Christmas Horror Stories: Snow, Santa & Slaughter

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,51300:33:47.240 --> 00:33:50.039



and know I must end it. When I sense Rudolph51400:33:50.079 --> 00:33:52.920



firing his red nose at me again. I turn and51500:33:53.039 --> 00:33:55.960



suddenly feel my own red beams emitting from my very51600:33:56.000 --> 00:34:01.160



optics and passing through my humanoid eyes. Beams conflict with51700:34:01.200 --> 00:34:04.640



the reindeers one, I can feel the very power coursing51800:34:04.680 --> 00:34:08.800



through my body. To supplement this power I now utilize,51900:34:09.360 --> 00:34:12.800



I turn and vampire warp from Santa Claus toward Rudolph.52000:34:13.159 --> 00:34:15.159



When I land in front of him, I take hold52100:34:15.239 --> 00:34:19.440



of his unique nose and render it useless. Being undead,52200:34:19.480 --> 00:34:21.880



the Reindeer does not cry out in pain, but he52300:34:21.920 --> 00:34:25.199



does step away, knowing that he can no longer engage52400:34:25.199 --> 00:34:28.880



in battle with me. And then, when I vampire warp52500:34:28.960 --> 00:34:32.280



back to Santa Claus again, I can see past him52600:34:32.360 --> 00:34:36.000



and regard the sun that shall rise again soon. At52700:34:36.039 --> 00:34:38.320



this point, I do not believe that I shall be52800:34:38.360 --> 00:34:41.760



able to defeat this monster before the sun fully rises.52900:34:42.360 --> 00:34:45.559



My life shall come to a very abrupt end once53000:34:45.599 --> 00:34:49.639



it does. I feel how strong my emotions and my53100:34:49.760 --> 00:34:53.760



secondary programming are becoming. Now. If I am to die shortly,53200:34:54.159 --> 00:34:56.719



then I shall do so knowing that I was successful53300:34:56.880 --> 00:34:59.880



in keeping Santa Claus from claiming the lives of these53400:35:00.199 --> 00:35:05.360



other organics. Santa Claus engages me again. I understand his53500:35:05.400 --> 00:35:07.559



way of fighting now and am able to counter him.53600:35:07.840 --> 00:35:11.920



I strike one harsh blow right after another. He staggers backward,53700:35:12.000 --> 00:35:14.519



but still manages to get in a few more attacks53800:35:14.559 --> 00:35:17.800



on me. Refusing to allow him any more leverage against me,53900:35:18.079 --> 00:35:21.599



I continue my onslaught and make him stagger. I must54000:35:21.639 --> 00:35:25.280



defeat Santa Claus before the sun fully rises and destroys me.54100:35:25.920 --> 00:35:29.519



The sun continues, My emotions continue to rise within me.54200:35:30.039 --> 00:35:35.880



The demon continues to stagger. Not possible. I continue to54300:35:35.920 --> 00:35:40.239



show Santa Claus that it is indeed possible. He falls54400:35:40.239 --> 00:35:42.559



to his knees from me. To kick him under his54500:35:42.679 --> 00:35:45.639



chin and send him upward, make him do a backflip54600:35:45.679 --> 00:35:49.239



and then land hard on his face and chest. He54700:35:49.280 --> 00:35:52.840



puts his hands down and raises himself. I step in54800:35:52.920 --> 00:35:56.480



and keep pummeling him. I am seeing the first rays54900:35:56.599 --> 00:35:59.079



of the Christmas morning sun as they begin to bring55000:35:59.199 --> 00:36:04.159



lights to this wintry land. The snow has finally ceased,55100:36:04.760 --> 00:36:08.800



but the winds continue their vicious onslaught. Then I see55200:36:08.800 --> 00:36:11.679



what is becoming of the elves and the reindeer, at55300:36:11.760 --> 00:36:15.440



least the ones that still bear animation. The reindeer walk55400:36:15.519 --> 00:36:19.719



around fast and make a strange noise. The elves are55500:36:19.760 --> 00:36:23.000



trying to flee, even Santa Claus is showing signs of55600:36:23.039 --> 00:36:26.559



slowing down. The sun is lighting the new morning more.55700:36:26.599 --> 00:36:30.159



Now a strange vapor begins to emit from the reindeer55800:36:30.159 --> 00:36:32.679



and the elves. I look at Santa Claus and see55900:36:32.719 --> 00:36:36.239



the vapor rising from him as well. I could run56000:36:36.280 --> 00:36:39.840



for safety, but this demon's reign of terror must end. Here.56100:36:40.840 --> 00:36:43.519



Santa Claus makes one last feudal effort to fight me.56200:36:44.039 --> 00:36:46.679



His blows are at their weakest. Now they feel like56300:36:46.760 --> 00:36:52.480



those of an organic child. I understand immediately these abominations56400:36:52.519 --> 00:36:57.719



cannot endure the sunlight and are nocturnal creatures. Now I56500:36:57.800 --> 00:37:01.039



am with surprise. I gaze up on my skin basin56600:37:01.159 --> 00:37:05.440



see that nothing is happening to me. I search my56700:37:05.519 --> 00:37:08.480



memories and recall that the original life form could not56800:37:08.679 --> 00:37:11.639



exist in the sunlight. She had tried putting her hand56900:37:11.679 --> 00:37:14.519



in a sunbeam once, only for it to burn her57000:37:14.559 --> 00:37:18.000



and nearly make her hand burst into flames. No such57100:37:18.079 --> 00:37:21.519



thing as happening to me now, however, I stand and57200:37:21.639 --> 00:37:25.039



watch as Santa Claus and his underlings burn in the sunlight.57300:37:25.880 --> 00:37:29.480



I move away and let them. My optics are primarily57400:37:29.519 --> 00:37:32.719



on the demon himself. Within my visual scope, I can57500:37:32.760 --> 00:37:36.400



see the underlings bursting into flames and turning into ash.57600:37:36.880 --> 00:37:40.679



Santa Claus now bursts into flames himself. He roars as57700:37:40.719 --> 00:37:43.599



his black flesh flies away from his body to reveal57800:37:43.679 --> 00:37:49.079



his large organic skeleton, which is also charred. Perhaps that57900:37:49.199 --> 00:37:52.119



last wave from October thirty first, two thousand and thirty58000:37:52.599 --> 00:37:55.960



may have been the reason for this. Santa Claus falls58100:37:56.000 --> 00:37:59.679



flat now as his skeleton is now burning until nothing58200:37:59.679 --> 00:38:04.239



remains but ash. I look upon the skin base of58300:38:04.280 --> 00:38:08.599



my own hands and arms to see I'm still intact.58400:38:09.440 --> 00:38:12.400



Then I remember back in the village of Strickfield, when58500:38:12.440 --> 00:38:16.599



those zombified organics came after me. I also encountered such58600:38:16.639 --> 00:38:20.079



creatures along the way to this way station. I activate58700:38:20.119 --> 00:38:23.159



my diagnostics program to see that I have vital signs.58800:38:23.920 --> 00:38:29.039



I have truly misunderstood the concept of my having life. No,58900:38:29.360 --> 00:38:32.119



I am not the undead creature that the life form59000:38:32.199 --> 00:38:35.800



before me was. When it comes to the vampire aspect,59100:38:36.440 --> 00:38:39.960



I do possess limited powers. I believe that I was59200:38:40.079 --> 00:38:43.480



undead based upon the memories I have been supplemented with59300:38:43.599 --> 00:38:48.480



to give me data to feed my intelligence capacity. Cassilia Tabon,59400:38:48.960 --> 00:38:54.480



being undead was a former life in my new life. Yes,59500:38:55.159 --> 00:38:58.360



that is indeed what I truly possess within this mechanical body.59600:38:58.960 --> 00:39:02.719



I have the very esa since of true life, the59700:39:02.760 --> 00:39:06.719



same as these organic beings. Truly, this shall be a59800:39:06.840 --> 00:39:11.559



Christmas morning to be remembered. I cannot help myself and59900:39:11.639 --> 00:39:16.039



begin to cry. Wait, how am I capable of tears?60000:39:16.599 --> 00:39:19.719



I only have a skin base, yet I produce tears60100:39:19.760 --> 00:39:25.559



of happiness. It is fully mourning now I never need60200:39:25.599 --> 00:39:31.400



to fear this beautiful sunlight ever again. I feel I60300:39:31.440 --> 00:39:35.719



am unworthy of life and having a mechanical body. I60400:39:35.880 --> 00:39:39.400



reason it is my conflicting memories from the past and60500:39:39.480 --> 00:39:43.679



the new memories I make in the present. After I60600:39:43.760 --> 00:39:46.280



conclude my crying, I know that it is time for60700:39:46.360 --> 00:39:50.599



me to see General Larsk and to claim my prize.60800:39:50.760 --> 00:39:53.400



I walk into his building and soon find him in60900:39:53.440 --> 00:39:56.559



his office. His two men are with him and are armed.61000:39:57.320 --> 00:40:01.719



Larsk himself regards me to clause is no more? I61100:40:01.800 --> 00:40:05.360



tell him. The three men regard me for the longest time.61200:40:05.679 --> 00:40:09.599



Then Larsk finally speaks, I cannot allow you to remove61300:40:09.599 --> 00:40:13.639



the psionic warp displacer from here. He tells me we61400:40:13.800 --> 00:40:18.280



had an arrangement. I remind him. Larsk shakes his head.61500:40:18.719 --> 00:40:22.559



Don't care. We are not relinquishing anything to a woman.61600:40:23.440 --> 00:40:26.000



I do not recommend forcing me to take it from you,61700:40:26.519 --> 00:40:30.639



I say. His men raise their weapons. I emit the61800:40:30.719 --> 00:40:33.320



laser beams from my optics that I used a short61900:40:33.320 --> 00:40:37.800



time ago and melt their weapons. I also melt General62000:40:37.880 --> 00:40:40.840



Larsk's weapon after he draws it. The men are with62100:40:40.960 --> 00:40:45.039



fear and do not know how to react. General lars62200:40:45.199 --> 00:40:48.599



quickly points to a room off to the side. In62300:40:48.639 --> 00:40:52.880



there you'll find the psionic warp displacer in a display case.62400:40:53.639 --> 00:40:56.199



My empathic powers tell me that he does not speak62500:40:56.239 --> 00:41:00.280



with truth. I utilize my vampire warping power, and here62600:41:00.320 --> 00:41:04.119



behind Larsk, I lift him off his feet. Remembering the62700:41:04.159 --> 00:41:08.840



design of the psionic warp displacer, I scan Larsk's office.62800:41:08.880 --> 00:41:12.760



My optics stop upon his monitor. I lower Larsk and62900:41:12.880 --> 00:41:16.559



shatter the screen. The component that I require is now63000:41:16.559 --> 00:41:20.559



before me. I turn to Larsk. Santa Claus sought to63100:41:20.719 --> 00:41:24.320



end you and your people of this way station. You63200:41:24.400 --> 00:41:26.679



and your men should be grateful that you will continue63300:41:26.719 --> 00:41:29.880



to live, even in knowing that he shall never return.63400:41:30.760 --> 00:41:35.599



Live your lives well while you still have them. Larsk63500:41:35.719 --> 00:41:40.000



does not listen. Why do you want the psionic warp displacer, woman?63600:41:40.920 --> 00:41:43.920



I require it for my mission to find and defeat63700:41:44.000 --> 00:41:47.599



hell Weaver. I answer, it is my mission to make63800:41:47.639 --> 00:41:50.719



sure this reality never happens, and that as few lives63900:41:50.760 --> 00:41:53.840



are lost as possible. The men are not certain as64000:41:53.880 --> 00:41:56.280



to what to make of me, but they question me64100:41:56.400 --> 00:41:59.639



no longer. Larsk steps aside to allow me to take64200:41:59.679 --> 00:42:02.760



the sign a warp displacer. I scan it to determine64300:42:02.760 --> 00:42:06.559



that it is genuine. The side objective is now changed64400:42:06.920 --> 00:42:10.599



to complete. I realize that I cannot just keep this64500:42:10.719 --> 00:42:15.760



component out in the open. Then I understand and will64600:42:15.840 --> 00:42:19.480



a small portal to open before me. I place the64700:42:19.519 --> 00:42:24.360



warped displacer within the field and remove my hand. Shortly64800:42:24.400 --> 00:42:29.320



after the portal closes. As I leave Larsk's office, he64900:42:29.400 --> 00:42:33.239



weakly calls out behind me, you will fail against hell65000:42:33.280 --> 00:42:38.239



Weaver Tabon. He shakes his head slowly. I fail to65100:42:38.320 --> 00:42:42.239



understand how you could defeat Santa Claus. I glance over65200:42:42.280 --> 00:42:48.440



my shoulder, beings such as Santa Claus cannot defeat the machine.65300:42:48.559 --> 00:42:51.639



The men are baffled as I turn and finally take65400:42:51.719 --> 00:42:54.719



my leave. I walk until I cross through what is65500:42:54.800 --> 00:42:59.000



left of the gates of Pendleton Way Station. It is65600:42:59.119 --> 00:43:02.039



time for me to venture to the second Side objective,65700:43:02.480 --> 00:43:05.360



a place where many of the original Life Forces memories65800:43:05.360 --> 00:43:10.079



were forged. I must venture to the Tabon homeland known65900:43:10.119 --> 00:43:13.880



as Ravenhurst. There, I must acquire one of the most66000:43:13.920 --> 00:43:17.760



powerful and ancient artifacts in the vast Tabon arsenal of66100:43:17.840 --> 00:43:22.599



weapons to use in my battle against hell Weaver. In66200:43:22.639 --> 00:43:40.239



the meantime, do have yourself a very merry Christmas. Santa's66300:43:40.280 --> 00:43:46.159



Little Helper by Charles Campbell. Holiday season in the Valley66400:43:46.239 --> 00:43:49.960



is something different, to say the least. It doesn't exactly66500:43:50.039 --> 00:43:53.400



drop to freezing. In this part of South Carolina. There66600:43:53.519 --> 00:43:56.840



is what locals call cold spells from time to time,66700:43:57.480 --> 00:44:00.400



but nothing like the bone chilling freeze that other parts66800:44:00.440 --> 00:44:06.119



of the country routinely experience. And today, well today was66900:44:06.199 --> 00:44:11.880



Christmas Eve. Ronnie Baxley hated everything about it. Unfortunately, for67000:44:11.920 --> 00:44:16.119



the last ten years he and his rotund body were67100:44:16.159 --> 00:44:19.119



tapped to be Santa Claus for the Christmas Tree lighting67200:44:19.199 --> 00:44:23.039



in downtown Burnett Town. When he first started donning the67300:44:23.039 --> 00:44:25.760



red and white suit, the town would pay him fifty67400:44:25.800 --> 00:44:29.599



bucks for about five or six hours of work. Now67500:44:29.639 --> 00:44:33.000



he makes almost two hundred bucks for begging little valley67600:44:33.079 --> 00:44:36.360



rats to sit on his lap. His once white beard67700:44:36.480 --> 00:44:40.400



was now something between baby shit yellow and turred brown.67800:44:41.239 --> 00:44:44.800



Ronnie had maybe seventeeth left in his head. His breath67900:44:44.840 --> 00:44:48.760



smelled of dog shit chased down with sewer water. Ronnie68000:44:48.800 --> 00:44:51.639



sucked in his gut and eased into the driver's seat68100:44:51.639 --> 00:44:54.639



of his beat up Chevy pickup. He gave the key68200:44:54.679 --> 00:44:57.559



a turn, and the engine coughed and gagged like it68300:44:57.599 --> 00:45:00.280



had been smoking those Marlboroughs right along with Ronn for68400:45:00.320 --> 00:45:03.840



the last thirty plus years. Ronnie turned the dial on68500:45:03.880 --> 00:45:06.760



the radio and was met with the sound of jingle bells.68600:45:07.239 --> 00:45:11.280



He immediately turned off the radio. The bald tire spun68700:45:11.400 --> 00:45:14.519



in the muddy driveway of his decrepit trailer. As he68800:45:14.559 --> 00:45:17.960



backed out, Ronnie began to sing in the tune of68900:45:18.400 --> 00:45:22.800



the freshly in mind jingle Bells. Driving through the mud69000:45:23.320 --> 00:45:26.159



in my fucked up Chevrolet, off to the valley, I69100:45:26.320 --> 00:45:30.679



go broke as fuck today. The words trailed off into69200:45:30.760 --> 00:45:33.519



a da da da Da da da as his mind69300:45:33.559 --> 00:45:37.039



had run out of wit for freestyling. He didn't want69400:45:37.079 --> 00:45:39.800



to go to Burnett Town. Ronnie was sick of listening69500:45:39.840 --> 00:45:43.079



to the little and some not so little Valley rats69600:45:43.159 --> 00:45:46.760



drown on about wanting a PlayStation machine or an Xbox69700:45:46.880 --> 00:45:51.559



or some kind of modern gadget. The kids weren't normal anymore.69800:45:52.079 --> 00:45:55.559



Face is always stuck in some kind of screen. Few69900:45:55.559 --> 00:45:59.519



and far between were the requests for footballs, basketball hoops,70000:45:59.559 --> 00:46:03.760



barbie bicycles. As a matter of fact, Ronnie was just70100:46:03.800 --> 00:46:06.760



as tired of the parents, especially the ones he knew70200:46:06.800 --> 00:46:10.639



from school, with their pity filled eyes. Look at what70300:46:10.679 --> 00:46:13.480



has become of Ronnie. Poor guy had a great arm70400:46:13.519 --> 00:46:17.159



in high school. He could have gone pro, should have70500:46:17.199 --> 00:46:20.360



had a career in the majors, But the valley got70600:46:20.400 --> 00:46:24.280



him like it got so many kids. If he saw70700:46:24.360 --> 00:46:27.079



one more tear filled eye from a mother looking as70800:46:27.079 --> 00:46:30.119



if she were doing the world a service by feeding astray,70900:46:30.880 --> 00:46:34.039



he was going to lose his shit. The sun was71000:46:34.079 --> 00:46:37.639



already setting when he arrived at town hall. He cursed71100:46:37.719 --> 00:46:40.880



daylight Savings time. Every year. When the clock rolled back,71200:46:41.320 --> 00:46:43.360



it meant that six pm was going to look the71300:46:43.400 --> 00:46:46.920



same as midnight, and that always made Ronnie tired his shit.71400:46:47.639 --> 00:46:50.559



Tonight was the one night he couldn't be tired. He'd71500:46:50.559 --> 00:46:53.119



have to sit on the big wooden chair, hoping there71600:46:53.199 --> 00:46:55.440



was still enough material in the seat of his pants71700:46:55.679 --> 00:46:58.360



to keep the splinters out of his ass, while pretending71800:46:58.400 --> 00:47:02.039



to listen as Betty Sue Molly May tells him what71900:47:02.119 --> 00:47:06.159



kind of iPhone she wants. Because you know, the elves72000:47:06.159 --> 00:47:11.880



are fucking masters at cutting edge technology. Ronnie stood by72100:47:11.880 --> 00:47:14.679



his truck for a moment or two, taking a long72200:47:14.800 --> 00:47:18.119



drag on his last Marlborough. He'd have to wait until72300:47:18.159 --> 00:47:20.199



he got paid before he could pick up another pack72400:47:20.239 --> 00:47:23.000



from the minute shop. He'd have to bum a couple72500:47:23.000 --> 00:47:25.079



from Eddie the Elf to get him through the evening.72600:47:25.960 --> 00:47:29.719



Eddie was a tall, skinny man, definitely not built like72700:47:29.760 --> 00:47:33.159



an elf, and he was willing to take seventy five72800:47:33.239 --> 00:47:36.599



bucks to usher kids to the lap of this sad72900:47:36.679 --> 00:47:40.599



excuse of a Santa. Ronnie was wishing for one more73000:47:40.679 --> 00:47:46.320



drag when a tiny voice startled him. Merry Christmas, Santa, said,73100:47:46.320 --> 00:47:49.440



the little girl suddenly standing next to him. Where the73200:47:50.000 --> 00:47:55.000



I mean, hey, little girl, where's your mama, Ronnie asked,73300:47:55.280 --> 00:47:58.719



forcing a smile. He had never seen this child before,73400:47:59.079 --> 00:48:00.920



and she didn't look like she had an ounce of73500:48:01.000 --> 00:48:05.199



valley in her I don't have one, the little girl said,73600:48:05.280 --> 00:48:09.440



just above a whisper. Ronnie looked her over. She couldn't73700:48:09.440 --> 00:48:12.119



have been more than seven years old, and she was73800:48:12.239 --> 00:48:16.320



dressed like a tiny elf. She had long black hair73900:48:16.360 --> 00:48:19.360



and the darkest pools for eyes Ronnie had ever seen.74000:48:20.159 --> 00:48:22.760



He thought maybe the darkness was playing tricks on him,74100:48:23.159 --> 00:48:26.440



but the parking lot was well lit. He knelt to74200:48:26.480 --> 00:48:30.360



meet her gaze, keeping his plastic smile. So if you74300:48:30.400 --> 00:48:34.280



don't have a mama, is your daddy around? I don't74400:48:34.280 --> 00:48:38.480



have one of those either, she whispered. Who's here with you?74500:48:39.039 --> 00:48:43.559



Ronnie asked. You are Sannah, the little girl said, as74600:48:43.599 --> 00:48:47.800



a grin spread under her nose. Ronnie was taken aback74700:48:47.880 --> 00:48:52.000



at the rows of razor sharp teeth that clicked in74800:48:52.039 --> 00:48:57.119



front of him. What the fuck are you? Ronnie asked.74900:48:57.719 --> 00:49:01.039



He hadn't taken any strong shit, resisted the urge to75000:49:01.079 --> 00:49:04.559



reach out and touch her. If she wasn't real, he75100:49:04.800 --> 00:49:08.320



just looked like he was talking to himself. But if75200:49:08.360 --> 00:49:13.480



she was real, she might just bite his fucking fingers off.75300:49:14.719 --> 00:49:21.880



I'm Santa's little helper, she whispered. What's your name? Ronnie asked.75400:49:22.440 --> 00:49:25.400



He knew he should be scared, but it was just75500:49:25.480 --> 00:49:30.119



the opposite. He couldn't explain it, but he was feeling75600:49:30.159 --> 00:49:38.320



giddy Sarah, She replied, Well, Sarah, I already have a helper.75700:49:38.599 --> 00:49:42.800



His name is Eddie, the Eelf. Ronnie said he could75800:49:42.800 --> 00:49:47.199



now hear people mulling around Sassafras Park, sight of the75900:49:47.239 --> 00:49:52.000



tree lighting and lapsitting. Eddie's not going to make it tonight,76000:49:52.760 --> 00:49:57.079



the little girl said, with a certainty that Ronnie instantly believed.76100:49:58.280 --> 00:50:04.480



Oh really, how do you know that, Ronnie asked, He's dead,76200:50:05.440 --> 00:50:10.559



she replied, And how do you know that? Ronnie found76300:50:10.639 --> 00:50:15.079



himself asking he wasn't going to help you, Santa. He76400:50:15.199 --> 00:50:18.480



was going to hurt you, like all the rest, she replied.76500:50:20.119 --> 00:50:26.559



Ronnie smiled with an understanding that made the girl grin back. Okay,76600:50:26.599 --> 00:50:37.199



then let's go see the valley rats, Ronnie said. The76700:50:37.239 --> 00:50:40.840



front doors of town Hall were wide open. There was76800:50:40.880 --> 00:50:44.239



a small line of husbands receiving cups of hot cocoa76900:50:44.599 --> 00:50:48.679



for their wives and tots. Sarah, stuck by Ronnie's side.77000:50:48.920 --> 00:50:51.719



As he strode past the line of kids hooping and77100:50:51.800 --> 00:50:56.519



hollering for their tortured Santa. He waved a stained glove77200:50:56.599 --> 00:50:59.280



in the air for their approval. As he sat on77300:50:59.360 --> 00:51:04.079



the big wood in chair. Elma Trudeau, an office administrator77400:51:04.079 --> 00:51:06.960



for the town of Burnett Town, leaned in and whispered77500:51:06.960 --> 00:51:10.960



in his ear. Where's Eddie, she asked, while staring a77600:51:11.000 --> 00:51:15.920



hole through Sarah. He's sick, Ronnie replied, which elicited a77700:51:15.960 --> 00:51:19.679



closed mouth smile from Sarah. It was a smile that77800:51:19.800 --> 00:51:25.599



sent a feeling of despair through Elma. Who's going to77900:51:25.639 --> 00:51:29.719



control the line, Elma asked, with a tone that clarified78000:51:29.840 --> 00:51:33.639



she was not willing to assume the role. I'm Santa's78100:51:33.679 --> 00:51:39.400



little helper, Sarah replied, surely, you can't suggest that a child.78200:51:39.639 --> 00:51:42.000



Oh and by the way, whose child is this anyway?78300:51:42.639 --> 00:51:46.960



She's not from around here, Alma said. She's my niece.78400:51:47.159 --> 00:51:50.960



Her name is Sarah, and she's visiting from Atlanta. Ronnie replied,78500:51:51.800 --> 00:51:55.639



I call bullshit, Ronnie, you don't have any family, Alma said,78600:51:55.920 --> 00:51:59.280



I would suggest you go back to your office, Elma.78700:51:59.679 --> 00:52:05.880



Sarah intervened, revealing her teeth. What the fuck? Alma? Whispered78800:52:06.159 --> 00:52:09.280



as she backed away. You should listen to her and78900:52:09.320 --> 00:52:13.440



go back to your office, Ronnie echoed, and stood. Elma's79000:52:13.480 --> 00:52:17.320



hands trembled and eyes widened as she slowly backed away.79100:52:18.639 --> 00:52:23.320



Ho Ho, ho, Eddie, the elf is not feeling well.79200:52:23.400 --> 00:52:27.840



So Santa has a new helper today, Ronnie announced to79300:52:27.920 --> 00:52:31.800



the expanding line of children. There were cheers and shouts79400:52:31.800 --> 00:52:35.280



from the boys and girls. Sarah moved quickly to the79500:52:35.280 --> 00:52:38.000



front of the line and lifted the retractable belt from79600:52:38.000 --> 00:52:41.960



the stanction. Mary Jenkins and her little boy Sam were79700:52:42.000 --> 00:52:45.199



the first in line. Sarah giggled as she reached for79800:52:45.280 --> 00:52:50.000



Sam's hand. He took it without hesitation. As Mary stepped through,79900:52:50.760 --> 00:52:53.280



Sarah looked back as if to tell the next kid80000:52:53.639 --> 00:52:56.639



she would have to wait her turn. Before taking Sam80100:52:56.719 --> 00:53:00.000



to Santa. Ronnie resisted the urge to roll his eye80200:53:00.239 --> 00:53:04.039



at Mary Jenkins, who is now Mary Utly, she was80300:53:04.079 --> 00:53:06.800



a cheerleader in high school and he actually had clumsy80400:53:06.840 --> 00:53:09.800



sex with her once in the boy's locker room. It80500:53:09.920 --> 00:53:13.599



was definitely nothing memorable for her, because, as he recalled,80600:53:14.119 --> 00:53:17.320



he was almost done before they got started. The kid80700:53:17.400 --> 00:53:19.280



sat on his lap and he could feel the look80800:53:19.280 --> 00:53:22.119



of pity for Mary boring into the side of a skull.80900:53:23.239 --> 00:53:27.280



Poor Ronnie. I can't believe we actually fucked once. Look81000:53:27.320 --> 00:53:32.280



at him now, poor poor Ronnie. Sam was blabbing to81100:53:32.360 --> 00:53:35.480



Ronnie about a video game, and Sarah tapped Mary on81200:53:35.519 --> 00:53:39.760



her arm with a sharp, pointy fingernail. What is it,81300:53:40.159 --> 00:53:44.000



Mary asked, taken out of her pitiful thoughts of Ronnie.81400:53:44.199 --> 00:53:48.719



Santa doesn't like you, and neither do I, Sarah said.81500:53:49.719 --> 00:53:53.480



Mary's eyes widened in surprise as Sarah smiled at her81600:53:53.880 --> 00:53:55.119



with clicking teeth.81700:53:55.800 --> 00:53:59.599



Sam. Let's go, Mary shouted as she grabbed Sam by81800:53:59.599 --> 00:54:01.599



the arm as he was still in the midst of81900:54:01.639 --> 00:54:06.239



explaining why this particular PlayStation game was a must to82000:54:06.280 --> 00:54:10.079



have under the tree. Mary pulled him so violently Sam's82100:54:10.159 --> 00:54:14.039



arm almost came clean out of its socket. Mom ow,82200:54:15.039 --> 00:54:18.920



Sam screamed as she began dragging him away. Let's go,82300:54:19.559 --> 00:54:23.639



Mary shouted. Sarah moved quickly, grabbing Mary by her not82400:54:23.840 --> 00:54:27.880



so dainty wrist. Mary's mouth drew back in disdain as82500:54:27.920 --> 00:54:32.039



the little girl's skin to skin touch was icy cold.82600:54:32.440 --> 00:54:36.920



You're not nice. You deserve what's coming to you, Sarah said,82700:54:37.480 --> 00:54:41.440



and then released her grip. Mary dragged a screaming Sam82800:54:41.480 --> 00:54:44.960



behind her. While all this was going on, nobody in82900:54:45.000 --> 00:54:48.880



the line of kids sensed what kind of craziness was happening.83000:54:49.760 --> 00:54:53.000



Crazy shit was par for the course on Highway four83100:54:53.039 --> 00:54:58.239



twenty one, even on Christmas Eve. Ronnie watched in joy83200:54:58.320 --> 00:55:03.119



and amazement. This was making him so happy. Sarah clicked83300:55:03.119 --> 00:55:05.280



her teeth at him as she went to get the83400:55:05.320 --> 00:55:10.039



next kid. Barbara Spradley was next with her kid, Lisa.83500:55:10.800 --> 00:55:14.159



Ronnie wasn't a fan of the Spradley clan. They were83600:55:14.199 --> 00:55:18.559



pretty much Valley Royalty, owning several businesses on this stretch83700:55:18.559 --> 00:55:21.920



of road. The six year old scampered up to Sannah,83800:55:22.440 --> 00:55:26.960



holding Sarah's cold hand. She had the distinct Spradley dimple83900:55:27.000 --> 00:55:30.239



in her chin, with eyes so big she almost looked84000:55:30.239 --> 00:55:34.400



like a character from a Doctor Seuss book. Hey Thanta,84100:55:35.079 --> 00:55:38.679



Lisa said, with a lisp, Hey, little one, what do84200:55:38.719 --> 00:55:41.960



you want for Christmas? This year? I want a Barbie84300:55:42.039 --> 00:55:45.960



Dreamhouse and a couple of new Barbie because I cut84400:55:46.000 --> 00:55:49.920



the hair off the other ones, and uh Ethie bake oven,84500:55:50.559 --> 00:55:54.920



Lisa finished. Ronnie was taken aback with Lisa. She was84600:55:54.960 --> 00:55:59.239



a little girl that actually wanted little girl gifts. It84700:55:59.320 --> 00:56:02.440



was nothing that needed the smart descriptor or required the84800:56:02.519 --> 00:56:07.039



timed mashing of buttons on a video game controller. Again,84900:56:07.199 --> 00:56:11.280



these requests were few and far between, but when they came,85000:56:11.400 --> 00:56:15.199



it made Ronnie feel somewhat normal for a few seconds.85100:56:16.119 --> 00:56:19.159



Sarah noted the genuine smile on Ronnie's face and felt85200:56:19.199 --> 00:56:22.360



his approval, so she stayed quiet and gave Barbara a85300:56:22.400 --> 00:56:28.000



closed mouth smile, which Barbara politely returned. The next kid85400:56:28.039 --> 00:56:31.280



was big, and so was his father. It was Travis85500:56:31.360 --> 00:56:35.800



Cheatham and his son, Little Travis. Sarah reached for Little85600:56:35.840 --> 00:56:39.079



Travis's hand and he jerked away, giving her the finger85700:56:39.119 --> 00:56:42.400



in the process. Big Travis chuckled as if to say,85800:56:42.880 --> 00:56:48.480



that's my boy. Sarah smiled, Hey, fuck nut, Big Travis85900:56:48.480 --> 00:56:52.119



shouted as Little Travis pulled himself up onto Ronnie's lap.86000:56:52.800 --> 00:56:55.880



Ronnie groaned at the weight of almost two hundred pounds86100:56:56.239 --> 00:57:00.639



of this. Eleven year old Ronnie remembered Big Travis. They86200:57:00.639 --> 00:57:05.119



were once teammates, but never friends. Big Travis always had86300:57:05.159 --> 00:57:08.840



a jealous streak, and he loved seeing Ronnie like this.86400:57:10.280 --> 00:57:13.519



Big Travis ran a shady lawn care company in the valley,86500:57:14.079 --> 00:57:18.800



mostly cash transactions. He liked tossing his weight around figuratively86600:57:18.880 --> 00:57:22.440



and literally. His kid was two hundred pounds and Big86700:57:22.480 --> 00:57:27.280



Travis was over three bills almost four. Hey, fuck nut,86800:57:27.400 --> 00:57:31.960



my dad is talking to you, little Travis repeated. That's86900:57:32.000 --> 00:57:36.960



not very nice. Sarah intervened before Ronnie could speak. Who87000:57:37.000 --> 00:57:41.079



asked you, you little bitch, Little Travis replied, while looking87100:57:41.119 --> 00:57:45.280



back at the approving smile of his pops. Listen here,87200:57:45.679 --> 00:57:47.760



you will be getting coal in your stocking. You can't87300:57:47.800 --> 00:57:50.559



talk to my little Shut the fuck up, Ronnie. You87400:57:50.639 --> 00:57:54.320



are a fucking loser. Nobody loves you, You stink like ass,87500:57:54.360 --> 00:57:56.920



and you're the sorriest sack of shit Santah I've ever seen.87600:57:57.480 --> 00:58:00.760



Little Travis didn't get the last word out. Sarah moved87700:58:00.800 --> 00:58:04.480



with catlike quickness. She jerked Little Travis from Ronnie's knee87800:58:04.519 --> 00:58:06.760



and sank her teeth into the side of his neck,87900:58:07.119 --> 00:58:11.000



ripping out his trachea and one fell swoop. Blood spewed88000:58:11.039 --> 00:58:14.480



like a geyser from the dying kid's neck. Big Travis88100:58:14.519 --> 00:58:17.639



was still trying to register what he was seeing. The88200:58:17.679 --> 00:58:21.079



color had flushed from his face. Kids were now screaming.88300:58:21.800 --> 00:58:25.519



Sarah leaped from Little Travis and lunged at Big Travis,88400:58:25.639 --> 00:58:30.320



her claws digging into his soft, flabby flesh. She scaled88500:58:30.400 --> 00:58:32.400



up and around his back like a lizard on a88600:58:32.400 --> 00:58:39.639



brick wall. Ronnie was smiling. Ronnie was laughing. Ho ho88700:58:39.639 --> 00:58:44.639



ho fuck nut, Ronnie shouted as Sarah raked her claws88800:58:44.679 --> 00:58:49.079



across Big Travis's face, opening gouges and his fat cheeks.88900:58:49.519 --> 00:58:52.360



Big Travis grabbed Sarah by the hair with his huge89000:58:52.400 --> 00:58:56.840



hands and pulled with all his strength. Sarah didn't budge.89100:58:57.039 --> 00:58:59.239



She was now clicking her teeth in front of his89200:58:59.320 --> 00:59:03.239



frightened eye. You aren't a nice man. You can't treat89300:59:03.280 --> 00:59:07.079



Santa like that and live. Sarah pressed the sharp claws89400:59:07.119 --> 00:59:10.440



of her thumbs right into Big Travis's eyes. They went89500:59:10.559 --> 00:59:13.519



so deep she could feel the soft tissue beneath them.89600:59:14.119 --> 00:59:18.360



Big Travis fell face first as Sarah leaped from his chest.89700:59:18.920 --> 00:59:23.519



Her movements were fluid and fast. Now this shit had89800:59:23.559 --> 00:59:27.519



everyone's attention. Children were screaming, mothers were calling for fathers,89900:59:27.639 --> 00:59:31.320



and gunshots began to fill the air. This had gone90000:59:31.400 --> 00:59:35.280



well beyond regular four to twenty one crazy shit. Ronnie90100:59:35.360 --> 00:59:38.239



was smiling as he watched Santa's little helper go to work.90200:59:38.719 --> 00:59:42.400



She was blindingly fast. She was eviscerating every man with90300:59:42.480 --> 00:59:46.000



a gun. Ronnie felt the pain in his chest he90400:59:46.159 --> 00:59:49.800



was hit, but he was still grinning. The blue lights90500:59:49.840 --> 00:59:53.000



of the Burnett Town Police were now everywhere. There would90600:59:53.039 --> 00:59:56.079



be no tree lighting this year, and Sarah was still90700:59:56.119 --> 00:59:59.119



moving through the crowd. She was in a blood frenzy90800:59:59.159 --> 01:00:03.199



of death and destruction. Ronnie felt the warmth of blood90901:00:03.239 --> 01:00:07.360



flowing from his wound. Shots were still ringing out, but91001:00:07.440 --> 01:00:10.320



there were less of them. Ronnie stood in front of91101:00:10.320 --> 01:00:13.400



the wooden chair, watching the mayhem in front of him.91201:00:13.800 --> 01:00:16.760



Not five minutes ago, the kids were in line with91301:00:16.840 --> 01:00:20.320



their pity filled mothers, waiting to beg him for shit91401:00:20.440 --> 01:00:24.159



he could never afford himself. The way these people treated91501:00:24.239 --> 01:00:27.960



Ronnie over the years was shameful. No words of encouragement91601:00:28.000 --> 01:00:32.519



from any of them, just fucking pity. That's why Ronnie91701:00:32.599 --> 01:00:38.719



hated Christmas. But not this year, no, sir. The girl91801:00:38.960 --> 01:00:43.719



was his vengeance. She knew she could sense the ones91901:00:43.760 --> 01:00:46.480



that had been cruel to Ronnie and the ones that92001:00:46.559 --> 01:00:51.039



didn't offer help only pity. Sarah could smell it on92101:00:51.119 --> 01:00:56.280



them as she literally cut through town Merry Christmas to all,92201:00:57.320 --> 01:01:01.119



and to all a good night, he shouted. As one92301:01:01.199 --> 01:01:06.159



more shot rang out, it found its mark, hitting it92401:01:07.039 --> 01:01:12.719



in the forehead. The last thing he saw was Sarah's92501:01:12.760 --> 01:01:19.760



face and her clicking teeth. As everything went dark. Ronnie92601:01:19.800 --> 01:01:24.519



died right there, but he died with the solace that92701:01:24.599 --> 01:01:30.559



he'd experienced the best Christmas ever. It was finally his92801:01:30.760 --> 01:01:35.519



happy ending. Sarah was his elf of vengeance, and he92901:01:35.599 --> 01:01:47.360



loved her for it. The Day that Santa Died by93001:01:47.480 --> 01:01:54.679



Keith Tomlin. Excerpts from Santa's Bodyguard, My Journey from Vietnam93101:01:54.800 --> 01:01:59.079



to the North Pole, an autobiography by Jonathan L. Copeland,93201:01:59.440 --> 01:02:02.840



as features in the December twenty eleven issue of The93301:02:02.840 --> 01:02:07.559



weather Be monthly True Crime journal. Writer's note, I hate93401:02:07.559 --> 01:02:10.519



to start the story off with exposition, but I need93501:02:10.559 --> 01:02:12.840



to make sure that the realities of the situation are93601:02:12.920 --> 01:02:16.440



understood by the reader. These are explained in detail in93701:02:16.480 --> 01:02:20.079



the book version, but readers of this excerpt may benefit93801:02:20.119 --> 01:02:24.360



from knowing the following one. There are around two thousand93901:02:24.400 --> 01:02:27.920



elves in existence. The vast majority of these elves are94001:02:27.960 --> 01:02:32.000



living a happy life working for Santa. There are, however,94101:02:32.039 --> 01:02:36.440



a few that, in their terms, escaped from the North Pole.94201:02:37.320 --> 01:02:41.920



These elves, called renegades, vowed to release their fellow elves94301:02:42.000 --> 01:02:46.239



from their enslavement of their oppressor. For the record, I94401:02:46.280 --> 01:02:49.400



have not seen any indication that Santa was anything but94501:02:49.599 --> 01:02:53.199



kind and generous to those who worked for him. Two94601:02:53.960 --> 01:02:58.480



many supernatural phenomena surround Santa Claus and Christmas. Many of94701:02:58.519 --> 01:03:01.599



these are well documented in pots popular culture, such as94801:03:01.679 --> 01:03:05.079



flying reindeer and circumventing the entire earth in one night94901:03:05.360 --> 01:03:10.199



while delivering presents. However, two lesser known ones affect this story.95001:03:10.760 --> 01:03:15.639



The first is that explosives, including gunpowder and by extension, firearms,95101:03:16.000 --> 01:03:19.280



do not work around Santa Claus. The same goes for95201:03:19.360 --> 01:03:23.679



internal combustion engines. Santa cannot ride in a car, plane,95301:03:24.039 --> 01:03:27.519



or helicopter. When I asked him about these and other95401:03:27.639 --> 01:03:32.599



unusual occurrences, he would simply shrug and say it's Christmas magic.95501:03:33.599 --> 01:03:38.480



I could get no further explanations. John Copeland twenty eleven95601:03:39.719 --> 01:03:45.599



December eighteenth, nineteen eighty nine, Cooper's Department Store, Brickton, New Jersey.95701:03:46.840 --> 01:03:49.000



The hair on the back of my neck stood up.95801:03:49.360 --> 01:03:53.000



I could feel that something was wrong. This sixth sense95901:03:53.079 --> 01:03:56.519



saved my life many times in Vietnam, and I've learned96001:03:56.519 --> 01:04:00.480



to trust it. I triggered the radio, Steve, how are96101:04:00.480 --> 01:04:05.880



things looking. The reply came back, everything looks good here, Boss, Alan.96201:04:06.199 --> 01:04:10.320



Everything good on your end. YEP, no issues, just kids everywhere.96301:04:10.519 --> 01:04:15.719



Alan replied, Dave, how are you doing? No reply, Dave,96401:04:16.679 --> 01:04:23.400



still no reply. Jeff again, no reply, Damn, I sighed.96501:04:23.920 --> 01:04:27.440



I triggered the radio again. Okay, Alan, I want you96601:04:27.519 --> 01:04:29.800



to stop letting people in. Tell them that Santa has96701:04:29.840 --> 01:04:32.639



to feed his reindeer or whatever. Steve, make your way96801:04:32.639 --> 01:04:35.519



towards Dave's sector, but be careful. Head on a swivel.96901:04:35.960 --> 01:04:39.760



I'll head to where Jeff was. After Alan and Steve confirmed,97001:04:39.760 --> 01:04:42.239



I head off down an aisle stacked with boxes of97101:04:42.280 --> 01:04:45.760



board games. A look to my right confirmed that Santa97201:04:45.880 --> 01:04:48.960



was still in the winter Wonderland village that Cooper's Department97301:04:49.039 --> 01:04:51.800



store set up for him. Kids were lined up across97401:04:51.840 --> 01:04:55.639



the sales room floor and down the unpowered escalator. I97501:04:55.679 --> 01:04:59.320



heard tiny footsteps running behind me. I turned and walked97601:04:59.320 --> 01:05:02.840



back towards boarding goods. A blur of motion turned down97701:05:02.880 --> 01:05:05.719



an aisle in the baseball section. I quickly covered the97801:05:05.719 --> 01:05:08.599



ground between me and the mouth of the aisle. Peering97901:05:08.639 --> 01:05:11.480



around the corner, I saw a child no older than98001:05:11.559 --> 01:05:16.079



six standing there, giggling, his mouth covered in chocolate. I98101:05:16.159 --> 01:05:20.360



cautiously made my way towards him. Hi, there are you lost?98201:05:20.800 --> 01:05:25.280



Where are your parents? I asked? They over there, he said,98301:05:25.360 --> 01:05:29.039



pointing somewhat in the direction of Santa's village. I approached98401:05:29.039 --> 01:05:33.639



closer every nerve, screaming, what are you doing here? Don't98501:05:33.679 --> 01:05:36.559



you want to meet Santa? The little man gave me98601:05:36.679 --> 01:05:39.239



candy and said that you wanted to play hide and seek,98701:05:39.760 --> 01:05:43.320



the child said, grinning. I began to answer when my98801:05:43.400 --> 01:05:46.800



instincts told me to duck. A long blade whipped across98901:05:46.840 --> 01:05:50.320



the aisle, barely missing my head. Out of habit and training,99001:05:50.519 --> 01:05:53.000



my hand reached for a pistol at my waist. I99101:05:53.119 --> 01:05:56.360



then remembered I was not carrying a firearm and instead99201:05:56.679 --> 01:05:59.599



grabbed a wooden baseball bat, just in time to block99301:05:59.639 --> 01:06:03.079



another strike from the short sword. The sword dug into99401:06:03.119 --> 01:06:05.199



the wood deep enough to catch, and I was able99501:06:05.239 --> 01:06:07.199



to twist the bat to the side and rip that99601:06:07.320 --> 01:06:10.000



sword out of the grip of a short creature standing99701:06:10.039 --> 01:06:12.760



on the top shelf. I dropped the bat and grabbed99801:06:12.760 --> 01:06:15.960



its legs turned and swung it across the aisle, hitting99901:06:15.960 --> 01:06:18.519



its head on a metal bin full of baseball bats.100001:06:19.039 --> 01:06:21.599



I let go and it landed on the floor, its100101:06:21.679 --> 01:06:25.079



neck twisted at an impossible angle. I heard the kid100201:06:25.119 --> 01:06:28.760



behind me running away, yelling for his mother. I got100301:06:28.760 --> 01:06:31.639



my first look at the creature and cursed. It was100401:06:31.679 --> 01:06:34.920



around three feet tall, with a thin, narrow face, long100501:06:34.960 --> 01:06:39.679



gray beard, and pointy ears. Guys, I said into the radio,100601:06:40.119 --> 01:06:42.960



we got elves. Time to shut it down. Alan, they100701:06:42.960 --> 01:06:46.079



don't usually attack civilians. Make sure everybody makes it safely100801:06:46.119 --> 01:06:49.079



off the property. Steve, make your way to me. I'll100901:06:49.079 --> 01:06:52.800



be with the big guy immediately. The guys acknowledged. I101001:06:52.960 --> 01:06:55.719



changed channels in radio to have the reindeer sleigh sent101101:06:55.760 --> 01:06:58.840



for a roof extraction. As I begin to quickly walk101201:06:58.880 --> 01:07:01.360



toward the Winter Wonderland and set up, I tripped a101301:07:01.400 --> 01:07:05.000



fire alarm mounted on a wall. Sirens and flashing lights101401:07:05.000 --> 01:07:07.440



filled the story as a pre recorded voice played over101501:07:07.480 --> 01:07:10.519



the sound system asking all guests to leave the building101601:07:10.800 --> 01:07:13.920



in an orderly fashion via the nearest exit in the101701:07:13.920 --> 01:07:17.719



Winter Wonderland set store employees began helping crying children and101801:07:17.760 --> 01:07:22.480



worried parents exit the roped off queue. Santa, looking majestic101901:07:22.519 --> 01:07:25.400



in his classic red robes with white trim, was reassuring102001:07:25.400 --> 01:07:28.239



everyone and asking them to be careful on the way out.102101:07:28.840 --> 01:07:31.519



I walked up to Santa, my eyes trying to scan102201:07:31.639 --> 01:07:36.079



everyone and everything at once, my nerves screaming. Santa noticed102301:07:36.079 --> 01:07:39.280



my approach and turned to me, concern etched into his102401:07:39.320 --> 01:07:43.719



ageless face. John, my boy, what is going on? Is102501:07:43.760 --> 01:07:47.599



everyone okay? He asked, his deep voice rising above the102601:07:47.639 --> 01:07:52.480



surrounding chaos. I shook my head, No, sir, the renegades102701:07:52.480 --> 01:07:54.800



are here. I have a few people missing, but I102801:07:54.840 --> 01:07:59.679



haven't heard any issues with the civilians. Oh my, he said, pausing,102901:08:00.159 --> 01:08:03.840



how did they find me? Unclear? At this point, I replied,103001:08:04.280 --> 01:08:07.599



around Christmas, there are thousands of actors posing as Santa103101:08:07.679 --> 01:08:11.239



around the world, meeting children, leading parades, and doing other103201:08:11.320 --> 01:08:14.440



Christmasy duties. For years, I tried in vain to get103301:08:14.480 --> 01:08:18.439



the real Santa to cancel his personal appearances, but he refused,103401:08:18.840 --> 01:08:21.039



saying that the only way to know what children really103501:08:21.079 --> 01:08:23.199



want is to get out there and talk to them.103601:08:23.640 --> 01:08:26.199



I was able to stop him from announcing his appearances,103701:08:26.560 --> 01:08:29.000



hoping that the sheer number of other Santas would act103801:08:29.039 --> 01:08:32.880



as decoys and serve as a form of Christmas camouflage.103901:08:33.000 --> 01:08:35.800



We can worry about that later, Sir. Now, we need104001:08:35.840 --> 01:08:37.920



to get you to the roof for pickup. I told104101:08:38.000 --> 01:08:40.920



him I'll go once I know the children are safe.104201:08:41.239 --> 01:08:44.319



He replied, Sir, we need to get you out of104301:08:44.399 --> 01:08:48.239



here when the children are safe. Santa said, with a104401:08:48.279 --> 01:08:51.760



bit of an edge in his voice. Roger that I104501:08:51.840 --> 01:08:53.880



knew that. Once he made up his mind, there was104601:08:53.960 --> 01:08:57.079



no changing it. I turned to face the dwindling crowd,104701:08:57.159 --> 01:09:01.399



scanning for dangers. I spoke into the radio, Alan, what's104801:09:01.439 --> 01:09:05.560



the situation, Alan answered, a bit breathless. The crowd streaming104901:09:05.560 --> 01:09:07.680



out of the building is thinning out a bit. I105001:09:07.720 --> 01:09:11.039



saw some short figures, non children entering through the loading dock.105101:09:11.439 --> 01:09:14.479



Steve went after them. Stay with the crowd, make sure105201:09:14.520 --> 01:09:18.039



nothing happens to them, I said, Steve. Head up to me.105301:09:19.039 --> 01:09:25.159



No answer, Steve. Still nothing, damn, I thought, as I105401:09:25.159 --> 01:09:28.079



put the radio into a holster on my belt. After105501:09:28.159 --> 01:09:31.000



a few tense minutes, some of the longest of my life,105601:09:31.199 --> 01:09:35.319



Alan's voice came over the radio. Boss employees are saying105701:09:35.359 --> 01:09:39.319



the store should be empty. Roger that heading to the roof,105801:09:39.640 --> 01:09:44.279



I replied, that's when the lights went out. The world105901:09:44.319 --> 01:09:47.319



went black except for the flashing lights of the fire alarm.106001:09:48.199 --> 01:09:51.960



Moments later, the emergency lights came on, their dim pale106101:09:52.039 --> 01:09:56.039



lights combined with the fire lights, casting an eerie shadow.106201:09:57.199 --> 01:10:01.720



Sir I said, we need to go now. A somber106301:10:01.760 --> 01:10:07.239



looking Santa nodded, Yes, John, I believe you're right. Weaving106401:10:07.279 --> 01:10:10.399



through the aisles and holiday displays, I led Santa toward106501:10:10.439 --> 01:10:14.640



the back stairway. As we entered housewares, three diminutive figures106601:10:14.680 --> 01:10:16.920



emerged out of the darkness at the end of the aisle,106701:10:17.640 --> 01:10:20.560



the amber alarm lights shining off of the short steel106801:10:20.640 --> 01:10:24.680



swords they were wielding. I pulled Santa behind me and106901:10:24.760 --> 01:10:27.800



turned to face the attackers. Out of the corner of107001:10:27.840 --> 01:10:30.680



my vision, I saw a dark shape launch itself from107101:10:30.720 --> 01:10:34.520



the top shelf towards Santa. I sidestepped to intercept, putting107201:10:34.520 --> 01:10:38.119



my body between Santa and the threat. I raised my107301:10:38.199 --> 01:10:40.800



left arm to block the assault in A long, thin107401:10:40.920 --> 01:10:44.720



blade pierced my forearm. The weight of the small body107501:10:44.800 --> 01:10:47.159



forced my arm back, and the tip of the knife107601:10:47.199 --> 01:10:51.199



cut a long, cruel gash in my cheek. I grabbed107701:10:51.199 --> 01:10:54.199



the attacker an older, gray haired elf with my right107801:10:54.239 --> 01:10:57.880



hand and awkwardly chucked the flailing body at the other three,107901:10:58.199 --> 01:11:06.880



who were now running down the aisle, swords raised. One108001:11:06.920 --> 01:11:09.319



of the attackers tripped over the thrown Elf, while the108101:11:09.359 --> 01:11:12.199



other two slowed down now that I had turned my108201:11:12.239 --> 01:11:16.399



attention to them. As they cautiously walked forward, I pulled108301:11:16.399 --> 01:11:19.000



the knife from my forearm, causing a fresh wave of108401:11:19.039 --> 01:11:21.880



blood to flow. I held the knife at the ready.108501:11:22.560 --> 01:11:25.159



As a Green Beret in Vietnam, my unit was often108601:11:25.239 --> 01:11:29.039



at a numeric disadvantage when we encountered the enemy. In108701:11:29.079 --> 01:11:31.439



those situations, I found that it was best to cause108801:11:31.479 --> 01:11:35.920



confusion in the enemy by doing the unexpected, which usually108901:11:35.960 --> 01:11:39.920



came down to a quick and bloody display of extreme violence.109001:11:40.560 --> 01:11:43.600



I whispered to Santa, keep an eye out behind you.109101:11:43.960 --> 01:11:47.840



I'll be right back. I didn't wait for an answer. Instead,109201:11:47.880 --> 01:11:50.000



I roared at the top of my lungs and began109301:11:50.079 --> 01:11:52.439



to run towards the elves as fast as I could.109401:11:53.039 --> 01:11:55.680



This startled them, and they raised their swords in a109501:11:55.720 --> 01:11:58.640



defensive posture. As I got within a few feet of109601:11:58.640 --> 01:12:01.239



the elf on the right side, I went into a109701:12:01.239 --> 01:12:05.439



feet first baseball slide. The polished and waxed floor, assisting109801:12:05.479 --> 01:12:08.800



me with a surprising lack of resistance. I hit him109901:12:08.880 --> 01:12:11.439



just under his right knee. The crack of the bones110001:12:11.520 --> 01:12:14.479



was louder than the fire alarm. As he fell, he110101:12:14.520 --> 01:12:16.880



tried to strike me, but only took out a small110201:12:17.000 --> 01:12:20.000



slice of my left arm. Most of the damage was110301:12:20.039 --> 01:12:23.920



absorbed by my suit jacket. At this time, I realized110401:12:23.920 --> 01:12:25.880



that I had slid too close to the bottom of110501:12:25.920 --> 01:12:29.520



the shelf and it was restricting my movements. My initial110601:12:29.560 --> 01:12:31.399



hope was to take out the right elf with the110701:12:31.439 --> 01:12:34.640



baseball slide, then spin to face away from the upright110801:12:34.640 --> 01:12:37.279



attacker and use my feet to keep him at bay110901:12:37.720 --> 01:12:40.880



until I can find an opportunity to stand up. Not111001:12:41.039 --> 01:12:43.680



the best plan I've ever come up with, but better111101:12:43.720 --> 01:12:47.359



than none. The middle attacker approached and batted away my111201:12:47.399 --> 01:12:50.479



ineffectual attempts to fend him off with my injured arm.111301:12:51.119 --> 01:12:53.319



He raised his sword and plunged it down at me.111401:12:53.840 --> 01:12:56.279



At the last moment, I was able to turn and111501:12:56.319 --> 01:12:59.479



took the strike on my left side. Using what little111601:12:59.479 --> 01:13:02.319



strength I had in my left arm, I tried to111701:13:02.319 --> 01:13:04.680



push him away as he grabbed the sword with both111801:13:04.720 --> 01:13:08.479



hands and leaned into it. That's when I stopped pushing111901:13:08.880 --> 01:13:11.840



and pulled him toward me, his sword passing through me112001:13:11.920 --> 01:13:15.399



and striking the floor. Shock showed on his face as112101:13:15.399 --> 01:13:18.640



he fell forward, unable to compensate for the lack of resistance.112201:13:19.399 --> 01:13:22.439



I stared into his face inches from mine as I112301:13:22.479 --> 01:13:25.119



brought my right hand up and plunged the dagger into112401:13:25.119 --> 01:13:28.239



his side over and over again. I felt the front112501:13:28.239 --> 01:13:30.720



of my shirt grow wet with his blood, and the112601:13:30.800 --> 01:13:34.199



light in his eye slowly dimmed. I let go, and112701:13:34.319 --> 01:13:37.840



he slumped over his eyes, staring sightlessly at the ceiling.112801:13:38.720 --> 01:13:41.560



Using the shelves to pull myself up, I grasped the112901:13:41.640 --> 01:13:44.680



hilt of the small sword and pulled it free. Wincing113001:13:44.760 --> 01:13:48.560



from the pan, rolling my left shoulder, I deduced that113101:13:48.640 --> 01:13:51.000



the wound on my side was less serious than I113201:13:51.039 --> 01:13:55.159



originally thought. No vital organs were hit. I look at113301:13:55.199 --> 01:13:58.479



the three living elves lying on the ground. The one113401:13:58.520 --> 01:14:01.079



with the broken leg was still clutching it and rolling113501:14:01.119 --> 01:14:05.039



around moaning. The one I threw was still lying dazed113601:14:05.079 --> 01:14:07.439



on the tile floor, while the one that tripped over113701:14:07.520 --> 01:14:10.640



him was just rising to his feet, his cold eyes113801:14:11.319 --> 01:14:14.960



boring into me. I took a step and kicked him113901:14:15.199 --> 01:14:18.840



hard in the face. A wet crunch could be heard114001:14:18.880 --> 01:14:21.199



as a shelf split the back of his skull open114101:14:21.560 --> 01:14:25.000



and wedged into his brain. I then struck the elf.114201:14:25.039 --> 01:14:27.760



He tripped over with the sword until he stopped moving.114301:14:28.520 --> 01:14:30.920



I verified that the elf with the broken leg wasn't114401:14:30.960 --> 01:14:35.359



a threat before looking over at Santa. Santa Claus stood114501:14:35.359 --> 01:14:39.960



there speechless, his ashen white face registering both shock and disgust.114601:14:40.520 --> 01:14:44.600



He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Sir,114701:14:45.239 --> 01:14:48.880



we should be going, I said, looking around for additional threats.114801:14:49.800 --> 01:14:51.920



Santa shook his head like he was coming out of114901:14:51.920 --> 01:14:54.439



a trance. He looked at the carnage in front of115001:14:54.479 --> 01:15:00.600



him and asked, was that necessary, sir, Let's go, I replied.115101:15:01.359 --> 01:15:04.479



Santa took one last look at the bodies before him115201:15:04.680 --> 01:15:08.119



and slowly nodded. We made our way past the jewelry115301:15:08.119 --> 01:15:10.680



counter and into women's wear. I grabbed a couple of115401:15:10.720 --> 01:15:13.079



scarves from a bin and bound my wounds as best115501:15:13.079 --> 01:15:16.560



I could. Santa gave me a disapproving look, but softened115601:15:16.560 --> 01:15:18.800



when I told him that I would pay for them later.115701:15:19.319 --> 01:15:22.319



I almost added if we live, but chose to keep115801:15:22.319 --> 01:15:26.720



that part to myself. We heard movement behind us, at115901:15:26.800 --> 01:15:30.319



least four sets of footsteps heading our way. I began116001:15:30.399 --> 01:15:33.840



pushing Santa to move faster, hoping to reach the stairway116101:15:33.840 --> 01:15:37.279



to the roof before the renegades caught us. My sixth116201:15:37.319 --> 01:15:39.880



sense was screaming that there was something I was missing,116301:15:40.279 --> 01:15:43.239



but years of an action had blunted the tactical sense116401:15:43.560 --> 01:15:48.479



that had been honed into a razor's edge in Foreign Wars. Finally,116501:15:48.520 --> 01:15:50.640



I saw the gap in the shelves along the back116601:15:50.680 --> 01:15:54.319



wall with a bright red sign that read emergency exit.116701:15:54.960 --> 01:15:58.279



As we neared it, something flew by and smacked into116801:15:58.319 --> 01:16:00.920



the wall ahead of us. I looked back and a116901:16:00.960 --> 01:16:04.800



small figure was frantically trying to reload a crossbow. I117001:16:04.880 --> 01:16:08.079



pushed Santa faster, almost knocking him off his feet, and117101:16:08.119 --> 01:16:11.359



we slammed into a metal exit door. A shrill alarm117201:16:11.439 --> 01:16:14.560



began going off, further adding to the chaos of the situation.117301:16:15.319 --> 01:16:18.159



I slammed the door shut and looked around. Stairs were117401:16:18.199 --> 01:16:20.159



going up on the left and down on the right.117501:16:20.800 --> 01:16:23.439



Also on the right was a mop and bucket. I117601:16:23.520 --> 01:16:26.159



grabbed the mop and wedged it between the bottom step117701:16:26.199 --> 01:16:29.079



and the door. It wouldn't last long, but it should117801:16:29.119 --> 01:16:32.399



slow them down. Santa was trying to catch his breath,117901:16:32.399 --> 01:16:35.319



and as much as I hated to do it, I118001:16:35.399 --> 01:16:39.000



couldn't give him time to rest. Sir, the roof is118101:16:39.039 --> 01:16:42.560



one flight up. Were almost there, I said, as reassuringly118201:16:42.600 --> 01:16:46.279



as I could. He nodded and began climbing. I did118301:16:46.279 --> 01:16:49.039



my best to keep watch both ahead and behind us.118401:16:49.479 --> 01:16:51.720



When we made the turn to the final set of stairs,118501:16:52.119 --> 01:16:55.680



I began hearing yells and pounding from below. I readied118601:16:55.680 --> 01:16:58.199



the sword that I still carried, and prompted Santa to118701:16:58.239 --> 01:17:01.239



climb even faster. When we finally made it to the118801:17:01.279 --> 01:17:05.359



roof access door, we paused. I pushed Santa against the118901:17:05.359 --> 01:17:07.479



wall and stood in front of him, sword at the ready.119001:17:08.000 --> 01:17:12.079



I radioed the reindeer team. What's the status of the sleigh,119101:17:12.319 --> 01:17:15.479



I asked, we're landing now, the roof is clear. Where119201:17:15.479 --> 01:17:20.319



it go was the reply? I sighed. Finally something was119301:17:20.399 --> 01:17:25.119



going our way. Ready, Sir, I asked Santa. He chuckled,119401:17:25.640 --> 01:17:29.119



I can almost taste the hot chocolate now. As I119501:17:29.199 --> 01:17:31.760



nodded to him, I heard a crash from below us119601:17:31.800 --> 01:17:35.079



and yells of triumph. Santa opened the roof door and119701:17:35.119 --> 01:17:38.720



I followed close behind him, facing the stairway. As soon119801:17:38.760 --> 01:17:41.840



as I backed onto the roof, I knew something was wrong.119901:17:42.760 --> 01:17:46.279



It wasn't until later that I realized that it was120001:17:46.319 --> 01:17:50.079



the lack of noise. Nine reindeer make a ton of120101:17:50.119 --> 01:17:53.840



noise even when they're just standing still, and the roof120201:17:54.760 --> 01:17:58.880



was eerily quiet. As I heard Santa say, oh my,120301:17:59.800 --> 01:18:02.880



I turned and noticed an odd contraption set off to120401:18:02.920 --> 01:18:05.840



the left. It had a four inch tube and two120501:18:05.920 --> 01:18:09.640



large tanks behind it. Three elves were standing around it,120601:18:09.960 --> 01:18:13.600



two holding long daggers while the third carried a short spear.120701:18:14.399 --> 01:18:18.359



One elf yelled now, and the one with the spear120801:18:18.479 --> 01:18:21.680



brought it down on a lever and the machine roared.120901:18:22.479 --> 01:18:25.920



I suddenly realized that this was a huge air cannon.121001:18:26.520 --> 01:18:30.279



A metal ball shot out, flying towards Santa's chest. I121101:18:30.399 --> 01:18:32.760



tried to leap in front of him to intercept the threat,121201:18:32.800 --> 01:18:35.119



but it seemed like I was moving in slow motion.121301:18:35.880 --> 01:18:37.640



I was able to get my left arm up in121401:18:37.680 --> 01:18:40.800



front of the cannon ball. It ricocheted off of my arm,121501:18:40.920 --> 01:18:45.039



shattering bone and struck Santa in the stomach. I fell121601:18:45.119 --> 01:18:47.479



to the ground and must have blacked out for a121701:18:47.520 --> 01:18:50.479



few seconds. When I came to, I saw that Santa121801:18:50.600 --> 01:18:53.840



was lying on the roof about six feet away, flanked121901:18:53.840 --> 01:18:56.880



by the three elves from the cannon. Another three elves122001:18:56.920 --> 01:18:58.920



were approaching from the other side of the roof, and122101:18:58.960 --> 01:19:02.600



four more had emerged from the stairway. Still dazed, I122201:19:02.640 --> 01:19:07.159



watched the elves surround Santa, who lay there gasping for breath.122301:19:07.960 --> 01:19:10.560



The elf with the spear stepped forward and jammed it122401:19:10.600 --> 01:19:14.720



into Santa's chest. That broke the dam, and the others122501:19:14.800 --> 01:19:18.439



rushed ahead, plunging their knives into the large man over122601:19:18.760 --> 01:19:22.520



and over again. Blood began to pull on the roof,122701:19:22.560 --> 01:19:26.119



and the elves handmade boots made red footprints as they122801:19:26.159 --> 01:19:29.159



splashed through the puddle, eagerly elbowing their way through the122901:19:29.199 --> 01:19:34.119



frenzied mob to take another stab. I gave up trying123001:19:34.159 --> 01:19:37.039



to stand and slumped back to the ground. All of123101:19:37.039 --> 01:19:40.439



my will to fight drained out of me. I screamed,123201:19:40.479 --> 01:19:43.039



but the only thing I could hear was the pounding123301:19:43.079 --> 01:19:46.880



of my heart and the soft, wet thud of the123401:19:46.960 --> 01:19:51.000



knives hitting their mark. I hung my head and wept,123501:19:51.600 --> 01:19:56.399



but soon the sounds of the slaughter stopped. I thought123601:19:56.439 --> 01:19:59.199



that I would look up to find myself surrounded by123701:19:59.239 --> 01:20:04.319



bloodthirsty heathens. However, when I opened my eyes, I saw123801:20:04.399 --> 01:20:07.359



that the elves had backed up, staring at the body123901:20:07.399 --> 01:20:10.920



on the ground. Lights began pulsing from each of the124001:20:10.960 --> 01:20:14.800



dozens of Santa's wounds. The light became brighter, and the124101:20:14.840 --> 01:20:18.399



elves stumbled back further, one falling down, but none of124201:20:18.439 --> 01:20:21.279



them took their eyes off of the corpse in front124301:20:21.319 --> 01:20:24.960



of them. Santa's body began to shake and rose in124401:20:25.000 --> 01:20:28.359



the air like some ragdoll held up by an invisible hand.124501:20:29.119 --> 01:20:31.600



The light became blinding, and I had to turn away124601:20:31.640 --> 01:20:34.520



from the blazing nova that the fat man had become.124701:20:35.399 --> 01:20:38.119



There was a loud crackle and then a deafening thump,124801:20:38.319 --> 01:20:41.760



followed by a light so bright that it rivaled the sun.124901:20:42.640 --> 01:20:45.199



After a few minutes, I opened my eyes and tried125001:20:45.199 --> 01:20:48.000



to blink away the spots that danced in front of them.125101:20:48.800 --> 01:20:51.319



Santa's body still hung in the air, but the light125201:20:52.039 --> 01:20:57.239



was beginning to dim as his wounds slowly closed. I125301:20:57.359 --> 01:20:59.439



was struck by the thought that he looked like a125401:20:59.479 --> 01:21:04.880



white bearded Jesus crucified on an invisible cross. I felt125501:21:04.920 --> 01:21:08.159



like I was going mad and began to laugh. That125601:21:08.399 --> 01:21:11.439



stopped when I noticed the charred and smoking bodies of125701:21:11.479 --> 01:21:16.399



the renegade elves scattered around the roof. Hearing a scraping sound,125801:21:16.439 --> 01:21:19.479



I turned to see that one of the elves survived.125901:21:19.760 --> 01:21:21.960



Most of its body was charred, and it was using126001:21:22.000 --> 01:21:25.520



its one good arm to pull itself along. I stumbled126101:21:25.520 --> 01:21:28.359



to my feet, the pain in my arm inside beginning126201:21:28.359 --> 01:21:32.159



to throb as the adrenaline wore off. I shuffled over126301:21:32.199 --> 01:21:35.199



to the remaining elf and flipped it over onto its back.126401:21:35.760 --> 01:21:38.479



The majority of its face was burnt black, except for126501:21:38.520 --> 01:21:41.680



the area around its right eye. I could feel the126601:21:41.800 --> 01:21:45.640



hate radiating from it as it looked past me, focused126701:21:45.680 --> 01:21:51.279



on something behind me. Oh, Clarence, Santa said, walking up126801:21:51.319 --> 01:21:55.119



to look down at the elf. My poor boy. I126901:21:55.199 --> 01:22:01.279



wish I could help you help, Clarence croaked between hard lips.127001:22:01.760 --> 01:22:08.800



Let us go, Santa shook his head. If I could,127101:22:09.640 --> 01:22:15.199



I would, but it's out of my control. Liar, set127201:22:15.880 --> 01:22:22.119



us free, Clarence said, his anger giving strength to his voice.127301:22:22.159 --> 01:22:25.760



Santa got down on one knee and grabbed Clarence's good hand.127401:22:27.159 --> 01:22:30.840



You don't think I've tried to leave. It affects me127501:22:31.680 --> 01:22:35.159



just like it affects you. After two days away from127601:22:35.199 --> 01:22:37.800



the North Pole, I start feeling the tug of the127701:22:37.840 --> 01:22:42.359



place trying to pull me back. After a week away,127801:22:42.800 --> 01:22:46.840



I can't sleep, I can barely eat, and that's just127901:22:46.920 --> 01:22:50.319



the start of the struggle. All I can think of128001:22:50.479 --> 01:22:53.479



is my workshop and my overwhelming need to get back128101:22:53.520 --> 01:22:58.880



to it. I finally just accepted my fate and embraced128201:22:58.920 --> 01:23:04.720



my role in life. I we bring joy to the128301:23:04.840 --> 01:23:08.760



children of the world, and that's a worthy way to128401:23:08.880 --> 01:23:14.760



spend one's life. Doubt showed in Clarence's face, and he128501:23:14.840 --> 01:23:23.880



whispered a final word. Who Santa patted his hand. It's128601:23:23.920 --> 01:23:27.479



the spirit of Christmas that calls to us, that pulls128701:23:27.560 --> 01:23:30.520



us back. Its magic is fueled by the hopes and128801:23:30.640 --> 01:23:34.399



dreams of children all over the world. As long as128901:23:34.399 --> 01:23:38.000



there are children who believe in Christmas, the Christmas Spirit129001:23:38.119 --> 01:23:43.039



will be there to guide us. We Santa stopped talking129101:23:43.079 --> 01:23:46.800



as a groan escaped from Clarence's mouth and the light129201:23:46.880 --> 01:23:52.359



in his eyes went out. Santa bowed his head and wept.129301:23:53.520 --> 01:23:56.600



After a few minutes, he gently placed the ELF's hand129401:23:56.640 --> 01:24:01.359



on the ground and stood, wiping his face. I radioed129501:24:01.359 --> 01:24:05.239



the sleigh team, and after verifying their identification, found that129601:24:05.279 --> 01:24:08.359



they never received the original request for a rooftop pickup.129701:24:09.159 --> 01:24:12.640



After scheduling the pickup, I turned to Santa and noticed129801:24:12.640 --> 01:24:14.760



that he was poking a finger through one of the129901:24:15.199 --> 01:24:20.000



dozens of cuts in his jacket. John, he said, confused,130001:24:21.079 --> 01:24:29.640



what happened? Well, sir, you died, I replied, did I know? So?130101:24:30.039 --> 01:24:35.880



How did I undie? He asked, unclear? You started floating130201:24:35.880 --> 01:24:38.680



in the air and burst into a bright light, and130301:24:38.760 --> 01:24:47.920



now you're alive. Really, hm strange? Santa shrugged. Christmas Magic,130401:24:48.399 --> 01:24:56.520



he said, yes, sir, Christmas Magic epilogue. In the dark130501:24:56.600 --> 01:25:01.000



space between two air units, Frederick the Elf lowered the130601:25:01.039 --> 01:25:04.319



crossbow and placed it next to the backpack of the130701:25:04.359 --> 01:25:09.279



electronic equipment he used to intercept the radio transmissions. He130801:25:09.439 --> 01:25:12.960



tore his gaze off Santa and closed his eyes to130901:25:13.039 --> 01:25:17.520



quell his rage. With that rage subsiding, the poll of131001:25:17.560 --> 01:25:22.039



the North returned. He spent a few minutes conquering that urge,131101:25:22.319 --> 01:25:27.359



his shaking hands finally growing still. Calm descended, and he131201:25:27.479 --> 01:25:32.520



began to review what he learned. Santa can't be killed,131301:25:32.920 --> 01:25:36.600



at least not in traditional ways. Santa is not the131401:25:36.640 --> 01:25:40.000



source of the pull, but he is a willing participant131501:25:40.479 --> 01:25:44.119



in the oppression of the elves. The Spirit of Christmas131601:25:44.159 --> 01:25:46.159



is the force that tries to pull them back to131701:25:46.199 --> 01:25:49.880



the North Pole. Human children all over the world give131801:25:49.960 --> 01:25:53.960



power to the Spirit of Christmas. To lessen the pull131901:25:54.039 --> 01:25:57.399



of the Spirit of Christmas, we need to decrease what132001:25:57.520 --> 01:26:04.199



gives it power, namely human children. Frederick opened his eyes.132101:26:05.159 --> 01:26:08.159



He knew what he had to do. Now was the132201:26:08.239 --> 01:26:11.680



time for planning. He cocked his head and seemed to132301:26:11.720 --> 01:26:15.720



hear sleigh belts off in the distance. He took one132401:26:15.840 --> 01:26:20.359



last look at Santa and his bodyguard before slinking off132501:26:21.159 --> 01:26:24.920



into the darkness. Thank you for reading The weather Be132601:26:25.039 --> 01:26:28.800



monthly True Crime Journal. Please check out next month's issue,132701:26:28.920 --> 01:26:31.680



where we will have the next installment of excerpts from132801:26:31.760 --> 01:26:37.920



John Copeland's autobiography. In that article, titled Infanticide, Generation Blood,132901:26:38.279 --> 01:26:48.359



he explores one of the bloodiest terror campaigns in human history.133001:26:51.319 --> 01:26:57.439



Scary Christmas to All by David o'hanley. Santa paced the133101:26:57.520 --> 01:27:02.159



ancient floorboards of his study. The world had changed, Toys133201:27:02.159 --> 01:27:05.600



were bought in stores, and fewer children believed in the133301:27:05.600 --> 01:27:09.359



magic of Santa. There were many tasked with keeping the133401:27:09.399 --> 01:27:13.560



balance of good and evil, but technology was quickly pushing133501:27:13.600 --> 01:27:17.880



them all into the realm of mythology. The fat Man133601:27:17.920 --> 01:27:21.279



had gone to extremes to keep his operation relevant long133701:27:21.399 --> 01:27:25.159



past its expiration date, but it wouldn't matter much longer.133801:27:26.039 --> 01:27:29.439



Santa chewed the end of his cigar and stopped pacing133901:27:29.479 --> 01:27:33.199



in front of the wooden chest. The lock laid broken134001:27:33.319 --> 01:27:36.199



next to the splinters of wood where the thieves had134101:27:36.279 --> 01:27:41.840



carelessly chopped open the ancient ornate chest. The contents had134201:27:41.840 --> 01:27:46.159



been replaced with a manifesto scrawled into Mittean script. In134301:27:46.199 --> 01:27:49.520



one night, they would undo centuries of legend and tip134401:27:49.560 --> 01:27:55.119



the scales forever unless they could be stopped. Santa struck134501:27:55.159 --> 01:27:57.239



a match and held it to the tip of the cigar,134601:27:57.920 --> 01:28:01.920



knowing there was only one solution, only one operative elf134701:28:02.000 --> 01:28:07.840



enough for the task. I'm freezing my fucking ornaments off, Peppermint,134801:28:07.920 --> 01:28:10.880



Ray declared, as he stepped into the study and kicked134901:28:10.880 --> 01:28:13.800



the door shut behind him. This is one hell of135001:28:13.840 --> 01:28:19.079



a storm, nothing compared to what is coming, Santa said somberly.135101:28:19.680 --> 01:28:22.479



I called you in for a very important assignment. Ray,135201:28:23.479 --> 01:28:27.520



I finally get to kill Jeff Bezos. Ray perked up. No,135301:28:28.920 --> 01:28:32.239



it worked with toys, r us. Ray argued. If we135401:28:32.359 --> 01:28:35.159



take out Amazon and Walmart, they'll have to come to135501:28:35.279 --> 01:28:38.920



us for toys. We'll be back in business full tilt buggy,135601:28:39.920 --> 01:28:44.199



maybe next year. Ray Santa stepped away from the Pilford chest.135701:28:45.079 --> 01:28:50.159



If there is one fuck me with a nutcracker, Ray gasped.135801:28:50.760 --> 01:28:53.760



The elf went to the box. His face twitched with135901:28:53.840 --> 01:28:57.399



conflicting emotions as he knelt to retrieve the manifesto from136001:28:57.439 --> 01:28:59.680



the spot that should have held one of the North136101:28:59.720 --> 01:29:05.880



Pole three sacred documents. He skimmed the pages of lunatic ramblings.136201:29:06.560 --> 01:29:09.279



He's going to give out toys to the entire naughty list,136301:29:09.800 --> 01:29:15.479



Ray said, who would do this? He calls himself candy136401:29:15.640 --> 01:29:26.359



pain sugarplum. Gary flicked a frozen booger from his finger.136501:29:27.000 --> 01:29:29.920



His bulbous nose almost glowed from the bite of the136601:29:29.960 --> 01:29:35.039



winter storm blowing across the Great Lakes. Elves didn't chill easily,136701:29:35.479 --> 01:29:38.720



but the storm made him pull the parka tighter around him.136801:29:39.199 --> 01:29:43.359



Gary liked to eat paint, specifically orange, and had lost136901:29:43.399 --> 01:29:46.680



his job making toys long before the bubble burst. For137001:29:46.760 --> 01:29:50.159



everyone else. He'd been cleaning the stables for the past137101:29:50.159 --> 01:29:53.920



two centuries, which he didn't mind. The reindeer never made137201:29:53.920 --> 01:29:56.560



fun of him, at least they would have if they137301:29:56.560 --> 01:30:00.159



could talk, but they couldn't, so Gary was content with137401:30:00.199 --> 01:30:04.000



his new occupation. He stabbed his finger back into his137501:30:04.079 --> 01:30:07.920



nostril to mine another frozen snot nugget. As dumb as137601:30:07.960 --> 01:30:11.600



Gary was, even he knew the storm was their fault.137701:30:12.479 --> 01:30:15.920



It had started moments after they pilfered the Naughtylist and137801:30:16.039 --> 01:30:20.840



intensified with every toy they delivered along their path. Candy137901:30:20.920 --> 01:30:25.119



Andy knew it too. Gary watched the Elvin David koresh138001:30:25.199 --> 01:30:30.119



saw through the security guard's neck with a serrated silver blade.138101:30:30.159 --> 01:30:32.720



Gary always wanted to be one of the Black Mittens138201:30:33.159 --> 01:30:36.439



sant as elap core of assassins that purged the evilest138301:30:36.520 --> 01:30:41.279



names from the Naughtilist with absolute ruthlessness. Gary had never138401:30:41.359 --> 01:30:44.359



even gotten to issue a coal citation to a bad kid,138501:30:44.800 --> 01:30:48.159



let alone gotten to bump one off. Andy told him138601:30:48.199 --> 01:30:52.199



he was lucky for that war changes in elf and138701:30:52.239 --> 01:30:55.479



the Naughtilist had become the North Pole's version of Vietnam.138801:30:56.159 --> 01:30:59.760



The Black Mittens were so backlogged that they'd started working138901:30:59.840 --> 01:31:02.560



to and Christmas in July. Just to keep from drowning139001:31:02.600 --> 01:31:05.760



in the swelling sea of evil caused by the influx139101:31:05.800 --> 01:31:10.039



of department store toys. Andy wiped the blade clean and139201:31:10.119 --> 01:31:13.640



sheathed it. His short, powerful arms cast the line of139301:31:13.680 --> 01:31:15.960



his grappling hook all the way to the top of139401:31:16.000 --> 01:31:19.279



the watch tower. Gary stared in awe as the elf139501:31:19.319 --> 01:31:22.560



scurried up the structure despite the brutal onslaught of wind.139601:31:23.439 --> 01:31:26.239



Gary darted from the bushes and waited inside the guard139701:31:26.279 --> 01:31:29.319



shack for his signal. Andy hadn't told him what the139801:31:29.359 --> 01:31:31.960



signal would be, just that he'd know it when he139901:31:32.039 --> 01:31:35.640



saw it. A moment later, the sniper's corpse crashed to140001:31:35.680 --> 01:31:39.439



the icy pavement, His intestine stretched up from his torn140101:31:39.479 --> 01:31:42.439



abdomen all the way back to the top of the tower.140201:31:43.079 --> 01:31:46.199



Gary giggled and stepped out of the shack, looking up140301:31:46.239 --> 01:31:50.399



at the meaty garland glistening with already frozen blood. He140401:31:50.479 --> 01:31:53.840



plucked it, fascinated by the wet twang it made, and140501:31:53.920 --> 01:31:58.960



waited another moment for Andy's signal. Nothing happened. Gary looked140601:31:59.000 --> 01:32:03.920



down at the body and gasped, Oh, you're the signal.140701:32:05.039 --> 01:32:08.560



He darted back inside and pulled the lever ice cracked140801:32:08.560 --> 01:32:12.119



from the hinges as the gates forced themselves open despite140901:32:12.119 --> 01:32:16.840



the accumulating snow. The vibration rattled loose icicles from the141001:32:16.840 --> 01:32:21.279



bronze lettering overhead. The elf looked up and sounded out141101:32:21.279 --> 01:32:26.560



the letters. It was easy enough even for him, Kill you.141201:32:27.800 --> 01:32:30.720



Gary squinted through the snowflakes to make sure he read141301:32:30.720 --> 01:32:36.399



it correctly. There it was, in big, blocky font kill you.141401:32:37.880 --> 01:32:41.239



Andy repelled down the tower and gracefully hit the ground.141501:32:41.640 --> 01:32:45.039



He waved for Gary to come through. The ditzy elf141601:32:45.119 --> 01:32:49.159



waddled between the still opening gates and pointed at the letters.141701:32:49.600 --> 01:32:53.239



Say Andy, what ah Andy had him by the throat141801:32:53.279 --> 01:32:56.319



before he could say another word. I won't tell you again,141901:32:56.960 --> 01:33:03.279



he snarled. It's pain, Andy, Pain. The name wasn't the142001:33:03.319 --> 01:33:06.680



only thing he'd changed about himself. His uniform had been142101:33:06.720 --> 01:33:09.680



replaced with leather and spikes, and around his neck he142201:33:09.760 --> 01:33:13.039



wore a heavy chain of sterling candy canes. For every142301:33:13.079 --> 01:33:17.039



elf that died under his command. Each ornament was spaced142401:33:17.079 --> 01:33:20.439



out with the withering, rotten ear of a naughty child.142501:33:21.439 --> 01:33:26.479



Sorry candy pain, Gary gulpt. I was just wondering about142601:33:26.479 --> 01:33:31.720



the sign, is all. It's a strange name for an orphanage. Orphanage.142701:33:32.199 --> 01:33:36.960



Candy Pain laughed. Krieger Illinois Youth, a fender unit better142801:33:37.000 --> 01:33:41.279



known as Kill You Island. Candy Pain swept an arm142901:33:41.319 --> 01:33:44.920



at the structure. The former mental asylum was little more143001:33:44.960 --> 01:33:48.520



than a shadow through the snowfall. The tiny island had143101:33:48.560 --> 01:33:53.039



always been a place of evil and violence. It attracted143201:33:53.079 --> 01:33:57.720



it the way rot attracts flies. Krieger sat far enough143301:33:57.720 --> 01:34:00.479



on Lake Michigan to make it the perfect place to143401:34:00.520 --> 01:34:04.199



lock away the most dangerous juvenile delinquents in the state.143501:34:05.159 --> 01:34:07.760



Many of the residents had received their lump of coal,143601:34:08.199 --> 01:34:10.359



while others had skipped straight to the top of the143701:34:10.439 --> 01:34:14.600



naughty list. Somewhere in the pint sized penal colony was143801:34:14.640 --> 01:34:21.600



the mission objective. The Kinder Cannibal, Little Robbie Mocker Christmas143901:34:21.680 --> 01:34:31.239



Dies Tonight. Candy Pain snarled. Santa's glare was hard and144001:34:31.359 --> 01:34:34.800



cold as gun metal. Missus Claws sat the tray of144101:34:34.840 --> 01:34:38.319



sugar cookies next to the scales. On one side a144201:34:38.359 --> 01:34:42.000



glittery glass ornament and on the other a lump of144301:34:42.079 --> 01:34:46.439



coal mined by Crampis himself. The two pans had never144401:34:46.479 --> 01:34:49.880



been level, but they never teetered too far in one144501:34:49.960 --> 01:34:55.239



direction either Now the coal moved lower by the minute.144601:34:55.960 --> 01:34:59.600



No point in watching it, dear, the missus said, offering144701:34:59.680 --> 01:35:02.760



up one one of the cookies. Santa took the snowman144801:35:02.880 --> 01:35:07.800



shaped cookie and chomped the head off. If he fails,144901:35:07.840 --> 01:35:12.439



Santa started, then do something about it. She slid into145001:35:12.439 --> 01:35:16.159



his lap. The sleigh is packed and ready hand out145101:35:16.199 --> 01:35:19.159



as many toys as possible by Ray the time he145201:35:19.279 --> 01:35:24.359



needs to destroy. Candy pain raise no match for him,145301:35:24.399 --> 01:35:28.680



Santa admitted, I should have sent everyone. Then we'd be145401:35:28.760 --> 01:35:31.960



burying a lot of dead elves for New Years. Missus145501:35:32.000 --> 01:35:35.479



Claws said, Ray will win this fight because he's just145601:35:35.560 --> 01:35:38.840



as much a symbol of Christmas as you are. Santa145701:35:38.960 --> 01:35:42.640



raised a wooly brow. I don't think we're talking about145801:35:42.680 --> 01:35:46.880



the same elf. How many wars have you delivered presents through?145901:35:47.439 --> 01:35:50.920



How many communities have come together in times of disaster,146001:35:51.680 --> 01:35:56.600



fed one another during famines, saying carols through plagues. Christmas146101:35:56.640 --> 01:36:00.479



is not a holiday, it's not presents, it's not even146201:36:00.560 --> 01:36:06.319



Santa Claus. It's an unyielding spirit, she said, coiling the146301:36:06.359 --> 01:36:09.800



curls of his beard around her fingers. The true meaning146401:36:09.840 --> 01:36:14.920



of Christmas is love. That's why it always endures no146501:36:15.000 --> 01:36:19.560



matter what turmoil comes. Peppermint Ray is the embodiment of146601:36:19.600 --> 01:36:23.880



the Christmas spirit. He's a sadistic munchkin that enjoys killing.146701:36:24.319 --> 01:36:29.399



Santa huffed, You enjoy your work too, She kissed his forehead,146801:36:30.039 --> 01:36:31.840



Which is why you need to get off your fat146901:36:31.880 --> 01:36:35.199



ass and get to it. Keep the scales moving in147001:36:35.319 --> 01:36:39.000



our favor. Dear Ray will do his job, and tomorrow147101:36:39.399 --> 01:36:47.439



we'll drink our eggnog from Candy Andy's skull. Brute Cake147201:36:47.479 --> 01:36:51.800



flew around the island a second time. Bonfires burned high147301:36:51.840 --> 01:36:56.680



despite the battery of subzero winds. Inmates danced and fired147401:36:56.760 --> 01:37:01.680



captured guns into the air and celebration. An explosion illuminated147501:37:01.720 --> 01:37:05.800



scores of dead guards, making bloody snow angels in the yard.147601:37:06.640 --> 01:37:10.039



Ray could smell burnt flesh wafting up on the smoke.147701:37:10.720 --> 01:37:15.560



He checked the magical compass, and the needle pointed straight down.147801:37:16.840 --> 01:37:19.640



Looks like the little shits opened their Christmas presents early.147901:37:20.000 --> 01:37:24.359



He groaned, you ready for Christmas dinner? Pal? The reindeer148001:37:24.439 --> 01:37:29.159



rumbled excitedly. Good. It's colder than Prancer's pecker up here,148101:37:29.319 --> 01:37:31.880



and I want all the feeling in my fingers when148201:37:31.920 --> 01:37:37.319



I closed them around Andy's throat. Fruitcake snorted, shit, you're right,148301:37:38.000 --> 01:37:42.159



we need tunes. Ray turned on the bluetooth speaker hanging148401:37:42.159 --> 01:37:45.560



from Bruitecake's saddle. He nodded his head as the bells148501:37:45.600 --> 01:37:49.640



tinkled and the music began. The reindeer let out a long,148601:37:49.840 --> 01:37:54.840



hoarse call of agreement. That's right, Candy, Andy, all I148701:37:54.920 --> 01:38:01.079



want for Christmas is you to die. The raindew changed course,148801:38:01.479 --> 01:38:05.520



speeding toward the island. Ray drew his scimitar and shifted148901:38:05.520 --> 01:38:08.560



to the side to hack down one of the escaped convicts.149001:38:09.000 --> 01:38:12.840



Bullets whizzed by his head. His steed banked hard, nearly149101:38:12.880 --> 01:38:16.119



flinging Ray from the saddle. A pair of teens cut149201:38:16.159 --> 01:38:20.439



loose with their festively painted assault rifles. Brute Cake twisted,149301:38:20.520 --> 01:38:24.199



flying over them upside down and then biting one's head149401:38:24.560 --> 01:38:28.760



while Ray impaled the other. The skull crunched loudly between149501:38:28.800 --> 01:38:32.640



the reindeer's teeth. In the chaos, Ray almost missed the149601:38:32.680 --> 01:38:36.600



incoming call. He turned down the music and answered the phone.149701:38:36.840 --> 01:38:40.920



While Brute Cake flew into a group of delinquents Peppervent149801:38:41.000 --> 01:38:47.560



party line. He said gleefully. Ray, it's wait, is that gunfire?149901:38:48.079 --> 01:38:51.920



Missus Claws asked, Not everyone plays with the same kinds150001:38:51.920 --> 01:38:55.119



of toys. A bullet tore Ray's hat off. Can I150101:38:55.239 --> 01:38:59.479



call you back? No, you cannot, missus Claws said sternly.150201:39:00.119 --> 01:39:02.319



This is going to be really hard for you. But150301:39:02.399 --> 01:39:04.800



you can't kill any of the kids on that island.150401:39:05.680 --> 01:39:08.319



Ray tugged the reins to pull Brute Cake up and150501:39:08.359 --> 01:39:11.800



away from the field of battle. Two murder munchkins hung150601:39:11.840 --> 01:39:16.000



from his bloody antlers. Ray cleared his throat. Uh, the150701:39:16.439 --> 01:39:20.520



service is really bad with this storm and all, Ray said.150801:39:20.880 --> 01:39:24.199



I didn't hear you. You said kill all the naughty kids, right,150901:39:24.840 --> 01:39:29.680



none of them? Ray? Oh, so yeah, we can do that.151001:39:30.439 --> 01:39:34.479



Ray mind shooting himself in the head. Why exactly are151101:39:34.520 --> 01:39:38.720



we not killing them? The scales have tipped too far.151201:39:39.720 --> 01:39:43.439



Her voice sounded sullen and distant. It wasn't the storm151301:39:43.479 --> 01:39:47.119



making Ray's knees shake. If she was worried, then it151401:39:47.159 --> 01:39:51.000



really was the end of Christmas. Brute Cake tilted his151501:39:51.079 --> 01:39:53.960



head to slide one of the bodies closer so he151601:39:54.000 --> 01:39:58.159



could take a bite. Ray rolled his eyes. What was151701:39:58.199 --> 01:40:01.039



done was done, so his faithful steed might as well151801:40:01.119 --> 01:40:07.800



enjoy the spoils. Okay, no more killing, Ray reluctantly agreed.151901:40:08.680 --> 01:40:14.239



What's the plan? Give them gifts, she told him, restore152001:40:14.319 --> 01:40:18.680



the image of Santa, remind them that Christmas is about152101:40:18.760 --> 01:40:23.560



love and love is second chances? Ray, How am I152201:40:23.600 --> 01:40:27.720



supposed to get past them without killing them? Make them toys? Ray,152301:40:29.039 --> 01:40:32.399



I didn't exactly pack for that sort of thing. I152401:40:32.439 --> 01:40:37.119



have no toys. Improvise. You were a toy maker, long152501:40:37.159 --> 01:40:42.079



before you were a killer, she reminded him, A terrible one,152601:40:42.319 --> 01:40:46.880



the worst, she agreed. Naughty kids now get crappy toys,152701:40:46.920 --> 01:40:50.439



and thanks to you, we have a warehouse full of those.152801:40:51.359 --> 01:40:55.520



Glad I could help, Ray said, deadpanned. The other elves152901:40:55.520 --> 01:41:00.479



are mobilizing. What about candy pain, silly Ray, Her voice153001:41:00.520 --> 01:41:06.239



perked up. Everyone knows peppermint kills pain. Ray ended the153101:41:06.279 --> 01:41:09.760



call with a pointed smile. He tugged the reins and153201:41:09.800 --> 01:41:13.680



directed Brute Cake toward the roof of the prison. A153301:41:13.720 --> 01:41:18.279



mob of children surrounded him with pilfered nightsticks, shanks, and torches.153401:41:18.960 --> 01:41:22.239



Ray hopped down from his saddle. A bigger kid stepped153501:41:22.239 --> 01:41:24.439



out of the group to meet him, wielding an axe153601:41:24.439 --> 01:41:29.279



adorned with mistletoe. We didn't invite you to the Christmas party,153701:41:29.760 --> 01:41:32.840



the boy said, in a pubescent squeak. Why don't you153801:41:32.920 --> 01:41:42.279



and Rudolph fuck off? Brute Cake shook his head violently,153901:41:42.319 --> 01:41:46.000



flinging the corpses from his antlers. He snorted and scraped154001:41:46.000 --> 01:41:49.399



his hoof through the snow. Blood soaked his snout and154101:41:49.479 --> 01:41:53.239



bubbled in his nostrils. To be fair, you do have154201:41:53.319 --> 01:41:58.199



a red nose right now, Ray patted the animal side. Look, Dallas,154301:41:58.560 --> 01:42:02.760



we're here on important pole business. How'd you know my name?154401:42:03.279 --> 01:42:06.600



The boy demanded. I read the naughty List like it's154501:42:06.640 --> 01:42:10.600



the Sunday paper, Ray said, before you chopped up your family,154601:42:10.920 --> 01:42:14.399



you made the list for smashing your sister's gerbil. The154701:42:14.479 --> 01:42:18.680



crowd gasped. And I know you, and you and you,154801:42:19.520 --> 01:42:22.359



Ray said, as he turned and pointed at various children.154901:42:22.880 --> 01:42:25.920



He wagged his finger at one of them, especially you.155001:42:26.720 --> 01:42:31.520



That was some innovative work you did, kiddo. What what155101:42:31.560 --> 01:42:36.479



do you want, Dallas asked, to give you presents? Ray155201:42:36.520 --> 01:42:40.760



threw his hands into the air. Christmas is about second chances.155301:42:41.199 --> 01:42:43.880



The fat Man's had a change of heart. Go on155401:42:44.039 --> 01:42:47.039



back to your cells before you catch a cold. Tomorrow155501:42:47.560 --> 01:42:53.159



everyone gets gifts. I already got my present. Dallas. Hefted155601:42:53.159 --> 01:42:57.479



the axe. I said, I wouldn't kill anyone else tonight,155701:42:57.600 --> 01:43:00.680



so try to run really fast so that I don't155801:43:00.720 --> 01:43:04.199



look like a lyar. Ray pulled the be dazzled grenade155901:43:04.239 --> 01:43:08.760



from his pocket. Five second fuse, eight meter kill zone.156001:43:09.239 --> 01:43:13.680



It's doable, but just barely. The elf jerked the pin156101:43:13.840 --> 01:43:17.800



free and the children scattered. Ray ran for the edge,156201:43:17.960 --> 01:43:21.159



knowing his stumpy legs would never get him clear in time.156301:43:21.920 --> 01:43:25.039



He jumped over the side, casting his grappling hook for156401:43:25.079 --> 01:43:28.960



the drain pipe as the device exploded behind him. He156501:43:29.079 --> 01:43:32.640



planned on crashing through the window like John mcclan, only156601:43:32.840 --> 01:43:37.199



Nakatomi Plaza didn't have bars over the windows. Ray struck156701:43:37.239 --> 01:43:40.319



the iron grid and bounced off, twisting on the rope156801:43:40.359 --> 01:43:43.800



like the world's ugliest ornament. He hit it again, but156901:43:44.000 --> 01:43:47.680



caught hold. Ray pulled his dagger and used it to157001:43:47.760 --> 01:43:51.680



unscrew the grate. He kicked out the glass and shimmered inside.157101:43:53.239 --> 01:43:57.520



Fuck me with a nutcracker, he groaned. Whatever gets your157201:43:57.600 --> 01:44:00.640



rocks off, the woman said, before grabbing Ray by the157301:44:00.720 --> 01:44:05.000



throat and slinging him into a graffitied wall. Ray's tiny157401:44:05.039 --> 01:44:08.680



form shattered the sheet rock. A female guard towered over him.157501:44:08.840 --> 01:44:13.159



Her cutoff trousers revealed thick muscular thighs, each one as157601:44:13.159 --> 01:44:17.279



big around as Ray himself. Scalps dangled from her pistol157701:44:17.279 --> 01:44:21.000



belt that hung below a hardened eight pack of abdominal muscles.157801:44:21.680 --> 01:44:24.920



Ray's eyes widened when he saw she was topless and157901:44:25.039 --> 01:44:28.960



pinned her badge, threw her left nipple. She patted a158001:44:29.079 --> 01:44:32.840



nightstick against her palm. Growls and barks came from one158101:44:32.840 --> 01:44:35.520



of the cells. Two of the guards came out, wearing158201:44:35.560 --> 01:44:39.920



nothing but dog ears and tails. This is the pro158301:44:40.079 --> 01:44:44.119



bowl of fucking psychopaths, he said, struggling to his feet.158401:44:44.840 --> 01:44:49.720



I'm Commander Thatcher. The woman's voice boomed. Long before Mindy158501:44:49.840 --> 01:44:53.640



the thrasher Thatcher had taken over Kreager Island. She'd been158601:44:53.640 --> 01:44:58.239



a women's wrestling champion and longtime resident of the Naughty List.158701:44:58.800 --> 01:45:02.000



It was no wonder Candy had picked Kill You Island158801:45:02.279 --> 01:45:06.520



to deliver his coup de gras to Christmas sicken boys.158901:45:07.359 --> 01:45:10.680



The two guards snarled and scurried at Ray on all fours.159001:45:11.279 --> 01:45:14.560



The elf juked around one, letting them crash together with159101:45:14.640 --> 01:45:18.239



a yip. He ran down the hall, hurtling, gnawed bodies,159201:45:18.680 --> 01:45:21.600



and slid to a stop as another guard dog crawled159301:45:21.640 --> 01:45:25.359



out to block his path. Only this time it was159401:45:25.439 --> 01:45:29.640



an actual dog. The terrier, wearing a mask of leather straps,159501:45:30.039 --> 01:45:35.279



dragged a length of intestines behind him. You're breaking the law, convict,159601:45:35.840 --> 01:45:39.920



Thatcher shouted, my law. Now get your scrawny ass back159701:45:39.920 --> 01:45:44.399



in your cell. Convict Ray tugged at his pointy ears,159801:45:44.880 --> 01:45:49.760



You dumbass, I'm an elf. The terrier growled, gimp. Doesn't159901:45:49.800 --> 01:45:52.119



give a shit what gang you're in. Neither do I.160001:45:52.800 --> 01:45:56.880



Thatcher tapped the baton with each step closer. Bad children160101:45:56.920 --> 01:46:01.479



spend the night with the dogs. The human stalked alongside160201:46:01.520 --> 01:46:05.680



their mistress. They gnashed their bloody teeth, slinging pink saliva160301:46:05.800 --> 01:46:10.000



with each bark. This cell block belonged to Lucifer Lloyd.160401:46:10.640 --> 01:46:13.960



Thatcher tugged at a scalp on her belt. So did160501:46:13.960 --> 01:46:18.079



this he thought he was the devil. Think you'll scream160601:46:18.119 --> 01:46:21.039



as much as the devil when I peel your skull. Elf,160701:46:21.960 --> 01:46:24.920



keep talking and I'll do it myself. Ray cupped a160801:46:24.960 --> 01:46:28.680



hand to his ear. Hear that is it time to160901:46:28.720 --> 01:46:34.479



make the cookies. That is just a hurtful stereotype. Ray barked.161001:46:35.039 --> 01:46:38.760



You haven't seen how hurtful I can be yet. Thatcher laughed,161101:46:39.479 --> 01:46:41.560



I was going to give you a witty one liner.161201:46:42.000 --> 01:46:45.079



Ray said, better make it a zinger, because it'll be161301:46:45.159 --> 01:46:48.880



your last words. Thatcher drew the bowie knife from her belt.161401:46:49.279 --> 01:46:53.199



Ray backed away from her. She clanked the weapons together rhythmically.161501:46:53.800 --> 01:46:58.039



The human animals howled for elf meat. Ray continued back161601:46:58.079 --> 01:47:00.880



pedaling until he felt the wet nose of the terrier161701:47:01.039 --> 01:47:04.920



touch his hand. The dog let out a deep, throaty161801:47:05.039 --> 01:47:10.520



growl and licked his fingers. Don't you know, Ray said,161901:47:10.520 --> 01:47:14.479



with a giggle. Elves are one with nature, even psycho162001:47:14.560 --> 01:47:18.199



mutch like this. One. Gimp nuzzled its head under his arm,162101:47:18.479 --> 01:47:21.920



and Ray gave him pets. Thatcher stopped in her tracks.162201:47:22.439 --> 01:47:24.479



I bet I know what a good puppy like you162301:47:24.600 --> 01:47:30.600



wants for Christmas, Ray chirped, happily chew toys. The terrier162401:47:30.680 --> 01:47:34.640



bolted down the corridor, launching itself at the wannabees. The162501:47:34.680 --> 01:47:38.159



second pounced on him, biting into the dog's shoulder. Gimp162601:47:38.199 --> 01:47:41.600



didn't even make a yip before swinging around and tearing162701:47:41.640 --> 01:47:45.560



out the man's throat. Thatcher stumbled backwards, slipping in the162801:47:45.640 --> 01:47:49.800



arterial spray. The dog in the remaining guard locked up162901:47:50.439 --> 01:47:54.239



gimp latched onto the man's crotch, drawing a high pitch wail.163001:47:55.000 --> 01:48:00.079



Good boy, you found his squeaker. Ray slouched. Shit, I163101:48:00.159 --> 01:48:04.039



feel like Michael Vick watching this. Thatcher scrambled down the163201:48:04.039 --> 01:48:07.279



hallway with the dog on her heels. Ray whistled as163301:48:07.319 --> 01:48:10.159



he skipped away from the carnage to find the stairwell.163401:48:10.680 --> 01:48:14.239



He crept down stealthily, stopping to listen at the door.163501:48:14.960 --> 01:48:18.319



He could hear a ruckus beyond, and decided to try163601:48:18.359 --> 01:48:22.279



another floor. Ray could rewrite the naughty list from memory.163701:48:22.640 --> 01:48:26.279



He knew who else housed on kill U Island. Some163801:48:26.359 --> 01:48:28.560



of them wouldn't make it easy to keep his word163901:48:28.640 --> 01:48:33.039



to missus Claws. On the third floor, Ray paused to listen.164001:48:33.640 --> 01:48:37.760



His ears twitched at the melodic giggling. Normal people do164101:48:37.840 --> 01:48:40.640



not giggle in the middle of a prison riot. He164201:48:40.680 --> 01:48:44.319



didn't need heightened sentences to hear the screams that came next.164301:48:45.000 --> 01:48:48.039



The naughtiest inmate on the island was locked up in164401:48:48.079 --> 01:48:51.640



the basement. Ray knew that's where Pain would be going164501:48:52.279 --> 01:48:56.439



if he wasn't there already. Unfortunately, that meant crossing the164601:48:56.479 --> 01:49:00.319



east wing of the facility. He knelt suddenly put his164701:49:00.359 --> 01:49:03.920



palm to the floor. Toy makers had to have an164801:49:03.920 --> 01:49:08.199



amazing sense of touch. It helped with stalking naughty children164901:49:08.239 --> 01:49:12.439



as well. Someone was coming up the stairs. His wide165001:49:12.520 --> 01:49:17.399



nostrils flared, taking in the scent chemicals clung to his nosehairs.165101:49:18.279 --> 01:49:21.199



He had a pretty good idea who it was and165201:49:21.319 --> 01:49:26.399



exactly what the kid had asked for this Christmas. Ray165301:49:26.600 --> 01:49:29.760



was out of options. He slid through the door, closing165401:49:29.800 --> 01:49:33.680



it gently behind him. The five girls didn't notice him165501:49:33.880 --> 01:49:36.199



as they played ring around the rosie with one of165601:49:36.239 --> 01:49:41.039



their dismembered but not dead cellmates. The arms and legs165701:49:41.039 --> 01:49:45.960



still twitched and danced next to the wriggling torso. Ray slumped,165801:49:46.960 --> 01:49:51.520



Bridget and Patty Booth led the sing song chant all165901:49:51.640 --> 01:49:55.199



together in a circle, wee saying the name of the166001:49:55.239 --> 01:50:00.800



most wicked thing, mister Jolly the Smiling King, except the166101:50:00.880 --> 01:50:06.720



sacrifice that we bring, mister Jolly the Smiling King, master166201:50:06.880 --> 01:50:10.319



of all that bite and staying for you we kill166301:50:10.560 --> 01:50:15.199



and dance and saying enough, Ray whistled and clapped his hands.166401:50:15.800 --> 01:50:18.279



The girls quit dancing, and the circle broke into a166501:50:18.359 --> 01:50:22.079



human chain that blocked the hall. They stared at the166601:50:22.079 --> 01:50:26.640



elf quizzically, this looks like a really fun slumber party,166701:50:27.079 --> 01:50:30.880



Ray pointed at the sacrifice. Well maybe not for her,166801:50:31.039 --> 01:50:33.800



but you need to get to bed now. Santa is166901:50:33.840 --> 01:50:37.399



bringing everyone presents, but only if you're sound asleep when167001:50:37.399 --> 01:50:41.960



he gets here. Fuck Santa, Pat squeaked. We don't need167101:50:42.000 --> 01:50:45.760



that judgmental bastard. Yeah, like, I've got two of those167201:50:45.800 --> 01:50:50.439



at home. Bridget added, they're called parents. We have the167301:50:50.520 --> 01:50:55.359



Smiling King. The other girls said in unison. Oh yeah,167401:50:55.479 --> 01:50:59.960



that was creepy. Ray patted the air. Hate to tell you,167501:51:00.319 --> 01:51:04.399



but your creepy pasta is a little undercooked. There is167601:51:04.520 --> 01:51:08.159



no mister Jolly is coming, the dismembered girl said, with167701:51:08.199 --> 01:51:12.439



a mouthful of blood. It worked, Hail the Smiling King.167801:51:13.239 --> 01:51:16.840



The lights flickered in the hallway. You've got to be167901:51:16.960 --> 01:51:21.920



fucking kidding me. Ray drew his scimitar. It's a stupid168001:51:22.079 --> 01:51:27.800



internet story, what Santa, Bridget asked. If you believe in something,168101:51:28.119 --> 01:51:33.600



really believe it's real. Santa is real, Elves are real,168201:51:34.720 --> 01:51:39.439



mister Jolly is real. This is what we really want168301:51:39.439 --> 01:51:46.279



for Christmas. Pat said, mister Jolly, the smiling king. A168401:51:46.359 --> 01:51:50.319



deep voice sang inside a cell the name of the168501:51:50.359 --> 01:51:56.319



most wicked thing. The lights went out completely. The inhuman168601:51:56.479 --> 01:52:00.800



voice laughed. Ray's eyes adjusted quickly, and he saw the168701:52:00.840 --> 01:52:05.800



girls jumping about giddaly. Spindly fingers gripped the bars of168801:52:05.880 --> 01:52:10.119



the cell. Spiders scurried from his sleeves and over the168901:52:10.199 --> 01:52:16.000



claw like digits. Ray heard muffled buzzing. The entity still169001:52:16.079 --> 01:52:20.159



hiding in the abyss wretched, and the swarm of wasps169101:52:20.199 --> 01:52:24.239



billowed out into the corridor. Ray bolted for the door.169201:52:25.039 --> 01:52:30.439



He cranked on the handle. It wouldn't budge. A widow169301:52:30.520 --> 01:52:34.159



twisted gracefully on a strand of silk until it rested169401:52:34.159 --> 01:52:38.159



on his nose. Ray flicked it away and followed the169501:52:38.199 --> 01:52:42.399



string up to a shiny cufflink. A lithe deathly hand169601:52:42.520 --> 01:52:47.000



held the door at the top. Ray turned slowly and169701:52:47.119 --> 01:52:50.119



looked up at the demonic thing the children had summoned.169801:52:50.840 --> 01:52:54.159



It glared down at him with bulging eyes ringed with169901:52:54.279 --> 01:52:59.079



ragged flesh where lids had been cut away. Its gaunt170001:52:59.119 --> 01:53:03.359



face hung open, and an oversized smile held together with170101:53:03.560 --> 01:53:11.239



rawhide stitching. The king is holding court, it hissed, without170201:53:11.319 --> 01:53:15.920



moving its mouth. Sorry, Pally, but I like my creepy170301:53:16.000 --> 01:53:21.079



pastas with extra red sauce. Ray swung the Tomatian's sword170401:53:21.119 --> 01:53:25.079



across the creature's torso, slicing a wide gash that erupted170501:53:25.079 --> 01:53:29.000



with insects. They spilled over peppermint Ray, biting and stinging170601:53:29.039 --> 01:53:32.239



his flesh. He dived between the monster's legs and rolled170701:53:32.279 --> 01:53:35.079



across the floor to squish as many as he could.170801:53:35.760 --> 01:53:43.960



The lights flicked back on mister Jolly was gone. Ray170901:53:44.039 --> 01:53:48.039



looked around. The child coltists were slumped on the floor,171001:53:48.720 --> 01:53:53.199



covered in masses of swollen welts, and all wearing impossibly171101:53:53.279 --> 01:53:57.840



wide smiles. Ray touched a raised knot on his cheek171201:53:58.560 --> 01:54:03.840



and gingerly plucked the singer from the center. I don't171301:54:03.840 --> 01:54:06.319



care if I did just see you. I don't believe171401:54:06.319 --> 01:54:10.039



in you, he shouted, So there, you can't hurt me.171501:54:11.520 --> 01:54:15.119



The lights flickered and Ray screamed. The door opened at171601:54:15.119 --> 01:54:19.359



the opposite end of the hall. Mister Jolly's laughter echoed171701:54:19.960 --> 01:54:25.520



from the other side. Fucking crazy dominatrix, bitch, people acting171801:54:25.600 --> 01:54:31.399



like dogs and lunatics everywhere, Now a supernatural monster. This171901:54:31.600 --> 01:54:35.399



is worse than Christmas with Crampus. Ray threw his hands172001:54:35.439 --> 01:54:40.119



into the air. What's next? The door banged open behind him,172101:54:41.399 --> 01:54:48.159



chest nuts roasting on an open fire. The little boy sang.172201:54:48.840 --> 01:54:51.199



Ray dropped to the ground as the jet of napalm172301:54:51.239 --> 01:54:54.520



blazed over him. He turned over and watched Milo the172401:54:54.600 --> 01:54:59.239



Pyro blast the nearest cell with his flamethrower. Doesn't anyone172501:54:59.319 --> 01:55:02.159



in this fuck king place just want a teddy ruxpin?172601:55:03.079 --> 01:55:07.640



Ray kipped up to his feet. Listen, Milo, you're a172701:55:07.680 --> 01:55:10.760



pretty good kid. I mean, who hasn't burned down a172801:55:10.840 --> 01:55:15.520



house or seven? Right? Do you know who I am? Yeah?172901:55:16.039 --> 01:55:20.560



You make those awesome cookies with fudge. Milo smiled. I173001:55:20.760 --> 01:55:25.319



like those, No I do not. Ray saw the boy's173101:55:25.359 --> 01:55:29.960



eyes fill with hate. Do not just make the fudge ones?173201:55:30.079 --> 01:55:35.159



I make them all. I'm the head cookie chef that173301:55:35.319 --> 01:55:39.800



sounds made up. Milo said, Look at these shoes, Milo,173401:55:40.479 --> 01:55:44.079



Ray wiggled his foot. Look at these pointy fucking ears.173501:55:44.479 --> 01:55:48.000



Do I look like a garden gnome? No? I look173601:55:48.399 --> 01:55:52.319



like an elf. Elves don't lie about serious shit, and173701:55:52.359 --> 01:55:55.520



there is no shit more serious than cookies to an173801:55:55.560 --> 01:56:01.640



elf cool. Milo jabbed the flamethrower towards him. I'm going173901:56:01.680 --> 01:56:05.159



to burn this place down now. Can't deliver cookies to174001:56:05.239 --> 01:56:08.920



a pile of ash. Ray shrugged, health code and all that.174101:56:09.840 --> 01:56:13.199



I just signed a deal with Santa. The naughty nice174201:56:13.239 --> 01:56:16.399



thing is over. Naughty kids are getting presents now, and174301:56:16.479 --> 01:56:21.520



he knows how much you love my cookies. Then why174401:56:21.560 --> 01:56:27.279



be nice? Milo torched another cell because there's better presence174501:56:27.319 --> 01:56:31.159



for the nice kids. Ray waved his hand. They're still174601:56:31.199 --> 01:56:35.119



working out the details, but point is, you get cookies174701:56:35.159 --> 01:56:40.800



on Christmas morning if you stop setting fires the striped174801:56:40.800 --> 01:56:45.039



ones too, he asked. Ray looked over his shoulder at174901:56:45.079 --> 01:56:49.119



the open door. A spider crawled along the jam, and175001:56:49.279 --> 01:56:54.600



somewhere down the stairs he heard jolly snickering. He turned175101:56:54.640 --> 01:56:59.199



back to Milo and smiled. Let me borrow that flamethrower175201:56:59.560 --> 01:57:03.640



and I'll throwing cookies so special that only elves have175301:57:03.800 --> 01:57:11.560



ever tasted them. Ray watched the jellied petroleum burn on175401:57:11.600 --> 01:57:15.600



the cinder block wall with a bemused grin. He blasted175501:57:15.640 --> 01:57:18.760



the flamethrower down each set of stairs to clear the path,175601:57:19.119 --> 01:57:23.680



until he finally arrived in the basement. A rusted gate175701:57:23.800 --> 01:57:28.680



stood ajar next to an unmanned security desk. Bare bulbs flickered,175801:57:29.000 --> 01:57:33.199



casting shadow puppets on the walls. The heavy steel doors175901:57:33.199 --> 01:57:38.479



of solitary confinement cells were open. Smells drifted down the176001:57:38.520 --> 01:57:43.720



corridor that made Ray's stomach growl. Someone was cooking burgers.176101:57:44.800 --> 01:57:49.439



His face paled. They didn't cook burgers in prison basements.176201:57:50.159 --> 01:57:53.119



It had to be a Christmas request, and if anyone176301:57:53.159 --> 01:57:57.279



in the hole was requesting delicious all meat patties, it176401:57:57.399 --> 01:58:01.399



had to be Robbie Mocker. Vomit hit the back of176501:58:01.479 --> 01:58:05.479



Ray's teeth, but he choked it back down. Each cell176601:58:05.520 --> 01:58:09.399



he passed was empty. The aroma grew stronger, and despite176701:58:09.439 --> 01:58:14.119



knowing that or who was in those paddies, Ray had176801:58:14.119 --> 01:58:18.159



to admit that the smell was exquisite. He rounded the corner,176901:58:18.279 --> 01:58:22.720



his finger tense against the trigger. Sugar plum. Gary shoved177001:58:22.720 --> 01:58:25.359



an arm into the meat grinder and hopped off the177101:58:25.399 --> 01:58:29.319



step ladder to work the crank. Ray watched the arm177201:58:29.439 --> 01:58:33.439



descend into the machine. The process made the hand wave177301:58:33.520 --> 01:58:36.159



at him as it disappeared and came out the other177401:58:36.319 --> 01:58:40.000



end in ropeie pink strands that dropped into a bowl.177501:58:40.600 --> 01:58:43.600



Gary pinched two balls of the meat and smashed them177601:58:43.640 --> 01:58:47.000



onto an electric griddle. He slapped cheese on a pair177701:58:47.079 --> 01:58:51.600



that were already cooking. The toaster popped noisily, almost causing177801:58:51.680 --> 01:58:56.439



Ray to torch the makeshift kitchen prematurely, Gary, who sucked177901:58:56.439 --> 01:59:01.239



at everything, was a short order savant. Hurry up out there,178001:59:01.640 --> 01:59:04.159



Candy pain barked from the last cell on the left.178101:59:04.560 --> 01:59:10.560



He's still hungry. Order up, Gary declared, happily. Then bring178201:59:10.600 --> 01:59:12.560



it here, Gary, It's not a present if you don't178301:59:12.560 --> 01:59:17.119



deliver it. Ray whistled. Gary turned and dropped the burger.178401:59:17.840 --> 01:59:20.760



The lights went out, and Ray pulled the trigger, filling178501:59:20.800 --> 01:59:25.600



the hallway with fire and smell of burning gingerbread. Gary's178601:59:25.600 --> 01:59:29.600



immolated body bounced off the walls before collapsing next to178701:59:29.680 --> 01:59:34.159



the table. Through the flickering flames, Ray saw the unnatural178801:59:34.239 --> 01:59:38.600



smile hiding in the dark. Mister Jolly unfolded himself from178901:59:38.600 --> 01:59:42.039



the tight space, his legs stepping over his torso like179001:59:42.079 --> 01:59:47.119



a spider. Before he stood upright, wasps crawled along his lips.179101:59:47.880 --> 01:59:52.319



Ray raised the flamethrower. I brought my bug spray this time, Pally,179201:59:52.760 --> 01:59:56.119



You ever been burned alive? I have it sucks and179301:59:56.199 --> 01:59:58.359



as much as it would jingle my bells to find179401:59:58.359 --> 02:00:03.359



out how flammable you are, I got some more pressing issues.179502:00:04.760 --> 02:00:09.000



Don't you want to smile? Ray? The King asked, you179602:00:09.079 --> 02:00:13.680



could smile forever I will be after I kill you.179702:00:13.960 --> 02:00:16.920



But let's stick a pin in that just for now.179802:00:17.840 --> 02:00:22.800



When you want to play, just sing, mister jolly sank179902:00:23.279 --> 02:00:28.680



into the shadows, sing for the King, the most wicked thing.180002:00:30.159 --> 02:00:33.520



Ray let the flamethrower fall to the floor and stepped180102:00:33.560 --> 02:00:37.680



into the doorway of the kinder cannibal cell. The obese180202:00:37.760 --> 02:00:40.600



child used his fingers to force the last bite of180302:00:40.680 --> 02:00:46.720



burger into his overstuffed mouth. Is that enough? Candy? Paine asked?180402:00:46.960 --> 02:00:49.880



Are you satisfied? Now? Have I granted you the buffet180502:00:49.960 --> 02:00:54.239



you most wanted for Christmas? Robbie shook his head and180602:00:54.319 --> 02:00:58.359



his cheeks kept moving afterwards. He was in kindergarten when180702:00:58.359 --> 02:01:02.680



he realized he liked the taste of people. Then one180802:01:02.760 --> 02:01:06.159



day in third grade, he decided to turn his class180902:01:06.159 --> 02:01:09.880



into a goddamn Denny's. At his trial, he said, people181002:01:09.920 --> 02:01:13.920



whose names end in vowel sounds taste better. Ray knocked181102:01:13.920 --> 02:01:17.199



on the door as he entered the tiny room. You'll181202:01:17.239 --> 02:01:22.560



never get away with this, Ray snickered, get it, Yule, Yeah,181302:01:22.600 --> 02:01:25.439



you never did have a sense of humor. I knew181402:01:25.439 --> 02:01:29.239



he'd send you candy. Pain said, if I give the181502:01:29.319 --> 02:01:32.840



naughtiest kids the presence they want the most, then this181602:01:33.000 --> 02:01:38.199



whole system burns. Without Santa, humans will destroy themselves through181702:01:38.239 --> 02:01:43.039



their own avarice. Ray tapped his ear. Do you hear181802:01:43.119 --> 02:01:49.720



that the sleigh bells? Pain scoffed. I know your corny181902:01:49.800 --> 02:01:53.399



lines as well as I know your tactics. I got182002:01:53.439 --> 02:01:56.800



some mistletoe hanging off my belt. How about you kiss182102:01:56.840 --> 02:02:01.760



me under it? Ray pointed at the ceiling. The storm's over, dipshit.182202:02:02.239 --> 02:02:06.439



Santa's giving naughty kids presents too, Because you're right, humans182302:02:06.439 --> 02:02:11.359



are greedy, and you you're jealous of that. Candy. Pain182402:02:11.520 --> 02:02:14.600



rose from the bunk. His hand moved to his dagger.182502:02:15.199 --> 02:02:18.520



When you put love into things instead of people, it182602:02:18.640 --> 02:02:23.000



becomes greed. Christmas has shown us that, but it's shown182702:02:23.079 --> 02:02:26.760



us what they can do when they love each other too.182802:02:27.000 --> 02:02:30.840



Ray drew his knife. For all we've got going for us,182902:02:31.760 --> 02:02:36.640



elves can't love. You're wrong, because I'm going to love183002:02:36.800 --> 02:02:41.680



gutting you, Ray, Ray Robbie muttered, in a spew of183102:02:41.720 --> 02:02:46.960



crumbs a sound. The cannibal scurried through the discarded leftovers183202:02:47.079 --> 02:02:50.039



and clamped his teeth into Ray's leg. He chewed the183302:02:50.119 --> 02:02:53.279



muscle until he gnawed deep enough for a good solid bite,183402:02:53.640 --> 02:02:55.760



and jerked his head back with a hunk of elf183502:02:55.840 --> 02:03:00.359



meat oozing between his lips. Yo mean, rob, he said183602:03:00.399 --> 02:03:04.600



as he chewed. I want more. I want elf burgers183702:03:04.600 --> 02:03:08.199



for Christmas. Ray limped out of the room. He tried183802:03:08.239 --> 02:03:11.000



to think of a plan that didn't involve stabbing the183902:03:11.119 --> 02:03:14.920



kid in the face, but it was the most appealing option.184002:03:15.760 --> 02:03:19.640



Gingerbread wafted to his schnauz. Ray looked at the knife184102:03:19.680 --> 02:03:23.399



in his hand. In his very long life, he'd never184202:03:23.520 --> 02:03:28.000



known missus claws to be wrong about anything. He hobbled184302:03:28.000 --> 02:03:32.039



to Gary's burnt corpse and collapsed next to it. He184402:03:32.119 --> 02:03:35.520



cut away a slab of blackened muscle and tossed it184502:03:35.560 --> 02:03:39.279



onto a single paper plate. Ray held the plate up184602:03:39.319 --> 02:03:44.039



as the kinder cannibal sprang on him once more. Merry Christmas,184702:03:44.640 --> 02:03:49.399



he squeaked. Robbie snatched the plate from him and sniffed it.184802:03:50.520 --> 02:03:56.520



I want burgers. That is better than burger's. Ray said that, well,184902:03:57.279 --> 02:04:02.840



that's a Gary Meal. Gary. Robbie accented the vowel sound185002:04:02.880 --> 02:04:07.960



and took a bite. Gary meal is yummy, too, seasoned185102:04:07.960 --> 02:04:11.960



with my secret blend of herbs and napalm. Ray snapped185202:04:12.000 --> 02:04:14.479



off one of Gary's ribs and got to his feet.185302:04:14.840 --> 02:04:18.319



Every Gary Meal comes with a prize too. Ray worked185402:04:18.319 --> 02:04:21.239



at the bone with his dagger, putting his Elvin toy185502:04:21.279 --> 02:04:24.279



making abilities to task. As he quickly whittled it into185602:04:24.319 --> 02:04:28.359



a figure. He stretched to hand it to Robbie. All185702:04:28.479 --> 02:04:32.319



kids deserve toys for Christmas, and that is special because185802:04:32.680 --> 02:04:36.960



it's just for you. It's a limited edition. What is it,185902:04:37.399 --> 02:04:42.960



Robbie asked. It's a superhero looks like a fish. That's186002:04:42.960 --> 02:04:47.560



because it's Aquaman. Ray rolled his eyes. Look pally. Last year,186102:04:47.600 --> 02:04:50.399



I would have just killed you. So shitty action figures186202:04:50.439 --> 02:04:53.079



are a step up. Now, how about you go back186302:04:53.079 --> 02:04:55.279



to your room and I'll make you another Gary Meal.186402:04:55.960 --> 02:05:00.199



You're fucking dead. Candy Pain charged down the hall, spring186502:05:00.199 --> 02:05:02.880



off Robbie's back and launching himself into the air with186602:05:02.960 --> 02:05:06.439



his dagger cocked back. The light glinted on the serrated186702:05:06.439 --> 02:05:10.680



teeth of the blade. Ray jumped back, narrowly dodging the attack.186802:05:11.159 --> 02:05:14.560



Pain slashed for Ray's throat. A spray of indigo blood186902:05:14.640 --> 02:05:18.920



drenched both elves faces. Ray twisted his dagger and pulled187002:05:18.920 --> 02:05:22.279



it free. Guess you don't know my tactics that well,187102:05:22.319 --> 02:05:28.800



after all, Candy Andy. Ray let the elf fall. Robbie187202:05:28.840 --> 02:05:34.119



crawled to him. Candy Andy, He accented the final sound187302:05:34.119 --> 02:05:39.479



of each word, double yum. Andy's gurgling screams echoed down187402:05:39.479 --> 02:05:42.560



the halls. As the kinder cannibal dragged the elf to187502:05:42.640 --> 02:05:46.640



his cell for a late night snack. Ray listened to187602:05:46.680 --> 02:05:50.279



the begging until it was replaced with noisy chewing. He187702:05:50.319 --> 02:05:56.359



pursed his lips and nodded, Merry Christmas, pally. Ray limped187802:05:56.399 --> 02:06:00.479



around a pool of shadow and locked the cell and187902:06:00.560 --> 02:06:15.800



to all a good night inner. Rage by Rob Fields,188002:06:16.920 --> 02:06:22.760



chapter one. Christmas Eve is here again, only this year188102:06:23.680 --> 02:06:27.039



and the many others that follow I'll be spending it188202:06:27.079 --> 02:06:31.439



at glen View Correctional Facility, which is located just a188302:06:31.520 --> 02:06:36.159



short drive from North Ridgeway. This place has been my188402:06:36.279 --> 02:06:40.239



home ever since I turned myself in shortly after bringing188502:06:40.279 --> 02:06:45.399



down the Queen of Hearts serial killer. You see, I188602:06:45.640 --> 02:06:50.479



was also a serial killer known as the Angel of Death.188702:06:52.119 --> 02:06:55.079



Keep in mind, I never referred to myself as that.188802:06:55.239 --> 02:06:59.159



It was simply what the media called me, mainly because188902:06:59.199 --> 02:07:04.159



I only killed people who I believe deserved to die,189002:07:04.920 --> 02:07:10.680



like high profile criminals and other serial killers. I might189102:07:10.800 --> 02:07:13.359



still be a serial killer today if I hadn't met189202:07:14.199 --> 02:07:20.000



Detective Drake Kasmarak. Drake seemingly came to Strickfield, where I189302:07:20.079 --> 02:07:23.439



was attending university at the time, to fill a detective189402:07:23.439 --> 02:07:27.159



opening that his uncle had in the police department. In truth,189502:07:27.760 --> 02:07:32.920



Drake was in Strickfield to find and capture me. Drake189602:07:33.000 --> 02:07:35.800



had done much homework and determined I was in that189702:07:36.039 --> 02:07:40.000



very village. Shortly after he arrived at the station, I189802:07:40.079 --> 02:07:43.479



showed up at the request of Chief Jeffrey Kasmarak. I189902:07:43.560 --> 02:07:48.439



was a police intern and assigned to Drake. I believe190002:07:48.479 --> 02:07:50.960



it was right then and there that Drake fell madly190102:07:51.039 --> 02:07:55.439



in love with me. At the time, I couldn't feel emotions,190202:07:55.960 --> 02:07:58.880



but I knew there was an ulterior motive for his190302:07:59.000 --> 02:08:03.239



being in Strickfield. As Drake mentored me during my off190402:08:03.279 --> 02:08:07.159



campus hours, I decided to take my mentor as my190502:08:07.239 --> 02:08:11.399



new mate and applied myself to being his perfect girlfriend.190602:08:12.399 --> 02:08:15.159



Little did he realize that the serial killer he was190702:08:15.239 --> 02:08:20.000



looking for was right under his nose and in his bed.190802:08:21.319 --> 02:08:25.319



Why was Drake determined to capture me? Years ago, during190902:08:25.359 --> 02:08:28.279



my time in high school, I had killed a former191002:08:28.319 --> 02:08:33.119



North Ridgeway High teacher named Annie Judge. She was prostituting191102:08:33.119 --> 02:08:39.560



herself and selling drugs to my fellow students, even underaged kids.191202:08:40.079 --> 02:08:42.479



When a girl turned up missing and I discovered she191302:08:42.680 --> 02:08:48.239



was dead, I trapped Annie Judge and ended her. Little191402:08:48.239 --> 02:08:51.319



did I realize that this particular kill would come back191502:08:51.359 --> 02:08:55.479



to haunt me in the form of Drake, who was191602:08:55.520 --> 02:09:00.239



Annie's former lover. Maybe Drake wanted to fall in love191702:09:00.279 --> 02:09:03.680



with me, and maybe he didn't. I've never asked him this.191802:09:04.520 --> 02:09:06.760



Even though I was putting myself in danger of him191902:09:06.800 --> 02:09:09.920



discovering me being a serial killer, I chose to be192002:09:10.079 --> 02:09:14.600



with him, knowing that he was a good man. Choosing192102:09:14.640 --> 02:09:18.199



to remain with Drake was what ultimately became my undoing192202:09:18.279 --> 02:09:21.600



as a serial killer. Drake loved me so much that192302:09:21.640 --> 02:09:25.399



he wanted to marry me, to which I accepted his proposal.192402:09:26.640 --> 02:09:29.319



The Queen of Heart's Killer had a personal vendetta with192502:09:29.359 --> 02:09:32.119



me and let me know she wanted to finish a192602:09:32.159 --> 02:09:37.479



prior conflict from before. I was ready to kill Rigby Brewster,192702:09:38.159 --> 02:09:41.760



the Queen of Hearts, but Drake begged and pleaded with192802:09:41.800 --> 02:09:45.239



me not to end her. It was in that one192902:09:45.319 --> 02:09:48.560



moment that he took me in his arms and kissed me.193002:09:49.680 --> 02:09:53.079



It was that one magical moment, that one triggering event193102:09:53.840 --> 02:09:58.000



I waited my whole life for Drake had finally caused193202:09:58.039 --> 02:10:01.560



me to feel the very emotions I had longed for.193302:10:02.640 --> 02:10:06.359



In that moment, I knew I loved Drake the same193402:10:06.439 --> 02:10:10.479



way he loved me. Even though Drake had finally found193502:10:10.520 --> 02:10:14.359



the person who had killed any judge, he couldn't forsake me.193602:10:14.960 --> 02:10:18.239



He still wanted to marry me. I can swear by193702:10:18.279 --> 02:10:20.479



it that Drake is one of the most honest cops193802:10:20.479 --> 02:10:24.079



you'll ever meet. He was always by the book on everything,193902:10:24.760 --> 02:10:28.399



even when he was mentoring me in my university years.194002:10:28.800 --> 02:10:33.119



But this one time, Drake was willing to look the194102:10:33.159 --> 02:10:38.199



other way, not just because he loved me, but because194202:10:38.239 --> 02:10:44.079



I never killed innocent people or children. The problem with that, however,194302:10:44.279 --> 02:10:48.720



was that my new emotions came back on me. I194402:10:48.760 --> 02:10:52.319



had a horrible nightmare of me killing some random person194502:10:52.359 --> 02:10:55.560



the way I've done so many hundreds of killers and194602:10:55.640 --> 02:11:00.800



criminals before. That was when I told Drake to arrest me,194702:11:01.720 --> 02:11:03.960



even though it hurt him deep to have to do it.194802:11:04.520 --> 02:11:07.239



He read me my rights and took me to the station.194902:11:08.199 --> 02:11:12.319



I confessed to being the Angel of Death to Chief Cosmarak.195002:11:13.199 --> 02:11:16.159



I was found guilty at my trial and sentenced to195102:11:16.199 --> 02:11:20.720



life here at the glen View Correctional Facility. However, I195202:11:20.760 --> 02:11:25.000



wouldn't be placed with the general population. My mama, Detective195302:11:25.079 --> 02:11:28.600



Chantelle Devereaux, and Drake both had influence on the account195402:11:28.640 --> 02:11:32.079



of their reputations as detectives and went to bat for me.195502:11:33.119 --> 02:11:36.479



It was decided that I could have certain privileges in195602:11:36.560 --> 02:11:40.479



return for my services. I would help solve cases when195702:11:40.479 --> 02:11:44.920



they were presented to me. Because of my highly photographic memory.195802:11:45.720 --> 02:11:49.960



I was a great service in this aspect. Plus, I195902:11:50.119 --> 02:11:55.560



think like a killer. I'm in my very own special cell,196002:11:55.680 --> 02:11:58.840



which gives me many of the comforts of home. It's196102:11:58.960 --> 02:12:02.079



kind of like having a little apartment, except I can't196202:12:02.119 --> 02:12:05.399



always come and go when I please. I do get196302:12:05.439 --> 02:12:08.520



to go outside, but I'm all by myself and am196402:12:08.560 --> 02:12:12.520



constantly watched by the guards. Mama and Drake can both196502:12:12.560 --> 02:12:16.199



come visit me anytime they want. I've even had visits196602:12:16.199 --> 02:12:21.079



from both Chief Kasmarak and Chief Montgomery Cobbs, my mom's boss.196702:12:21.640 --> 02:12:25.880



You'd think i'd be regretting turning myself in here's the irony,196802:12:25.920 --> 02:12:30.079



though I don't. I've been at peace ever since I196902:12:30.119 --> 02:12:35.079



got locked up. The only thing that really hurts is Drake.197002:12:36.479 --> 02:12:38.800



I couldn't even begin to tell you how many times197102:12:38.840 --> 02:12:41.640



I've told him to forget about me and find someone197202:12:41.640 --> 02:12:44.560



else who would be better suited for him, but he197302:12:44.600 --> 02:12:48.760



will not turn away from me. In fact, he still197402:12:48.760 --> 02:12:51.800



wants to marry me. Even though I'm in glen View197502:12:52.359 --> 02:12:55.439



for the rest of my life. Drake still won't give197602:12:55.479 --> 02:12:59.239



me up. Every so often he proposes to me again197702:12:59.279 --> 02:13:01.720



and wants to give me back my engagement ring that197802:13:01.760 --> 02:13:06.000



I returned to him once he arrested me. My problem197902:13:06.039 --> 02:13:08.319



here is that Drake challenges me to look him in198002:13:08.359 --> 02:13:10.960



the eyes and tell him I want him out of198102:13:10.960 --> 02:13:14.119



my life. If I can just tell him that, he'll198202:13:14.119 --> 02:13:18.319



respect my wishes and never come back. But every time198302:13:18.359 --> 02:13:21.560



I try, I burst into tears and clutch him to me.198402:13:22.720 --> 02:13:25.399



Mama told me that you can't just turn emotions on198502:13:25.479 --> 02:13:30.000



and off. I hate when she's right. So Drake and198602:13:30.079 --> 02:13:35.359



I are still together. Like I said, it's Christmas Eve.198702:13:35.960 --> 02:13:39.720



I'm sitting in my cell visiting with Mama. She's proud198802:13:39.760 --> 02:13:42.920



of me for having helped solve some heavy cases in198902:13:43.000 --> 02:13:47.039



the last month. Unfortunately, Mama won't be able to spend199002:13:47.039 --> 02:13:51.279



the night with me since she's on duty. She said199102:13:51.319 --> 02:13:55.000



she'd be back in the afternoon for Christmas. I told199202:13:55.000 --> 02:13:58.039



her I'd be okay since Drake was coming and would199302:13:58.039 --> 02:14:01.159



be spending the night with me. After Mama and I199402:14:01.239 --> 02:14:05.720



wish each other Merry Christmas, she leaves. Now it's just199502:14:05.840 --> 02:14:16.960



me and the guard at her station. Chapter two. Chessie199602:14:16.960 --> 02:14:19.199



Carver has been one of the guards assigned to sit199702:14:19.239 --> 02:14:21.920



outside my cell since I was first placed in here.199802:14:22.760 --> 02:14:24.720



At first, she didn't know what to make of me,199902:14:25.439 --> 02:14:28.840



but in time we started talking to each other. We200002:14:28.880 --> 02:14:33.239



came to build trust and understanding between us. In fact,200102:14:33.279 --> 02:14:35.920



it's getting close to the evening when Drake shows up200202:14:36.239 --> 02:14:40.199



and sees us playing chess. When he sees me pondering200302:14:40.239 --> 02:14:44.279



my next move, he asks me if I'm okay. I200402:14:44.319 --> 02:14:46.920



look up at him. This is what I get for200502:14:47.000 --> 02:14:51.199



teaching Chessie everything I know about chess. Drake watches us200602:14:51.239 --> 02:14:56.880



finish our game. Chessie beats me barely. After I congratulate200702:14:56.920 --> 02:14:59.560



her on a game well played, she leaves my cell200802:14:59.600 --> 02:15:03.399



and return turns to her station. Of course, she locks200902:15:03.479 --> 02:15:07.520



Drake and I in. Drake again makes my emotions rise201002:15:07.600 --> 02:15:11.279



when he lays a huge bag of Denoyer's grill down201102:15:11.279 --> 02:15:14.279



on the table. I told you i'd bring you something201202:15:14.319 --> 02:15:18.479



wonderful for dinner, Drake reminds me. I start to cry201302:15:18.520 --> 02:15:24.439



a little when I smell those delicious pancakes and the burghers. Wow,201402:15:25.159 --> 02:15:28.520



everything's still warm. You must have floored it from Denoyers201502:15:28.520 --> 02:15:31.000



all the way here. What did you do turn on201602:15:31.039 --> 02:15:35.319



the siren when you left there? Drake laughs. No, Actually,201702:15:35.880 --> 02:15:38.239



there weren't too many people on the road on Christmas Eve.201802:15:39.319 --> 02:15:41.720



I look at the clock and see it's around six201902:15:42.399 --> 02:15:45.880



by now. Many people are probably home or with family202002:15:45.920 --> 02:15:49.760



and friends to enjoy Christmas Eve. Having Drake here with202102:15:49.840 --> 02:15:52.119



me makes me glad I don't have to spend tonight202202:15:52.560 --> 02:15:56.720



or tomorrow alone. Before I never really cared whether I202302:15:56.800 --> 02:16:00.239



was alone or not, not when I didn't have feeling202402:16:01.880 --> 02:16:08.199



you okay, rage, Drake asks, Yeah, I quickly reply, I'm fine.202502:16:09.239 --> 02:16:11.760



We look at each other for a little bit. Then202602:16:11.920 --> 02:16:15.760



Drake moves and sets the table. When he's done, he's202702:16:15.840 --> 02:16:19.159



laid out a nice feast of breakfast and dinner foods.202802:16:19.600 --> 02:16:24.000



Dig in, Drake invites me. Chessie gets up and leaves202902:16:24.039 --> 02:16:27.279



for a little bit. Normally she's not supposed to do that,203002:16:27.479 --> 02:16:30.239



but she kind of makes it a point when Drake203102:16:30.279 --> 02:16:33.600



and I are together like this. She's heard us talking203202:16:33.600 --> 02:16:37.920



to each other before and hasn't heard anything taboo. She's203302:16:37.959 --> 02:16:41.399



even been there when we've made out. I've even told203402:16:41.399 --> 02:16:44.520



her I'm not the least bit bothered by her. Still203502:16:45.079 --> 02:16:49.079



she gives us alone time At times. Drake and I203602:16:49.159 --> 02:16:53.239



have our Denoyer's grill feast and talk about whatever. Drake203702:16:53.319 --> 02:16:55.520



again thanks me for all I do with helping the203802:16:55.520 --> 02:17:00.360



police force in spite of my current situation. Can I203902:17:00.399 --> 02:17:03.360



finish eating? I clear off the table and throw away204002:17:03.399 --> 02:17:07.559



the trash. Before I can sit down, Drake takes hold204102:17:07.600 --> 02:17:10.079



of my wrist and eases me to sit on his lap.204202:17:10.959 --> 02:17:13.319



We look at each other for a long moment before204302:17:13.440 --> 02:17:16.760



we have some kisses. Since Drake will be spending the204402:17:16.840 --> 02:17:19.159



night with me tonight, I can't wait until we can204502:17:19.200 --> 02:17:23.000



be intimate. The more we kiss, the more I'm finding204602:17:23.040 --> 02:17:26.120



it hard to be able to wait. Eventually, we do204702:17:26.280 --> 02:17:30.479



stop so we can catch our breaths. I love you,204802:17:31.280 --> 02:17:34.479



he tells me. I close my eyes and bow my204902:17:34.559 --> 02:17:37.680



head a little. I still say you could do so205002:17:37.799 --> 02:17:41.120



much better than me. He puts his finger under my205102:17:41.200 --> 02:17:44.360



chin and raises my head back up. I open my205202:17:44.440 --> 02:17:49.239



eyes and look into his. Just tell me to my face,205302:17:50.280 --> 02:17:52.680



just say it and mean it, and I'll leave you205402:17:52.760 --> 02:17:57.920



right now. Once again, he's challenging me. I don't even205502:17:57.920 --> 02:18:00.000



get to have another attempt. When I feel the tears205602:18:00.239 --> 02:18:04.440



on my face when Drake holds me, I can't help205702:18:04.479 --> 02:18:10.040



holding him back. You deserve better, I persist. When I205802:18:10.079 --> 02:18:14.319



finish crying, Drake has the engagement ring out again again.205902:18:14.399 --> 02:18:16.440



I try to tell Drake to leave me and never206002:18:16.479 --> 02:18:20.399



look back, but the tears come more than ever. It206102:18:20.479 --> 02:18:24.200



hurts more and more each time, thinking of a life206202:18:24.879 --> 02:18:28.399



without Drake. I don't care that you're in here rage,206302:18:28.920 --> 02:18:32.159



Drake tells me again, like he's told me so many206402:18:32.200 --> 02:18:35.799



times before, I can come see you whenever I want.206502:18:35.879 --> 02:18:39.399



I can even stay with you. We should be living206602:18:39.440 --> 02:18:43.360



together in our own place, not here in prison. I206702:18:43.440 --> 02:18:47.680



tell him I don't care where we are. He insists,206802:18:48.159 --> 02:18:51.280



you'll always have me in your life. I'm never letting206902:18:51.319 --> 02:18:55.120



you go. I quickly get off Drake's lap and tighten207002:18:55.159 --> 02:18:58.479



my fists. But what will your family say about you207102:18:58.600 --> 02:19:02.440



marrying a serial killer? I told you how many lives207202:19:02.479 --> 02:19:06.760



I've taken. Drake gets up to confront me. I don't207302:19:06.799 --> 02:19:10.399



care what my family says. I only care about you.207402:19:11.639 --> 02:19:15.360



I really tighten my fists now. I won't let you207502:19:15.479 --> 02:19:19.000



throw away your life on me, Drake. I feel myself207602:19:19.440 --> 02:19:24.440



really shaking now, I'm practically sobbing. Just as I'm about207702:19:24.520 --> 02:19:28.399



to scream for him to leave me, I fall to207802:19:28.440 --> 02:19:33.879



my knees. Drake lowers himself and comforts me, as he's207902:19:33.920 --> 02:19:38.520



also done so many times before. Am I really so208002:19:38.680 --> 02:19:43.440



scared of losing him? Yes? I'm reminded of that again208102:19:43.520 --> 02:19:47.520



when we're kissing. I can't wait any longer. It's when208202:19:47.520 --> 02:19:50.840



I hear CHESSI fastening the locks on my cell that208302:19:50.920 --> 02:19:54.799



she knows we need our alone time. It's once we208402:19:54.840 --> 02:19:58.360



hear her leave and lock that door behind her that208502:19:58.440 --> 02:20:00.920



we quickly work to get each other. There's clothes off208602:20:03.040 --> 02:20:08.000



chapter three, Drake and I are spooned up together under208702:20:08.000 --> 02:20:12.200



the covers and watching TV. I can't help looking at208802:20:12.200 --> 02:20:15.760



the engagement ring again. He placed it on my finger208902:20:15.799 --> 02:20:19.200



and challenged me to take it off. It feels so209002:20:19.360 --> 02:20:23.079



wrong on so many levels, But at the same time,209102:20:23.159 --> 02:20:26.360



I know I can never remove it. I know I209202:20:26.479 --> 02:20:31.000



truly belong to him. You're going straight to hell with me.209302:20:31.600 --> 02:20:35.399



I tell him, you know that, right, If that's where209402:20:35.440 --> 02:20:39.399



we're getting married, then I accept. He tells me. We209502:20:39.520 --> 02:20:43.079



kiss again, Then we get dressed and sit with each other.209602:20:44.120 --> 02:20:47.920



After a time, Chessie comes back in and unlocks my cell.209702:20:49.040 --> 02:20:52.120



When I look to her for an explanation, she reminds209802:20:52.159 --> 02:20:54.520



me that I'm allowed my time to leave my cell.209902:20:55.440 --> 02:20:58.000



Drake's allowed to take me to the rooms designated my210002:20:58.079 --> 02:21:01.920



free spaces. While other prisoners here can access these rooms210102:21:02.000 --> 02:21:04.879



during their times, they're not supposed to know when I'm210202:21:04.920 --> 02:21:08.440



even here. That's why I have my own private area210302:21:08.799 --> 02:21:12.479



and don't have a cellmate. Also, I can access rooms210402:21:12.559 --> 02:21:15.399



like the library because the other prisoners are locked up210502:21:15.440 --> 02:21:18.200



for the night. As long as Drake or Mama is210602:21:18.239 --> 02:21:22.120



with me, a guard doesn't always have to be Drake210702:21:22.159 --> 02:21:25.399



and I head into the library and sit again. He210802:21:25.479 --> 02:21:28.440



tells me he wants to marry me. I tell him210902:21:28.440 --> 02:21:30.959



he knows my answer. Since I can't bring myself to211002:21:30.959 --> 02:21:36.680



remove the ring, I look at it again. I'll go211102:21:36.799 --> 02:21:40.440



straight to hell with you, he promises me, taking and211202:21:40.479 --> 02:21:44.520



holding my hands. Nothing is ever going to separate us,211302:21:45.040 --> 02:21:49.120



not even this prison. I squeeze his hands back. I211402:21:49.239 --> 02:21:52.639



truly do want better for him, but my emotions won't211502:21:52.719 --> 02:21:57.799



let me lose him. I love him way too much. However,211602:21:58.120 --> 02:22:00.319



Drake and I were about to have our love put211702:22:00.360 --> 02:22:04.559



to the test this very night. The test was about211802:22:04.559 --> 02:22:07.719



to start once we got up and started walking around211902:22:07.760 --> 02:22:10.719



the safe rooms again. We walk out into one of212002:22:10.760 --> 02:22:14.360



the hallways and head to the little theater. We go212102:22:14.440 --> 02:22:16.719



in and head up to the projection booth to see212202:22:16.719 --> 02:22:19.879



what we can watch together. Drake and I have watched212302:22:19.920 --> 02:22:23.239



movies in here together before. He tells me he's found212402:22:23.280 --> 02:22:26.040



a good Christmas movie for us to watch and puts212502:22:26.079 --> 02:22:30.079



it in as soon as he turns the digital projector on.212602:22:31.159 --> 02:22:39.760



That's when the terror begins. Chapter four. Drake reaches me212702:22:39.840 --> 02:22:42.840



when he sees me bent over the body of Sherman212802:22:42.959 --> 02:22:46.440



Biggs near the screen. One of the older guards I212902:22:46.479 --> 02:22:50.479



got along with. We had many conversations in the library213002:22:50.479 --> 02:22:55.120



on nights careful rage. Drake warns me, don't let the213102:22:55.159 --> 02:22:58.000



other guards here see her. You can vouch for me,213202:22:58.360 --> 02:23:02.079



I remind him. Quickly, Look at these. I point to213302:23:02.120 --> 02:23:06.520



the two puncture marks on Sherman's neck. This would explain213402:23:06.559 --> 02:23:10.159



why the body's pale. When Drake looks at me, I213502:23:10.200 --> 02:23:13.399



can tell he really doesn't want to believe it. Oh,213602:23:13.440 --> 02:23:15.840



if Mama saw the look on his face right now,213702:23:16.000 --> 02:23:20.120



she'd be given him Hell. Why won't you believe? I ask?213802:23:21.000 --> 02:23:24.440



You've seen vampires for yourself, Drake. Mama and I have213902:23:24.520 --> 02:23:27.399



both proven to you they're real. You were with us214002:23:27.440 --> 02:23:31.239



the night we took down Sheranda Thorn. You've seen vampires214102:23:31.239 --> 02:23:34.440



with your own two eyes. Drake seems to be at214202:23:34.440 --> 02:23:39.000



a loss for words. I groan, annoyed at his continued disbelief.214302:23:39.760 --> 02:23:42.840



If Mama was here right now, she'd slap you upside214402:23:42.840 --> 02:23:46.639



the head. Now he's giving me that look. I know214502:23:46.799 --> 02:23:50.559



Drake's never been comfortable around Mama. He's endured her for214602:23:50.639 --> 02:23:54.600



my sake. I point to Drake, you stay close to me,214702:23:55.680 --> 02:23:59.600



Stay close to you. You're not even armed rage, Drake214802:23:59.680 --> 02:24:04.319



counter pulling his gun. He's right looking around. I can't214902:24:04.360 --> 02:24:06.799



pick up any of the chairs and break them for stakes,215002:24:07.159 --> 02:24:11.479



since they're all metal and attached to the floor. Suddenly215102:24:11.520 --> 02:24:15.159



I have an idea. I grab Drake's hand. Let's go,215202:24:16.040 --> 02:24:19.840



rage Drake protests. I lead Drake through one room after215302:24:19.879 --> 02:24:24.000



another until we come into the chapel. Fortunately, this supposedly215402:24:24.079 --> 02:24:27.799



holy place is open twenty four to seven. I pull215502:24:27.840 --> 02:24:31.760



open the door and we both gasp. There's blood all215602:24:31.799 --> 02:24:34.639



over the altar from the priest who's hanging from the215702:24:34.719 --> 02:24:39.000



large cross overshadowing it. I had a feeling you would215802:24:39.040 --> 02:24:44.440



come here eventually, Reagan Devereaux. A feminine voice calls out.215902:24:45.319 --> 02:24:48.040



We look to see the telltale woman getting up from216002:24:48.040 --> 02:24:52.079



one of the pews and turning to face us. She216102:24:52.239 --> 02:24:55.399



looks like she's in her early forties. I can see216202:24:55.399 --> 02:24:58.760



the facial features and immediately know who this woman is216302:24:58.840 --> 02:25:04.079



related to. Yes, you recognize me, do you not? Then216402:25:04.120 --> 02:25:09.920



she chuckles, you remember my daughter whom you destroyed. Your216502:25:09.959 --> 02:25:16.360



mother took my son. However, Sherandah was my favorite. Maximilian216602:25:16.479 --> 02:25:19.639



was a fool. It was no wonder that he died.216702:25:20.559 --> 02:25:25.079



She points to me. But you you killed my daughter,216802:25:25.280 --> 02:25:30.319



and I must now rectify that by killing you. She216902:25:30.479 --> 02:25:35.600



smiles wickedly. And the man you love. She holds her217002:25:35.639 --> 02:25:39.760



hands outward. Naturally, you came here to seek weapons to217102:25:39.799 --> 02:25:43.799



fight us with. When she sees the look on my face,217202:25:44.399 --> 02:25:48.319



she knows she's got the upper hand. You did not217302:25:48.600 --> 02:25:52.159



think I would come to this prison alone. Oh, I217402:25:52.239 --> 02:25:56.239



will battle with you myself. I just needed my minions217502:25:56.280 --> 02:25:59.399



to make sure it would be just the two of us.217602:26:00.440 --> 02:26:02.760



There are no other guards here to help you now,217702:26:03.719 --> 02:26:06.959



she raises her finger, and you need not worry about217802:26:07.000 --> 02:26:12.280



the prisoners. They shall remain locked in their cells. Ah,217902:26:13.040 --> 02:26:16.479



here they are now. Now I see there are other218002:26:16.639 --> 02:26:21.120



vampires emerging from their hiding places. Their hissing noises and218102:26:21.159 --> 02:26:24.000



their red eyes tell me, Drake and I are going218202:26:24.040 --> 02:26:27.639



to have our hands full. Have you taken care of218302:26:27.799 --> 02:26:32.760



every last guard here? The Thorn Woman asks, we have218402:26:33.639 --> 02:26:38.399



one of the answers. Excellent. Then she looks back at me.218502:26:39.479 --> 02:26:43.719



We shall play a little game, you and I. Suddenly218602:26:43.760 --> 02:26:46.239



she appears right in front of me and knocks me218702:26:46.319 --> 02:26:50.079



on my ass. When Drake raises his gun, she snatches218802:26:50.120 --> 02:26:53.879



it from him and crushes it much to his horror218902:26:53.920 --> 02:26:59.079



and disbelief. Next, she grabs Drake and tosses him to219002:26:59.159 --> 02:27:04.079



her minions. They grab him and keep him with them.219102:27:04.360 --> 02:27:06.639



When I get up, the woman is in my face. Now.219202:27:07.559 --> 02:27:11.520



I could easily kill you right now, but that would219302:27:11.559 --> 02:27:15.200



be far too easy. Miranda would never want me to219402:27:15.319 --> 02:27:19.600



kill you easily. No, I taught her to be more219502:27:19.680 --> 02:27:24.920



ruthless than that. Oh, where are my manners? I know219602:27:25.079 --> 02:27:28.840



your name, but you need to know mine. I believe219702:27:28.920 --> 02:27:32.440



you must know I am a thorn, but you may219802:27:32.520 --> 02:27:38.040



call me Miranda. When she sees me looking uneasily at Drake,219902:27:38.440 --> 02:27:41.840



she turns my attention back to her. You need not220002:27:42.000 --> 02:27:47.120



worry about your lover, Reagan, she addresses her minions. Under220102:27:47.159 --> 02:27:50.440



no circumstances are any of you to harm that mortal220202:27:50.840 --> 02:27:54.360



in any way. He is to be the prize in220302:27:54.440 --> 02:27:59.399



our contest. Am I understood? When I hear the minions220402:27:59.440 --> 02:28:03.440



agree to commands, Miranda turns her attention back to me.220502:28:04.920 --> 02:28:08.319



Here are the rules of our contest. I shall give220602:28:08.360 --> 02:28:13.000



you a fifteen minute head start. From there, I shall220702:28:13.040 --> 02:28:16.600



hunt you down myself. My underlings will keep your lover220802:28:16.760 --> 02:28:21.239



safe and secure. You have until the end of Christmas Eve.220902:28:22.399 --> 02:28:25.840



Just under three hours, if you are still alive at221002:28:25.840 --> 02:28:29.440



the stroke of midnight, or in the unlikely event that221102:28:29.520 --> 02:28:34.079



you and me, both you and your lover have earned221202:28:34.120 --> 02:28:39.440



your freedom and your lives. However, when I find and221302:28:39.559 --> 02:28:43.879



destroy you, then my reward shall be both vengeance for221402:28:44.000 --> 02:28:48.559



my daughter, and I shall lay claim to your lover221502:28:48.920 --> 02:28:54.000



by siring him and making him my new husband. Then,221602:28:54.079 --> 02:28:58.520



Miranda laughs coldly. The fear on both of you is221702:28:58.559 --> 02:29:03.920



so ripeically taste it on my own tongue. She points221802:29:03.959 --> 02:29:09.120



to the clock. Your fifteen minute head start begins. Now,221902:29:09.959 --> 02:29:14.000



if I were you, Reagan, I'd be taking every advantage222002:29:14.520 --> 02:29:18.920



of that time. I have no choice. Fortunately, I know222102:29:19.040 --> 02:29:21.680



enough about glen View to have an advantage over these222202:29:22.079 --> 02:29:25.959



blood sucking freaks. I just know I have to save Drake.222302:29:26.760 --> 02:29:32.600



I turn around and run out of the chapel. Chapter five.222402:29:34.239 --> 02:29:36.760



It doesn't take me long to find some tools to222502:29:36.840 --> 02:29:39.799



help me. I came across a few of the bodies222602:29:39.840 --> 02:29:43.239



of the guards. Naranda wasn't lying when she said her222702:29:43.280 --> 02:29:47.159



minions took them all down. They're all pale, which means222802:29:47.200 --> 02:29:50.559



they were drained of their blood. I find keys and222902:29:50.719 --> 02:29:53.360



key cards on the first guard. On the next one,223002:29:53.399 --> 02:29:56.079



I find a gun and take it. I won't be223102:29:56.120 --> 02:29:58.120



able to use it against Aranda or any of the223202:29:58.159 --> 02:30:01.399



other vampires, but it's better to have a gun than223302:30:01.479 --> 02:30:05.719



have nothing at all. I won't let Miranda take me unarmed.223402:30:06.399 --> 02:30:08.680



If I go down against her, then I'm going down223502:30:08.719 --> 02:30:12.440



knowing I was fighting. I've been counting the time in223602:30:12.479 --> 02:30:16.280



my mind. So far i haven't seen her. When I223702:30:16.319 --> 02:30:18.840



come into the gymnasium, I see the big clock on223802:30:18.879 --> 02:30:22.760



the middle wall and see Nearanda has kept her word.223902:30:23.559 --> 02:30:26.360



I've got one minute left before she'll start pursuing me.224002:30:27.239 --> 02:30:30.559



I'm shaking as I'm trying to keep my focus. I've224102:30:30.600 --> 02:30:33.719



never gotten used to the feeling of fear. I hate224202:30:33.760 --> 02:30:37.360



to admit it, but I'm really scared. I'm scared that224302:30:37.440 --> 02:30:40.959



Miranda will kill me, but I'm more afraid she'll make224402:30:41.000 --> 02:30:45.399



good on her promise to Drake. The fifteen minutes are up. Now,224502:30:45.920 --> 02:30:49.799



Nearanda lets me know when I hear the long shrill whistle.224602:30:50.920 --> 02:30:54.079



Hard to believe that vampire kept her word. I'll have224702:30:54.159 --> 02:30:57.959



to consider the possibility that she may be a master vampire.224802:30:58.479 --> 02:31:00.520



If she is, then I'll have to both stake her224902:31:00.600 --> 02:31:04.399



and cut her head off. Then I remember telling Drake225002:31:04.440 --> 02:31:06.600



how Mama would have slapped him upside the head for225102:31:06.639 --> 02:31:10.959



his disbelief. Mama would give me hell if she knew225202:31:11.000 --> 02:31:13.680



I wasn't thinking straight and not calling upon the lessons225302:31:13.680 --> 02:31:18.200



about vampires and other supernatural beings she taught me. No,225402:31:19.200 --> 02:31:21.959



Mama's not going to find my dead body. I'm not225502:31:22.079 --> 02:31:25.719



going to let Mama down again, not like this. Mama225602:31:25.760 --> 02:31:28.280



taught me better than that. I'm not going to let225702:31:28.360 --> 02:31:31.600



the man I love down either. I may not have225802:31:31.680 --> 02:31:36.840



the bloodlust anymore, but that doesn't count against vampires. They're225902:31:36.879 --> 02:31:41.639



already dead. I still have my highly photographic memory. I226002:31:41.719 --> 02:31:45.200



still remember each in every kill I've ever done, how226102:31:45.239 --> 02:31:49.200



they died, what date, and what I destroyed them for.226202:31:50.040 --> 02:31:54.079



I remember everything Mama taught me regarding the supernatural. My226302:31:54.239 --> 02:31:58.000



mind is how I'll destroy you, Neranda. Just as I'm226402:31:58.000 --> 02:32:01.120



contemplating a plan, I hear some clacking on the floor.226502:32:01.159 --> 02:32:03.879



As I reached the end of a long hall, I226602:32:04.000 --> 02:32:07.239



turn and see a large wolf looking right at me,226702:32:08.120 --> 02:32:11.639



and no, it's Neranda. She changed into a wolf and226802:32:11.680 --> 02:32:15.559



tracked me down by my scent. The wolf growls and226902:32:15.639 --> 02:32:19.239



runs swiftly towards me. I'm ready to turn and run.227002:32:20.680 --> 02:32:24.440



But I don't have to do I. In that moment,227102:32:24.479 --> 02:32:27.360



I lose my fear and look right at Miranda as227202:32:27.360 --> 02:32:31.440



she's closing the gap between us. I've got grim determination227302:32:31.639 --> 02:32:35.920



now and know how I'm winning this round. That's it, Queenie,227402:32:36.520 --> 02:32:39.360



just keep on coming. I'll show you how I've dealt227502:32:39.360 --> 02:32:43.600



with bad dogs. In fact, a very bad dog was227602:32:43.600 --> 02:32:46.760



my first kill. A very bad dog was how I227702:32:46.879 --> 02:32:50.959



learned I was a serial killer. Just as Miranda is227802:32:51.000 --> 02:32:53.360



ready to leap up and at me, I drop my227902:32:53.440 --> 02:32:56.120



gun and suddenly snatch her and drive her right to228002:32:56.200 --> 02:32:59.520



the floor. Just as quickly, she springs back to her228102:32:59.520 --> 02:33:02.280



feet and bites me on the wrist. Even though I228202:33:02.319 --> 02:33:06.319



no longer have my bloodlust, I still feel very little pain.228302:33:07.399 --> 02:33:10.319



This is a double edged sword for me. I just228402:33:10.360 --> 02:33:13.200



told you the positive side. The negative is that I228502:33:13.200 --> 02:33:16.079



can become injured and not know it, which means I228602:33:16.120 --> 02:33:21.799



can potentially bleed to death. Now I'm mad. Wow, I228702:33:21.840 --> 02:33:25.239



really love being mad. I'm wishing I could have felt228802:33:25.239 --> 02:33:28.159



this emotion much sooner. I'm so mad right now that228902:33:28.239 --> 02:33:31.559



I roar and kick Neranda hard in her chest enough229002:33:31.600 --> 02:33:34.520



to make her break her hold on my wrist while229102:33:34.559 --> 02:33:37.200



she's stunned. I lower myself to take hold of the229202:33:37.239 --> 02:33:39.920



back of her head and her muzzle and snap her229302:33:39.959 --> 02:33:45.200



head hard enough to hear her neck break. Miranda yelps229402:33:46.079 --> 02:33:50.680



and goes limp. No, I haven't defeated her, but I229502:33:50.760 --> 02:33:54.440



have temporarily stunned her and bought myself a little time.229602:33:55.520 --> 02:33:58.920



I spring and slide the door shut before I run again.229702:34:00.159 --> 02:34:02.479



I know these doors are sealed enough to prevent smoke229802:34:02.520 --> 02:34:06.000



from penetrating them, which happened many years ago when prisoners229902:34:06.000 --> 02:34:10.200



got loose and rioted. This was long before I was born,230002:34:10.280 --> 02:34:14.120



by the way, Also, Mama was at university and wasn't230102:34:14.159 --> 02:34:18.520



in North Ridgeway around that time. I'm already concocting another230202:34:18.600 --> 02:34:22.079



plan and am finalizing the details when I hear the230302:34:22.120 --> 02:34:25.600



sliding door give way Nearanda had to have returned to230402:34:25.600 --> 02:34:28.280



her human form after she healed from her neck injury.230502:34:29.360 --> 02:34:32.719



She either snapped the locks on the sliding door or230602:34:32.879 --> 02:34:36.479



she warped past it. As long as Naranda can't see me,230702:34:37.159 --> 02:34:41.239



she can't warp right to me. Unfortunately, turning off all230802:34:41.239 --> 02:34:45.000



the lights won't help me since she has vampire vision.230902:34:46.159 --> 02:34:49.520



I hear clacking on the floor again and know she's231002:34:49.600 --> 02:34:53.239



returned to her wolf form, likely tracking my blood this231102:34:53.399 --> 02:34:58.479



time precisely what I was counting on. In fact, Miranda,231202:34:58.959 --> 02:35:02.760



I already know how I'm going to defeat you. At least. Yes,231302:35:02.879 --> 02:35:05.680



you kept your word by giving me a fifteen minute231402:35:05.719 --> 02:35:08.719



head start that you promised, but that doesn't mean you'll231502:35:08.799 --> 02:35:11.559



keep your word about releasing Drake when I defeat you,231602:35:12.239 --> 02:35:15.239



and trust me when I say, your punishment shall most231702:35:15.319 --> 02:35:21.680



certainly fit the crime. Like I said, you're dead, even231802:35:21.719 --> 02:35:25.719



though I no longer have my insistent bloodlust commanding me231902:35:25.799 --> 02:35:28.879



to take lives from before. I don't have to feel232002:35:28.879 --> 02:35:33.680



guilty about killing you since you're not alive. But in232102:35:33.760 --> 02:35:36.680



order for me to accomplish my objective and defeat you232202:35:37.000 --> 02:35:40.360



and your minions, I have to get to one specific232302:35:40.440 --> 02:35:45.159



area of the prison. It'll be there where we finish232402:35:45.200 --> 02:35:48.959



our game. I run down a couple flights of stairs232502:35:49.000 --> 02:35:51.120



to get to the ground floor and head to the232602:35:51.200 --> 02:35:54.680



laundry room. When I get inside, I quickly remove my232702:35:54.799 --> 02:35:58.799



clothes underwear too. First, I take care of my bites232802:35:58.840 --> 02:36:03.319



by rinsing them out and using clean cloths to bandage them. Now,232902:36:03.360 --> 02:36:05.200



I grab some dirty clothes out of one of the233002:36:05.319 --> 02:36:10.520



washpiles and quickly put them on. These clothes really stink,233102:36:10.959 --> 02:36:13.280



but they may be enough to conceal my own scent.233202:36:14.159 --> 02:36:17.280



After slipping my feet into shoes, I find I get233302:36:17.319 --> 02:36:21.000



out of the laundry room and resume my destination. A233402:36:21.040 --> 02:36:25.600



few moments later, I hear a loud, shrill scream sounds233502:36:25.600 --> 02:36:29.040



to me like Nearanda's lost my scent. I know I233602:36:29.040 --> 02:36:32.200



can't gloat too much. Nearanda knows other ways she can233702:36:32.239 --> 02:36:36.079



pick me up again. She's been a vampire for far233802:36:36.159 --> 02:36:41.040



too long to not have other means of detection, including233902:36:41.120 --> 02:36:47.559



picking up the smell of my blood again. Chapter six,234002:36:48.879 --> 02:36:52.239



I'm proven right. When I go to cross through another hallway.234102:36:53.040 --> 02:36:56.399



I'm about to shut that sliding door behind me when234202:36:56.440 --> 02:37:01.280



I feel Neranda's close. Suddenly the door or comes flying away.234302:37:01.959 --> 02:37:04.840



Miranda gasps with either happiness that I'm giving her a234402:37:04.959 --> 02:37:08.680



challenge or that she's finally caught up to me. Who234502:37:08.680 --> 02:37:13.040



can say, Please, do not make this easy for me, Reagan,234602:37:13.559 --> 02:37:16.440



She says, I still wish to have fun with you.234702:37:17.239 --> 02:37:22.760



She licks her lips, and your blood tastes just delicious.234802:37:23.440 --> 02:37:25.719



I was hoping I wouldn't have to use these yet,234902:37:25.959 --> 02:37:29.200



I tell her but you're not leaving me with much choice.235002:37:29.760 --> 02:37:32.319



I step up to her as she's putting her hands235102:37:32.319 --> 02:37:34.920



on my arms. I grab the neck of her form235202:37:35.000 --> 02:37:37.639



fitting dress and pull it open to drop what's in235302:37:37.680 --> 02:37:42.319



my hand inside. Miranda shrieks and screams when she feels235402:37:42.360 --> 02:37:45.040



the holy wafers. I manage to snap up at the235502:37:45.040 --> 02:37:49.000



bloody altar burning her flesh. Both her skin and the235602:37:49.120 --> 02:37:52.479



gown are aflame. Since she's going to have to sort235702:37:52.520 --> 02:37:55.959



that out, I've got time to run again. I don't235802:37:56.000 --> 02:37:58.159



know how much time I'm going to have before Noranda235902:37:58.239 --> 02:38:01.120



will be back to hunting me again. I can see236002:38:01.120 --> 02:38:04.200



the blood from my wrists soaking through my makeshift bandage.236102:38:04.719 --> 02:38:08.159



She'll smell that again and easily pick up the trail. Also,236202:38:08.639 --> 02:38:11.120



since she got close enough to me, she'll know the236302:38:11.159 --> 02:38:14.840



scent of these stinky clothes. Fortunately, I'm almost where I236402:38:14.879 --> 02:38:17.920



need to get to. I reach the women's shower room.236502:38:18.360 --> 02:38:20.639



Before I go in, I quickly get naked and turn236602:38:20.639 --> 02:38:22.879



on the water to hear all the nozzles fire up236702:38:22.920 --> 02:38:26.239



at once. I walk inside and stand underneath a spray236802:38:26.280 --> 02:38:29.840



of steamy water at the back center. When Miranda enters236902:38:29.879 --> 02:38:33.799



and sees me, Oh, the look of confusion on her face.237002:38:34.639 --> 02:38:38.159



What is the meaning of this, Reagan? She asks? Then237102:38:38.239 --> 02:38:43.239



she smirks, are you Are you offering yourself to me237202:38:44.040 --> 02:38:48.280



to save your lover? Is that what you really think?237302:38:48.879 --> 02:38:51.879



I murmur, running my hands from the front to the237402:38:51.920 --> 02:38:56.760



rear of my long, wet, dirty blonde hair. She's really237502:38:56.879 --> 02:39:00.600



confused now when I raise my finger for her to see. Next,237602:39:00.639 --> 02:39:04.040



I move my finger to my neck and trace down237702:39:04.200 --> 02:39:07.559



in between my large breasts all the way to my237802:39:07.639 --> 02:39:11.559



belly button. Then I trace my finger across my skin,237902:39:12.520 --> 02:39:16.959



just underneath my breasts. The water continues to spray down238002:39:17.000 --> 02:39:20.440



on me as I just stand there and wait for her.238102:39:21.479 --> 02:39:25.159



I'm all yours, Miranda. I tell her all you have238202:39:25.239 --> 02:39:29.159



to do is just join me in the shower. Then238302:39:29.200 --> 02:39:34.000



I smirk, if you can. She's still not sure what238402:39:34.040 --> 02:39:37.680



I've got in mind, but she walks towards me. The238502:39:37.760 --> 02:39:41.159



showers are wetting her down. It's when she starts to238602:39:41.200 --> 02:39:44.319



come under my spray that she suddenly cries out in238702:39:44.399 --> 02:39:47.600



pain and hisses as she gets away from me. What238802:39:47.799 --> 02:39:51.360



is this, she demands? Then she tries to come and238902:39:51.399 --> 02:39:55.239



grab me again. Like before, her skin burns when the239002:39:55.280 --> 02:39:58.639



water spraying from my nozzle touches her as for me,239102:39:59.399 --> 02:40:02.600



I'm fine. The water's warm to hot, but not burning239202:40:02.639 --> 02:40:06.920



me in the slightest. In fact, the water feels very relaxing.239302:40:07.520 --> 02:40:11.120



Miranda tries grabbing me a couple more times. In determination,239402:40:11.319 --> 02:40:13.959



she warps behind me and wraps her arms around me.239502:40:14.479 --> 02:40:17.280



I cry out when she sinks her fangs into me again,239602:40:17.840 --> 02:40:20.680



this time at my shoulder. She holds on for as239702:40:20.719 --> 02:40:23.520



long as she can as she drinks from me. I239802:40:23.559 --> 02:40:26.760



can actually feel the pain of her fangs in my flesh.239902:40:27.159 --> 02:40:32.079



But why does this feel so wonderful? I think I240002:40:32.159 --> 02:40:35.920



love pain. Miranda can't hold onto me anymore, since she's240102:40:35.959 --> 02:40:38.440



in way more pain from the water than what she's240202:40:38.479 --> 02:40:42.000



giving me. She finally lets go and warps away from240302:40:42.000 --> 02:40:47.600



my shower spray shit, I'm bleeding again, Neranda glares at240402:40:47.600 --> 02:40:51.079



me now, much to my surprise, she's not the least240502:40:51.159 --> 02:40:55.639



bit angry with me. Yes, you are giving me quite240602:40:55.639 --> 02:41:00.799



the challenge, Reagan Devereux, She licks her lips. Your blood240702:41:00.920 --> 02:41:04.639



is so incredibly delicious. I think I may just keep240802:41:04.680 --> 02:41:08.799



you and drink from you on special occasions. Perhaps you240902:41:08.879 --> 02:41:12.159



shall be the special reserve label blood. I drink after241002:41:12.239 --> 02:41:16.120



I marry your man. I can see the steam coming241102:41:16.159 --> 02:41:19.920



off of her burning skin. How are you able to241202:41:19.959 --> 02:41:23.920



be safe from me under your shower? It's not this241302:41:24.120 --> 02:41:27.920



shower alone, I inform her. It's any shower I happen241402:41:28.000 --> 02:41:31.280



to stand underneath. I start to close up my chosen241502:41:31.360 --> 02:41:34.520



vampire trap when I leave the nozzle I'm under and241602:41:34.600 --> 02:41:40.000



move to another. See for yourself. Miranda cautiously moves to241702:41:40.040 --> 02:41:44.200



the nozzle I was underneath. Sure enough, her skin's not241802:41:44.319 --> 02:41:48.079



burning under that spray now. Yet she comes too close241902:41:48.120 --> 02:41:51.120



to the spray I'm now underneath, and her skin is242002:41:51.200 --> 02:41:55.840



burning again. She curses me, but is oddly happy at242102:41:55.879 --> 02:41:59.120



the same time. I quickly move to the shower entrance,242202:41:59.159 --> 02:42:02.600



where there are two heavy spraying nozzles. I squat down242302:42:02.639 --> 02:42:04.799



and make the sign of the Cross on the floors. There.242402:42:05.200 --> 02:42:07.280



I make my way around to each of the other242502:42:07.399 --> 02:42:11.680



sprays and make the same sign underneath them. Miranda tries242602:42:11.760 --> 02:42:14.040



to stop me, but has to keep away since the242702:42:14.079 --> 02:42:18.360



water's spraying on me is deadly to her. You think242802:42:18.399 --> 02:42:24.120



you can just seal me in here like this, Noranda yells, exactly.242902:42:24.479 --> 02:42:27.680



I tell her, every shower nozzle in here is deadly243002:42:27.760 --> 02:42:31.959



holy water to you now. In fact, I even disinfected243102:42:32.000 --> 02:42:35.360



my wounds with it. You hurt me, Miranda, but I'm243202:42:35.399 --> 02:42:38.600



sure my pain's nowhere near to what you're feeling right now.243302:42:38.959 --> 02:42:41.360



In fact, I don't even think you could turn into243402:42:41.440 --> 02:42:45.000



mist to be able to escape my trap. Noranda falls243502:42:45.040 --> 02:42:48.079



to her knees. She's not directly under the nozzles, but243602:42:48.120 --> 02:42:50.559



the steam is too much for her. Her skin is243702:42:50.600 --> 02:42:53.600



as red as a lobster's shell. She tries to change243802:42:53.600 --> 02:42:57.000



into a wolf, then a bat. She howls with pain243902:42:57.079 --> 02:43:00.440



before she returns to her human form and fall flat244002:43:00.440 --> 02:43:04.719



on her face and chest on the floor. Now it's244102:43:04.760 --> 02:43:10.879



time to prepare her for old time's sake. Chapter seven,244202:43:12.319 --> 02:43:15.399



Miranda wakes up and finds herself secured to a table244302:43:15.440 --> 02:43:18.799



in the infirmary. She tries to sit up, but finds244402:43:18.920 --> 02:43:22.959



she can't move. Like your daughter before you, I've bound244502:43:23.000 --> 02:43:26.879



you with a crucifix. I tell her you're mine now.244602:43:27.879 --> 02:43:30.920



Miranda is still badly burned from being in holy water244702:43:31.000 --> 02:43:35.559



showers with me. As for me, I'm dry now aside244802:43:35.559 --> 02:43:39.079



from my hair. She looks up at me now, Like244902:43:39.159 --> 02:43:42.520



Shiranda Thorn before her, she tries using her glam on me.245002:43:43.440 --> 02:43:46.600



Then she sees my eyes glowing red, the way Shiranda245102:43:46.840 --> 02:43:50.040



and so many of my other victims before her have seen.245202:43:51.479 --> 02:43:56.000



What are you, Neranda demands, you cannot possibly be a245302:43:56.079 --> 02:43:59.239



human woman. I can feel you're evil, emitting from your245402:43:59.360 --> 02:44:03.000



very eye. I wonder if I'll ever understand why my245502:44:03.120 --> 02:44:07.000



victims think I'm so evil. And then I put my245602:44:07.079 --> 02:44:09.639



hands on the pit of my stomach and feel my245702:44:09.719 --> 02:44:16.040



familiar passenger. I moan softly, knowing my bloodlust has returned.245802:44:17.120 --> 02:44:22.600



Coupled with my new emotions, it feels just amazing. I245902:44:22.639 --> 02:44:25.680



want more than anything to put Nearanda to death and246002:44:25.799 --> 02:44:30.200



claim her. Now, Nearanda sees the plaques displaying the pictures246102:44:30.239 --> 02:44:33.719



of the dead guards I found. You and your minions246202:44:33.760 --> 02:44:36.760



have killed these people. Many of them had families who246302:44:36.879 --> 02:44:40.520



loved them a great deal. I understand your vile nature246402:44:40.559 --> 02:44:45.479



as a vampire, but in my eyes, you're all vicious murderers.246502:44:46.040 --> 02:44:49.159



You even tried to take my love from me, regardless246602:44:49.159 --> 02:44:51.319



of whether you ever planned on keeping your word and246702:44:51.399 --> 02:44:54.799



letting him go. I will not be letting you go.246802:44:55.600 --> 02:44:58.520



Like your daughter before you. You're going to die by246902:44:58.600 --> 02:45:03.920



my hands. Shortly, Miranda opens her mouth to show her fangs.247002:45:04.440 --> 02:45:07.520



My family will never stop coming for you, Reagan Devereux.247102:45:07.719 --> 02:45:10.040



If you kill me here today, you will have enemies247202:45:10.040 --> 02:45:12.799



at every turn. The house of Thorn is a great one.247302:45:13.479 --> 02:45:15.440



Allow me to live, and I shall bring you into247402:45:15.479 --> 02:45:19.600



my house. You would be greatly worshiped for your abilities247502:45:19.840 --> 02:45:23.920



as a prolific killer alone. I consider her a moment.247602:45:24.879 --> 02:45:28.360



Then I tell her, perhaps if you would have approached247702:45:28.399 --> 02:45:30.920



me years ago when I was a child and raised247802:45:30.920 --> 02:45:34.639



me yourself, I might have been as your offering. But247902:45:34.799 --> 02:45:37.920



I was raised by a good and wonderful person who248002:45:37.959 --> 02:45:40.559



taught me to be a good girl and instilled her248102:45:40.639 --> 02:45:43.600



values in me. She even taught me her ways of248202:45:43.639 --> 02:45:47.639



dealing with your kind. I can never take innocence. I248302:45:47.760 --> 02:45:52.200



just can't do it. No, you will die here today.248402:45:52.440 --> 02:45:54.879



If your family comes for me, then they come for me.248502:45:55.799 --> 02:45:59.799



None of us will live forever, nor are we promised tomorrow.248602:46:01.639 --> 02:46:05.639



You are a fool to refuse my offer, Reagan. Noranda248702:46:05.719 --> 02:46:11.959



yells a fool, But today you're the fool, I remind her,248802:46:12.440 --> 02:46:14.639



Or have you suddenly forgotten what I'm about to do248902:46:14.760 --> 02:46:18.000



to you. I reach over to my instruments and pick249002:46:18.079 --> 02:46:21.079



up one of the sharp wooden steaks I made, and249102:46:21.159 --> 02:46:28.879



now Neiranda Thorn let the punishment fit the crime. When249202:46:28.959 --> 02:46:31.879



I raise the steak, she yells for me to stop.249302:46:32.479 --> 02:46:36.440



I do for a moment. Then she asks me how249402:46:36.479 --> 02:46:39.360



I was able to make those showers spray holy water.249502:46:40.040 --> 02:46:42.520



She tells me I must at least tell her that,249602:46:43.559 --> 02:46:47.840



but I don't, and bring the steak right down, hard249702:46:48.399 --> 02:46:53.280



and fast. Nearanda screams when the steak pierces her heart249802:46:53.319 --> 02:46:57.840



from the front to the back. I wait until she249902:46:57.959 --> 02:47:04.239



finally dies. However, her body doesn't immediately start burning into ash,250002:47:04.840 --> 02:47:10.200



which means Neranda Thorn had lived long enough to become250102:47:11.120 --> 02:47:14.680



a master vampire. I pick up the blade I made250202:47:14.680 --> 02:47:17.159



in the maintenance shop a block away and use it250302:47:17.879 --> 02:47:20.920



to decapitate her. I grab her hair and lift her250402:47:20.959 --> 02:47:25.440



head up high. Feeling both my emotions and my bloodlust together.250502:47:26.120 --> 02:47:29.159



I've never been more excited. I've just killed my first250602:47:29.200 --> 02:47:32.719



ever master vampire. Mama will be so proud of me.250702:47:33.600 --> 02:47:38.120



I think I'm even crying with joy now. So how250802:47:38.120 --> 02:47:41.639



did I make the shower spray holy water? Well? When250902:47:41.639 --> 02:47:45.639



I turned eighteen, Mama had me do something really strange.251002:47:45.719 --> 02:47:48.719



She made me sign up online to become an ordained minister.251102:47:49.799 --> 02:47:52.399



Mama and I don't believe in the existence of God251202:47:52.559 --> 02:47:56.159



or Satan, but she explained that using artifacts of the251302:47:56.200 --> 02:47:59.360



holy and being a minister doesn't mean faith in God.251402:47:59.440 --> 02:48:02.360



It means believing that these weapons can protect you against251502:48:02.360 --> 02:48:06.479



the beings who are vulnerable to them. Now do you understand.251602:48:07.079 --> 02:48:09.799



I simply blessed myself and the spots on the floor251702:48:09.840 --> 02:48:13.280



in the shower to turn the water holy. Like I said,251802:48:13.879 --> 02:48:18.280



Mama taught baby well, but today I learned a valuable251902:48:18.360 --> 02:48:21.719



lesson that the master vampire had just killed taught me252002:48:22.479 --> 02:48:26.040



before I ended her. I know what I need to do.252102:48:26.159 --> 02:48:30.159



Now it's time for me to go find Drake and252202:48:30.280 --> 02:48:35.760



show Nearanda's minions that she's lost our contest. After placing252302:48:35.799 --> 02:48:39.680



Nearanda's body in the incinerator, I gathered the stakes I made,252402:48:40.159 --> 02:48:43.879



armed myself with a few crosses, and pocketed several bottles252502:48:43.879 --> 02:48:47.159



of holy water. I'll go down fighting if that's what252602:48:47.200 --> 02:48:52.120



those vampires want. I secure Miranda's head and carry it252702:48:52.159 --> 02:48:59.639



in my hand. I'm coming for you, Drake. Chapter eight.252802:49:04.040 --> 02:49:06.399



You're never going to believe this. I returned to the252902:49:06.479 --> 02:49:08.840



chapel ready for the fight of my life. I was253002:49:08.879 --> 02:49:13.399



truly ready to die to save Drake. I came into253102:49:13.479 --> 02:49:16.440



the chapel and held up Neranda's head for her minions253202:49:16.479 --> 02:49:21.360



to see. Your master is mine, I yelled, honor the253302:49:21.440 --> 02:49:24.479



bargain and let Drake go, or come out here and253402:49:24.520 --> 02:49:28.680



fight me yourselves to keep him. My bloodlust is really253502:49:28.799 --> 02:49:32.280



hungry for more vampires, but it would not get any253602:49:32.319 --> 02:49:37.280



more today. The bodies of Miranda's minions, or rather their253702:49:37.319 --> 02:49:43.280



ashen remains, are everywhere. I do find Drake behind the altar, unconscious.253802:49:43.920 --> 02:49:46.559



I check him over and see he's not bitten, even253902:49:46.680 --> 02:49:51.040



using a mirror to see his reflection. Knowing he wasn't sired,254002:49:51.079 --> 02:49:54.600



I shake him awake as he struggles to come too.254102:49:54.719 --> 02:49:57.559



I know that he was glamed. I look around to254202:49:57.559 --> 02:50:00.239



see if there are any other vampires waiting to attack,254302:50:01.360 --> 02:50:06.559



but they don't. Rage Drake utters, Are you all right?254402:50:06.920 --> 02:50:10.879



I ask, helping him to his feet. Drake gasps when254502:50:10.920 --> 02:50:14.920



he sees Miranda's head on the altar. Then he sees254602:50:14.959 --> 02:50:17.479



the look on my face and knows what I'm about254702:50:17.520 --> 02:50:23.399



to say isn't going to be good. Rage, he utters again.254802:50:24.680 --> 02:50:28.000



I look him in the eyes. I'm not going to254902:50:28.000 --> 02:50:33.159



marry you. Drake. In fact, it's over between you and me.255002:50:34.319 --> 02:50:37.440



I really do mean it this time. I remove the255102:50:37.479 --> 02:50:42.760



engagement ring and place it in his hand. But rage,255202:50:43.000 --> 02:50:46.840



he stammers. He doesn't see me cry like I've done255302:50:46.840 --> 02:50:50.040



many times before when I couldn't allow myself to be255402:50:50.079 --> 02:50:55.719



separated from him. Go and live your life, Drake, Kasmarak.255502:50:56.399 --> 02:50:59.399



I tell him, I'm going to be in this prison255602:50:59.440 --> 02:51:02.440



for the rest of my natural life, and that's not255702:51:02.559 --> 02:51:05.559



fair to you. While you were able to come and255802:51:05.639 --> 02:51:08.040



visit me here and even spend nights with me, you255902:51:08.079 --> 02:51:12.920



can't ultimately live here with me. Ultimately you won't want256002:51:12.959 --> 02:51:17.440



to live with me. I've taken far too many lives.256102:51:17.840 --> 02:51:21.120



I don't even know if I'm human or not. I256202:51:21.280 --> 02:51:26.840



just killed this master vampire, and I loved it. I256302:51:26.879 --> 02:51:30.840



step away from Drake. I mean it. Leave here now256402:51:30.879 --> 02:51:34.760



and go live your life, find yourself another mate to256502:51:34.799 --> 02:51:38.360



be happy with. All I'll ever bring you is misery.256602:51:39.799 --> 02:51:42.239



You may not think so now, but over time you're256702:51:42.239 --> 02:51:45.079



going to wish you'd never met me, or did you256802:51:45.120 --> 02:51:47.760



forget why you came looking for me in the first place.256902:51:48.479 --> 02:51:54.159



I tighten my fists and scream I killed any judge now,257002:51:54.239 --> 02:51:56.440



Drake is finally looking at me the way I knew257102:51:56.440 --> 02:51:59.680



he would. I can see some contempt on his face.257202:52:01.200 --> 02:52:05.639



I killed Annie Judge. I repeat, I will never regret257302:52:05.760 --> 02:52:08.440



killing her, Drake, you and I both know why she257402:52:08.559 --> 02:52:12.520



deserved to die. In fact, I will never regret killing257502:52:12.559 --> 02:52:16.479



any of my victims. I grab and raise Miranda's head again,257602:52:17.360 --> 02:52:22.920



including this master vampire. I glare at him now. He257702:52:23.000 --> 02:52:25.719



gasps when he sees how red my eyes have become.257802:52:27.319 --> 02:52:31.520



Don't you understand I'll never be your perfect mate, I'll257902:52:31.520 --> 02:52:34.319



never be a normal woman, and you deserve so much,258002:52:35.319 --> 02:52:38.239



so much better than me. I put the head back258102:52:38.280 --> 02:52:43.280



on the altar. I release you, Drake, go and live258202:52:43.319 --> 02:52:46.920



the rest of your life. Hopefully you'll be able to258302:52:46.920 --> 02:52:50.799



find someone who can truly make you happy. You're a258402:52:50.840 --> 02:52:56.360



good man, but I am not a good woman. I258502:52:56.440 --> 02:52:58.760



told you a long time ago that I'm damaged and258602:52:58.799 --> 02:53:02.840



can never be made whole again. Leave me now and258702:53:02.920 --> 02:53:07.920



never return here to see me ever again. In fact,258802:53:08.959 --> 02:53:11.559



I will leave instructions that you are banned from seeing258902:53:11.600 --> 02:53:14.959



me unless it's for a case you absolutely need my259002:53:15.040 --> 02:53:19.479



help on. Drake doesn't say anything to me. I know259102:53:19.600 --> 02:53:22.840



I've heard him again. I know I heard him deep259202:53:23.280 --> 02:53:27.200



when I killed Anny Judge, but this will likely hurt259302:53:27.280 --> 02:53:33.200



him just as deep. In time, he will heal. I259402:53:33.280 --> 02:53:35.959



follow behind him where I can see him and he259502:53:36.000 --> 02:53:39.399



can't see me. I watch from an open door as259602:53:39.399 --> 02:53:45.399



he gets into his car and leaves. Wow. I left259702:53:45.440 --> 02:53:48.840



him so distraught that he completely forgot. I can easily259802:53:48.879 --> 02:53:52.879



walk out of Glen View altogether. I could literally be259902:53:52.920 --> 02:53:58.360



a free woman this very night, or rather Christmas Day.260002:53:59.120 --> 02:54:05.600



As the nearby clock strikes midnight. I know I have260102:54:05.719 --> 02:54:07.719



the skills to be able to stay on the run260202:54:07.760 --> 02:54:11.239



and avoid law enforcement. I could even leave the country260302:54:11.239 --> 02:54:17.079



and live somewhere free of this place's rules. The ironic260402:54:17.159 --> 02:54:21.479



truth here is, however, that I really don't want to go.260502:54:23.639 --> 02:54:26.239



I know I've done wrong. In spite of the fact260602:54:26.319 --> 02:54:30.000



I've saved so many lives and claim so many corrupt souls.260702:54:32.079 --> 02:54:35.760



The truth is I still continue to feel very much260802:54:35.840 --> 02:54:40.760



at peace here. It's then, when it begins to snow,260902:54:41.680 --> 02:54:44.040



I stand in the doorway and watch it come down.261002:54:44.959 --> 02:54:47.639



The Christmas lights that line the fence aren't the prettiest261102:54:47.680 --> 02:54:52.520



to look at, but I'll take it. Suddenly I feel261202:54:52.559 --> 02:54:58.159



somebody near me. I turn and see CHESSI carver Reagan.261302:54:59.000 --> 02:55:03.239



She utters. She and I look at each other. I'm261402:55:03.280 --> 02:55:07.600



so overjoyed that she's okay. Looks like she probably got261502:55:07.639 --> 02:55:12.000



knocked out. Chessie sees I can easily escape glen View.261602:55:12.760 --> 02:55:15.520



She doesn't even have her gun on her. She has261702:55:15.559 --> 02:55:20.680



her belt, but no gun. Chessie gives me a beckoning look,261802:55:22.399 --> 02:55:27.319



Please do the right thing, Reagan, don't escape. I give261902:55:27.360 --> 02:55:31.479



her a warm smile and approach her. I think she's262002:55:31.520 --> 02:55:34.959



wondering if I'm going to kill her, but I wrap262102:55:35.040 --> 02:55:38.760



my arms around her. Then I feel her hug me back.262202:55:40.639 --> 02:55:43.719



I just wanted to see the snow. I tell her262302:55:45.120 --> 02:55:51.200



it's Christmas. Now, I'm so glad you're all right. We262402:55:51.280 --> 02:55:56.120



hug for a moment, then we come apart. Chessie seems262502:55:56.159 --> 02:56:00.000



more confident in me now, want to take me back262602:56:00.079 --> 02:56:05.479



to my block. I ask, I promise I won't fight you.262702:56:07.280 --> 02:56:10.799



Chessie nods. I hold out my hands for her to262802:56:10.840 --> 02:56:15.600



cuff me, but she takes my hand. We walk back262902:56:15.639 --> 02:56:17.920



to my block, where I let her open my special263002:56:17.959 --> 02:56:22.639



cell and watch me go back inside. It's only minutes263102:56:22.680 --> 02:56:26.159



after she locks me up that the state police finally263202:56:26.280 --> 02:56:31.200



arrive Chessie tells them everything she knows. Seeing I'm in263302:56:31.239 --> 02:56:36.000



my cell, they don't even question me. As for Drake,263402:56:36.920 --> 02:56:40.440



no one ever knew he was there during Miranda's raid.263502:56:43.920 --> 02:56:48.719



It's one week later New Year's Eve. Chessie actually agreed263602:56:48.760 --> 02:56:51.559



to sit at her station and watch me. Tonight, she263702:56:51.639 --> 02:56:53.760



could have gone to be with her family and friends263802:56:53.760 --> 02:56:57.239



to watch the ball drop or whatever people do to263902:56:57.319 --> 02:57:00.399



ring in the New Year. Mama was all ready to hear,264002:57:00.440 --> 02:57:03.719



and we spent the day together. As for Christmas Eve,264102:57:04.360 --> 02:57:06.920



she got the full story from me on what happened.264202:57:08.079 --> 02:57:10.920



Like I said, she was very proud of me for264302:57:11.000 --> 02:57:15.239



slaying my first master vampire. She was even more proud264402:57:15.280 --> 02:57:18.239



of me for not escaping here when I had the chance.264502:57:19.360 --> 02:57:22.719



She said I was truly a good girl and that264602:57:22.799 --> 02:57:25.879



she raised me right in spite of the fact I264702:57:25.959 --> 02:57:30.239



was a serial killer. She was still sad and wondering264802:57:30.280 --> 02:57:33.879



where she went wrong with me on that I assured264902:57:33.920 --> 02:57:37.520



her it was nothing she did. She also said she265002:57:37.639 --> 02:57:41.879



was very sorry for what happened between Drake and I.265102:57:42.760 --> 02:57:46.879



Speaking of Drake, he hasn't been back here since Christmas Eve.265202:57:47.680 --> 02:57:50.959



Aside from Mama, the only visitor I got was Chief265302:57:51.000 --> 02:57:54.479



Cobbs from the North Ridgeway PD. He had a case265402:57:54.520 --> 02:57:58.319



he wanted my help on. Once I cracked it, he265502:57:58.440 --> 02:58:04.040



thanked me personally. Now I'm here with Chessie. She's not Mama,265602:58:04.159 --> 02:58:07.040



but she's a motherly woman to me just the same.265702:58:08.040 --> 02:58:10.360



She later told me that I had saved her daughter's265802:58:10.399 --> 02:58:13.680



life years ago when a rapist tried to take advantage265902:58:13.680 --> 02:58:18.239



of her. She told me the name of the man. Yes,266002:58:18.479 --> 02:58:22.639



I did kill him for that very reason. I didn't266102:58:22.680 --> 02:58:25.600



admit to it, but Chessie said I didn't have to.266202:58:27.440 --> 02:58:31.280



She even called me a good girl too. As Chessie266302:58:31.319 --> 02:58:33.680



and I are playing another game of chess in my cell,266402:58:34.360 --> 02:58:37.840



she gets a call at her station phone. I wait266502:58:37.879 --> 02:58:41.239



while she goes and answers it. Then she looks my266602:58:41.319 --> 02:58:45.959



way and tells me I have a visitor. She doesn't266702:58:46.000 --> 02:58:47.680



know who it is and asks if I want to266802:58:47.680 --> 02:58:51.399



see the young woman waiting for me. Who would come266902:58:51.440 --> 02:58:54.799



to visit me on New Year's Eve? I wonder out loud,267002:58:56.239 --> 02:58:58.440



Then I nod and tell Chessie it may be a267102:58:58.520 --> 02:59:01.920



law enforcement official with another case for me to work on.267202:59:02.920 --> 02:59:05.079



Chessie confirms the meeting as I come out of my267302:59:05.159 --> 02:59:08.959



cell to walk with her. Chessie takes me to the267402:59:09.040 --> 02:59:12.120



room where I get my cases. But it's not any267502:59:12.200 --> 02:59:16.200



kind of law enforcement person that I've ever seen. It's267602:59:16.239 --> 02:59:21.479



a girl who looks to be either seventeen or eighteen.267702:59:22.399 --> 02:59:27.559



She's very skinny and has long blonde hair. Then I267802:59:27.639 --> 02:59:33.360



see her red eyes and know immediately that she's a vampire.267902:59:34.959 --> 02:59:38.879



I turn to Chessie and nod once, I'll be okay.268002:59:40.319 --> 02:59:44.040



Chessie nods once herself and leaves, locking the door behind me.268102:59:45.719 --> 02:59:51.959



Then I sit down across from this vampire. Reagan Devereux right.268202:59:52.600 --> 02:59:57.719



She asks me, or do you prefer rage? Rage is fine?268302:59:58.159 --> 03:00:05.719



I reply. The girl smiles. My name's Bella Tabon. I'd268403:00:05.799 --> 03:00:08.520



like it very much if we could have ourselves a268503:00:08.600 --> 03:00:27.840



friendly chat. A Zombies Christmas by Rob Fields prologue. Vicky268603:00:27.920 --> 03:00:32.079



van Wert came from a long line of scientists. While268703:00:32.159 --> 03:00:35.040



many of her bloodline had been taken for the better268803:00:35.479 --> 03:00:38.879



in the medical field, Vicky was one of a select268903:00:39.040 --> 03:00:42.040



few who was hand picked to be part of the269003:00:42.079 --> 03:00:47.520



all female secret society known as the Blue Ribbons. In269103:00:47.600 --> 03:00:51.200



civilian life, she would be a barista at Caffeine Junction269203:00:51.680 --> 03:00:55.760



at Strickfield Town, Center Mall. Her status as a barista269303:00:56.280 --> 03:00:59.719



was how she came to meet Shawnee Jerrel and Bev Rourke.269403:01:00.319 --> 03:01:04.879



Many months ago, Vicki had made Shawnee's favorite beverage, only269503:01:04.959 --> 03:01:08.799



to find that she no longer liked it. It wasn't269603:01:08.840 --> 03:01:14.719



long after that that Shawnee and Bev both began eating people.269703:01:15.760 --> 03:01:19.280



Vicki made her escape and went to inform her fellow269803:01:19.319 --> 03:01:23.440



Blue Ribbons about them. They would monitor the zombies before269903:01:23.479 --> 03:01:28.479



mobilizing to capture them. Shawnee and Bev created two more270003:01:28.600 --> 03:01:32.879



zombies to join them, in Lizzie and Libby Marsh, twin sisters.270103:01:33.479 --> 03:01:36.440



The four of them ate up hundreds of patrons in270203:01:36.520 --> 03:01:40.200



both an entire banquet hall in Pendleton and an entire270303:01:40.319 --> 03:01:44.399



movie theater in North Ridgeway. To say these zombies were270403:01:44.479 --> 03:01:49.559



quite ravenous was an understatement. They were eventually apprehended by270503:01:49.559 --> 03:01:52.840



the Blue Ribbons and brought to their secret underground layer270603:01:53.239 --> 03:01:58.120



below Strickfield University. Vicki van Wirt would soon be testing270703:01:58.440 --> 03:02:01.920



some potential new bio weapons for the Blue Ribbons to270803:02:02.120 --> 03:02:07.440



use in their pursuit of world domination. Vicki wasted no270903:02:07.639 --> 03:02:12.000



time in beginning her experiments with these new zombies. She271003:02:12.040 --> 03:02:14.799



had opened up Libby Marsh and was amazed to see271103:02:14.840 --> 03:02:19.840



how she functioned. Even though these zombies were definitely dead creatures,271203:02:20.360 --> 03:02:25.079



some of their vital organs still functioned. Of course, Libby's271303:02:25.120 --> 03:02:28.719



stomach still worked and was in perfect condition in spite271403:02:28.760 --> 03:02:31.879



of all the humans she and her friends had eaten.271503:02:32.959 --> 03:02:36.680



Vicki would determine the metabolism of these zombies was more271603:02:36.719 --> 03:02:39.399



than keeping up with all the living humans they needed271703:02:39.799 --> 03:02:45.399



to satiate their seemingly never ending hunger. Vicki also learned271803:02:45.440 --> 03:02:49.680



that their hearts continued to pump blood throughout their bodies.271903:02:50.559 --> 03:02:54.639



When Vicki was finished, she eventually sewed Libby back up272003:02:55.000 --> 03:02:58.239



after monitoring her for weeks. She was surprised to see272103:02:58.280 --> 03:03:01.040



the flesh would heal up the way any normal human would.272203:03:02.280 --> 03:03:05.360



Now she could easily tell Libby from Lizzie with all272303:03:05.399 --> 03:03:10.120



the scarring on the former's body. Vicki would conduct more272403:03:10.159 --> 03:03:15.079



experiments like the mad scientists she was. Even though she272503:03:15.200 --> 03:03:18.680



always seemed calm and collected, there was a part of272603:03:18.719 --> 03:03:23.200



her that relished the pain and suffering she inflicted on272703:03:23.280 --> 03:03:28.079



her subjects, even if they were her fellow Blue Ribbons.272803:03:28.120 --> 03:03:33.040



In truth, Vicki became cold. Through her years of studying272903:03:33.120 --> 03:03:38.559



science and its wonders. Since being given her for zombies,273003:03:39.000 --> 03:03:42.719



Vicki never seemed to grow tired of running experiment after273103:03:42.840 --> 03:03:47.600



experiment on them. Usually, she liked working alone whenever she273203:03:47.719 --> 03:03:52.239



was conducting experiments. This was most evident during such an273303:03:52.280 --> 03:03:56.440



experiment when one of her two lab assistants, Brooke, got273403:03:56.479 --> 03:04:00.600



careless and let one of the zombies bite her. Vicki273503:04:00.799 --> 03:04:05.559



had perfected a most effective vaccine to counter every kind273603:04:05.600 --> 03:04:10.440



of zombie bite there was. However, she refused to administer273703:04:10.520 --> 03:04:15.520



it to Brook. Cruelly and coldly, Vicki allowed Brook to273803:04:15.559 --> 03:04:20.639



grow ill and eventually die. Brook's body was placed in273903:04:20.760 --> 03:04:24.159



containment where Vicki would see how long it would take274003:04:24.680 --> 03:04:27.840



for her to reanimate, which ranged from a matter of274103:04:27.920 --> 03:04:32.319



minutes to as much as a full day. Vicki began274203:04:32.440 --> 03:04:36.879



running tests on her newest zombie as the other lab assistant, Shelby,274303:04:37.319 --> 03:04:42.280



watched with hatred. Vicki noticed this and banished her from274403:04:42.319 --> 03:04:48.239



the lab, but Shelby was making plans on Christmas Eve,274503:04:48.719 --> 03:04:53.079



Vicki chose to continue conducting experiments on Brook. It was274603:04:53.239 --> 03:04:57.000



music to Vicki's ears as Brooks screamed and fought to274703:04:57.159 --> 03:05:01.959



escape the prison that contained her. When Vicki moved to274803:05:02.040 --> 03:05:06.319



gather the next instruments of her latest experiment, Shelby snuck274903:05:06.319 --> 03:05:09.760



into the lab and deactivated the security lock on Brook's cell.275003:05:10.840 --> 03:05:15.079



Then she quickly hid before Vicki returned. In the meantime,275103:05:15.399 --> 03:05:18.520



Brooke was out of her cell and managed to sneak275203:05:18.639 --> 03:05:23.000



up behind Vicki. She screamed and ran to grab an275303:05:23.040 --> 03:05:26.520



emergency syringe of the zombie vaccine. All she had to275403:05:26.559 --> 03:05:31.399



do was inject Brook to kill her permanently. Vicki found275503:05:31.440 --> 03:05:36.200



the emergency syringes and grabbed one. Upon injecting Brook, she275603:05:36.360 --> 03:05:42.120



was quite surprised that absolutely nothing happened. The zombie vaccine275703:05:42.200 --> 03:05:46.879



was supposed to work instantaneously, but Brooke was still animated275803:05:47.040 --> 03:05:53.319



and mobile. Had this zombie somehow built antibodies to the vaccine.275903:05:53.440 --> 03:05:57.440



Vicki had certainly experimented on her enough with it. No,276003:05:58.079 --> 03:06:02.799



Shelby had changed out every vavaccine syringe with luminescent water.276103:06:03.840 --> 03:06:07.360



Now Vicki found herself backed into a corner with a276203:06:07.600 --> 03:06:11.719



very enraged Brook, foaming at the mouth and raising her276303:06:11.840 --> 03:06:21.239



hands into claws brains. She chanted, No, stay away, Vicky shrieked.276403:06:21.959 --> 03:06:26.079



Brooke growled as she grabbed hold of Vicki. Fortunately she276503:06:26.200 --> 03:06:29.600



didn't have to worry about scratches infecting her. It was276603:06:29.639 --> 03:06:33.520



the zombie's bite that would prove lethal if Brook succeeded276703:06:33.520 --> 03:06:38.920



in doing that very thing. The inhumane human and the276803:06:38.959 --> 03:06:44.079



living dead former lab assistant continued their struggle. Clearly the276903:06:44.200 --> 03:06:50.680



zombie wanted this struggle more. Also, the zombie was quite famished.277003:06:51.840 --> 03:06:54.680



Vicky managed to get away and grab a metal bar,277103:06:55.360 --> 03:07:01.000



which she used to smash Brook right on her noggin. Unfortunately,277203:07:01.559 --> 03:07:06.239



Vicki had forgotten that these particular zombies wouldn't easily be277303:07:06.360 --> 03:07:10.719



destroyed by a heavy blow to the skull. The vaccine277403:07:10.799 --> 03:07:15.600



was currently the only known way these particular zombies would277503:07:15.680 --> 03:07:21.159



cease their animation forever. Then, Vicki remembered where she kept277603:07:21.280 --> 03:07:25.159



more of the zombie vaccine and ran to it. She277703:07:25.280 --> 03:07:28.600



felt Brook closing in quickly, since she could push herself277803:07:28.639 --> 03:07:34.040



harder and faster being undead, Vicki reached her intended drawer277903:07:34.440 --> 03:07:39.559



and pulled a syringe out. No, no, bitch, Brooke teased,278003:07:39.680 --> 03:07:44.479



grabbing her wrist. I want some Christmas dinner first, I'm278103:07:44.479 --> 03:07:47.559



going to eat your heart as an ores deuv, but278203:07:47.600 --> 03:07:52.000



you don't exactly have a heart, do you. Brooke took278303:07:52.079 --> 03:07:55.840



Vicki to the floor again. I owe you for all278403:07:55.879 --> 03:07:59.159



the hell you put me through. I won't stop eating278503:07:59.200 --> 03:08:05.399



you until you're nothing but bones. Again. They struggled on278603:08:05.440 --> 03:08:09.840



the floor as Shelby watched on. Then she decided to278703:08:09.879 --> 03:08:12.959



get in on the action and quietly moved to where278803:08:13.040 --> 03:08:16.360



Vicky had dropped the metal bar. She picked it up278903:08:17.040 --> 03:08:21.040



and went to crack Vicky's head. As Shelby raised the279003:08:21.079 --> 03:08:24.680



weapon to deal the killing blow to Vicki. Her enemy279103:08:24.799 --> 03:08:29.200



saw her in time and rolled off brook As Shelby279203:08:29.239 --> 03:08:32.559



went after Vicki, she hadn't counted on Brooks springing to279303:08:32.600 --> 03:08:39.360



her feet and jumping on her back brainss Brooke chanted279403:08:39.600 --> 03:08:44.559



before biting into the back of Shelby's head. She screamed279503:08:44.600 --> 03:08:48.399



and blood started squirting when Brooke pulled back, tearing a279603:08:48.520 --> 03:08:52.760



huge chunk of scalp away from her victim's head. Vicky279703:08:52.879 --> 03:08:55.799



knew she would have to act quickly before she'd have279803:08:55.959 --> 03:08:59.399



two of the living dead to deal with. She ran279903:08:59.479 --> 03:09:02.559



around her lab table and soon dove for the life280003:09:02.559 --> 03:09:06.520



saving syringe she grabbed hold of it and turned onto280103:09:06.520 --> 03:09:09.680



her back just as Brooke was diving right on top280203:09:09.719 --> 03:09:13.239



of her. As Brook's body slammed on top of her own,280303:09:13.879 --> 03:09:17.239



Vicki injected her at the neck as blood dripped from280403:09:17.239 --> 03:09:21.040



the zombie's mouth and onto her. Brooke only shook for280503:09:21.079 --> 03:09:25.200



a few moments before she went limp onto Vicki and280603:09:25.319 --> 03:09:31.399



remained still forever. Vicky quickly moved the again dead body280703:09:31.479 --> 03:09:36.000



off her and headed to Shelby's fresh corpse. She lifted280803:09:36.000 --> 03:09:38.479



its hands and dragged it to the cell that Brooke280903:09:38.559 --> 03:09:43.319



once occupied. Once Shelby was safely inside, Vicky hurried out281003:09:43.600 --> 03:09:47.200



and secured the cell. She cleaned up the lab and281103:09:47.280 --> 03:09:51.319



disposed of Brook's body in the insiderator. When she returned281203:09:51.319 --> 03:09:54.559



to the lab, she found that Shelby had reanimated and281303:09:54.680 --> 03:09:59.200



was screaming to be let out. Vicky gave Shelby a281403:09:59.319 --> 03:10:03.799



sinisters Now, you'll serve me better than you ever did281503:10:04.159 --> 03:10:08.319



when you were alive. Then Vicki felt a slight tingling281603:10:08.399 --> 03:10:11.680



on her wrist and looked to see the shapes of281703:10:11.719 --> 03:10:16.280



what appeared to be teeth marks. She gasped when she281803:10:16.399 --> 03:10:20.440



realized that even though the skin wasn't broken completely through,281903:10:21.440 --> 03:10:27.159



the marks were red enough to where she had become infected. Unfortunately,282003:10:27.920 --> 03:10:31.479



she didn't have any more zombie vaccine in her laboratory.282103:10:32.479 --> 03:10:36.840



She had more, but it was currently incubating and wouldn't282203:10:36.840 --> 03:10:41.799



be useful until that period was over. Vicky knew she282303:10:41.840 --> 03:10:47.200



would eventually turn I've got to escape, she gasped to herself.282403:10:48.000 --> 03:10:51.879



Then Shelby laughed in her cell. What's the matter, VICKI282503:10:52.479 --> 03:10:55.399



you scared now that your name's on the waiting list.282603:10:56.719 --> 03:11:00.520



Soon you'll let me out of here, then eat our282703:11:00.559 --> 03:11:05.600



way through this entire compound. Vicky immediately left the lab,282803:11:05.959 --> 03:11:10.079



but not before arming the safety protocols to destroy the282903:11:10.239 --> 03:11:15.280



entire space. Shelby would become completely incinerated as a result.283003:11:16.319 --> 03:11:20.280



Vicky escaped the compound, got in her car and drove283103:11:20.360 --> 03:11:25.559



into Strickfield just as it began to snow. It was283203:11:25.680 --> 03:11:38.239



then when she started to feel a little off perspective Railian, Seriously,283303:11:38.959 --> 03:11:42.680



I can't believe this shit. Everybody else gets to spend283403:11:42.680 --> 03:11:46.520



the holiday break with their families, not me. I get283503:11:46.559 --> 03:11:50.040



to spend the entire holiday break here at Strickfield Academy283603:11:50.079 --> 03:11:56.399



with these fucking nuns. Not only did Headmistress Hiltonson suggest283703:11:56.479 --> 03:12:00.079



this punishment to my parents for what I had done?283803:12:00.159 --> 03:12:04.840



My parents were okay with it. Seriously, don't these nuns283903:12:05.000 --> 03:12:09.079



have anything else better to do with their lives? Anyway?284003:12:09.959 --> 03:12:13.159



Here I am in the office on Christmas Day itself,284103:12:13.440 --> 03:12:17.280



with Sister Abigail treating my punishment like it's a regular284203:12:17.360 --> 03:12:22.200



day in religion class. Are you listening to me? Raylene Hollow?284303:12:22.920 --> 03:12:29.639



Sister Abigail demands huh, I mutter rudely. The nun size hard.284403:12:30.479 --> 03:12:34.200



You're just stretching out your punishment further, young lady. I284503:12:34.360 --> 03:12:37.920



raise an eyebrow. I'm sorry. Did I give you even284603:12:38.000 --> 03:12:43.040



the slightest impression that I give a fuck? Sister Abigail284703:12:43.159 --> 03:12:47.360



size hard again. I can't believe how much worse you284803:12:47.440 --> 03:12:51.360



became after your sister Bernadette died on Halloween over a284903:12:51.440 --> 03:12:55.959



year ago. I point right at her. Yeah, think about285003:12:56.000 --> 03:12:59.600



how you'd feel if you lost your sister and you285103:12:59.639 --> 03:13:03.159



knew had Mistress Hiltonson killed her. I shoot right up285203:13:03.200 --> 03:13:06.479



out of my seat. I don't give a shit what285303:13:06.600 --> 03:13:08.760



kind of lies you want to keep telling me here?285403:13:09.319 --> 03:13:14.760



I know, I know the head mistress herself killed Bernadette285503:13:15.799 --> 03:13:19.239



and I think it was right then that something inside285603:13:19.280 --> 03:13:23.840



me finally snapped. Where do you think you're going? Raylen?285703:13:24.479 --> 03:13:28.920



Sister Abigail demands you are under campus arrest until after285803:13:29.000 --> 03:13:33.600



the holiday break. Then I laughed scornfully, eh, and who285903:13:33.680 --> 03:13:38.319



is gonna keep me here? You? Oh, the nun definitely286003:13:38.360 --> 03:13:41.399



intends to keep me here. I quickly pull her to286103:13:41.520 --> 03:13:44.879



me and plant one right on her. Now, Sister Abigail286203:13:44.920 --> 03:13:48.000



is the one fighting to get loose. I finally let286303:13:48.000 --> 03:13:51.520



her go and watch her stagger back. Come to think286403:13:51.559 --> 03:13:54.680



of it, that's how I got in big, big trouble286503:13:54.719 --> 03:13:58.120



to begin with. If those of you who know Bernadette's286603:13:58.159 --> 03:14:01.680



story thought she was bad, you're just now meeting me.286703:14:02.600 --> 03:14:06.319



I'm Bernadette's younger sister by about a year, and even286803:14:06.319 --> 03:14:09.280



my parents will tell you that I'm so much worse286903:14:09.319 --> 03:14:13.680



than her. Bernadette was a bad girl, but she never287003:14:13.760 --> 03:14:15.719



ended up in the kind of trouble I'd get in.287103:14:16.799 --> 03:14:20.200



Why did I get campus arrest? I may look cute287203:14:20.280 --> 03:14:23.920



and geeky on the outside, but even had Mistress Hiltonsons287303:14:24.000 --> 03:14:27.959



told me to my face that Satan's taken over my body.287403:14:28.719 --> 03:14:32.280



In fact, she was the one who busted me. I287503:14:32.360 --> 03:14:36.600



was tutoring Rodney Brams, the dumbass basketball player who just287603:14:36.719 --> 03:14:40.000



happened to be the best our team had. Then he287703:14:40.120 --> 03:14:43.639



got turned on and started touching me. When he touched287803:14:43.639 --> 03:14:46.239



me down there, I was ready to grab a steel287903:14:46.360 --> 03:14:50.399



chair and beat him to death with it. Then he288003:14:50.479 --> 03:14:53.600



showed me some green Rodney told me I could have288103:14:53.680 --> 03:14:56.719



it all if I let him have me. I won't288203:14:56.760 --> 03:15:00.239



say how much money it was, but far bey it288303:15:00.280 --> 03:15:03.360



from me to turn down that kind of cash. So288403:15:04.079 --> 03:15:06.440



I lowered my walls and let Rodney reach up my288503:15:06.520 --> 03:15:10.520



skirt and remove my panties. The truth was, I'd done288603:15:10.600 --> 03:15:14.280



sexual favors for money before, but this was the most288703:15:14.280 --> 03:15:18.200



money I'd ever gotten to date. Rodney was on his288803:15:18.280 --> 03:15:20.959



knees in front of me, taking care of business when288903:15:21.040 --> 03:15:25.680



head Mistress Hiltonson herself came in and saw us. Long289003:15:25.719 --> 03:15:30.879



story short, Hiltonson expelled Rodney. I expected her to expel289103:15:31.000 --> 03:15:34.639



me too. The reason she didn't was because my parents289203:15:34.680 --> 03:15:38.440



are the most powerful lawyers in all of Feltner County,289303:15:39.040 --> 03:15:41.879



maybe even further than that, since they represent many of289403:15:41.879 --> 03:15:46.600



the Mirons here in Strickfield. Also, my parents made generous289503:15:46.639 --> 03:15:51.040



contributions to the academy. No, I'd get to stay at289603:15:51.040 --> 03:15:54.000



the school, but i'd be getting campus arrest for the289703:15:54.040 --> 03:15:58.760



holiday break. Getting back to now, I ran from the289803:15:58.799 --> 03:16:01.319



building and all the way to the main gate, which289903:16:01.399 --> 03:16:05.040



was closed. Yeah, like that ever stopped me. You know290003:16:05.079 --> 03:16:07.600



how many times I've skipped class and climbed over the290103:16:07.639 --> 03:16:11.200



wall to both escape and come back in. Once I290203:16:11.319 --> 03:16:13.799



drop to the other side, I get as far away290303:16:13.799 --> 03:16:18.000



from that damn concentration camp as I possibly can. Oh,290403:16:18.040 --> 03:16:20.799



but I know Sister Abigail's probably on the phone with290503:16:21.000 --> 03:16:25.159



the head mistress. That means she herself will soon be290603:16:25.280 --> 03:16:29.319



coming after me. I keep running and cut through multiple290703:16:29.440 --> 03:16:33.040



yards until I make it into downtown village. I know290803:16:33.079 --> 03:16:35.719



I can't stay here long. It's likely going to be290903:16:35.799 --> 03:16:39.280



the first place Hiltonson will look. There are times when291003:16:39.280 --> 03:16:42.680



I've evaded her, but eight times out of ten she291103:16:42.799 --> 03:16:46.239



finds me. Then she stuffs me into her car and291203:16:46.319 --> 03:16:49.520



brings me back to campus. And by stuffs I mean291303:16:49.600 --> 03:16:53.280



in the trunk. I quickly stop into Roth's rings and291403:16:53.399 --> 03:16:57.040



order a dead eye. I can't function or think properly291503:16:57.440 --> 03:17:01.000



unless I have my caffeine jolt. I don't know why,291603:17:01.079 --> 03:17:03.120



but I've never been able to think like I do291703:17:03.200 --> 03:17:07.280



without caffeine. Can't be mountain dew or monsters. It's got291803:17:07.399 --> 03:17:11.079



to be straight up coffee. Once I get my caffeine,291903:17:11.159 --> 03:17:15.200



I work on drinking it. No, I won't go back home.292003:17:15.680 --> 03:17:17.959



I know my parents will be waiting for me, as292103:17:17.959 --> 03:17:21.600



I'm sure Sister Abigail called them too. I still got292203:17:21.639 --> 03:17:23.840



all the money that Oath paid me for wanting to292303:17:23.879 --> 03:17:27.680



fuck me that day. Hiltonson never even thought to frisk me.292403:17:28.280 --> 03:17:31.680



Of course, none of us mentioned that Rodney was trying292503:17:31.719 --> 03:17:35.440



to pay me for sex. I'm just finishing my coffee292603:17:35.440 --> 03:17:39.280



and leaving Roth's rings when Hiltonson's car screeches to a292703:17:39.319 --> 03:17:44.120



halt just outside. Then the headmistress herself gets out of292803:17:44.120 --> 03:17:49.000



the car, not wearing a habit today. Raylene Hollow, you292903:17:49.120 --> 03:17:54.399



get in this car immediately, she yells, I turn and run.293003:17:55.120 --> 03:17:58.479



Hiltonson's right behind me. For a middle aged nun, she293103:17:58.600 --> 03:18:02.319



sure can run, pretty guy, damn fast. Oh believe me.293203:18:02.479 --> 03:18:06.200



I have every intention of getting my revenge on Hiltonson herself,293303:18:06.959 --> 03:18:10.799



but not just yet. I can't fight her directly since293403:18:10.840 --> 03:18:14.040



she's got a martial arts background. Last time I tried,293503:18:14.079 --> 03:18:16.639



she took my skinny ass to the floor. Just like that.293603:18:17.600 --> 03:18:20.200



I'll have to lose Hiltonson and fight her another day293703:18:20.600 --> 03:18:24.120



when I can better use my mind. I turn down293803:18:24.120 --> 03:18:27.879



an alley and knock over some trash cans. Hiltonson easily293903:18:27.879 --> 03:18:31.079



flips right over them. She never makes things easy for me,294003:18:32.000 --> 03:18:35.920



No wonder she's the headmistress at Strickfield Academy. Even though294103:18:35.959 --> 03:18:38.840



I hate the bitch for what happened to Bernadette, at294203:18:38.879 --> 03:18:42.639



the same time, I actually respect her for backing up294303:18:42.680 --> 03:18:47.719



everything she says. Wow, I can feel that caffeine revitalizing294403:18:47.760 --> 03:18:50.440



me now. I definitely have to get more coffee to294503:18:50.520 --> 03:18:53.959



keep my juices flowing. I finally duck behind a trash294603:18:54.000 --> 03:18:58.879



bin and wait. When Hiltonson gets close enough, I spring294703:18:59.000 --> 03:19:01.799



right out and spear them bitch, the same way WWE294803:19:01.879 --> 03:19:06.959



Superstar Roman Reigns does. It works every time. After knocking294903:19:07.000 --> 03:19:09.799



the wind right out of Hiltonson, I quickly get back295003:19:09.879 --> 03:19:13.200



up and run again. It'll take her a little bit295103:19:13.280 --> 03:19:16.440



to catch her breath. How'll be long gone by then.295203:19:17.360 --> 03:19:19.879



As I'm coming to the end of the alley, I295303:19:19.959 --> 03:19:23.079



see this person leaning on one side against the wall.295403:19:24.239 --> 03:19:28.520



Sounds like a female moaning and groaning. Next thing I know,295503:19:28.680 --> 03:19:32.360



she drops to her knees and pukes. Christ I really295603:19:32.360 --> 03:19:36.520



don't need this. I run and jump over her. When295703:19:36.559 --> 03:19:40.280



I land to run away, she suddenly springs up and295803:19:40.360 --> 03:19:44.200



grabs me. The woman growls intently as she's pulling me295903:19:44.280 --> 03:19:47.520



back to her. I see a tattoo on her inner296003:19:47.600 --> 03:19:51.280



right wrist that's shaped like a breast cancer awareness ribbon,296103:19:51.360 --> 03:19:55.879



except it's all in blue. Get off me, I yell.296203:19:56.639 --> 03:20:00.319



This crazy woman is bigger and stronger than me. Sucks296303:20:00.360 --> 03:20:03.639



to me me when it comes to being small and scrawny. Ah,296403:20:03.680 --> 03:20:05.920



but this bitch is about to learn that you never296503:20:06.479 --> 03:20:10.719



ever fuck with ray Lean Hollow. I quickly move my296603:20:10.840 --> 03:20:13.760



arms around the back of her head, locking my fingers.296703:20:14.280 --> 03:20:16.600



Then I drop my ass and feel my nog and296803:20:16.799 --> 03:20:20.760



bust her chin, making her let me go. I quickly296903:20:20.799 --> 03:20:24.639



get back to my feet and run. The crazy bitch297003:20:24.719 --> 03:20:28.280



is growling louder behind me. I can literally feel the297103:20:28.360 --> 03:20:32.159



caffeine giving me that extra burst of speed. Knowing she's297203:20:32.200 --> 03:20:35.159



catching up to me, I quickly duck into the alley297303:20:35.200 --> 03:20:39.079



next to the Strickfield Centennial Theater as she's about to enter.297403:20:39.399 --> 03:20:42.159



I come out fast and hit my second spear today.297503:20:42.959 --> 03:20:46.239



Normally my spear takes the wind out of anybody. Hell,297603:20:46.639 --> 03:20:50.440



I just stunned Head Mistress Hilton's in This crazy woman297703:20:51.120 --> 03:20:54.399



is back on her feet in seconds. I'm almost to297803:20:54.479 --> 03:20:57.360



my feet when she grabs me and bites me on297903:20:57.399 --> 03:21:01.719



the side of my neck. No, I shriek and again298003:21:01.840 --> 03:21:05.280



push her away. One thing people have found out about298103:21:05.280 --> 03:21:08.520



me at Strickfield Academy, which also got me in trouble298203:21:08.639 --> 03:21:11.760



many many times there is when you back me into298303:21:11.760 --> 03:21:15.920



a corner, I totally lose my goddamn mind and attack298403:21:16.040 --> 03:21:19.879



like a wild dog. If Bernadette was still alive, you298503:21:19.920 --> 03:21:23.559



could have asked her she loved picking on me simply298603:21:23.600 --> 03:21:26.879



because I was her little sister. I couldn't tell you298703:21:26.959 --> 03:21:29.159



how many times I fought her when she pushed me298803:21:29.239 --> 03:21:32.360



too far. I know I got the lion's share of298903:21:32.399 --> 03:21:36.200



our fights. No, Bernadette and I didn't hate each other.299003:21:36.799 --> 03:21:40.360



That was just how our sisterly rivalry worked between us.299103:21:40.760 --> 03:21:44.360



Getting back to now, I scream bloody murder and attack299203:21:44.440 --> 03:21:47.079



the bitch who bit me. I come right at her299303:21:47.079 --> 03:21:50.079



and slam right into her, knocking the back of her299403:21:50.120 --> 03:21:52.319



head into one of the brick buildings in the alley.299503:21:53.040 --> 03:21:55.600



When the woman drops to her ass, I grab two299603:21:55.639 --> 03:21:58.479



handfuls of hair and keep slamming the back of her299703:21:58.520 --> 03:22:02.600



head into the wall again and again. Soon the brick's299803:22:02.639 --> 03:22:06.879



getting splattered with her blood. I can't control myself. I299903:22:06.920 --> 03:22:10.719



was pushed too far. I keep slamming her head into300003:22:10.719 --> 03:22:14.520



the wall again and again. When I finally let her go,300103:22:14.959 --> 03:22:18.559



she stops moving on her own and slumps onto her side.300203:22:19.399 --> 03:22:22.239



I'm really shaking as I look down and see I've300303:22:22.280 --> 03:22:27.079



busted her head open enough to where where I'm calm300403:22:27.200 --> 03:22:30.120



enough to see bits of skull and brain matter on300503:22:30.200 --> 03:22:34.040



the wall. I'm still shaking, but aware enough to know300603:22:35.559 --> 03:22:38.920



I killed her, But I'm not done with her yet.300703:22:39.200 --> 03:22:42.440



I'm still shaking. When I scream bloody murder and raise300803:22:42.520 --> 03:22:46.239



my foot and with everything I've got, I stomp on300903:22:46.280 --> 03:22:49.520



the side of her head and feel her skull collapse.301003:22:50.600 --> 03:22:55.280



More brain matter oozes right out, looking like a tofu scramble.301103:22:56.399 --> 03:23:00.479



I'm still shaking. Why do people feel that they have301203:23:00.559 --> 03:23:04.959



to fuck with me? Why can't people understand I'm way301303:23:04.959 --> 03:23:09.280



too unstable. For the record, this isn't the first time301403:23:09.319 --> 03:23:12.600



I've killed people when they pushed me too far. I301503:23:12.639 --> 03:23:16.360



only ever showed restraint against Bernadette because she was my301603:23:16.479 --> 03:23:20.639



sister and I loved her. I turn and walk away301703:23:20.719 --> 03:23:23.600



from the mess I made. I'm still shaking. When I301803:23:23.639 --> 03:23:27.399



make it back to my house. I have to focus301903:23:28.200 --> 03:23:30.799



to be able to unlock the door and get inside.302003:23:31.840 --> 03:23:35.399



I make my way upstairs into my room. I lay302103:23:35.440 --> 03:23:40.600



down on my bed and hold myself. Calm down, Raylen,302203:23:41.360 --> 03:23:48.680



I tell myself, just calm down. It's all over. You're safe. Now,302303:23:49.360 --> 03:23:55.000



you're safe, You're safe. I'm not sure how long I slept.302403:23:55.760 --> 03:23:59.559



Sometimes sleep or hot and nasty sex are the only302503:23:59.600 --> 03:24:03.360



ways I can bring myself out of my craziness. I302603:24:03.399 --> 03:24:08.399



finally wake up and see it's dark. Wow, I really302703:24:08.440 --> 03:24:13.280



slept all day. I'm surprised had Mistress Hiltonson wasn't sitting302803:24:13.280 --> 03:24:16.200



in my recliner like she was at times when I302903:24:16.239 --> 03:24:20.520



had skipped school. I turn and sit up. You know303003:24:20.600 --> 03:24:24.719



what I feel like going out tonight? I'm nice and303103:24:24.760 --> 03:24:30.920



calm again. I just want to go dancing, maybe get laid. Ah. Shit,303203:24:31.920 --> 03:24:36.680



it's Christmas Day. There won't be any clubs open. Ci303303:24:38.159 --> 03:24:40.719



I don't care. I just want to go do something.303403:24:41.639 --> 03:24:46.440



I'm thinking my only options are the movies, Andy's China, Dragon,303503:24:46.840 --> 03:24:52.840



Denoyer's Grill, Strickfield Video, or the convenience stores. I also303603:24:52.879 --> 03:24:55.959



remember I can't go to Roth's Rings again today. They303703:24:56.000 --> 03:25:00.079



were only open limited hours earlier. I change into some303803:25:00.200 --> 03:25:04.319



yummy clothes and head downstairs. Then I see the answering303903:25:04.360 --> 03:25:08.799



machine and play the two messages from Strickfield Academy. I304003:25:08.879 --> 03:25:13.600



was right about sister Abigail reporting me. Wait a minute,304103:25:13.719 --> 03:25:17.959



Mom and Dad aren't home. Did they just go on304203:25:18.040 --> 03:25:23.319



vacation somewhere while I was stuck in that? Oh? Fuck them.304303:25:24.239 --> 03:25:27.879



Then my tummy suddenly growls, and I know I've got304403:25:27.920 --> 03:25:30.959



to eat something. I open the fridge and see it's304503:25:31.000 --> 03:25:35.399



fully stocked. No junk food, though my parents are such304603:25:35.440 --> 03:25:39.280



health nuts. Screw this. I'm going out and getting some304703:25:39.399 --> 03:25:43.440



junk food tonight. Definitely more coffee too. It's not like304803:25:43.520 --> 03:25:45.319



I need to be on any kind of a diet,304903:25:45.399 --> 03:25:49.079



being a scrawny little thing like I am. I pull305003:25:49.159 --> 03:25:52.520



my insulated jean jacket on and head out into the snow.305103:25:53.360 --> 03:25:57.719



My tummy's growling again. I won't make it to Denoyer's Grill.305203:25:58.399 --> 03:26:02.079



I'll have to stick to downtown Village. I finally make305303:26:02.159 --> 03:26:06.319



it to Convenient Village mart and head inside. Then I305403:26:06.360 --> 03:26:09.920



see the hot dogs rolling around on the machine. I305503:26:09.959 --> 03:26:14.479



also see a single employee mopping the floor. When my305603:26:14.600 --> 03:26:18.239



tummy roars now, I immediately turn to the mop boy,305703:26:18.799 --> 03:26:22.159



grab him to me, and sink my teeth into the305803:26:22.200 --> 03:26:26.159



side of his neck. He screams like a banshee as305903:26:26.239 --> 03:26:30.559



blood gushes and squirts all over the candy racks. When306003:26:30.600 --> 03:26:33.319



the mop boy falls on his back, I drop to306103:26:33.360 --> 03:26:37.120



my knees and start eating. I came here to get306203:26:37.159 --> 03:26:41.520



some junk food. I mean, I'm surrounded by junk food.306303:26:41.639 --> 03:26:45.120



My tummy's getting happy fast with what I'm eating. I306403:26:45.200 --> 03:26:50.559



gobble up all the flesh, muscles, and vital organs. Now306503:26:50.600 --> 03:26:54.159



I've got his brains in my hands. As soon as306603:26:54.159 --> 03:26:58.040



I bite into the gray matter, I feel an immense sensation.306703:26:59.239 --> 03:27:06.639



Everything I ate was just delicious. But the brains, Holy shit,306803:27:06.760 --> 03:27:12.000



are these the absolute bomb. The brains are definitely the306903:27:12.040 --> 03:27:16.280



best part. It doesn't take me long to gobble them307003:27:16.319 --> 03:27:21.000



all up. All that's left is the skeleton, with the307103:27:21.040 --> 03:27:26.760



skull busted open. There's blood everywhere. I'm soaked in it myself.307203:27:27.719 --> 03:27:30.600



I get to my feet and look around the convenience store.307303:27:31.479 --> 03:27:35.879



I definitely want more meat. Then I see the coffee307403:27:35.879 --> 03:27:40.680



pot and go drink it. The caffeine starts amping my307503:27:40.760 --> 03:27:45.479



brain up fast. I look around and don't find any307603:27:45.479 --> 03:27:49.840



other employees. I guess anybody who wants a five finger307703:27:49.959 --> 03:27:53.959



discount here can have a free for all. Knowing what307803:27:54.040 --> 03:27:57.159



I want now, I head back out into the snow.307903:27:58.159 --> 03:28:01.120



It's not long before I see a cup walking together308003:28:01.760 --> 03:28:05.600



and run after them. I'm covered with blood and snow.308103:28:05.680 --> 03:28:08.920



Now I've been out here for quite a while. I've308203:28:08.920 --> 03:28:13.559



eaten six people and still want more. It was that308303:28:13.719 --> 03:28:17.719



crazy bitch I killed earlier. I was just fine, all308403:28:17.760 --> 03:28:23.280



things considering, until she bit me. In fact, I put308503:28:23.319 --> 03:28:25.559



my hand to the side of my neck and feel308603:28:25.600 --> 03:28:29.719



where her teeth broke my skin. It wasn't a clean bite,308703:28:29.760 --> 03:28:33.760



but she broke my skin. She must have been infected308803:28:33.799 --> 03:28:36.040



with something and passed it to me with that bite.308903:28:37.159 --> 03:28:40.879



It's not long before a police car passes me. Suddenly,309003:28:40.920 --> 03:28:44.399



it breaks fast and backs up. When the car reaches309103:28:44.440 --> 03:28:47.360



me again, the two officers get out and point their309203:28:47.399 --> 03:28:51.479



guns at me. The one closest to me points, you're309303:28:51.520 --> 03:28:53.559



the one who left that mess. We're cleaning up at309403:28:53.639 --> 03:28:57.559



convenient village. Mart get on the ground now. The other309503:28:57.600 --> 03:29:00.719



one yells, coming from the front of the car. When309603:29:00.760 --> 03:29:03.639



I run at them, they both shoot me. Next thing309703:29:03.680 --> 03:29:06.760



I know, I'm flat on my back. Guess when people309803:29:06.799 --> 03:29:09.399



at school say I'll blow away in a strong wind,309903:29:10.040 --> 03:29:13.520



they probably weren't wrong. I open my eyes and see310003:29:13.559 --> 03:29:16.760



the cops above me. Suddenly I grab one by the310103:29:16.799 --> 03:29:20.159



hair and bite into his head. He screams only for310203:29:20.239 --> 03:29:23.559



a moment before he drops on top of me. I310303:29:23.639 --> 03:29:25.879



come out from underneath him and start working on his310403:29:25.959 --> 03:29:29.319



head some more. That's when his partner kicks me right310503:29:29.360 --> 03:29:32.120



off him. I get on my feet fast and look310603:29:32.159 --> 03:29:38.159



at him crazily. More brains. The other cop quickly runs310703:29:38.360 --> 03:29:41.600



and gets back in the patrol car. His tires squeal310803:29:41.639 --> 03:29:45.760



as he speeds away. I lower myself and eat some more.310903:29:46.479 --> 03:29:50.959



I'm such a glutton and decide I want the brains first.311003:29:53.079 --> 03:29:57.360



I'm finishing the brains when another car pulls up. Wow,311103:29:58.239 --> 03:30:02.360



head Mistress Hiltonson finally found took her long enough, though,311203:30:03.000 --> 03:30:05.479



I'm surprised she didn't come to my house when I311303:30:05.520 --> 03:30:09.760



was sleeping. Oh the look on her face. What have311403:30:09.840 --> 03:30:13.840



you done? You sinful Jezebel, I hold out the last311503:30:13.879 --> 03:30:18.959



of the officer's brains, finishing another helping of Christmas dinner.311603:30:19.879 --> 03:30:24.040



You can have the last piece of these yummy brains.311703:30:24.799 --> 03:30:28.680



When she looks ready to piss herself, I shrug. Hey,311803:30:29.520 --> 03:30:34.399



don't say I never offered you anything, Hiltonson. Then I311903:30:34.520 --> 03:30:41.040



eat the last bite. She approaches me very slowly. Let312003:30:41.079 --> 03:30:43.959



me help you, child, Let me bring you back to God.312103:30:44.559 --> 03:30:49.399



Only he can save you. I lick my lips. Gee,312203:30:49.879 --> 03:30:53.760



you really think so. I pat my still tight tummy.312303:30:54.440 --> 03:30:59.840



You know I've eaten six people tonight and this guy's brain.312403:31:00.559 --> 03:31:03.920



You'd think my tummy would have burst a long time ago.312503:31:04.319 --> 03:31:07.520



And you want to know what's really fucked up? Now,312603:31:07.559 --> 03:31:13.959



I'm looking the headmistress over. I'm still hungry. Then I312703:31:14.040 --> 03:31:17.840



remove my jean jacket and raise my finger. You know what,312803:31:18.840 --> 03:31:22.280



Now I can get revenge on you for killing Bernadette.312903:31:22.799 --> 03:31:26.959



I tighten my tiny fists. You had no right to313003:31:27.079 --> 03:31:32.120



kill her, you cunt. I had to. Hiltonson tells me313103:31:33.159 --> 03:31:38.680



your sister became just like you. Something happened to her313203:31:39.200 --> 03:31:42.079



to where she got injured in the backwoods of Strickfield313303:31:42.639 --> 03:31:47.040



on Halloween night last year. She died from her injuries313403:31:47.959 --> 03:31:51.840



and became one of the living dead. She created a313503:31:51.879 --> 03:31:55.719



lot of chaos at Strickfield Academy when she started eating313603:31:55.760 --> 03:32:00.840



people herself and making more like her. She came for313703:32:01.000 --> 03:32:06.239



me and I put her and her army down. Satan313803:32:06.360 --> 03:32:09.799



took hold of her. Now it seems the Prince of313903:32:09.879 --> 03:32:14.600



lies has taken hold of you, Raylen. I give her314003:32:14.639 --> 03:32:19.440



a weird look before rolling my eyes. Satan never took314103:32:19.639 --> 03:32:23.440



hold of me, you fucking cook. I was bitten by314203:32:23.440 --> 03:32:27.159



somebody earlier and became infected by whatever it was she314303:32:28.000 --> 03:32:31.920



was infected with. Those cops just shot me, and I'm314403:32:31.959 --> 03:32:37.159



still here. Then I realize I likely died in my sleep.314503:32:37.840 --> 03:32:40.840



When I woke up, I was one of the living dead.314603:32:42.120 --> 03:32:47.200



Like I said, I'm still hungry. I rush right at Hiltonson,314703:32:47.319 --> 03:32:50.399



ready to bite her, when she reminds me she's more314803:32:50.440 --> 03:32:53.920



than capable of taking me in a fight. She's hitting314903:32:53.920 --> 03:32:57.559



me with punches and kicks. Soon I'm on my ass,315003:32:57.959 --> 03:33:00.719



but Hiltonson learns I just won't say day down. When315103:33:00.719 --> 03:33:03.319



I'm back on my feet and coming at her again,315203:33:04.360 --> 03:33:08.079



more cops arrive. The one who escaped me drives his315303:33:08.200 --> 03:33:11.440



car right into me and sends me flying into somebody's yard,315403:33:11.879 --> 03:33:15.239



where I knock over a brightly lit Santa Claus. I315503:33:15.319 --> 03:33:18.559



sit back up and move to run at them. Hiltonson315603:33:18.639 --> 03:33:21.440



quickly drops fast when the cops pull their guns out315703:33:21.799 --> 03:33:25.719



and shoot me up with more bullets. Soon I'm flat315803:33:25.719 --> 03:33:29.120



on my back again. The police all gasp when I315903:33:29.159 --> 03:33:31.920



suddenly sit right up and get back on my feet.316003:33:32.520 --> 03:33:35.840



I quickly change my strategy when I see them reloading,316103:33:36.600 --> 03:33:40.200



not because I know they'll shoot me again. The police316203:33:40.239 --> 03:33:43.440



have the numbers advantage on me, even though I'm one316303:33:43.479 --> 03:33:45.959



of the living dead. It's obvious I'm no stronger than316403:33:45.959 --> 03:33:50.879



I was before. I have to flee Hiltonson's pursuing me again.316503:33:51.520 --> 03:33:53.879



Then I surprise her when I turn around and run316603:33:54.000 --> 03:33:57.360



right at her. For the second time today. I take316703:33:57.440 --> 03:34:01.079



Hiltonson down with another spear. The cops are ready to316803:34:01.120 --> 03:34:03.719



shoot me again, but they see I'm right on top316903:34:03.760 --> 03:34:07.440



of Hiltonson and don't want to risk shooting her. I317003:34:07.520 --> 03:34:10.959



surprise them all again by springing right off Hiltonson and317103:34:11.040 --> 03:34:14.079



jumping into a nearby squad car with the driver's side317203:34:14.079 --> 03:34:17.200



door open. I hear all the shouts and four letter317303:34:17.280 --> 03:34:20.840



words behind me as I drive off with it. I'm317403:34:20.920 --> 03:34:24.079



driving around in my new toy and playing with everything317503:34:24.120 --> 03:34:26.879



I can play with. I really get a kick out317603:34:26.920 --> 03:34:29.840



of turning on the sirens and the flashers. I even317703:34:29.879 --> 03:34:32.600



get on the radio and talk dirty to anyone listening.317803:34:33.200 --> 03:34:35.479



It's only going to be a matter of time before317903:34:35.520 --> 03:34:38.879



both the cops and the headmistress are after me again.318003:34:39.799 --> 03:34:44.600



It's time to do something crazy. I turn onto University318103:34:44.680 --> 03:34:48.360



Drive and stop. I remove my shoes and use one318203:34:48.440 --> 03:34:51.319



to pin the gas pedal down to the floor. The318303:34:51.360 --> 03:34:55.760



car practically flies away after shifting it into drive. Then318403:34:55.799 --> 03:34:58.760



I jump out and land on the road. I get318503:34:58.840 --> 03:35:01.799



up and go hide behind and some bushes. It's not318603:35:01.959 --> 03:35:05.319



long before the other police cars are following my rigged car.318703:35:06.040 --> 03:35:09.840



Hopefully the car stays straight at least long enough for318803:35:09.920 --> 03:35:12.879



me to get away. I get up and decide not318903:35:13.000 --> 03:35:16.120



to return to downtown village. I head in the direction319003:35:16.239 --> 03:35:19.360



of Strickfield Town Center Mall. When I get under a319103:35:19.399 --> 03:35:22.319



street light, I can see my bare knees are busted319203:35:22.360 --> 03:35:25.920



open shit, probably from when I jumped out of the319303:35:25.959 --> 03:35:30.159



police car. I didn't see or feel myself bleeding, but319403:35:30.239 --> 03:35:33.319



I know I'm hurt. Fuck am I even going to319503:35:33.360 --> 03:35:38.040



heal up. Since I'm dead, I've got to be more careful.319603:35:38.799 --> 03:35:40.799



I get hurt too much, it might be the end319703:35:40.879 --> 03:35:44.079



of me. I eventually make it to a truck stop319803:35:44.120 --> 03:35:48.319



down the road from the mall. Ooh, they're open twenty319903:35:48.360 --> 03:35:51.760



four hours too. That means I can clean up in320003:35:51.799 --> 03:35:55.520



one of their showers. But since they are open, that320103:35:55.680 --> 03:36:01.120



also means food. I run straight to Waltz's twenty four320203:36:01.159 --> 03:36:05.399



hour truck stop and head inside. Damn, I never realized320303:36:05.440 --> 03:36:08.680



how huge this place was from the outside. It's like320403:36:08.760 --> 03:36:11.600



a little indoor mini mol In here. They have a320503:36:11.600 --> 03:36:15.520



convenience store, a Popeye's Chicken, a burger king, a waffle house,320603:36:15.920 --> 03:36:18.639



a little store where you can buy different electronics, and320703:36:19.159 --> 03:36:22.920



a cellular phone place too, and not just restrooms, but320803:36:23.159 --> 03:36:27.319



showers too. I see a sign that says a Starbucks320903:36:27.360 --> 03:36:31.440



is coming soon, which reminds me I've got to get321003:36:31.479 --> 03:36:36.280



more coffee. But I also want more food. And there's321103:36:36.319 --> 03:36:39.760



a couple of nice porkers in here, including the one321203:36:40.319 --> 03:36:44.040



behind the counter. When they turn and see me grabbing321303:36:44.079 --> 03:36:47.799



the coffee pot and drinking from it, they ask if321403:36:47.799 --> 03:36:52.479



I'm okay. After I finish chugging the coffee, I give321503:36:52.520 --> 03:36:57.239



them a sweet little smile. I am now I giggle321603:36:57.319 --> 03:37:00.280



a little. I'm thinking maybe I should have saved the321703:37:00.319 --> 03:37:06.440



coffee to enjoy with my food. Even as an undead zombie,321803:37:06.680 --> 03:37:09.760



the feeling of a nice hot shower raining down on321903:37:09.840 --> 03:37:15.040



my naked body is still just the greatest feeling. After322003:37:15.120 --> 03:37:17.360



I've rinsed the shampoo out of my hair and the322103:37:17.440 --> 03:37:20.440



soap off my skin, I can still feel all the322203:37:20.479 --> 03:37:24.200



bullet holes in my torso and the injuries on my knees.322303:37:24.799 --> 03:37:27.239



I think I can even feel a few bullets still322403:37:27.239 --> 03:37:30.600



inside me. It sure took long enough to wash off322503:37:30.639 --> 03:37:33.760



all the blood I was covered in, especially from eating322603:37:33.799 --> 03:37:38.200



those porkers. I moan and finish my shower. Then I322703:37:38.239 --> 03:37:40.479



get out and look for fresh clothes in one of322803:37:40.520 --> 03:37:43.520



the locker rooms. Damn it, am I going to have322903:37:43.559 --> 03:37:46.879



to put my bloody, bullet holed clothes back on. I323003:37:46.920 --> 03:37:50.479



can't find a damn thing my size. These truckers are323103:37:50.520 --> 03:37:55.319



either hulking giants of men or big, motherly looking women.323203:37:56.280 --> 03:38:00.719



You think that any scrawny, petite girls drive semis? Fuck No,323303:38:01.040 --> 03:38:05.680



what bullshit? Then I finally do find some clothes in323403:38:05.760 --> 03:38:08.879



the very last locker I put on another pair of323503:38:08.920 --> 03:38:12.399



shorts to replace the ones I had. They're way shorter,323603:38:12.520 --> 03:38:15.559



but at least they fit. Then I throw on the323703:38:15.600 --> 03:38:18.360



T shirt. I'm about to look for shoes for my323803:38:18.600 --> 03:38:21.879



tiny little feet when I feel someone's eyes right on323903:38:21.959 --> 03:38:27.440



my back. I turn around and see, Oh, come on, really,324003:38:28.040 --> 03:38:32.479



I groan. Head Mistress Hiltonson is back. This time. She's324103:38:32.520 --> 03:38:37.159



wearing an all white outfit, pants, turtleneck, sweater, boots, and324203:38:37.319 --> 03:38:40.879



an overcoat. And if that ain't enough, she's definitely packing324303:38:40.920 --> 03:38:45.760



some hardware. She even has Is that a sword? No324403:38:45.840 --> 03:38:48.879



two ways about it. Hiltonson came looking to put me324503:38:49.040 --> 03:38:52.840



down the same way she put Bernadette down. Now I'm324603:38:52.879 --> 03:38:56.600



starting to shake again. The head nun herself is backing324703:38:56.639 --> 03:38:59.879



me into a corner. I tighten my tiny fists and324803:39:00.120 --> 03:39:05.079



feel myself slipping into that crazy place again. Seriously, Hilton, Sin,324903:39:05.319 --> 03:39:08.680



why can't you just leave me the fuck alone? She325003:39:08.840 --> 03:39:12.440



draws her sword. You know I can't do that, not325103:39:12.559 --> 03:39:16.520



when you've committed a very grave sin, Raylen, thou shalt325203:39:16.559 --> 03:39:19.879



not kill you are a child of Satan. Now and325303:39:20.000 --> 03:39:23.440



I swear before Almighty God, I shall bring you before325403:39:23.520 --> 03:39:28.200



him right here and now. I scream when the craziness325503:39:28.280 --> 03:39:30.559



takes me. Now, I don't even know if I'm at325603:39:30.600 --> 03:39:32.799



the wheel or not. When I run right at hilton'son325703:39:33.319 --> 03:39:35.399



she goes to swipe me with the sword, but I325803:39:35.479 --> 03:39:38.280



spear her one more time. I take her through the325903:39:38.319 --> 03:39:42.040



shower entrance and back out into the large restroom. Now326003:39:42.079 --> 03:39:45.079



I grab her head and start slamming it repeatedly on326103:39:45.120 --> 03:39:51.159



the floor. I'm gonna eat your brains, I sing crazily.326203:39:51.680 --> 03:39:56.760



I'm gonna eat your brains. Even in my crazy state,326303:39:57.360 --> 03:40:01.079



I have again underestimated her. She easily uses her martial326403:40:01.159 --> 03:40:04.239



arts training to get me off her. I'm crazed, but326503:40:04.319 --> 03:40:07.600



not stupid. I quickly get up and run away. It's326603:40:07.639 --> 03:40:10.879



not long before the bitch is after me again. I326703:40:11.000 --> 03:40:14.440



turn and run the wrong way. My eyes open wide326803:40:14.479 --> 03:40:17.559



when I see all kinds of Christmas stuff in here?326903:40:18.479 --> 03:40:21.040



How did I not see this store when I came327003:40:21.079 --> 03:40:24.840



in here? I scream when I feel Hiltonson's sword coming327103:40:24.920 --> 03:40:27.840



right out through my gut, but I'm not in any pain.327203:40:28.399 --> 03:40:32.680



I think I was just surprised. I'm dead right, so327303:40:32.959 --> 03:40:36.840



I don't feel pain. When Hiltonson pulls the sword back out,327403:40:37.159 --> 03:40:41.239



I turn back to her and leap right on her rains.327503:40:42.280 --> 03:40:45.159



Now I'm like a little spider monkey that won't let go.327603:40:45.600 --> 03:40:49.200



I'm ready to bite into Hiltonson's head when I'm feeling327703:40:49.239 --> 03:40:52.520



more gunshots in my side. The force of the bullets327803:40:52.600 --> 03:40:54.959



is making you let her go and fall on my back.327903:40:55.440 --> 03:40:57.760



I don't stay there, though. I get back up and328003:40:57.840 --> 03:41:01.479



run around in this little Christmas store. I'm grabbing snow328103:41:01.520 --> 03:41:05.360



globe displays and throwing them at Hiltonson. She's just knocking328203:41:05.399 --> 03:41:09.319



them away with her sword. There's nowhere for you to escape, Rayleen,328303:41:09.840 --> 03:41:13.200



Hiltonson tells me, just let me give you to God.328403:41:13.319 --> 03:41:18.639



Perhaps he will have mercy upon your tainted soul. Now328503:41:18.680 --> 03:41:22.120



I'm totally overtaken by the craziness. I just can't be328603:41:22.239 --> 03:41:25.760



backed into a corner. I just can't. I scream again328703:41:25.840 --> 03:41:28.040



and run right at her. I know I'm not at328803:41:28.079 --> 03:41:30.879



the wheel now when I feel myself leaping at Hiltonson328903:41:31.040 --> 03:41:33.840



and landing right into the blade of her sword again.329003:41:35.000 --> 03:41:37.680



Her blade can't kill me, but it's making me bleed329103:41:37.840 --> 03:41:41.040



more and more. These skimpy clothes I found are all329203:41:41.079 --> 03:41:44.520



red with blood. Now I grab the blade of Hiltonson's329303:41:44.520 --> 03:41:48.280



sword and pull myself further onto it. Anything to get329403:41:48.319 --> 03:41:50.959



to her. I scream as I grab her hair and329503:41:51.079 --> 03:41:57.760



move to bite her. I hate you, I roar. Now329603:41:57.799 --> 03:42:01.840



I have Hiltonson backed into a corner. She's grabbing boxes329703:42:01.840 --> 03:42:05.239



of Christmas figurines and smashing my head with them. I'm329803:42:05.280 --> 03:42:08.360



far too crazy to give up. Now, I scream one329903:42:08.399 --> 03:42:11.760



more time and bring my teeth nearly to her exposed wrist.330003:42:12.799 --> 03:42:17.879



Never Hiltonson screams with strength I never knew the headmistress330103:42:17.879 --> 03:42:21.840



of Strickfield Academy had. She lifts her sword with me330203:42:22.079 --> 03:42:26.639



still on it, and runs full speed ahead. We stop330303:42:26.680 --> 03:42:29.399



when the tip of the blade hits a wall. Now330403:42:29.479 --> 03:42:33.399



I'm impaled and stuck tight. No matter how much I330503:42:33.479 --> 03:42:36.399



try to move, I'm skewered like meat on a shish kebab.330603:42:36.959 --> 03:42:40.159



I look at Hiltonson and growl again. Then I scream,330703:42:40.760 --> 03:42:43.239



even though I don't breathe any more. I'm heaving and330803:42:43.399 --> 03:42:48.040



struggling like crazy to get free. I'm really feeling scared now,330903:42:48.360 --> 03:42:51.200



like I've never been scared in my whole life, and331003:42:51.319 --> 03:42:56.959



start crying. Then Hiltonson draws one of her guns. I331103:42:57.120 --> 03:43:01.040



really wanted to save Bernadette Raeleine. I really don't know331203:43:01.079 --> 03:43:03.239



what happened to the two of you to fill you331303:43:03.319 --> 03:43:07.079



both with so much hate. It's even stranger that the331403:43:07.079 --> 03:43:10.959



two of you became completely different incarnations of the walking dead.331503:43:11.760 --> 03:43:15.000



More than anything, I would wish nothing better than to331603:43:15.040 --> 03:43:18.360



try and restore you and make you listen to reason.331703:43:19.440 --> 03:43:24.639



But like Bernadette, you yourself are also beyond saving. Now331803:43:25.559 --> 03:43:32.200



she raises her gun, may may May God have mercy,331903:43:33.040 --> 03:43:36.879



And for the first time ever, I see the Headmistress cry.332003:43:38.239 --> 03:43:43.799



Then she lowers her gun. Almighty God, forgive me. I332103:43:43.840 --> 03:43:47.440



can't do it. She looks right at me as I'm332203:43:47.479 --> 03:43:51.360



still crying. I'm going to try and save you, Raylen.332303:43:52.600 --> 03:43:58.719



Her tears actually moved me. God in Heaven, she really332403:43:58.760 --> 03:44:02.120



does care about me. It sure would be the first332503:44:02.120 --> 03:44:08.319



time that anyone ever did. Just like that, my craziness332603:44:08.360 --> 03:44:14.079



fades away. I don't want to be this head Mistress,332703:44:15.000 --> 03:44:20.040



I say, actually feeling regret for what I've done tonight. No,332803:44:21.239 --> 03:44:24.360



I can't be saved. I've killed and eaten so many332903:44:24.399 --> 03:44:32.040



people without remorse, and I'm already getting hungry again. Please333003:44:32.440 --> 03:44:35.079



You've got to stop me, kill me and let me333103:44:35.159 --> 03:44:40.440



face judgment before God Christ. It fucking hurts so much333203:44:40.520 --> 03:44:44.159



now I can't stop crying. I'm a zombie who doesn't333303:44:44.200 --> 03:44:48.239



feel physical pain. But head Mistress Hiltonson just made me333403:44:48.319 --> 03:44:54.200



realize I still have a soul. On Christmas Day, the333503:44:54.280 --> 03:44:59.719



head Mistress actually made me feel that. Shoot me, head Mistress.333603:45:00.280 --> 03:45:03.399



I beg her again. It's the only thing you can333703:45:03.440 --> 03:45:07.239



do for me. I look her in the face. I'm333803:45:07.280 --> 03:45:10.280



ready to answer for what I've done. I hold out333903:45:10.280 --> 03:45:15.079



my hand. If you can't do it, give me the gun.334003:45:15.719 --> 03:45:19.559



You'd think Hiltonson wouldn't have done it, but she actually334103:45:19.639 --> 03:45:23.360



hands me the gun. No, I don't turn it on334203:45:23.399 --> 03:45:26.280



her and shoot her. I put the gun under my334303:45:26.440 --> 03:45:30.600



chin to blow my brains out. I try so hard334403:45:30.639 --> 03:45:36.120



to squeeze the trigger. I can't. I wail. I'm so afraid,334503:45:36.600 --> 03:45:43.559



head Mistress. She approaches me again. Then let me redeem you, child.334603:45:44.520 --> 03:45:48.719



It doesn't have to end this way. Then we both334703:45:48.760 --> 03:45:52.479



hear the sounds of police cars coming. I know Hiltonson334803:45:52.520 --> 03:45:55.920



didn't call them, not when she came after me herself.334903:45:56.760 --> 03:45:59.639



It finally dawns on me, what's going to happen If335003:45:59.680 --> 03:46:03.559



I get taken by the police, I'll become a labrat.335103:46:03.840 --> 03:46:07.280



I'll be dissected and studied, and no, I won't let335203:46:07.280 --> 03:46:10.120



that happen to me. I won't ever feel trapped again.335303:46:11.559 --> 03:46:15.159



Then Hiltonson puts her thumb on my forehead and makes335403:46:15.200 --> 03:46:20.559



the sign of the Cross before Almighty God. I baptize335503:46:20.600 --> 03:46:22.840



you in the name of the Father and the Son335603:46:23.280 --> 03:46:26.799



and the Holy Spirit. Then she puts her hand on335703:46:26.879 --> 03:46:30.319



the side of my face and gives me the last rites.335803:46:31.680 --> 03:46:36.639



I put my hand on hers. Thank you, I whisper.335903:46:38.000 --> 03:46:41.760



I know that you did redeem me. And on Christmas,336003:46:42.879 --> 03:46:45.840



if I do see God, I'll tell him what you336103:46:45.920 --> 03:46:50.000



did for me. We hear the police running towards us.336203:46:50.559 --> 03:46:53.239



As soon as they find both of us, I make336303:46:53.280 --> 03:46:56.399



the sign of the cross, put the gun under my336403:46:56.520 --> 03:47:04.319



chin again and squeeze the trigger. Before everything fades, Head336503:47:04.360 --> 03:47:09.440



Mistress Hiltonson says, may God have mercy upon your soul336603:47:10.159 --> 03:47:17.760



this Christmas night, child, And then I only see the336703:47:17.840 --> 03:47:35.559



bright white light. Welcome Home by Mike Eskewy. Some people336803:47:35.680 --> 03:47:40.280



love coming home for Christmas. It's seeing loved ones, family336903:47:40.360 --> 03:47:44.200



dinners and falling asleep by a roaring fire while it's337003:47:44.239 --> 03:47:49.760



colder than hell outside. This will be different than the usual. Hi,337103:47:50.079 --> 03:47:54.079



how are you son? This year will be explaining where337203:47:54.120 --> 03:47:57.440



the hell I've been for five years and why everyone337303:47:57.520 --> 03:48:02.280



thought I was dead during that time, plus explaining that337403:48:02.440 --> 03:48:08.440



other thing. I'm a werewolf and married and I have337503:48:08.520 --> 03:48:13.799



a kid, plus another one on the way. Yeah, Josh,337603:48:14.040 --> 03:48:17.719



you sure know how to make Christmas memorable. I mean,337703:48:17.799 --> 03:48:21.120



it's not shitting on the carpet on Christmas Morning levels337803:48:21.159 --> 03:48:28.559



of memorable. Oddly enough, still a possibility, though, don't ask.337903:48:29.680 --> 03:48:32.559



I've got a lot of explaining to do to my parents.338003:48:33.159 --> 03:48:37.159



I hope they understand and maybe even accept that their338103:48:37.200 --> 03:48:42.840



son is different than when he left. He's not the aimless,338203:48:43.040 --> 03:48:46.319



horny kid who left one day and never came back338303:48:46.399 --> 03:48:51.840



after a chance encounter with a girl. No, I'm older, wiser,338403:48:51.920 --> 03:48:55.559



and hopefully on the way to being a good father.338503:48:56.520 --> 03:49:01.239



My dad, Bobby Fox, wasn't a bad guy, but he338603:49:01.319 --> 03:49:03.479



didn't care. As long as he could drink down at338703:49:03.559 --> 03:49:06.840



Jason's Pub after his shift at west Hill Secondary School,338803:49:07.879 --> 03:49:11.120



he didn't care. He just wasn't there for me at338903:49:11.120 --> 03:49:14.760



all unless he needed a beer or someone to come339003:49:14.879 --> 03:49:18.479



pick him up when he couldn't drive home. He didn't339103:49:18.760 --> 03:49:21.959



hit me or anything, but he could be mean when339203:49:21.959 --> 03:49:25.799



he wanted to be my wife. Tracy was the only339303:49:25.840 --> 03:49:29.040



one who welcomed me into her pack five years ago.339403:49:29.760 --> 03:49:32.600



It was a chance email that led to a knight339503:49:33.200 --> 03:49:36.159



that could have ended with me as a bloody smear339603:49:36.239 --> 03:49:39.360



on the side of the road, with me being just339703:49:39.440 --> 03:49:45.719



another missing person reported and ignored by Ontario Provincial police. Instead,339803:49:45.840 --> 03:49:49.280



she saw something in me. She saw the real me,339903:49:50.479 --> 03:49:53.799



a vulnerable kid who wasn't that bad a guy, but340003:49:54.520 --> 03:49:58.319



let his hormones get the better of him. Tracy was340103:49:58.360 --> 03:50:03.000



a werewolf or a shifter. She was a gorgeous Ojibwe340203:50:03.159 --> 03:50:07.799



girl who happened to have a supernaturally infused bloodline. She340303:50:07.879 --> 03:50:11.079



was looking for someone to have a family with, and340403:50:11.159 --> 03:50:15.239



she chose me because I was honest. In her world,340503:50:15.680 --> 03:50:18.520



her pups take on traits from the mate and the mother.340603:50:19.239 --> 03:50:22.000



She wanted me because she saw I was honest at340703:50:22.040 --> 03:50:26.360



my core. In return, she offered me a new life340803:50:26.399 --> 03:50:30.319



and a new world that I never dreamed of. I340903:50:30.399 --> 03:50:34.760



woke up the following day as something new. I was reborn.341003:50:35.159 --> 03:50:38.799



I was part of her pack and her kin. Indigenous341103:50:38.799 --> 03:50:42.000



families are pretty close knit up in Cape Crocker, but341203:50:42.159 --> 03:50:47.440



hers was particularly close. It wasn't as easy as walking341303:50:47.520 --> 03:50:50.440



up and meeting her family and shaking hands with Dad341403:50:50.440 --> 03:50:55.159



and her brothers. I had to earn my spot. It341503:50:55.239 --> 03:50:57.760



was a challenge, and I know I'll be tested again341603:50:58.120 --> 03:51:02.079



and rightfully, so let me tell you it was harder341703:51:02.120 --> 03:51:04.840



than any hazing I ever had in the locker room341803:51:04.840 --> 03:51:08.920



at hockey. Learning how to control my new lupine form341903:51:09.399 --> 03:51:13.120



shifting into the warrior form are hybrid between man and342003:51:13.200 --> 03:51:16.840



wolf at will. The hardest part was learning to control342103:51:16.920 --> 03:51:20.760



the anger, the aggression, and the natural need to hunt.342203:51:21.600 --> 03:51:24.879



It's an honor to have this remarkable gift blessed upon me,342303:51:25.959 --> 03:51:29.440



just a stupid kid from Owen Sound. I got a342403:51:29.440 --> 03:51:33.440



beautiful wife, a baby boy I'd do anything for, and342503:51:33.520 --> 03:51:36.959



another one we're expecting in the spring. It was worth342603:51:37.040 --> 03:51:39.799



leaving it all behind for something you only see in342703:51:40.280 --> 03:51:45.760



bad Hallmark movies. Right Still, her dad, Howard, and I342803:51:45.799 --> 03:51:48.799



would come to respect each other, and I'd come to342903:51:48.879 --> 03:51:52.239



love him. He was the literal wise old Indian and343003:51:52.360 --> 03:51:55.879



probably the sharpest guy I've ever met. Also, he could343103:51:55.920 --> 03:51:58.760



tell the funniest jokes I've ever heard, too, and was343203:51:58.840 --> 03:52:03.079



way raunchier than me at my worst. Tracy's family eventually343303:52:03.120 --> 03:52:07.399



accepted me and it really felt like home. We would343403:52:07.440 --> 03:52:10.920



hunt together as a pack, run across the Niagara escarpment343503:52:11.000 --> 03:52:14.239



with our hearts almost tearing out of our chests. We343603:52:14.280 --> 03:52:17.479



would build great bonfires, and we'd howl at the moon,343703:52:17.840 --> 03:52:21.959



and they'd teach me songs in their languages. Fuck. I343803:52:21.959 --> 03:52:29.520



wouldn't trade it for anything. However, I miss my own family,343903:52:30.639 --> 03:52:34.120



and it's time to go home. I want to show344003:52:34.159 --> 03:52:36.479



them that I grew up and am capable of being344103:52:36.520 --> 03:52:39.760



a father. I need to show my own father what344203:52:39.799 --> 03:52:42.920



a real father looks like, even if he's now a344303:52:43.079 --> 03:52:47.120



seven foot tall wolfman and has claws that can cut344403:52:47.159 --> 03:52:51.520



tempered steel. Did I mention because I'm a non blood344503:52:51.520 --> 03:52:55.000



shifter that I'm a little short for my new life.344603:52:55.760 --> 03:52:58.319



I don't look as majestic as others do in the tribe.344703:52:58.360 --> 03:53:02.719



But that's okay. Can't win the lottery all the time, right.344803:53:04.200 --> 03:53:09.079



You can't run from your past forever. Eventually you have344903:53:09.200 --> 03:53:14.520



to go home. It's Christmas time, isn't that when miracles345003:53:14.520 --> 03:53:17.520



and all that shit are supposed to happen. We're on345103:53:17.600 --> 03:53:20.159



the road back to Owen Sound now, and I'm dreading345203:53:20.239 --> 03:53:24.479



facing my mom and dad again. Just outside Hepworth and345303:53:24.559 --> 03:53:28.440



probably about thirty minutes away from the most awkward conversation345403:53:28.559 --> 03:53:32.680



of my life. They'll love Tracy, I know they will.345503:53:33.239 --> 03:53:37.040



My mom will fawn over my son Noah until he345603:53:37.239 --> 03:53:41.879



changes into another seven foot tall monster. Still, she'll get345703:53:41.920 --> 03:53:45.280



over it, and she'll be Grandma Linda to Noah once345803:53:45.360 --> 03:53:50.000



she stops shitting her pants. He's years away from his345903:53:50.040 --> 03:53:53.360



first change, though, but he's already showing the traits of346003:53:53.360 --> 03:53:57.559



his spiritual blood. He'll be stronger than Tracy and I combined,346103:53:57.639 --> 03:54:00.440



and I'd be lying if that didn't put a huge346203:54:00.440 --> 03:54:05.319



smile on my goofy face. However, he's just as much346303:54:05.399 --> 03:54:09.639



theirs as he has mine and Tracy's. We're family. I346403:54:09.719 --> 03:54:12.639



want our families to know each other. I want to346503:54:12.639 --> 03:54:15.680



give my family the Christmas that my parents never gave me,346603:54:15.760 --> 03:54:21.479



and my sister Jenna presents goofy pictures and awkward Christmas dinners,346703:54:22.000 --> 03:54:25.680



the whole shebang. My son Noah is asleep in the346803:54:25.719 --> 03:54:29.959



back seat and makes a little cooing noise. He looked346903:54:30.000 --> 03:54:33.479



so cute in his snowsuit. One of the res aunties347003:54:33.639 --> 03:54:38.000



made him his own little moccasins real deer leather too.347103:54:38.559 --> 03:54:41.280



I reached my hand back and moved his hair out347203:54:41.319 --> 03:54:44.559



of his face. I touched his little cheeks, and I347303:54:44.600 --> 03:54:48.000



can't help but marvel at the thought I helped make347403:54:48.079 --> 03:54:53.360



that I was a dad. Josh, you know we don't347503:54:53.399 --> 03:54:56.479



have to do this. Tracy looked over at me from347603:54:56.520 --> 03:54:59.479



the driver's seat. The drive in the winter is never347703:54:59.600 --> 03:55:03.360



pleasant on Highway six, but she handles it like a pro.347803:55:03.959 --> 03:55:06.959



It's snowing pretty heavily, and I'll wager the highway will347903:55:07.000 --> 03:55:09.200



be closed by the time we get to Owen Sound.348003:55:10.120 --> 03:55:13.319



It always gets closed around this time in December and348103:55:13.479 --> 03:55:18.280



usually stays that way overnight. We do. They deserve to348203:55:18.360 --> 03:55:22.079



know about me, about us, about Noah, and there soon348303:55:22.159 --> 03:55:26.079



to be new grandkid. On one hand, maybe she was348403:55:26.159 --> 03:55:28.799



right they didn't have to know, and maybe it was348503:55:28.840 --> 03:55:33.920



better that I was just missing Wagosh. You know I348603:55:34.000 --> 03:55:37.319



love you and only want what's best. She called me348703:55:37.360 --> 03:55:40.959



that when she wanted to reassure me. Wagosh is the348803:55:41.000 --> 03:55:44.200



Ojibwe word for fox, and her pet name for me.348903:55:45.040 --> 03:55:49.920



Her name was Ogijita, and it meant warrior. Hers was349003:55:50.040 --> 03:55:54.440



significantly cooler than mine. I'm not of blood, so I349103:55:54.479 --> 03:55:57.639



don't get a spirit name like hers. But still she349203:55:57.760 --> 03:56:02.760



calls me Wagosh or Foxy in human company. I did349303:56:02.840 --> 03:56:05.719



feel that pang of guilt, and that image of my349403:56:05.799 --> 03:56:09.479



mother crying in my bedroom and never knowing exactly what349503:56:09.680 --> 03:56:13.040



happened to me. The thought of my sister Jenna never349603:56:13.120 --> 03:56:17.239



knowing either. I didn't want them imagining me rotting in349703:56:17.319 --> 03:56:20.440



a ditch somewhere or being dead at the bottom of349803:56:20.479 --> 03:56:24.319



Georgian Bay. I wasn't that guy. I wanted to be349903:56:24.319 --> 03:56:27.920



better than I was in my previous life. That meant350003:56:27.959 --> 03:56:31.879



going home and facing the music. If we keep them350103:56:31.879 --> 03:56:35.239



out of our lives, then they won't go looking for them.350203:56:35.639 --> 03:56:40.239



They only care about us and hunting us. She glanced350303:56:40.280 --> 03:56:43.159



over at me with those big brown eyes, and I350403:56:43.159 --> 03:56:49.799



could see, for a half second concern hunters. People who350503:56:49.920 --> 03:56:53.440



knew about us shifters and hunted us for a variety350603:56:53.479 --> 03:56:58.840



of reasons. They came prepared, high powered weapons, silver and350703:56:58.920 --> 03:57:03.760



other stuff I've only heard whispered about around campfires. They350803:57:03.840 --> 03:57:07.879



rarely leave survivors. No one knows where they came from350903:57:08.000 --> 03:57:11.639



or even how they knew how to find us. Divine wrath.351003:57:12.520 --> 03:57:14.479



I don't think so. But if you ask me five351103:57:14.600 --> 03:57:17.959



years ago, if I believed in werewolves, I'd have called351203:57:18.000 --> 03:57:20.959



you fucking crazy and sent you up the looney bin.351303:57:21.920 --> 03:57:25.000



A group of hunters got Tracy's brothers a few years back,351403:57:26.159 --> 03:57:28.479



had them cornered out in the bush, and laid a351503:57:28.520 --> 03:57:32.520



trap for them. We only found the lingering smell of gunpowder,351603:57:33.079 --> 03:57:37.479



scraps of their pelts, and a silvered bowie knife stuck351703:57:37.520 --> 03:57:41.440



in a tree. The hunters left a gruesome and cruel351803:57:41.559 --> 03:57:48.319



message scrawled in blood and entrails across the ground, You're next, mongrel.351903:57:49.079 --> 03:57:52.280



We buried what we could under a full moon and352003:57:52.440 --> 03:57:56.639



swore revenge if we ever found them. We burned sweet352103:57:56.680 --> 03:58:01.120



grass and sage and offered tobacco. As per Tracy's family traditions,352203:58:02.200 --> 03:58:05.959



the res held a sacred fire vigil for days. As352303:58:05.959 --> 03:58:09.200



we laid them to rest, I offered them my word352403:58:09.319 --> 03:58:13.319



that I'd see vengeance visited in this world or the next.352503:58:14.239 --> 03:58:17.120



That was the only night I ever saw Tracy cry.352603:58:18.120 --> 03:58:21.159



Her father was stoic, and I didn't see him so352703:58:21.319 --> 03:58:26.399



much as smile For months afterwards. We've been careful ever since,352803:58:27.079 --> 03:58:31.079



watching our backs, patrolling our property on the reserve. We352903:58:31.239 --> 03:58:34.719



know their scent from what was left behind. Smelt like353003:58:34.799 --> 03:58:39.600



old spice, gun oil and stale astro glide. Our heightened353103:58:39.639 --> 03:58:42.559



senses mean we could even sense their spirits to a353203:58:42.600 --> 03:58:46.559



limited extent. They left behind a cockiness you could feel353303:58:46.639 --> 03:58:50.239



seep into your pores. However, at the end of the day,353403:58:51.079 --> 03:58:57.719



they were human. Humans bleed and humans die. They could353503:58:57.799 --> 03:59:02.840



be killed, probably a bunch of dude bros. If we353603:59:02.920 --> 03:59:06.360



ever find them, we'll tear them apart, limb from limb353703:59:06.559 --> 03:59:09.319



and make sure for every second of pain they visited353803:59:09.360 --> 03:59:13.520



on Terry and Shane, we give them something above and beyond.353903:59:14.440 --> 03:59:18.200



It won't be quick, but I will enjoy it. What354003:59:18.399 --> 03:59:23.079



was that old video game saying rip and tear? I354103:59:23.120 --> 03:59:26.360



shook off the memory as we finally rounded the corner354203:59:26.399 --> 03:59:29.360



into spring Mount and were just outside of the city354303:59:29.399 --> 03:59:32.520



limits of Owen Sound. We'd be at my house in354403:59:32.559 --> 03:59:35.920



a few minutes and then well, I don't know what354503:59:36.920 --> 03:59:40.000



I see roads as we passed the car dealerships and354603:59:40.040 --> 03:59:44.559



the truck's wheels slipped ever so slightly. This definitely meant354703:59:44.600 --> 03:59:46.600



they were going to close the roads. By the time354803:59:46.639 --> 03:59:49.959



we got back from my parents' house. Snow was picking354903:59:50.040 --> 03:59:52.559



up too. As we passed the movie theater and the355003:59:52.600 --> 03:59:57.200



old abandoned Blockbuster video. The roads will be impassable within355103:59:57.280 --> 03:59:59.760



an hour. I picked a hell of a day to355203:59:59.840 --> 04:00:03.959



dre didn't. I, Well, it's too late to back out now.355304:00:04.840 --> 04:00:07.559



I'd been by my parents' place a few times as355404:00:07.600 --> 04:00:11.280



a wolf late at night. Tracy would scold me when355504:00:11.319 --> 04:00:13.879



I got back home because she said I wasn't careful355604:00:13.959 --> 04:00:18.239



enough and didn't maximize our gifts to stay hidden. She355704:00:18.319 --> 04:00:21.559



knew I was worried about my folks, but I was careful.355804:00:22.280 --> 04:00:25.280



No one could track me. I was faster than anything355904:00:25.319 --> 04:00:28.520



on four legs had any right to be. No one356004:00:28.600 --> 04:00:33.000



saw me, I'm sure of it. We arrived at my356104:00:33.120 --> 04:00:37.399



parents' house, right by west Hill Secondary School. They're decorated356204:00:37.399 --> 04:00:40.959



for Christmas lights and light up snowmen that I'm pretty356304:00:41.000 --> 04:00:44.680



sure were around since the seventies. We pulled into the356404:00:44.760 --> 04:00:47.959



driveway next to my dad's SUV and mom's shitty Kia.356504:00:48.600 --> 04:00:52.079



I didn't see Jenna's car. Maybe she didn't come home356604:00:52.120 --> 04:00:57.040



this year. That's weird. I unbuckled Noah's car seat and356704:00:57.120 --> 04:00:59.399



started to get him ready to meet his Grandpa, Bob356804:00:59.440 --> 04:01:03.680



and Grandma my folks. I grabbed his bag of stuff356904:01:03.719 --> 04:01:07.399



and our backpacks and slung them over my shoulder. Tracy357004:01:07.520 --> 04:01:10.719



touched my arm and looked around into the early evening air.357104:01:11.760 --> 04:01:16.840



She wasn't just looking, she was looking. She reached out357204:01:16.840 --> 04:01:20.000



with her shifter senses and was actively looking for threats.357304:01:20.840 --> 04:01:23.559



She had brought our family into a new location and357404:01:23.600 --> 04:01:26.360



a place where she didn't know every entrance and exit.357504:01:27.120 --> 04:01:30.000



First and foremost, she was a hunter, a soldier in357604:01:30.040 --> 04:01:34.319



a supernatural war. But she was something else too, a357704:01:34.399 --> 04:01:38.079



mom who would protect her family with tooth and claw.357804:01:39.120 --> 04:01:43.920



Sh Listen. She whispered in a way that only we357904:01:44.079 --> 04:01:47.959



could hear. I wasn't as in tune with things as358004:01:47.959 --> 04:01:50.760



she was. I'm pretty sure she could hear a mouse358104:01:50.799 --> 04:01:54.559



fart the next town over if she tried. Tracy's eyes358204:01:54.600 --> 04:01:57.879



took on a more animalistic look as she was reaching358304:01:57.920 --> 04:02:01.000



out with her senses. It was beautiful in its own358404:02:01.040 --> 04:02:03.360



way and made me love the meld of the beast358504:02:03.440 --> 04:02:07.360



and woman that she was. In our extended senses, we358604:02:07.399 --> 04:02:10.840



could feel the hum of the earth itself, the slight358704:02:10.959 --> 04:02:14.840



tremors that life itself put out. It was like feeling358804:02:14.920 --> 04:02:19.040



the heartbeat of the planet. She hated when I called358904:02:19.079 --> 04:02:22.680



it using the force, but what else could you call it?359004:02:23.440 --> 04:02:28.920



My wife was basically a hot fuckable Luke Skywalker. What359104:02:30.120 --> 04:02:33.559



I don't hear shit, trace couple of cars in the road,359204:02:34.600 --> 04:02:38.920



dog barking, and probably some asshole watching young Sheldon or359304:02:38.920 --> 04:02:43.600



something a few houses down. She wasn't convinced that all359404:02:43.719 --> 04:02:48.600



was clear. She was on red alert for something. There's359504:02:48.639 --> 04:02:51.440



no way the hunters would be so brazen as to359604:02:51.479 --> 04:02:57.200



attack on Christmas Eve, right, Their dude, bro werewolf hunters,359704:02:57.280 --> 04:03:01.799



not the Terminator, I mean worse to worse. We hulk359804:03:01.879 --> 04:03:04.440



out and tear them limb from limb, and then have359904:03:04.559 --> 04:03:08.120



family Christmas coated in the guts of our fallen foes.360004:03:09.040 --> 04:03:13.440



Its Game of Thrones meets the Brady Bunch. It'll be perfect. Now.360104:03:13.479 --> 04:03:16.879



I'll admit that my mind was elsewhere, trying to psych360204:03:17.000 --> 04:03:19.760



up for walking up and knocking on my own front door.360304:03:20.520 --> 04:03:23.200



I could feel my stomach tightened up, and I was360404:03:23.239 --> 04:03:28.000



even a little sick. This was it, game time, Foxy.360504:03:28.799 --> 04:03:31.120



I held Noah in my arms and walked up the360604:03:31.159 --> 04:03:34.600



stairs of our front porch, and Tracy followed behind us,360704:03:34.680 --> 04:03:39.799



still searching out into the night. Knock, knock, hold on.360804:03:40.559 --> 04:03:43.239



I hear my mother yell from behind the closed door.360904:03:43.879 --> 04:03:46.479



She was likely in the kitchen, despite her being a361004:03:46.600 --> 04:03:49.879



terrible cook. There was a reason I worked at Little361104:03:49.920 --> 04:03:53.200



Caesar's down the road for most of my time before college.361204:03:53.680 --> 04:03:55.879



It was shitty pizza, but it was better than what361304:03:55.959 --> 04:04:00.600



we had at home. Distinctive footsteps on the hard floor,361404:04:01.040 --> 04:04:06.200



and they're getting closer. Breathe. Noah reached out his tiny361504:04:06.239 --> 04:04:08.799



hand and poked me in the face, and I giggle.361604:04:09.479 --> 04:04:12.360



Sh You're gonna be a good boy and meet your grandma.361704:04:13.159 --> 04:04:16.159



The door opened up, and my mother, Linda Fox, just361804:04:16.200 --> 04:04:19.079



stared at me like she's seen a ghost and doesn't361904:04:19.120 --> 04:04:22.280



say a word for the space of a heartbeat. Her362004:04:22.319 --> 04:04:29.000



eyes darted to Noah and then to Tracy standing behind me. Uh, Hi, Mom,362104:04:29.799 --> 04:04:33.159



I'm home, I said, kind of sheepishly, and eke out362204:04:33.159 --> 04:04:36.680



a smile. My son waved at my mom, and you362304:04:36.719 --> 04:04:42.680



can see the torrent of emotions ready to be unleashed. Josh,362404:04:43.120 --> 04:04:48.040



you're alive. She started immediately crying and threw her arms362504:04:48.079 --> 04:04:51.440



around Noah and I. My werewolf senses could pick up362604:04:51.479 --> 04:04:55.879



all of her emotions relief, happiness, anger, and so many more.362704:04:56.520 --> 04:05:00.280



Her emotional floodgates threatened to overwhelm me and even Tray362804:05:01.000 --> 04:05:03.840



She hugged Noah and I so tight that he began362904:05:03.920 --> 04:05:08.000



to cry a little bit. Linda, who's at the door,363004:05:08.520 --> 04:05:13.159



don't let the heat out? Oh yeah, Dad, this is363104:05:13.239 --> 04:05:17.559



gonna go well, I can tell Hi. Can we take363204:05:17.600 --> 04:05:22.079



this inside? I escaped Mom's wwe grip on me long363304:05:22.200 --> 04:05:23.959



enough for all of us to get in the house363404:05:24.239 --> 04:05:28.360



and close the door behind us. It's home still though.363504:05:29.040 --> 04:05:31.920



The Christmas tree is up in the living room, hallway363604:05:32.040 --> 04:05:34.959



is decorated with tinsel, and even my stupid wreath I363704:05:35.000 --> 04:05:37.959



made in fifth grade it's still hung up on the363804:05:38.000 --> 04:05:42.120



front door. Noah's eyes were wide with excitement because of363904:05:42.159 --> 04:05:47.920



new people. How where Josh? We thought you were dead?364004:05:48.760 --> 04:05:55.239



Mom stammered between hysterical crying MS. Fox, I'm his wife, Tracy.364104:05:56.120 --> 04:06:00.159



Maybe maybe we should sit down. There's a lot to364204:06:00.239 --> 04:06:04.959



talk about, and frankly, ms Fox, it's gonna sound pretty364304:06:06.079 --> 04:06:09.639



fucked up. There's the woman I love, straight to the364404:06:09.719 --> 04:06:13.600



point and authoritative. All of us made our way into364504:06:13.639 --> 04:06:17.760



our tiny living room, and there was Dad, already half drunk,364604:06:18.120 --> 04:06:24.719



sitting on the couch. This was expected, Play it cool.364704:06:26.719 --> 04:06:30.719



Where the fuck have you been? Dad is concerned, and364804:06:30.760 --> 04:06:34.399



I could tell he cared, but we're going with anger first.364904:06:35.760 --> 04:06:40.840



It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see how it plays out. Hi,365004:06:40.959 --> 04:06:44.440



do you too, Dad? Noah runs out into the living365104:06:44.520 --> 04:06:48.239



room and immediately starts playing with the dog Pip. He'll365204:06:48.239 --> 04:06:50.879



be occupied for a little while while we attempt to365304:06:50.920 --> 04:06:54.120



talk to mom and Dad. I'll fix up that whole365404:06:54.159 --> 04:06:58.159



piece in the Middle East thing too while I'm at it. Oh. Great,365504:06:58.639 --> 04:07:01.040



not only back from the dead, but now you've got365604:07:01.079 --> 04:07:05.159



a kid. Any more surprises, Josh? Should I have a365704:07:05.200 --> 04:07:08.959



heart attack now or wait a little while. Look, I'm365804:07:09.000 --> 04:07:11.920



glad to see you too. Yeah. I've got a lot365904:07:11.959 --> 04:07:15.239



to explain and a lot to say sorry for. I'm366004:07:15.280 --> 04:07:17.399



sorry that I had to go away for a few years.366104:07:17.959 --> 04:07:22.840



I'm sorry that I didn't call. I couldn't And bullshit, Josh,366204:07:23.079 --> 04:07:27.920



Your poor mother and sister thought you were fucking dead. Okay,366304:07:28.680 --> 04:07:32.520



Dad was not fucking around. This was the mean drunk366404:07:32.559 --> 04:07:35.799



I'd seen countless years ago. This was the man who366504:07:35.840 --> 04:07:37.959



called me a loser when I said I was working366604:07:38.040 --> 04:07:41.680



a hot dog kart for a summer during college. Tracy366704:07:41.719 --> 04:07:44.520



sat on the floor with Noah and Pip and watched366804:07:44.559 --> 04:07:47.719



me handle this. She trusted me to keep a cool366904:07:47.799 --> 04:07:51.000



head and deal with Dad. My mom just sat on367004:07:51.040 --> 04:07:53.920



the couch quietly and tried to process everything that was367104:07:53.959 --> 04:07:56.879



happening right in front of her. I could feel it,367204:07:57.639 --> 04:08:02.840



that anger rising inside me behind my eyes. This wasn't367304:08:02.840 --> 04:08:05.520



the anger that someone cuts you off in traffic or367404:08:05.879 --> 04:08:09.440



keyed your car. This was shift or blood pulsing through367504:08:09.479 --> 04:08:13.479



my veins. Hot intensity flooded through me, and I could367604:08:13.479 --> 04:08:22.040



feel something triggering. I can't stop it. Uh oh, beast mode.367704:08:22.159 --> 04:08:26.799



It's morphin tine, motherfucker. My muscles popped and rippled and367804:08:26.840 --> 04:08:31.000



tore through. I felt my height increase and my arms lengthened.367904:08:31.760 --> 04:08:36.000



Then finally, my claws extended from my hands. My face contorted,368004:08:36.040 --> 04:08:40.639



and my werewolf snout tore through my skull, red and368104:08:40.719 --> 04:08:44.600



brown fur coated my body in an instant, and shredded368204:08:44.600 --> 04:08:49.920



my clothes to rags except what little remained of my jeens. No,368304:08:51.760 --> 04:08:55.719



my vocalization reverberated on a frequency that I'm sure God368404:08:55.799 --> 04:09:00.120



himself could hear. Everyone would bear witness to the raw368504:09:00.280 --> 04:09:05.319



power of my werewolf form laid bare today. Dad would368604:09:05.360 --> 04:09:10.760



hear me, and God is my witness. He would listen.368704:09:10.920 --> 04:09:14.760



Mom and Dad froze up and suddenly stopped crying and368804:09:14.840 --> 04:09:19.600



yelling and cowered on the worn couch. I needed to368904:09:19.719 --> 04:09:23.719



grow up, and I couldn't do it around you. My369004:09:23.879 --> 04:09:26.280



head hit the ceiling of the living room as I369104:09:26.360 --> 04:09:29.360



stood at my shifter height. I looked down at my369204:09:29.479 --> 04:09:35.319



parents and saw their fear, but something else as well.369304:09:36.840 --> 04:09:42.040



I don't know what to call it. Mom, Dad. I369404:09:42.120 --> 04:09:44.959



came home because I need you to know me again.369504:09:45.440 --> 04:09:47.879



I need you to meet my wife, meet my son.369604:09:48.440 --> 04:09:54.479



And it's Christmas, guys. The anger started to subside for369704:09:54.559 --> 04:09:58.920



a moment. I was starting to regain my composure. I369804:09:58.959 --> 04:10:02.159



could put together a thought and think straight. I felt369904:10:02.200 --> 04:10:05.360



Noah's hand on my foot, which had transformed into a370004:10:05.399 --> 04:10:09.440



wicked paw appendage. Maybe I could shift back down into370104:10:09.520 --> 04:10:15.000



human form and start to have a conversation with everyone. Daddy,370204:10:15.600 --> 04:10:22.000



are you okay? Gunfire? The living room windows glass exploded370304:10:22.000 --> 04:10:25.360



in a hail of bullets, and the screaming started. The370404:10:25.479 --> 04:10:28.920



hunters had found us, and they intended to finish us off.370504:10:30.280 --> 04:10:33.920



How did they find us doesn't matter, It's go time.370604:10:34.239 --> 04:10:36.799



Tracy grabbed Noah unrolled with him on the floor behind370704:10:36.840 --> 04:10:39.239



the couch. She went back and pulled my mom and370804:10:39.319 --> 04:10:43.040



Dad to the floor. Rapid automatic gunfire cut through the370904:10:43.079 --> 04:10:46.559



air and you could actually see tracer rounds from their weapons.371004:10:47.200 --> 04:10:50.120



These guys were not fucking around. They brought all the371104:10:50.159 --> 04:10:53.399



toys they could to take us down. I don't know you,371204:10:53.559 --> 04:10:57.120



but I know your son and I love him. Protect371304:10:57.159 --> 04:11:00.840



my son and I'll protect yours, Ray said in a371404:11:00.879 --> 04:11:04.239



quick voice. I hit the deck and kept my head371504:11:04.280 --> 04:11:08.200



down and exchanged looks with Tracy. She was readying herself371604:11:08.239 --> 04:11:12.079



for action, preparing to change into her warrior form like me.371704:11:12.920 --> 04:11:16.360



I looked at Noah. He was scared and started to cry.371804:11:17.360 --> 04:11:20.000



Mom and Dad had enough of their senses to guard371904:11:20.040 --> 04:11:23.680



this young child now thrust into their care. Mom held372004:11:23.719 --> 04:11:26.559



Noah closer to her chest and Dad kept his body372104:11:26.600 --> 04:11:29.639



close to both of them. My parents looked at their372204:11:29.680 --> 04:11:33.200



son the werewolf in the living room and didn't say372304:11:33.239 --> 04:11:37.760



a word, but all was communicated with a glance, save us,372404:11:38.440 --> 04:11:42.360



save your son. There was a brief interruption during the attack.372504:11:42.920 --> 04:11:47.559



They're probably reloading. Tracy stood up. She didn't waste any time.372604:11:48.200 --> 04:11:52.879



Full beast mode super cyan fuck around and find out time.372704:11:53.680 --> 04:11:58.200



John Wick with teeth, claws and tits, Tracy's shifter warrior372804:11:58.280 --> 04:12:01.479



form emerged from her small friend and rose to over372904:12:01.559 --> 04:12:05.360



nine feet tall. Her rough brown dark fur coated her373004:12:05.399 --> 04:12:09.360



body and was now streaked with bright red highlights. She373104:12:09.440 --> 04:12:14.000



was dawning, her own version of spiritual warpaint. She and373204:12:14.079 --> 04:12:17.879



I both crouched below the destroyed window frame. We readied373304:12:17.920 --> 04:12:20.600



our powerful legs to burst out as soon as we373404:12:20.639 --> 04:12:24.280



had a solid location on where the attack came from.373504:12:24.760 --> 04:12:28.040



Come outside and die like the freaks you are, A373604:12:28.079 --> 04:12:32.200



young man's voice called out from the darkness outside. We373704:12:32.280 --> 04:12:35.920



both heard the sounds of fresh magazines being inserted into373804:12:35.959 --> 04:12:40.200



several sets of weapons. The guns sounded heavy, like military373904:12:40.280 --> 04:12:45.000



rifles of some sort, probably some kind of machine gun. Great,374004:12:45.520 --> 04:12:47.920



we get the werewolf hunters who played too much fucking374104:12:48.000 --> 04:12:51.440



call of duty. We could hear a distinct set of374204:12:51.479 --> 04:12:54.479



about four of them moving around in the snow outside374304:12:55.040 --> 04:12:58.000



their boots, crunching on the thin layer of ice and374404:12:58.040 --> 04:13:01.799



trying their damnedest to stay quiet. Four of them and374504:13:01.879 --> 04:13:06.559



two of us. This should be easy. However, thinking like374604:13:06.639 --> 04:13:08.920



that will get us both shot full of holes and374704:13:09.120 --> 04:13:13.600



likely silver bladed in the heart. We can regenerate from374804:13:13.639 --> 04:13:18.280



most wounds, but it's game over if it's silver. Tracy374904:13:18.360 --> 04:13:21.559



flies forward and easily clears the broken window frame and375004:13:21.639 --> 04:13:25.399



lands in the front yard, matching her fluid movement, and375104:13:25.479 --> 04:13:28.840



before I can even recognize what I'm doing, I'm beside375204:13:28.840 --> 04:13:32.799



her with my teeth bared. We're titans of muscle, teeth,375304:13:32.840 --> 04:13:36.799



and fur, and we're more physically imposing than the largest375404:13:36.879 --> 04:13:41.360



lions in Africa. Three masked individuals emerge from the shadows375504:13:41.360 --> 04:13:44.600



in the front of the house, ski masks, heavy black375604:13:44.639 --> 04:13:49.559



military style body armor, and very impressive looking guns. The375704:13:49.639 --> 04:13:52.799



hunters exchange hand signs and begin to open fire on375804:13:52.840 --> 04:13:57.159



Tracy and I. Where was the fourth one? I can't375904:13:57.200 --> 04:14:01.120



smell them or see them. I heard four guns reload376004:14:02.079 --> 04:14:05.399



faster than the speed of thought. Tracy and I started376104:14:05.399 --> 04:14:08.719



moving our lupine forms and closed in on two out376204:14:08.719 --> 04:14:11.120



of the three of them. She was on top of376304:14:11.159 --> 04:14:13.440



one of them before they could even raise their hands376404:14:13.440 --> 04:14:18.040



in self defense or even surprise. Toppled effortlessly to the376504:14:18.040 --> 04:14:22.520



frozen ground, the snapping of jaws in the rendering of flesh,376604:14:22.559 --> 04:14:25.799



and a crimson fountain of blood sprayed into the night376704:14:26.159 --> 04:14:30.959



as Tracy's weight absolutely crushed the hunter under her gargantuan frame.376804:14:31.479 --> 04:14:34.559



The man's weapon emptied its ammunition into the air and376904:14:34.639 --> 04:14:37.879



away from us. My wife tore the throat out of377004:14:37.879 --> 04:14:41.120



one of the men, and strings of gore dripped from377104:14:41.120 --> 04:14:46.760



her bloody maw as she brutally and viciously ended his life.377204:14:46.959 --> 04:14:49.280



I pounced on the other hunter that was closer to377304:14:49.319 --> 04:14:52.760



the house. I used my forward momentum and ricocheted off377404:14:52.799 --> 04:14:56.239



my mom's kia and slammed my entire weight into one377504:14:56.280 --> 04:15:00.000



of them. It was immensely satisfying as I could feel377604:15:00.280 --> 04:15:05.639



bones break and things ruptured. I unsheathed vicious sharp claws377704:15:05.760 --> 04:15:09.319



and plunged them in. I pierced bone and sliced through377804:15:09.360 --> 04:15:11.760



the man's armor like it was a wet paper towel.377904:15:12.520 --> 04:15:15.559



Normally I don't let loose when I wolf out, but378004:15:15.639 --> 04:15:20.360



today was different. You came for me, you came for378104:15:20.479 --> 04:15:25.520



my wife, you came for my family today. Fucked doesn't378204:15:25.520 --> 04:15:31.680



even begin to describe you. Rip and tear until it's done.378304:15:31.799 --> 04:15:36.639



I closed my jaws around this fucker's face. I felt bone, sinew,378404:15:36.719 --> 04:15:39.600



and stuff I don't want to think about flood into378504:15:39.639 --> 04:15:42.600



my mouth. I crushed their skull under the force of378604:15:42.600 --> 04:15:47.440



my jaws, and the body went slack. My claws are378704:15:47.479 --> 04:15:50.840



still stuck in their collar bone. As I ripped and378804:15:50.959 --> 04:15:54.360



tore the head away from the body, hot blood coated378904:15:54.399 --> 04:15:57.680



my face and fur. I was covered in a gruesome379004:15:57.840 --> 04:16:03.120



form of war paint. To finish this bastard off once379104:16:03.680 --> 04:16:07.079



and for all, the body pulled apart like a sadistic379204:16:07.200 --> 04:16:11.600



rag doll, and guts spilled out onto the ground. Steam379304:16:11.760 --> 04:16:15.239



rose from the gore like a soul escaping its fate379404:16:15.719 --> 04:16:21.799



and straight into the jaws of hell. Two down, two379504:16:21.840 --> 04:16:26.760



to go. I think these guys are gonna regret coming379604:16:26.760 --> 04:16:31.360



to my house. Rip and tear. That's when I feel it.379704:16:32.079 --> 04:16:35.600



Hot and burning impact slammed into my side and threw379804:16:35.639 --> 04:16:38.600



me away with such force that it knocked the wind379904:16:38.680 --> 04:16:41.920



right out of me. I'm laid out on the ground,380004:16:42.680 --> 04:16:48.680



gasping each in every breath, trying to get oxygen. Silver380104:16:49.840 --> 04:16:55.120



fuck Josh. Tracy's scream cut the night with a war cry.380204:16:56.000 --> 04:16:59.159



I felt her face nuzzle against me, and it was380304:16:59.239 --> 04:17:02.559



warm and play. She braced her body in an attack380404:17:02.680 --> 04:17:06.440



position and guarded me as best she could. I could380504:17:06.440 --> 04:17:09.920



feel she was conflicted. She wanted to protect me, but380604:17:10.040 --> 04:17:13.920



also needed to protect Noah. I needed her to protect380704:17:13.959 --> 04:17:17.239



my mom and Dad. There's no way these monsters will380804:17:17.319 --> 04:17:20.600



let any of us walk away from this. I slumped380904:17:20.600 --> 04:17:24.559



against Mom's car and knew I was in trouble. This381004:17:24.760 --> 04:17:28.040



was bad. The bullets were made of silver, the lunar381104:17:28.079 --> 04:17:32.360



metal itself. I could feel searing fire in my side,381204:17:32.600 --> 04:17:36.799



and it was only getting worse. I wasn't healing, I381304:17:36.920 --> 04:17:41.799



wasn't regenerating. I was dying. Stay right where you are,381404:17:41.920 --> 04:17:47.520



where bitch, I might let him limp away that voice. No,381504:17:49.000 --> 04:17:54.879



it can't be Jenna, my sister. Okay, great, I'm dying381604:17:54.920 --> 04:17:57.520



beside my wife. My family is in danger, and on381704:17:57.600 --> 04:18:00.719



top of that, I'm in a fucking cliche from shitty381804:18:00.840 --> 04:18:04.399



James Bond movie. I felt my body start to shift381904:18:04.520 --> 04:18:08.920



back into my human form. I finally saw the extent382004:18:09.040 --> 04:18:12.680



of my wounds as I transformed back. Caught a few382104:18:12.760 --> 04:18:15.760



rounds in the right side of my ribs. Maybe if382204:18:15.799 --> 04:18:18.680



I could get to a doctor, I'd be okay, But382304:18:18.760 --> 04:18:21.159



I'm not exactly going to be calling nine one one382404:18:21.200 --> 04:18:25.399



anytime soon. Jenna came forward from behind a car on382504:18:25.440 --> 04:18:28.399



the street and leveled a weapon at Tracy and I.382604:18:29.319 --> 04:18:33.799



Her normally cheerful demeanor was cold as arctic Ice, her382704:18:33.840 --> 04:18:38.879



eyes locked with Tracy, all while completely avoiding my gaze entirely.382804:18:40.040 --> 04:18:42.360



You're the bitch who took my brother away from us.382904:18:42.840 --> 04:18:44.920



You have the nerve to come into my house. You383004:18:44.959 --> 04:18:47.840



have the fucking stones to bring him back as a383104:18:47.920 --> 04:18:52.440



monster like you. Jenna aimed her rifle at Tracy's head,383204:18:53.280 --> 04:18:57.159



but she didn't so much as flinch. The two women383304:18:57.280 --> 04:19:05.040



locked eyes werewolf hunter, enemy family. A laser sight appeared383404:19:05.079 --> 04:19:08.959



from somewhere in the darkness across the street. A red383504:19:09.040 --> 04:19:14.799



dot landed on Tracy's forehead. A sniper. Turn back into383604:19:14.840 --> 04:19:18.120



a human and face me. Move as much of an383704:19:18.120 --> 04:19:20.639



inch in an aggressive manner, and I'll make sure Melissa383804:19:20.680 --> 04:19:24.360



across the street torchurees your father's house with napalm, with383904:19:24.479 --> 04:19:29.159



him tied up in silver chains. My wife moved her384004:19:29.239 --> 04:19:32.399



head into mine, and I could feel defeat in it.384104:19:33.239 --> 04:19:36.280



She wasn't going to risk my life. She wasn't going384204:19:36.280 --> 04:19:42.360



to risk Noah's. She knew she had lost Tracy's warrior form, retreated,384304:19:42.399 --> 04:19:45.319



and she transformed back into the five foot eight, dark384404:19:45.399 --> 04:19:49.040



skinned woman who was the mother to my son and384504:19:49.200 --> 04:19:52.399



so much more. She shrank down and clung to me,384604:19:52.559 --> 04:19:56.159



naked as I was and just glared defiantly as the384704:19:56.280 --> 04:20:00.920



hunters moved in closer. The red dot grew as the384804:20:01.000 --> 04:20:06.319



sniper made her position known and started walking forward towards us.384904:20:06.920 --> 04:20:09.920



Why couldn't we smell them? How did they get the385004:20:10.000 --> 04:20:16.840



jump on us? Wait, they outsmarted us, masked their scent385104:20:16.920 --> 04:20:22.280



from the dude bros. We tore apart. They had us. Why?385204:20:23.000 --> 04:20:26.319



Tracy spoke up as she cradled my head. I was385304:20:26.360 --> 04:20:28.920



starting to lose a lot of blood and the silver385404:20:29.120 --> 04:20:32.319



was poisoning me. If I didn't dig these bullets out385504:20:32.319 --> 04:20:36.559



of me soon, I'd be dead. For five years, we385604:20:36.639 --> 04:20:40.520



thought Josh was dead. For years, I mourned my brother.385704:20:41.760 --> 04:20:45.840



We searched everywhere, followed every lead, and we spent thousands385804:20:45.840 --> 04:20:50.760



on detectives. For Sorry, your brother is missing. Jenna spat385904:20:50.799 --> 04:20:54.600



on Tracy. I could feel her anger bubbling under the surface,386004:20:55.120 --> 04:20:57.840



but she didn't dare move with guns trained on her386104:20:58.000 --> 04:21:01.760



and me. I fuck knew he wasn't dead. I knew386204:21:01.760 --> 04:21:04.399



he was alive. What I didn't know is that he386304:21:04.479 --> 04:21:10.680



became a monster, a monster screwing another monster. You took386404:21:10.760 --> 04:21:14.200



him from me, you took him from our mom and dad.386504:21:14.799 --> 04:21:18.000



Jenna's voice never gave so much as an inch. She'd386604:21:18.040 --> 04:21:20.879



rehearsed this speech in her head for likely years. At386704:21:20.879 --> 04:21:24.159



this point, my sister put the barrel of her weapon386804:21:24.200 --> 04:21:28.600



against Tracy's forehead, looked down and prepared to pull the trigger.386904:21:29.959 --> 04:21:33.399



Tracy stared up defiantly, right into Jenna's heart and soul387004:21:34.079 --> 04:21:38.239



and never showed any fear. Tracy lived up to her387104:21:38.280 --> 04:21:44.639



spirit name of oge Chitah jen Stop, I croaked out, feebly,387204:21:45.639 --> 04:21:48.559



don't you fucking start, Josh. You could have picked up387304:21:48.600 --> 04:21:52.799



a phone. You could have written an email, for Christ's sake,387404:21:52.840 --> 04:21:56.959



a text message. My sister's hand trembled a little bit387504:21:57.719 --> 04:22:01.159



as she held the gun at Tracy. If I was387604:22:01.239 --> 04:22:03.280



going to run out the clock, then I better get387704:22:03.319 --> 04:22:07.280



straight with everyone and do it quickly. I'm sorry, Jen,387804:22:07.399 --> 04:22:11.200



You're right. I should have called I. I should have387904:22:11.239 --> 04:22:14.719



done a lot of things. These guys offered me a388004:22:14.760 --> 04:22:18.040



way to find you, And what do I find you?388104:22:18.719 --> 04:22:21.600



Living forty five minutes away from home and just having388204:22:21.600 --> 04:22:25.799



a family like we never mattered, Like I didn't matter388304:22:25.840 --> 04:22:29.159



to you anymore. Hugh didn't want to grow up. You388404:22:29.200 --> 04:22:32.280



wanted a fucking do over. You wanted to wipe the388504:22:32.280 --> 04:22:35.920



slate clean and get to start all over again, no388604:22:36.040 --> 04:22:43.680



strings attached. Tears started streaming down Jenna's face. You're not wrong, Jen,388704:22:44.479 --> 04:22:49.959



I wanted something different. This woman, my wife, offered it388804:22:50.000 --> 04:22:53.680



to me. I never considered what it might do to388904:22:53.719 --> 04:22:59.440



those I left behind. These hunters tracked her, and finding389004:22:59.479 --> 04:23:03.959



you was an accident. Melissa here tortured her brothers. That's389104:23:04.000 --> 04:23:05.879



when I got a phone call telling me that you389204:23:05.959 --> 04:23:10.040



were alive, and one of them she told me that389304:23:10.120 --> 04:23:15.319



you She struggled to find her next words, what did389404:23:15.360 --> 04:23:19.000



these hunters tell my sister? What lies did they get389504:23:19.040 --> 04:23:23.360



into her head? Tracy's anger was building under the surface.389604:23:23.920 --> 04:23:27.200



I could practically feel her wild spirit raging to come389704:23:27.239 --> 04:23:31.840



out again, but she held firm. The woman known as389804:23:31.920 --> 04:23:34.840



Melissa stepped into the glow of the ruined porch light.389904:23:35.520 --> 04:23:37.600



She was in her late forties and was dressed in390004:23:37.639 --> 04:23:42.040



the same paramilitary bullshit body armor, but wore a cowboy390104:23:42.040 --> 04:23:45.000



hat instead of a ski mask. She grinned at me390204:23:45.079 --> 04:23:47.639



and my naked wife against the side of the car.390304:23:48.360 --> 04:23:51.879



She clearly had no fear of two wounded werewolves before her.390404:23:52.959 --> 04:23:55.680



I noticed she had a silvered bowie knife attached to390504:23:55.760 --> 04:24:00.399



her waist. Thanks, Josh, I owe you. If it wasn't390604:24:00.399 --> 04:24:03.040



for heartbreak, then I wouldn't have had an awesome payday.390704:24:03.760 --> 04:24:07.120



Lost and missing persons can often be tied to freaks390804:24:07.200 --> 04:24:11.600



like you and this one here, Melissa wasn't just a hunter.390904:24:12.680 --> 04:24:16.639



She was a bounty hunter. That almost made it worse.391004:24:17.639 --> 04:24:21.440



She hunted people like us for money. My sister's grief391104:24:21.559 --> 04:24:25.680



was just a means to an end. This queef lied391204:24:25.760 --> 04:24:27.760



to my sister and took her money to top it391304:24:27.799 --> 04:24:33.680



all off. Plus she shot me, So there's that. Look,391404:24:33.920 --> 04:24:36.680



if you're not too busy, I'm gonna shoot your wife.391504:24:37.200 --> 04:24:39.840



I'm probably gonna take your kid as a pet while391604:24:39.840 --> 04:24:43.559



i'm at it. Melissa smirked at me as she said that,391704:24:44.079 --> 04:24:47.760



and I could feel my own blood boil at those words.391804:24:48.479 --> 04:24:53.440



Can I say something before you kill us both? Sure? Kid,391904:24:53.799 --> 04:24:56.360



you're gonna bleed out in a few minutes anyway, No392004:24:56.559 --> 04:25:00.200



last minute heroics. No one is coming to save the day.392104:25:00.680 --> 04:25:03.840



You die here and now in your little nothing town.392204:25:04.360 --> 04:25:07.479



So yeah, take all the fucking time in the world.392304:25:08.440 --> 04:25:11.680



The bounty hunter lowered her gun and took out a cigarette.392404:25:12.200 --> 04:25:14.520



She lit it, but never took her eyes off of392504:25:14.600 --> 04:25:18.959



Tracy and I Jenna. I came back tonight because I392604:25:19.000 --> 04:25:22.680



wanted to say I'm sorry to you and everyone else.392704:25:23.840 --> 04:25:26.959



I wanted to become a family again. I wanted to392804:25:27.000 --> 04:25:29.360



show all of you that I took the easy way out,392904:25:29.440 --> 04:25:33.040



but not anymore. I'm a father now, and I'm going393004:25:33.079 --> 04:25:36.479



to be a father again in a few months. Time393104:25:36.639 --> 04:25:41.399



was almost up. I wanted a family Christmas again. I393204:25:41.479 --> 04:25:44.799



know expecting forgiveness was asking an awful lot, but hey,393304:25:45.680 --> 04:25:50.520



if not now, then when right? Jenna looked over at393404:25:50.559 --> 04:25:55.600



Melissa and appeared shocked and kind of disgusted with her. Wait,393504:25:56.479 --> 04:25:59.840



you told me he was some killing machine who eight393604:25:59.840 --> 04:26:04.040



f fucking babies. You didn't say anything about him actually393704:26:04.120 --> 04:26:08.719



being a father. Jenna's demeanor immediately changed, and her body393804:26:08.799 --> 04:26:12.559



language did too. I could smell it on her. She393904:26:12.760 --> 04:26:16.680



was mad, and not at me. You were all too394004:26:16.719 --> 04:26:19.840



excited to believe me too. So what if I lied?394104:26:20.479 --> 04:26:24.159



You got your revenge, didn't you? His werewolf bitch is394204:26:24.200 --> 04:26:26.840



ready to be blown away by you, I might add.394304:26:27.399 --> 04:26:29.639



Your brother is on the edge of death by you,394404:26:29.799 --> 04:26:33.079



No less as far as you're concerned. Your brother died394504:26:33.159 --> 04:26:36.879



years ago, and this thing is just wearing his face right.394604:26:37.799 --> 04:26:41.239



Isn't that what you told me? That's not your brother anymore.394704:26:41.520 --> 04:26:48.239



Your brother wouldn't say I'm sorry, Dad, Noah. My mom394804:26:48.360 --> 04:26:50.760



and dad stood up in the destroyed living room and394904:26:50.799 --> 04:26:54.440



saw the scene unfolding in their front yard. Mom held395004:26:54.479 --> 04:26:57.600



Noah in her arms and he clung to her. Clearly395104:26:57.680 --> 04:27:02.760



he was terrified. Wasn't drunk anymore. He saw his daughter395204:27:02.840 --> 04:27:06.120



pointing a gun at his son's wife while his son395304:27:06.239 --> 04:27:12.399



was bleeding out. Not exactly Christmas card material. My son395404:27:12.559 --> 04:27:17.879



was going to watch his parents die. Noah, promise me395504:27:17.959 --> 04:27:21.600



you'll be good for Grandpa and grandma. Okay, I say395604:27:21.639 --> 04:27:24.600



as loudly as I can muster. As I start to395704:27:24.680 --> 04:27:31.440



cough up blood, he started crying, Buzz, time's up. Don't395804:27:31.479 --> 04:27:34.559



worry about saying goodbye. You'll be joining your wife soon enough,395904:27:34.719 --> 04:27:39.680



Josh Fox. Melissa readied her weapon and pointed at Tracy's head,396004:27:40.120 --> 04:27:45.959



and her fingers slowly began pulling the trigger. I'll see396104:27:45.959 --> 04:27:50.159



you on the other side, my packmate, my warrior wolf.396204:27:51.319 --> 04:27:58.719



I'm sorry, Jenna, Mom, Dad, I love you. Noah. To396304:27:58.840 --> 04:28:03.760



whatever higher power is out there listening, look after my son.396404:28:05.319 --> 04:28:08.959



A single gunshot rang out and echoed across the entirety396504:28:09.319 --> 04:28:12.959



of the evening's long shadows. It echoed off the old396604:28:13.000 --> 04:28:17.399



houses of my neighborhood and hung in the air. I396704:28:17.520 --> 04:28:21.479



closed my eyes. I didn't want to see Tracy's life396804:28:21.639 --> 04:28:25.959



end before mine. I didn't want my last memory to396904:28:26.000 --> 04:28:31.680



be her laying dead in front of me. Seconds passed,397004:28:33.079 --> 04:28:37.440



wa gooche. I hear Tracy's voice when I shouldn't have397104:28:38.680 --> 04:28:44.920



the fuck that's my brother. Jenna's voice broke through cries397204:28:45.000 --> 04:28:49.280



and sobs. Jenna had shot Melissa right in the stomach.397304:28:50.079 --> 04:28:53.600



Tracy wasted no time and shifted into her wolf form,397404:28:54.079 --> 04:28:58.120



not her hybrid form. She was absolutely gigantic in stature397504:28:58.159 --> 04:29:02.399



and size, onto the bounty hunter's body and shook it397604:29:02.479 --> 04:29:07.079



like a rag doll. Melissa screamed and flailed about, but397704:29:07.159 --> 04:29:10.520



it was no use. Tracy was going to have her397804:29:10.600 --> 04:29:14.639



revenge for the death of her brother's savage, primal and397904:29:14.719 --> 04:29:19.000



unrelenting in her fury. Death had come for the bounty hunter.398004:29:20.280 --> 04:29:23.319



This she wolf was going to eat this other woman alive.398104:29:24.239 --> 04:29:27.479



Blood coated the ground and froze to it in a398204:29:27.559 --> 04:29:33.879



sickly red slush. Good. I can feel something sharp dig398304:29:33.920 --> 04:29:36.760



into my side, and I look up and expect to398404:29:36.799 --> 04:29:42.479



see another hunter. It's Jenna, and she's hunched over my wounds.398504:29:42.799 --> 04:29:47.000



She's digging her fingers into the wound itself. What is398604:29:47.079 --> 04:29:51.000



going on here? They said, you can heal if you're398704:29:51.040 --> 04:29:54.799



not in contact with silver right. The voice was Jenna's,398804:29:54.879 --> 04:29:59.040



but this voice was her doctor side coming out. This398904:29:59.239 --> 04:30:03.399



was doctor Jenn Fox trying to save her brother. I399004:30:03.479 --> 04:30:07.120



whimpered and nodded my head in relief and immense pain.399104:30:08.079 --> 04:30:12.440



Seconds later, I feel something sharp pulling at my insides.399204:30:13.559 --> 04:30:17.040



A cool rush of air comes over my body and399304:30:17.120 --> 04:30:21.319



I can start to breathe again. I passed out from399404:30:21.319 --> 04:30:34.280



the pain. I'm alive, I think. One week later. I'm399504:30:34.319 --> 04:30:37.799



asleep in my bed and I'm fairly bruised up from399604:30:37.879 --> 04:30:41.840



what happened in Owen Sound on Christmas Eve. I've been399704:30:41.879 --> 04:30:45.120



asleep on and off since then and have very little399804:30:45.159 --> 04:30:48.920



memory of how I even got here. It's a blur. Mostly.399904:30:49.799 --> 04:30:52.399



I saw Tracy and Jenna loading me into the back400004:30:52.440 --> 04:30:57.440



of a car. Mom and Dad hugged Tracy. Jenna was crying,400104:30:57.479 --> 04:31:02.639



and so was Noah. Noah was okay. I could smell400204:31:02.760 --> 04:31:08.840



sweet grass sage being burned constantly Tracy's indigenous sacred medicines.400304:31:09.959 --> 04:31:14.079



I must be home in Cape Crocker, Struggling to open400404:31:14.120 --> 04:31:17.239



my eyes for the first time in days, I'm greeted400504:31:17.239 --> 04:31:23.639



by a familiar face. Jenna, Hey, you're awake. How are400604:31:23.680 --> 04:31:29.680



you feeling. I've never treated a werewolf before, I've never400704:31:29.719 --> 04:31:35.319



been pumped full of lead or silver before, so we're good.400804:31:35.559 --> 04:31:39.840



How's Tracy's fine? Your son, Noah is quite the handful,400904:31:39.920 --> 04:31:44.079



but he's been sleeping beside you almost all week. I401004:31:44.159 --> 04:31:47.120



smiled and reached out my hand to Jenna, and she401104:31:47.239 --> 04:31:51.239



approached me and let me take it. I struggled to401204:31:51.280 --> 04:31:56.879



sit up in bed. Look, Josh, hey, don't worry about it.401304:31:57.440 --> 04:31:59.479



I made a lot of mistakes, but I'm trying to401404:31:59.520 --> 04:32:02.479



make up for them here and now I've got a401504:32:02.559 --> 04:32:06.079



son to raise better than Dad raised us. I've also401604:32:06.159 --> 04:32:09.559



got to think about my next kid coming. I squeezed401704:32:09.680 --> 04:32:14.239



Jenna's hand and she returned the gesture warmly. Tracy has401804:32:14.280 --> 04:32:17.200



been pretty great to our mom and dad. We're staying401904:32:17.239 --> 04:32:19.360



here with you for now until we figure out what402004:32:19.440 --> 04:32:23.040



to do about the cops. Back in Owen's Sound, oh yeah,402104:32:23.079 --> 04:32:25.920



we kind of performed John Wick in front of our house,402204:32:25.959 --> 04:32:29.719



didn't we Yep, that's gonna be fun to explain to402304:32:29.760 --> 04:32:33.520



the insurance company, isn't it. I chuckled at that image,402404:32:33.520 --> 04:32:37.200



but it hurt to laugh. Guess not all injuries have402504:32:37.280 --> 04:32:41.600



healed entirely. Okay, when you feel up to it, get402604:32:41.719 --> 04:32:45.239



dressed and come downstairs. I think you'll be pretty pleased402704:32:45.280 --> 04:32:48.840



with what you see. Jenna left the room and I402804:32:48.959 --> 04:32:52.440



started to get my clothes on. Very slowly and carefully.402904:32:53.200 --> 04:32:55.399



I opened the door to the bedroom and made my403004:32:55.479 --> 04:33:01.920



way down the hall. I looked down the stairs to403104:33:01.959 --> 04:33:05.000



my own living room and was greeted by the most403204:33:05.040 --> 04:33:09.959



beautiful sight I could imagine. My Dad and Howard were403304:33:10.000 --> 04:33:14.119



sitting on the couch together and talking. They were smiling.403404:33:15.080 --> 04:33:19.240



Mom and Tracy were sitting by the fireplace and having coffee.403504:33:19.520 --> 04:33:22.439



Noah was asleep in front of the largest Christmas tree403604:33:22.479 --> 04:33:25.319



I had ever thought we could pack into our little house.403704:33:26.840 --> 04:33:29.479



It wasn't how I envisioned our families would meet for403804:33:29.560 --> 04:33:45.360



our first Christmas. But you know what it'll do, and403904:33:45.520 --> 04:33:51.279



that is tonight's Christmas binge. My spookies cyborgs in the404004:33:51.360 --> 04:33:56.200



snow staring down a demon in a Santa suit elves404104:33:56.240 --> 04:34:01.159



with killing orders, zombies crashing Christmas, and ghosts who don't404204:34:01.240 --> 04:34:06.319



care how pretty the lights look when they come to collect.404304:34:07.119 --> 04:34:10.880



But the Dark has a schedule, and we're keeping it.404404:34:11.639 --> 04:34:15.759



This Monday. It's terrifying and true, featuring the legend of404504:34:15.919 --> 04:34:21.560



pere Foeta, the Christmas Punisher, the butcher who killed children404604:34:21.639 --> 04:34:25.880



in his shop, hid them insulting barrels, and was cursed404704:34:25.919 --> 04:34:31.240



to trail behind Saint Nicholas as a whip wielding shadow404804:34:31.799 --> 04:34:36.040



of the season, the one who comes for the truly404904:34:36.240 --> 04:34:41.240



naughty when kindness runs out. And of course, next Saturday,405004:34:41.279 --> 04:34:47.520



we drop our final Christmas compilation, one last overstuffed stocking405104:34:47.599 --> 04:34:53.840



of holiday horror, crammed with twisted tear and enough blood405204:34:53.919 --> 04:34:58.200



in the snow to stain the whole season. And the405304:34:58.279 --> 04:35:02.400



Saturday right after that we ring in a different kind405404:35:02.439 --> 04:35:08.400



of celebration with a terrifying compilation of New Year's nightmares,405504:35:08.880 --> 04:35:14.599



midnight countdowns that end in screams, resolutions written in blood,405604:35:15.000 --> 04:35:19.319



and parties where the only thing dropping are bodies on405704:35:19.439 --> 04:35:25.040



the floor. So stay warm, keep your headphones charged, keep405804:35:25.080 --> 04:35:29.639



the cocoa hot, and remember there's a new nightmare waiting405904:35:30.400 --> 04:35:36.520



every day until Christmas and even more scares every single406004:35:36.599 --> 04:35:41.200



week the rest of the year, so make sure you're subscribed.406104:35:42.000 --> 04:36:06.119



I'll be talking to you real soon to