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Weekly Spooky
Weekly Spooky
Scary stories, urban legends, haunted places, cryptids and dark folklore with Henrique Couto. New nightmares throughout the week. Halloween all year long.
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Feb. 20, 2026

Deals with the Devil: Horror Stories of Demons, Curses, and Dark Bargains

Deals with the Devil: Horror Stories of Demons, Curses, and Dark Bargains
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Devil deals, cursed bargains, crossroads temptation, and payback from hell — this Weekly Spooky horror compilation is packed with supernatural revenge, demonic contracts, and the kind of “too good to be true” offers that always come with blood in the fine print.

Tonight’s theme: Deals with the Devil. Four stories. Four bargains. And every single one of them comes due.
Stories in this compilation (in order):

- “The Deal Was Great, But The Payments Are Hell” — Joe Solmo: A paranoid man on the run thinks he’s being hunted… but the truth at his motel door is far worse than he imagined.
- “Even Witches Can Cry” — Charles Campbell: A grieving mother makes the one promise you never make… and the debt collector shows up when life finally feels normal again.
- “Gamble with the Devil” — David O’Hanlon: A would-be mercenary wants glory on camera—until a “simple” raid turns into an invitation to something ancient, hungry, and very real.
- “The Devil Knows Three Chords” — John Oak Dalton: Two bluegrass legends hit a breaking point backstage in 1968… and one of them may have gotten famous the wrong way.

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

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

📬 Contact Us / Submit Your Horror Story!


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

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All right, my spookies, pull in close tonight. We're standing

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at the crossroads where the moonlight looks like a spotlight

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and the shadows feel like witnesses. Somewhere out there, a

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signature is drying on a page that was never meant

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to be read in the daylight. Because this is what

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the devil does best. He doesn't kick down the door.

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He offers you one a clean deal, a quick fix,

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a glittering shortcut, and then later the payments start. In

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these tales, you'll find bargains that turn motel rooms into confessionals,

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grief that whispers like a spell, a gamble that raises

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the stakes until the air itself feels rigged, and a

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stage lit by three simple chords that just might have

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been tuned by something that doesn't sleep. So breathe in deep,

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count your change, read the fine print, and if you

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hear a voice telling you it's a once in a

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lifetime offer, remember hell loves a payment plan. And make

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sure you subscribe on your favorite podcasting app. There's a

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brand new horror story every single Wednesday. The deal was great,

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but the payments are hell. By Joe Solmo Knock Knock, Knock,

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Jeremiah walked to the front door with his daddy's trusty

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Colt in his hand. He wouldn't let them take him.

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He didn't know how they found him. He was really

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careful this time. He followed the rules as father laid

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out so long ago, the locks on the cheap motel door,

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before placing an eye at the peep hole. Pizza delivery guy,

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Really they thought he would fall for that one. Didn't

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order any You got the wrong room, Jeremiah said in

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a lowered pitch voice. He gripped his pistol hard. This

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room twenty five, mister Gridle, It's Reedle. I changed my mind.

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I don't want the pizza, Jeremiah said, placing the end

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of the barrel against the cheap wood of the door.

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I can't return it. They're gonna take it out of

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my pay. Come on, man, have a heart, the pizza

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delivery guy said. Jeremiah watched the man's shoulders sag as

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he grew dejected. Man, this guy was good. Wonder where

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they found him. Sorry, I refuse delivery, Jeremiah said, running

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his left hand through his shoulder length, greasy hair. You

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can't do that. Come on, when you owe me eighteen bucks.

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The delivery guy said, let me ask you something. What's

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your name, Jeremiah asked, Kevin. Let me ask you something, Kevin,

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Where did you get that uniform? Jeremiah said, looking at

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the red and black polo shirt Kevin was wearing through

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the people. What they gave it to me when I

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got hired. Kevin responded, we both know that is a costume.

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Where's your real uniform? Jeremiah asked, as a bead of

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sweat ran down his unshaven cheek. It was getting hot

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in here. Look, dude, I don't know what the fuck

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you're talking about. Are you going to open the fucking

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door or not? I got other deliveries to make and

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I ain't got time for no damn weirdos. Slowly, with

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his gun still in his hand, Jeremiah reached up and

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slid the chain out of the lock with practiced ease.

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He unlocked it with without making a sound. He reached

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down to the handle and paused, you'd love it if

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I just opened the door, wouldn't you? It would make

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your job so easy. Jeremiah said, yeah, actually that would

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be fucking great. Open the door, pay for the goddamn pizza,

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and let me get on with my life, Kevin said. Exasperated,

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Jeremiah yanked the door open and grabbed the pizza from Kevin.

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Before he knew it, the pizza delivery guy was staring

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down the barrel of a revolver. It's your lucky day.

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I opened the door. Now get inside, in Fernie, Jeremiah said,

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backing a step from the door to allow Kevin to enter.

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I won't ask twice. Kevin shuffled past the gunman and

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into the motel room. It looked like someone was living

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here for a while. Piles of clothes littered the floor

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among the other squalor sit down, Cambian, Jeremiah spat, motioning

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the tip of the barrel at a table and chair

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combo in the corner of the room. YO, what did

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you call me? Kevin asked. I know your true nature, fiend,

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drop the act. You're going to answer a few questions

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for me, Jeremiah said, as he sat down on the

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edge of the bed. How did you find me? The

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delivery app has the address. You must have given it

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when you called in for the pizza, Kevin said, eyeing

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the box. Sitting on the bed next to the deranged man,

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with a gun. I didn't tell him which room it was.

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You were supposed to drop it at the front desk.

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So tell me how are you tracking me? Some kind

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of dark juju? A blood hex blood? Ah, that must

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be it. You smell the blood of your own kind.

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I've killed before, you know, a dozen or so. My

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father showed me the kinks in your armor, Jeremiah said,

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as he stood and took two steps towards Kevin. My kind,

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What kind of this this shit is that? Kevin replied angrily.

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Up until now, Jeremiah hadn't noticed that the man was black.

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You know what I mean. Just admit who you really are,

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and I will toy with the idea of letting you go.

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I know, I said I killed a bunch before, But

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if you cooperate, Jeremiah said, and lowered the gun to

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his side. I just want this to end. Look, I

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just deliver pizzas. Just tell me what you want me

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to say, and I'll say it and we can both

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go on with our lives, Kevin said, wide eyed. A

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shiver ran up his spine as he looked at the

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twisted features of the man with the gun. Just tell

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me how they track me? How do they always pop

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up no matter how far I go. Just tell me

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this one thing, Jeremiah sighed. He sounded tired. He was tired.

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Being on the run was wearing him down. His father

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warned him about getting enough rest, that and not eating

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white castles. Can't get the shits when you're on the run.

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Who are they?

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Uh?

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Maybe it's your cell phone, your kind and I don't

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got one, your car, stolen credit cards? I pay cash

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for everything. Then, fuck man, I don't know, Kevin said

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and shivered. What's the matter cold, Jeremiah inquired, as he

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took off his own jacket and tossed it on the bed.

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It's a little cold for me, Kevin responded, Aha, I

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knew it a little warmer back home, isn't it. Yeah, man,

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I'm from Atlanta. I'm not used to this New England

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fall weather, damn tuitions so high. I had to get

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a damn job delivering pizzas to crazy white folk, Kevin mumbled. Atlanta, Ah,

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Jeremiah said, and crouched down in front of his captive.

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You sure that's where you're from. Spent my whole life

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there until I met my girl and followed her to college.

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Why don't you just come out and say what you mean?

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Think I'm being all elusive and shit? Where do you

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think I'm from? Kevin asked, and reached for the pizza

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box on the nearby bed. Jeremiah slapped his hand away.

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No pizza, it's probably got some kind of edible tracer

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in it. Wow, just wow. You're gonna hold me hostage

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and not even feed me the pizza. They are gonna

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charge my ass for when it's all over. That's cold man.

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To answer your question, I know where you're from. It's

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a lot hotter than Atlanta, though. Cambian, what did you

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call me? I ain't never heard that one before, Kevin said,

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getting more agitated and less afraid as the conversation went on. Cambian,

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that's what you are, the spawn of an incubus and

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a succubus, demon spawn sent to get me. My father

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warned me of your kind. He told me how you

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follow my family around and cause ruin, how it was

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up to me to stop it, to kill the demons

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plaguing us. I've done a few in but it looks

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like my work ain't done. I know what I have

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to do. This ain't my first rodeo Jeremiah said, lifting

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the pizza box top with the barrel of his gun

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and sneaking a peek inside. It did smell good. I

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don't care how many rodeos you've been to, except it

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seems like a bull kicked you in the damn head

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too many times. I ain't no demon. I'm just Kevin

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from Atlanta, chasing college tail here in Boston. That's all

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there is, man, Kevin said. Liar Jeremiah said, and pistol

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whipped Kevin, who raised his hands over his face just

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in time to block the blow. Look, man, I'm just

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a human, not even a good one. Really, I'm definitely

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not whatever the hell you called it. I just deliver

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pizzas and you're crazy. Maybe I am, but either way,

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I have to stop you from tracking me. Look, man,

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consider it stopped. Ain't no track in happening over here,

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So you admit you were before, Jeremiah said, before he

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was interrupted. Knock, knock, knock, this was getting ridiculous. With

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a smug look at his captive, Jeremiah headed to the

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peep hole once again and peered through it. Standing on

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the other side was a young woman, scantily clad. She

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knocked again, mister you in there, came a high pitched

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voice from the other side the desk said, you might

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be interested since you were here alone. Not interested, Jeremiah

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responded and spared a glance at Kevin, who was sitting still.

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Jeremiah made a shushing gesture. How can you not be

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interested in this? It's barely legal, the woman said, and

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flipped her hair. Get the fuck out of here. Jeremiah

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yelled and cocked his gun. A second later, Kevin barreled

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into him, and they both crashed into the door with

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a crack. It wouldn't be able to handle much more

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of that. The gun fell from Jeremiah's hand onto the worn,

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dirty carpet. Both Kevin and Jeremiah went for it, but

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instead their frantic grasping made its skitter further and further away.

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Mister you okay in there, the woman asked from the

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other side.

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Help.

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Kevin yelled out and tried to punch Jeremiah in the face.

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They wrestled on the floor, no one getting the upper hand.

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Mister someone in there with you? Is that Dale? Oh?

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You're into guys, the woman said, with understanding, help me.

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Kevin yelled out, Fuck off. Jeremiah screamed, mister, I'm coming in.

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I got a key, the woman said from the other side.

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Jeremiah reached up towards the lock he forgot to set

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after bringing Kevin in. The door opened and the woman's slender,

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bare leg entered the room. Jeremiah need Kevin in the

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balls to distract him and grabbed the woman's leg with

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a yank, sending her to the floor. In the chaos,

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he looked for the gun aha right by his bag.

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He dove towards the Colt revolver. The feel of the

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handle in his hands gave him all the reassurance he needed.

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It was his father's weapon. It served him well until

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he was killed by these infernal fucks. He pulled the

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woman into the room and closed the door, finally getting

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control of the situation again. He pointed the gun at her.

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You picked the wrong room, bitch. He fired a shot

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into her torso and turned the gun on Kevin, who

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had backed up to the wall, pulling his legs up

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into a fetal position. Now are you going to answer

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my question? I need them to stop following me. I

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need to be free from whatever it is that your

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kind wants, Jeremiah said. I got nothing. Man, This is crazy.

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You shot that hoe, Kevin said and looked over at

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the woman. His eyes grew wide as she first sat

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up and then stood, checking her stomach for a wound.

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But there was nothing there. You made the mistake, she said,

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Her eyes flashed with the fires of hell. She reached

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out and grabbed the gun in his hand and squeezed

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until the pain made him let go. She turned towards Kevin.

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This mortal has nothing to do with this.

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Go, she said, and nodded towards the door. Kevin ran

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out of the room.

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Now we have you, Jeremiah, the blood debt will be paid.

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That much was promised three generations past. The third pays

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the price for the first, a grandfather's debt. I can

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smell the damnation on you for five miles.

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Away, the woman said, and took a deep breath. Ah, sweetness,

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I never knew my grandfather. He won the lottery and

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left my father at the store when he was a kid.

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Dad said, he tracked him down when he was a teen.

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That's when we learned about the rules. Jeremiah explained the rules,

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the woman said, with a hint of demon in her voice.

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How to survive the curse. How to stay one step

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ahead of you, Jeremiah said, and tried to run. He

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was grabbed in an iron grip by the woman. Her

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strong fingers dug into his shoulder. After a second, Jeremiah

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stopped struggling. A tear came to his eye. Just gonna

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grab that pizza, Kevin said, ducking back into the room

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and grabbing the box. On the way out, he stopped

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and pulled a piece out. No pizza for you, he

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said to Jeremiah, and took a big bite. The woman

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turned her fiery eyes toward him. Sorry, I'm out of here,

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Kevin said, taking the hint, and left. Halfway down the hall,

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he yelled, M so much pepperoni. The woman turned her

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attention back to Jeremiah. The fires of hell blazed in

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her stairs. Her skin began to peel as if burnt,

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and pieces fell to the floor around her. If she noticed,

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she didn't lead on.

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I am your guide to pain, to the fate bestowed

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by your blood. I am all that you will know.

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All you will crave for, cringe away from love, hate, lust,

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and disgust, The pain I provide being the only existence

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you will know. I will only relent when you wish

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for non existence, just long enough to give you hope

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to steal it away again. That is what will sustain

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me for eons. I think we will start with disonembowelment

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and move on to the hard stuff from there.

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The woman said, and waved her arm in the A

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fiery opening ripped in the cheap carpet of the hotel room.

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The woman pushed Jeremiah down and jumped in herself after him.

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The portal closed up with a whiff of burnt carpet.

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A moment passed, the planet spun, the world went on

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then movement. Kevin entered the room once again and went

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to the jacket on the bed. He found Jeremiah's wallet

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inside and took a wrinkled twenty. He took a whiff

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and looked around. It's for the pizza, he said, and

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left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Even

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witches can cry by Charles Campbell. Rain is a funny thing.

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Sometimes it brings life, sometimes it brings death. It can

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be seen through the lens of relief or of suffering.

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It just depends on when the rain comes, how hard

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it falls, and how long it stays. For Jillian Hubbard.

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The rain has worn out its welcome. It is there

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when she wakes up and when she goes to bed.

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It was a cold November rain that started three days ago,

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and it has not slowed down in the least. Jillian

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pulled the wool blanket from her twin sized bed and

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looked to the empty crib in the corner. It had

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been five months since Clementine Rose Hubbard was stillborn. There

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was no mister Hubbard, and there had been no man

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in her life. Her pregnancy was a complete and total mystery.

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Jillian didn't know she was pregnant until she was almost

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four months a long, but after hearing the baby's heartbeat,

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there was no way she was going to end her

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life in utero. She began hearing the cries two nights

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after returning home from the hospital. The cries sounded as

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if they came from the crib, and every time Gillian checked,

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the crib was empty and silent. Sometimes the crying would

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begin again as soon as Gillian returned to bed. Sometimes

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there wouldn't be another sound for the rest of the night,

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but the crying never stopped for good. Gillian suspected she

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may be suffering from some sort of postpartum depression. She

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remained hidden away in her house in the woods and

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00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:43.839
would be there for a while. Her thick red hair

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was growing longer, and her body showed no signs of

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her ill fated pregnancy. She cut off all communication with

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the outside world. No Internet, no cell phone. It was

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just Jillian, her thoughts and the cries of Clementine. Gillian

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walked to the living area of her small home, curled

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up on the couch and pulled the wool blanket around her.

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The house was cold, but Gillian always liked it cold.

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She liked the feeling of a warm blanket wrapped around

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her in a frosty room. So every room was always frigid.

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The rain and wind picked up its intensity, and there

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was the rap rap rap of slamming shutters at the

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front of the house. To secure them, Gillian would have

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to go outside, so she would live with the slamming.

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She turned the page on the book she was reading, Perennials,

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by novelist Bryce Gibson. She found the premise interesting, a

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serial killer that targeted victims based on names of plants,

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but she was struggling to focus on the words. Then

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she heard the first clap of thunder. Since the rain

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began a few minutes later, the lights flickered. A few

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minutes after that, there was a lightning strike and the

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power zapped out. It was mid morning, so there was

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enough natural light even though the sky was dark with clouds.

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Jillian sighed, set the book down and closed her eyes.

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For the first time since she came home from the hospital,

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she heard Clementine cry during the day. Gillian's eyes opened.

305
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She left the blanket on the couch, and the chill

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of the room widened her eyes. She walked slowly to

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the bedroom. The baby was crying, and it was more

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intense than it had been. The baby was hungry. The

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00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:19.160
baby needed her mother. Clementine, mommy's here, Gillian whispered as

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she got closer to the crib. The crying continued, but softened,

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as if it may stop at any second. Gillian could

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hear her baby breathing. She could hear her moving around

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in the crib. Jillian stopped short of getting close enough

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to look inside. She knew that if she did, Clementine

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00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:51.279
wouldn't be there. She could hear her baby girl breathe,

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00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:57.160
move and cry. That was better than breaking the connection

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00:21:58.200 --> 00:22:05.279
by looking in the crib. She stood there and spoke

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to her baby, Clementine. I wish you were with me.

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00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:15.240
I needed you so badly and I didn't know it.

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I wanted to watch you grow up, put a bandage

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00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:21.599
on your knee, and kiss your boo boo, fight with

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you when you would get to that age, see you

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off to school, and watch you grow into a young woman.

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Clementine is here. A man's voice whispered into Gillian's ear.

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Who are you, Gillian whispered back. Do you want your

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daughter back with you in the flesh, asked the man.

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Gillian could feel his hot breath on her neck. She

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dared not turn toward him because she knew he wouldn't

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00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:04.920
be there more than anything. Can Can you bring her

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00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:10.839
back to me? Gillian asked. Clementine was no longer crying,

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but cooing and giggling in her crib. Jillian heard her

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baby giggle for the first time. I can bring her

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00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:28.519
back to you, said the voice. What's the cost, Gillian asked.

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She knew that such an act would come with a

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00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:37.640
steep price. I will claim the debt at a time

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of my choosing. You must do exactly what I demand

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within the time frame I set. It doesn't matter what

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is happening in your life at the time. I could

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00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:55.920
ask for repayment of this debt tomorrow or in fifty years.

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You must do it without question or hesitation. Do you

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agree to these terms, Jillian? I do? I do agree

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00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:13.559
to those terms. Jillian quickly replied, go to bed, and

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when you wake up, Clementine will be waiting for you.

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The room fell silent. Gillian didn't look in the crib.

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She went to bed like she was told, and immediately

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fell asleep. The next morning, Jillian didn't hear anything. When

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she awoke, she felt the disappointment of a hopeful dream shattering.

348
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As she looked into the crib. There was no moving,

349
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no crying, nothing. Some on the dresser caught her attention.

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It was a piece of paper and it looked official.

351
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She made out the stamp of Augusta University Hospital on

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top of the form. Gillian began trembling when she realized

353
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what she was about to pick up. It was an

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00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:24.160
original signed a birth certificate of live birth for Clementine

355
00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:32.599
Rose Hubbard. Then she heard Clementine cry, and Gillian began

356
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to cry tears of elation. She set the paper down

357
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and rushed to the crib. There was a five month

358
00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:44.160
old baby with slobber on her cheeks, kicking her chubby

359
00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:48.279
little legs. She was hungry. Jillian felt a trickle through

360
00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:55.119
her night shirt. She was lactating. Oh my god, is

361
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this real? Jillian lifted the child from the crib. Lementine

362
00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:05.559
had her features, same eyes, nose, and mouth. Nothing to

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00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:09.279
tell Gillian that there was any other DNA in the infant.

364
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You're a pretty girl, aren't you, Gillian asked, as the

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00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:17.960
baby was attempting to suckle. Gillian removed her night shirt

366
00:26:18.319 --> 00:26:21.279
and Clementine latched on as if she had been on

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the breast for one hundred days. One year turned into seven,

368
00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:34.680
and Clementine was a precocious first grader, smart as a

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whip and reading at a fifth grade level. She was

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curious about everything, and when she was five, she asked

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00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:45.880
Gillian why she didn't have a father. Gillian told her

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that her father disappeared one day and never returned. It

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00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:55.079
was better than trying to explain the inexplicable. Gillian and

374
00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:58.400
Clementine moved from the woods to the suburbs of Ridgecliffe

375
00:26:58.440 --> 00:27:02.559
Court in North Augusta. When Clementine celebrated her third birthday.

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It was the end of a school day and Jillian

377
00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:08.440
was waiting in the pickup circle when Clementine was led

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00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:13.279
to the car by Miss Joan. Hey, sweetie, Jillian said

379
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through the rolled down window. Miss Joan opened the passenger

380
00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:21.920
door and buckled Clementine in. Good afternoon, Miss Hubbard, Jane said.

381
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Clementine is always so well behaved. I'll see you tomorrow.

382
00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:31.160
See you tomorrow, Miss Jone, Clementine said, and then turned

383
00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:34.279
to her mother. She was the spitting image of her,

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00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:39.279
red hair, freckled face, green eyes, and thin lips. Did

385
00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:42.319
you learn a lot today, Jillian asked as she drove

386
00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:46.640
away from North Augusta Elementary. Yeah. We had a spelling

387
00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:50.559
bee to day in class and I won. Clementine was beaming.

388
00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:54.960
That's great, honey, you're so smart. I got a movie

389
00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:58.240
from the library. Miss Jones said, we should watch it together.

390
00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:05.240
She did, what movie did you get? The Wizard of Oz? Oh? Wow,

391
00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:07.519
that's a great movie. I watched it a lot when

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00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:10.640
I was a child. Jillian looked over at her own

393
00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:14.000
little miracle. I'm making a pot of spaghetti and you

394
00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:16.119
need to go ahead and get your homework done, then

395
00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:19.000
your bath, will eat and watch the movie before you

396
00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:22.960
go to bed. How does that sound perfect, Mommy, that

397
00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:26.880
sounds perfect. Clementine talked about the rest of her day

398
00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:31.799
until Gillian pulled into the driveway. It was movie time.

399
00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:35.119
Their bellies were full of spaghetti, and Jillian hoped she

400
00:28:35.160 --> 00:28:38.599
could stay awake for the trip to Oz. Clementine was

401
00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:41.559
wide awake and excited. She put the movie in the

402
00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:45.839
player and was immediately transfixed by Dorothy and was engrossed

403
00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:48.039
in the film until the house was swept away by

404
00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:51.559
the tornado. Her little green eyes welled in fear. When

405
00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:54.839
she saw the witch flying by the window. She began

406
00:28:54.920 --> 00:29:00.000
to tremble. Mommy, I don't like the witch, She whispered.

407
00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:05.240
The witch can't hurt her, You'll see, Gillian whispered back.

408
00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:09.400
Clementine was getting comfortable again and even giggled when Dorothy

409
00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:12.480
removed the ruby slippers from the feet of the deceased

410
00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:15.519
Wicked Witch of the East. She was elated when the

411
00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:19.759
munchkins broke into song, proclaiming the witch dead, but when

412
00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:22.160
the Wicked Witch of the West showed up to claim

413
00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:28.680
those slippers, Clementine started trembling again. Mommy, I don't like

414
00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:31.279
the witch. Turn it off. Turn it off. She's going

415
00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:33.240
to kill them all. She's going to kill them like

416
00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:39.559
in my dreams, Clementine screamed. Gillian turned off the movie. Okay, baby,

417
00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:43.039
it's fine. She doesn't kill anybody. I didn't think she

418
00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:46.599
would scare you. What did you mean when you said,

419
00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:50.160
like in your dreams? Do you have dreams about witches?

420
00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:54.319
Gillian asked as she held her daughter tightly to her bosom,

421
00:29:54.799 --> 00:30:02.000
stroking her hair. Clementine nodded yes and asked, why didn't

422
00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:06.279
you tell me about them? I don't have them all

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00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:09.599
the time, but the one in the movie looks like her.

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Clementine replied and pushed away from her mother. I'm okay now, mommy,

425
00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:17.519
I don't want to see that movie anymore. I'll take

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00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:23.279
it back to the library tomorrow. You sure you're okay, sweetie, Yes,

427
00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:25.720
I'm fine. I think I want to draw for a

428
00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:30.400
little while before I go to bed, Clementine said. Jillian

429
00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:33.119
was amazed at how this seven year old child could

430
00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:37.400
have a better conversation with her than most adults. Okay,

431
00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:40.160
the next time you have a bad dream like that,

432
00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:44.079
please tell me. I don't want you to ever be frightened.

433
00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:49.440
I love you, my Clementine. I love you too, mommy.

434
00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:53.119
Clementine went to her room and pulled out her colored

435
00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:56.599
pencils in blank sheets of paper. Jillian watched her for

436
00:30:56.640 --> 00:31:02.640
a few minutes before she readied herself for bed. Clementine

437
00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:07.720
began drawing. She began carefully with the outlines. Then she

438
00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:11.839
used a dark gray pencil to shadow the dreary skyline.

439
00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:14.480
She sketched a large log cabin in the center of

440
00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:18.559
the paper and filled in the detail with blacks and browns.

441
00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:23.680
Trees surrounded the cabin. It was set deep in the woods.

442
00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:29.039
Then Clementine began filling in her outlines. There were four

443
00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:31.839
of them outside of the cabin and two of them

444
00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:36.640
inside the cabin, peering out through the windows. They were witches,

445
00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:40.119
just like the Wicked Witch of the West. They were

446
00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:44.880
returning empty handed from a hunt. Clementine drew a crimson

447
00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:48.680
shadow hiding in the woods. It was someone that often

448
00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:55.079
visited her dreams. Clementine finished her drawing and yawned. Sleep

449
00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:58.960
was coming and she wasn't going to fight it. Clementine

450
00:31:58.960 --> 00:32:10.480
went to sleep. The witches were there. Clementine was standing

451
00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:13.279
in front of the cabin. It was dark, just like

452
00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:16.119
the picture she drew, and she could see the flicker

453
00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:21.640
of fire through the cabin windows. Shadows were moving about inside.

454
00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:25.799
Clementine was afraid, afraid that she was going to be discovered.

455
00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:30.039
She saw the ember shadow in the woods and it

456
00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:35.599
summoned her. Clementine stepped toward the window. The flames inside

457
00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:39.720
the cabin intensified. It sounded as if the woods themselves

458
00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:44.799
were cackling all around her. Clementine turned back toward the cabin.

459
00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:49.920
She could hear the man in the woods call her name, Clementine,

460
00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:56.000
Come to your father. Clementine was frozen in fear. She

461
00:32:56.160 --> 00:33:00.319
turned back toward the cabin, and the witches came, storming out,

462
00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:03.279
brooms and hands. They all looked like the evil, wicked

463
00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:07.799
witch of the West. Leave her, Leave her, You have

464
00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:12.160
no dominion here, they moved swiftly. Death is all you'll

465
00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:18.759
find here. Our niece is protected, niece, Clementine thought, as

466
00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:21.519
she turned to run to her father. He would save

467
00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:24.759
her from the witches. Clementine felt a rush of hot

468
00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:27.160
air hid her in the face as the witches took flight,

469
00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:31.680
by passing her and going straight for her father. They

470
00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:35.359
weren't coming for her at all. Why were they chasing

471
00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:40.480
her father? Clementine screamed, Run, Daddy, run, They're going to

472
00:33:40.599 --> 00:33:44.880
kill you. Clementine woke up. She could hear her mother

473
00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:50.160
talking to someone in the other room. She wanted to scream,

474
00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:59.160
but she crept silently, listened and realized the truth. Clementine

475
00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:03.559
was so very smart. She went back and grabbed a

476
00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:11.880
special doll hidden under her bed. Gillian went to bed

477
00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:15.599
early and woke up early. She could see the amber

478
00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:18.519
nightlight in Clementine's room when she stuck her head in

479
00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:23.039
to make sure her miracle was still sleeping. There was

480
00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:26.039
enough light that Gillian could see that Clementine finished her

481
00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:29.599
drawing before going to bed. Gillian would look at it

482
00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:33.800
after Clementine woke up. She could rest another hour before

483
00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:37.199
she needed to get up and prepare for school. Gillian

484
00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:39.440
went to the kitchen and turned on the coffee maker.

485
00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:42.119
She clicked on the television in the living room to

486
00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:46.000
get the early weather report. The television flickered for a

487
00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:50.639
second and went black. The lights in the kitchen flashed

488
00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:56.400
before they went out. There was a tingle down Gillian's spine.

489
00:34:56.559 --> 00:35:00.320
She knew what was coming. She felt his hot breath

490
00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:03.239
on her neck, but dared not turn to look at him.

491
00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:08.719
It's time to claim the debt, he whispered in her ear.

492
00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:13.159
His breath was incredibly hot, and Jillian could feel every

493
00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:18.719
thump of her heart. Look at me, Jillian. Gillian stepped

494
00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:23.760
back and slowly turned her head. She saw the shape

495
00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:27.000
of a black cloaked figure with ember eyes and sharp,

496
00:35:27.079 --> 00:35:31.400
pointy canines setting off two rows of intensely white choppers.

497
00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:35.320
His face was a very dark shade of crimson, with

498
00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:39.679
charcoal gray eyebrows so prominent that they extended outward past

499
00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:43.039
the shield of the cloak. His crimson hands were more

500
00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:46.400
like the claws of a large marine iguana, with curved,

501
00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:50.400
sharp black nails at the end of each digit. Jillian

502
00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:54.320
was very afraid. She was very afraid of what she

503
00:35:54.400 --> 00:35:58.199
had done when she agreed to take on this debt.

504
00:35:58.559 --> 00:36:03.960
Are you the devil? She asked, No, Gillian, I am

505
00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:09.079
not the devil. I have been called many names during

506
00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:14.360
the history of this world. You may call me Mases.

507
00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:20.480
What what are you? Please don't hurt Clementine. I have

508
00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:25.320
no intention of hurting Clementine. As long as you repay

509
00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:31.719
the debt. The debt you agreed to with no questions asked. Remember,

510
00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:38.079
the demon smiled at Gillian. I remember, what do you

511
00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:42.480
want me to do? I need souls. I need the

512
00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:46.000
souls of children, and I need you to get them

513
00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:51.400
for me. Once you have harvested six souls, you will

514
00:36:51.400 --> 00:36:56.360
be free of your debt. Mases stepped closer to Jillian.

515
00:36:58.679 --> 00:37:01.960
You want me to kill children for you. If you

516
00:37:02.159 --> 00:37:05.920
ask one more question, I will just take the one

517
00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:10.960
that I returned to you. Jillian's face was hot. Mases

518
00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:13.320
was so close to her, and the heat from his

519
00:37:13.400 --> 00:37:15.960
skin was on the verge of burning her. It was

520
00:37:16.039 --> 00:37:21.960
so hot. Leave my mommy alone, Clementine said, she was

521
00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:26.199
standing in the room. Mases turned to face her. She's

522
00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:31.239
grown into such a lovely child, Jillian. Mases grinned and

523
00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:35.639
the forked tongue flicked from his lips. Don't touch her.

524
00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:39.639
I'll do what you ask. Just don't touch her, please.

525
00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:44.280
Jillian was sobbing. Daddy's not going to hurt me, Mommy,

526
00:37:44.719 --> 00:37:50.800
He's just being grumpy right now, Clementine said and moved closer. What,

527
00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:56.400
oh my god, what did you say. Jillian's mind flashed

528
00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:59.800
to a night It was a nightmare. That she never remembered,

529
00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:01.800
but but it was all coming back to her now.

530
00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:05.039
A cloaked figure in her bedroom in the middle of

531
00:38:05.079 --> 00:38:09.000
the night, she remembers him disrobing and laying with her.

532
00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:16.440
She remembers pleasure and darkness. When she awoke the following morning,

533
00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:20.840
she had forgotten the nightmare completely, and four months later

534
00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:26.320
she discovered Clementine was growing in her womb. Gillian realized

535
00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:29.000
Mases is the one that took Clementine away in the

536
00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:31.719
delivery room, and he was the one to bring her

537
00:38:31.760 --> 00:38:37.159
back as bait to do his unholy bidding. Daddy, you're

538
00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:41.639
scaring mommy. She has to do something for Daddy, and

539
00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:46.079
then I will only visit you in your dreams. Mazes

540
00:38:46.159 --> 00:38:50.000
said he didn't realize the strength in this little one.

541
00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:53.920
Mommy's a witch. She can kill you, Daddy. The other

542
00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:57.840
witches told me so. Clementine stepped closer to the two

543
00:38:57.840 --> 00:39:01.519
of them. She was holding something behind her back, and

544
00:39:01.559 --> 00:39:06.400
Mases took note, she's a witch. You say, what do

545
00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:11.000
you think is more powerful, my love? A witch or

546
00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:16.280
a demon? Mases grinned at the little redheaded girl. Clementine's

547
00:39:16.280 --> 00:39:20.199
eyes began to change. They were morphing from green to

548
00:39:20.280 --> 00:39:25.039
the charcoal gray eyes of her father. Her skin was

549
00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:30.679
changing color. It was turning crimson. A demon is more

550
00:39:30.760 --> 00:39:34.199
powerful than one witch, Daddy, but a demon is not

551
00:39:34.360 --> 00:39:39.519
more powerful than two witches. Clementine pulled the doll from

552
00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:42.440
behind her back. It was once a ken doll, but

553
00:39:42.559 --> 00:39:44.880
she had colored it in dark red from head to

554
00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:48.599
toe and painted gray. Where its eyes were there was

555
00:39:48.639 --> 00:39:51.920
a little black cape and hood that Clementine cut from

556
00:39:51.960 --> 00:39:55.440
a black T shirt. This is you, daddy, and the

557
00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:59.400
witches showed me how to make you hurt. Jillian could

558
00:39:59.480 --> 00:40:04.039
feel so thing in her mind. It was whispering. The

559
00:40:04.079 --> 00:40:08.480
coven is with you, Jillian. Don't be afraid. Clementine will

560
00:40:08.480 --> 00:40:12.239
show you the way. Mommy. The witches weren't trying to

561
00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:15.239
hurt me. They were showing me. They found me in

562
00:40:15.320 --> 00:40:18.280
between when Daddy hid me away. They told me what

563
00:40:18.320 --> 00:40:23.199
we were. Daddy, leave mommy alone. She twisted the arm

564
00:40:23.239 --> 00:40:27.239
on the doll. Mases looked at Clementine with puzzled amusement.

565
00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:32.559
Your silly toys can't hurt me, child. His focus shifted

566
00:40:32.599 --> 00:40:35.800
fully to the witch demon child pulling on the doll's arm.

567
00:40:36.360 --> 00:40:39.760
There is no power in the doll. The witch's voice said,

568
00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:45.280
it's a distraction when he touches her. No, he can't

569
00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:49.599
touch her. Gillian screamed and charged mases. The demon backhanded

570
00:40:49.639 --> 00:40:52.840
Gillian across the face. Her cheeks sizzled. As soon as

571
00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:55.840
his claws touched her skin. The smell of burnt flesh

572
00:40:56.000 --> 00:41:00.360
rose in the air. Clementine dropped the doll and grabbed

573
00:41:00.360 --> 00:41:04.880
her father by his claw. Only then Mazus realized he

574
00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:08.840
wasn't facing two witches, he was facing an entire coven

575
00:41:09.599 --> 00:41:13.159
all at once. They were chanting in unison, and you

576
00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:16.760
could feel the incantation setting in. It was a spell

577
00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:20.719
of banishment. He tried to pull away, but he couldn't

578
00:41:20.760 --> 00:41:24.599
break Clementine's grip. Jillian was pouring salt on the floor

579
00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:28.039
around them, trapping Mazus and Clementine in their own circle.

580
00:41:28.840 --> 00:41:33.280
Jillian and Clementine joined the coven's chant. Cast the demon

581
00:41:33.360 --> 00:41:38.039
from your home. Cast the demon from your mind, your whereabouts.

582
00:41:38.119 --> 00:41:41.079
He will never find. If he darkens your door again,

583
00:41:41.280 --> 00:41:44.199
his soul will be cast to the wind. Cast the

584
00:41:44.280 --> 00:41:47.519
demon from your home. Cast the demon from your mind,

585
00:41:47.559 --> 00:41:51.119
your whereabouts, he will never find. If he darkens your

586
00:41:51.199 --> 00:41:54.400
door again, his soul will be cast to the wind.

587
00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:59.199
Mazes felt something. It was regret at choosing this woman.

588
00:42:00.119 --> 00:42:04.119
She was no Agnes Fields. Clementine's face turned a full

589
00:42:04.280 --> 00:42:08.239
burning crimson. Her red hair was now replaced with flames,

590
00:42:08.440 --> 00:42:11.800
and she slung her demon father outside of the circle.

591
00:42:13.079 --> 00:42:19.639
He disappeared into black smoke. Clementine collapsed. Gillian rushed to

592
00:42:19.719 --> 00:42:22.199
her child, who had morphed back into a little girl.

593
00:42:22.559 --> 00:42:26.599
As soon as she released Mazes. Clementine was crying on

594
00:42:26.639 --> 00:42:30.920
the floor. Jillian was crying with her. We need to

595
00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:35.519
meet our family, Clementine sobbed. They can help us, Mommy.

596
00:42:36.039 --> 00:42:38.559
They're not mean witches like in the Wizard of Oz.

597
00:42:40.039 --> 00:42:45.039
We can baby, I didn't realize. Jillian didn't know where

598
00:42:45.079 --> 00:42:48.960
to begin. Let's go meet them, mommy. They live in

599
00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:53.440
the woods near our old house. Okay, let me get

600
00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:57.599
my broom, Gillian replied, and the two broke into laughter.

601
00:42:58.880 --> 00:43:05.559
I love you, mommy. I love you too, my, Clementine, Mommy,

602
00:43:06.440 --> 00:43:10.159
we need to get an umbrella. It's raining where we're going.

603
00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:28.719
Gamble with the Devil by David O'Hanlon. Travis Gamble crumpled

604
00:43:28.760 --> 00:43:31.639
the rejection letter and tossed it into the trash on

605
00:43:31.719 --> 00:43:34.480
his way into the kitchen. It was the third one

606
00:43:34.519 --> 00:43:37.559
for the month. It frustrated him, but it wasn't the

607
00:43:37.679 --> 00:43:41.280
end of the world. Travis didn't need to work. After all,

608
00:43:41.679 --> 00:43:45.360
his family made armaments for the military. Desert Storm had

609
00:43:45.360 --> 00:43:49.000
inflated their net worth by hundreds of millions two years prior.

610
00:43:49.719 --> 00:43:53.440
Gamble didn't want to build weapons, however, he was a weapon.

611
00:43:54.159 --> 00:43:57.679
Every day went exactly the same, two scoops of Ultimate

612
00:43:57.719 --> 00:44:00.320
Orange to get him going the e Federate and made

613
00:44:00.360 --> 00:44:03.199
his teeth grind and his ears hot, so he knew

614
00:44:03.199 --> 00:44:06.199
it was working. Then an hour on the total gym

615
00:44:06.239 --> 00:44:10.360
before breakfast. His diet never changed, nor did it need to.

616
00:44:10.960 --> 00:44:14.239
He'd structured his meals perfectly and followed each with beef,

617
00:44:14.280 --> 00:44:17.639
liver tablets and amino acids. After the first meal of

618
00:44:17.679 --> 00:44:20.719
the day, he read from his collection of military manuals

619
00:44:20.760 --> 00:44:24.559
for two hours, then practiced martial arts. None of that

620
00:44:24.639 --> 00:44:28.480
strip mall taekwondo bullshit either. He was a student of

621
00:44:28.559 --> 00:44:32.039
the Dance of Death, an expert in dim mock, and

622
00:44:32.119 --> 00:44:36.239
he'd trained with ninja masters throughout the Midwest. After lunch,

623
00:44:36.480 --> 00:44:39.079
he did firearms training in the kill house he'd built

624
00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:43.239
followed by a five mile run around the property After

625
00:44:43.280 --> 00:44:47.039
a well earned shower. Dambele spent his evenings looking for work.

626
00:44:47.480 --> 00:44:50.519
It seemed like every week a new mercenary outfit opened

627
00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:54.320
its doors, and none of them wanted to hire Travis.

628
00:44:54.800 --> 00:44:57.800
He took some odd jobs out of various classifieds, but

629
00:44:58.280 --> 00:45:01.519
the have gun, will travel shtick was getting old. He

630
00:45:01.599 --> 00:45:05.599
wanted real action and he was about to get it.

631
00:45:06.280 --> 00:45:09.480
An increasing number of lawsuits were making it difficult for

632
00:45:09.599 --> 00:45:14.480
magazines to advertise his kind of work, but the Internet

633
00:45:14.559 --> 00:45:17.480
was quickly finding its way into every home in America.

634
00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:22.079
The message boards were full of opportunities, but he needed

635
00:45:22.079 --> 00:45:25.159
to get his name out there. He applied for three

636
00:45:25.199 --> 00:45:29.639
outfits in Somalia and another working the Balkans, before nodding

637
00:45:29.679 --> 00:45:32.039
off in the Lazy Boy with the latest issue of

638
00:45:32.119 --> 00:45:36.119
Gung Ho in his lap. A quarter past midnight, the

639
00:45:36.199 --> 00:45:40.599
overly excited salesman on TV woke him. Gamble watched the

640
00:45:40.639 --> 00:45:44.599
wiry little man with the pushbroom mustache excitedly ramble on

641
00:45:44.840 --> 00:45:48.239
about the cheap junk he was hawking. That's when it

642
00:45:48.320 --> 00:45:54.039
hit him. Travis needed a commercial enter. Earnest Valiant Ernie

643
00:45:54.119 --> 00:45:58.079
had a certificate of completion from an advertising correspondence course,

644
00:45:58.480 --> 00:46:01.480
a big dream, and a bunch of video equipment he'd

645
00:46:01.480 --> 00:46:03.880
be paying on for the next decade if he didn't

646
00:46:03.920 --> 00:46:07.559
start finding gigs. His day job as assistant manager of

647
00:46:07.599 --> 00:46:12.199
the Empornium almost paid his rent. Almost wasn't good enough

648
00:46:12.199 --> 00:46:15.800
for his landlord, unfortunately, so when some gun nut offered

649
00:46:15.880 --> 00:46:19.239
him twenty grand to shoot a two minute commercial, Ernie

650
00:46:19.320 --> 00:46:22.159
did what anyone would do. He lied his ass off

651
00:46:22.199 --> 00:46:25.480
to make sure he got the job. His seventy eight

652
00:46:25.559 --> 00:46:28.519
mons a wagon clanked and groaned up the gravel path

653
00:46:28.599 --> 00:46:31.639
to Gamble's compound, and he pulled in front of the house.

654
00:46:32.320 --> 00:46:35.280
It was a strange structure that somehow managed to find

655
00:46:35.559 --> 00:46:40.679
synergy between Feudal Japan and Memphis trailer Park Chic. Ernie

656
00:46:40.800 --> 00:46:43.519
kept his hand on the shifter, debating whether or not

657
00:46:43.679 --> 00:46:47.400
Gamble was an eccentric rich kid playing soldier or just

658
00:46:47.480 --> 00:46:50.920
another nut job with a manifesto. The size of the

659
00:46:50.960 --> 00:46:54.360
property told him that however it shook out, the check

660
00:46:54.679 --> 00:46:59.079
would still clear. He put the wagon in park. Ernie

661
00:46:59.119 --> 00:47:02.039
stepped out into the heat and humidity that seemed intent

662
00:47:02.119 --> 00:47:05.760
on sticking around, despite it being the first week of fall.

663
00:47:06.519 --> 00:47:09.719
Music from behind the redneck Pagoda told him where he'd

664
00:47:09.760 --> 00:47:14.119
find his benefactor. He listened for a moment, trying to

665
00:47:14.159 --> 00:47:18.199
place the song. What kind of soldier of fortune listens

666
00:47:18.239 --> 00:47:22.800
to prince, he wondered. Ernie shook it off and grabbed

667
00:47:22.800 --> 00:47:26.039
the JVC video camera from its case to look as

668
00:47:26.079 --> 00:47:30.920
professional as possible. When he rounded the house, Ernie's shoulders

669
00:47:30.960 --> 00:47:33.760
sagged at what he saw. It was like watching the

670
00:47:33.800 --> 00:47:38.840
training montage in one of those shitty bloodfist sequels. Gamble

671
00:47:38.880 --> 00:47:42.840
occupied the center of a training platform surrounded by fixtures

672
00:47:42.920 --> 00:47:47.079
holding wooden boards and stacks of bricks. He fired off

673
00:47:47.159 --> 00:47:50.880
blows in the air with loud jaws in silk pants

674
00:47:50.920 --> 00:47:55.039
emblazoned with tigers on both sides. Once he finished the kata,

675
00:47:55.480 --> 00:47:59.119
Gamble bowed to an imagined sense and launched into a

676
00:47:59.159 --> 00:48:03.199
furious chain of attacks that left splintered lumber and crushed

677
00:48:03.199 --> 00:48:07.880
masonry in his wake. Maybe the commercial is for home depot,

678
00:48:08.360 --> 00:48:12.199
Ernie thought, with a quiet chuckle. Gamble bowed again and

679
00:48:12.320 --> 00:48:17.119
stepped down from the platform. You must be Ernesto, he said,

680
00:48:17.320 --> 00:48:21.199
pulling a drenched sweatband from his high forehead. Somehow his

681
00:48:21.760 --> 00:48:25.960
swazy level mullet was still pristine. I wasn't expecting you

682
00:48:26.039 --> 00:48:29.280
so early. I drive with a heavy foot, I guess.

683
00:48:29.840 --> 00:48:32.719
Ernie tried not to roll his eyes at the obvious

684
00:48:32.760 --> 00:48:37.480
bullshit he gestured at the former construction materials. I guess

685
00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:39.360
this is just a regular part of your day then,

686
00:48:40.119 --> 00:48:44.039
of course, Travis assured him. Every part of my body

687
00:48:44.280 --> 00:48:47.639
is an instrument of death. Taking a piss must be

688
00:48:47.679 --> 00:48:51.719
pretty intense. Ernie chuckled, but cleared his throat and regained

689
00:48:51.760 --> 00:48:56.159
his composure. So you think you could do that again?

690
00:48:56.679 --> 00:48:58.480
You said you were looking for a lot of action

691
00:48:58.599 --> 00:49:01.679
shots for the ad, and that was well, it was

692
00:49:01.719 --> 00:49:07.679
pretty action packed. That was nothing, Travis waved it off. No, Ernesto,

693
00:49:07.920 --> 00:49:10.920
you're going to be shooting real action. We'll get some

694
00:49:11.039 --> 00:49:14.000
bee roll today. Of course, some of the training drills

695
00:49:14.000 --> 00:49:17.599
I used to keep myself highly dangerous, some workout shots

696
00:49:17.639 --> 00:49:22.480
to show off my bod. Maybe a dim mock demonstration too.

697
00:49:22.719 --> 00:49:25.880
That one come with a special sauce. Ernie bit his lip.

698
00:49:26.679 --> 00:49:30.800
It's the death touch, Gamble said, matter of factly, I

699
00:49:30.840 --> 00:49:34.000
can hit a man in the chest and rupture is cerebellum.

700
00:49:34.320 --> 00:49:37.840
It's about chi flow and utilizing the body's meridians to

701
00:49:37.920 --> 00:49:44.079
manifest an immediate fatal result sounds cool. Ernie nodded, how

702
00:49:44.079 --> 00:49:48.440
about we manifest you a commercial, and they did. Ernie

703
00:49:48.480 --> 00:49:52.559
filmed Gamble throwing ninja stars, doing push ups, shooting mannequins,

704
00:49:52.559 --> 00:49:55.679
and breaking bricks for the remainder of the day. Whenever

705
00:49:55.760 --> 00:49:58.639
it was time to switch tapes or batteries, Travis had

706
00:49:58.719 --> 00:50:02.440
him record audio for pop voiceovers, where he blathered about

707
00:50:02.679 --> 00:50:07.480
warrior cultures, recited macho one liners, and waxed poetic about

708
00:50:07.480 --> 00:50:12.239
the distinguished history of the mercenary profession. When they were finished,

709
00:50:12.320 --> 00:50:16.159
Travis insisted on them having dinner together, despite Ernie claiming

710
00:50:16.239 --> 00:50:19.800
every possible food allergy. To get out of it, Gamble

711
00:50:19.840 --> 00:50:23.039
brought out the mre rations and let his guest choose

712
00:50:23.079 --> 00:50:26.800
the entree. Ernie perused the shelf as he scooped what

713
00:50:26.960 --> 00:50:30.519
the package identified as beef stroganof from the pouch with

714
00:50:30.559 --> 00:50:35.920
his plastic fork. You've read all these, Ernie asked, most

715
00:50:35.960 --> 00:50:39.199
of them. Gamble said, I'm still working my way through

716
00:50:39.239 --> 00:50:42.119
a poor man's James Bond series, but I've committed the

717
00:50:42.159 --> 00:50:45.639
Anarchist Cookbook to memory. The same with the Art of

718
00:50:45.679 --> 00:50:49.199
War Machiavelli's The Prince and the Book of Five Rings.

719
00:50:49.760 --> 00:50:52.440
I read one of the military training manuals every day.

720
00:50:53.039 --> 00:50:56.119
They're a bit too technical for recreational reading, but are

721
00:50:56.159 --> 00:50:58.760
an imperative part of my mission to be the world's

722
00:50:58.760 --> 00:51:04.199
greatest mercenary. Right, Ernie dropped the utensil into the ration pouch.

723
00:51:05.119 --> 00:51:07.760
I'd say, you're off to a good start. I'll go

724
00:51:07.840 --> 00:51:09.760
through what we shot and get you something this week

725
00:51:09.800 --> 00:51:15.920
that really captures your energy and badassness. Oh but that

726
00:51:16.119 --> 00:51:18.519
was just the filler. We haven't gotten to the good

727
00:51:18.519 --> 00:51:21.559
stuff yet, you know, the real meat and potatoes of

728
00:51:21.599 --> 00:51:25.079
what I'm doing. Hopefully those don't come in another of

729
00:51:25.119 --> 00:51:32.920
these pouches. Ernie scowled. He was sure he'd earned his paycheck.

730
00:51:32.960 --> 00:51:36.000
After spending the day on the set of Enter the Douchebag.

731
00:51:36.599 --> 00:51:39.119
There was more than enough material to convince people he

732
00:51:39.159 --> 00:51:42.840
could intimidate their ex wives, or beat up the neighborhood bully,

733
00:51:42.960 --> 00:51:45.519
or whatever the fuck kind of work. Gamble thought a

734
00:51:45.599 --> 00:51:48.760
highlight reel would rum up. We still have to shoot

735
00:51:48.800 --> 00:51:53.199
the action scenes, Travis told him. The karate wasn't the

736
00:51:53.239 --> 00:51:58.840
action ninjitsu. Travis corrected him, No, the action has to

737
00:51:58.880 --> 00:52:02.360
be authentic. It can't be training footage or stage fights.

738
00:52:02.840 --> 00:52:05.679
You are going to accompany me on a genuine assault

739
00:52:05.840 --> 00:52:10.880
of a terrorist compound. Yeah, I'm sorry to tell you

740
00:52:10.920 --> 00:52:14.639
this now, but I don't have a passport. Ernie shook

741
00:52:14.639 --> 00:52:17.840
his head. Besides, I have other clients this week, so

742
00:52:17.920 --> 00:52:21.280
I can't. You'll be home in time for frosted flakes,

743
00:52:21.800 --> 00:52:25.440
Travis interrupted with a smile. He hadn't done that all day.

744
00:52:25.960 --> 00:52:29.679
Ernie wished he hadn't then either. The expression made his

745
00:52:29.800 --> 00:52:32.880
skin prickle and his balls shrink up tight to his body.

746
00:52:33.559 --> 00:52:36.440
Gamble stalked across the living room and took the pouch

747
00:52:36.440 --> 00:52:40.039
from Ernie's hand with a delicate, almost lover like movement.

748
00:52:40.840 --> 00:52:44.480
The smile grew wider. He pressed a finger to Ernie's

749
00:52:44.519 --> 00:52:48.760
lips as they started wriggling into an objection. I have

750
00:52:48.880 --> 00:52:52.119
something special for you to wear, he told the cameraman.

751
00:52:57.679 --> 00:53:00.559
The hour long drive through the Tennessee back woods was

752
00:53:00.599 --> 00:53:05.119
filled with awkward silence. The men wore matching flak jackets,

753
00:53:05.519 --> 00:53:08.920
though Gamble wore his over his bare torso, and camo

754
00:53:09.000 --> 00:53:13.519
stripes adorned his face and lean, muscular arms. He'd given

755
00:53:13.599 --> 00:53:16.639
Ernie a kevlar helmet to match the body armor, but

756
00:53:16.760 --> 00:53:19.840
the would be murk didn't bother protecting his own head.

757
00:53:20.400 --> 00:53:23.679
It probably wasn't necessary anyhow, and it would have deprived

758
00:53:23.760 --> 00:53:26.679
him of the opportunity to be a stereotype while he

759
00:53:26.760 --> 00:53:31.360
tightened his headband around his brow like Rambo. Gamble had

760
00:53:31.360 --> 00:53:34.920
given Ernie little more information on their mission, only that

761
00:53:34.960 --> 00:53:37.360
there was a threat to the American way of life

762
00:53:37.440 --> 00:53:42.480
looming in the sticks southwest of Nashville. Ernie wasn't entirely

763
00:53:42.559 --> 00:53:46.400
convinced the story wasn't part of some kinky sex murder

764
00:53:46.440 --> 00:53:49.960
thing when they finally came to a stop. Sure, he

765
00:53:50.000 --> 00:53:53.039
hadn't been tied up, and he did have the surplus armor,

766
00:53:53.440 --> 00:53:56.840
But maybe it was all part of Gamble's strange fetish.

767
00:53:57.320 --> 00:53:59.519
Maybe the mercenary wanted them to go out into the

768
00:53:59.519 --> 00:54:03.239
woods and jump into each other's foxholes before killing Ernie

769
00:54:03.280 --> 00:54:07.079
in a friendly fire fantasy. That seemed to be the case.

770
00:54:07.400 --> 00:54:11.039
When Travis opened the glove box, Ernie swallowed hard at

771
00:54:11.039 --> 00:54:14.880
the sight of the cold blue steel within. Take that

772
00:54:15.599 --> 00:54:19.559
just in case, the merk, said, Ernie slid the revolver

773
00:54:19.639 --> 00:54:21.960
out of the compartment and checked to see if it

774
00:54:22.000 --> 00:54:26.760
was loaded. It was that made the game a bit stranger.

775
00:54:27.400 --> 00:54:30.440
Ernie angled the barrel towards Gamble under his arm, just

776
00:54:30.519 --> 00:54:34.760
in case it was all a ruse. Why why are

777
00:54:34.760 --> 00:54:38.159
we way out here, he muttered, I told you we're

778
00:54:38.159 --> 00:54:41.719
defending freedom and kicking ass. Gamble took a swig of

779
00:54:41.800 --> 00:54:46.440
Ultimate Orange from a travel mug before continuing. Saint Dimfna's

780
00:54:46.440 --> 00:54:50.000
youth asylum is three clicks through the woods and it's

781
00:54:50.159 --> 00:54:54.360
full of terrorists. Ernie shook his head vigorously. I'm here

782
00:54:54.360 --> 00:54:58.000
to film a commercial, call the FBI or something, why.

783
00:54:59.079 --> 00:55:02.880
Gamble got out of the truck. Ernie hesitantly followed him.

784
00:55:03.280 --> 00:55:06.079
The meager spray of moonlight coming through the trees made

785
00:55:06.119 --> 00:55:09.079
Gamble look like a mirage as he moved to the tailgate.

786
00:55:10.079 --> 00:55:14.360
Calm down, er, Nesto, They're not actual terrorists, Gamble assured him.

787
00:55:14.840 --> 00:55:18.000
They're just devil worshippers. It was either this or crash

788
00:55:18.000 --> 00:55:22.039
a drug lab. The second one might seem undemocratic of US,

789
00:55:22.559 --> 00:55:25.679
free market capitalism is the anchor that keeps America in

790
00:55:25.719 --> 00:55:28.679
the harbor of freedom, after all, So we're going after

791
00:55:28.719 --> 00:55:32.760
the Satanists, easy peasy. Chances are they won't even be armed.

792
00:55:33.039 --> 00:55:35.840
It'll be a walk in the park. Have you walked

793
00:55:35.880 --> 00:55:39.400
through a fucking park lately? Ernie's voice cracked and he

794
00:55:39.440 --> 00:55:42.679
brought it back down to a whisper. People get murdered

795
00:55:42.719 --> 00:55:46.079
in parks. You're one guy. The police send an entire

796
00:55:46.159 --> 00:55:48.760
swat teams for things like this, And what the fuck

797
00:55:48.840 --> 00:55:51.800
do you mean? Chances are didn't you do some kind

798
00:55:51.840 --> 00:55:55.239
of recon or whatever it's called. We don't need a

799
00:55:55.280 --> 00:55:59.559
swat team. I'm better trained than those pussies. He unsnapped

800
00:55:59.559 --> 00:56:06.480
a plaster case. Plus, we have Sally, who's Sally Gamble

801
00:56:06.519 --> 00:56:09.079
held up the rifle. It looked like something out of

802
00:56:09.079 --> 00:56:12.199
a sci fi movie. He inserted a magazine and pulled

803
00:56:12.199 --> 00:56:16.400
back the charging handle. Sally is my babe, a Ruger

804
00:56:16.440 --> 00:56:20.760
Mini fourteen bullpup conversion with laser sighting and modified for

805
00:56:20.840 --> 00:56:24.960
full auto. She goes from Siesta to Fiesta with two

806
00:56:25.000 --> 00:56:28.480
pounds of trigger pressure. Each magazine is thirty rounds of

807
00:56:28.519 --> 00:56:32.480
mercury tipped boat tail hollow points that explode on impact

808
00:56:32.599 --> 00:56:35.920
and will turn this black mass into a Bielza bloodbath.

809
00:56:36.920 --> 00:56:41.320
That okay, yeah, so that was actually pretty clever. Ernie

810
00:56:41.400 --> 00:56:46.119
begrudgingly admitted but that's one gun against an entire colt.

811
00:56:46.960 --> 00:56:50.800
I have another. Gamble pulled an obscenely long piece of

812
00:56:51.079 --> 00:56:54.679
overcompensation from the high mounted holster on his right leg.

813
00:56:55.440 --> 00:56:59.159
This is my mistress. She's a save me the guns

814
00:56:59.199 --> 00:57:03.280
and ammo review, Gamble, I could get killed. Ernie pointed

815
00:57:03.320 --> 00:57:09.079
at the mercenary's waist. Are those fucking nun chucks? Of course?

816
00:57:09.639 --> 00:57:12.920
Gamble holstered his pistol and removed a sword from his case.

817
00:57:14.000 --> 00:57:17.199
He pointed it at Ernie. We want the video to

818
00:57:17.239 --> 00:57:20.760
show off as many of my skills as possible. You're

819
00:57:20.760 --> 00:57:24.559
not filming a commercial. You're making a goddamn snuff film.

820
00:57:25.199 --> 00:57:29.000
Don't be ridiculous, sir Nesto. He sheathed the sword across

821
00:57:29.039 --> 00:57:31.960
his back. It's only a snuff film if someone jerks

822
00:57:31.960 --> 00:57:35.159
off to it. People jerk off to everything.

823
00:57:35.480 --> 00:57:35.840
You know what.

824
00:57:35.880 --> 00:57:38.639
The most rented movie at the Empornium was last month,

825
00:57:39.119 --> 00:57:42.639
Miss Piggy does Houston. Have you ever seen a muppet

826
00:57:42.639 --> 00:57:46.320
getting butt fucked by a grown man? Not since I

827
00:57:46.400 --> 00:57:50.400
rented the movie. Travis snickered and slapped Ernie on the shoulder.

828
00:57:50.880 --> 00:57:54.639
I'm fucking with you, man, Beating it lowers your testosterone.

829
00:57:55.119 --> 00:57:57.519
That's probably why you have man boobs by the way,

830
00:57:58.000 --> 00:58:02.119
grab your camera, Kermit's t to take Piggy out dancing.

831
00:58:03.320 --> 00:58:06.119
The night vision filter on the camera cast the structure

832
00:58:06.199 --> 00:58:10.239
in various shades of green and black. Vines and graffiti

833
00:58:10.280 --> 00:58:13.480
gave life to the drab, battered facade of the two

834
00:58:13.519 --> 00:58:17.840
story asylum. The architecture itself was as exciting as a lego.

835
00:58:17.920 --> 00:58:21.800
Brick bars sat over broken window panes, and a pair

836
00:58:21.840 --> 00:58:25.159
of heavy wooden doors stood wide open and half off

837
00:58:25.199 --> 00:58:29.400
their hinges. Headstones of pauper graves stood among knee high

838
00:58:29.519 --> 00:58:33.639
grass along the western side of the building. Ernie panned

839
00:58:33.679 --> 00:58:37.519
the camera there and spotted only the occasional blur of movement.

840
00:58:37.920 --> 00:58:41.280
As Travis Gamble closed in on the target through the cemetery,

841
00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:44.360
he actually looked like he knew what he was doing.

842
00:58:45.000 --> 00:58:48.800
Ernie redirected the camera to the hospital. Flickering light danced

843
00:58:48.840 --> 00:58:52.480
from some of the upstairs windows. Shadows fluttered on the walls,

844
00:58:52.639 --> 00:58:56.880
breaking up the verdant video feed. With obsidianspecters, Ernie fought

845
00:58:56.960 --> 00:59:00.880
back a nervous gag. Two people came around one side

846
00:59:00.880 --> 00:59:04.400
of the building in a lazy curve that skirted the boneyard.

847
00:59:05.039 --> 00:59:08.639
Ernie zoomed the camera in for a closer look. They

848
00:59:08.679 --> 00:59:12.800
wore matching outfits with sheepskin chaps and open robes. The

849
00:59:12.840 --> 00:59:15.360
camera was zoomed to its max, and the details of

850
00:59:15.400 --> 00:59:18.519
the medallions hanging around their necks were lost in the

851
00:59:18.559 --> 00:59:23.000
low resolution. Something flashed in the moonlight and spurts of

852
00:59:23.079 --> 00:59:26.960
black liquid gushed from one man's neck. Gamble sprang from

853
00:59:26.960 --> 00:59:29.639
the tall grass and launched himself in a flying kick

854
00:59:29.960 --> 00:59:33.480
that dropped the other. Gamble drew his sword, striking a

855
00:59:33.559 --> 00:59:36.639
pose with it before thrusting the blade into the prone guard.

856
00:59:37.280 --> 00:59:40.719
He pivoted to find the first man, still stumbling. The

857
00:59:40.800 --> 00:59:44.880
spurting had lost its intensity. Gamble swung the sword and

858
00:59:44.920 --> 00:59:49.360
the man's torso separated from his legs. Ernie spewed strogan

859
00:59:49.440 --> 00:59:52.119
off into the bushes. He'd have to edit that out

860
00:59:52.159 --> 00:59:56.119
of the footage later if he survived and escaped a

861
00:59:56.159 --> 01:00:00.760
prison sentence. Gamble waved for him to come. The cameraman,

862
01:00:00.840 --> 01:00:03.159
wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and debated.

863
01:00:03.239 --> 01:00:06.519
Running back to the truck. Static crackled in his ear.

864
01:00:07.360 --> 01:00:09.760
Come on, er, nesto get some close ups of these

865
01:00:09.760 --> 01:00:13.599
two before we go inside, Gamble said over the radio.

866
01:00:13.760 --> 01:00:16.519
This sword is ridiculously sharp. Did you see how it

867
01:00:16.559 --> 01:00:20.280
cleaved that d and d geek in half? He'd seen it, and,

868
01:00:20.360 --> 01:00:23.719
thanks to the reminder, vomited once more before responding that

869
01:00:23.760 --> 01:00:26.840
he was on his way. By the time he arrived,

870
01:00:26.880 --> 01:00:29.440
Gamble had taken position at the corner of the building

871
01:00:29.760 --> 01:00:33.519
to make his next move. Ernie dutifully filmed the corpses.

872
01:00:34.159 --> 01:00:37.000
Bubbles rose and popped from one of the victim's lips.

873
01:00:38.159 --> 01:00:41.599
Is this guy still alive? If he is, I want

874
01:00:41.639 --> 01:00:44.239
my money back for the sword, Gamble said, with a

875
01:00:44.320 --> 01:00:47.719
quick glance back. I stabbed him in the brain. Dufus,

876
01:00:47.920 --> 01:00:51.039
He's not alive. The bubble thing is air leaving his

877
01:00:51.119 --> 01:00:55.119
lungs since he's no longer using them. Oh, come on,

878
01:00:55.320 --> 01:00:58.440
the next part is going to happen pretty fast, Gamble said.

879
01:00:59.119 --> 01:01:03.119
It's all happen opening pretty fast, Ernie thought. The two

880
01:01:03.159 --> 01:01:05.760
men made their way along the front of the asylum.

881
01:01:06.280 --> 01:01:09.119
The mercenary made a show of checking the doorway before

882
01:01:09.199 --> 01:01:11.480
rolling through and sweeping the room with the barrel of

883
01:01:11.519 --> 01:01:14.960
his rifle. He gave a series of hand signals that

884
01:01:15.039 --> 01:01:20.480
hadn't been part of Ernie's limited briefing Gamble side, come inside,

885
01:01:20.880 --> 01:01:26.000
he hissed. Ernie did so. He filmed the dilapidated interior

886
01:01:26.559 --> 01:01:30.440
pentagrams six six sixes, upside down crosses, and the rest

887
01:01:30.440 --> 01:01:33.840
of the satanic regalia pedaled by Hollywood had been spray

888
01:01:33.880 --> 01:01:37.039
painted wherever there wasn't a fisthole or a thick patch

889
01:01:37.079 --> 01:01:40.920
of black mold to obscure the canvas. Gamble started up

890
01:01:40.960 --> 01:01:45.840
an L shaped stairway while Ernie took some quick establishing shots. Hey,

891
01:01:46.360 --> 01:01:49.320
a voice called out, who the fuck are you, dick Weed.

892
01:01:50.000 --> 01:01:53.800
Ernie froze in place. I'm talking to you, Jiz Stain.

893
01:01:54.159 --> 01:01:57.000
This is for black lambs only. What are you doing here,

894
01:01:57.559 --> 01:02:01.480
the gruff voice demanded, mostly trying not to ship myself

895
01:02:01.519 --> 01:02:05.679
at the moment, Ernie muttered. He turned slowly. The man

896
01:02:05.760 --> 01:02:09.480
came closer, passing by a barrel of bursting detritus that

897
01:02:09.599 --> 01:02:12.280
cast a hell fire glow across the goat skull he'd

898
01:02:12.320 --> 01:02:16.760
fashioned into a mask. Ritual scars adorned his dark bare chest.

899
01:02:17.199 --> 01:02:20.440
His hand moved to the grip of a dagger. I asked,

900
01:02:20.440 --> 01:02:24.760
who the fuck you are? He growled, I'm I mean,

901
01:02:26.280 --> 01:02:31.400
I'm with ABC ABC. The guard stopped walking and drew

902
01:02:31.440 --> 01:02:34.920
the blade from its sheath. That stands for about to

903
01:02:34.960 --> 01:02:39.800
be castrated. God, I hope not. Ernie's free hand covered

904
01:02:39.840 --> 01:02:43.920
his crotch. We're doing a peace on religious freedom in America.

905
01:02:44.440 --> 01:02:46.559
I didn't realize you guys were having a meeting tonight.

906
01:02:46.599 --> 01:02:50.199
I'll come back later, only in a seance. Dick Weed.

907
01:02:51.119 --> 01:02:54.519
The man charged. Ernie aimed the camera at him, hoping

908
01:02:54.559 --> 01:02:57.320
his last moments would at least look cool if anyone

909
01:02:57.400 --> 01:03:01.480
ever found the footage. Then the killer rented and toppled forward.

910
01:03:02.119 --> 01:03:06.079
The animal skull shattered, spreading bone like confetti across the

911
01:03:06.159 --> 01:03:10.480
dingy tile floor. Ernie moved the camera down, since looking

912
01:03:10.519 --> 01:03:13.360
at the carnage through the lens was easier on his stomach.

913
01:03:14.079 --> 01:03:16.960
Over half of the throwing star had buried itself into

914
01:03:17.000 --> 01:03:21.079
the coltest's brainstem. Smart thinking not using the gun, I

915
01:03:21.159 --> 01:03:24.119
gave you, Gamble said over the radio, and waved him

916
01:03:24.119 --> 01:03:28.079
to follow upstairs. Yeah, I thought that was the best play.

917
01:03:28.719 --> 01:03:32.679
Ernie lied, he'd forgotten all about the magnum stuffed into

918
01:03:32.679 --> 01:03:36.880
his waistband. He wouldn't next time. Ernie stepped around yet

919
01:03:36.880 --> 01:03:40.000
another dead body, wondering if Gamble might actually be the

920
01:03:40.039 --> 01:03:43.880
bad motherfucker, he presented himself to be before jogging up

921
01:03:43.880 --> 01:03:47.599
the stairs as quickly as possible. Gamble stayed close to

922
01:03:47.639 --> 01:03:50.199
the wall as he stalked down the hallway with Sally

923
01:03:50.320 --> 01:03:54.239
pressed tight into his shoulder. Ernie tried to copy the movement,

924
01:03:54.559 --> 01:03:57.360
but it ruined his shot, and his sense of professionalism

925
01:03:57.599 --> 01:04:02.000
overrode his sense of self preservation. He stepped into the

926
01:04:02.000 --> 01:04:04.000
center of the hall for the best angle on the

927
01:04:04.000 --> 01:04:08.960
mercenary candles, some of them scented burned along the sides,

928
01:04:09.000 --> 01:04:12.679
providing only enough light to avoid tripping over scattered debris

929
01:04:12.840 --> 01:04:17.320
and refuse obscene chanting in a malevolent tongue carried from

930
01:04:17.360 --> 01:04:21.039
one of the rooms. Further along the path, A masculine,

931
01:04:21.079 --> 01:04:25.320
deep voice bellowed arcane words of power that crackled with

932
01:04:25.440 --> 01:04:30.960
artificial amplification. The revelry of the worshippers gained fervor. There

933
01:04:30.960 --> 01:04:36.440
were other sounds closer, but not as scary gasps, moans, squeals.

934
01:04:37.039 --> 01:04:40.679
Ernie's mind pushed them away and focused on the nefarious chanting.

935
01:04:41.360 --> 01:04:45.320
Gamble paused and peeked around an empty door jam. He

936
01:04:45.440 --> 01:04:48.679
ducked back, holding up a clenched fist that Ernie assumed

937
01:04:49.000 --> 01:04:53.199
meant stop gamble, signaled for silence, and then pointed at

938
01:04:53.239 --> 01:04:57.199
the room. Ernie stepped cautiously as he maneuvered for a

939
01:04:57.199 --> 01:05:02.239
shot of whatever was waiting inside. His stomach pitched, but

940
01:05:02.280 --> 01:05:06.880
there was nothing left to throw up. Dozens of mutilated

941
01:05:06.920 --> 01:05:11.679
goats hung from the ceiling, some sacrifice so recently that

942
01:05:11.719 --> 01:05:15.519
the muscles still twitched and made them dance on their hooks.

943
01:05:16.159 --> 01:05:19.960
Guts dangled from their split torsos and trickled blood like

944
01:05:20.039 --> 01:05:24.440
broken faucets. Ernie followed a long rope of entrails with

945
01:05:24.519 --> 01:05:28.440
his camera down onto the occupants of the room. On

946
01:05:28.519 --> 01:05:32.239
a collection of mildewed mattresses and in puddles of spilled

947
01:05:32.280 --> 01:05:36.920
sacrificial offal. The coltists, wearing nothing but their woolen chaps,

948
01:05:37.280 --> 01:05:42.360
fucked in every conceivable position. Bloody skin slapped together and

949
01:05:42.480 --> 01:05:46.400
peeled apart again and again. A woman chewed at a

950
01:05:46.440 --> 01:05:50.960
length of intestine to muffle her orgasmic shrieking. Two of

951
01:05:51.039 --> 01:05:54.239
the men interlocked their hands in a mystic form as

952
01:05:54.280 --> 01:05:58.000
they thrust themselves into a third from opposite ends. A

953
01:05:58.079 --> 01:06:00.800
gory blonde held herself up by the rib cage of

954
01:06:00.800 --> 01:06:03.400
one of the animals, while three mouths went to work

955
01:06:03.639 --> 01:06:08.280
on different erogenous zones. Nothing at the empornium compared to

956
01:06:08.320 --> 01:06:11.920
what Ernie was filming. He stole a glance around the hall,

957
01:06:12.000 --> 01:06:14.880
but kept the camera on the action. He was sure

958
01:06:14.920 --> 01:06:18.519
they couldn't see him recording, or his own cock straining

959
01:06:18.519 --> 01:06:22.639
against the fabric of his khakis. The blonde shuddered and squealed,

960
01:06:23.119 --> 01:06:28.559
then seemed to stare straight into Ernie's eyes. Not my eyes,

961
01:06:28.960 --> 01:06:33.679
he realized the blinking red recording light reflected off the

962
01:06:33.679 --> 01:06:37.119
fractured window behind her. Ernie moved his hand to the

963
01:06:37.159 --> 01:06:40.440
butt of the revolver. If she alerted the others, he

964
01:06:40.519 --> 01:06:43.719
was as good as dead. It was self defense, but

965
01:06:43.800 --> 01:06:46.079
that didn't make it easier to wrap his mind around.

966
01:06:46.519 --> 01:06:49.480
He didn't want to kill anyone. He wasn't sure if

967
01:06:49.519 --> 01:06:53.519
he could, despite how easy gamble made it look. Speaking

968
01:06:53.559 --> 01:06:57.039
of the mercenary slid something from a pouch on his

969
01:06:57.039 --> 01:06:59.760
body armor. Ernie turned to get a better look at

970
01:06:59.760 --> 01:07:03.400
the cylindrical device through the night vision. The lens flashed

971
01:07:03.400 --> 01:07:06.559
with a sudden flare, and then sparks shimmered and fell

972
01:07:06.679 --> 01:07:11.079
like iridescent snowflakes from the top. Ernie's mind flashed back

973
01:07:11.119 --> 01:07:14.880
to the bookshelf at Gamble's place, to the black cookbook

974
01:07:15.159 --> 01:07:18.440
with the white letters on the spine. Gamble chucked the

975
01:07:18.480 --> 01:07:22.320
device into the room, then gestured frantically for Ernie to move.

976
01:07:22.920 --> 01:07:25.920
The camera went from the sparkling fuse to the confused

977
01:07:25.960 --> 01:07:29.880
faces of the orgy goers that noticed. Most kept on fucking,

978
01:07:30.000 --> 01:07:34.679
oblivious to the incendiary intrusion orgasms built around the room.

979
01:07:35.119 --> 01:07:38.280
Ernie scanned the crowd. The blonde was trying to warn

980
01:07:38.280 --> 01:07:42.159
the others, but stammered the words as her lovers continued biting, licking,

981
01:07:42.480 --> 01:07:46.199
and sucking at her flesh. Ernie couldn't make his feet move.

982
01:07:46.840 --> 01:07:49.679
He wanted to shout for everybody to run, but he

983
01:07:49.800 --> 01:07:54.039
only managed to lick his lips in anticipation. The swelling

984
01:07:54.079 --> 01:07:57.519
in his pants grew until it hurt. Lustful screams rose

985
01:07:57.559 --> 01:08:01.159
As the fuse shortened, Ernie dived away at the last second.

986
01:08:01.559 --> 01:08:05.920
The bomb exploded, and so did he. When the ringing left,

987
01:08:06.280 --> 01:08:09.239
he could hear that the room was still full of screams,

988
01:08:09.679 --> 01:08:17.520
just not the pleasurable kind. Ernie huffed in post orgasmic exhaustion, shame, fear, guilt, embarrassment,

989
01:08:17.760 --> 01:08:21.079
and lingering arousal all swirled around in his skull like

990
01:08:21.119 --> 01:08:24.680
a witch's brew. He pulled himself into a fetal position

991
01:08:25.000 --> 01:08:28.239
as Gamble stepped into the doorway and opened fire on

992
01:08:28.319 --> 01:08:32.680
the survivors. Ernie forced himself onto his back to keep filming.

993
01:08:33.000 --> 01:08:36.319
The other coltists had stopped chanting and were storming the hallway.

994
01:08:36.960 --> 01:08:41.039
Gamble had greatly underestimated their numbers, but luckily not their armament.

995
01:08:41.680 --> 01:08:45.199
The murk changed magazines and Sally sang like Streisand and

996
01:08:45.279 --> 01:08:51.359
his fists. Baseball sized holes opened and rampaging bodies. Heads exploded,

997
01:08:51.439 --> 01:08:54.560
Limbs and bits of ceremonial garb flew into the air.

998
01:08:55.199 --> 01:08:59.039
Another nail bomb slid down the corridor. Gamble fired from

999
01:08:59.079 --> 01:09:01.760
the hip as he saw draft the Satanists with gunfire.

1000
01:09:02.439 --> 01:09:05.520
The bomb went off, throwing corpses and pieces of them

1001
01:09:05.560 --> 01:09:09.079
in all directions. Gamble let Sally hang from her sling

1002
01:09:09.439 --> 01:09:12.199
as he helped Ernie to his feet. I sure hope

1003
01:09:12.199 --> 01:09:15.600
you got all that on tape, he said, Uh huh.

1004
01:09:16.199 --> 01:09:19.520
Ernie managed to squeak out. He was more concerned with

1005
01:09:19.640 --> 01:09:23.199
hiding the stains spreading down his leg. I got it

1006
01:09:23.239 --> 01:09:26.880
all right, Let's see what they were up to, Gamble

1007
01:09:26.920 --> 01:09:30.239
suggested as he started through the smoldering sea of carnage,

1008
01:09:30.880 --> 01:09:33.600
nails stuck out of charred flesh, and the smell of

1009
01:09:33.640 --> 01:09:37.960
burnt wool hung heavy in the air. Gamble's pistol boomed

1010
01:09:38.000 --> 01:09:40.359
as he delivered his own sort of mercy to a

1011
01:09:40.399 --> 01:09:44.000
still groaning victim. He guided Ernie to the last door

1012
01:09:44.000 --> 01:09:47.199
on the left and swung inside with the hand cannon ready.

1013
01:09:48.239 --> 01:09:52.479
Ernie whimpered, it wasn't nearly as pleasant as the previous room.

1014
01:09:53.039 --> 01:09:55.279
The cymbals painted on the walls of the room were

1015
01:09:55.359 --> 01:09:58.840
much more intricate and well crafted than the crude graffiti

1016
01:09:58.920 --> 01:10:02.560
he'd seen upon entry to the asylum. This room wasn't

1017
01:10:02.600 --> 01:10:07.079
for amateurs, he tried to blink away, pulling tears as

1018
01:10:07.119 --> 01:10:11.479
he took it all in. Four hospital gurneys were lined

1019
01:10:11.560 --> 01:10:15.000
up inside a circle of black candles. Each had a

1020
01:10:15.000 --> 01:10:18.439
person strapped to it, and blood poured over the sides

1021
01:10:18.439 --> 01:10:21.479
of three of them before disappearing down a floor drain.

1022
01:10:22.359 --> 01:10:26.720
Ernie filmed the bodies first. Each was young mid teens

1023
01:10:26.760 --> 01:10:29.319
at the latest, with their chests torn open and their

1024
01:10:29.359 --> 01:10:34.039
hearts burning inside. The pungent scent of incense rose from

1025
01:10:34.079 --> 01:10:38.840
the low green flames engulfing the organs. A powerfully built

1026
01:10:38.880 --> 01:10:43.479
man in heavy vermilion robes stood stoically over the only survivor.

1027
01:10:44.359 --> 01:10:47.039
The skull of a big horn ram hid his face

1028
01:10:47.319 --> 01:10:51.000
as he moved his glance from Gamble to Ernie. A

1029
01:10:51.079 --> 01:10:56.439
prepubescent girl squirmed against her restraints before him. You should leave,

1030
01:10:57.119 --> 01:10:59.880
the priest said, slipping the mask off and let it

1031
01:11:00.279 --> 01:11:03.520
shatter on the floor. The ritual is for the eyes

1032
01:11:03.560 --> 01:11:08.920
of the faithful alone. The ritual's been canceled. Pal Gamble

1033
01:11:09.000 --> 01:11:12.439
leveled his pistol at the man's chest. On the bright side,

1034
01:11:12.960 --> 01:11:16.279
you're about to meet the devil in person. I already

1035
01:11:16.359 --> 01:11:21.439
have you, fool. The priest raised a double bladed sacrificial knife.

1036
01:11:21.520 --> 01:11:25.319
You must leave while there's still time. This must end tonight.

1037
01:11:25.720 --> 01:11:30.239
We must undo what. The gunshot boomed and echoed through

1038
01:11:30.279 --> 01:11:34.439
the shower room. The priest's brains splattered the wall behind him.

1039
01:11:34.880 --> 01:11:37.600
He stumbled back and forth, his eyes rolled up and

1040
01:11:37.720 --> 01:11:41.560
crossed an attempt to see the puckered hole in his forehead.

1041
01:11:42.119 --> 01:11:46.199
Gray matter slithered down the tile walls like slugs. The

1042
01:11:46.199 --> 01:11:49.319
priest collapsed on top of the struggling child and they

1043
01:11:49.359 --> 01:11:53.640
slumped away in a heap. Ernie lowered the magnum's smoking

1044
01:11:53.680 --> 01:11:56.840
barrel and let the gun clatter to the floor. God

1045
01:11:56.960 --> 01:12:00.159
damn it, or Nesto Gamble jammed his own pistol to

1046
01:12:00.199 --> 01:12:03.560
his holster. I was supposed to kill him. He looked

1047
01:12:03.600 --> 01:12:06.640
at the camera, still trained on the gore spattered wall.

1048
01:12:07.239 --> 01:12:12.199
He raised an eyebrow and nodded appreciatively. Wow, you made

1049
01:12:12.199 --> 01:12:14.840
that shot without taking the camera off the guy, he

1050
01:12:14.920 --> 01:12:18.880
said with amusement. Maybe with some creative editing, I can

1051
01:12:18.920 --> 01:12:21.960
still take credit for it, for the sake of the commercial.

1052
01:12:22.000 --> 01:12:25.039
I mean, but damn man, you are unnatural at this

1053
01:12:25.159 --> 01:12:27.800
sort of thing. If we get you in shape and

1054
01:12:27.840 --> 01:12:30.800
work on that vomiting problem you have, you could make

1055
01:12:30.800 --> 01:12:33.880
a damn good mercenary yourself. I don't want to be

1056
01:12:33.920 --> 01:12:37.600
a fucking mercenary, Ernie screamed. I just want to go

1057
01:12:37.680 --> 01:12:41.199
back to my shitty fucking apartment, cry in my scuzzy shower,

1058
01:12:41.359 --> 01:12:48.800
and think happy fucking thoughts. Happy thoughts, the little girl said.

1059
01:12:49.680 --> 01:12:56.600
She giggled melodically. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts. There's you a

1060
01:12:56.640 --> 01:12:59.760
happy thought er. Nesto Gamble moved to the gurney and

1061
01:12:59.760 --> 01:13:03.920
stead undoing the child's restraints. You rescued a little girl

1062
01:13:03.920 --> 01:13:07.079
from a sick asshole. Sure I did most of the work,

1063
01:13:07.119 --> 01:13:10.359
but you played a crucial role in the operation. Is

1064
01:13:10.399 --> 01:13:13.880
that thought happy enough for you? Those aren't the thoughts

1065
01:13:13.920 --> 01:13:17.399
that make Ernie happy? The girl said, in her sweet,

1066
01:13:17.479 --> 01:13:25.039
dainty voice, Sarah is Ernie's happy thought. Who's Sarah? Your girlfriend?

1067
01:13:25.439 --> 01:13:29.520
Gamble asked, do you know the rugrat? Ernie shook his

1068
01:13:29.520 --> 01:13:34.119
head in equal confusion. That was her name, The blonde

1069
01:13:34.199 --> 01:13:37.920
that looked you in the eyes, the sacrificial child explained,

1070
01:13:38.760 --> 01:13:41.359
the one you didn't try to warn, the one you

1071
01:13:41.399 --> 01:13:44.039
were thinking about when the bomb went off, the one

1072
01:13:44.039 --> 01:13:47.159
that made you come like a virgin in a stiff breeze.

1073
01:13:47.760 --> 01:13:50.680
She's your happy thought, not the way she was then,

1074
01:13:51.479 --> 01:13:56.199
but the way she is now. I think she's talking

1075
01:13:56.239 --> 01:14:02.199
to you, Ernie stammered. No, The gravelly, malevolent voice boomed

1076
01:14:02.199 --> 01:14:05.760
from the child's mouth. Her voice returned to its previous

1077
01:14:05.920 --> 01:14:11.119
delicate playfulness as she continued, I know you, Ernie. You

1078
01:14:11.159 --> 01:14:14.079
can't wait to get home and watch the footage. You

1079
01:14:14.119 --> 01:14:18.159
want to touch yourself, to stroke your anorexic cock while

1080
01:14:18.159 --> 01:14:21.920
you picture Sarah's smoldering flesh and the ravaged stumps that

1081
01:14:22.079 --> 01:14:24.319
used to be her legs pressing on the sides of

1082
01:14:24.359 --> 01:14:28.119
your head while you lap at her ruptured gut. That's

1083
01:14:28.199 --> 01:14:33.199
pretty sick, man, Gamble said, with a disapproving glance at Ernie.

1084
01:14:33.399 --> 01:14:36.680
I don't know what she's talking about. She's she's fucking

1085
01:14:36.800 --> 01:14:41.560
traumatized or something. Oh please, she giggled and sat up,

1086
01:14:41.560 --> 01:14:45.279
suddenly snapping the remaining strap around her shoulders with ease.

1087
01:14:45.880 --> 01:14:49.439
An innocent smile formed on her tiny face. I know

1088
01:14:49.600 --> 01:14:53.159
all about the secret collection of videos, the ones you

1089
01:14:53.279 --> 01:14:56.760
rent out to special customers, the ones you make at

1090
01:14:56.800 --> 01:15:00.119
your cousin's mortuary with that adorable little gimp mask on

1091
01:15:00.199 --> 01:15:04.039
to hide your shame. She rolled off the gurney, kneeling

1092
01:15:04.119 --> 01:15:08.000
next to the priest. Gamble jumped clear and reached instinctively

1093
01:15:08.079 --> 01:15:11.399
for his pistol. The girl lifted the dead man's head.

1094
01:15:12.399 --> 01:15:15.039
You like corpses, but you've never gotten to see one

1095
01:15:15.119 --> 01:15:19.640
being made before, she continued, You've never had access to

1096
01:15:19.720 --> 01:15:23.479
ones as fresh as these tonight. The girl shoved her

1097
01:15:23.520 --> 01:15:26.239
fist into the back of the priest's skull and wiggled

1098
01:15:26.239 --> 01:15:29.279
her finger out of the entrance wound. She laughed and

1099
01:15:29.319 --> 01:15:33.399
looked up at Gamble. What do you think, Travis. It

1100
01:15:33.479 --> 01:15:35.199
might be a bit of a tight fit, but I

1101
01:15:35.279 --> 01:15:37.319
bet our pal Ernie could have the time of his

1102
01:15:37.399 --> 01:15:43.079
life with this one. Listen, kid, Gamble started, Kid. The

1103
01:15:43.199 --> 01:15:46.600
child looked down at her floral dress and frilled socks.

1104
01:15:47.199 --> 01:15:47.439
Oh.

1105
01:15:47.560 --> 01:15:51.279
Yes, the little ones are so much easier to bargain with.

1106
01:15:51.880 --> 01:15:54.840
Promise them an ice cream, throw a kitten in, and

1107
01:15:54.920 --> 01:15:58.600
they'll invite any old soul in for a stay. The

1108
01:15:58.720 --> 01:16:02.359
child blinked away her blue eyes and replaced them with red,

1109
01:16:02.680 --> 01:16:08.239
pupilless orbs. What in the hell? Travis stumbled back and

1110
01:16:08.239 --> 01:16:13.199
whipped his pistol from the holster. Yes, hell, indeed, the

1111
01:16:13.279 --> 01:16:17.439
child's voice deepened again. She stood, pulling off the priest's

1112
01:16:17.479 --> 01:16:20.960
head with ease and bowling it across the floor. She

1113
01:16:21.119 --> 01:16:25.039
pranced between two of the occupied gurneys. Inside. It's a

1114
01:16:25.039 --> 01:16:27.520
shame you didn't get here sooner to save the others.

1115
01:16:28.279 --> 01:16:31.319
We haven't had a boy's night out since loudon. I

1116
01:16:31.399 --> 01:16:34.039
suppose I could burn down a convent in their honor.

1117
01:16:34.600 --> 01:16:38.439
That would do nicely, don't you think Ernie knelt to

1118
01:16:38.479 --> 01:16:41.520
retrieve the revolver when the gurneys flew across the room

1119
01:16:41.760 --> 01:16:45.560
and smashed the tilted walls into shards. The child held

1120
01:16:45.640 --> 01:16:49.840
up a finger and wiggled it disapprovingly. Her back rippled

1121
01:16:49.880 --> 01:16:53.319
with movement beneath her skin. An alarm clock chimed in

1122
01:16:53.359 --> 01:16:57.319
the corner. The girl snapped her fingers and it exploded,

1123
01:16:57.960 --> 01:17:01.840
its little brass bell pinged off Ernie's helmet. The child

1124
01:17:01.920 --> 01:17:08.119
levitated from the floor. Time's up, warranties expired, trial period over,

1125
01:17:08.680 --> 01:17:13.840
She growled. No refunds, no returns, and no fucking exchanges.

1126
01:17:14.359 --> 01:17:17.319
Here's a lesson. You won't live long enough to need, Travis.

1127
01:17:17.920 --> 01:17:22.880
Never summon what you can't put back. Gamble raised the pistol.

1128
01:17:23.279 --> 01:17:25.800
The metal fissured and the weapon fell to pieces in

1129
01:17:25.840 --> 01:17:29.439
his hand. The girl floated around him and laughed demonically.

1130
01:17:30.319 --> 01:17:34.239
You wanted to go to war, Travis, so allow me

1131
01:17:34.439 --> 01:17:40.079
to oblige. First, we'll need an army. The child clapped

1132
01:17:40.079 --> 01:17:43.359
her hands and groans filled the corridors of the asylum.

1133
01:17:43.680 --> 01:17:47.840
The floor shook and fractured asbestos fell from the trembling ceiling.

1134
01:17:48.319 --> 01:17:51.720
Ernie looked over his shoulder and screamed. He stumbled further

1135
01:17:51.800 --> 01:17:55.239
into the room, making way for the shambling cadavers filing

1136
01:17:55.279 --> 01:17:59.800
through the doorway. Dismembered bodies crawled and hobbled, while disembodied

1137
01:18:00.760 --> 01:18:06.000
slithered like caterpillars into the room. More moans emanated from outside.

1138
01:18:06.199 --> 01:18:09.760
Rotting children scaled the building, shaking off their dirt of

1139
01:18:09.800 --> 01:18:13.000
their graves as they clawed their way through the crumbling walls.

1140
01:18:13.640 --> 01:18:17.479
Sarah's buxomed torso, with her bloodied blonde hair hanging from

1141
01:18:17.520 --> 01:18:21.159
her mangled scalp, scurried across the room on ragged, male

1142
01:18:21.279 --> 01:18:25.520
studded stumps. Ernie shrieked in horror as the reanimated victims

1143
01:18:25.560 --> 01:18:29.479
of the asylum and Gamble's own perverse role play converged

1144
01:18:29.479 --> 01:18:33.920
on the mercenary. Gamble swung his nunchacoos at them wildly.

1145
01:18:34.479 --> 01:18:37.479
The wood thudded against the flesh and cracked bones, but

1146
01:18:37.560 --> 01:18:41.119
the assault didn't stop. Sarah rushed through the fracas and

1147
01:18:41.199 --> 01:18:44.920
clamped her teeth down on Gamble's crotch. His high pitched

1148
01:18:44.960 --> 01:18:48.600
screech disappeared in a cacophony of chewing and tearing as

1149
01:18:48.640 --> 01:18:51.479
he was swallowed by the mass of the necromantic mob.

1150
01:18:52.600 --> 01:18:56.159
Ernie staggered to the wall and slid down, unable to

1151
01:18:56.199 --> 01:18:58.760
take his eyes off the scene as he had been

1152
01:18:58.800 --> 01:19:03.000
with the orgy. That's what this is, he told himself.

1153
01:19:04.000 --> 01:19:08.600
This is another orgy. Flesh on flesh, mouths on flesh, penetration,

1154
01:19:08.920 --> 01:19:13.760
bodily fluids mingling, exchanging. He didn't want to admit it,

1155
01:19:14.640 --> 01:19:17.319
but it had the same stiffening effect on him as before.

1156
01:19:18.279 --> 01:19:22.439
The demon was right. He liked the dead. He liked

1157
01:19:22.479 --> 01:19:25.520
the way cold skin felt on his warm lips, and

1158
01:19:25.560 --> 01:19:29.039
the way it held him when he slipped inside. He

1159
01:19:29.079 --> 01:19:33.079
crawled across the floor tentatively. Gamble was crying under the

1160
01:19:33.119 --> 01:19:37.680
heap of undulating meat and viscera. Ernie crawled faster. He

1161
01:19:37.800 --> 01:19:41.880
sprang into the dogpile, guts squished between his fingers as

1162
01:19:41.880 --> 01:19:45.680
he buried himself in the carnage. Sarah chewed viciously at

1163
01:19:45.680 --> 01:19:48.760
Gamble's thigh, and Ernie grabbed a fistful of her hair

1164
01:19:48.840 --> 01:19:52.199
to pull her face up to his. They came forward

1165
01:19:52.239 --> 01:19:55.399
to meet in a kiss, playfully passing a piece of

1166
01:19:55.439 --> 01:19:59.640
Gamble between their mouths. The child's laughter echoed through the

1167
01:19:59.680 --> 01:20:07.319
asside Islam as the building collapsed in on itself. The

1168
01:20:07.399 --> 01:20:11.159
helmet Travis had given him saved Ernie's life. It took

1169
01:20:11.199 --> 01:20:13.760
a few hours to crawl out of the rubble, but

1170
01:20:13.880 --> 01:20:18.159
he managed. He walked through the forest hand in hand

1171
01:20:18.199 --> 01:20:21.119
with Sarah until the last bits of sinew tore and

1172
01:20:21.199 --> 01:20:23.560
the arm came free from the rest of the Torso

1173
01:20:24.319 --> 01:20:28.279
it was probably for the better. Whirlwind romances never seemed

1174
01:20:28.279 --> 01:20:31.680
to last anyhow. He kept the arm though, for the

1175
01:20:31.720 --> 01:20:35.439
long drive home. Rigor was setting in and it would

1176
01:20:35.479 --> 01:20:38.800
give him one hell of a squeeze. Ernie hadn't just

1177
01:20:38.880 --> 01:20:42.680
survived the night he'd been reborn. He had a new

1178
01:20:42.760 --> 01:20:45.800
understanding of who he was and what he needed to

1179
01:20:45.840 --> 01:20:49.000
do with his life. You can't wait for the things

1180
01:20:49.000 --> 01:20:51.840
you want to come to you in life, No, you

1181
01:20:51.920 --> 01:20:55.159
have to go out and find them yourself. He'd go

1182
01:20:55.239 --> 01:20:58.479
back to Gamble's home. The books and weapons there were

1183
01:20:58.600 --> 01:21:02.560
just what he needed. Sarah had been special, if only

1184
01:21:02.840 --> 01:21:06.680
for one night, but she'd shown him what his life

1185
01:21:06.720 --> 01:21:10.760
was missing. He pulled the revolver from his waistband and smiled.

1186
01:21:11.800 --> 01:21:16.079
Ernie just needed to find someone to love.

1187
01:21:24.359 --> 01:21:29.840
The devil. Most records by John o'cdoll, a weekly Spooky.

1188
01:21:29.520 --> 01:21:33.760
Original, Chester Kilbuck and Bobby Lee Starr were one of

1189
01:21:33.800 --> 01:21:37.119
the hottest bluegrass duos of the fifties and early sixties

1190
01:21:37.439 --> 01:21:40.119
that had all ended in a dumpster behind the Avalon

1191
01:21:40.199 --> 01:21:44.239
Ballroom in San Francisco in nineteen sixty eight. Like a

1192
01:21:44.279 --> 01:21:47.199
lot of bluegrass musicians at the time, they started in

1193
01:21:47.199 --> 01:21:49.760
the Bluegrass Boys in the late forties and then joined

1194
01:21:49.800 --> 01:21:52.760
the Foggy Mountain Boys in the early fifties before setting

1195
01:21:52.840 --> 01:21:56.720
off on their own as Killbuck and Star. Chester and

1196
01:21:56.760 --> 01:21:59.840
Bobby Lee couldn't have been more different and thus made

1197
01:22:00.079 --> 01:22:04.520
unlikely team. Chester was married three or four times and

1198
01:22:04.560 --> 01:22:08.560
had several kids that hated him, and several more he

1199
01:22:08.600 --> 01:22:11.319
wouldn't admit to having and who didn't know he was

1200
01:22:11.359 --> 01:22:15.359
their daddy. Bobby Lee was still married to his first wife, Marian,

1201
01:22:15.439 --> 01:22:18.439
and they had a son, Johnny, who was born blind

1202
01:22:18.520 --> 01:22:21.680
in nineteen forty six and who Bobby Lee lived and

1203
01:22:21.760 --> 01:22:25.560
died for. Chester followed the old ways in the old music,

1204
01:22:25.680 --> 01:22:28.680
but Bobby Lee saw things differently. When his son started

1205
01:22:28.680 --> 01:22:31.880
playing folk music with a couple of other guys, Bobby

1206
01:22:31.960 --> 01:22:34.880
Lee wanted to add some more Bob Dylan and Graham

1207
01:22:34.880 --> 01:22:38.680
Parsons to their song list, but Chester said that would

1208
01:22:38.720 --> 01:22:41.680
never get them on the Porter Wagner Show, and they

1209
01:22:41.680 --> 01:22:45.039
would get booed out of the Grand Old Opry. Bobby

1210
01:22:45.079 --> 01:22:47.319
Lee got through a lot of his disagreements with Chester

1211
01:22:47.439 --> 01:22:49.880
by bringing Johnny on the road with him when he

1212
01:22:49.920 --> 01:22:52.880
was old enough, and Johnny became a great mandolin player

1213
01:22:52.920 --> 01:22:55.199
in his own right. So in the same way that

1214
01:22:55.239 --> 01:22:57.760
they wanted to leave Bill Monroe and then leave Flatt

1215
01:22:57.800 --> 01:23:01.279
and Scrugs, Johnny wanted to forge on his own. It

1216
01:23:01.359 --> 01:23:04.239
was the way of things, and Bobby Lee could not

1217
01:23:04.399 --> 01:23:08.079
deny his son. But his son still needed him. So

1218
01:23:08.279 --> 01:23:10.720
when Johnny Starr made a deal for his own band

1219
01:23:10.760 --> 01:23:14.039
with the Avalon Ballroom, which was the premier venue in

1220
01:23:14.079 --> 01:23:16.960
San Francisco at the center of everything happening in nineteen

1221
01:23:17.039 --> 01:23:19.920
sixty eight, he might have mentioned his dad would come

1222
01:23:19.960 --> 01:23:24.079
and play two. The Avalon promised Killbuck and Star top

1223
01:23:24.119 --> 01:23:28.359
billing and Johnny's band Lemon Dirty Fingernails second ahead of

1224
01:23:28.439 --> 01:23:32.560
the Stone Ponies and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Chester

1225
01:23:32.880 --> 01:23:36.359
was very angry with the deal, but went along with it,

1226
01:23:36.640 --> 01:23:39.319
and as it happened, Kilbuck and Starr killed it in

1227
01:23:39.359 --> 01:23:42.039
front of all these young people who were turning on

1228
01:23:42.159 --> 01:23:46.319
to the Bakersfield Sound and the Birds and Dylan, and

1229
01:23:46.479 --> 01:23:49.479
suddenly Bobby Lee could see a future for the duo,

1230
01:23:49.880 --> 01:23:53.960
a future beyond the Long County Fair tours, a future

1231
01:23:54.039 --> 01:23:57.600
beyond waiting for someone to tap their shoulder. For the opry.

1232
01:23:58.319 --> 01:24:01.520
Bobby Lee waited backstage for his son, who was still

1233
01:24:01.520 --> 01:24:04.159
out talking to friends. And it was good that he

1234
01:24:04.239 --> 01:24:07.960
was late, because he found out quickly. Chester was still fuming.

1235
01:24:09.159 --> 01:24:11.920
Bobby Lee found at the little rickety table in the

1236
01:24:12.000 --> 01:24:14.600
dressing room. His son had left a water bottle with

1237
01:24:14.640 --> 01:24:17.560
a note that said drink me, and a plate of

1238
01:24:17.560 --> 01:24:20.319
food with a note that said eat me. It was

1239
01:24:20.399 --> 01:24:23.000
punched out in brail with the little stylus and slate

1240
01:24:23.079 --> 01:24:26.800
both father and son had learned to use. Bobby Lee

1241
01:24:26.840 --> 01:24:29.840
was drinking down the water when Chester banged the door open.

1242
01:24:30.680 --> 01:24:33.039
Bobby Lee looked at him with a smile and a squint.

1243
01:24:33.920 --> 01:24:36.119
I thought you slipped off with that little gal in

1244
01:24:36.119 --> 01:24:39.000
the front row in those short shorts, Bobby Lee said.

1245
01:24:39.720 --> 01:24:43.680
Chester's frown deepened. Hell, that gal had more armpit hair.

1246
01:24:43.560 --> 01:24:44.039
Than I do.

1247
01:24:44.560 --> 01:24:46.439
You couldn't tell who was the girl and who was

1248
01:24:46.479 --> 01:24:50.319
the boys With all that long hair out there, they

1249
01:24:50.359 --> 01:24:54.319
loved us, Chester, Bobby Lee said, they should love their

1250
01:24:54.359 --> 01:24:58.079
goddamn country. Your son's a cripple and has an excuse,

1251
01:24:58.119 --> 01:24:59.800
but the rest of them boys should be over and

1252
01:25:00.239 --> 01:25:04.840
Nam fighting communism. Chester proclaimed that killed off Bobby Lee's

1253
01:25:04.880 --> 01:25:08.439
good feeling. It'd be nice if you could be happy

1254
01:25:08.520 --> 01:25:11.920
with one thing in this world, Bobby Lee muttered, but

1255
01:25:12.079 --> 01:25:17.800
Chester wasn't listening as usual. That one hairy soob that

1256
01:25:17.880 --> 01:25:21.039
plays with Johnny has a dog he calls Roya Cuff.

1257
01:25:21.560 --> 01:25:26.439
Chester added, he means that with respect. Chester, Bobby Lee said,

1258
01:25:27.039 --> 01:25:29.840
you don't name a hound dog after roy A Cuff.

1259
01:25:30.359 --> 01:25:35.199
Chester shot back. Bobby Lee shrugged. These young folks, they

1260
01:25:35.239 --> 01:25:38.319
got their own thing going on out here, Bobby Lee said.

1261
01:25:38.840 --> 01:25:41.359
Chester looked at him with narrowed eyes and lit a

1262
01:25:41.439 --> 01:25:46.079
lucky strike. They ain't our people, Bobby Lee. Our people

1263
01:25:46.079 --> 01:25:49.880
are in Oklahoma, in Iowa and every little town between there.

1264
01:25:49.920 --> 01:25:53.800
In Nashville. This whole state could fall off into the ocean,

1265
01:25:54.039 --> 01:25:57.359
and good riddance till them all. Bobby Lee looked at

1266
01:25:57.359 --> 01:26:00.479
his partner full in the face. Johnny is my son,

1267
01:26:01.000 --> 01:26:04.000
and he's living out here, and he's got a band

1268
01:26:04.039 --> 01:26:08.640
he calls Lemon dirty fingernails, and that ain't a band. Name,

1269
01:26:09.000 --> 01:26:13.560
although one word is accurate. Bobby Lee swallowed hard and

1270
01:26:13.600 --> 01:26:17.319
began to sweat. Bobby Lee wasn't sure, but it looked

1271
01:26:17.359 --> 01:26:21.520
like the walls were sweating too. I didn't do what

1272
01:26:21.640 --> 01:26:23.840
I did to end up playing to a room full

1273
01:26:23.840 --> 01:26:28.359
of draft dodgers and drug addicts, Chester said. Bobby Lee frowned.

1274
01:26:29.199 --> 01:26:32.840
What did you do? Chester? Bobby Lee thought the flowered

1275
01:26:32.880 --> 01:26:37.960
wallpaper behind Chester was starting to bloom. Chester looked at him.

1276
01:26:38.479 --> 01:26:41.560
You think Robert Johnson was the only man ever met

1277
01:26:41.560 --> 01:26:44.800
the devil at the crossroads. Blues music is in the

1278
01:26:44.880 --> 01:26:48.600
roots of the soil, but so is country music. Those

1279
01:26:48.680 --> 01:26:52.279
roots are even deeper. You don't think a bluegrass man

1280
01:26:52.319 --> 01:26:56.800
could find his way to those crossroads. Chester's normally red face,

1281
01:26:57.199 --> 01:27:01.319
flushed with anger and drink, became even redder. What do

1282
01:27:01.399 --> 01:27:05.279
you think is at them crossroads? Behind him? The flowers

1283
01:27:05.279 --> 01:27:10.159
bloomed black? Do you think what career we have come from?

1284
01:27:10.199 --> 01:27:13.720
Good looks in your sweet nature? Bobby Lee watched a

1285
01:27:13.800 --> 01:27:18.039
cold smile come across Chester's face, full of yellow teeth,

1286
01:27:18.720 --> 01:27:23.319
and then, as Bobby Lee watched, a pair of horns

1287
01:27:23.359 --> 01:27:27.479
began to grow out of his forehead, Chester's voice came

1288
01:27:27.520 --> 01:27:31.640
in a hard rasp. Let me ask you another question.

1289
01:27:32.680 --> 01:27:34.720
You knew me back when we both lived in the

1290
01:27:34.720 --> 01:27:40.079
Cumberland homesteads up in those mountains, when you'd know my

1291
01:27:40.239 --> 01:27:44.159
family ever have money for a fiddle? When did you

1292
01:27:44.199 --> 01:27:48.760
ever see me practice on one when I wasn't already good?

1293
01:27:49.319 --> 01:27:52.159
In answer, Bobby Lee picked up the bottle again and

1294
01:27:52.239 --> 01:27:55.960
smashed it into Chester's face. Chester fell with a growl,

1295
01:27:56.079 --> 01:27:58.800
and Bobby Lee was on him in a flash, choking him.

1296
01:27:58.960 --> 01:28:02.560
And after a few moments, Chester's eyes bulged and the

1297
01:28:02.600 --> 01:28:07.520
horns receded, and Bobby Lee quit his work. The walls

1298
01:28:07.600 --> 01:28:10.640
quit sweating and blooming, and Chester looked like a normal

1299
01:28:10.680 --> 01:28:15.039
person again, and Bobby Lee realized this was gonna be

1300
01:28:15.039 --> 01:28:18.520
hard to explain. So Bobby Lee dragged Chester out the

1301
01:28:18.520 --> 01:28:21.279
back door into an alley and heaved him up into

1302
01:28:21.279 --> 01:28:24.239
a dumpster and hoped that was going to be enough.

1303
01:28:25.279 --> 01:28:27.920
Chester was heavy, and it was slow going, as the

1304
01:28:27.920 --> 01:28:31.600
ground beneath Bobby Lee seemed to buck and heave. Bobby

1305
01:28:31.640 --> 01:28:34.439
Lee was grateful there wasn't anyone lounging at the mouth

1306
01:28:34.479 --> 01:28:37.760
of the alley during his work. The crowd had dispersed,

1307
01:28:37.800 --> 01:28:41.399
and with them the good vibes, and suddenly the Avalon

1308
01:28:41.600 --> 01:28:45.800
was just a crumbling old building. He got back into

1309
01:28:45.840 --> 01:28:48.399
the tiny dressing room, just ahead of his son, who

1310
01:28:48.479 --> 01:28:52.600
came in beaming. Pops. It was quite a night, Johnny said.

1311
01:28:53.000 --> 01:28:57.079
Bobby Lee steadied his voice. It was I'm proud of you.

1312
01:28:57.560 --> 01:29:03.840
Bobby Lee said, where's some Bobby Lee wiped at his brow. Oh,

1313
01:29:03.920 --> 01:29:09.119
he found some trouble to get into. I reckon, Johnny nodded,

1314
01:29:09.159 --> 01:29:13.920
then reached out of hand. Pops, you're sweating and you

1315
01:29:14.039 --> 01:29:17.880
sound funny. You drink that water I left for you?

1316
01:29:18.000 --> 01:29:24.399
Sure why? Johnny nodded more seriously and slowly. I'm sorry.

1317
01:29:24.520 --> 01:29:27.159
I wanted to get back here sooner. I wanted to

1318
01:29:27.199 --> 01:29:32.680
go on that trip with you. What trip? I dosed

1319
01:29:32.680 --> 01:29:35.640
that water, Pops. I thought we could tune in together

1320
01:29:35.720 --> 01:29:40.319
tonight to celebrate. It looks like you started without me,

1321
01:29:40.720 --> 01:29:42.479
but I can walk you through the rest of the way.

1322
01:29:43.199 --> 01:29:47.159
Just remember, everybody here is a friend. This place is

1323
01:29:47.159 --> 01:29:51.920
full of love tonight. Bobby Lee sat down hard. You

1324
01:29:51.920 --> 01:29:55.279
didn't eat the brownies? Cool? You eat one and I'll

1325
01:29:55.319 --> 01:29:58.000
eat one, and we'll be on this trip together. I

1326
01:29:58.039 --> 01:30:01.319
can see things when I trip, Pops. If you can dig.

1327
01:30:01.359 --> 01:30:06.279
That dig was a funny word to Bobby Lee. He

1328
01:30:06.359 --> 01:30:10.479
had dumped, not doug a place for Chester to rest.

1329
01:30:10.960 --> 01:30:16.520
Bobby Lee started laughing Pomps. Bobby Lee couldn't stop laughing

1330
01:30:17.039 --> 01:30:20.760
all night. They got onto the opry after all, when

1331
01:30:20.760 --> 01:30:24.640
they did a tribute show for Chester Killbuck, Bobby Lee

1332
01:30:24.680 --> 01:30:28.760
took Johnny to Nudie's Rodeo Tailors in Hollywood and got

1333
01:30:28.880 --> 01:30:33.000
match in rhyinestone suits for the gig Earl Scruggs showed

1334
01:30:33.079 --> 01:30:36.520
up and played with them. Mother Maybelle Carter was there,

1335
01:30:36.560 --> 01:30:40.439
and so was Doc Watson. Doc Watson brought his son Merle,

1336
01:30:40.680 --> 01:30:43.439
and Scruggs brought his sons Randy and Gary, and that

1337
01:30:43.600 --> 01:30:47.319
made it more special for Bobby Lee. Roy A Cuff

1338
01:30:47.439 --> 01:30:50.079
was the MC and it was just as well Nobody

1339
01:30:50.119 --> 01:30:53.159
and Johnny's band mentioned they had a dog named after him.

1340
01:30:53.640 --> 01:30:56.680
The Summer of Love didn't seem to last a summer.

1341
01:30:56.720 --> 01:30:59.880
Even Johnny's band got broken up by the Draft after

1342
01:31:00.319 --> 01:31:03.439
and then broken up for good by the Vietcong and

1343
01:31:03.640 --> 01:31:07.399
Din Bien Fu. Some people said the Summer of Love

1344
01:31:07.560 --> 01:31:11.960
ended with the violence at Altamont Speedway with the Rolling

1345
01:31:12.000 --> 01:31:14.560
Stones and the Hell's angels and everything that went down.

1346
01:31:14.960 --> 01:31:17.800
Some people pointed to the murder of doctor Martin Luther

1347
01:31:17.920 --> 01:31:22.319
King Junior, and some the killing of Bobby Kennedy. Some

1348
01:31:22.399 --> 01:31:24.760
even said it ended when a hippie girl tricked Chester

1349
01:31:24.840 --> 01:31:28.239
Killbuck into going into an alley with her, where a

1350
01:31:28.279 --> 01:31:31.000
bunch of her friends cornered him and beat him to

1351
01:31:31.039 --> 01:31:35.239
death for his take at the Avalon Ballroom that night.

1352
01:31:36.039 --> 01:31:38.920
The Avalon closed just a few months later and got

1353
01:31:38.920 --> 01:31:42.720
converted into a movie theater. The first movie they showed

1354
01:31:43.319 --> 01:31:47.119
was The Love Bug with Dean Jones. Bobby Lee took

1355
01:31:47.159 --> 01:31:48.960
his son on the road for a short while, but

1356
01:31:49.479 --> 01:31:51.920
Emmy Lou Harris called for him to record and tour

1357
01:31:52.000 --> 01:31:56.000
with her, and once more Bobby Lee could not deny

1358
01:31:56.079 --> 01:32:00.880
his son. Chester was three quarters outlaw, but he was

1359
01:32:00.920 --> 01:32:03.399
the one with the business sense, and Bobby Lee was

1360
01:32:03.439 --> 01:32:06.880
the one that always got lost in the music. That

1361
01:32:07.039 --> 01:32:09.479
is why Bobby Lee felt that if Chester made a deal,

1362
01:32:10.760 --> 01:32:14.479
he should keep it. So Bobby Lee kept doing the circuit,

1363
01:32:14.680 --> 01:32:17.960
the fairs and the vfw's and the high school gyms,

1364
01:32:18.000 --> 01:32:20.439
And if he was doing a show in a nice

1365
01:32:20.439 --> 01:32:23.760
small town on a Sunday, somebody would always invite him

1366
01:32:23.760 --> 01:32:27.680
back to their house for fried chicken. As the years

1367
01:32:27.680 --> 01:32:30.640
went on, Bobby Lee began to understand more of what

1368
01:32:30.760 --> 01:32:34.960
might have happened that night at the Avalon Ballroom, but

1369
01:32:35.039 --> 01:32:38.960
he was never really quite sure. Because if you sing

1370
01:32:39.000 --> 01:32:42.640
the old songs that people wanted to hear, the Gospel

1371
01:32:42.760 --> 01:32:46.920
and the hymns, you had to believe it. You had

1372
01:32:47.000 --> 01:32:50.520
to believe it, or the audience would know when you

1373
01:32:50.600 --> 01:32:54.399
sang will the Circle be broken? You had to feel

1374
01:32:54.560 --> 01:32:57.760
that there was a better home awaiting by and by.

1375
01:32:58.840 --> 01:33:02.640
So if you believed in one place, it only made

1376
01:33:02.680 --> 01:33:06.840
sense you believed in the opposite place. There had to

1377
01:33:06.840 --> 01:33:11.119
be an opposite, just like Killbuck was the opposite of Star,

1378
01:33:12.560 --> 01:33:15.840
but they only worked their best together. So if Chester

1379
01:33:15.960 --> 01:33:19.600
Kilbuck had really stood at the crossroads and made a promise,

1380
01:33:20.399 --> 01:33:23.239
it was better to keep that promise, then cross your

1381
01:33:23.279 --> 01:33:32.359
fingers and hope that none of it was real. And

1382
01:33:32.520 --> 01:33:38.239
there it is, my spookies. Four deals, four doors opened,

1383
01:33:38.600 --> 01:33:43.239
and not a single one that closed without taking something

1384
01:33:43.319 --> 01:33:47.880
with it. Maybe that's the real curse, not the horns,

1385
01:33:48.319 --> 01:33:52.359
not the flames, but the moment you realize the bargain

1386
01:33:53.159 --> 01:33:57.039
wasn't a trap, it was a choice. You felt sure

1387
01:33:57.119 --> 01:34:03.359
about right up until the bill arrived, Ride up until

1388
01:34:03.479 --> 01:34:09.399
the music changed, Ride up until the dark started asking

1389
01:34:09.960 --> 01:34:14.680
for receipts. So, if you're headed to bed, keep your

1390
01:34:14.760 --> 01:34:20.359
dreams close and your promises closer. If you're driving, don't

1391
01:34:20.399 --> 01:34:26.039
stop at any empty motels with flickering signs. If you're grieving,

1392
01:34:26.760 --> 01:34:30.920
don't answer the voice that sounds like comfort. And if

1393
01:34:30.920 --> 01:34:34.640
you ever find yourself at a crossroads with a deal

1394
01:34:35.000 --> 01:34:40.600
in your hand, just don't sign with anything you can't

1395
01:34:40.640 --> 01:34:47.479
afford to lose. Sleep tight, stay spooky, and I'll see

1396
01:34:47.479 --> 01:34:52.960
you next time. Right here, make sure you're subscribed

1397
01:35:01.239 --> 01:35:01.279
A