tits, Tracy's shifter warrior

3728
04:11:58.280 --> 04:12:01.479
form emerged from her small friend and rose to over

3729
04:12:01.559 --> 04:12:05.360
nine feet tall. Her rough brown dark fur coated her

3730
04:12:05.399 --> 04:12:09.360
body and was now streaked with bright red highlights. She

3731
04:12:09.440 --> 04:12:14.000
was dawning, her own version of spiritual warpaint. She and

3732
04:12:14.079 --> 04:12:17.879
I both crouched below the destroyed window frame. We readied

3733
04:12:17.920 --> 04:12:20.600
our powerful legs to burst out as soon as we

3734
04:12:20.639 --> 04:12:24.280
had a solid location on where the attack came from.

3735
04:12:24.760 --> 04:12:28.040
Come outside and die like the freaks you are, A

3736
04:12:28.079 --> 04:12:32.200
young man's voice called out from the darkness outside. We

3737
04:12:32.280 --> 04:12:35.920
both heard the sounds of fresh magazines being inserted into

3738
04:12:35.959 --> 04:12:40.200
several sets of weapons. The guns sounded heavy, like military

3739
04:12:40.280 --> 04:12:45.000
rifles of some sort, probably some kind of machine gun. Great,

3740
04:12:45.520 --> 04:12:47.920
we get the werewolf hunters who played too much fucking

3741
04:12:48.000 --> 04:12:51.440
call of duty. We could hear a distinct set of

3742
04:12:51.479 --> 04:12:54.479
about four of them moving around in the snow outside

3743
04:12:55.040 --> 04:12:58.000
their boots, crunching on the thin layer of ice and

3744
04:12:58.040 --> 04:13:01.799
trying their damnedest to stay quiet. Four of them and

3745
04:13:01.879 --> 04:13:06.559
two of us. This should be easy. However, thinking like

3746
04:13:06.639 --> 04:13:08.920
that will get us both shot full of holes and

3747
04:13:09.120 --> 04:13:13.600
likely silver bladed in the heart. We can regenerate from

3748
04:13:13.639 --> 04:13:18.280
most wounds, but it's game over if it's silver. Tracy

3749
04:13:18.360 --> 04:13:21.559
flies forward and easily clears the broken window frame and

3750
04:13:21.639 --> 04:13:25.399
lands in the front yard, matching her fluid movement, and

3751
04:13:25.479 --> 04:13:28.840
before I can even recognize what I'm doing, I'm beside

3752
04:13:28.840 --> 04:13:32.799
her with my teeth bared. We're titans of muscle, teeth,

3753
04:13:32.840 --> 04:13:36.799
and fur, and we're more physically imposing than the largest

3754
04:13:36.879 --> 04:13:41.360
lions in Africa. Three masked individuals emerge from the shadows

3755
04:13:41.360 --> 04:13:44.600
in the front of the house, ski masks, heavy black

3756
04:13:44.639 --> 04:13:49.559
military style body armor, and very impressive looking guns. The

3757
04:13:49.639 --> 04:13:52.799
hunters exchange hand signs and begin to open fire on

3758
04:13:52.840 --> 04:13:57.159
Tracy and I. Where was the fourth one? I can't

3759
04:13:57.200 --> 04:14:01.120
smell them or see them. I heard four guns reload

3760
04:14:02.079 --> 04:14:05.399
faster than the speed of thought. Tracy and I started

3761
04:14:05.399 --> 04:14:08.719
moving our lupine forms and closed in on two out

3762
04:14:08.719 --> 04:14:11.120
of the three of them. She was on top of

3763
04:14:11.159 --> 04:14:13.440
one of them before they could even raise their hands

3764
04:14:13.440 --> 04:14:18.040
in self defense or even surprise. Toppled effortlessly to the

3765
04:14:18.040 --> 04:14:22.520
frozen ground, the snapping of jaws in the rendering of flesh,

3766
04:14:22.559 --> 04:14:25.799
and a crimson fountain of blood sprayed into the night

3767
04:14:26.159 --> 04:14:30.959
as Tracy's weight absolutely crushed the hunter under her gargantuan frame.

3768
04:14:31.479 --> 04:14:34.559
The man's weapon emptied its ammunition into the air and

3769
04:14:34.639 --> 04:14:37.879
away from us. My wife tore the throat out of

3770
04:14:37.879 --> 04:14:41.120
one of the men, and strings of gore dripped from

3771
04:14:41.120 --> 04:14:46.760
her bloody maw as she brutally and viciously ended his life.

3772
04:14:46.959 --> 04:14:49.280
I pounced on the other hunter that was closer to

3773
04:14:49.319 --> 04:14:52.760
the house. I used my forward momentum and ricocheted off

3774
04:14:52.799 --> 04:14:56.239
my mom's kia and slammed my entire weight into one

3775
04:14:56.280 --> 04:15:00.000
of them. It was immensely satisfying as I could feel

3776
04:15:00.280 --> 04:15:05.639
bones break and things ruptured. I unsheathed vicious sharp claws

3777
04:15:05.760 --> 04:15:09.319
and plunged them in. I pierced bone and sliced through

3778
04:15:09.360 --> 04:15:11.760
the man's armor like it was a wet paper towel.

3779
04:15:12.520 --> 04:15:15.559
Normally I don't let loose when I wolf out, but

3780
04:15:15.639 --> 04:15:20.360
today was different. You came for me, you came for

3781
04:15:20.479 --> 04:15:25.520
my wife, you came for my family today. Fucked doesn't

3782
04:15:25.520 --> 04:15:31.680
even begin to describe you. Rip and tear until it's done.

3783
04:15:31.799 --> 04:15:36.639
I closed my jaws around this fucker's face. I felt bone, sinew,

3784
04:15:36.719 --> 04:15:39.600
and stuff I don't want to think about flood into

3785
04:15:39.639 --> 04:15:42.600
my mouth. I crushed their skull under the force of

3786
04:15:42.600 --> 04:15:47.440
my jaws, and the body went slack. My claws are

3787
04:15:47.479 --> 04:15:50.840
still stuck in their collar bone. As I ripped and

3788
04:15:50.959 --> 04:15:54.360
tore the head away from the body, hot blood coated

3789
04:15:54.399 --> 04:15:57.680
my face and fur. I was covered in a gruesome

3790
04:15:57.840 --> 04:16:03.120
form of war paint. To finish this bastard off once

3791
04:16:03.680 --> 04:16:07.079
and for all, the body pulled apart like a sadistic

3792
04:16:07.200 --> 04:16:11.600
rag doll, and guts spilled out onto the ground. Steam

3793
04:16:11.760 --> 04:16:15.239
rose from the gore like a soul escaping its fate

3794
04:16:15.719 --> 04:16:21.799
and straight into the jaws of hell. Two down, two

3795
04:16:21.840 --> 04:16:26.760
to go. I think these guys are gonna regret coming

3796
04:16:26.760 --> 04:16:31.360
to my house. Rip and tear. That's when I feel it.

3797
04:16:32.079 --> 04:16:35.600
Hot and burning impact slammed into my side and threw

3798
04:16:35.639 --> 04:16:38.600
me away with such force that it knocked the wind

3799
04:16:38.680 --> 04:16:41.920
right out of me. I'm laid out on the ground,

3800
04:16:42.680 --> 04:16:48.680
gasping each in every breath, trying to get oxygen. Silver

3801
04:16:49.840 --> 04:16:55.120
fuck Josh. Tracy's scream cut the night with a war cry.

3802
04:16:56.000 --> 04:16:59.159
I felt her face nuzzle against me, and it was

3803
04:16:59.239 --> 04:17:02.559
warm and play. She braced her body in an attack

3804
04:17:02.680 --> 04:17:06.440
position and guarded me as best she could. I could

3805
04:17:06.440 --> 04:17:09.920
feel she was conflicted. She wanted to protect me, but

3806
04:17:10.040 --> 04:17:13.920
also needed to protect Noah. I needed her to protect

3807
04:17:13.959 --> 04:17:17.239
my mom and Dad. There's no way these monsters will

3808
04:17:17.319 --> 04:17:20.600
let any of us walk away from this. I slumped

3809
04:17:20.600 --> 04:17:24.559
against Mom's car and knew I was in trouble. This

3810
04:17:24.760 --> 04:17:28.040
was bad. The bullets were made of silver, the lunar

3811
04:17:28.079 --> 04:17:32.360
metal itself. I could feel searing fire in my side,

3812
04:17:32.600 --> 04:17:36.799
and it was only getting worse. I wasn't healing, I

3813
04:17:36.920 --> 04:17:41.799
wasn't regenerating. I was dying. Stay right where you are,

3814
04:17:41.920 --> 04:17:47.520
where bitch, I might let him limp away that voice. No,

3815
04:17:49.000 --> 04:17:54.879
it can't be Jenna, my sister. Okay, great, I'm dying

3816
04:17:54.920 --> 04:17:57.520
beside my wife. My family is in danger, and on

3817
04:17:57.600 --> 04:18:00.719
top of that, I'm in a fucking cliche from shitty

3818
04:18:00.840 --> 04:18:04.399
James Bond movie. I felt my body start to shift

3819
04:18:04.520 --> 04:18:08.920
back into my human form. I finally saw the extent

3820
04:18:09.040 --> 04:18:12.680
of my wounds as I transformed back. Caught a few

3821
04:18:12.760 --> 04:18:15.760
rounds in the right side of my ribs. Maybe if

3822
04:18:15.799 --> 04:18:18.680
I could get to a doctor, I'd be okay, But

3823
04:18:18.760 --> 04:18:21.159
I'm not exactly going to be calling nine one one

3824
04:18:21.200 --> 04:18:25.399
anytime soon. Jenna came forward from behind a car on

3825
04:18:25.440 --> 04:18:28.399
the street and leveled a weapon at Tracy and I.

3826
04:18:29.319 --> 04:18:33.799
Her normally cheerful demeanor was cold as arctic Ice, her

3827
04:18:33.840 --> 04:18:38.879
eyes locked with Tracy, all while completely avoiding my gaze entirely.

3828
04:18:40.040 --> 04:18:42.360
You're the bitch who took my brother away from us.

3829
04:18:42.840 --> 04:18:44.920
You have the nerve to come into my house. You

3830
04:18:44.959 --> 04:18:47.840
have the fucking stones to bring him back as a

3831
04:18:47.920 --> 04:18:52.440
monster like you. Jenna aimed her rifle at Tracy's head,

3832
04:18:53.280 --> 04:18:57.159
but she didn't so much as flinch. The two women

3833
04:18:57.280 --> 04:19:05.040
locked eyes werewolf hunter, enemy family. A laser sight appeared

3834
04:19:05.079 --> 04:19:08.959
from somewhere in the darkness across the street. A red

3835
04:19:09.040 --> 04:19:14.799
dot landed on Tracy's forehead. A sniper. Turn back into

3836
04:19:14.840 --> 04:19:18.120
a human and face me. Move as much of an

3837
04:19:18.120 --> 04:19:20.639
inch in an aggressive manner, and I'll make sure Melissa

3838
04:19:20.680 --> 04:19:24.360
across the street torchurees your father's house with napalm, with

3839
04:19:24.479 --> 04:19:29.159
him tied up in silver chains. My wife moved her

3840
04:19:29.239 --> 04:19:32.399
head into mine, and I could feel defeat in it.

3841
04:19:33.239 --> 04:19:36.280
She wasn't going to risk my life. She wasn't going

3842
04:19:36.280 --> 04:19:42.360
to risk Noah's. She knew she had lost Tracy's warrior form, retreated,

3843
04:19:42.399 --> 04:19:45.319
and she transformed back into the five foot eight, dark

3844
04:19:45.399 --> 04:19:49.040
skinned woman who was the mother to my son and

3845
04:19:49.200 --> 04:19:52.399
so much more. She shrank down and clung to me,

3846
04:19:52.559 --> 04:19:56.159
naked as I was and just glared defiantly as the

3847
04:19:56.280 --> 04:20:00.920
hunters moved in closer. The red dot grew as the

3848
04:20:01.000 --> 04:20:06.319
sniper made her position known and started walking forward towards us.

3849
04:20:06.920 --> 04:20:09.920
Why couldn't we smell them? How did they get the

3850
04:20:10.000 --> 04:20:16.840
jump on us? Wait, they outsmarted us, masked their scent

3851
04:20:16.920 --> 04:20:22.280
from the dude bros. We tore apart. They had us. Why?

3852
04:20:23.000 --> 04:20:26.319
Tracy spoke up as she cradled my head. I was

3853
04:20:26.360 --> 04:20:28.920
starting to lose a lot of blood and the silver

3854
04:20:29.120 --> 04:20:32.319
was poisoning me. If I didn't dig these bullets out

3855
04:20:32.319 --> 04:20:36.559
of me soon, I'd be dead. For five years, we

3856
04:20:36.639 --> 04:20:40.520
thought Josh was dead. For years, I mourned my brother.

3857
04:20:41.760 --> 04:20:45.840
We searched everywhere, followed every lead, and we spent thousands

3858
04:20:45.840 --> 04:20:50.760
on detectives. For Sorry, your brother is missing. Jenna spat

3859
04:20:50.799 --> 04:20:54.600
on Tracy. I could feel her anger bubbling under the surface,

3860
04:20:55.120 --> 04:20:57.840
but she didn't dare move with guns trained on her

3861
04:20:58.000 --> 04:21:01.760
and me. I fuck knew he wasn't dead. I knew

3862
04:21:01.760 --> 04:21:04.399
he was alive. What I didn't know is that he

3863
04:21:04.479 --> 04:21:10.680
became a monster, a monster screwing another monster. You took

3864
04:21:10.760 --> 04:21:14.200
him from me, you took him from our mom and dad.

3865
04:21:14.799 --> 04:21:18.000
Jenna's voice never gave so much as an inch. She'd

3866
04:21:18.040 --> 04:21:20.879
rehearsed this speech in her head for likely years. At

3867
04:21:20.879 --> 04:21:24.159
this point, my sister put the barrel of her weapon

3868
04:21:24.200 --> 04:21:28.600
against Tracy's forehead, looked down and prepared to pull the trigger.

3869
04:21:29.959 --> 04:21:33.399
Tracy stared up defiantly, right into Jenna's heart and soul

3870
04:21:34.079 --> 04:21:38.239
and never showed any fear. Tracy lived up to her

3871
04:21:38.280 --> 04:21:44.639
spirit name of oge Chitah jen Stop, I croaked out, feebly,

3872
04:21:45.639 --> 04:21:48.559
don't you fucking start, Josh. You could have picked up

3873
04:21:48.600 --> 04:21:52.799
a phone. You could have written an email, for Christ's sake,

3874
04:21:52.840 --> 04:21:56.959
a text message. My sister's hand trembled a little bit

3875
04:21:57.719 --> 04:22:01.159
as she held the gun at Tracy. If I was

3876
04:22:01.239 --> 04:22:03.280
going to run out the clock, then I better get

3877
04:22:03.319 --> 04:22:07.280
straight with everyone and do it quickly. I'm sorry, Jen,

3878
04:22:07.399 --> 04:22:11.200
You're right. I should have called I. I should have

3879
04:22:11.239 --> 04:22:14.719
done a lot of things. These guys offered me a

3880
04:22:14.760 --> 04:22:18.040
way to find you, And what do I find you?

3881
04:22:18.719 --> 04:22:21.600
Living forty five minutes away from home and just having

3882
04:22:21.600 --> 04:22:25.799
a family like we never mattered, Like I didn't matter

3883
04:22:25.840 --> 04:22:29.159
to you anymore. Hugh didn't want to grow up. You

3884
04:22:29.200 --> 04:22:32.280
wanted a fucking do over. You wanted to wipe the

3885
04:22:32.280 --> 04:22:35.920
slate clean and get to start all over again, no

3886
04:22:36.040 --> 04:22:43.680
strings attached. Tears started streaming down Jenna's face. You're not wrong, Jen,

3887
04:22:44.479 --> 04:22:49.959
I wanted something different. This woman, my wife, offered it

3888
04:22:50.000 --> 04:22:53.680
to me. I never considered what it might do to

3889
04:22:53.719 --> 04:22:59.440
those I left behind. These hunters tracked her, and finding

3890
04:22:59.479 --> 04:23:03.959
you was an accident. Melissa here tortured her brothers. That's

3891
04:23:04.000 --> 04:23:05.879
when I got a phone call telling me that you

3892
04:23:05.959 --> 04:23:10.040
were alive, and one of them she told me that

3893
04:23:10.120 --> 04:23:15.319
you She struggled to find her next words, what did

3894
04:23:15.360 --> 04:23:19.000
these hunters tell my sister? What lies did they get

3895
04:23:19.040 --> 04:23:23.360
into her head? Tracy's anger was building under the surface.

3896
04:23:23.920 --> 04:23:27.200
I could practically feel her wild spirit raging to come

3897
04:23:27.239 --> 04:23:31.840
out again, but she held firm. The woman known as

3898
04:23:31.920 --> 04:23:34.840
Melissa stepped into the glow of the ruined porch light.

3899
04:23:35.520 --> 04:23:37.600
She was in her late forties and was dressed in

3900
04:23:37.639 --> 04:23:42.040
the same paramilitary bullshit body armor, but wore a cowboy

3901
04:23:42.040 --> 04:23:45.000
hat instead of a ski mask. She grinned at me

3902
04:23:45.079 --> 04:23:47.639
and my naked wife against the side of the car.

3903
04:23:48.360 --> 04:23:51.879
She clearly had no fear of two wounded werewolves before her.

3904
04:23:52.959 --> 04:23:55.680
I noticed she had a silvered bowie knife attached to

3905
04:23:55.760 --> 04:24:00.399
her waist. Thanks, Josh, I owe you. If it wasn't

3906
04:24:00.399 --> 04:24:03.040
for heartbreak, then I wouldn't have had an awesome payday.

3907
04:24:03.760 --> 04:24:07.120
Lost and missing persons can often be tied to freaks

3908
04:24:07.200 --> 04:24:11.600
like you and this one here, Melissa wasn't just a hunter.

3909
04:24:12.680 --> 04:24:16.639
She was a bounty hunter. That almost made it worse.

3910
04:24:17.639 --> 04:24:21.440
She hunted people like us for money. My sister's grief

3911
04:24:21.559 --> 04:24:25.680
was just a means to an end. This queef lied

3912
04:24:25.760 --> 04:24:27.760
to my sister and took her money to top it

3913
04:24:27.799 --> 04:24:33.680
all off. Plus she shot me, So there's that. Look,

3914
04:24:33.920 --> 04:24:36.680
if you're not too busy, I'm gonna shoot your wife.

3915
04:24:37.200 --> 04:24:39.840
I'm probably gonna take your kid as a pet while

3916
04:24:39.840 --> 04:24:43.559
i'm at it. Melissa smirked at me as she said that,

3917
04:24:44.079 --> 04:24:47.760
and I could feel my own blood boil at those words.

3918
04:24:48.479 --> 04:24:53.440
Can I say something before you kill us both? Sure? Kid,

3919
04:24:53.799 --> 04:24:56.360
you're gonna bleed out in a few minutes anyway, No

3920
04:24:56.559 --> 04:25:00.200
last minute heroics. No one is coming to save the day.

3921
04:25:00.680 --> 04:25:03.840
You die here and now in your little nothing town.

3922
04:25:04.360 --> 04:25:07.479
So yeah, take all the fucking time in the world.

3923
04:25:08.440 --> 04:25:11.680
The bounty hunter lowered her gun and took out a cigarette.

3924
04:25:12.200 --> 04:25:14.520
She lit it, but never took her eyes off of

3925
04:25:14.600 --> 04:25:18.959
Tracy and I Jenna. I came back tonight because I

3926
04:25:19.000 --> 04:25:22.680
wanted to say I'm sorry to you and everyone else.

3927
04:25:23.840 --> 04:25:26.959
I wanted to become a family again. I wanted to

3928
04:25:27.000 --> 04:25:29.360
show all of you that I took the easy way out,

3929
04:25:29.440 --> 04:25:33.040
but not anymore. I'm a father now, and I'm going

3930
04:25:33.079 --> 04:25:36.479
to be a father again in a few months. Time

3931
04:25:36.639 --> 04:25:41.399
was almost up. I wanted a family Christmas again. I

3932
04:25:41.479 --> 04:25:44.799
know expecting forgiveness was asking an awful lot, but hey,

3933
04:25:45.680 --> 04:25:50.520
if not now, then when right? Jenna looked over at

3934
04:25:50.559 --> 04:25:55.600
Melissa and appeared shocked and kind of disgusted with her. Wait,

3935
04:25:56.479 --> 04:25:59.840
you told me he was some killing machine who eight

3936
04:25:59.840 --> 04:26:04.040
f fucking babies. You didn't say anything about him actually

3937
04:26:04.120 --> 04:26:08.719
being a father. Jenna's demeanor immediately changed, and her body

3938
04:26:08.799 --> 04:26:12.559
language did too. I could smell it on her. She

3939
04:26:12.760 --> 04:26:16.680
was mad, and not at me. You were all too

3940
04:26:16.719 --> 04:26:19.840
excited to believe me too. So what if I lied?

3941
04:26:20.479 --> 04:26:24.159
You got your revenge, didn't you? His werewolf bitch is

3942
04:26:24.200 --> 04:26:26.840
ready to be blown away by you, I might add.

3943
04:26:27.399 --> 04:26:29.639
Your brother is on the edge of death by you,

3944
04:26:29.799 --> 04:26:33.079
No less as far as you're concerned. Your brother died

3945
04:26:33.159 --> 04:26:36.879
years ago, and this thing is just wearing his face right.

3946
04:26:37.799 --> 04:26:41.239
Isn't that what you told me? That's not your brother anymore.

3947
04:26:41.520 --> 04:26:48.239
Your brother wouldn't say I'm sorry, Dad, Noah. My mom

3948
04:26:48.360 --> 04:26:50.760
and dad stood up in the destroyed living room and

3949
04:26:50.799 --> 04:26:54.440
saw the scene unfolding in their front yard. Mom held

3950
04:26:54.479 --> 04:26:57.600
Noah in her arms and he clung to her. Clearly

3951
04:26:57.680 --> 04:27:02.760
he was terrified. Wasn't drunk anymore. He saw his daughter

3952
04:27:02.840 --> 04:27:06.120
pointing a gun at his son's wife while his son

3953
04:27:06.239 --> 04:27:12.399
was bleeding out. Not exactly Christmas card material. My son

3954
04:27:12.559 --> 04:27:17.879
was going to watch his parents die. Noah, promise me

3955
04:27:17.959 --> 04:27:21.600
you'll be good for Grandpa and grandma. Okay, I say

3956
04:27:21.639 --> 04:27:24.600
as loudly as I can muster. As I start to

3957
04:27:24.680 --> 04:27:31.440
cough up blood, he started crying, Buzz, time's up. Don't

3958
04:27:31.479 --> 04:27:34.559
worry about saying goodbye. You'll be joining your wife soon enough,

3959
04:27:34.719 --> 04:27:39.680
Josh Fox. Melissa readied her weapon and pointed at Tracy's head,

3960
04:27:40.120 --> 04:27:45.959
and her fingers slowly began pulling the trigger. I'll see

3961
04:27:45.959 --> 04:27:50.159
you on the other side, my packmate, my warrior wolf.

3962
04:27:51.319 --> 04:27:58.719
I'm sorry, Jenna, Mom, Dad, I love you. Noah. To

3963
04:27:58.840 --> 04:28:03.760
whatever higher power is out there listening, look after my son.

3964
04:28:05.319 --> 04:28:08.959
A single gunshot rang out and echoed across the entirety

3965
04:28:09.319 --> 04:28:12.959
of the evening's long shadows. It echoed off the old

3966
04:28:13.000 --> 04:28:17.399
houses of my neighborhood and hung in the air. I

3967
04:28:17.520 --> 04:28:21.479
closed my eyes. I didn't want to see Tracy's life

3968
04:28:21.639 --> 04:28:25.959
end before mine. I didn't want my last memory to

3969
04:28:26.000 --> 04:28:31.680
be her laying dead in front of me. Seconds passed,

3970
04:28:33.079 --> 04:28:37.440
wa gooche. I hear Tracy's voice when I shouldn't have

3971
04:28:38.680 --> 04:28:44.920
the fuck that's my brother. Jenna's voice broke through cries

3972
04:28:45.000 --> 04:28:49.280
and sobs. Jenna had shot Melissa right in the stomach.

3973
04:28:50.079 --> 04:28:53.600
Tracy wasted no time and shifted into her wolf form,

3974
04:28:54.079 --> 04:28:58.120
not her hybrid form. She was absolutely gigantic in stature

3975
04:28:58.159 --> 04:29:02.399
and size, onto the bounty hunter's body and shook it

3976
04:29:02.479 --> 04:29:07.079
like a rag doll. Melissa screamed and flailed about, but

3977
04:29:07.159 --> 04:29:10.520
it was no use. Tracy was going to have her

3978
04:29:10.600 --> 04:29:14.639
revenge for the death of her brother's savage, primal and

3979
04:29:14.719 --> 04:29:19.000
unrelenting in her fury. Death had come for the bounty hunter.

3980
04:29:20.280 --> 04:29:23.319
This she wolf was going to eat this other woman alive.

3981
04:29:24.239 --> 04:29:27.479
Blood coated the ground and froze to it in a

3982
04:29:27.559 --> 04:29:33.879
sickly red slush. Good. I can feel something sharp dig

3983
04:29:33.920 --> 04:29:36.760
into my side, and I look up and expect to

3984
04:29:36.799 --> 04:29:42.479
see another hunter. It's Jenna, and she's hunched over my wounds.

3985
04:29:42.799 --> 04:29:47.000
She's digging her fingers into the wound itself. What is

3986
04:29:47.079 --> 04:29:51.000
going on here? They said, you can heal if you're

3987
04:29:51.040 --> 04:29:54.799
not in contact with silver right. The voice was Jenna's,

3988
04:29:54.879 --> 04:29:59.040
but this voice was her doctor side coming out. This

3989
04:29:59.239 --> 04:30:03.399
was doctor Jenn Fox trying to save her brother. I

3990
04:30:03.479 --> 04:30:07.120
whimpered and nodded my head in relief and immense pain.

3991
04:30:08.079 --> 04:30:12.440
Seconds later, I feel something sharp pulling at my insides.

3992
04:30:13.559 --> 04:30:17.040
A cool rush of air comes over my body and

3993
04:30:17.120 --> 04:30:21.319
I can start to breathe again. I passed out from

3994
04:30:21.319 --> 04:30:34.280
the pain. I'm alive, I think. One week later. I'm

3995
04:30:34.319 --> 04:30:37.799
asleep in my bed and I'm fairly bruised up from

3996
04:30:37.879 --> 04:30:41.840
what happened in Owen Sound on Christmas Eve. I've been

3997
04:30:41.879 --> 04:30:45.120
asleep on and off since then and have very little

3998
04:30:45.159 --> 04:30:48.920
memory of how I even got here. It's a blur. Mostly.

3999
04:30:49.799 --> 04:30:52.399
I saw Tracy and Jenna loading me into the back

4000
04:30:52.440 --> 04:30:57.440
of a car. Mom and Dad hugged Tracy. Jenna was crying,

4001
04:30:57.479 --> 04:31:02.639
and so was Noah. Noah was okay. I could smell

4002
04:31:02.760 --> 04:31:08.840
sweet grass sage being burned constantly Tracy's indigenous sacred medicines.

4003
04:31:09.959 --> 04:31:14.079
I must be home in Cape Crocker, Struggling to open

4004
04:31:14.120 --> 04:31:17.239
my eyes for the first time in days, I'm greeted

4005
04:31:17.239 --> 04:31:23.639
by a familiar face. Jenna, Hey, you're awake. How are

4006
04:31:23.680 --> 04:31:29.680
you feeling. I've never treated a werewolf before, I've never

4007
04:31:29.719 --> 04:31:35.319
been pumped full of lead or silver before, so we're good.

4008
04:31:35.559 --> 04:31:39.840
How's Tracy's fine? Your son, Noah is quite the handful,

4009
04:31:39.920 --> 04:31:44.079
but he's been sleeping beside you almost all week. I

4010
04:31:44.159 --> 04:31:47.120
smiled and reached out my hand to Jenna, and she

4011
04:31:47.239 --> 04:31:51.239
approached me and let me take it. I struggled to

4012
04:31:51.280 --> 04:31:56.879
sit up in bed. Look, Josh, hey, don't worry about it.

4013
04:31:57.440 --> 04:31:59.479
I made a lot of mistakes, but I'm trying to

4014
04:31:59.520 --> 04:32:02.479
make up for them here and now I've got a

4015
04:32:02.559 --> 04:32:06.079
son to raise better than Dad raised us. I've also

4016
04:32:06.159 --> 04:32:09.559
got to think about my next kid coming. I squeezed

4017
04:32:09.680 --> 04:32:14.239
Jenna's hand and she returned the gesture warmly. Tracy has

4018
04:32:14.280 --> 04:32:17.200
been pretty great to our mom and dad. We're staying

4019
04:32:17.239 --> 04:32:19.360
here with you for now until we figure out what

4020
04:32:19.440 --> 04:32:23.040
to do about the cops. Back in Owen's Sound, oh yeah,

4021
04:32:23.079 --> 04:32:25.920
we kind of performed John Wick in front of our house,

4022
04:32:25.959 --> 04:32:29.719
didn't we Yep, that's gonna be fun to explain to

4023
04:32:29.760 --> 04:32:33.520
the insurance company, isn't it. I chuckled at that image,

4024
04:32:33.520 --> 04:32:37.200
but it hurt to laugh. Guess not all injuries have

4025
04:32:37.280 --> 04:32:41.600
healed entirely. Okay, when you feel up to it, get

4026
04:32:41.719 --> 04:32:45.239
dressed and come downstairs. I think you'll be pretty pleased

4027
04:32:45.280 --> 04:32:48.840
with what you see. Jenna left the room and I

4028
04:32:48.959 --> 04:32:52.440
started to get my clothes on. Very slowly and carefully.

4029
04:32:53.200 --> 04:32:55.399
I opened the door to the bedroom and made my

4030
04:32:55.479 --> 04:33:01.920
way down the hall. I looked down the stairs to

4031
04:33:01.959 --> 04:33:05.000
my own living room and was greeted by the most

4032
04:33:05.040 --> 04:33:09.959
beautiful sight I could imagine. My Dad and Howard were

4033
04:33:10.000 --> 04:33:14.119
sitting on the couch together and talking. They were smiling.

4034
04:33:15.080 --> 04:33:19.240
Mom and Tracy were sitting by the fireplace and having coffee.

4035
04:33:19.520 --> 04:33:22.439
Noah was asleep in front of the largest Christmas tree

4036
04:33:22.479 --> 04:33:25.319
I had ever thought we could pack into our little house.

4037
04:33:26.840 --> 04:33:29.479
It wasn't how I envisioned our families would meet for

4038
04:33:29.560 --> 04:33:45.360
our first Christmas. But you know what it'll do, and

4039
04:33:45.520 --> 04:33:51.279
that is tonight's Christmas binge. My spookies cyborgs in the

4040
04:33:51.360 --> 04:33:56.200
snow staring down a demon in a Santa suit elves

4041
04:33:56.240 --> 04:34:01.159
with killing orders, zombies crashing Christmas, and ghosts who don't

4042
04:34:01.240 --> 04:34:06.319
care how pretty the lights look when they come to collect.

4043
04:34:07.119 --> 04:34:10.880
But the Dark has a schedule, and we're keeping it.

4044
04:34:11.639 --> 04:34:15.759
This Monday. It's terrifying and true, featuring the legend of

4045
04:34:15.919 --> 04:34:21.560
pere Foeta, the Christmas Punisher, the butcher who killed children

4046
04:34:21.639 --> 04:34:25.880
in his shop, hid them insulting barrels, and was cursed

4047
04:34:25.919 --> 04:34:31.240
to trail behind Saint Nicholas as a whip wielding shadow

4048
04:34:31.799 --> 04:34:36.040
of the season, the one who comes for the truly

4049
04:34:36.240 --> 04:34:41.240
naughty when kindness runs out. And of course, next Saturday,

4050
04:34:41.279 --> 04:34:47.520
we drop our final Christmas compilation, one last overstuffed stocking

4051
04:34:47.599 --> 04:34:53.840
of holiday horror, crammed with twisted tear and enough blood

4052
04:34:53.919 --> 04:34:58.200
in the snow to stain the whole season. And the

4053
04:34:58.279 --> 04:35:02.400
Saturday right after that we ring in a different kind

4054
04:35:02.439 --> 04:35:08.400
of celebration with a terrifying compilation of New Year's nightmares,

4055
04:35:08.880 --> 04:35:14.599
midnight countdowns that end in screams, resolutions written in blood,

4056
04:35:15.000 --> 04:35:19.319
and parties where the only thing dropping are bodies on

4057
04:35:19.439 --> 04:35:25.040
the floor. So stay warm, keep your headphones charged, keep

4058
04:35:25.080 --> 04:35:29.639
the cocoa hot, and remember there's a new nightmare waiting

4059
04:35:30.400 --> 04:35:36.520
every day until Christmas and even more scares every single

4060
04:35:36.599 --> 04:35:41.200
week the rest of the year, so make sure you're subscribed.

4061
04:35:42.000 --> 04:36:06.119
I'll be talking to you real soon to