Oct. 16, 2025

Halloween Video Store Slasher — Deadly Rental: A VHS-Nightmare Awaits

Halloween Video Store Slasher — Deadly Rental: A VHS-Nightmare Awaits
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Dive into Halloween night at Valley Video, where a storm and blackout transform a cozy movie marathon into a terrifying VHS nightmare. As friends and customers find themselves trapped, the unsettling sound of a phone hissing 'Trick or Treat' spins the atmosphere into chaos.

This Halloween special highlights the true terror hidden in the video aisles, with panic building and each knock on the door feeling like a countdown to disaster.

If you crave Halloween horror stories infused with retro slasher vibes and spine-chilling tension, this episode is your essential October listen. Queue it up, dim the lights, and brace for a wicked twist that redefines what a 'treat' really means.

Deadly Rental – A Valley Halloween Tale — by Charles Campbell

Support the show AND get delicious coffee for a creepy night in at 25% off using code “SPOOKY”https://savorista.com/discount/SPOOKY


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

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📬 Contact Us / Submit Your Horror Story!


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

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Rain hammers, the roof, the door rattles, the phone whispers

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trick or treat inside Valley video. The power dies, and

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the aisles go silent until the first body hits the floor.

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If the storm doesn't end soon, there'll be no one

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left to rewind.

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There's a shill in the air. Must befall Join me

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for a Tale of Halloween. You will experience tales over over, ghosts,

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and damp. It is not recommended for the weak at heart.

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Join me for a Tale of oulis Weekly Spooky.

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Hello, my spookies, it's your host and narrator, Enrique Kuto,

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here as we enter the middle point of spooky season

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with another terrifying tale to keep you in the spirit

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of all things to come. Make sure you're subscribed on

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your favorite podcasting app because we'll be back here tomorrow

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dissecting the nineteen ninety two terror film Candy Man. You

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won't want to miss it. And for those of you

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working long hours over the weekend, there'll be a special

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novella compilation waiting for you Saturday, so make sure you're subscribed.

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And as you may have heard yesterday Weekly Spook he

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has a new supporter in Savorista Coffee, a coffee brand

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that specializes in DCAF and HALFCAF, so you can keep

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enjoying your gourmet blends even as you stay up late

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scaring yourself. Check them out at savorista dot com. That's

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s A v O r I s t a dot com.

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Or check the show notes and use code Spooky at

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checkout for twenty five percent off. Not only do you

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get some great coffee for late night excursions, but you

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also support the show directly. Thank you again to Savorista

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for helping us bring you the spooky all season long.

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But as for tonight, Picture a small town video store

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on Halloween night where thunder shakes the posters and a

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playful voice on the phone keeps asking trick or treat.

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Then the lights go out and the trick arrives at

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the door with something sharper than candy. In the flicker

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of candles, friends turn into targets, and a storm turns

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the parking lot into a trap. Tonight we rent some

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true terror, so get comfortable and make sure you always rewind.

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The story starts after this deadly rental by Charles Campbell,

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October thirty first, nineteen eighty three, six pm. Valley Video, Gloverville,

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South Carolina. Shelley Bryson and Rodney Lee were minding the store,

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which was owned by Valley legend Rick Spradley. He was

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a ten the annual Halloween party at Bruce's, so he

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was probably already drunk off his ass barreling toward full awn. Shitfaced.

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Valley Video was in its second year of business. Last year,

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people came in steadily throughout the day to rent scary

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flicks to play in the background of Halloween get togethers

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and slumber parties. This year hadn't quite lived up to last,

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but the night was still young. It was pitch dark

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outside already because of the dense storm clouds overhead. Thunder

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was rumbling, threatening to release buckets like a pot on

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the brink of boiling over. This certainly wouldn't help business

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if it were a rainout. Shelley popped in a thrice

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viewed copy of Halloween three, Season of The Witch, and

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it was followed by a groan from Rodney. Yeah, that

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movie thucks, ath Rodney said through his vampire fangs. His

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black hair was slicked back with his daddy's palmd. His

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mother painted his face a pasty white and created a

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nifty black cape from an old bed sheet. A decent

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white button up, black slacks, and black shoes completed the outfit.

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I disagree. I think it's highly misunderstood. I'm telling you,

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years from now, people will appreciate it more, Shelley said.

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Shelley was dressed as the bride of Frankenstein, complete with

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a fancy wig her aunt bought for her in a

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fancy wig shop in downtown Augusta. It wasn't even from

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a costume store. Her aunt, Billy doctored it up to

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look even better than the most expensive ones in those

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costume shops. Her face and arms were painted a shade

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of olive, and her dress was a black and white,

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tattered on purpose number. She wasn't going to be movie accurate,

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but Shelley liked to put her own spin on things.

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What the fuck, Shelley shouted. The thunderclap shook the windows,

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and a couple of movie posters fell from their precariously

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taped spots. Rodney laughed and said, that was a good one.

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Do you know how dumb you sound talking through those teeth?

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You sound like Cindy Brady's real daddy, Shelley said, and

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turned her attention to the television where the earworm of

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a song Silver Shamrock played. Shelley didn't move. She waited

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to see if Rodney was going to answer the phone

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with the vampire teeth in his mouth, and he did.

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Valley Video where we have the best collection of movies

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in the valley. Trick or treat, said the gravelly voice

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on the other end of the line. Yes, are you

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looking for a movie? Rodney asked, Trick or treat? The

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gravelly voice, repeated by Rodney, said and hung up the phone.

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What did they want, Shelley asked. Rodney popped the teeth

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out because they were starting to become quite uncomfortable, and

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said didn't say. All he would say was trick or treat. Oh,

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Shelley replied, I can't believe nobody stopped by yet. You

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think the whole town went to Bruce's, Rodney asked, I'm

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sure it'll pick up soon. I mean it's just past six,

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just getting a late start this year, that's all, Shelley said.

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The door chime came to life, and a woman neither

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of them recognized, walked in, accompanied by a young girl

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no older than twelve that they also did not recognize.

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Shelley and Rodney looked at one another and shrugged. The

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woman was dressed up as Dolly Parton, with a low

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cut western shirt, denim skirt, and brown cowboy boots. Rodney

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was happy to see that she also had something that

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Dolly was quite famous for that wasn't a good singing voice.

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The little girl was dressed as Ace Free from Kiss,

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and the costume wasn't bad. Fact of business, It was remarkable.

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The makeup pretty much matched the famous guitar player. Her

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outfit was all black, a combination of spandex and sweats,

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trimmed with some sort of silver material. The silver painted

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boots on her feet and the toy white guitar strapped

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to her back would win any costume contest in the valley.

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Rodney fumbled to put in his teeth. Welcome to Valley video,

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Shelley said, beating Rodney to the punch. He smiled as

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drool dripped from his phony teeth. Hi, we're not from here,

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but Lilah heard about your store from a friend of

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hers yesterday and said we must come in. The woman said, Hi,

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you must be Lilah, Shelley said, and smile at the

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little girl. The girl nodded, smiled back, but didn't utter

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a word. And you are, Shelley asked the woman. I'm Tina,

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Lila's aunt and guardian. Guardian Shelley thought. She wondered if

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the little girl's lack of voice had some sort of

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trauma behind it. Rodney was smiling like an undead dope

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as spittle ran through those teeth as he stared at

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Tina's tatas well, you came to the right place, Lila.

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Please help yourself to some candy from the pumpkin on

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the table. It's Halloween, after all, we have a great

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selection of scary flicks for the holiday, Shelley said. Ricky

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would be proud of her salesmanship. Thank you, Lilah meekly replied,

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letting her first since walking in escape her lips. You're welcome,

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Shelley said, and seemingly right on cue, the silver shamrock

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song blared from the television. What are you watching, Lila asked,

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peering over the counter. It's not very good. We have

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a lot of movies that are way better, Rodney said.

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It's so good. It's Halloween three and if you want

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to rent it, I'll start rewinding it for you. It's

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the only copy we have that hasn't been checked out.

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Shelley replied, Yes, please do that, Tina said, and continued,

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Come on, Lila, let's see what else they've got. They

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walked to the back wall that housed the horror section.

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Take those teeth out, you look like an idiot, and

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wipe off your shirt, Shelley said. Rodney spit them out

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and simply smiled. Shelley and Rodney turned their attention to

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the door, and a made up but familiar face was

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grinning like you just ate a canary. What's up, freakazoids?

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Guyton O'Hanlon shouted, what's up? My boy rad costume, Rodney said.

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Guiton was dressed as the sworn enemy of what Rodney

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was depicting. Guiton wore the garb of an impressively accurate

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for Valley makeupchanthrope, more popularly known around the globe as

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a werewolf. Shit that is good, your mama, do that,

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Shelley asked.

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No.

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New chick that started at Bruce's last week. Her name

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is Elena Marie and she ain't hard to look at,

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even before a few frosty mugs. If you catch my drift.

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Geiton said, okay, and why did she want to put

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makeup on your gnarly face? Shelley asked, she was doing

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it for a lot of folks. She says, that's what

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she wants to do, horror makeup on movie sets. That's

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what she said. How she's gonna get there from working

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at Bruce's in the middle of bumfuck nowhere, that's beyond me.

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So listen, I want to rent that Halloween three movie

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everyone's been shitting on. Geiton said, sorry, just rented the

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last copy we have. Shelley replied, with the tone of

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not really being sorry. Yeah to the lady with the stacks.

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Rodney whispered and nodded his head toward the horror section.

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But he may as well have said it out loud,

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because Rodney's whispers, much like himself, carried weight wowsa. Geyiton replied,

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after he got an eyeful, Okay, boys, that's enough. We

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have the other two Halloween movies, and I think there's

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still a copy of Friday the Thirteenth Part two back there.

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Shelley said, sorry, no, there's not. Tina said, as she

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set a stack of three empty VHS cases onto the counter.

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I believe that's four movies, counting the one you have

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behind the counter, Tina said. Lilah was looking cautiously at

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Guyton on the cusp of being fearful of his appearance.

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His makeup was more intimidating than the goofy faced vampire

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Rodney portrayed. Well. Hello, Dolly, Guyton said, in a very

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poor Louis Armstrong impersonation, what's shaken? Wolfman? Jack? Tina said

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he wouldn't want to give up one of those movies,

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would you? I mean, are you really gonna watch four tonight?

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If you let me have the Friday the thirteenth or Halloween,

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I promise I'll meet you here tomorrow and give it

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right back. I need something new to watch tonight, and

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I've seen most of the other stuff they got back there,

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and the stuff I haven't seen, well, I don't think

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I want to see. If you catch my drift, Giton

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said no was the answer, but Tina didn't say it.

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It was Lila, and the fear that threatened to consume

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her eyes quickly switched to anger. Now I don't think

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I was talking to you, Ace, Geiton says in such

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an acrid tone that Shelley wanted to reach across the

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counter and slap him across the face. Rodney's mouth dropped.

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If his teeth had been in, they would have fallen out.

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Guess that's a no wolfman jack. Tina said, that'll be

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eight dollars and twenty four cents. Shelley chimed in. Wait

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a minute, Shelley, Geyon said, and held up a paw,

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turning his attention back to Tina. Just know, huh, no negotiation,

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I think not. It's Ace's show. I'm afraid, Tina said,

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and winked at her niece. This time, Shelley picked up

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the phone. Valley video how can I help you trick

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or treat? The gravelly voice tickled Shelley's ear in the

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most uncomfortable of ways. She held the phone away. Your

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tricker treater is back, Shelley said to Rodney and hung

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up the phone. Now, guys, play nice and go pick

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out something else and stop harassing these nice people. Don't

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make me call Ricky out of Bruce's I don't think

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you want him coming down here. You get my drift,

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Shelley said mockingly. A giggle came from Lila, and Tina's

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eyes widened. As she successfully held back laughter. She apparently

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just wanted to rent the movies for her niece and leave. Yeah,

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I get your Geiden stopped mid word as the phone

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rang once again. Shelley answered, Valley video, how can I

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help you? Trick it is, the gravelly voice said, and

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hung up. Before Shelley could do the same, two more

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posts fell, Everyone froze, and the lights flickered, but stayed on.

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The storm clouds released their bounty with a sudden violence.

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Rain hammered the metal roof like it was a million

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little monsters pounding on doors to get inside. The gravel

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dirt parking lot was going to be a pond very

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soon if this continued. Shit, we might be watching our

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movies here and having candy for dinner. Tina said, I'm scared.

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Lilah fretted, I'm sure it'll pass soon. They called for

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scattered storms on Channel six, so fingers crossed. It's just

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a pop up, Shelley said. Rain brought by the gusty wind,

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flooded inside. With the open door. Ginger Grant and Bill

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00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:10.359
Haney stumbled in, with Billy busting his ass when he

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tripped on the instantly water slicked floor Ginger immediately pushed

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the door closed. Her once beautiful witch costume was a

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sopping mess. Billy didn't look much like Batman. The pointy

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00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:30.240
ears were now floppy, and he looked more like a

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water logged rat than the caped crusader. Oh shit, Geien said,

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forgetting all about his little spat with Tina over videotapes

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that seemed a lot less important in their current situation.

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We are so sorry we got caught in it. We

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were walking to Bruce's because Billy didn't want to drive

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because of the alcohol and all, and then the bottom

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just fell out. Ginger said, I'm glad you got inside.

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It sounds brutal out there. You all can just ride

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it out and hear I was just saying that it's

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probably only a pop up, Ginger. Come with me to

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the back. I've got something for you. Sorry, Billy. I

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can bring you a towel, but that's about the best

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I can do for you, Shelley said, and led Ginger

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to the back office of the store. Damn it all

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to hell, Billy said. He looked up and noticed Tina

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00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:40.759
and Lila for the first time. Oh hi, sorry, I

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don't think i've seen you around. I would say, I'm Batman,

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but I'm pretty sure his suit wouldn't fall apart in

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the rain. I'm Billy, Yep, we heard, Glad you didn't drown.

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My name's Tina and this is my niece, Lila. Lila

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00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:04.400
gave Billy a finger wave and a kurt smile. Billy

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00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:09.559
smiled back and tried not to stare at Tina's cleavage. Hey, Rodney,

248
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Ricky got you working tonight. Huh, Billy asked, yeah, he

249
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got us both working because he thought it might be busy.

250
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Guess the jokes on him. Rodney replied, yeah, I guess, so,

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Billy said. There was an awkward silence for a couple

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of minutes until Ginger and Shelley returned. We're back. Shelley

253
00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:39.680
was a life saver. Ginger announced she was nice and dry,

254
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wearing an orange Midland Valley Mustang's T shirt along with

255
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the matching sweatpants. Shelley left her gym bag in the

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back office the other day, and she and Ginger were

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00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:58.480
close in size. Shelley tossed Billy the promised towel. No

258
00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:04.519
fair the soke, Batman said jokingly and continued, I guess

259
00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:09.559
I wouldn't fit in anything you would have in the back. Huh, Rodney, course,

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if I did have something, I'd have plenty of cover

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00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:20.359
blanketed even Billy finished, ha ha. Rodney fake laughed and

262
00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:24.319
flipped Billy the bird. I'm just glad I didn't take

263
00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:29.119
the gym bag home. Everyone please help yourself to some candy.

264
00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:33.440
I'm afraid we don't have anything more nutritious, but we

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can gather around and watch a movie if you want,

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until this whole nastiness passes, Shelley finished. Another thunderclap shook

267
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the windows, but the remaining posters stayed in place. If

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00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:56.240
we watch one of ours, can we pick another to

269
00:22:56.279 --> 00:23:05.000
replace it? Lila suddenly asked. Rodney began, of course, Shelley interrupted,

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Halloween three is still in the player. You want me

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00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:13.680
to fire it up? No, Rodney said, shut up, Rodney.

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Is everyone else good with that one? Yep, Geyen said.

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Everyone else nodded yes, so Shelley pressed play. Auto tracking

274
00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:31.799
was adjusting the image for maximum visual quality when another

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boom shook the windows, much harder. This time. A couple

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00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:46.359
of video cases fell from their perches. A sizzling crack

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of lightning struck incredibly close to the video store. The

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00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:55.279
lights went out immediately, and a smell that can only

279
00:23:55.359 --> 00:24:01.440
be described as ozone or burning wires suddenly filled the store.

280
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Lilah was the first one to break the immediate silence

281
00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:10.759
as she coughed into her hand. Shelley lit the bick

282
00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:15.000
she kept in her dress pocket. She wasn't a smoker,

283
00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:18.559
but a lot of her friends were, and she liked

284
00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:22.240
the feel of the lighter. Something that you may need

285
00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:25.359
in a pinch, that was easy enough to have on

286
00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:30.880
you at all times. Okay, we're okay. This shit is

287
00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:37.160
no joke, Shelley said, and continued, I'll be right back, Rodney,

288
00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:40.759
come with me. Ricky has some taper candles in the

289
00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:44.079
back somewhere, a whole box of them that Darnell brought

290
00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:47.119
in a couple of months ago for what. I have

291
00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:50.359
no clue, but we need them now, so come and

292
00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:53.839
help me. Everybody else. You're gonna be in the dark

293
00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:56.799
for just a little bit. But light is on the way,

294
00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:01.559
Shelley finished. She held bic in front of her as

295
00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:08.279
Rodney followed closely behind. I I don't like this, Lilah said.

296
00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:13.559
It's okay, It's just a bad storm. That's all. We're

297
00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:16.759
safe and dry. We might need to rent a boat

298
00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:19.559
to get out of here when it passes, but we'll

299
00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:24.079
be fine. Tina assured her niece. Wonder if the power's

300
00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:29.400
out at Bruce's, Billy asked, probably, I bet all of

301
00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:35.000
Gloverville lost power with that last strike. Ginger said, well, look,

302
00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:39.839
ye there, Geiton said, as Shelley and Rodney appeared from

303
00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:44.359
the darkness of the back office, looking like monks holding

304
00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:49.519
lit candles. All right, everybody gets one. Be careful of

305
00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:53.319
the wax, though, Shelley said, as she lit them one

306
00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:57.279
at a time and passed them to everyone. Rain pelted

307
00:25:57.319 --> 00:26:01.559
the roof and slammed into the windows with bad intentions.

308
00:26:02.279 --> 00:26:04.759
The wind picked up, and the metal roof sounded as

309
00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:09.039
if it were a musical instrument being played expertly by

310
00:26:09.079 --> 00:26:14.119
a supernatural force, threatening to peel it right off and

311
00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:18.279
send it into the night sky. It would let the

312
00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:22.559
torrent flood the store, destroying every film in its wake,

313
00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:28.759
and leave people swimming for their cars. But for now,

314
00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:35.680
the roof held shit, Geiton simply said as he pointed

315
00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:39.839
to the bottom of the door as muddy water flooded

316
00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:45.039
in under its gap. He was holding his candle above it.

317
00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:51.200
I think we should leave, Lila said, no, We're safer

318
00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:56.240
in here than out there. Tina replied. Every one was

319
00:26:56.279 --> 00:27:00.119
holding their candles in front of them like swords to

320
00:27:00.200 --> 00:27:09.480
avoid wax rolling down and dripping on their hands. Who

321
00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:12.960
the hell would be out in this shit? Guyton asked.

322
00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:18.000
He was closest to the door. It wasn't locked, so

323
00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:23.279
he had no idea why they were knocking. He didn't

324
00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:27.319
open it, but did yell come in if you need

325
00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:29.920
to get out of that shit? But I ain't opening

326
00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:37.559
the door. You chose trick. It was the same gravelly

327
00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:42.400
voice that called earlier, and the source of that voice

328
00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:48.400
was now right outside the door, caught in a fucking monsoon.

329
00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:54.720
It got Shelley and Rodney's attention. Everyone else had a

330
00:27:54.759 --> 00:28:01.599
look of okay, and I don't like it. Liah said,

331
00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:16.640
it's okay, it's just someone being stupid. Tina said, just

332
00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:24.759
come in already. Billy shouted, you chose trick, the gravelly

333
00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:31.640
voice repeated. Billy the wet night suddenly felt an uncontrollable anger.

334
00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:36.319
He should be at Bruce's pounding him back, but here

335
00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:40.000
he was stuck in valley video with his date that

336
00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:43.319
at the very least got to put on dry clothes.

337
00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.680
And now some dickwad was banging at the door, shouting,

338
00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:53.839
you chose trick. Billy didn't choose any of this shit.

339
00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:58.279
He marched to the door and his feet sloshed in

340
00:28:58.359 --> 00:29:02.839
the water, rushing in. Hey, jerk face, I got your

341
00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:09.920
trick in here, Come on in and get it. Billy

342
00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:13.920
jerked the door open. The sky lit up, and Billy

343
00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:19.799
didn't see anyone. With the door still ajar, Billy turned

344
00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:24.039
to face the others. Guess he didn't want to get wet.

345
00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:32.599
Everyone stared wildly with their brains, not quite comprehending what

346
00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:39.400
just happened, until Ginger's shrill scream filled the room. Billy's

347
00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:43.359
body lay in front of the wide open door, and

348
00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:48.720
his separated head was face down in the puddle on

349
00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:53.000
the floor. Blood was spurting out of what was left

350
00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:57.799
of Billy's neck. Rodney picked up the phone and just

351
00:29:57.960 --> 00:30:03.000
like the power, it was dead. You got a gun

352
00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:10.440
behind that counter, Geyton asked, Nope, Rodney answered. Ginger was

353
00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:15.279
shaking hysterically, trying hard to gain some sort of composure.

354
00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:19.119
We need to get out of here, right fucking now.

355
00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:25.160
Tina said, I I'm not going near that door. Lilah

356
00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:31.039
moaned me either, not without some kind of weapon. Geiden said,

357
00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:35.440
a bat. Ricky keeps a big ass aluminum bat in

358
00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:42.079
the office. Shelley said, well, go fucking get it. Guiton commanded.

359
00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:48.119
His attention was on the still open front door. Aunt, Tina,

360
00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:52.400
we need to find a way out of here, Lilah whispered,

361
00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:57.599
loud enough for others to hear. She was shivering, seeming

362
00:30:57.880 --> 00:31:03.720
completely consumed with and she still wasn't going near the

363
00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:08.480
front door. Shelley emerged from the back with a shiny

364
00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:11.720
black and red bat that looked as if it had

365
00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:18.440
never struck a baseball. Now we're talking, give it, Geydon said,

366
00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:23.599
holding out his fake fur covered hand. Whoever this Elena was,

367
00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:28.440
she paid attention to detail when it came to Halloween makeup.

368
00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:31.680
I don't know what if he takes it away from

369
00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:36.079
you were or chops your head off too, Shelley questioned,

370
00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:40.359
as she held the bat close to her chest. I

371
00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:43.079
ain't staying in this video store with a killer waiting

372
00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:45.519
to pick us off one at a time. If you

373
00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:49.279
want some, he can come get some. Now, hand it over.

374
00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:57.640
Geiiton said confidently, wolfman Jack means business. Tina said, Lilah

375
00:31:57.640 --> 00:32:01.160
poked her on the arm. She he loved Aunt Tina's

376
00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:06.359
sarcastic wit, but now was not the time, Not with

377
00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:09.519
a headless man lying in front of the door and

378
00:32:09.640 --> 00:32:15.640
all Shelley reluctantly handed the bat to Geiton. They were

379
00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:18.680
all shit out of luck, especially with the phone still

380
00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:22.880
being out of order. Geyiton held the bat like he

381
00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:26.759
held many others in his lifetime, being an avid rec

382
00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:31.240
league baseball kid growing up and continuing on the Midland

383
00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:36.559
Valley High baseball team. Point was he knew the proper

384
00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:40.920
way to hold a bat to get maximum swing. If

385
00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:44.799
whoever decided to remove Billy's head from his body were

386
00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:48.440
still out there, he was going to find out right

387
00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:56.400
quick why pitchers feared the Gloverville ball crusher. Rodney, get

388
00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:59.400
on that side of the door, Guyton said, as he

389
00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:02.680
motioned Rodney to move to the right of the opening.

390
00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:07.279
Don't worry, you can stay arm's length away. I just

391
00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:10.920
need you to provide a little bit of light. Rodney

392
00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:15.440
walked cautiously toward the door, holding the candle in front

393
00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:19.160
of him, careful not to let it get too close

394
00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:23.799
to the rain, still cascading in on its sideways arc

395
00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:32.200
Good good, stop there, Geiden said. Shelley, Lilah, Ginger, and

396
00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:39.559
Tina stood shoulder to shoulder nervously watching. Geiden began walking

397
00:33:39.640 --> 00:33:44.279
slowly toward the door. He could feel the first mist

398
00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:49.480
touch his nose. He was about seven feet from the door.

399
00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:56.000
Rodney was the shakiest vampire ever known to man. His

400
00:33:56.160 --> 00:34:00.000
real teeth were chattering inside his head, and his black

401
00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:04.200
suddenly felt like a balloon that was one breath away

402
00:34:04.880 --> 00:34:11.280
from exploding. Guyton grinned as he got closer. Stepping around

403
00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:18.639
Billie's carcass, he could hear footsteps quickly approaching outside. I

404
00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:24.039
got you, you, son of a bitch. Guiton whispered. He

405
00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:28.079
was just inside the door opening and he was getting drenched,

406
00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:33.400
but he kept the grip on the bat. The footsteps

407
00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:38.920
barreled toward the door. Guiton raised the bat. Guiden no,

408
00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:50.559
Shelley screamed, but it was too late. He swung the

409
00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:54.960
bat with the force that gave him his ball crusher Moniker,

410
00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:59.760
and it found pay dirt. The sickening crack of bone

411
00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:05.440
ag against the bat sent painful vibrations up his forearms.

412
00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:10.880
It was a vastly different sensation than hitting a baseball. Solid.

413
00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:16.039
The man fell to his knees, half of his body

414
00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:21.639
in the store and the other half still outside. Guiton

415
00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:30.280
smiled until he realized who the man was. Ricky. Shelley screamed.

416
00:35:31.199 --> 00:35:34.840
He was gurgling blood, the left side of his head

417
00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:39.280
was caved in, and his left eye was dangling out

418
00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:44.719
of its socket. Oh shit, oh shit. Guiton set the

419
00:35:44.760 --> 00:35:48.880
bat down and turned his back to the door as

420
00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:51.320
he knelt to see if there was anything he could

421
00:35:51.360 --> 00:35:56.039
do to help Ricky. The blade came down on the

422
00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:59.960
center of Geiton's noggin like a hot knife through button.

423
00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:05.800
His eyes blinked rapidly as his face split in half.

424
00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:10.599
Brain matter oozed from his skull when he hit the floor.

425
00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:16.800
No silver bullets needed for this Werewolf Rodney took off.

426
00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:20.840
He ran straight to the back office, slamming the door

427
00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:27.800
behind him, while Shelley, Lilah Ginger, and Tina screamed, bloody murder.

428
00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:35.519
Billy was dead, Ricky was dead, Guiton was dead. Who

429
00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:40.159
was going to be next? Shelley desperately wanted to grab

430
00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:45.000
the dropped bat. She instantly regretted handing it over to Geiton.

431
00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:50.280
If she hadn't, Ricky would be there with them, he

432
00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:54.039
would have known what to do. Even leaning over to

433
00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:56.960
pick it up would be a risk that she wasn't

434
00:36:57.000 --> 00:37:02.199
willing to take. Lilah tugged on Tina's arm. Come on,

435
00:37:03.119 --> 00:37:09.199
Lilah said. Rodney locked himself in the back office. Shelley

436
00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:13.639
grabbed Ginger by the hand and followed behind Lilah and Tina.

437
00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:18.800
They walked to the back office. Shelley turned the knob.

438
00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:25.199
Rodney opened the fucking door, and let us in? Is

439
00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:29.719
he out there? Rodney asked, No, let us in, or

440
00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:34.480
we're going to bust it down, Shelley threatened. The lights

441
00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:38.400
flickered for just a moment, giving them all in ever

442
00:37:38.519 --> 00:37:42.239
so brief false sense of hope before they went right

443
00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:46.880
back out. It was a good sign. It meant See

444
00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:51.360
and g were at least working on it. Rodney stood

445
00:37:51.360 --> 00:37:56.880
from behind Ricky's desk, still holding his candle. He walked

446
00:37:56.920 --> 00:38:04.920
stiffly to the office door. Another zap of lightning sent

447
00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:09.840
a fresh wave of ozone into the air. Rodney heard

448
00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:17.239
Lilah cough as he turned the knob. Shelley pulled the

449
00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:21.559
door open, Rodney fell forward and hit the floor with

450
00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:25.440
the sound of a wet dish rag. His guts splayed

451
00:38:25.480 --> 00:38:31.039
out from the sides of his ample belly. He's in there, run,

452
00:38:31.719 --> 00:38:36.800
Shelley screamed. The women turned almost in unison. Ginger and

453
00:38:36.880 --> 00:38:40.239
Shelley took the lead. Tina and Lila were using a

454
00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:44.599
little more caution. No one came rushing out of the office,

455
00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:50.280
but Rodney was lying there deader than shit. The sound

456
00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:53.960
of shattering glass from the small window above the filing

457
00:38:54.039 --> 00:39:01.440
cabinet in Ricky's office filled the store, and Tina heard it,

458
00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:08.280
so they stopped. Ginger and Shelley did not. Ginger was

459
00:39:08.360 --> 00:39:11.960
the first to the door. There was no stopping her.

460
00:39:12.440 --> 00:39:16.320
She leapt over Billy's body, almost slipping in the mix

461
00:39:16.400 --> 00:39:21.239
of blood and water, and she skirted around Geiton, avoiding

462
00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:26.280
the clumps of brain, and stepped over Ricky. Shelley was

463
00:39:26.360 --> 00:39:30.719
right behind her, but stopped suddenly, as if she just

464
00:39:30.840 --> 00:39:38.719
hit an invisible brick wall. The blade hit Ginger in

465
00:39:38.840 --> 00:39:43.599
the left temple and escaped out the right temple before

466
00:39:43.639 --> 00:39:49.320
it was pulled back through with lethal precision. Ginger gasped

467
00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:55.159
and blinked. The wires in her brain were severed. She

468
00:39:55.280 --> 00:39:59.079
felt no pain as she dropped to her knees, mouth

469
00:39:59.199 --> 00:40:03.199
puckering like a fish out of water. Before her eyes

470
00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:08.920
locked on the forever stare, she slumped over on the

471
00:40:08.960 --> 00:40:14.079
welcome mat to the video store. Shelley's adrenaline and self

472
00:40:14.119 --> 00:40:18.519
preservation instinct kicked into high gear as she bolted out

473
00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:21.639
the door, ducking her head as she turned to the right.

474
00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:26.039
The blade still came, but all it got was the

475
00:40:26.119 --> 00:40:30.639
blessed oversized wig her aunt had made for her. The

476
00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:33.920
rain was as heavy as it ever was. There was

477
00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:37.719
a party at Bruce's, or at least there would be

478
00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:41.800
people there waiting for the return of power. It was

479
00:40:42.039 --> 00:40:46.199
just down the street. Gloverville was so fucking dark, with

480
00:40:46.400 --> 00:40:50.559
nary a street light on. Shelley was passing Oak Street

481
00:40:51.079 --> 00:40:54.760
and she could hear a dog barking somewhere down the

482
00:40:54.840 --> 00:40:59.800
murky road. The rain washed makeup into her eyes, making

483
00:40:59.800 --> 00:41:04.679
the stinging. Why didn't she hear Lila and Ginger behind her?

484
00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:10.280
Had he killed them? Even though Shelley was running for survival,

485
00:41:10.840 --> 00:41:15.320
A wave of guilt hit her and she stopped. She

486
00:41:15.519 --> 00:41:19.639
shouldn't have stopped. He grabbed her by the back of

487
00:41:19.679 --> 00:41:23.920
her long brown hair that was now freed from the wig,

488
00:41:24.599 --> 00:41:28.480
and jerked Shelly to the ground. The wind was knocked

489
00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:32.159
from her lungs, and the man pulling her was very short,

490
00:41:32.960 --> 00:41:37.679
not much bigger than a child. He drug her painfully

491
00:41:37.760 --> 00:41:42.480
across the jagged street. Shelley's dress was ripping, as was

492
00:41:42.519 --> 00:41:47.039
the flesh on her back and shoulders. Valley Videos parking

493
00:41:47.079 --> 00:41:51.599
lot was nothing more than a mud pond now, and

494
00:41:51.719 --> 00:41:55.519
the water on the torn flesh of her back was cold.

495
00:41:56.719 --> 00:42:03.360
Shelley found her voice. Please stop. Please. The man pulled

496
00:42:03.400 --> 00:42:07.199
Shelley over the bodies in their path and slammed her

497
00:42:07.239 --> 00:42:12.920
head against the floor. Shelley was concussed, but still conscious.

498
00:42:13.960 --> 00:42:19.159
She pushed up, trying to stand. Did you kill them two?

499
00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:24.880
Shelley asked. There was a giggle from the horror section.

500
00:42:26.880 --> 00:42:34.280
Who's there, Shelley demanded, It's just Ace and Dolly. Lila's

501
00:42:34.400 --> 00:42:39.039
voice said, run get out of here. He'll kill you both.

502
00:42:40.920 --> 00:42:49.079
Oh no, he won't. Tina's voice said, what Shelley asked?

503
00:42:50.440 --> 00:42:57.920
You chose trick, the gravelly voice whispered in Shelley's ear.

504
00:43:01.119 --> 00:43:07.679
Shelley was gone, Lila, get your brother, It's time to go.

505
00:43:09.000 --> 00:43:14.840
Don't forget our movies, Lila said. Oh yeah, good catch.

506
00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:21.199
Tina replied, Charlie, come on, it's my turn next year.

507
00:43:21.599 --> 00:43:29.079
Remember that, Lila chided, You did so good, Charlie, Tina

508
00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:34.679
said as she pulled her nephew's bald head into her bosom.

509
00:43:35.280 --> 00:43:39.760
The scales on his face felt sand papery, but Tina

510
00:43:39.840 --> 00:43:44.760
didn't mind. His ninja outfit held up quite well in

511
00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:49.840
the chaos. She was so proud of both of them.

512
00:43:50.239 --> 00:43:54.599
Lila was becoming a great actress. They were just a

513
00:43:54.719 --> 00:44:01.519
trio of psychopaths having fun on Halloween. Life couldn't get

514
00:44:01.639 --> 00:44:09.000
much better. The rain suddenly stopped. Charlie held the sword

515
00:44:09.159 --> 00:44:12.840
in one hand and took his sisters with the other.

516
00:44:14.199 --> 00:44:18.119
They left the store. It would be a new town

517
00:44:18.320 --> 00:44:28.920
next year. Would they choose trick or treat? And that

518
00:44:29.239 --> 00:44:35.079
My Spookies was deadly rental a Valley Halloween tale by

519
00:44:35.400 --> 00:44:39.199
our good buddy Charles Campbell. Make sure to check out

520
00:44:39.239 --> 00:44:44.400
his podcast Horror four twenty one on your favorite podcasting app.

521
00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:49.800
But the horror doesn't stop there. Tomorrow, something dark and

522
00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:54.440
urban is buzzing into the feed. We'll be diving deep

523
00:44:54.519 --> 00:44:58.000
into Candy Man from nineteen ninety two on a brand

524
00:44:58.079 --> 00:45:02.320
new episode of cutting Deep in to Horror, exploring the legend,

525
00:45:02.440 --> 00:45:05.960
the fear, and why saying his name might be the

526
00:45:05.960 --> 00:45:10.159
worst mistake you ever may so don't miss it. One

527
00:45:10.280 --> 00:45:13.480
night of Terror leads right into the next, and on

528
00:45:13.559 --> 00:45:16.880
Monday we have a very special episode of Terrifying and

529
00:45:16.960 --> 00:45:20.639
True you will not want to miss. So make sure

530
00:45:20.679 --> 00:45:24.199
you're subscribed on your favorite podcasting apps. Trust me you'll

531
00:45:24.239 --> 00:45:26.679
want to And while you're there, why not leave us

532
00:45:26.719 --> 00:45:30.079
a five star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It

533
00:45:30.199 --> 00:45:32.480
really helps the show out. You can also head to

534
00:45:32.519 --> 00:45:35.599
Weeklyspooky dot com slash join, where for as little as

535
00:45:35.639 --> 00:45:38.199
one dollar a month you get two bonus shows every

536
00:45:38.199 --> 00:45:41.719
month and over five years of exclusive audio books and

537
00:45:41.880 --> 00:45:44.559
creepy pastas. And speaking of I want to say an

538
00:45:44.559 --> 00:45:48.519
extra special thank you to our Patreon podcast boosters, folks

539
00:45:48.519 --> 00:45:50.559
who pay just a little bit more to hear their

540
00:45:50.639 --> 00:45:52.519
names at the end of the show. And they are

541
00:45:52.599 --> 00:45:57.320
Johnny Nicks, Kate and Lulu, Jessica Fuller, Mike Eskewey, Jenny Green,

542
00:45:57.599 --> 00:46:01.199
Amber Hansford, Karen we Met, Jack Kerr, and Craig Cohen.

543
00:46:01.280 --> 00:46:04.280
Thank you all so very much. For your support at

544
00:46:04.320 --> 00:46:08.320
Weeklyspooky dot com slash Join. Now is the best time

545
00:46:08.599 --> 00:46:12.320
to join over ninety other spookies and get cool stuff.

546
00:46:12.320 --> 00:46:13.920
But now it's time for me to get back to

547
00:46:13.960 --> 00:46:16.760
work so I can sneak off and see the brand

548
00:46:16.760 --> 00:46:20.159
new Black Phone part two. So for myself, for my

549
00:46:20.199 --> 00:46:24.360
executive producers Rob Fields and Bobbletopia dot Com, my producer

550
00:46:24.480 --> 00:46:27.920
Dan Wilder, and of course my creepy composer Ray Mattis,

551
00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:33.280
I'll be talking at you tomorrow all about Candyman. Candyman,

552
00:46:34.000 --> 00:46:35.039
thank you for listening.

553
00:46:35.280 --> 00:46:39.039
We make sure to find your way back next week week,

554
00:46:39.800 --> 00:46:44.960
but for now you are safe, trust me.