WEBVTT
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Last night my spookies, Halloween took its final bow. But
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here at Weekly Spooky, we don't pack away the pumpkins.
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We keep the candles burning, because tonight on Dia delos Mertos,
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the dead aren't gone. They're just waiting to be heard.
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A small town waitress falls for a charming stranger and
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learns some loves don't die. They linger. Two friends follow
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a mysterious boy to a house that refuses to let
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them leave. A first date turns into a race to
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help a ghost child find peace after centuries of silence.
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A scarred man makes a deal with a mischievous spirit,
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but the living may be the ones in danger. A
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group of boys summon something far darker than they ever
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imagined at the quarry, and it's hungry. A Father's Day
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seance calls up vengeance with a hatchet in hand, and
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by the water's edge, a drowned girl rises again at
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Langley Pond, and she's not done yet. Seven tales of love,
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Death and what lies between. So light youer candles, my friends,
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and welcome the spirits, because here at Weekly Spooky Halloween
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never ends. So make sure you're subscribed. We'll have a
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lot of fun, fear for the whole year, especially the holidays.
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Enjoy echo echo echo by shame. I first met him
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last week, though I'd heard about the new guy in
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town before that. Castle, New York was the smallest of
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small towns. Word travels fast when somebody knew moves to town.
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Travis looked like he stepped out of one of those
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fifties biker films. And last Thursday, when he walked into
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the diner I work at, I couldn't take my eyes
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off him, and he knew it. He caught me looking
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at him and smiled that sly smile of his. My
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eyes darted away and I tried to make it look
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like I was working around the diner, but it was
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too late. He strode over to me. Hello there, he said. Hey.
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I tried to sound confident, like I didn't give a fuck,
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but my voice cracked. He smiled at me. Can I
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get a chocolate milkshake to go? Sure? I heard there,
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like wow here. I started making the shake. As he
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leaned on the counter, he looked at his reflection in
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the glass case of doughnuts, adjusting his perfect hair. Yeah
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they're really good, I said, unsuccessfully, thinking of something cool
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to say, lived here all your life, he asked. Unfortunately,
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ain't so bad. I've been to worse. I finished the
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shake and brought it over to him. He gave me
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a wink and took a sip. Before I could say anything,
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he slid a ten dollar bill across the counter. A
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large silver ring gleamed on his hand. He turned and
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started to leave. Let me get your change. The rest
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is for you, Dolly. I watched him go, Dolly. I
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felt a bit offended, but at the same time I
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was feeling something else, love lust, whatever it was, it
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made me somewhat forgiving of the Dolly remark. So that's
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the new guy, not bad. I turned and it was
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my coworker and friend, Brenn. She adjusted her raven hair.
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What did he say to you, Ron? He nothing much,
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just wanted a milkshake, Yeah, yours. We both laughed. Brenn
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has this obnoxious laugh that usually ends up making me
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laugh even harder. The next day he didn't show up,
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but the day after that he was there again, this
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time wanting a milkshake and a burger. No matter who
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waited on him, he always ended up talking to me,
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usually asking me about some town idiosyncrasy. Or whatnot, always
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coming in at the same time every other day. It
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continued like this for a month. We'd small talk a little,
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and then he'd leave. I never saw him outside of
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the diner. Then one day he changed the routine. I
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got off work one sunny Monday afternoon and Travis was
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waiting for me. He was leaning ever so slightly against
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the side of the diner. He smiled at me. Hey,
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I said, hey, he answered. He flicked out a metal
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lighter and lit a slim sick So what do you
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do for a kick around here? There's the movie theater
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or the bowling alley. No, no, you? He took a puff.
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Me Uh, not much. Nah, dang, shame, pretty little girl
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like you. Thanks. The flattery made me blush. Was he
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hitting on me? I sucked at this kind of thing?
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I wasn't sure if he wanted me to say anything.
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I haven't found much in town to get excited about Dullsville. Really,
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he took a long drag on his cigarette, so I
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was wondering, if you want to hang? I thought for
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a second, he's asking me out. I suck at dating.
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He's good looking and seems nice, but there's no way
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a date between us. Won't end an embarrassment for me
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and perhaps him too. How can I talk him out
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of it? It's kind of been a rough day, you know, mondays,
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I just want to go back home and chill. It
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don't have to be today. Oh cool? So want to
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see a flick? He said, show the new guy the sights? Sure?
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Am I really going to do this? Yeah? I guess
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I was. Why not? I deserve some fun, right right?
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You do? Brand was always trying to get me to
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go out. This would really shocker tomorrow night. Good, I
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thought about it. Did you know I didn't have to
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work the day after? Sure? Aces, it's a date. Then
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I'll let you pick the flick. Cool? Yeah, he looked
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at me. You should always have your hair like that.
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I touched my hair. I forgot I tied it back
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at work. This was probably the first time he saw
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it loose. It's so beautiful and red like a rose. Thanks.
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My face lit up as I blushed. Great, got a run, babe,
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be seeing you. He did a little point at me
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and winked before leaving, the spurs on the back of
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his cowboy boots jangling as he went. What had I
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got myself into our first date went well, as did
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the next three. Before I realized it, we were a
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thing in town. I think Brenn was jealous. For our
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fifth date, Travis wanted to take me on a picnic
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to Harmony Lake. It would be our first date in
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a less public space. I wasn't too worried. On every date.
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Travis had been quite the gentleman. I was getting ready
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in the apartment I share with bren I stood doing
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my hair over and over again. You look good. Let
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it go, she said. I turned from the mirror, presented myself.
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You think, I said, twirling around in my new dress.
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You're hideous, hilarious. Seriously, hun, you look a maze balls,
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she hugged me. Have fun at the lake. Try not
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to get too lucky. Hey, it's been a while, but
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not that long. Travis picked me up in his nineteen
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fifty seven Plymouth Fury. It was a convertible. The thing
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looked like a shark that decided to crawl out of
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the ocean and start looking for meals on land. He
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tooted the horn as he pulled up. You look stunning, babe,
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he said. Ever the gentleman, he wouldn't let me into
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the car. Unless he got out and opened the door
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for me. Some old song was playing on the car radio.
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In fact, I don't think he ever listened to anything
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after the fifties. We headed out of town as the
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King sang on the radio. I can't get over your car, Travis,
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I said, it looks so good for its age. Care
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of this baby means a lot to me sentimental value.
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I keep her cherry, try to get maximum performance. He
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steps on the gas and we're moving a little too
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fast through town. I look at him nervously as he
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speeds up. Don't sweat it, Rose, I got this. Travis
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had started calling me Rose. Honestly, I didn't mind. He
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took my hand. I think today is gonna be special.
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The lake looked beautiful in the summer sun as we
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walked to a nice secluded spot under a large tree.
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Travis left the car radio on. Down in the willow
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garden where me and my love did meet, he set
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down a large blanket. My dear, he said, ushering me
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to the blanket. We brought quite the selection of food.
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Travis popped open a bottle of wine. Was that weird
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for a picnic? He caught me making a face. Don't
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tell me you don't drink wine. No, just seems like
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a bit much for an afternoon picnic. Well, it's a
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celebration too, babe. It is what are we celebrating? Five dates?
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I laugh, Okay, I'll drink to that, my love. She
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did not know. The song played on as he poured
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us each a glass of wine. We eat, and I
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take a couple SIPs of wine. I haven't had much
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in the way of wine, but this is really good.
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I wonder where he dug it up around here. As
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we eat, we talk mostly about me. He always has
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so many questions. Every time I ask him something about him,
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he seems sad, almost on the verge of tears. I
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don't want to bring up any bad memories. As we talk,
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my head starts to feel light, which was a dreadful sign.
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What's up, Ronnie? Wow? Uh getting a head rush. I
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try to stand up, but my legs feel like rubber.
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Travis catches me as I come crashing back down on
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the radio, the song keeps repeating a dreadful sign. He
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brushes the hair out of my face and gives me
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a sad smile. I'm so sorry, dull, What sorry about?
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I stammer. My mouth doesn't want to move. I'm sorry.
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You have to die. All beauty must die. It's my curse.
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I summon up all my strength and push away from Travis.
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He tries to grab me, and I scratch his face
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with my nails. Trying to stand again, I fall to
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my knees. The world begins shaking apart at the seams.
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My eyelids feel heavy. Every time I blink, it feels
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like it'll be my last. Maybe if I just sleep,
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it'll be better. I'll wake up from this nightmare. No, oh,
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fight it. I start crawling on all fours, dragging myself,
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digging my nails into the ground. I have to get away,
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have to fight, have to get to the car. A
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dreadful sign. I see someone standing by Travis's car. I
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can't make them out. Why won't they help? Please, Rose,
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No one can help. I'm sorry. He grabs me by
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the leg, pulling me back. Travis turns me over, glaring
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at me. The scratches on his face aren't bleeding. I
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like playing with you, Rose, he said, But my dear,
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you're breaking my heart. Fuck you. I try to hit him,
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but I have no strength left. Why won't that person
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do something. He stands up, pulling a large knife from
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his leather jacket. I could gut you, but that's no fun,
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not anymore. He looks at his reflection on the knife
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blade he had just his hair. I used to find
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his vanity. Cute, bastard. The poison isn't killing you, just
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making it hard for you to do anything. Why? Why not?
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I tried to move my head to see if that
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person was still standing. There a dreadful sign. Why is
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that song repeating? Is that an effect from the drugs?
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Travis notices me trying to look at the car. I
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can hear him talking to somebody. I think, go away.
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He says, you're not welcome here. He turns the radio off.
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Who was that? Who was he talking to? After what
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seems like hours, Travis comes back, holding a large cinder
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block and rope. Comfortable, dull, go to hell. I manage
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my mouth starting to fail me. Travis just laughs, be
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right back. He walks off, carrying the cinder block and rope.
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My mind races move, move, but I can't. It's physically impossible.
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I try to will myself, picturing my spirit leaving my body,
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flying over the trees, finding bread or my folks, telling
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them what's happening here. If I want it strong enough,
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I can make it happen. Run, flee, I will my
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spirit to soar. He comes back, standing over me. He
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reaches down and grabs my legs, going for a little trip,
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my beautiful rose. He drags me across the ground. I
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can see the grass ending as we go over a
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rocky area, but I can't feel any of it. I
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can't feel his hands on my legs, just a great numbness.
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We go up a small hill near the beach. He
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stops dragging me. We're here. We don't have much time
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left together. He kneels down and touches my face, wiping
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away my tears. He pulls out two coins and puts
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one on each of my eyes. I blink my eyes
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and they slide off. He gets frustrated, Why did you
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do that? Therefore your journey over. He takes them and
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sticks them in one of my hands, bawling it into
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a fist. I see the cinder block with the rope
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tied to it near my feet. He crawls over to
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it and ties the rope to my legs. No, no, no,
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he's going to drown. Me, you've been a blast. He
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picks up the cinder block and walks to the edge
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of the hill, overlooking the lake. I scream, but my
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throat fails me. I can barely make more than a
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crackling noise. He hefts the block up. He sighs, parting
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sweet sorrow and whatnot. He throws the block over the side,
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and I can hear the rope quickly chasing after it,
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knowing that any second I'll be following it. And then
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I'm falling, followed by the slam of hitting the water.
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I sink my lungs quickly filling with water. I welcome it.
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Please let there be peace. I feel so tired. I
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just want it to be over. I can see the
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sunlight trickling down through the water. Darkness starts to creep
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into my vision until the light is swallowed by it.
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I wake, unable to move, my heart racing where am I.
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I'm in my room, laying on my bed. I hear
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a noise, a crackling hiss, almost like static. My eyes
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catch movement in the darkness. The thing nears the edge
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of my bed. My heart pounds faster and faster. Am
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I having a heart attack? A low whispering hiss comes
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from the shade at the foot of my bed. Heed
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the sign, and then the world went back to normal.
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I could move again. I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
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My heartbeat started to slow. I curled up in a
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ball on the bed, pulling the blankets over me. For
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the longest time, I didn't move, fearing that that thing
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was waiting for me in the darkness. Eventually I drifted
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off to sleep again. I woke and my room was
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lit by the light of early morning. Had it just
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been a dream? A nightmare? I get up, dangling my
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legs over the side of the bed. Was this all
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a nightmare brought on by being nervous over my big
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date with Travis. I stand in the shower, almost in
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a trance, as the water pours over me. I've taken
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plenty of showers before, but this just seems weird. The
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water feels like it's closing in on me. I hear
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the jarring sound of static through the shower curtain. I
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see a dark shape move the thing from my nightmare.
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It's back for me. I back against the shower wall.
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The wet tiles are cold against my back. I run
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my hands over them, looking for escape. A voice snaps
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me back to reality. You almost done, Brenn says, annoyance
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in her voice. Water will be freaking cold. Sorry, almost done.
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I hear the door slam shut. All dread is faded away,
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and I just feel like a shit for hogging the shower.
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I get out and dry off quick, trying not to
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waste any more time. I leave the bathroom atawel wrapped
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around me. Bren is waiting for me by the door.
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You okay, Why what were you doing in the shower
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so long? Daydreaming or a little pre date gratification? I
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shoot her a look and Brenn does that laugh of hers.
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I'm sorry, Ronnie, I know you're all stressed. She gives
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me a kiss on the cheek and goes into the bathroom,
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shutting the door behind her. I hear the lock click.
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Guess I should have done that at work. It's no easier.
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My mind drifts all day thinking about our date this afternoon,
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The day moves in slow motion. What seemed like hours
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00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:30.400
were in fact minutes when I looked at the clock,
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and everything I did at work seemed like the wrong thing,
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giving people the wrong order, spilling drinks. I shouldn't be
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this stressed over a date. No, it was that dream,
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00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:48.200
that nightmare. I consider calling the picnic off, but by
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00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:51.880
the time my shift is over, I've reconsidered maybe I
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00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:54.559
could turn this day around. When we get back to
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00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:57.359
the apartment, I strip out of my waitress uniform and
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00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:01.079
splash some water on my face. Seems to engulf the
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00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:05.839
room for the briefest of seconds, but the hallucination quickly fades.
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Am I losing my mind? The lake looked beautiful in
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the summer sun. We found a nice secluded spot under
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a large tree. Travis left the car nearby. He had
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the top down and the radio on. Down in the
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willow garden where me and my love did meet, he
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sat down a large basket. My dear, he said, ushering
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00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.640
me to the blanket with a wave of his hand.
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We'd brought quite the selection of food. Travis popped open
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a bottle of wine. Was that weird for a picnic?
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He caught me, making a face. Have we done this before?
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00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:53.000
Don't tell me you don't drink wine. No, just seems
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00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:58.119
a bit much for a afternoon picnic. Well, it's a
301
00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:04.079
celebration too, babe, My love, she did not know. I
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00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:07.079
put my hand up. I'm sorry, but I don't think
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I should. I'm feeling a little sick, sick everything, okay,
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I just had a rough night, bad nightmare. He touches
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00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:20.599
my hand. I don't know why this makes me flinch.
306
00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:25.960
He looks at me, puzzled. What kind of nightmare? I
307
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:29.039
think I was drowning and there was this figure there
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00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:32.400
when I woke up. I swear it was still there,
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00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:36.599
you know. He starts pouring wine into the glasses. I
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00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:41.079
think you need a little nip of wine, my rose. No, really,
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00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:46.119
it's okay, it'll help your nerves. Okay, maybe just a little.
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Travis hands me one of the glasses. There's the sound
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of static cutting through the air, like someone's adjusting the radio.
314
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A dreadful sign. I look over at Travis's car and
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00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:05.519
see it there, the thing from my nightmare. The glass
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00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:07.519
of wine falls from my hand. It hits the ground,
317
00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:11.519
rolling and spilling all over the blanket. The song skips
318
00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:20.160
or repeats a dreadful sign. Not a dream, it said,
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00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:25.759
heed the sign. At first, I don't realize I'm screaming
320
00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:30.319
until I see Travis's face. He grimaces. He grabs me
321
00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:33.119
clapping a hand over my mouth. He holds me so tight.
322
00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:36.079
I start to tear up. Shut the fuck up, would you.
323
00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:39.000
I try to pull away, but his hands are like
324
00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:41.799
iron clamps. I can see the anger in his eyes.
325
00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:44.359
He looks over to the thing standing next to the car,
326
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A dreadful sign. That's not gonna help you, Ronnie dear,
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00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:54.359
he says, his voice never wavering. It's just an echo,
328
00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:57.920
as if robbed of its power. The thing evaporates into
329
00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:01.759
the air. He tightens his grip. Tears streamed down my cheeks,
330
00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:05.000
soaking his hand. I see the wine bottle lying there,
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00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:08.319
just out of reach of my free hand. I could
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00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:11.680
hit him with it. Listen to yourself, you're gonna hit him.
333
00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:16.039
This is nuts. It has to be a game, right, No,
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00:23:16.119 --> 00:23:19.880
it's not. I just need a weapon to get away.
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I rake his face with my fingernails, scratching jagged lines
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00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:26.519
down his face. For all the world, it sounded like
337
00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:29.480
running your nails over stone. He lets go of me,
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and I lunge for the wine bottle. As I reach
339
00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.880
for the bottle, he grabs me by the belt of
340
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my jeans. The bottle slips from my hands as he
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00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:40.039
yanks me towards him, rolling just out of reach. I
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00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:42.519
dig my feet and hands into the ground, pulling myself
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towards the bottle, the sun reflecting off of it like
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some magical weapon. It beckoned to me. My arms and
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00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:53.960
legs burned as I strained, Almost my fingers brushed off
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00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:56.839
the smooth neck of the bottle. Why won't you let
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me help you, Travis says, help me. I'm gonna free
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00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:05.200
you of all this bullshit. I manage a last bit
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of strength and grab the goddamn bottle. I swing it
350
00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:12.200
and hit him square in the side of the head.
351
00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:16.680
Unlike in the movies, the bottle doesn't break. Travis lets
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go of me. I hit him again, and again the
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00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:24.359
bottle doesn't break. He falls to the ground, momentarily stunned.
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00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:26.759
I bring the bottle down again on his head for
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00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:31.039
good measure. This time it shatters. I turn and run
356
00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:34.039
for his car. As I reach the car, Travis appears,
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00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:36.960
pulling a large knife from his leather jacket. I didn't
358
00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:40.039
want to make a mess, Rose. He touches the wounds
359
00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:43.759
on his face. Gonna have to fix these. I slide
360
00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:46.640
into the driver's seat. Yes, the keys are there. I
361
00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:49.079
start the car. It roars to life. I hit the gas,
362
00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:52.319
aiming right for Travis. This is insane, am I in
363
00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:55.680
a never ending nightmare? I ram into him, sending his
364
00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:59.000
body flying up onto the hood. He smashes through the windshield,
365
00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:03.200
his face contorted in a wicked smile. Hold hands you,
366
00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:07.160
love birds, he says. The car plunges into the lake.
367
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Water rushes in as we sink the nightmare I'm going
368
00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:16.519
to drown here with him. A shard of broken window
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00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:19.519
floats by me as we sink down. I grab it.
370
00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:23.440
The jagged edges cut into my hand. I take it,
371
00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:27.000
jabbing it into his eye. He lets go of me.
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He smiles at me as I push him away. I
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swim through the open top. For however long I live,
374
00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:36.920
I don't think I'll ever forget that smile, the jagged
375
00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:41.839
shard embedded in his eye. Travis and his car sinking
376
00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:45.680
to the bottom. I pull myself onto the beach. I
377
00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:48.359
think I pass out for a while, lying there in
378
00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:52.880
the dirt, soaking wet. I wake with a start and
379
00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:57.039
see a shadow fall across me. I look up and
380
00:25:57.160 --> 00:26:00.839
see that thing, the thing from my nightmare, standing over me.
381
00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:05.599
Its face and arms are blue and bloated, its face
382
00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:12.319
vaguely feminine, Its remaining hair rotten, hangs down in long strands.
383
00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:27.119
It wore a dress, my dress, ghost story by an
384
00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:32.960
ominous I remember it as if it were yesterday. I
385
00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:36.079
was young. I was young enough to taste the adventure,
386
00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:40.440
but old enough to know better. I'm still not sure
387
00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:44.240
how this was real. Too much happened and was seen
388
00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:48.480
to be the fanciful imagination of being young. One thing
389
00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:52.440
is for certain. I have not forgotten what happened that night,
390
00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:58.400
and I am certain I never will. It was fall,
391
00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:02.400
the leaves were just starting to turn. The days were
392
00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:05.799
still warm, and the nights were getting cooler. The County
393
00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:08.440
Fair had been in full swing and was the last
394
00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:11.759
night it was open. I was there because a friend
395
00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:14.519
had talked me into going, and I wanted to sample
396
00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:18.319
some kettle corn and caramel apples there. I was waiting
397
00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:21.559
in line for the popcorn when we saw him. He
398
00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:24.839
was a boy about my age and my size. He
399
00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:29.400
looked like any other boy there, except his clothes were funny.
400
00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:32.720
He looked like he was dressed up in old time
401
00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:37.400
movie clothes. He was looking at us. My friend nudged
402
00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:41.279
me and nodded in his direction. We exchanged looks and
403
00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:44.680
began to walk toward him. As we began to walk,
404
00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:49.160
to my surprise, so did he directly for us without
405
00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:53.480
looking away. When we were within speaking distance, I nodded
406
00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:57.519
and said hey. He nodded back and said hello. My
407
00:27:57.680 --> 00:28:01.200
name is Jonathan. I'm from here, but have been elsewhere
408
00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:05.000
for a while. I don't know anyone here now. I
409
00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:07.279
told him he could go with us if he wanted to.
410
00:28:08.119 --> 00:28:11.640
He nodded. We spent the next couple of hours riding
411
00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:14.160
the roller coaster, the ferris wheel, and the Tilte Whirl,
412
00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:17.359
after which I thought I might hurl, but I managed
413
00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:20.480
to keep things together. We had found a bench to sit.
414
00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:23.920
Jonathan and my friend were working on some red vines
415
00:28:23.960 --> 00:28:28.759
when he asked if we liked scary things. We looked
416
00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:31.799
at each other and said of course, as if we
417
00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:35.319
would reply any other way. He asked if we knew
418
00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:40.240
where the house was down on Oak Street. He said
419
00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:44.279
he knew the house that was spooky down there. I
420
00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:48.519
was hesitant, but after some encouragement from Jack, we were
421
00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:52.160
soon headed out the gates from the fair into the night.
422
00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:55.960
As we made our way down through some neighborhood streets,
423
00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:59.480
it really began to cool off, and there was definitely
424
00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:02.680
a chill in the air. A breeze was picking up,
425
00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:05.440
and a few leaves were blowing in between our feet
426
00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:09.279
as we walked. We were beginning to get far enough
427
00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:12.000
away from the fair now that I began to become
428
00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:16.559
uncomfortable with the distance, even though I knew where we were.
429
00:29:17.559 --> 00:29:21.920
It was just then when he said we're here. This
430
00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:24.400
had startled me as I realized we had all been
431
00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:29.000
walking in silence. A glance from Jack told me he
432
00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:31.880
was no more at ease than I was. I had
433
00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:35.960
this strange feeling of foreboding, and in retrospect, I know
434
00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:39.880
now that my survival instinct was trying to warn me.
435
00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:44.160
As I looked at him, he stood looking up at it.
436
00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:47.960
The house was huge. I can't believe I had never
437
00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:52.039
noticed it before. It was a sprawling, three story mansion
438
00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:55.480
with what appeared to have been a large yard all
439
00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:59.240
around it. It seemed to be well kept, but everything
440
00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:02.200
about it RepA held me. I looked at Jack and
441
00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:06.599
the other boy. Jack was looking around nervously. The boy,
442
00:30:06.680 --> 00:30:11.359
though he had a radiant smile on his face, I noted,
443
00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:14.839
he was actually breathing hard. I asked him if he
444
00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:18.519
was all right. He snapped his head towards me instantly,
445
00:30:18.599 --> 00:30:22.880
while taking a step toward me. Yes, he said, then
446
00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:27.400
slowly retreated one step back again. What do you think,
447
00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:32.559
he asked. Jack was barely audible when he answered, I
448
00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:34.759
don't think we should go in. If that's what you mean,
449
00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:38.799
of course we should go in. I know who lives here.
450
00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:43.440
They aren't there yet, he said. I agreed with Jack
451
00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:47.039
and voiced my concern with getting into trouble. There will
452
00:30:47.079 --> 00:30:50.599
be no trouble. Let's just go, the boy said, and
453
00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:53.559
with that he began to walk up the walkway to
454
00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:56.799
the front door. I thought the walk to that front
455
00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:59.359
door was the longest twenty five feet of my life.
456
00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:04.319
Every step forward seemed to get colder, the darkness enveloped us,
457
00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:08.160
and the air seemed to become still. The repulsion I
458
00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:12.480
felt going forward was immense and progressive. I didn't know
459
00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:15.720
why I felt like this. I didn't want to seem scared,
460
00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:19.680
but I was, and I didn't know why, which made
461
00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:22.799
me confused. On top of the anxiety, I seemed to
462
00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:26.799
be becoming overwhelmed with I was following the new friend
463
00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:29.920
of ours and Jack, the boy seemed to be bursting
464
00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:33.240
with enthusiasm and excitement as Jack and I trudged along.
465
00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:37.119
As we approached the steps up, I took hold of
466
00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:41.119
the rail and realized my palms were sweating profusely. I
467
00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:44.960
became aware of my own labored breathing. I looked to Jack,
468
00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:49.079
who mouthed no at me. As we were almost to
469
00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:52.200
the top step on the porch. My mouth was dry
470
00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:54.720
as I thought of a hundred reasons not to open
471
00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:58.480
the large front door, but couldn't utter a single word.
472
00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:01.200
The boy stood in front of the door and turned
473
00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:04.519
to look at me. He simultaneously reached for the knob
474
00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:08.559
and turned it. I yelled no as he did, but
475
00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:11.599
to no avail. As we heard the click and the
476
00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:19.599
door began to swing open. The door creaked and groaned
477
00:32:19.640 --> 00:32:23.319
in a way that sounded guttural as he swung it
478
00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:27.000
open wide. I could see inside into the middle of
479
00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:31.599
the room, but the darkness swallowed the perimeter beyond. Come in,
480
00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:35.519
was all he said as he boldly stepped in without
481
00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:39.759
looking back. Without a word, Jack and I followed him in.
482
00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:46.240
The smell was overwhelming. As we stepped inside. It smelled musty, earthy,
483
00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:49.880
and almost rotten, like a trunk that had been closed
484
00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:54.200
for years. I thought the windows looked broken out in places,
485
00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:57.359
but there was no air moving through the house. Now.
486
00:32:58.519 --> 00:33:01.640
I don't remember the door showing, but I felt the
487
00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:05.440
uncontrollable urge to run, and I backed right into the
488
00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:09.440
shut door. Jack, in a panic, grabbed the handle and
489
00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:14.000
wrenched on it, but it didn't budge. He pulled with
490
00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:16.799
increased fervor, and I began to hit the door with
491
00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:20.519
my closed fist, and my hands began to tingle. I
492
00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:25.839
swung around to see the boy standing looking at us expressionless.
493
00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:29.880
A smile began to creep into the corners of his mouth.
494
00:33:30.519 --> 00:33:34.240
This twistedly sick look he began to have made the
495
00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:38.079
terror well up even more. As I began to scream
496
00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:42.359
at him, he suddenly turned and ran into the darkness,
497
00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:48.079
laughing maniacally. I followed a few steps after him, instinctively,
498
00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:52.039
until I realized that giggling he ran down the stairs.
499
00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:55.920
Down the stairs seemed to be even blacker than the
500
00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:00.720
darkness that already left navigating nearly impossible. I turned to
501
00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:05.039
look at Jack, who was gone. I cried out in
502
00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:08.480
fear and frustration at our stupidity. Why would you ever
503
00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:13.239
go somewhere with someone you don't know? Yet? Here I am.
504
00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:16.599
Jack stepped forward into my field of vision and grabbed
505
00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:21.320
my arm. He began to sob What's going on? Where
506
00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:24.920
did he go? Why is this place so scary? What's
507
00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:28.079
going on? I pulled him in and put my arm
508
00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:31.639
around his shoulder. Look at me, We are going to
509
00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:34.559
get out of here, I said, in as calm of
510
00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:37.639
a voice as I could muster. I looked to the
511
00:34:37.760 --> 00:34:40.920
side to a window and ran to it. I ripped
512
00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:44.920
the floor length velvet curtains open and gasped to see51300:34:44.920 --> 00:34:47.920
a window. I looked next to me to see a51400:34:47.960 --> 00:34:50.960
small table and picked it up and banged it on51500:34:51.000 --> 00:34:54.440
the glass. I wasn't sure what was going on yet,51600:34:54.440 --> 00:34:57.159
but I wasn't fully committed to breaking out a window51700:34:57.199 --> 00:35:00.679
because I'm scared this could be a p done on51800:35:00.800 --> 00:35:06.719
poor taste. Fear overwhelmed my rational thoughts, and I swung it.51900:35:06.719 --> 00:35:09.039
It didn't budge, and I felt as though I were52000:35:09.079 --> 00:35:13.280
hitting stone. I was even more scared at this abnormal response.52100:35:14.079 --> 00:35:16.840
I backed up one step and swung as hard as52200:35:16.880 --> 00:35:20.239
I could to have the table splinter apart, with pieces52300:35:20.280 --> 00:35:24.679
smashing against the walls, floor, and into my head. I52400:35:24.800 --> 00:35:27.360
felt the point of impact to reveal on my head52500:35:27.440 --> 00:35:32.719
a spot of blood. On my hand, the window appeared unblemished.52600:35:33.119 --> 00:35:35.840
As I frantically turned to see Jack crumple into a52700:35:35.840 --> 00:35:38.880
pile on the floor, crying, I want to go home.52800:35:39.760 --> 00:35:42.039
I grabbed his collar and pulled him to his feet.52900:35:42.559 --> 00:35:44.960
I went into the first open door I saw aside53000:35:44.960 --> 00:35:48.039
from the staircase that boy must be in on this.53100:35:48.559 --> 00:35:50.320
I don't know why you would bring us here, but53200:35:50.400 --> 00:35:53.480
you can be sure it's not good, I whispered as53300:35:53.519 --> 00:35:56.960
I pulled Jack along, who was now regaining his composure.53400:35:57.920 --> 00:36:01.079
The doorway opened into a large room. It appeared to53500:36:01.079 --> 00:36:04.679
be a library, as books lined the walls to high53600:36:04.760 --> 00:36:07.519
windows which must have been three stories tall. As there53700:36:07.519 --> 00:36:11.960
were balconies with ladders circumnavigating the room. I pulled us53800:36:11.960 --> 00:36:14.719
to one side as it seemed to offer a mirage53900:36:14.760 --> 00:36:18.800
of protection versus being in the room center. I put54000:36:18.840 --> 00:36:21.320
a hand against the shelf and looked at the books.54100:36:22.000 --> 00:36:24.639
Most of the titles were in languages I didn't even54200:36:24.679 --> 00:36:29.639
recognize some with what appeared to be symbols. Only breathing54300:36:29.760 --> 00:36:32.400
hard and looking around for the next move, I noticed54400:36:32.639 --> 00:36:36.880
there were mounted heads of animals surrounding the room. They54500:36:36.920 --> 00:36:41.960
were high above the books on the walls. Deer, bear, cougar.54600:36:43.000 --> 00:36:45.840
They did not have content looks on their faces, rather54700:36:46.000 --> 00:36:49.280
anger or fear. I looked to the next and found54800:36:49.320 --> 00:36:53.679
the animal to be beyond description. I stared at its54900:36:53.719 --> 00:36:57.199
cavorted face and studied it for a moment. It was55000:36:57.280 --> 00:37:00.199
unknown to me. I glanced ahead and found an another55100:37:00.360 --> 00:37:06.360
unrecognizable head. Upon closer look, I gasped and nearly threw up.55200:37:06.599 --> 00:37:10.000
It was the head of what looked to be a person,55300:37:11.000 --> 00:37:14.679
but it had hair all over its face. Its simian55400:37:14.880 --> 00:37:19.320
likeness was unmistakable, yet it seemed more human. Jack was55500:37:19.400 --> 00:37:22.119
gasping at me, looking wildly in the direction I had55600:37:22.159 --> 00:37:26.159
been staring, yelling what is it? He pulled at me55700:37:26.239 --> 00:37:29.360
to follow him, and I stumbled along. We came to55800:37:29.440 --> 00:37:32.360
a hallway with opposing doors. At the far end was55900:37:32.400 --> 00:37:36.320
a door with windows on either side. Long velvet curtains56000:37:36.360 --> 00:37:39.800
hung parted in the middle, showing the moonlight peeking through.56100:37:40.719 --> 00:37:43.440
We took pensive steps towards the first door, and I56200:37:43.519 --> 00:37:46.880
reached out to turn the knob. I cautiously edged the56300:37:46.880 --> 00:37:50.360
door open and peeked inside. It was too dark to56400:37:50.400 --> 00:37:55.480
make anything out visually, but I heard sounds. It sounded56500:37:55.519 --> 00:37:59.400
like something some kind of animal, was stepping in something56600:37:59.480 --> 00:38:03.639
wet and sludge like. Grunting and labored breaths intermixed with56700:38:03.760 --> 00:38:07.920
ripping sounds came from somewhere within the room. A barely56800:38:07.960 --> 00:38:12.920
audible whimper was immediately stopped by a low growl. It56900:38:13.039 --> 00:38:15.599
was then Jack stepped back, and a squeak of the57000:38:15.639 --> 00:38:19.239
floorboard suddenly alerted whatever was in there. There was a57100:38:19.320 --> 00:38:22.119
rustling of something moving toward us, and I knew beyond57200:38:22.159 --> 00:38:24.079
any doubt that I did not want to know what57300:38:24.280 --> 00:38:27.760
was making that noise. I was able to get us57400:38:27.800 --> 00:38:30.719
out and slam the door before the thing could get there.57500:38:31.559 --> 00:38:35.079
Jack was whispering how badly he wanted to leave, and57600:38:35.159 --> 00:38:38.800
clutching my arm in a near frantic manner. I was57700:38:38.880 --> 00:38:42.039
unsure if we should look in any more rooms or57800:38:42.119 --> 00:38:44.239
go try to escape from one of the windows at57900:38:44.280 --> 00:38:47.239
the end of the hall. As I was gathering my wits,58000:38:47.840 --> 00:38:50.880
I heard another moan. I thought it might have been58100:38:50.920 --> 00:38:54.559
my imagination, but Jack's face registered that he had heard58200:38:54.599 --> 00:38:59.000
it as well. Was that the other boy? He asked58300:38:59.000 --> 00:39:03.119
in a whisper. I don't know, I replied, as my58400:39:03.239 --> 00:39:06.960
voice broke. I had never and have not since, known58500:39:07.079 --> 00:39:10.880
fear such as this. Sweat dripped off my nose, running58600:39:10.920 --> 00:39:13.800
down my neck and back. I was shaking and could58700:39:13.840 --> 00:39:17.519
barely speak. I had thrown up again after shutting that door.58800:39:18.079 --> 00:39:21.679
It just hadn't registered until now. I wiped at my58900:39:21.800 --> 00:39:24.280
face and it was apparent I had not been aware59000:39:24.400 --> 00:39:26.800
enough to make any attempt to project it away from59100:39:26.800 --> 00:39:30.840
my body. I had a sudden recall that I had59200:39:30.880 --> 00:39:34.159
my cell phone. Funny how I had argued how I59300:39:34.239 --> 00:39:37.039
wanted and needed one with my parents and used the59400:39:37.199 --> 00:39:41.519
safety reason. How ironic I thought as I frantically dug59500:39:41.559 --> 00:39:46.320
it from my pocket. No service, as I thought, my59600:39:46.440 --> 00:39:50.199
spirit couldn't drop farther. The date under the time seemed59700:39:50.199 --> 00:39:54.480
to be spinning like a dial. I had no idea59800:39:54.519 --> 00:39:58.119
what had happened, but the realization it was broken almost59900:39:58.119 --> 00:40:01.159
made me cry. If we made it out of there,60000:40:01.639 --> 00:40:04.679
my parents would kill me for breaking it. I was60100:40:04.760 --> 00:40:08.199
truly terrified as the tears began to run down my cheeks.60200:40:08.679 --> 00:40:11.880
I was breathing fast and hard. My head was spinning60300:40:11.960 --> 00:40:15.400
like I may pass out. Jack's sudden grip on my60400:40:15.599 --> 00:40:19.320
arm again brought my attention back to reality. We must60500:40:19.320 --> 00:40:21.440
have been moving the last few moments. As we were60600:40:21.440 --> 00:40:26.440
standing in front of the next door, which unfortunately was open,60700:40:27.920 --> 00:40:30.559
there was a shaft of moonlight coming from the window60800:40:30.639 --> 00:40:33.679
across the room, and it fell on two of the dirtiest,60900:40:34.280 --> 00:40:38.320
foulest dogs I had ever seen. My mouth fell open61000:40:38.360 --> 00:40:42.880
in utter shock at the putrescence of them. They seemed61100:40:42.920 --> 00:40:46.280
to have what looked like some rotting skin in places.61200:40:46.880 --> 00:40:51.679
One looked like it was partially disemboweled, and something drug61300:40:51.760 --> 00:40:55.280
on the floor a short distance behind it. The first61400:40:55.280 --> 00:40:58.719
one lowered his head with a growl, and saliva or61500:40:58.840 --> 00:41:03.119
something like it dripped from the large fangs it momentarily61600:41:03.159 --> 00:41:06.920
glistened in the little light present. The smell coming from61700:41:06.960 --> 00:41:12.440
them was nauseating. Sickly sweet, rotting stench with sulfuresque tones61800:41:12.719 --> 00:41:16.800
burned my nose as I immediately recoiled from sight and smell.61900:41:17.760 --> 00:41:20.719
The closer animal, if you could call it that, began62000:41:20.840 --> 00:41:23.760
to growl, although the sound seemed to emanate from the62100:41:23.840 --> 00:41:27.000
hole in its side. I pushed Jack ahead of me62200:41:27.079 --> 00:41:30.360
as panic again rose in me like a wave, commanding62300:41:30.360 --> 00:41:34.360
me to run. In spite of the pathetic creature's aberrant appearance,62400:41:34.840 --> 00:41:38.920
they could move quickly, their claws dug to gain purchase62500:41:38.960 --> 00:41:42.880
on the old floor, shredding with each foot strike. There62600:41:42.920 --> 00:41:47.320
were snarling jaws snapping, making saliva fling and spray in62700:41:47.360 --> 00:41:51.639
the moonlight. Our complete terror must have been adrenaline fueled enough,62800:41:51.920 --> 00:41:53.800
as they were nearly to the end of the hall62900:41:53.880 --> 00:41:57.559
before I realized it. There was a perpendicular haul at63000:41:57.599 --> 00:42:00.360
the end by the windows, and as Jack was slowing63100:42:00.440 --> 00:42:03.280
to make a turn, I heard the hounds had stopped63200:42:03.920 --> 00:42:08.159
or slowed. I turned to look and they had stopped63300:42:08.159 --> 00:42:11.800
twenty feet back and were crouching down with tails tucked63400:42:11.840 --> 00:42:16.039
between their legs, whining, and were turning back as though63500:42:16.079 --> 00:42:20.559
they were afraid of something. I called to Jack as63600:42:20.639 --> 00:42:24.000
quietly as possible to get his attention without drawing further63700:42:24.079 --> 00:42:27.960
alert to our presence. We were stopped by the windows,63800:42:27.960 --> 00:42:32.519
and I looked out. My parents were walking down the street.63900:42:33.000 --> 00:42:35.719
My heart soared as I hit the window, screaming their64000:42:35.800 --> 00:42:40.559
names completely, throwing caution to the wind. They couldn't hear64100:42:41.360 --> 00:42:43.639
and kept going as there was no way for them64200:42:43.679 --> 00:42:47.119
to know I was here. I was supposed to be64300:42:47.199 --> 00:42:50.639
at the fair. How sorry I was that I hadn't64400:42:50.679 --> 00:42:53.440
done as I had said. I was going to die64500:42:53.519 --> 00:42:57.079
in this house. I didn't know what this place was,64600:42:57.280 --> 00:42:59.360
but it was so much worse than anything I had64700:42:59.400 --> 00:43:02.000
conjured up as a haunted house in my head. I64800:43:02.000 --> 00:43:05.920
would have given anything to be with my parents right now, safe,64900:43:06.480 --> 00:43:10.719
not here in this terrible place, whatever this was. I65000:43:10.760 --> 00:43:12.840
looked down the hall and at the far end was65100:43:12.880 --> 00:43:16.880
what looked like an old servants staircase, narrow and steep,65200:43:17.000 --> 00:43:20.559
going down. Wanting to go anywhere but down, I looked65300:43:20.559 --> 00:43:23.039
the other way and saw a door at the far end,65400:43:23.800 --> 00:43:28.159
and doors on opposing sides down the hall. More doors65500:43:28.199 --> 00:43:31.599
made fear well up inside me again. The hare began65600:43:31.679 --> 00:43:34.719
to stand up on my neck. There was a faint65700:43:34.800 --> 00:43:39.400
crying sound that was slowly growing louder. Was it a child,65800:43:40.199 --> 00:43:44.599
a woman? Was it the boy? I couldn't tell, But65900:43:44.719 --> 00:43:48.880
as it grew louder and louder, it became more distorted.66000:43:49.440 --> 00:43:51.880
It was a mixture of crying that was morphing from66100:43:51.880 --> 00:43:56.480
a cry to laughter, with choking intermixed. I had never66200:43:56.519 --> 00:43:58.679
heard a sound like that before, and if I never66300:43:58.800 --> 00:44:02.320
do again, it would be a blessing. My fear was66400:44:02.360 --> 00:44:06.039
already overcoming me, and this wretched cacophony was more than66500:44:06.039 --> 00:44:09.039
I could take. I began to pull Jack to follow me,66600:44:09.079 --> 00:44:12.119
and we began to run. We sprinted into the hallway66700:44:12.199 --> 00:44:15.599
blindly in terror. I frantically grabbed at door knobs to66800:44:15.639 --> 00:44:18.159
open one, any one of them, in hopes to get66900:44:18.199 --> 00:44:21.719
refuge from this horror. The light was so low I67000:44:21.760 --> 00:44:25.079
could barely make out the shapes of the doors. The67100:44:25.159 --> 00:44:28.199
illumination was minimal, and the color of the walls and67200:44:28.280 --> 00:44:33.519
doors appeared to be various shades of black. I scraped67300:44:33.519 --> 00:44:36.400
and patted around what I thought was a door, and67400:44:36.519 --> 00:44:40.039
scrambled along as I jabbed and reached. As I searched,67500:44:40.039 --> 00:44:42.760
I felt my finger tip catch on something sharp, and67600:44:42.840 --> 00:44:46.559
my skin hooked on to whatever nail or splinter protruded.67700:44:47.480 --> 00:44:51.159
I felt the warm fluid spread and drip. As I67800:44:51.199 --> 00:44:54.360
felt the casing for the knob, I felt my finger67900:44:54.440 --> 00:44:58.800
nail pull off entirely. In my nearly crazed search for68000:44:58.880 --> 00:45:02.480
a way out, the dark hall seemed to lighten slightly.68100:45:03.159 --> 00:45:07.280
The sound was still screeching, crying, laughter, constantly escalating to68200:45:07.280 --> 00:45:10.800
the point I thought my ears might burst. I felt68300:45:10.840 --> 00:45:13.079
Jack hitting at me and looked where he was staring.68400:45:14.079 --> 00:45:16.800
Coming down the hall was something I think no mortal68500:45:16.880 --> 00:45:20.920
man was meant to see. It was distorted and terrible,68600:45:21.519 --> 00:45:26.920
flowing with a jerking quality. Simultaneously, I was suddenly captivated68700:45:26.920 --> 00:45:33.239
at the indescribable sight approaching It was sinister, abhorrent, and mesmerizing.68800:45:34.000 --> 00:45:38.119
I knew if it reached us, all was lost. My68900:45:38.239 --> 00:45:40.960
hand found the knob that was freezing cold. I turned69000:45:41.000 --> 00:45:43.880
it as we fell back, with the door opening, I69100:45:43.960 --> 00:45:47.800
turned quickly to survey and found we were trapped in69200:45:47.880 --> 00:45:52.199
a closet. In a completely reactionary measure, I slammed the69300:45:52.239 --> 00:45:56.079
door just as the specter reached us. It roared with69400:45:56.159 --> 00:45:59.719
an intensity that seemed impossible. It slammed into the door69500:45:59.760 --> 00:46:03.760
with such violence that shards of wood, dust and material69600:46:04.039 --> 00:46:08.079
blew out of the wall, spraying down on us. For69700:46:08.159 --> 00:46:12.000
an unknown but seemingly endless time, the torrent of anger69800:46:12.039 --> 00:46:15.440
and pure rage continued to pound upon the door, and69900:46:15.519 --> 00:46:17.760
I do not know how it did not breach it.70000:46:18.480 --> 00:46:23.280
At some point it stopped, if possible, The sudden silence70100:46:23.360 --> 00:46:27.960
was even more deafening. Jack continued to lay on the70200:46:27.960 --> 00:46:30.519
floor next to me. As I lay curled in the70300:46:30.559 --> 00:46:35.079
fetal position. After an indeterminate amount of time, I began70400:46:35.159 --> 00:46:38.239
to notice a light coming from under the door. I70500:46:38.320 --> 00:46:42.920
thought it looked like sunlight. I moved over and tried70600:46:42.960 --> 00:46:47.480
to peer under. I could see what looked like daylight70700:46:48.039 --> 00:46:52.400
on the old red carpet. I looked and listened, and70800:46:52.519 --> 00:46:57.599
could perceive nothing outside the door. I reached up and70900:46:57.679 --> 00:47:00.960
turned the knob with a creak that was the defining71000:47:01.039 --> 00:47:05.639
noise of every haunted house ever. The door opened, the71100:47:05.719 --> 00:47:09.000
hallway was lit with the earliest rays of the beautiful71200:47:09.039 --> 00:47:12.800
morning sun. It was such a welcome sight to the71300:47:12.800 --> 00:47:17.559
soul sucking pitch black of the previous night. As I71400:47:17.599 --> 00:47:20.760
took in the sunshine, movement in the hall caught my71500:47:20.840 --> 00:47:25.239
attention and I recoiled back. The sunlight was just peeking71600:47:25.280 --> 00:47:28.519
over the horizon through the windows, leaving shadows in between71700:47:28.519 --> 00:47:32.239
each one. The far end of the hallway was bathed71800:47:32.280 --> 00:47:36.320
in darkness. To the door and beyond, the terrible apparition71900:47:36.559 --> 00:47:39.880
was hovering just at this boundary of light and dark.72000:47:40.679 --> 00:47:42.679
It was almost too much for my mind, and I72100:47:42.719 --> 00:47:46.519
thought I might pass out. It screamed and raged against72200:47:46.519 --> 00:47:51.079
this boundary. Seething and pacing back and forth, it seemed72300:47:51.079 --> 00:47:54.280
to strain with all its will, until the last bit72400:47:54.320 --> 00:47:58.800
of darkness was abolished with the wonderful sunlight. There was72500:47:58.840 --> 00:48:02.280
an implosion of sound with some sort of vapor or smoke,72600:48:02.320 --> 00:48:05.679
and when it dissipated there was a single sheet with72700:48:05.800 --> 00:48:09.840
two eye holes cut out, perched at the end of72800:48:09.880 --> 00:48:14.199
the hall where it had been. It seemed almost comical,72900:48:14.599 --> 00:48:17.480
a cruel and mocking reminder that it was not gone,73000:48:18.079 --> 00:48:21.880
not truly. We eventually came to the realization that we73100:48:21.880 --> 00:48:25.039
were able to escape the house only after we passed73200:48:25.079 --> 00:48:29.639
by the classic ghost. I felt taunted and bullied by it.73300:48:30.039 --> 00:48:32.559
I wanted to knock it over, but was so repelled73400:48:32.559 --> 00:48:35.880
by it I couldn't bring myself to touch it. I73500:48:36.000 --> 00:48:40.360
didn't and don't know what was under the sheet. We73600:48:40.400 --> 00:48:43.519
made our way through the house. There was no resistance.73700:48:44.039 --> 00:48:47.599
Windows were broken out, exterior doors left open absent in73800:48:47.679 --> 00:48:50.599
some places. As we exited the house, we saw a73900:48:50.719 --> 00:48:54.679
passing police car and waved it down. The officer listened74000:48:54.679 --> 00:48:57.000
to both of us, trying to relay the story, and74100:48:57.119 --> 00:49:00.719
he became suddenly very excited when he heard our names.74200:49:02.000 --> 00:49:04.679
We fell silent as he told us that we had74300:49:04.719 --> 00:49:09.440
been reported missing six days ago and the entire town74400:49:09.480 --> 00:49:12.719
had been searching for us. Come to find out, the74500:49:12.800 --> 00:49:17.360
authorities had actually presumed us dead. My parents were out74600:49:17.400 --> 00:49:20.800
looking for me when I had seen them. My head74700:49:20.880 --> 00:49:24.000
beginning to spin was the last thing I remember that day.74800:49:25.079 --> 00:49:28.679
I'm not sure how many people believed us, if anyone.74900:49:28.840 --> 00:49:31.039
Jack and I drifted apart, as I think both of75000:49:31.119 --> 00:49:35.800
us couldn't bear the memories of that night. Although thankfully75100:49:36.360 --> 00:49:40.719
I have never had another experience such as this, I75200:49:40.760 --> 00:49:58.559
will never forget that ghost stories aren't always fun. First75300:49:58.679 --> 00:50:07.000
Date by Fields Perspective Ariel Mirron. Who would have thought75400:50:07.039 --> 00:50:10.519
that my life would have changed so drastically over the holidays.75500:50:11.119 --> 00:50:14.519
I'm pretty good at keeping my feelings to myself, but75600:50:14.599 --> 00:50:19.519
I'm still very angry and upset with my parents, mostly Mom.75700:50:20.199 --> 00:50:23.960
I still can't believe that which offered me to Queen75800:50:24.079 --> 00:50:28.719
Arcadia in exchange for her fame and fortune. Oh let75900:50:28.760 --> 00:50:31.360
me tell you. I was so angry with Mom that76000:50:31.440 --> 00:50:34.119
I screamed and threw everything at her that I could76100:50:34.159 --> 00:50:38.199
get my hands on. I mean, I destroyed a lot76200:50:38.239 --> 00:50:41.000
of stuff. My friends who were there with me had76300:50:41.039 --> 00:50:44.039
to pull me off Mom when I finally attacked her myself.76400:50:45.159 --> 00:50:48.519
I've had sufficient time now to calm down and assess76500:50:48.559 --> 00:50:52.559
my current situation. I'm living with Madeline Donnerley and her76600:50:52.599 --> 00:50:57.360
family now and actually have my own room. Mouse's parents76700:50:57.400 --> 00:51:01.079
converted a spare bedroom just for me. Not only that,76800:51:01.280 --> 00:51:05.119
I figured that, upon returning to Strickfield Junior High that76900:51:05.239 --> 00:51:08.800
people would be jeering me about the whole fall from77000:51:08.920 --> 00:51:14.239
Grace thing. No one said a word. In fact, I77100:51:14.320 --> 00:51:17.199
continued on as if that whole blow up between Mom77200:51:17.239 --> 00:51:22.039
and I had never happened. But something did happen at77300:51:22.039 --> 00:51:25.719
school today. You probably know by now that Carter Cross77400:51:25.760 --> 00:51:29.519
and I have always been polar opposites. Even now, he77500:51:29.639 --> 00:51:33.599
still calls me Princess, but he's not making fun of77600:51:33.639 --> 00:51:36.960
me because of my fall from Grace. I wasn't letting77700:51:37.039 --> 00:51:40.199
him off so fast, though. I still managed to swipe77800:51:40.199 --> 00:51:45.119
a few of his sodas, including at lunch period today today,77900:51:45.159 --> 00:51:50.079
though it just it didn't feel right. Normally, Carter's on78000:51:50.199 --> 00:51:53.440
me the minute I swipe a soda. In fact, we78100:51:53.519 --> 00:51:56.760
both had the can ready to fight for it, then78200:51:57.559 --> 00:52:00.599
he just let me have it. The truth is, I78300:52:00.679 --> 00:52:03.480
haven't forgotten that he asked me out the first weekend78400:52:03.480 --> 00:52:07.400
of December, when we were trapped in the Strickfield Town78500:52:07.480 --> 00:52:12.960
Center mall overnight hanging Christmas decorations for cousin harmony. I78600:52:13.000 --> 00:52:16.280
can't stop replaying that event in my mind over and over.78700:52:16.920 --> 00:52:21.519
Carter hasn't asked me out again since, though, however, I78800:52:21.599 --> 00:52:25.719
haven't really given him an answer. Then I remember that78900:52:25.760 --> 00:52:30.159
Carter Cross actually lives next door to me. Now, I79000:52:30.280 --> 00:52:32.920
go to my smartphone and text Carter to see if79100:52:32.920 --> 00:52:37.400
he's home. I get a reply back almost immediately yes.79200:52:38.159 --> 00:52:40.360
I get off my bed and head downstairs to go79300:52:40.400 --> 00:52:42.960
to his house. He's right there at the back door79400:52:43.000 --> 00:52:47.719
and invites me in. What's up, princess, he asks. I79500:52:47.840 --> 00:52:50.840
take a deep breath and look at him. Yes, Carter,79600:52:51.480 --> 00:52:54.119
I'm sorry I never answered you that night, but yes,79700:52:54.639 --> 00:52:57.840
I will go out with you. Carter and I stare79800:52:57.880 --> 00:53:02.039
at each other for a long moment. You sure, he79900:53:02.199 --> 00:53:06.960
asks quietly. I nod quickly. We need to know for80000:53:07.000 --> 00:53:10.480
sure if there's really something there between us. We can80100:53:10.519 --> 00:53:13.760
know for sure in one date, right. We stare at80200:53:13.800 --> 00:53:21.480
each other again. What do we do? He stammers, I80300:53:21.519 --> 00:53:25.559
ain't never been on a date before me neither, I admit,80400:53:27.199 --> 00:53:30.199
I guess we can just go hang out together, right,80500:53:30.920 --> 00:53:35.320
Carter nods, Okay, Yeah, what time do you want to go?80600:53:39.239 --> 00:53:44.679
Perspective Carter cross. Madeline Donnerley and me are playing video80700:53:44.760 --> 00:53:48.679
games at Roth's Rings after losing a third straight game80800:53:48.719 --> 00:53:52.920
of Cruise in USA Place in nearly last Madeline looks80900:53:52.920 --> 00:53:56.880
at me. Let's go talk, buddy, she says in her81000:53:56.920 --> 00:54:01.239
mousey voice. We grab our drinks and head outs. Then81100:54:01.320 --> 00:54:04.760
I just tell her Ariel and me are going on81200:54:04.800 --> 00:54:09.199
a date tonight. Her eyes are really wide. Now. Really,81300:54:10.159 --> 00:54:12.639
I tell Madeline about when I asked Ariel out at81400:54:12.679 --> 00:54:16.800
the mall during that overnight last month. I just kept81500:54:16.800 --> 00:54:19.920
thinking about it. You've been giving me a hard time81600:54:19.960 --> 00:54:23.079
about Ariel. I know Mona and Bailey give Ariel a81700:54:23.079 --> 00:54:26.199
hard time too. Ariel said, we got to know if81800:54:26.239 --> 00:54:30.599
there's something there, so we're gonna do one date tonight.81900:54:31.559 --> 00:54:34.199
Now it's the same silence like at my place when82000:54:34.239 --> 00:54:38.639
Ariel and I agreed to go out. Madeline breaks the silence,82100:54:39.400 --> 00:54:43.679
told you you liked her, buddy, I sigh. What if82200:54:43.679 --> 00:54:46.800
I mess things up with her? Madeline? This is our82300:54:46.840 --> 00:54:50.000
first date. It ain't gonna be like when we hang out,82400:54:50.599 --> 00:54:54.679
she smirks. Just talk to her Carter. The rest will82500:54:54.679 --> 00:54:57.920
work itself out. I ain't never dated yet, but I82600:54:58.000 --> 00:55:02.800
understand a few things based on movies. She gently slaps82700:55:02.800 --> 00:55:08.400
my shoulder. Just talk to her, I nod quickly, Sorry82800:55:08.440 --> 00:55:11.519
about what happened in here. I should have just talked82900:55:11.519 --> 00:55:15.960
to you. It's all good, buddy, she replies. I put83000:55:16.000 --> 00:55:19.039
my hand on her shoulder. I'm glad. I can always83100:55:19.079 --> 00:55:23.400
talk to you, Madeline, and you always will, she promises me.83200:55:24.360 --> 00:55:27.320
Feeling better, we go back inside and start playing again.83300:55:28.039 --> 00:55:30.719
Now I can actually compete with Madeline when we start83400:55:30.800 --> 00:55:40.760
racing again. Perspective Ariel Mirron. I enter Mouse's house she83500:55:40.920 --> 00:55:44.320
calls it the mousehole, and see she's typing away on83600:55:44.360 --> 00:55:48.159
her computer. A few minutes later, she's finally done. I83700:55:48.199 --> 00:55:50.639
think she finished a paper for one of our classes.83800:55:51.159 --> 00:55:55.119
Now she looks right at me. It's gonna be okay, Ariel,83900:55:55.599 --> 00:55:59.800
she tells me. I sigh. Carter talked to you, didn't he.84000:56:00.719 --> 00:56:02.760
She turns in her chair and waits for me to84100:56:02.800 --> 00:56:06.360
sit on her lower bunk. He did, but you kind84200:56:06.360 --> 00:56:09.400
of been fidgeting all day. You only ever do that84300:56:09.440 --> 00:56:12.719
when you're really nervous, which don't happen often with you.84400:56:13.679 --> 00:56:18.559
I sigh again, I hate you. Mouse. She comes and84500:56:18.599 --> 00:56:22.920
sits beside me. It'll be okay. You and Carter are84600:56:22.920 --> 00:56:26.199
gonna hang out, Just have fun and talk to him.84700:56:26.599 --> 00:56:32.360
Suddenly the doorbell rings. It's Carter. Mouse tells me. I84800:56:32.440 --> 00:56:35.840
give her an odd look. Carter usually just comes in.84900:56:36.519 --> 00:56:40.159
Mouse smirks, Yeah, Carter and me usually walk into each85000:56:40.159 --> 00:56:42.960
other's houses. But Carter ain't here to hang out with me.85100:56:43.639 --> 00:56:47.599
He's here for you. Better go answer that. I look85200:56:47.599 --> 00:56:50.480
at the Freddy Krueger clock next to the door. Seven85300:56:50.480 --> 00:56:53.920
point thirty. Time sure flew since Carter and I arranged85400:56:53.920 --> 00:56:58.199
our date. I see Mouse's smile and know everything's going85500:56:58.239 --> 00:57:00.480
to be all right. I get up and make my85600:57:00.559 --> 00:57:03.159
way down to the front door. Mouse is right when85700:57:03.199 --> 00:57:06.280
Carter's standing outside. We look at each other for a85800:57:06.320 --> 00:57:10.440
long moment, just like at his house earlier. Then I85900:57:10.480 --> 00:57:12.880
finally put on my jacket and go out onto the porch,86000:57:12.920 --> 00:57:17.480
with him closing the door behind me. Where officially on86100:57:17.559 --> 00:57:27.239
our first date. Now perspective, Carter cross Ariel and me86200:57:27.320 --> 00:57:31.679
are both pretty nervous. We're walking to downtown village together86300:57:31.760 --> 00:57:35.679
in silence, glancing at each other at times. Finally, Ariel86400:57:35.719 --> 00:57:40.280
says something, I'm just as scared as you, Carter. That86500:57:40.440 --> 00:57:43.079
makes me feel better. What do you want to do?86600:57:44.119 --> 00:57:47.920
We stop right outside the Strickfield Centennial Theater. There's only86700:57:47.920 --> 00:57:52.119
two movies playing, including a special screening of Rad Yeah,86800:57:52.159 --> 00:57:56.480
that bicycle movie from the nineteen eighties. Ariel surprises me86900:57:56.559 --> 00:57:59.400
and wants to see it. I pay for our tickets87000:57:59.400 --> 00:58:02.599
and buy us both cokes. Madeline and I had seen87100:58:02.599 --> 00:58:05.800
this movie plenty of times after we became friends. Rad87200:58:05.840 --> 00:58:08.599
got us into riding bikes the way we do, even87300:58:08.599 --> 00:58:16.599
getting mongooses. Anyway, Ariel never got bored once. Later, we're87400:58:16.639 --> 00:58:19.159
sitting in Big Ed's soda parlor after the movie and87500:58:19.239 --> 00:58:24.119
talking about it. Madeline's right about just talking to Ariel. Also,87600:58:24.239 --> 00:58:27.639
Ariel insisted on paying for our Sundays since I paid87700:58:27.639 --> 00:58:33.079
it the movies. Suddenly, Ariel's eyes get wide, so do mine.87800:58:33.199 --> 00:58:37.719
When Bailey Downs and Mona Abels approach our table, Ariel's87900:58:37.719 --> 00:58:42.320
face goes red fast, and not because she's mad. Awe,88000:58:42.480 --> 00:58:46.880
ain't you too cute? Mona teases. Bailey just gives Ariel88100:58:46.920 --> 00:58:52.880
this weird smile now, Ariel does tough enough. Yes, I88200:58:52.960 --> 00:58:55.880
am here with Carter Cross. Go tell the whole school.88300:58:56.440 --> 00:58:58.920
When Bailey and Mona look at me, I just nod88400:58:59.079 --> 00:59:04.159
Ariel's way what she said. Then Mona and Bailey smile88500:59:04.239 --> 00:59:08.159
wickedly and giggle a little before they start singing, Ariel's88600:59:08.199 --> 00:59:13.199
got a boy friend. Ariel's got a boy friend. Ariel88700:59:13.239 --> 00:59:17.280
growls at them, I hate you both. Then they turn88800:59:17.320 --> 00:59:20.679
and walk away, laughing. The last thing I hear before88900:59:20.679 --> 00:59:25.480
they leave is Bailey telling Mona told you so. Ariel89000:59:25.519 --> 00:59:28.559
takes a deep breath and looks at me. Now, I89100:59:28.639 --> 00:59:33.360
really don't care Carter. I smile at Ariel. Me neither.89200:59:34.400 --> 00:59:36.559
When we finish our ice cream, we leave and go89300:59:36.679 --> 00:59:40.000
walking around. Then I decide to be a man and89400:59:40.079 --> 00:59:45.480
take Ariel's hand. She gasps at first, and then relaxes.89500:59:46.119 --> 00:59:49.519
She doesn't take her hand back. Then we get calm89600:59:49.599 --> 00:59:59.239
and start talking again. Perspective, Ariel, Mirrahim, you just know89700:59:59.480 --> 01:00:02.599
Bailey and are going to tell anyone who's willing to listen.89801:00:03.320 --> 01:00:05.400
I meant what I said. I really don't care who89901:00:05.519 --> 01:00:09.039
knows that I'm on a date with Carter Cross. I90001:00:09.119 --> 01:00:12.400
decide to be honest with him. Maybe if I was90101:00:12.480 --> 01:00:15.039
still living back in the gated community, I might have90201:00:15.119 --> 01:00:18.639
denied it. But I'm out here with all of you now.90301:00:19.800 --> 01:00:24.800
You ever miss being in there? Carter asks, no, I say,90401:00:24.840 --> 01:00:29.239
without hesitation, my parents never once called Mouse's house asking90501:00:29.320 --> 01:00:33.079
for me. They never stopped by either, not even anything90601:00:33.079 --> 01:00:38.320
in the mail. I smile a little. Madeleine's parents are90701:00:38.320 --> 01:00:43.920
good people, I know. Suddenly, Carter and I just stop dead.90801:00:46.119 --> 01:00:48.679
How did we end up walking down this street? Carter?90901:00:49.280 --> 01:00:55.159
I ask, we just did? Carter tells me we just91001:00:55.280 --> 01:00:59.119
turned down this way. And well, Carter and I are91101:00:59.159 --> 01:01:03.360
staring right at the old Carnivosh estate from outside the91201:01:03.400 --> 01:01:07.039
high fence. When Carter and I squeeze hands, I admit91301:01:07.119 --> 01:01:10.880
something to him. Mona Bailey and I dared Mouse to91401:01:10.880 --> 01:01:13.119
go into this house when we walked by it in91501:01:13.159 --> 01:01:17.599
early October. Mona asked her if she was chicken. Mouse91601:01:17.639 --> 01:01:20.119
simply told us she was brave enough to go in there,91701:01:20.679 --> 01:01:24.519
but not stupid enough. We didn't say anything more to91801:01:24.599 --> 01:01:29.639
her about it after that. Okay, well, let's just keep walking,91901:01:30.159 --> 01:01:35.440
Carter suggests, after a little bit. Yeah, let's I agree fast,92001:01:36.280 --> 01:01:39.840
but neither of us move. It's not because we're both92101:01:39.880 --> 01:01:42.920
scared of the house. It's because we're looking through the92201:01:42.960 --> 01:01:47.639
main gate and seeing a little girl standing in one92301:01:47.639 --> 01:01:59.280
of the windows, looking right out at us perspective, Carter Cross.92401:02:00.800 --> 01:02:03.400
Ariel and I both agree we saw that little girl92501:02:03.400 --> 01:02:06.800
in the house. We're both pretty sure nobody lives in92601:02:06.840 --> 01:02:10.599
the Carnivosh estate, and not for a very long time92701:02:11.679 --> 01:02:14.159
living in the village itself. It would be big news92801:02:14.199 --> 01:02:18.679
fast if anyone actually moved in there. When the little92901:02:18.679 --> 01:02:21.119
girl moves away from the window, Ariel and I look93001:02:21.199 --> 01:02:25.559
at each other. Carter, we can't leave that little girl93101:02:25.559 --> 01:02:29.920
in there, Ariel tells me. I gulp, I was afraid93201:02:29.960 --> 01:02:33.239
you'd say that. Ariel and ME don't even gotta talk93301:02:33.280 --> 01:02:35.599
about it. We climb the fence and go inside. The93401:02:35.639 --> 01:02:38.880
property looks like this place ain't had yard work done93501:02:38.960 --> 01:02:42.719
in years, even though it's early January. Weeds seem to93601:02:42.800 --> 01:02:46.599
keep growing real good here. When we reach the front door,93701:02:46.719 --> 01:02:50.280
one of them's wide open. Then I hear Ariel gulp.93801:02:50.760 --> 01:02:54.360
She's breathing fast and giving me looks. I know I93901:02:54.400 --> 01:02:57.679
gotta be looking scared too. Ariel and I are still94001:02:57.719 --> 01:03:01.480
holding hands. When we slowly go inside. We hain't even94101:03:01.519 --> 01:03:05.360
two steps past the door when Ariel and me both94201:03:05.440 --> 01:03:08.159
cry out and turn around to see the doors are94301:03:08.199 --> 01:03:13.639
both completely closed. We go to them and find we're94401:03:13.679 --> 01:03:18.519
locked in. Ariel quickly pulls out her phone. No, she94501:03:18.559 --> 01:03:23.400
looks at me. No signal you uh huh, I confirm.94601:03:23.760 --> 01:03:27.400
Then I open my settings. No nearby Wi Fi either.94701:03:28.239 --> 01:03:31.480
We put our phones away. Then Ariel points to the stairway.94801:03:32.679 --> 01:03:35.800
I don't think she was upstairs, Ariel, I say, I94901:03:35.800 --> 01:03:37.559
thought the little girl was in the room to the95001:03:37.639 --> 01:03:42.000
left of the doors. Ariel points in the direction in there.95101:03:42.760 --> 01:03:46.480
Ariel quickly grabs my hand. Don't you dare let go.95201:03:46.599 --> 01:03:50.159
I'm not losing you, Carter Cross. I shake her hand95301:03:50.199 --> 01:03:53.199
to assure her I'm holding it. Then we walk into95401:03:53.239 --> 01:03:58.000
what looks like a living room. Little girl, I call out.95501:03:58.559 --> 01:04:02.039
Then I point to the window. There's where we saw her. Right,95601:04:02.800 --> 01:04:05.039
we moved to the window and look outside to see95701:04:05.079 --> 01:04:08.119
where we were before we came in. We'll have to95801:04:08.199 --> 01:04:11.519
keep looking around. Ariel says, she's not in here. Now.95901:04:12.360 --> 01:04:16.119
I stop her fast, Ariel. She turns and sees I'm96001:04:16.159 --> 01:04:19.199
pointing down a hallway where we see the little girl.96101:04:20.159 --> 01:04:24.599
Stop Ariel calls out, please come this way. Ariel and96201:04:24.639 --> 01:04:27.559
I run down the hallway as she turns away. When96301:04:27.559 --> 01:04:30.639
we reach the end, we come into a conservatory. We96401:04:30.719 --> 01:04:32.760
moved to the other entrance and go through it to96501:04:32.800 --> 01:04:37.119
see the little girl again at the end of another hallway. Carter,96601:04:37.639 --> 01:04:42.599
Ariel gasps, you seeing this, I nod fast. The little96701:04:42.599 --> 01:04:45.679
girl's feet are pointing to the floor, but it's plain96801:04:45.800 --> 01:04:50.559
as the noses on our faces. She's floating. Yeah, I96901:04:50.639 --> 01:04:54.840
definitely think she's a ghost, Ariel, I hate you, Carter,97001:04:55.320 --> 01:04:59.639
Ariel stutters. She really squeezes my hand. Now. Then we97101:04:59.639 --> 01:05:02.639
looked down the hallway. I think she wants us to97201:05:02.719 --> 01:05:06.079
follow her. I say, it's like she's trying to tell97301:05:06.159 --> 01:05:09.840
us something. Ariel gulps again and turns me to look97401:05:09.880 --> 01:05:14.039
at the wall. There's an old Carnivoche family portrait hanging there.97501:05:15.239 --> 01:05:17.679
Now we see the little girl at the very center97601:05:18.320 --> 01:05:23.559
in front of her family. Clearly she was the youngest.97701:05:24.239 --> 01:05:34.679
The date is January fourth, eighteen twenty four. Perspective, Ariel Mirren,97801:05:35.880 --> 01:05:39.199
that little Carnivosh girl is over two hundred years old.97901:05:40.079 --> 01:05:43.480
Had she lived, we look to see her ghost is98001:05:43.559 --> 01:05:48.400
still waiting for us. Come on, Carter, I stammer. The98101:05:48.440 --> 01:05:51.000
two of us keep following the little girl until we're98201:05:51.039 --> 01:05:54.679
at another door. No doubt, this one's going to lead98301:05:54.719 --> 01:05:57.320
into the one place you would never want to go98401:05:57.400 --> 01:06:02.280
in a creepy old mansion like this, the basement. The98501:06:02.360 --> 01:06:05.519
door opens on its own, Then the little girl floats98601:06:05.559 --> 01:06:08.880
down the stairway. She's giving off this eerie light to98701:06:08.960 --> 01:06:12.920
show she's at the bottom and waiting for us. Since98801:06:12.960 --> 01:06:16.239
she's lighting our way, we can easily follow her down98901:06:16.360 --> 01:06:20.480
without tripping over our own feet. Carter insists on leading99001:06:20.519 --> 01:06:23.159
the way like the gallant guy I know he is.99101:06:24.000 --> 01:06:27.639
When we reach the bottom, the ghost moves again, the99201:06:27.679 --> 01:06:31.119
basement still lit thanks to her. She takes us through99301:06:31.159 --> 01:06:33.679
a few rooms and finally stops next to a big99401:06:33.719 --> 01:06:38.400
brick wall. Then she points right at it. You want99501:06:38.480 --> 01:06:43.679
us to break, Carter mumbles. The little girl keeps pointing99601:06:43.719 --> 01:06:47.639
to the wall. Then I see something over there. Carter99701:06:48.039 --> 01:06:50.840
grab that big hammer. Carter and I let go of99801:06:50.880 --> 01:06:54.000
each other's hands. He finds the big sledgehammer on a99901:06:54.000 --> 01:06:57.199
workbench and brings it over. It takes Carter a few100001:06:57.320 --> 01:07:01.440
really big hits before he finally success and cracking the mortar.100101:07:02.159 --> 01:07:05.000
He keeps swinging and hitting until he finally makes a100201:07:05.000 --> 01:07:08.320
block come loose. Then he keeps hitting it until it100301:07:08.360 --> 01:07:12.039
falls over on the inside. Carter has to take little100401:07:12.079 --> 01:07:15.559
breaks to collect himself, but he finally manages to break100501:07:15.599 --> 01:07:18.639
the wall in enough. I take out my smartphone and100601:07:18.679 --> 01:07:23.239
shine my light through the hole Carter made. Carter and100701:07:23.280 --> 01:07:26.800
I both scream when we see a couple of skeletons,100801:07:27.519 --> 01:07:32.239
one big and one small, and then the little girl100901:07:32.320 --> 01:07:36.920
smiles happily and points to both of us. Suddenly, this101001:07:37.119 --> 01:07:45.480
huge flash of light washes over us. Epilogue perspective aerial mirran.101101:07:46.840 --> 01:07:49.480
Later that night, Carter and I are in the mousehole101201:07:49.880 --> 01:07:53.920
telling mouse about our experience at the Carnivosh estate. We101301:07:54.039 --> 01:07:56.760
told her about finding the little girl and then her101401:07:56.880 --> 01:07:59.559
leading us to where she and her dad were both101501:07:59.599 --> 01:08:04.239
walled up in the basement. Two hundred years ago today,101601:08:04.679 --> 01:08:07.800
a band of robbers came to the Carnivosh estate and101701:08:07.920 --> 01:08:12.079
robbed it. Emilio Carnivoche tried to save and protect his101801:08:12.199 --> 01:08:15.239
family from the robbers, but it was all in vain.101901:08:15.840 --> 01:08:19.159
Emilio and little Rosemary were walled up within the basement102001:08:19.479 --> 01:08:23.199
to cruelly separate the two of them from Margo, the mother,102101:08:23.760 --> 01:08:28.640
and Rosemary's two older brothers, Waldo and Morton. Emilio was102201:08:28.680 --> 01:08:33.680
badly hurt and weakened, and Rosemary was too little, unable102301:08:33.720 --> 01:08:38.079
to free themselves from their tomb, they died of starvation.102401:08:39.279 --> 01:08:41.239
We weren't shown what happened to the rest of the102501:08:41.279 --> 01:08:46.119
Carnivoche family. I can feel like deep down that both102601:08:46.159 --> 01:08:48.880
the father and the little girl are resting in peace now.102701:08:49.279 --> 01:08:52.800
I finish. Yeah, We got out of the house and102801:08:52.840 --> 01:08:56.560
went to Roth's rings to call the police. Anonymously, Carter ads.102901:08:57.319 --> 01:09:00.119
Carter and I both Pinky promised Mouse that we we103001:09:00.119 --> 01:09:03.479
weren't making up the story. Ah, I believe you both,103101:09:03.760 --> 01:09:07.640
she said, Come on, we survived Abigail Tomlin, a big103201:09:07.760 --> 01:09:13.600
vampire woman, and Queen Arcadia. Right, good point, Madeline, Carter agrees.103301:09:14.279 --> 01:09:16.880
When we finish talking, Carter and I leave the house.103401:09:17.319 --> 01:09:20.920
We find ourselves holding hands again. As we walk onto103501:09:20.960 --> 01:09:24.520
Carter's back porch. Carter and I both look like we103601:09:24.600 --> 01:09:27.319
want to say something to each other, but we just103701:09:27.399 --> 01:09:30.720
look at each other again. Carter leans in a little.103801:09:31.720 --> 01:09:37.640
He's hesitating. I'm hesitating, and then I barely feel it.103901:09:37.680 --> 01:09:40.560
When we come apart, but Carter and I shared our104001:09:40.600 --> 01:09:43.560
first kiss. We don't even have to say anything to104101:09:43.600 --> 01:09:46.600
each other, but we know mutually we're not going to104201:09:46.640 --> 01:09:49.960
be just one and done on dating. Carter and I104301:09:50.000 --> 01:09:52.359
say goodbye, and I watch him go into his house.104401:09:53.000 --> 01:09:55.359
I return to the Donnerly home and go back in.104501:09:56.520 --> 01:09:58.479
I head to my room and lay on my bed,104601:09:58.600 --> 01:10:02.039
knowing I have a lot to think about. And that's104701:10:02.039 --> 01:10:05.840
where this particular adventure ends. But I can promise you104801:10:06.479 --> 01:10:16.840
we'll be back again very soon. Lucian Grayshire and the104901:10:16.880 --> 01:10:24.279
Ghost from Applebee's by L. F. Falconer. The three young105001:10:24.399 --> 01:10:28.840
girls in the corner booth continued to stare, not due105101:10:28.840 --> 01:10:35.680
to rudeness, Lucian determined merely out of morbid curiosity. Their105201:10:35.760 --> 01:10:39.880
parents attempted to be more furative in their sidelong glances105301:10:39.920 --> 01:10:44.239
and struggled with useless, hushed commands to curtail their daughter's105401:10:44.680 --> 01:10:50.000
blatant surveillance. Lucian no longer cared. With three quarters of105501:10:50.000 --> 01:10:53.760
his body severely scarred from a house fire he'd survived105601:10:53.800 --> 01:10:57.239
as a child forty years ago, he'd grown hardened to105701:10:57.319 --> 01:11:02.960
the horrified scrutiny of others. Thereative glimpses the whispers behind105801:11:03.000 --> 01:11:07.039
his back. At one time his disfigurements brought him shame.105901:11:07.800 --> 01:11:12.039
Now he wore these scars with honor, deeming his outer106001:11:12.159 --> 01:11:17.680
grotesqueness more valuable than his business card. A man no106101:11:17.760 --> 01:11:22.319
one truly wanted to see, yet one not so easily forgotten.106201:11:23.039 --> 01:11:26.560
If he caused anyone nightmares along his journey through life,106301:11:27.359 --> 01:11:31.079
he lost no sleep over it. Harried to the point106401:11:31.119 --> 01:11:34.560
of distraction by their children, the two adults in the106501:11:34.600 --> 01:11:38.159
corner booth remained oblivious to the fact that half their106601:11:38.239 --> 01:11:42.199
current troubles were caused by the antics of the youthful poltergeist.106701:11:42.600 --> 01:11:46.880
Hovering above their table, a spilled glass of milk, the106801:11:46.960 --> 01:11:49.760
forks fallen to the floor, the plate of French fries106901:11:49.800 --> 01:11:52.720
toppled onto the youngest girl's lap. Had nothing to do107001:11:52.800 --> 01:11:56.960
with the carelessness of rambunctious children, and at this moment107101:11:57.479 --> 01:12:01.119
the ghost was ever so slowly unscrewing the cap on107201:12:01.239 --> 01:12:05.640
the salt shaker. Lucian savored the final bite of his107301:12:05.800 --> 01:12:09.760
lemon chicken, then dabbed his napkin over the thin lips107401:12:09.840 --> 01:12:13.800
below the cartoliginous remnants of his nose. He rose to107501:12:13.840 --> 01:12:16.560
his feet and placed enough cash on his meal check107601:12:16.720 --> 01:12:19.319
to cover his lunch, as well as a generous tip.107701:12:20.159 --> 01:12:23.800
In response to his appearance, the server had neither bulked107801:12:23.840 --> 01:12:28.279
nor over compensated. Shrugging on his wool jacket, he took107901:12:28.359 --> 01:12:31.600
pity on the beleaguered parents in their challenge to maintain108001:12:31.640 --> 01:12:35.720
a sense of decorum amid the chaos, especially as the108101:12:35.800 --> 01:12:38.600
children's father had just ruined his own meal with a108201:12:38.640 --> 01:12:43.800
full shaker of salt spilled upon it. The poltergeist above108301:12:43.880 --> 01:12:49.960
the table glowed in rapid pulses of jade green. Leaving108401:12:50.000 --> 01:12:54.199
his table, Lucian limped directly to the booth the family occupied.108501:12:55.039 --> 01:12:58.680
Everyone at the table fell transfixed, as if they'd all108601:12:58.920 --> 01:13:02.279
just been caught with their hands in the till Lucian108701:13:02.359 --> 01:13:07.000
greeted them with a courteous bow, good afternoon. He raised108801:13:07.000 --> 01:13:12.239
his one good eye to acknowledge the ghost hovering above. Bemusedly.108901:13:12.359 --> 01:13:15.840
The ghost cocked an eyebrow, then darted to the left109001:13:15.880 --> 01:13:20.199
side of the table, taking refuge behind a potted imitation philodendron.109101:13:21.000 --> 01:13:25.640
Lucian straightened his gaunt frame and withdrew a business card109201:13:25.680 --> 01:13:29.399
from his inner jacket pocket. Allow me to introduce myself.109301:13:29.960 --> 01:13:33.720
I am Lucian, Greyshire, and I have a business proposal,109401:13:33.720 --> 01:13:37.279
if you'd be interested. He handed his card to the father,109501:13:37.920 --> 01:13:40.760
then glanced over at the ghost, who peeked through the109601:13:40.840 --> 01:13:44.359
kelly green leaves, giving the young shade a polite nod.109701:13:45.439 --> 01:13:48.600
The man at the table seemed hesitant to accept the card,109801:13:49.199 --> 01:13:52.319
but once he took it into his possession, he scanned109901:13:52.359 --> 01:13:55.960
it out loud. Let the dead bring your party to life.110001:13:56.600 --> 01:14:02.439
Grayshire Incorporated Unique Halloween Entered Attainment Services. He looked up110101:14:02.439 --> 01:14:07.760
at Lucian with knitted brows. What's this about. I'm in110201:14:07.800 --> 01:14:11.720
need of an assistant events coordinator. Lucian glanced back over110301:14:11.800 --> 01:14:14.840
at the ghost. If you're interested, meet me in the110401:14:14.880 --> 01:14:17.920
park across the street within the hour. He kept his110501:14:18.000 --> 01:14:21.720
one eyed gaze on the ghost. I already have a job.110601:14:22.079 --> 01:14:24.439
The man at the table tried to hand the business110701:14:24.479 --> 01:14:27.960
card back, but Lucian stepped away from the table and110801:14:28.119 --> 01:14:32.159
gave another slight bow. I'll be waiting, should you be interested.110901:14:32.880 --> 01:14:36.840
His papery lips smiled at the ghost before he turned111001:14:37.199 --> 01:14:42.399
and departed the restaurant. A somber sky loomed above gray111101:14:42.479 --> 01:14:47.279
with pewter clouds. Billowing like dust. Lucian breathed deeply of111201:14:47.359 --> 01:14:51.439
the air, still wet from last night's tempest and laced111301:14:51.479 --> 01:14:56.399
with faint hints of pine, damp, bark, and blight. Dying111401:14:56.479 --> 01:14:59.760
boughs and limbs, ripped from their hosts and tossed hap111501:14:59.760 --> 01:15:03.880
hat dezardly by the uncarrying gale littered the park's greensward.111601:15:04.520 --> 01:15:08.840
Lucian blessed the previous night's storm. The howling winds had111701:15:08.880 --> 01:15:15.399
covered every muffled scream. The man's name had been Daniel.111801:15:16.000 --> 01:15:20.600
He was sixty seven years old, and now he was dead.111901:15:21.359 --> 01:15:27.600
October leaves in persimmon amber and blood crunched beneath Lucian's feet,112001:15:27.800 --> 01:15:33.000
while crisp, lake eerie air nipped at his exposed, disfigured flesh.112101:15:33.680 --> 01:15:37.600
He settled onto a park bench, his muscles aching strained112201:15:37.600 --> 01:15:41.880
from last night's activities. Out of his jacket pocket, he112301:15:41.960 --> 01:15:46.399
removed a well used paperback copy of Peter Nichols A112401:15:46.520 --> 01:15:50.479
Day in the Death of Joe Egg. He'd barely read112501:15:50.560 --> 01:15:56.479
three pages when an adolescent apparition tentatively drifted near. Lucian112601:15:56.560 --> 01:15:59.760
looked up from his book, though little more than a112701:15:59.760 --> 01:16:04.199
train loocent shadow The ghost featured a clinging, wet T shirt,112801:16:04.680 --> 01:16:08.600
dark jeans, and high top athletic shoes. He looked to112901:16:08.640 --> 01:16:11.520
have been maybe fifteen or sixteen at the time of113001:16:11.600 --> 01:16:16.079
his death, his dark, damp ribbons of hair plastered against113101:16:16.079 --> 01:16:20.239
his skull. Last night's events flickered through Lucian's mind in113201:16:20.359 --> 01:16:24.279
high speed clips. Cold waters whipped to a frenzy by113301:16:24.520 --> 01:16:29.000
boisterous wind, Daniel's hand clawing at Lucian's own as he113401:16:29.079 --> 01:16:33.560
gurgled within the spume, The young shades scooted swiftly to113501:16:33.640 --> 01:16:37.720
the left with a steady gaze. Lucian's good eye trailed113601:16:37.760 --> 01:16:41.680
the movement. The shade darted back to the right, Still113701:16:41.760 --> 01:16:47.039
fixed beneath Lucian's magnetic stare, the ghost took a minor113801:16:47.079 --> 01:16:53.600
step closer. You can really say, may Lucian closed his book? Indeed,113901:16:55.319 --> 01:16:59.279
was this job offer really for me? Or for him?114001:16:59.680 --> 01:17:02.239
The goat jerked his head in the direction of the114101:17:02.279 --> 01:17:06.800
restaurant across the street. For you, of course, I thought114201:17:06.840 --> 01:17:10.479
I'd made that pretty clear. You was a bit fuzzy, mate.114301:17:11.399 --> 01:17:14.000
I believe it would have been awkward to speak to114401:17:14.039 --> 01:17:16.920
you directly when it's only I who am aware of114501:17:16.960 --> 01:17:20.279
your presence. I'm not certain why you're trying to pull114601:17:20.279 --> 01:17:23.560
off a phony accent. I happen to know you're an American.114701:17:24.199 --> 01:17:28.399
The ghost took a step back, crossing his arms. And114801:17:28.439 --> 01:17:32.720
what makes you so smart? Huh, Lucian winked his sighted eye.114901:17:34.159 --> 01:17:38.439
I know many things. It's what I do. The ghost115001:17:38.640 --> 01:17:41.960
jutted his chin forward. But I guess you don't know115101:17:42.119 --> 01:17:46.920
my mum's Canadian. Lucian flipped his jacket collar up to115201:17:47.000 --> 01:17:50.359
keep the lake chilled air off his neck. Point taken.115301:17:50.680 --> 01:17:54.319
But that's neither here nor there. The important thing is115401:17:54.359 --> 01:17:57.760
that you've come. You may call me Lucian, and what115501:17:57.920 --> 01:18:02.119
may I call you? Anything you like? I suppose in115601:18:02.159 --> 01:18:05.760
another life I believe they called me Patrick, but can't115701:18:05.800 --> 01:18:08.439
recall the last time I heard the name. Could just115801:18:08.479 --> 01:18:11.239
be a name I like. I don't know. There's not115901:18:11.359 --> 01:18:15.159
much about life I can remember. He relaxed, looking Lucian116001:18:15.239 --> 01:18:18.359
directly in the eye. It's kind of like a shattered116101:18:18.399 --> 01:18:22.079
mirror life, I mean, my life, and I'm afraid if116201:18:22.119 --> 01:18:24.640
I try to put the pieces back together, I might116301:18:24.680 --> 01:18:27.560
not like what I see. Other than looking like a116401:18:27.640 --> 01:18:31.600
drowned rat, You're not a bad looking fellow. The ghost116501:18:31.720 --> 01:18:35.439
faded slightly. It's not about my looks. I'm invisible unlike you,116601:18:36.039 --> 01:18:40.680
meaning no offense. But dude, really, Lucian shook his head.116701:18:41.279 --> 01:18:44.119
No offense taken, and there's no need to pick up116801:18:44.119 --> 01:18:47.359
the pieces. It could do you no good. Now, he116901:18:47.479 --> 01:18:51.560
swiftly caught a wayward breeze blown newspaper page beneath his foot,117001:18:51.920 --> 01:18:55.720
anchoring it to the ground. Patrick, it is then the117101:18:55.800 --> 01:18:59.960
name suits you, so tell me Patrick, would you like117201:19:00.199 --> 01:19:04.760
the job? Patrick settled onto the seat beside him. What's117301:19:04.760 --> 01:19:07.000
in it for me? I'm free to come and go117401:19:07.039 --> 01:19:09.960
as I please and don't have to answer to anyone.117501:19:10.159 --> 01:19:14.560
I dare say. You're rather bored and lonely, Lucian thought,117601:19:15.000 --> 01:19:18.640
a feeling he knew too well, being little more than117701:19:18.640 --> 01:19:22.119
a living wraith himself. But what a pitiful way to117801:19:22.159 --> 01:19:27.279
spend eternity tormenting children in a restaurant and an Applebee's117901:19:27.279 --> 01:19:30.840
no less Ah, that's where you're wrong, mate, I've no118001:19:31.000 --> 01:19:33.840
ties to the restaurant, and I wasn't tormenting the children.118101:19:34.239 --> 01:19:38.199
I was tormenting the parents. You hold a grudge against parents,118201:19:38.239 --> 01:19:41.000
do you? It would seem that way now, wouldn't it,118301:19:41.520 --> 01:19:44.359
but I can't say for share. Could just be something118401:19:44.359 --> 01:19:46.920
I do for kicks, you know, probably one of those118501:19:47.359 --> 01:19:52.159
broken pieces. Patrick leaned forward, elbows on his knees. So118601:19:52.600 --> 01:19:55.720
how come you can see me and hear me when118701:19:55.760 --> 01:19:59.239
no one else can. The crackle of flames and the118801:19:59.279 --> 01:20:04.479
smell of charle wood inundated Lucian's memory, smoke billowing beneath118901:20:04.520 --> 01:20:07.840
the locked bedroom door. On the other side, his father119001:20:08.000 --> 01:20:14.760
shouts heavy footfalls, leaving help me, Daddy. Lucian's frantic cries,119101:20:15.319 --> 01:20:19.920
eyes burning throat, constricting, hot smoke wrapping him in a shroud.119201:20:20.960 --> 01:20:24.800
I was dead once myself, he admitted, glancing over at119301:20:24.840 --> 01:20:29.640
the ghost beside him. A fireman resuscitated me. He had119401:20:29.680 --> 01:20:32.560
been brought back to life. His mother and brother had119501:20:32.600 --> 01:20:35.800
been more fortunate, not having to live the ordeal over119601:20:36.359 --> 01:20:41.520
and over and over again. The nightmares had long ago disappeared,119701:20:41.560 --> 01:20:46.560
making way for vivid, waking memories. Patrick straightened in his seat.119801:20:47.399 --> 01:20:50.720
That's how you got all them scars. Eh, that's rough, man,119901:20:51.199 --> 01:20:54.119
But that don't explain much. Other folks have been resuscitated,120001:20:54.640 --> 01:20:58.039
but no one's ever seen me before. So why you?120101:20:59.039 --> 01:21:01.880
For nearly a year during my recovery. I remained in120201:21:01.920 --> 01:21:05.039
a state of flux, or half life, if you will.120301:21:06.039 --> 01:21:09.159
Forced against his will into a world of forgotten shadows,120401:21:09.239 --> 01:21:12.760
Lucian continued to keep one foot in reality and the120501:21:12.800 --> 01:21:15.800
other foot in the grave. A part of me still120601:21:15.880 --> 01:21:19.199
dwells in the realm of lost souls. Some people might120701:21:19.239 --> 01:21:22.319
consider that a curse, but I view it as a120801:21:22.399 --> 01:21:25.800
unique gift, for I am in a position to offer120901:21:25.880 --> 01:21:31.800
those in limbo some comfort. Limbo sucks, especially if you're invisible.121001:21:32.399 --> 01:21:36.479
Patrick's voice broke upon his words. It was impossible to121101:21:36.479 --> 01:21:39.800
give the boy a hug. Lucian had to rely on speech.121201:21:40.479 --> 01:21:43.279
That's why you feel compelled to cause chaos. It's the121301:21:43.319 --> 01:21:48.600
only way you can validate your dismal existence. Patrick leaned back,121401:21:48.880 --> 01:21:52.279
clasped his hands, and twiddled his thumbs, staring up at121501:21:52.319 --> 01:21:56.680
the steely, cloud studded sky. A pair of starlings roosted,121601:21:57.039 --> 01:22:01.199
chattering quietly in the bare tree tops above. Patrick shot121701:22:01.279 --> 01:22:04.199
up like a rocket and thumped the branch, startling the121801:22:04.199 --> 01:22:07.960
birds into flight. As Patrick settled back onto the bench121901:22:08.039 --> 01:22:11.319
beside him, Lucian stowed his book away in his pocket.122001:22:12.439 --> 01:22:15.560
What I'm offering you, Patrick, is a chance to do122101:22:15.600 --> 01:22:18.960
something productive with your existence. I could use a man122201:22:19.000 --> 01:22:22.600
of your talents. I have no talent, but you do.122301:22:23.720 --> 01:22:27.319
Very few spirits have the ability to move objects. I122401:22:27.359 --> 01:22:29.319
can only do it if they're not too heavy. I122501:22:29.359 --> 01:22:32.279
can't budge anything over a couple of pounds. And I122601:22:32.319 --> 01:22:35.560
don't know why you'd want a limbo ghost anyway, where122701:22:35.600 --> 01:22:40.279
a pathetic bunch nowhere to go, nothing to do, bored122801:22:40.399 --> 01:22:44.279
like you said, and boring to boot. I can do122901:22:44.399 --> 01:22:47.399
nothing about whatever is holding you here, but I can123001:22:47.560 --> 01:22:50.680
offer you a sense of purpose. After tomorrow, I'll be123101:22:50.760 --> 01:22:54.600
moving on. This is an opportunity you may never come123201:22:54.640 --> 01:22:59.000
across again. Patrick kicked at the leaves below his feet,123301:22:59.039 --> 01:23:03.880
swirling them a colorful dance upon the sidewalk, doing what exactly?123401:23:05.000 --> 01:23:09.319
Helping me and my endeavors, that's all? What kind of endeavors?123501:23:09.920 --> 01:23:14.399
What do you do besides no? Many things? Well? For one,123601:23:15.039 --> 01:23:19.000
I throw parties, huge Halloween parties for the filthy rich,123701:23:19.319 --> 01:23:24.199
excruciating extravaganzas. Really, but I always deliver on my client's123801:23:24.239 --> 01:23:29.640
contracts and they're willing to pay me quite well. Parties, huh,123901:23:29.760 --> 01:23:32.159
I think there's more to it than that, you said.124001:23:32.239 --> 01:23:37.800
For one, so what's for two? Talented and attentive? Even better,124101:23:37.960 --> 01:23:41.439
Lucian thought, allowing his good eye to wander the immediate124201:23:41.520 --> 01:23:45.199
vicinity for a moment. The threat of more stormy weather124301:23:45.359 --> 01:23:49.600
kept the park relatively deserted. Ensured there was no one nearby,124401:23:50.039 --> 01:23:56.880
he quietly confided, for two, I kill people. Patrick sprang124501:23:56.960 --> 01:24:00.000
from the bench. Hold a minute, He raised his hand124601:23:59.840 --> 01:24:03.720
and stop action and took a step back. Tormenting folks124701:24:03.760 --> 01:24:08.159
is one thing, but I want no part in killing innocence. Unapologetically,124801:24:08.279 --> 01:24:12.319
Lucian stared up at him. Only children are innocent. The124901:24:12.359 --> 01:24:15.239
rest of us are all guilty of something. Think of125001:24:15.279 --> 01:24:18.840
me as an extension of justice. Are you like some125101:24:19.039 --> 01:24:22.119
kind of hit man? Or do people only pay you125201:24:22.199 --> 01:24:27.479
for parties? Lucian hesitated momentarily. I do get paid for125301:24:27.520 --> 01:24:31.239
hosting parties quite well, in fact, Yet there are some125401:24:31.439 --> 01:24:34.960
clients who request an extra dash of pepper on their salad.125501:24:35.319 --> 01:24:39.439
So to speak. Patrick paced the concrete, stirring the leaves125601:24:39.479 --> 01:24:43.600
beneath his feet, back into action. I dunno, mite, I125701:24:43.680 --> 01:24:45.920
start doing real harm to folks. The next thing you know,125801:24:45.960 --> 01:24:50.199
I'm yanked straight into hell. Lucian folded his gnarled hands125901:24:50.520 --> 01:24:54.880
his sightless eye gleaming dully in the muted daylight. I126001:24:54.920 --> 01:24:58.760
would never ask you to harm anyone. That pleasure is126101:24:58.800 --> 01:25:02.840
reserved for me and me alone. I simply need help126201:25:02.840 --> 01:25:07.239
in orchestrating my events, hence the job title of assistant126301:25:07.439 --> 01:25:13.640
events coordinator. Your soul and conscience remain unsullied. A young126401:25:13.720 --> 01:25:17.640
couple holding hands strolled by, giving Lucian a wide berth.126501:25:18.119 --> 01:25:21.199
They passed through Patrick, causing him to fade in and out.126601:25:22.000 --> 01:25:26.920
He stopped pacing and lunged towards Lucian. Ripping the newspaper126701:25:26.960 --> 01:25:29.760
page from beneath his foot, he swatted the couple with126801:25:29.800 --> 01:25:31.680
it on the back of their heads before setting the126901:25:31.720 --> 01:25:36.000
page free in the breeze. His bone colored face distorted127001:25:36.039 --> 01:25:41.199
by deep thought, he swept back to Lucian's side. I'm127101:25:41.239 --> 01:25:43.159
still not sure this is something I should be taking127201:25:43.199 --> 01:25:45.920
pot in, if you know what I mean, he muttered,127301:25:46.399 --> 01:25:50.960
the killing pot. I understand your concerns, Patrick, yet you127401:25:51.039 --> 01:25:54.079
seem to enjoy tormenting the living, and that's all I127501:25:54.119 --> 01:25:58.079
would ever expect you to do during the party. Would127601:25:58.079 --> 01:26:00.920
you be willing to give it a trial? I have127701:26:00.960 --> 01:26:04.720
an event scheduled tomorrow night at Gates Hotel a party127801:26:04.760 --> 01:26:07.600
at the Gates, Patrick snorted and took a step back.127901:26:08.039 --> 01:26:11.279
While that should be a hoot. Those two snobby sisters128001:26:11.319 --> 01:26:14.720
there don't much care for company, dead or alive, carrying128101:26:14.760 --> 01:26:18.680
on like the world belongs to only them. That's odd,128201:26:19.119 --> 01:26:23.319
Lucian said. I found them to be rather charming. It128301:26:23.399 --> 01:26:26.520
had been those sisters who'd led him to Patrick, who128401:26:26.640 --> 01:26:29.840
told him of the boy's talent and revealed the details128501:26:30.199 --> 01:26:33.840
of his untimely death. And since the hotel is slated128601:26:33.840 --> 01:26:37.640
to be raised before Christmas, Jasmine and Ruby have graciously128701:26:37.680 --> 01:26:41.239
agreed to help me host this year's event. One last128801:26:41.319 --> 01:26:45.279
hurrah for them. So to speak with them, two, you've128901:26:45.319 --> 01:26:47.800
already got the best. What do you need me for,129001:26:48.520 --> 01:26:52.600
Lucian spoke with a smile. The sisters may be capable129101:26:52.640 --> 01:26:57.039
of vivid manifestation and bone chilling audio, but they cannot129201:26:57.119 --> 01:27:01.039
move things. The party guests will be expecting a magnificent129301:27:01.199 --> 01:27:04.520
haunted experience. I prefer to give them a night to129401:27:04.640 --> 01:27:09.840
truly remember. A green aura glowed from within, and Patrick smiled.129501:27:11.079 --> 01:27:14.640
Most of these people at parents right, I would assume so,129601:27:15.640 --> 01:27:17.399
And I don't have to take part in no killing129701:27:18.119 --> 01:27:22.720
Lucian nodded, rest assured that contract has already been completed.129801:27:23.720 --> 01:27:27.560
A small white lie. Sometimes a party was simply a129901:27:27.560 --> 01:27:33.399
party and a target, a deliciously convenient coincidence. Patrick gusted130001:27:33.399 --> 01:27:36.560
across the sidewalk, knocking the hat off the woman pushing130101:27:36.600 --> 01:27:40.960
a baby carriage, then sidled back to Lucian's side. Can130201:27:41.000 --> 01:27:44.560
I ask who it was? No, you may not not130301:27:44.720 --> 01:27:48.760
even a clue. Lucian ran a ragged finger across the130401:27:48.800 --> 01:27:52.439
thinly stretched skin of his missing lips, as if zipping130501:27:52.479 --> 01:27:55.760
them shut. There was no need to tell the lad130601:27:56.279 --> 01:27:59.520
it had been his father. Lucian's own father may have130701:27:59.560 --> 01:28:03.239
been a successful but Patrick's had seen the deed through.130801:28:03.960 --> 01:28:06.760
For thirty years, Patrick has wandered in the realm of130901:28:06.840 --> 01:28:11.079
lost souls, and last night, the father, like the son,131001:28:11.359 --> 01:28:16.079
unwillingly surrendered his life within the cold, dark waters of131101:28:16.199 --> 01:28:20.720
Lake Erie. He wondered, had Patrick fought as hard to131201:28:20.760 --> 01:28:25.920
survive as Daniel had. Lucian rose from the bench, stick131301:28:25.960 --> 01:28:28.800
with me, Patrick, and I promise you will never be131401:28:28.880 --> 01:28:32.760
forced to carry the burdens of my sin. Now shall131501:28:32.800 --> 01:28:36.760
we go. There's a pair of fine nineteenth century sisters.131601:28:37.159 --> 01:28:40.600
I'd like you to meet Lucian limped down the walkway,131701:28:41.119 --> 01:28:49.800
the leaves beside him swirling in a kaleidoscopic dance. Suffer131801:28:50.119 --> 01:28:56.119
the little children by Dennis Free. You're not goddamn going,131901:28:56.520 --> 01:28:59.920
Anthony said, trying his father's favorite epithep on for sign.132001:29:00.680 --> 01:29:03.800
He was only twelve, but thanks to Jacob Anderson, he132101:29:03.840 --> 01:29:07.520
had quite a colorful vocabulary for his age. He surveyed132201:29:07.520 --> 01:29:09.960
his little brother's face and saw no sign of shock132301:29:10.000 --> 01:29:13.439
at the use of the GD word, but only a solemn,132401:29:13.720 --> 01:29:17.479
pouting lower lip. Greg was eleven, and even though both132501:29:17.520 --> 01:29:20.319
went to middle school, there was an unspoken but well132601:29:20.359 --> 01:29:24.039
defined higherchy. Anthony hung out with kids from his class132701:29:24.039 --> 01:29:27.239
who were mostly twelve and thirteen, and despite being only132801:29:27.279 --> 01:29:30.359
a year and nineteen days older than Greg, he knew132901:29:30.439 --> 01:29:33.640
his little brother would be categorized as a baby big133001:29:33.760 --> 01:29:38.159
kid by his friend James. Come on, Tony, Greg whined,133101:29:38.399 --> 01:29:41.039
all my friends are gone for Thanksgiving break, let me133201:29:41.119 --> 01:29:45.520
hang out with you guys. Can't do it. Sprat, I'll133301:29:45.520 --> 01:29:48.039
tell mom you and your friends were playing at the quarry,133401:29:48.439 --> 01:29:52.720
Greg exclaimed. Tony was momentarily worried by this threat, but133501:29:53.000 --> 01:29:55.479
let it slide. He knew Greg would be upset he133601:29:55.479 --> 01:29:58.640
couldn't go, but he'd never endanger his own well being133701:29:58.920 --> 01:30:02.159
by telling their mother's something that would surely land Anthony133801:30:02.199 --> 01:30:04.880
in his room with no Xbox one and the cable133901:30:04.960 --> 01:30:09.600
disconnected for no less than two weeks. Do that, and134001:30:09.640 --> 01:30:12.000
you'll never get to hang out with us, Anthony said,134101:30:12.600 --> 01:30:16.600
what am I supposed to do? Tony? Stop whining for starters.134201:30:17.279 --> 01:30:20.279
He said it much more harshly than he intended. Greg134301:30:20.399 --> 01:30:23.279
cast his eyes down at his feet, and Anthony sighed.134401:30:23.800 --> 01:30:27.079
He put his arm around Greg after checking around the134501:30:27.079 --> 01:30:30.079
street to make sure nobody was watching, and tried to134601:30:30.119 --> 01:30:32.960
comfort his brother. If you get hurt playing at the134701:30:33.039 --> 01:30:36.840
quarry with us, mom would shit a bird. Greg giggled134801:30:36.840 --> 01:30:39.600
at this, like Anthony knew he would. The mental image134901:30:39.600 --> 01:30:42.439
of their mother's shitting feathers tickled Greg, and the first135001:30:42.439 --> 01:30:45.800
time Anthony had said it, his little brother had nearly died. Laughing.135101:30:47.079 --> 01:30:50.159
I guess I'll just play Xbox. You better be home135201:30:50.199 --> 01:30:52.239
by five, though, Mom and Dad will be asking where135301:30:52.279 --> 01:30:54.359
you are, and I hate pretending like I don't know,135401:30:54.960 --> 01:31:00.520
Greg said, promise. Anthony raised a three finger scout salute. Look,135501:31:00.960 --> 01:31:03.279
I'll talk to James and the guys and see if135601:31:03.319 --> 01:31:05.079
I can't get them to let you come with us135701:31:05.119 --> 01:31:10.079
next time. Okay, Greg smiled and nodded. Anthony would probably135801:31:10.119 --> 01:31:12.199
mention it to the guys, but he knew he wouldn't135901:31:12.199 --> 01:31:14.039
put up much of a fight if they said no.136001:31:14.680 --> 01:31:17.479
Anthony wasn't a mean brother by any means, but he136101:31:17.600 --> 01:31:20.800
was a follower by nature. Greg knew this, even if136201:31:20.840 --> 01:31:24.159
he didn't know exactly how to articulate it. He watched136301:31:24.159 --> 01:31:27.000
as Anthony mounted his big red mongoose and took off136401:31:27.039 --> 01:31:29.760
down the street to meet the rest of the James Gang,136501:31:29.880 --> 01:31:32.760
as they called themselves. Once his brother was out of sight,136601:31:33.039 --> 01:31:35.600
Greg sighed and went inside to get a soda and136701:31:35.680 --> 01:31:39.720
retired to his room to play Xbox. Greg sat on136801:31:39.800 --> 01:31:42.319
the floor by his bed, surrounded by a plethora of136901:31:42.319 --> 01:31:45.680
empty soda cans and candy wrappers. Had his mother walked137001:31:45.680 --> 01:31:48.159
in at that exact moment, she would have shit a137101:31:48.159 --> 01:31:51.399
bird at the site. He turned off his console and137201:31:51.439 --> 01:31:54.880
began to stuff the rappers into his already overflowing wastebasket.137301:31:55.319 --> 01:31:57.279
He took the cans downstairs and put them in the137401:31:57.359 --> 01:32:00.159
recycling and plopped down onto one of the barstools in137501:32:00.159 --> 01:32:03.359
the kitchen. It was only eleven thirty and Greg had137601:32:03.359 --> 01:32:07.039
already exhausted his patients at the new Madden game. It's137701:32:07.079 --> 01:32:09.560
going to be exactly the same as the last three,137801:32:09.720 --> 01:32:12.760
Anthony had said one day when Greg had excitedly described137901:32:12.800 --> 01:32:15.520
the commercial to him as usual. His brother had been138001:32:15.560 --> 01:32:19.720
correct in his assumption. Great graphics aside the Xbox wasn't138101:32:19.800 --> 01:32:22.600
keeping Greg's attention, and he started to think about what138201:32:22.640 --> 01:32:25.439
Anthony and his friends could be doing down at the quarry.138301:32:25.720 --> 01:32:28.439
Anthony was only a year older than he was, and138401:32:28.520 --> 01:32:30.840
Greg couldn't imagine that he and his friends were doing138501:32:30.920 --> 01:32:35.760
anything that he himself couldn't do. Fuck it, Greg muttered138601:32:35.800 --> 01:32:39.000
under his breath. His cheeks flushed hot at the vocalization138701:32:39.079 --> 01:32:42.600
of what his mother called the really bad word, and138801:32:42.680 --> 01:32:45.159
he went into the garage to grab his bike. He138901:32:45.199 --> 01:32:47.479
would ride down to the quarry and see just what139001:32:47.600 --> 01:32:50.159
his brother's friends were up to. He would go what139101:32:50.199 --> 01:32:54.640
his father called incognito and watch from afar. At first,139201:32:55.119 --> 01:32:57.359
he grabbed the backpack his parents had bought him for139301:32:57.399 --> 01:33:00.359
hiking trips and put on his khakis, which clouds with139401:33:00.399 --> 01:33:03.520
the black athletic shorts and the orange basketball jersey. But139501:33:04.159 --> 01:33:07.359
he wasn't out to win any fashion contests. He pulled139601:33:07.359 --> 01:33:09.600
his curly locks back out of his face and put139701:33:09.600 --> 01:33:12.439
them into a ponytail. He had had long hair since139801:33:12.479 --> 01:33:14.319
he was a baby, and with the exception of a139901:33:14.359 --> 01:33:17.720
handful of trims, he'd always worn his hair long. The140001:33:17.760 --> 01:33:20.399
older he got, the less serious the teasing about his140101:33:20.479 --> 01:33:23.680
hair got, and now he even received a few compliments,140201:33:24.159 --> 01:33:28.439
mostly from girls. Greg mounted his blue Huffy and started140301:33:28.439 --> 01:33:31.199
off down the street. He rode down Alberta Street and140401:33:31.199 --> 01:33:33.960
took a detour between a pair of houses on Jackson.140501:33:34.359 --> 01:33:36.760
The trip itself only took about ten minutes, but it140601:33:36.800 --> 01:33:40.479
felt like forever to Greg, whose mind wouldn't stop speculating140701:33:40.520 --> 01:33:43.279
as to what he'd see when he got there. He140801:33:43.399 --> 01:33:46.439
wondered if James Gang would be doing dangerous stunts on140901:33:46.479 --> 01:33:49.640
their bikes, or perhaps they were wrestling by the scummy141001:33:49.680 --> 01:33:51.880
pond that was in the pit left over from the141101:33:51.960 --> 01:33:55.680
rainy weather they'd had. They may be hanging out with girls,141201:33:55.880 --> 01:34:00.119
he thought. This brought a fresh flush to his cheek.141301:34:00.399 --> 01:34:03.159
He was eleven and his girls are icky. Stage had141401:34:03.199 --> 01:34:05.840
been over for almost a year, but he still wasn't141501:34:05.880 --> 01:34:09.039
sure about the fairer sex He had a basic grasp141601:34:09.079 --> 01:34:11.680
on what boys and girls did together when they were older,141701:34:12.079 --> 01:34:14.399
but the thought of it still caused a weird mix141801:34:14.399 --> 01:34:17.640
of emotions he wasn't able to understand. He felt his141901:34:17.720 --> 01:34:20.720
pants begin to tighten in the crotch and forced himself142001:34:20.720 --> 01:34:23.760
to think of something else. The last thing he needed142101:34:23.920 --> 01:34:25.920
was to run into his brother and his friends with142201:34:26.000 --> 01:34:28.960
a raging heart on He would live that down, not142301:34:29.039 --> 01:34:32.199
in this lifetime the next one either, for that matter.142401:34:32.920 --> 01:34:35.199
Gregg dropped his foot down and drug it through the142501:34:35.239 --> 01:34:38.399
gravel as he decelerated. He approached the edge of the142601:34:38.479 --> 01:34:42.239
quarry warily. He saw Anthony's bike parked by some bushes142701:34:42.279 --> 01:34:45.039
among four others, and left his own a few feet away.142801:34:45.600 --> 01:34:48.960
He adjusted his backpack and crouch walked down the narrow142901:34:49.000 --> 01:34:52.399
path beaten down by adolescent foot traffic, and made his143001:34:52.439 --> 01:34:54.960
way to the edge of the pit. He looked down143101:34:55.000 --> 01:34:57.159
and saw the five boys who made up the James143201:34:57.199 --> 01:34:59.840
Gang laid out on the rocks by the water that143301:35:00.199 --> 01:35:03.720
pooled down there. He didn't see any girls, but he143401:35:03.800 --> 01:35:06.960
did see that two of them were smoking cigarettes. He143501:35:07.039 --> 01:35:09.479
did a double take when he realized that his brother143601:35:10.039 --> 01:35:13.560
was one of the ones smoking a cigarette. Hung lackadaisically143701:35:13.680 --> 01:35:16.279
from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes squinted143801:35:16.319 --> 01:35:19.319
against the smoke as he skipped rocks across the surface143901:35:19.359 --> 01:35:23.600
of the water. Mom would shit a bird, he grinned144001:35:23.640 --> 01:35:26.600
maniacally at this. Two of the kids looked like they144101:35:26.640 --> 01:35:29.520
were playing a board game Checkers, it looked like, and144201:35:29.640 --> 01:35:32.960
James and another boy that Greg didn't recognize were talking144301:35:33.000 --> 01:35:38.359
next to Anthony. Not talking, Greg thought, arguing. A little144401:35:38.359 --> 01:35:40.960
shoving match broke out between James and the other boy,144501:35:41.000 --> 01:35:43.279
and Anthony moved in between them to break it up.144601:35:43.560 --> 01:35:45.520
He took the cigarette out of his mouth and moved144701:35:45.560 --> 01:35:48.600
it nimbly between his fingers. As he did this, Greg144801:35:48.680 --> 01:35:51.159
noted that it probably wasn't the first time his brother144901:35:51.199 --> 01:35:54.800
had smoked. Greg couldn't tell what the boys were arguing about,145001:35:54.880 --> 01:35:57.159
so he decided he was going to try and sneak145101:35:57.199 --> 01:36:00.159
to a pile of broken stones about ten feet away145201:36:00.159 --> 01:36:03.760
from the boys. He once again began to crouch walk,145301:36:03.880 --> 01:36:08.279
but avoided the path. You're a fucking liar, Charles exclaimed.145401:36:08.680 --> 01:36:12.199
James regarded him menacingly, but Anthony held him back to145501:36:12.279 --> 01:36:15.680
avoid a full on fistfight. I am not, my dad145601:36:15.720 --> 01:36:18.600
told me. The story himself. You're calling my dad a liar,145701:36:18.720 --> 01:36:22.920
fat ass, James shouted indignantly. Charles cast his eyes down,145801:36:23.000 --> 01:36:26.439
not wanting to meet james angry gaze. He was thirteen,145901:36:26.479 --> 01:36:28.840
and although the gibe about his weight hurt, he was146001:36:28.880 --> 01:36:31.479
still young enough to believe that everything their parents told146101:36:31.520 --> 01:36:34.359
them was the truth. He was okay with calling James146201:36:34.359 --> 01:36:37.359
a liar, but to call his father, an adult a146301:36:37.439 --> 01:36:43.199
liar was an entirely different animal. Sorry, James, Charles said,146401:36:43.239 --> 01:36:46.439
his face glowing red. James blinked at the sudden shift146501:36:46.479 --> 01:36:50.960
the conversation had taken. Me too. His face softened a bit.146601:36:51.680 --> 01:36:56.640
I'm sorry I called you a fat ass. It's okay. Anthony,146701:36:56.760 --> 01:36:59.800
sensing the drama was over, moved back over by the water.146801:37:00.159 --> 01:37:02.720
He flicked his cigarette into the scummy pond and went146901:37:02.760 --> 01:37:07.079
back to skipping rocks. He told me that back then147001:37:07.199 --> 01:37:09.680
the water was a lot higher, and kids would jump147101:37:09.760 --> 01:37:13.039
off the rocks and into the water, James said. He said,147201:37:13.079 --> 01:37:16.760
after a couple of guys died, they closed the place up.147301:37:17.119 --> 01:37:19.239
Some of the kids that did sneak in said they147401:37:19.279 --> 01:37:24.039
saw ghosts or some shit, if that makes sense. Charles said,147501:37:24.520 --> 01:37:27.800
it's the other part that sounds weird. Maybe it's true, though,147601:37:28.199 --> 01:37:32.000
like a horror movie or something, Anthony added. Dad said,147701:37:32.079 --> 01:37:34.359
some of the kids kept coming down here even after147801:37:34.399 --> 01:37:38.920
they closed it up. They saw things like weird things,147901:37:39.239 --> 01:37:42.680
James said. Anthony nodded, as if this were to be expected.148001:37:43.239 --> 01:37:47.000
The idea of ghosts was not unfathomable for his twelve148101:37:47.039 --> 01:37:51.319
year old mind. If they died suddenly, like broke their148201:37:51.359 --> 01:37:54.479
necks when they dove in or drown or whatever, they148301:37:54.520 --> 01:37:59.079
probably stuck around unfinished business or to try to keep148401:37:59.079 --> 01:38:04.359
other people from Anthony offered. He spoke in a scholarly tone,148501:38:04.399 --> 01:38:06.640
like a professor teaching the ways of the world to148601:38:06.720 --> 01:38:10.439
his pupils. Even Eddie and Tim had stopped playing checkers148701:38:10.479 --> 01:38:14.640
to regard Anthony with intense wide eyes. Anthony looked up148801:38:14.680 --> 01:38:17.239
and saw that all his friends were staring at him. Now.148901:38:17.920 --> 01:38:21.800
He shrugged his shoulders and smiled, that's what I think anyways.149001:38:22.840 --> 01:38:26.520
James nodded in agreement. This minor gesture made Anthony swell149101:38:26.560 --> 01:38:29.560
with pride. Jame was their de facto leader, after all,149201:38:29.560 --> 01:38:33.560
in any praise spoken or not, was bragworthy. Eddie and149301:38:33.600 --> 01:38:37.119
Tim went back to their game, Eddie squinting in concentration.149401:38:38.000 --> 01:38:46.560
Want to all meet back up here tonight? James asked, sure, Hey, James, yeah,149501:38:46.880 --> 01:38:50.199
I was thinking about something. Can my little brother come149601:38:50.239 --> 01:38:52.880
with us? I know he's a little younger, but he149701:38:52.960 --> 01:38:56.399
isn't a spaz or anything. You want to bring your149801:38:56.520 --> 01:39:01.199
little brother, James asked with a chuckle. Well, yeah, I mean,149901:39:01.800 --> 01:39:04.520
if you guys don't mind. He looked over towards the150001:39:04.520 --> 01:39:09.359
other three for confirmation. They shrugged. I guess, James said,150101:39:09.800 --> 01:39:13.119
I'll bring my sister's Ouiji board. Everybody meet me up150201:39:13.199 --> 01:39:16.319
here at nine thirty. I gotta go and make sure150301:39:16.319 --> 01:39:18.880
I don't miss dinner. Our mom will never let us150401:39:18.880 --> 01:39:22.680
out after nine. Well, then don't come, James said. His150501:39:22.800 --> 01:39:26.479
tone was dismissive, but his eyes were sharp and predatory.150601:39:27.560 --> 01:39:31.840
We'll we'll figure it out. Greg's grin was wide and150701:39:31.880 --> 01:39:35.079
toothy as he rode back to the house. Anthony had150801:39:35.079 --> 01:39:37.159
done what he said he would. He stood up and150901:39:37.239 --> 01:39:40.279
asked that Greg be included. He wouldn't let on that151001:39:40.359 --> 01:39:42.640
he had been there, and he knew he'd need to151101:39:42.680 --> 01:39:45.239
act surprised when Anthony asked him if he wanted to151201:39:45.239 --> 01:39:48.680
sneak out with him tonight. In most cases, he would151301:39:48.680 --> 01:39:52.399
never even consider sneaking out after curfew, but he knew151401:39:52.560 --> 01:39:54.760
he'd never get another chance like this one if he151501:39:54.840 --> 01:39:57.920
chickened out. His brother had stuck his neck out. The151601:39:58.039 --> 01:40:01.039
ride back felt a lot faster than to the quarry151701:40:01.319 --> 01:40:04.880
because he felt like he was floating. That night, the151801:40:04.920 --> 01:40:07.880
two of them snuck out of the front door. Anthony151901:40:07.920 --> 01:40:10.960
had been adamant about Greg and himself bringing their keys.152001:40:11.560 --> 01:40:13.920
It wouldn't do to get home, only to find out152101:40:13.960 --> 01:40:16.960
that they had locked themselves out. Greg double checked the152201:40:16.960 --> 01:40:19.680
pocket of his jeans and assured Anthony he was ready.152301:40:19.960 --> 01:40:21.640
The two of them had left their bikes in the152401:40:21.720 --> 01:40:23.920
yard to keep from having to open the garage, and152501:40:23.960 --> 01:40:27.319
pushed them halfway down the street before mounting up. They152601:40:27.359 --> 01:40:30.680
made their way down the various streets cautiously. The street152701:40:30.760 --> 01:40:33.159
lights illuminated the way for most of the trip, but152801:40:33.239 --> 01:40:35.800
the last half mile was on the outskirts where the152901:40:35.880 --> 01:40:40.239
lights were fewer and far between. Anthony narrowly avoided a153001:40:40.239 --> 01:40:43.279
pothole that would have sent him ass over tea kettle153101:40:43.479 --> 01:40:46.119
and ended the night in the emergency room instead of153201:40:46.159 --> 01:40:49.239
the quarry, calling his parents from the er to tell153301:40:49.279 --> 01:40:51.439
them he and Greg had snuck out and landed in153401:40:51.479 --> 01:40:53.640
the hospital would be a surefire way to end up153501:40:53.640 --> 01:40:57.399
in the morgue. Shortly thereafter, they parked their bikes where153601:40:57.399 --> 01:40:59.760
they had stashed them earlier that day, and Greg hit153701:40:59.760 --> 01:41:02.000
the button on the side of his watch to illuminate153801:41:02.039 --> 01:41:04.479
the time. It was a quarter to ten, and the153901:41:04.520 --> 01:41:06.680
two of them moved as quickly as they could without154001:41:06.680 --> 01:41:08.720
falling down the pit where the rest of the James154101:41:08.760 --> 01:41:11.920
gang was waiting. They were sitting in a semicircle with154201:41:11.960 --> 01:41:14.920
candles and the Ouiji boards sitting in the center. After154301:41:15.039 --> 01:41:18.359
perfunctory introductions of the newest member of the gang, Anthony154401:41:18.399 --> 01:41:22.159
and Greg took their place, completing the circle. Are we154501:41:22.239 --> 01:41:26.520
all ready, James asked. Nobody said anything at first, They154601:41:26.560 --> 01:41:31.640
only stared at each other. Ready, Greg said, James acknowledged154701:41:31.720 --> 01:41:34.039
him with a smile, and soon the others followed suit154801:41:34.680 --> 01:41:40.119
Ready James, Charles said ready, Anthony said ready, Eddie and154901:41:40.159 --> 01:41:44.239
Tim said in unison. James nodded again and beckoned them155001:41:44.279 --> 01:41:47.600
to touch the planchet with him, and of course they obliged.155101:41:48.079 --> 01:41:51.000
The second Greg's fingers made contact with the light wood155201:41:51.000 --> 01:41:54.079
of the planchet, he felt an unnatural chill run up155301:41:54.079 --> 01:41:56.880
his spine. His balls started to draw up into his155401:41:56.960 --> 01:41:59.319
body as the first real fear of the night began155501:41:59.399 --> 01:42:02.079
to sink in. Greg had been nervous when they snuck155601:42:02.079 --> 01:42:04.479
out of the house because if they were to get caught,155701:42:04.800 --> 01:42:07.079
his mother would do far more than shit a bird.155801:42:07.399 --> 01:42:10.239
She was bound to shit a flock of them. This155901:42:10.720 --> 01:42:15.319
felt different, somehow, it was more unnatural. Greg surveyed the156001:42:15.319 --> 01:42:18.039
rest of the boys. Their faces were a plethora of156101:42:18.039 --> 01:42:21.319
silhouetted features, and each of them took on the appearance156201:42:21.319 --> 01:42:26.119
of skulls. Even Charles's unusually pudgy face appeared gaunt. In156301:42:26.159 --> 01:42:29.960
the candlelight, the pit's pull of water lay stagnant, and156401:42:30.000 --> 01:42:32.760
the smell of the sludge and algae hung in the air.156501:42:33.279 --> 01:42:36.119
He was vaguely aware that Anthony's breath was coming out156601:42:36.159 --> 01:42:42.520
in hitches and jerks. Are there any spirits here, James asked. Suddenly.156701:42:43.359 --> 01:42:46.600
Greg looked up at him, and even in the low candlelight,156801:42:47.119 --> 01:42:50.880
he could see that he was going pale. Nothing happened156901:42:50.880 --> 01:42:54.640
at first, and everyone, Greg included let out a sigh157001:42:54.680 --> 01:42:58.960
of relief. He hadn't really expected anything to happen, but157101:42:59.039 --> 01:43:02.239
the unknown had terrified Greg. Before he could get far157201:43:02.319 --> 01:43:05.239
into his own inner monologue, the wooden plan chet moved157301:43:05.800 --> 01:43:11.359
slowly to the yes on the board. What in the157401:43:11.600 --> 01:43:15.680
actual fuck, Anthony said. Greg looked over at his brother,157501:43:15.720 --> 01:43:18.560
who was now ghostly white. At a glance, he could157601:43:18.560 --> 01:43:22.640
see that everyone else was two pale, but with a157701:43:22.680 --> 01:43:26.279
creepy smile that had been plastered to his face, and157801:43:26.359 --> 01:43:30.319
his eyes appeared to glaze over. What is your name?157901:43:30.680 --> 01:43:33.159
Greg asked? It was out of his mouth before he158001:43:33.199 --> 01:43:37.319
could stop the compulsion, and Anthony stared at him mouth agape.158101:43:37.359 --> 01:43:40.119
Greg opened his mouth to apologize when the planchet once158201:43:40.159 --> 01:43:42.880
again began to move until it came to rest on158301:43:42.920 --> 01:43:47.479
the letter, and they watched in fascination as the word158401:43:48.079 --> 01:43:51.800
nrgall was spelled out before him. Greg was about to158501:43:51.840 --> 01:43:54.760
ask it another question when it suddenly started to move again,158601:43:55.319 --> 01:44:00.000
this time it spelled out jagon. I guess there's two158701:44:00.000 --> 01:44:03.239
two of them, James said, I'm done. Charles pulled his158801:44:03.279 --> 01:44:05.439
hand back from the planchet and started to get to158901:44:05.439 --> 01:44:09.239
his feet. James looked at him pointedly annoyed and rolled159001:44:09.239 --> 01:44:12.760
his eyes. Don't be such a baby. I'm not being159101:44:12.760 --> 01:44:15.319
a baby. I'm just done with this shit, this is creepy.159201:44:16.000 --> 01:44:19.119
Just sit down. Fuck you, James, I said, I'm fucking159301:44:19.199 --> 01:44:22.880
done with Charles was silenced mid sentence as a shadow159401:44:22.960 --> 01:44:25.760
coming from the pond wrapped itself around his throat. His159501:44:25.840 --> 01:44:28.039
hands flew up to his neck as his air was159601:44:28.079 --> 01:44:30.680
cut off. Greg screamed and jumped back as he saw159701:44:30.720 --> 01:44:33.199
tentacles reaching for him. They appeared to be made up159801:44:33.199 --> 01:44:35.960
of the shadows. Charles's face was turning purple when he159901:44:36.000 --> 01:44:38.560
fell to the ground, still clutching his throat, as the160001:44:38.600 --> 01:44:43.279
shade dragged him back towards the water. Gregg sprung to160101:44:43.319 --> 01:44:45.439
his feet and turned toward his brother, who was already160201:44:45.520 --> 01:44:48.079
up and backing away from the tentacles. Eddie and Tim160301:44:48.079 --> 01:44:50.319
were both fighting against the shadows that had grabbed them160401:44:50.319 --> 01:44:52.520
by their legs, and James was being dragged by his160501:44:52.720 --> 01:44:55.600
arm into the water. His screams were ear piercing at first,160601:44:55.600 --> 01:44:58.039
but were soon cut short into a gurgle as his160701:44:58.119 --> 01:45:01.760
face was pulled under water. Greg would have continued to160801:45:01.760 --> 01:45:04.079
sit and stare at James as a tentacle wrapped itself160901:45:04.079 --> 01:45:06.640
around his leg, had he not felt someone yank him161001:45:06.640 --> 01:45:09.079
by the back of his shirt. His collar tightened around161101:45:09.079 --> 01:45:11.600
his throat as he had a moment of panic. It161201:45:11.720 --> 01:45:14.520
has me, he thought, as he pulled forward towards the161301:45:14.560 --> 01:45:17.880
pool to escape the force pulling him. Anthony spun him161401:45:17.920 --> 01:45:20.840
around and leaned down into his face. His lips were moving,161501:45:20.880 --> 01:45:23.600
but Greg couldn't hear him over the sound of guttural161601:45:23.800 --> 01:45:27.399
inhuman screaming. Terror was taking over. When Anthony brought his161701:45:27.439 --> 01:45:30.680
hand across his face, Greg blinked wildly and tears began161801:45:30.720 --> 01:45:32.880
to well up in the corner of his eyes. Anthony161901:45:32.920 --> 01:45:35.279
had never hit him like that, but suddenly the sound162001:45:35.279 --> 01:45:39.079
coming out of his mouth was audible. Run Greg, Anthony screamed.162101:45:39.359 --> 01:45:41.640
Greg didn't need to be told twice. He took off162201:45:41.680 --> 01:45:44.520
in a sprint past Anthony, who followed closely behind him.162301:45:44.560 --> 01:45:46.960
As they beat up the path toward their bikes. Greg162401:45:47.039 --> 01:45:49.039
was too terrified to look over his shoulder to see162501:45:49.039 --> 01:45:51.279
if they were being followed, and mounted his bike. After162601:45:51.319 --> 01:45:54.159
a running start. He could hear Anthony peddling behind him.162701:45:54.279 --> 01:45:56.079
He felt his heart beating out of his chest as162801:45:56.119 --> 01:45:58.880
he pedaled like a mad bastard trying to beat the devil.162901:45:59.560 --> 01:46:02.079
When he had cleared the first two streets, he snuck163001:46:02.119 --> 01:46:04.199
a glance behind him and saw that Anthony was at163101:46:04.279 --> 01:46:07.319
least fifteen feet back. He slowed a bit and allowed163201:46:07.359 --> 01:46:09.760
him to catch up. As they pulled up to their house,163301:46:09.840 --> 01:46:12.439
Gregg's bike struck the curb and he was thrown from it.163401:46:13.000 --> 01:46:15.800
He landed hard on his shoulder and rolled onto his back.163501:46:16.039 --> 01:46:17.920
Anthony came up next to him and bailed off his163601:46:18.000 --> 01:46:20.399
bike without stopping. He ran to Greg and pulled him163701:46:20.439 --> 01:46:22.920
up into his lap. They were both breathing hard and163801:46:23.000 --> 01:46:26.119
tears were flowing freely. As Greg crawled up his brother's163901:46:26.119 --> 01:46:29.119
body to embrace him. Anthony hugged him back, and soon164001:46:29.399 --> 01:46:32.399
they were both sobbing and screaming into each other's shoulder.164101:46:33.520 --> 01:46:36.880
Thank you so much, Greg said, between sobs. Thank you164201:46:36.920 --> 01:46:41.800
for grabbing me. I love you, Anthony said, it seemed164301:46:41.800 --> 01:46:44.239
to be the only thing he could say. He was164401:46:44.279 --> 01:46:47.319
still saying it when a black tentacle reached out from164501:46:47.359 --> 01:46:51.439
the darkness and wrapped them both into a cold embrace.164601:46:55.960 --> 01:47:01.880
Father's Day by Shane Migliavanca. This section of the path164701:47:02.000 --> 01:47:05.439
scared Matt shitless, not that he'd admit it to anyone,164801:47:05.840 --> 01:47:09.039
especially to Greg and Jenny, his two best friends. Walking164901:47:09.079 --> 01:47:11.760
a little ways in front of him. Last year, there165001:47:11.760 --> 01:47:14.600
had been a stabbing. A few years before that, a165101:47:14.640 --> 01:47:17.600
man's body had been discovered face down in Pierce Creek,165201:47:18.199 --> 01:47:22.000
not that far from here. Matt didn't believe in curses165301:47:22.119 --> 01:47:24.600
or bad luck, but there was a feeling he got165401:47:24.600 --> 01:47:27.840
in his gut whenever he passed through the area. He'd165501:47:27.960 --> 01:47:31.600
rather be at home playing video games today. His parents165601:47:31.640 --> 01:47:34.760
were visiting Matt's grandfather for Father's Day, and he'd have165701:47:34.840 --> 01:47:40.000
the whole house to himself instead, here he was. Matt165801:47:40.000 --> 01:47:44.119
blamed Jenny, specifically her tight blue jeans and nice smile.165901:47:45.119 --> 01:47:47.920
The three of them had been friends for years. Matt166001:47:47.960 --> 01:47:50.439
was fairly certain that Jenny had a thing for Greg,166101:47:50.920 --> 01:47:53.479
but Greg was oblivious to it, but it was only166201:47:53.520 --> 01:47:57.159
a matter of time before he noticed. Matt could feel166301:47:57.159 --> 01:47:59.920
his chance with Jenny slipping away if he didn't speak166401:48:00.119 --> 01:48:03.239
up soon. He winced as the two laughed about the166501:48:03.239 --> 01:48:07.039
same joke. So where the hell are we going, Matt166601:48:07.079 --> 01:48:10.479
blurted out. Gregg looked back over his shoulder. Don't have166701:48:10.520 --> 01:48:14.560
a cow, dude, We're almost there, Jenny laughed, making Matt166801:48:14.640 --> 01:48:17.560
feel a bit annoyed. He kicked a stone off the path,166901:48:17.680 --> 01:48:20.800
watching it shoot off into the grass. The three walked167001:48:20.840 --> 01:48:24.359
in silence for a few minutes until Greg stopped them,167101:48:24.479 --> 01:48:27.560
and here we are, He pointed towards the left side167201:48:27.600 --> 01:48:31.640
of the trail. Matt's gaze followed his friend's gesture. There167301:48:32.119 --> 01:48:35.279
through the trees, the roof of a house could be seen,167401:48:35.920 --> 01:48:40.600
its tiled roof weathered from age and the elements there.167501:48:41.119 --> 01:48:45.880
Jenny asked, yep, Greg said proudly. They followed him off167601:48:45.920 --> 01:48:48.560
the path, pushing through some brush to get to the house.167701:48:49.119 --> 01:48:53.159
As they emerged into the house's overgrown backyard, its ramshackle167801:48:53.239 --> 01:48:58.399
condition became more apparent. What a dump, Jenny observed, We're not,167901:48:58.840 --> 01:49:02.920
Greg cut her off. Sure as shit, we are. Why,168001:49:03.399 --> 01:49:08.119
asked Matt, wishing he'd stayed home because Greg answered, as168101:49:08.119 --> 01:49:10.720
he walked up the steps to the back door, don't168201:49:10.760 --> 01:49:13.600
you want to have some fun instead of jacking off168301:49:13.640 --> 01:49:18.600
to save by the bell all day? Horror? Horror? Matt responded.168401:49:18.960 --> 01:49:21.119
He felt a bit of anger boil through from his168501:49:21.199 --> 01:49:25.479
friend's consent prodding. He surprised himself when he flipped Greg off.168601:49:26.359 --> 01:49:30.880
I didn't think you had it in you, somebody said, clapping. Besides,168701:49:31.119 --> 01:49:34.920
I see you stroking it more to power Rangers. They168801:49:34.960 --> 01:49:37.680
turned to see Dave Stover standing by the side of168901:49:37.680 --> 01:49:40.600
the house. A girl dressed in black stepped out from169001:49:40.640 --> 01:49:44.079
behind him. Her short brown hair was slicked straight back,169101:49:44.159 --> 01:49:47.399
and a black choker encircled her neck. What are you169201:49:47.479 --> 01:49:51.039
doing here, Stover? Matt asked. There was something about that169301:49:51.199 --> 01:49:54.159
smug shit eating grin that made Matt want to punch169401:49:54.239 --> 01:49:58.560
Stover's teeth in. Greg and Stover went way back. Why169501:49:58.600 --> 01:50:01.640
his friend would hang out with that ass was beyond Matt.169601:50:02.640 --> 01:50:07.560
He's the reason we're here, Greg answered. Matt sighed great.169701:50:09.119 --> 01:50:12.800
Stover introduced the girl. This is Ember. She's gonna help169801:50:12.880 --> 01:50:16.800
us play a little game. They followed Stover into the house.169901:50:17.439 --> 01:50:20.840
The back door opened easily. The smell of stale cat170001:50:20.840 --> 01:50:23.640
eirine greeted them as they stepped into a bare kitchen.170101:50:24.520 --> 01:50:29.479
Jenny whispered in Matt's ear, Ember, that's bullshit. Her name's170201:50:29.479 --> 01:50:33.560
Tracy Hollis. She's in my English Lit class. The two170301:50:33.720 --> 01:50:38.199
softly chuckled. Stover took them down a musty hallway. The170401:50:38.239 --> 01:50:41.720
plaster walls were chipped and marked with graffiti. Chunks of170501:50:41.760 --> 01:50:47.279
broken plaster crunched underfoot. Matt wondered who'd lived here, there170601:50:47.319 --> 01:50:50.399
was nothing left to mark their time here. The hall170701:50:50.479 --> 01:50:53.079
opened up in a large room. At the room center170801:50:53.199 --> 01:50:56.800
was a large circle of candles. Strange symbols were written170901:50:56.800 --> 01:51:01.279
on the floor within the circle. Matt felt strangely uneasy171001:51:01.399 --> 01:51:04.720
as he entered the room. He didn't believe in magic,171101:51:05.079 --> 01:51:07.479
but it didn't mean you went messing around with the shit.171201:51:08.079 --> 01:51:10.680
What the hell, Matt said, I don't think we should171301:51:10.680 --> 01:51:15.239
fuck around with this stupid shit. Relax man, Greg reassured171401:51:15.239 --> 01:51:19.560
his friend. Wait till you hear the story. Let's find171501:51:19.600 --> 01:51:23.199
out first, Jenny added, I want to find out what's up.171601:51:23.840 --> 01:51:27.159
Damn it. Matt didn't want to walk out with Jenny171701:51:27.239 --> 01:51:31.119
staying behind, partly because he'd looked like a whimp and171801:51:31.199 --> 01:51:36.520
partly because he worried about her. Then let's get on171901:51:36.640 --> 01:51:39.720
with it, Matt grumbled, What have we got to do?172001:51:41.039 --> 01:51:44.079
Ember sat them around the circle, all holding hands, with172101:51:44.239 --> 01:51:47.560
him and Stover on either side of Ember. Matt felt172201:51:47.720 --> 01:51:51.359
a little nervous and shy. Taking the girl's pale hand.172301:51:52.039 --> 01:51:55.680
She smelled like sage and her lips were black as midnight.172401:51:56.560 --> 01:52:00.000
Staring into her eyes for a second, he forgot about Jenny.172501:52:00.880 --> 01:52:04.560
Stover cleared his throat before starting. Man got home from172601:52:04.600 --> 01:52:06.960
the war and bought this house for him and his172701:52:07.000 --> 01:52:11.279
pregnant wife. They wanted to start a future here. Greg interrupted,172801:52:11.800 --> 01:52:17.720
which war? What? Stover stammered which war? Stover's brow furrowed.172901:52:18.359 --> 01:52:22.640
That one a long time ago, in the seventies Korea.173001:52:22.960 --> 01:52:29.520
Jenny asked, No, not that one from Rambo, ma'am. Wasn't173101:52:29.560 --> 01:52:33.960
that in the eighties, Greg said, unsure. Frustrated, Stover grumbled,173201:52:34.159 --> 01:52:40.079
does it fucking matter? Well, context, Greg said, help set173301:52:40.119 --> 01:52:44.119
the scene better, man, It was the fucking seventies, Okay,173401:52:44.279 --> 01:52:47.840
Can I get on with the story? Nobody said anything.173501:52:48.439 --> 01:52:50.720
So the dude and his wife bought this house. A173601:52:50.760 --> 01:52:53.159
couple of years later, they have a daughter. The three173701:52:53.239 --> 01:52:55.920
have a happy life for a bunch of years. Then173801:52:55.960 --> 01:53:00.960
the mom gets sick and dies. Aw that blows, Jenny said.173901:53:01.520 --> 01:53:05.520
Stover ignored her, continuing on with the story. The father174001:53:05.680 --> 01:53:08.159
was left to raise the girl by himself, and he174101:53:08.199 --> 01:53:11.119
did the best he could, got a second job, and shit.174201:53:11.520 --> 01:53:16.359
Stover leaned forward. Then one day the father came home174301:53:16.840 --> 01:53:20.840
worn out from a tough day. The daughter, fifteen at174401:53:20.880 --> 01:53:23.039
the time, told him to take a nap in his174501:53:23.079 --> 01:53:28.880
favorite chair. Stover smiled, right over there, indicating a corner174601:53:28.920 --> 01:53:32.960
of the room. She wanted to surprise him, make him174701:53:33.000 --> 01:53:35.680
some dinner, so she decided to walk to the convenience174801:53:35.680 --> 01:53:40.640
store down the path. What, Greg asked, I don't remember174901:53:40.680 --> 01:53:45.159
any store around here, Stover sighed. The vacant lot on175001:53:45.359 --> 01:53:48.239
Rathburn used to be a store there. They closed it175101:53:48.239 --> 01:53:52.159
because it was getting robbed too much. Oh, Greg nodded,175201:53:52.279 --> 01:53:57.319
mulling it over anyway. The father wakes up, Stover continued.175301:53:57.800 --> 01:54:00.720
He finds the house all dark. He calls for his175401:54:00.800 --> 01:54:05.239
daughter and there's no answer. Jenny shifted nervously on the floor.175501:54:05.880 --> 01:54:07.960
Before he can go out to find her, there's a175601:54:08.039 --> 01:54:11.600
knock at the door. It's the police. The cops ask175701:54:11.720 --> 01:54:14.399
if she's there. The clerk at the shop called the175801:54:14.439 --> 01:54:17.239
cops after the girl was getting harassed by some boys.175901:54:17.880 --> 01:54:21.840
Well days passed and there was no trace of the girl.176001:54:22.319 --> 01:54:27.279
The father grew desperate. Matt glanced at Ember, who had176101:54:27.319 --> 01:54:32.920
her eyes closed. Was she meditating? Finally, one day they176201:54:33.000 --> 01:54:35.479
found one of the girl's shoes near the hangout of176301:54:35.520 --> 01:54:38.319
a bunch of boys, the ones that had been giving176401:54:38.359 --> 01:54:42.880
the girl a hard time. That night, trouble is, there's176501:54:42.920 --> 01:54:47.439
no other evidence. The cops couldn't do shit. Matt looked176601:54:47.439 --> 01:54:51.079
over at Jenny, who was enjoying the story. His mind176701:54:51.119 --> 01:54:54.079
wandered as he briefly thought of Jenny Ember and him176801:54:54.560 --> 01:54:58.840
all alone together. The thought was a little too much176901:54:58.880 --> 01:55:02.560
for his hormones. He could feel things stirring that shouldn't177001:55:02.600 --> 01:55:05.479
be right now. He quickly turned his attention back to177101:55:05.520 --> 01:55:09.520
the story, trying to focus on Stover's words. This wasn't177201:55:09.520 --> 01:55:13.119
good enough for the father, so one by one he177301:55:13.279 --> 01:55:17.600
captured and tortured the boys, killing every one of them177401:55:17.600 --> 01:55:20.720
with a hatchet he'd had in the war, save for177501:55:20.840 --> 01:55:25.640
one boy he let live. Why the one boy, nobody knows.177601:55:26.319 --> 01:55:28.800
After the deed, he came home and hung himself in177701:55:29.000 --> 01:55:34.760
this very room. Stover laughed like a maniac. Did he177801:55:34.840 --> 01:55:39.960
find her, Jenny blurted out. Stover shrugged. Nobody knows. The177901:55:40.000 --> 01:55:43.359
father killed himself before anybody found out. The boy he178001:55:43.439 --> 01:55:46.560
let live was a nutcase. They have him locked away178101:55:46.640 --> 01:55:52.279
up in Walton. He's never uttered a word since. That178201:55:52.479 --> 01:55:57.600
was quite a story, Matt said, a real bummer. Jenny added,178301:55:58.439 --> 01:56:01.840
what's it got to do with us? Matt asked, since178401:56:01.880 --> 01:56:06.760
it's Father's day, Stover smiled. I thought we'd try to178501:56:06.840 --> 01:56:10.239
contact the daughter's spirit with the help of Ember. Here,178601:56:10.800 --> 01:56:14.319
maybe we can find out what happened to her. Really,178701:56:14.840 --> 01:56:20.960
Matt asked sarcastically. For sure, Stover replied. Suddenly, Ember tightened178801:56:20.960 --> 01:56:24.159
her grip on their hands. Without thinking, Matt tightened his178901:56:24.239 --> 01:56:27.479
grip in response. The girl opened her eyes, making brief179001:56:27.479 --> 01:56:31.199
contact with him. Suddenly Matt felt his face become warm,179101:56:31.479 --> 01:56:33.760
his chest tightened, and he found it hard to breathe.179201:56:34.359 --> 01:56:38.840
And then it passed. I'm ready, the girl said, her179301:56:38.880 --> 01:56:41.760
gaze passed over each and every one of them in turn.179401:56:42.159 --> 01:56:46.680
It's important to remain in a circle holding hands. We're safe.179501:56:47.000 --> 01:56:49.600
You don't want to be pulled away into the spirit world.179601:56:50.600 --> 01:56:55.119
Ember took a deep breath. I call upon the four179701:56:55.239 --> 01:57:02.760
elements Earth, water, fire, and air. Give me strength. The179801:57:02.800 --> 01:57:07.840
girl started to rock back and forth. Guide us over179901:57:07.920 --> 01:57:12.439
the bridge between this world and the next. The candles180001:57:12.479 --> 01:57:15.920
seemed to flicker briefly as a gust of wind passed180101:57:15.920 --> 01:57:22.119
through the room. I call upon the spirit of Samantha Swain.180201:57:23.279 --> 01:57:26.840
A low, warbling moan started up from somewhere in the house.180301:57:27.520 --> 01:57:30.680
Matt felt the hairs on his arms. Stand up. The180401:57:30.720 --> 01:57:36.680
air felt charged. There's a presence here, Ember said. There180501:57:36.720 --> 01:57:39.560
was an unearthly moan from above the group. A loud180601:57:39.640 --> 01:57:44.399
bang sounded, making them all jump. Ember warned them don't180701:57:44.479 --> 01:57:50.000
break contact. The otherworldly moan grew louder. The house itself180801:57:50.119 --> 01:57:56.399
creaked and groaned, as if in pain. Spirit speak. Ember commanded,180901:57:57.000 --> 01:58:01.039
tell us your name. There was another unearthly wail of pain.181001:58:02.159 --> 01:58:09.199
My name is a voice spoke. My name is Harry, reams.181101:58:10.279 --> 01:58:14.000
Stover burst out into laughter. The fuck Greg looked at181201:58:14.000 --> 01:58:17.199
the other's dumb struck son of a bitch. Matt shook181301:58:17.239 --> 01:58:21.760
his head. Stover fell backwards, laughing, Oh, I got you fucks.181401:58:22.199 --> 01:58:24.399
He wiped a tear from his eye. I had Ernie181501:58:24.479 --> 01:58:28.119
and Chad help me set it up. Between laughs, Stover181601:58:28.279 --> 01:58:30.720
told them how he and his two buddies rigged the181701:58:30.760 --> 01:58:34.119
house for sound so the two could provide sounds and181801:58:34.239 --> 01:58:38.840
spooky voices from a hiding spot upstairs. You son of181901:58:38.880 --> 01:58:44.079
a bitch, Jenny scolded him. Ember looked around, perplexed. No,182001:58:45.199 --> 01:58:49.119
this isn't right. There was something I felt it. The182101:58:49.159 --> 01:58:53.680
others Angered paid no attention to the girl. Stover called182201:58:53.720 --> 01:58:56.880
to his buddies. The pair trudged down the stairs, laughing182301:58:56.960 --> 01:59:01.199
loudly at the three's expense. It's not that funny, assholes,182401:59:01.439 --> 01:59:07.640
Greg said, dejected, Oh oh it is, Chad snickered. Aaron laughed,182501:59:08.000 --> 01:59:12.600
should see the looks on your dumb faces. Ember followed182601:59:12.600 --> 01:59:16.000
the three friends as they left the house. Wait, she182701:59:16.119 --> 01:59:20.159
called after them. I didn't know there was something wrong.182801:59:21.039 --> 01:59:24.800
She could feel it. There had been something there with them,182901:59:25.319 --> 01:59:32.840
something had slipped into their world. Guys, listen, she pleaded.183001:59:33.640 --> 01:59:37.479
I didn't know. Matt stepped onto the path before turning around,183101:59:38.199 --> 01:59:42.119
so you got duped to join the club. Please listen,183201:59:42.399 --> 01:59:46.239
something did come through. Ember looked into Matt's eyes. Greg183301:59:46.239 --> 01:59:49.039
and Jenny had already started down the path. Greg turned183401:59:49.079 --> 01:59:53.239
and called to Matt, coming, man, I've had enough spooky183501:59:53.279 --> 01:59:55.600
shit for today. I didn't even want to be here.183601:59:56.119 --> 02:00:00.520
Matt turned and walked towards his friends. Shit. Ember whispered183702:00:00.640 --> 02:00:04.920
to herself, Feeling somebody watching her, she turned towards the house.183802:00:05.680 --> 02:00:09.479
Standing next to the house was a dark figure. Was183902:00:09.520 --> 02:00:14.279
that Stover or one of his pals. Feeling fear creeping184002:00:14.359 --> 02:00:18.159
up her spine, Ever, turned and hurried down the opposite direction.184102:00:18.800 --> 02:00:24.960
Of the path. Matt woke in a chair, his eyes blurry.184202:00:25.520 --> 02:00:27.840
When he tried to move, he realized he was being184302:00:27.880 --> 02:00:32.319
held in place by duct tape. As his vision focused,184402:00:32.359 --> 02:00:35.359
he could make out a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling.184502:00:35.840 --> 02:00:40.399
It swung back and forth, stopping from time to time184602:00:40.520 --> 02:00:46.039
in midswing, just hanging there. The room appeared to be184702:00:46.119 --> 02:00:50.159
a basement. Somewhere in the darkness. Water dripped, hitting the184802:00:50.239 --> 02:00:54.079
floor in a steady rhythm. He'd fallen asleep on the184902:00:54.119 --> 02:00:58.640
couch watching TV, so how the hell had he gotten here?185002:00:59.479 --> 02:01:02.439
Before he could call out, he heard the scraping noise185102:01:02.520 --> 02:01:06.119
coming from the corner of the basement. He strained his neck,185202:01:06.199 --> 02:01:08.159
turning as far as he could to see a man185302:01:08.800 --> 02:01:12.000
sitting in the dark corner. The man appeared to be185402:01:12.079 --> 02:01:15.920
working on something. A red baseball cap covered the man's185502:01:15.920 --> 02:01:20.560
face in shadow. Matt tried to talk ask the man185602:01:20.640 --> 02:01:24.520
what was going on. His mouth moved, but no words185702:01:24.560 --> 02:01:27.920
came out. The man stood and Matt could make out185802:01:28.079 --> 02:01:31.960
what the man was working on. In his hands. He185902:01:31.960 --> 02:01:36.479
held a hatchet and a sharpening stone. The man raised186002:01:36.520 --> 02:01:39.399
his head up. Where his eyes and mouth should be186102:01:39.960 --> 02:01:45.640
were black holes. Gray mist seeped from the openings. Have186202:01:45.760 --> 02:01:49.880
you seen my daughter? The man asked, his voice garbled186302:01:50.279 --> 02:01:54.760
and hollow. Matt tried to answer, but still his voice186402:01:54.760 --> 02:02:01.279
failed him. The man spoke again, have you seen He186502:02:01.359 --> 02:02:04.359
took one of Matt's hands, prying his fingers free from186602:02:04.399 --> 02:02:06.960
the arm of the chair. He brought down the hatchet186702:02:06.960 --> 02:02:10.760
on outstretched fingers and lopped them off. Matt sat up,186802:02:10.920 --> 02:02:14.359
a scream on his lips. He was on the couch186902:02:15.079 --> 02:02:19.279
back at home. Outside it was dark. His parents should187002:02:19.319 --> 02:02:22.039
be home soon, which was fine by him. That dream187102:02:22.079 --> 02:02:26.359
had been too freaky. That man with the hatchet was187202:02:26.399 --> 02:02:31.560
that the guy from Stover's story. Feeling suddenly vulnerable, Matt187302:02:31.600 --> 02:02:35.560
locked the front door. God He hoped his parents got187402:02:35.600 --> 02:02:42.359
home soon. Ember sat in her room. She'd been quiet187502:02:42.399 --> 02:02:45.600
since getting home. She wanted to tell her folks how187602:02:45.600 --> 02:02:49.279
scared she was what she feared had happened, but they187702:02:49.319 --> 02:02:53.520
wouldn't understand. After supper, she'd gone straight to her room.187802:02:54.239 --> 02:02:58.680
Ember sat on her bed, hoping she was wrong and187902:02:58.800 --> 02:03:02.680
preparing to be right. She ripped sheets of blank paper188002:03:02.720 --> 02:03:05.520
from a notebook. Pricking her thumb with a pin, she188102:03:05.560 --> 02:03:12.640
wrote runic symbols on the paper strips viail drop TNN.188202:03:13.399 --> 02:03:16.760
She repeated, putting a strip up in each corner of188302:03:16.760 --> 02:03:20.439
her room. Taking a glass jar from her desk, Ember188402:03:20.479 --> 02:03:23.399
made a circle of salt around her bed, making sure188502:03:23.479 --> 02:03:26.279
not to break the line when she stepped over it.188602:03:27.199 --> 02:03:33.319
Sitting cross legged on her bed, the girl waited. The188702:03:33.399 --> 02:03:36.840
clock struck one am. A blue shimmering on the edge188802:03:36.840 --> 02:03:40.279
of her room woke the girl. A dark figure stood188902:03:40.319 --> 02:03:47.039
in the corner, pushing against the barrier. She had created, fire, water, earth,189002:03:47.520 --> 02:03:53.199
and air. Give me strength, she chanted. The spirit strained189102:03:53.239 --> 02:03:56.119
the barrier as it tried to force its way through.189202:03:56.840 --> 02:03:59.880
She could make out its features, black slit eyes on189302:03:59.880 --> 02:04:04.199
a head covered by a red baseball cap, a hatchet189402:04:04.319 --> 02:04:08.920
clutched in one of the spirit's hands. Ember continued chanting189502:04:09.439 --> 02:04:15.199
till finally, forty five minutes later, the entity left, just189602:04:15.239 --> 02:04:20.119
as sudden as it had come. Exhausted, Ember fell back189702:04:20.159 --> 02:04:23.960
on her bed and slept till morning. She'd never been189802:04:24.000 --> 02:04:26.119
more relieved to see her parents than when she went189902:04:26.199 --> 02:04:29.159
down for breakfast. The spirit had only come for her190002:04:29.239 --> 02:04:32.840
last night, for she was the only one that could190102:04:32.880 --> 02:04:38.560
send it back. At school, something felt off. She looked190202:04:38.560 --> 02:04:42.880
for the others, but they weren't there. After chemistry, Ember190302:04:42.920 --> 02:04:47.239
overheard the cheerleaders Becky, Carly and Tony Lynn talking near190402:04:47.279 --> 02:04:51.239
the stairs. I heard he never got home last night. Yeah,190502:04:51.439 --> 02:04:55.399
his parents are wicked freaked. Working up the courage, Ember190602:04:55.439 --> 02:05:00.880
approached the two girls, who she stammered Becky eyes narrowed,190702:05:01.439 --> 02:05:05.319
what do you want? Freaked Zella? Who didn't show up?190802:05:06.319 --> 02:05:10.800
What's it to you? Mortitia? Tony smirked a little angry now.190902:05:10.880 --> 02:05:14.760
Ember spat out the question, who fucking didn't show up?191002:05:15.640 --> 02:05:20.239
The girls looked at her a little shocked before answering Stover, Okay,191102:05:20.720 --> 02:05:24.439
take it easy, bitch. Ember walked away without another word.191202:05:25.119 --> 02:05:27.119
She ditched the rest of her classes for the day.191302:05:27.560 --> 02:05:30.239
She had to find the other three to save them191402:05:30.279 --> 02:05:37.520
from it. Why had she done it to be popular? Accepted,191502:05:38.279 --> 02:05:40.880
screw it. She couldn't sit here feeling sorry for herself.191602:05:40.880 --> 02:05:44.119
That thing needed to be sent back. When lunch period came,191702:05:44.399 --> 02:05:47.760
Ember snuck out. Ember found the three sitting outside under191802:05:47.800 --> 02:05:51.560
a big tree. Did they know? Had they heard about Stover?191902:05:52.279 --> 02:05:55.319
Out of breath, she walked towards them. Greg was the192002:05:55.319 --> 02:05:58.640
first to notice her. Here comes your girlfriend, he said192102:05:58.640 --> 02:06:02.560
to Matt, Please, guys, I need your help. Jenny took192202:06:02.560 --> 02:06:06.119
a bite of her sandwich. We're not interested, she said, dismissively.192302:06:06.800 --> 02:06:10.479
Did you hear about Stover? Greg shrugged. He didn't show192402:06:10.560 --> 02:06:15.359
up today. He's always skipping. He never got home. Ember exclaimed,192502:06:15.920 --> 02:06:19.279
it got him the entity. We summoned the spirit of192602:06:19.279 --> 02:06:26.359
that girl's father. Greg laughed, bullshit, No, it's not. Last night,192702:06:26.399 --> 02:06:31.159
it came for me. I saw its black eyes. Ember192802:06:31.199 --> 02:06:34.680
almost sobbed. Matt had sat silent as Ember had talked,192902:06:35.520 --> 02:06:40.239
but he finally spoke up. Did you say black eyes?193002:06:41.159 --> 02:06:44.520
Nervous and a little embarrassed, Matt told them his dream,193102:06:45.199 --> 02:06:48.279
how real it had felt, and how the description matched193202:06:48.279 --> 02:06:52.000
with what Ember had seen in her room. I think193302:06:52.039 --> 02:06:56.119
you two are both high, Greg joked, been hitting the glue.193402:06:56.840 --> 02:06:59.319
It'll come for us, one by one because our energy193502:06:59.359 --> 02:07:01.079
called it and we can send it back. Why do193602:07:01.079 --> 02:07:04.279
you think Stover is missing? I told you he's just193702:07:04.359 --> 02:07:09.439
goofing off, Greg said, I don't know, Jenny said. Milly193802:07:09.520 --> 02:07:11.479
said she saw a couple of cops talking to the193902:07:11.479 --> 02:07:15.039
principal when she passed the office this morning. I'm not194002:07:15.119 --> 02:07:18.439
saying I believe in this magic shit, Matt said, but194102:07:18.520 --> 02:07:22.479
if it's true, What do we do? We have to194202:07:22.479 --> 02:07:25.399
go back to the house tonight and send it back.194302:07:28.640 --> 02:07:32.000
Ember waited by the basketball court on Madison Street, just194402:07:32.039 --> 02:07:35.039
a little ways from the entrance of the path. She194502:07:35.199 --> 02:07:37.760
was scared. It was getting dark and that thing could194602:07:37.760 --> 02:07:41.000
show up at any time. Where the hell were they?194702:07:41.880 --> 02:07:44.840
Then she heard a familiar voice bitching and moaning, and194802:07:44.880 --> 02:07:47.840
saw them coming down the street. Why do we all194902:07:47.920 --> 02:07:51.359
have to go? Greg asked Ember and Matt's eyes met195002:07:51.560 --> 02:07:55.399
and they shared a little smile. Well we're here, Matt said,195102:07:55.960 --> 02:07:59.079
Now what, We've got to get to the house. There's195202:07:59.119 --> 02:08:01.760
not much time. They made their way to the house,195302:08:01.800 --> 02:08:04.960
with Gregg bitching most of the way and Jenny needling him.195402:08:05.520 --> 02:08:09.760
Matt nervously looked around. He looked scared. To Ember good195502:08:10.399 --> 02:08:13.560
he'd be on his toes. She'd sent something about Matt195602:08:13.640 --> 02:08:16.560
during the summoning. He didn't believe in magic, but still195702:08:16.640 --> 02:08:19.479
had a healthy respect for it. That energy would be195802:08:19.600 --> 02:08:22.960
vital for sending it back. His negative charge and her195902:08:23.000 --> 02:08:27.439
positive should repel the thing. Reaching the house, they flicked196002:08:27.479 --> 02:08:30.640
on a pair of flashlights. Ember felt relieved when she196102:08:30.680 --> 02:08:33.359
saw the runic cymbals were still on the floor where196202:08:33.399 --> 02:08:36.880
she'd drawn them. Taking the same glass jar from her bag,196302:08:37.000 --> 02:08:40.119
Ember created a circle of salt around the symbols, big196402:08:40.239 --> 02:08:42.920
enough so they could sit inside it and be protected.196502:08:43.319 --> 02:08:46.039
Matt and Jenny lit candles, placing one in front of196602:08:46.039 --> 02:08:49.000
each of them. They all held hands again. As they196702:08:49.039 --> 02:08:53.159
sat there, Ember started to chant, calling upon the elements196802:08:53.199 --> 02:09:00.199
to aid them. Fire, water, earth, and air give us strength.196902:09:01.399 --> 02:09:05.319
A low rumbling began somewhere in the bowels of the house.197002:09:05.920 --> 02:09:09.399
The candles flickered as a cold wind blew through the room.197102:09:09.760 --> 02:09:12.720
A door slammed open and closed in another room, followed197202:09:12.720 --> 02:09:18.920
by heavy, deliberate footfalls. As something approached them. Ember looked197302:09:18.920 --> 02:09:21.880
at the others, don't break the circle no matter what.197402:09:22.680 --> 02:09:25.920
She rocked back and forth, feeling the energy of the197502:09:25.920 --> 02:09:33.000
others flowing through her veil. Drop Tienn, send this malignant197602:09:33.039 --> 02:09:35.680
being back to the nether realm from which it came.197702:09:36.359 --> 02:09:39.560
Jenny screamed, almost bolting from where she sat. Matt and197802:09:39.600 --> 02:09:42.920
Greg had to keep hold of her. The badly mutilated197902:09:42.920 --> 02:09:46.800
body of Stovers stood in the door frame. The corpse198002:09:47.039 --> 02:09:52.880
stumbled towards them. Stay calm, Elmer advised them. It can't198102:09:52.920 --> 02:09:57.600
hurt us. The spirit is trying to scare us. Stover's198202:09:57.600 --> 02:10:01.880
corpse stopped inches from the circle, its dead eyes fixed198302:10:01.920 --> 02:10:07.159
on them. Mission fucking accomplished, Greg said, get out of198402:10:07.319 --> 02:10:11.920
this fouse. An unnatural voice commanded from Stover's dead lips.198502:10:12.640 --> 02:10:15.039
The walls of the room cracked and blistered as a198602:10:15.039 --> 02:10:18.720
blinding white light emanated from within them. Ember could feel198702:10:18.800 --> 02:10:21.319
she was losing them to the spectacle going on around them.198802:10:21.920 --> 02:10:25.520
Focus your thoughts, Ember warned them. Close your eyes, pay198902:10:25.560 --> 02:10:28.880
it no heed. Imagine pushing it away in your mind's eye.199002:10:29.680 --> 02:10:33.119
Ember closed her eyes, imagining their energy flowing from them199102:10:33.359 --> 02:10:37.279
like tendrils, striking the malignant evil they'd brought into the world.199202:10:38.319 --> 02:10:43.039
The floor seemed to fall away, stopping Suddenly. Ember felt199302:10:43.079 --> 02:10:47.359
the wind expelled from her lungs. Holy shit, Matt gasped.199402:10:47.640 --> 02:10:50.119
Her eyes flung open. Ember gaped in awe at what199502:10:50.239 --> 02:10:54.680
she saw. A blue vortex had formed above them. She199602:10:54.840 --> 02:10:57.960
opened them just in time to see Stover's body pulled199702:10:58.000 --> 02:11:01.640
into the maw above. The house started to rock as199802:11:01.720 --> 02:11:04.319
bits of it were pulled into the spinning mass of energy.199902:11:04.479 --> 02:11:07.439
The floorboards beneath them creaked as the board strained from200002:11:07.479 --> 02:11:10.680
the pole of the vortex. Let's get the fuck out200102:11:10.680 --> 02:11:13.359
of here, Greg hollered. Ember had to agree. As the200202:11:13.399 --> 02:11:16.359
house fell apart around them. The four held hands, forming200302:11:16.359 --> 02:11:18.840
a chain, with Greg in the lead. They inched their200402:11:18.880 --> 02:11:21.880
way along the hallway. The poll lessened the further they200502:11:21.920 --> 02:11:24.720
got away from it. When they reached the foyer, they200602:11:24.800 --> 02:11:27.560
ran from the house, screaming their heads off, not stopping200702:11:27.640 --> 02:11:30.720
till they reached the path. The four turned and watched200802:11:30.720 --> 02:11:33.920
in silence as the house came apart until only the200902:11:34.039 --> 02:11:39.680
vortex remained. It too soon disappeared, collapsing in on itself.201002:11:41.840 --> 02:11:46.319
Fuck me, Greg said, panting, don't see that every day,201102:11:46.680 --> 02:11:52.960
Matt added. A couple of weeks later, they were out201202:11:53.000 --> 02:11:56.279
of school for the summer. Matt was over at Ember's house.201302:11:56.680 --> 02:11:58.960
The two sat on her bed making out while her201402:11:59.000 --> 02:12:02.119
parents were at a party. The pair had started dating201502:12:02.199 --> 02:12:06.119
soon after. That night, his infatuation with Jenny a distant memory.201602:12:06.880 --> 02:12:09.760
Matt came up for air. I wish summer could be201702:12:09.880 --> 02:12:14.039
like this the whole time. Ember smiled, who says it can't.201802:12:15.000 --> 02:12:17.479
Matt had noticed her deck of tarot cards on the201902:12:17.560 --> 02:12:22.439
nightstand earlier. He took them and started shuffling them. What202002:12:22.479 --> 02:12:27.520
are you doing? Ember asked, consulting the cards. Matt smiled202102:12:27.560 --> 02:12:30.000
as he drew the first card, showing it to her.202202:12:30.800 --> 02:12:35.039
It was the Lover's How did you do that? Ember asked.202302:12:35.680 --> 02:12:38.920
It was easy, he said, drawing another card and handing202402:12:38.920 --> 02:12:42.359
it to her. Ember looked at it, her eyes wide202502:12:42.439 --> 02:12:48.000
with terror. The card depicted a collapsing tower. His voice202602:12:48.079 --> 02:12:52.640
crackled with energy as his eyes turned black. As easy202702:12:53.079 --> 02:13:04.920
as finding a new hole. The Spirit of Langley Pond202802:13:05.640 --> 02:13:13.920
by Charles Campbell, Summer nineteen eighty one. Elena Anne Sanders202902:13:13.920 --> 02:13:17.000
swam for all she was worth. She could hear the203002:13:17.039 --> 02:13:21.039
echo of her mother's sentiment in her mind. Don't get203102:13:21.039 --> 02:13:23.840
into any trouble. Call me if you need me to203202:13:23.880 --> 02:13:28.840
come get you. No questions asked. Elena wished she had203302:13:28.880 --> 02:13:33.920
listened to her mother instead. It was nearly midnight and203402:13:34.000 --> 02:13:37.880
she was swimming for her life to shore. Elena was203502:13:37.920 --> 02:13:40.760
beginning to think she was going to make it. She203602:13:40.880 --> 02:13:45.039
was going to see her mother again. The crack of203702:13:45.079 --> 02:13:49.760
a gunshot was the last sound Elena heard before the203802:13:49.880 --> 02:13:54.920
darkness of the water claimed her. Langley Pond was going203902:13:55.000 --> 02:14:07.000
to be her grave. Summer two thousand and twenty one,204002:14:07.560 --> 02:14:10.640
Langley pond had changed quite a bit in the last204102:14:10.680 --> 02:14:15.079
forty years, being billed as the largest pond in North America.204202:14:15.560 --> 02:14:19.239
It was nearly the size of a lake. No longer204302:14:19.279 --> 02:14:24.439
were clay mudslides used as makeshift boat ramps. Now there204402:14:24.439 --> 02:14:28.359
were full fledged, paved boat ramps descending into the water.204502:14:29.159 --> 02:14:33.159
There were designated picnic areas spread around the shoreline, along204602:14:33.279 --> 02:14:36.439
with a few cabins that were rented nearly every weekend.204702:14:37.319 --> 02:14:40.359
It was almost ten o'clock at night and the humidity204802:14:40.399 --> 02:14:44.199
of the day still hung in the air. Brianna Turner204902:14:44.560 --> 02:14:49.640
glanced at her cell phone. It was eighty two degrees. Ugh,205002:14:50.279 --> 02:14:53.920
I can't believe how hot it is, Brianna said. She205102:14:54.079 --> 02:14:57.119
peeled a strand of sweat stuck hair from her forehead205202:14:57.479 --> 02:15:02.600
and grinned at her boyfriend, Andy Spy. Andy smiled back205302:15:02.840 --> 02:15:06.960
and said, yeah, it was over a hundred today. Thought205402:15:07.000 --> 02:15:09.159
we might get a little relief by being near the205502:15:09.199 --> 02:15:13.119
water and all guess not. At least we have the205602:15:13.119 --> 02:15:17.119
cabin with the window unit. That's a plus. You're right,205702:15:17.760 --> 02:15:22.079
that's a plus, Brianna agreed. They both turned toward the205802:15:22.119 --> 02:15:28.119
woods when they heard snapping twigs and shuffling feet. Hey, Frog,205902:15:28.239 --> 02:15:32.439
y'all catch anything, Andy asked when he saw Frog Spradley206002:15:32.800 --> 02:15:35.960
and his girl of the week, Jenny Coggins clear the206102:15:36.000 --> 02:15:39.079
tree line into their sight. Had a few nibbles, but206202:15:39.680 --> 02:15:44.399
nothing big threw them all back, Frog said, Jenny smiled,206302:15:44.439 --> 02:15:47.159
but she didn't look all that happy to be trapesing206402:15:47.159 --> 02:15:51.079
through the woods. Good thing we brought beanie weenies, then,206502:15:51.680 --> 02:15:56.439
Andy said. Jenny gave him the you can't be serious look,206602:15:56.800 --> 02:16:01.119
and Frog replied, damn, man, you are a life. Beanie206702:16:01.119 --> 02:16:03.800
weenies are the shit. I thought I'd have to break206802:16:03.840 --> 02:16:08.279
out the vienna sausages and saltine crackers. Hey, Jenny, you206902:16:08.319 --> 02:16:11.239
want to go in the cabin and cool off? Brianna207002:16:11.279 --> 02:16:16.720
asked yes, Jenny shouted it was hot, she was sticky,207102:16:16.880 --> 02:16:20.039
and if this excursion with Frog taught her anything, she207202:16:20.239 --> 02:16:24.520
was definitely an inside girl. The boys watched as the207302:16:24.560 --> 02:16:28.880
girls walked into the cabin. Okay, Frog, where'd you find207402:16:28.880 --> 02:16:32.959
that one? Andy asked. Frog gave him a sneaky smile,207502:16:33.319 --> 02:16:37.559
and sheepishly shrugged his shoulders. Come on, man, I don't207602:16:37.600 --> 02:16:40.920
recognize her. She ain't one of your usual Valley honeys.207702:16:41.799 --> 02:16:47.440
She's from Martinez. Frog whispered, Why are you whispering? She207802:16:47.559 --> 02:16:50.319
can't hear us out here. What in the world were207902:16:50.319 --> 02:16:54.319
you doing in Martinez? And how'd you get her? She208002:16:54.440 --> 02:16:59.399
looks too sophisticated to be stomping around Langley Pond, especially208102:16:59.440 --> 02:17:03.120
with you the prints of the valley. She don't know208202:17:03.200 --> 02:17:08.040
nothing about the valley, does she? Andy asked, Well she208302:17:08.159 --> 02:17:11.719
does now. I told her about the spirit of Langley Pond.208402:17:12.319 --> 02:17:18.440
Frog replied, you didn't, and she hasn't left screaming, not yet.208502:17:19.120 --> 02:17:21.520
Maybe it's because her phone died while we were fishing.208602:17:22.079 --> 02:17:24.799
She seemed more interested in whatever was on Instagram or208702:17:24.840 --> 02:17:31.559
Facebook than catching a catfish inside the cabin. Oh my god,208802:17:31.600 --> 02:17:36.040
that ac feels fantastic, Jenny said, and stuck her face208902:17:36.079 --> 02:17:38.959
in front of the window unit. It was turned all209002:17:39.000 --> 02:17:42.000
the way up and Jenny's sandy blonde hair blue behind209102:17:42.040 --> 02:17:46.200
her like she was riding on the back of a motorcycle. Yeah,209202:17:46.319 --> 02:17:49.280
it's the only cabin out here with one. Andy sprang209302:17:49.399 --> 02:17:52.120
for the extra sixty bucks, said it would be worth209402:17:52.159 --> 02:17:55.520
it to sleep in comfort, and he ain't wrong. It's209502:17:55.559 --> 02:17:58.760
sticky as hell outside. How long you and Frog been209602:17:58.840 --> 02:18:03.559
seeing each other? Oh? I just met him yesterday. Where209702:18:03.600 --> 02:18:08.079
are you from? You ain't from the valley valley? What's209802:18:08.159 --> 02:18:13.280
the valley, Jenny asked, You're in it, Brianna answered and continued.209902:18:14.000 --> 02:18:15.959
You know that main road you took to get here,210002:18:16.479 --> 02:18:20.719
the one that went through a bunch of little bitty towns. Yeah,210102:18:21.000 --> 02:18:24.959
Jenny replied and turned to face Brianna. Brianna was grinning210202:18:25.040 --> 02:18:29.120
and her brown eyes were gleaming. Jenny really paid attention210302:18:29.239 --> 02:18:32.040
to Brianna for the first time. And she had this210402:18:32.760 --> 02:18:36.680
country girl pretty thing going for. She looked like she210502:18:36.760 --> 02:18:39.079
could be fun in the sack, but could kick your210602:18:39.079 --> 02:18:42.680
ass out of it if necessary. Well, that road is210702:18:42.719 --> 02:18:45.639
four twenty one and for twenty one is the valley210802:18:46.360 --> 02:18:49.680
Rednecks for as far as the eye can see. And210902:18:49.799 --> 02:18:54.719
you got yourself what we call a valley prince? That right?211002:18:55.600 --> 02:19:00.559
Why is he a valley prince? He's a Spradley have211102:19:00.559 --> 02:19:03.360
been around the valley for as long as anybody can remember.211202:19:04.159 --> 02:19:07.239
Everybody calls him Frog. I don't even know if that's211302:19:07.239 --> 02:19:09.760
his given name, but I know his daddy was called Frog,211402:19:09.799 --> 02:19:13.159
and his daddy's daddy was called Frog. They owned several211502:19:13.200 --> 02:19:17.000
businesses in the valley. His brother, Ricky owns Valley Video.211602:19:17.520 --> 02:19:21.159
His other brother, Johnny, owns Spradley's Filling Station in Langley.211702:19:21.680 --> 02:19:25.239
His sister, Darnell Well, she owns a beauty shop in211802:19:25.280 --> 02:19:31.280
Gloverville named Can you guess Spradley's Beauty Shop? Jenny asked211902:19:31.280 --> 02:19:35.120
as she shrugged her shoulders. Yep, nailed it. So if212002:19:35.159 --> 02:19:39.719
you're from the valley, you know who the Spradleys are. Oh, really,212102:19:40.479 --> 02:19:43.440
that's good to know. So what do you know about212202:19:43.520 --> 02:19:46.840
this spirit he was telling me about while we were fishing?212302:19:47.680 --> 02:19:50.239
He didn't tell you about the spirit of Langley Pond.212402:19:50.600 --> 02:19:53.079
Please tell me he didn't try to scare you with212502:19:53.120 --> 02:19:58.360
that story. Brianna suppressed a chuckle. He did, and it212602:19:58.399 --> 02:20:01.079
did freak me out a bit. Is there any truth212702:20:01.120 --> 02:20:04.399
behind it? From what I've heard, these local legends start212802:20:04.440 --> 02:20:07.559
with a grain of truth somewhere, and that grain grows212902:20:07.639 --> 02:20:10.799
and gets exaggerated over the years. That's kind of what213002:20:10.840 --> 02:20:14.159
I'm thinking. Am I wrong? Should I be afraid of213102:20:14.200 --> 02:20:18.920
a ghost in the pond? Jenny asked. Brianna smiled and213202:20:19.079 --> 02:20:23.360
motioned for Jenny to take a seat in the living room. Yeah,213302:20:23.680 --> 02:20:26.879
I know about the grain that started the story. It213402:20:27.000 --> 02:20:31.440
was something that really happened about forty years ago. It213502:20:31.520 --> 02:20:42.319
went something like this, summer nineteen eighty one. It was213602:20:42.440 --> 02:20:46.399
Friday morning and Elena bit her mother farewell for the weekend.213702:20:47.000 --> 02:20:50.639
Her mother's voice issued a lifeline as Elena walked out213802:20:50.680 --> 02:20:55.520
the door to meet her boyfriend, Dustin Hines. Don't get213902:20:55.520 --> 02:20:58.239
into any trouble. Call me if you need me to214002:20:58.280 --> 02:21:02.440
come get you. No questions asked. Elena told her mother214102:21:02.559 --> 02:21:04.840
not to worry and that she would be home on214202:21:04.959 --> 02:21:09.959
Sunday night. Hey babe, Dustin said. As Elena hopped into214302:21:09.959 --> 02:21:13.159
his forward pickup, she leaned over and gave Dustin a214402:21:13.239 --> 02:21:17.280
quick kiss before she pounded the dashboard, which meant it214502:21:17.360 --> 02:21:20.120
was time to burn rubber. Dustin pulled out of the214602:21:20.200 --> 02:21:31.079
driveway and be lined to Belvideer Clearwater Road. Finally, Elena214702:21:31.200 --> 02:21:34.959
shouted she was ready to have a weekend alone with Dustin.214802:21:35.520 --> 02:21:37.479
They had been talking about it for the better part214902:21:37.520 --> 02:21:40.559
of six months. Elena leaned her head out of the215002:21:40.639 --> 02:21:45.000
open window to feel the wind in her face. Hey babe,215102:21:45.639 --> 02:21:48.040
watch out for telephone polls. You don't want to get215202:21:48.079 --> 02:21:51.680
your head knocked off. Who would really put a damper215302:21:51.760 --> 02:21:57.120
on the weekend, Dustin said, as he tugged on Elena's arm. Okay, okay,215402:21:57.239 --> 02:22:00.799
I'm just excited, that's all I know. It's just Langley Pond,215502:22:01.559 --> 02:22:05.680
Just Langley Pond, Just Langley Pond. You know, what's the215602:22:05.760 --> 02:22:09.840
pride of the valley? Dustin said. He looked at Elena215702:22:09.959 --> 02:22:12.760
with his blue eyes, and he could see her melt215802:22:13.479 --> 02:22:16.760
just a little. You're laying on a little thick there,215902:22:16.799 --> 02:22:20.120
ain't you. Everybody knows Richardson's Lake is the pride of216002:22:20.200 --> 02:22:24.959
the valley, she said, enamored with her man. I beg216102:22:25.079 --> 02:22:27.920
to differ. You can't put a boat on Richardson's Lake,216202:22:28.239 --> 02:22:30.079
and I really don't know how they can call that216302:22:30.239 --> 02:22:33.799
tiny mud puddle a lake anyway. Langley Pond should be216402:22:33.879 --> 02:22:38.319
a lake. I mean it's as big as one. Speaking216502:22:38.399 --> 02:22:41.959
of boats, Elena interrupted, does your daddy still have that216602:22:42.159 --> 02:22:47.559
John boat at Langley Pond? He does, Dustin smiled, trolling216702:22:47.639 --> 02:22:52.360
motor in the back of the truck, Dustin answered sweet,216802:22:52.840 --> 02:22:56.280
Elena replied. The pair rowed in silence for the next216902:22:56.399 --> 02:22:59.319
nine minutes. Elena hopped out of the truck as soon217002:22:59.360 --> 02:23:02.879
as it rolled to a stop just inside the confines217102:23:03.239 --> 02:23:06.840
of Langley Pond. I can't wait to jump in the water.217202:23:07.280 --> 02:23:10.360
Elena screamed and shed her clothing as fast as she could,217302:23:10.719 --> 02:23:15.079
revealing her bathing suit underneath. Dang, girl, you ain't gonna217402:23:15.079 --> 02:23:17.760
wait for me to put up the tent, Dustin asked217502:23:17.799 --> 02:23:22.600
the air. Elena was already splashing in the water. Dustin217602:23:22.719 --> 02:23:25.639
set up the two person tent and pulled the trolling217702:23:25.719 --> 02:23:29.120
motor from the back of the truck. Elena swam to217802:23:29.200 --> 02:23:31.280
shore when she saw the tent was all set up217902:23:31.600 --> 02:23:34.200
and the trolling motor was attached to the john boat.218002:23:34.600 --> 02:23:38.079
Hey babe, we gonna do some night fishing. The bass218102:23:38.120 --> 02:23:42.319
should be poppin' top water plugs tonight, Elena said, as218202:23:42.399 --> 02:23:44.840
she took a seat in the lawn chair set outside218302:23:44.879 --> 02:23:48.760
the tent. I reckon, we can do that. Mama packed218402:23:48.840 --> 02:23:51.159
up some ham sandwiches and the small cooler, and I218502:23:51.280 --> 02:23:56.079
got papst in the biggin. I love you, Dustin. Shut up,218602:23:56.159 --> 02:23:58.600
you do not. You just want me for my money,218702:23:59.200 --> 02:24:03.719
Dustin joked. The couple ate sandwiches, drank beer, let their218802:24:03.799 --> 02:24:07.159
food and drink settle before they made clumsy love. In218902:24:07.239 --> 02:24:11.360
the tent, Elena fell asleep with Dustin's arms wrapped around her.219002:24:11.959 --> 02:24:19.799
She woke up five hours later alone. Dustin you outside,219102:24:20.600 --> 02:24:23.840
Elena asked as she rubbed her eyes and stretched. She219202:24:24.040 --> 02:24:27.040
shuffled out of the tent and heard the frogs croaking219302:24:27.120 --> 02:24:32.760
their night tunes. The crickets returned to symphony of their own. Dustin,219402:24:34.120 --> 02:24:36.760
where are you at? You know you can pee in219502:24:36.840 --> 02:24:41.639
front of me, Elena shouted. She looked around and was219602:24:41.719 --> 02:24:44.639
comforted that the truck was still parked in the same spot,219702:24:45.200 --> 02:24:48.280
so Dustin didn't decide to go on a midnight snack219802:24:48.360 --> 02:24:52.319
run and leave her out here all alone. But he219902:24:52.440 --> 02:24:55.959
didn't answer her, and that was a reason for concern220002:24:56.079 --> 02:24:59.200
until she saw the light from the flashlight out in220102:24:59.239 --> 02:25:04.200
the middle of the pond. The John boat Wasn't there220202:25:05.200 --> 02:25:10.079
that sorry sack of potatoes. Elena shouted, Dustin, get your220302:25:10.120 --> 02:25:13.120
ass back over here and pick me up. She hollered220402:25:13.159 --> 02:25:15.760
into the night toward the light of the boat. The220502:25:15.879 --> 02:25:19.680
light flashed in her direction, but the boat didn't move.220602:25:21.000 --> 02:25:24.040
Don't make me swim out there, Dustin, I swear I will,220702:25:24.200 --> 02:25:26.360
and I'll make so much noise that no fish is220802:25:26.399 --> 02:25:28.879
gonna bite for the rest of the night. Don't test me.220902:25:29.760 --> 02:25:34.479
Elena was leaving, playful and moving into piste off. The221002:25:34.639 --> 02:25:37.319
light flashed in her direction once more, but the boat221102:25:38.200 --> 02:25:43.639
still did not move. Okay, I'm coming, Elena sloshed into221202:25:43.680 --> 02:25:47.159
the pond and began swimming toward the boat. The boat221302:25:47.920 --> 02:25:53.040
still didn't move. The longer she swam, the angrier she became.221402:25:54.000 --> 02:25:56.239
He better not dare ask for sex the rest of221502:25:56.280 --> 02:25:59.239
the trip, is what she was thinking, not even a221602:25:59.360 --> 02:26:02.840
hand job. The light still shined like a beacon from221702:26:02.879 --> 02:26:06.600
a lonely lighthouse. Elena was about thirty yards away from221802:26:06.680 --> 02:26:12.079
the john boat when she realized something was very, very wrong.221902:26:13.520 --> 02:26:16.120
There was a figure standing in the center of the boat,222002:26:17.040 --> 02:26:19.920
a figure that was a mite bit shorter than her boyfriend.222102:26:21.200 --> 02:26:26.520
That was their john boat, but that wasn't dustin. Elena222202:26:26.639 --> 02:26:28.719
swam a little closer to see if she could make222302:26:28.760 --> 02:26:32.040
out who it was standing in the boat, and screamed222402:26:32.079 --> 02:26:35.639
in horror when she saw what the man was holding222502:26:36.079 --> 02:26:40.319
in his left hand. It couldn't be real. It had222602:26:40.399 --> 02:26:43.520
to be some kind of joke, her mind was telling222702:26:43.559 --> 02:26:46.680
her someone was just pranking her. The man in the222802:26:46.760 --> 02:26:50.200
boat swung his left arm up around and launched the222902:26:50.280 --> 02:26:55.360
severed head of dustin hinds in Elena's direction. She waited223002:26:55.760 --> 02:26:58.840
what seemed like hours on the sound of the splash,223102:26:59.799 --> 02:27:03.920
and when the sound came, Elena turned around and swam223202:27:04.520 --> 02:27:07.879
for all she was worth. Elena felt as if bricks223302:27:07.920 --> 02:27:10.879
were weighing her down. The burning in her lungs felt223402:27:10.959 --> 02:27:15.000
like she inhaled gasoline. She could hear the echo of223502:27:15.040 --> 02:27:19.399
her mother's sentiment in her mind, don't get into any trouble.223602:27:20.200 --> 02:27:21.840
Call me if you need me to come get you.223702:27:22.680 --> 02:27:26.200
No questions asked. Elena wished that she had listened to223802:27:26.319 --> 02:27:29.760
her mother instead. She was swimming for her life to shore.223902:27:30.479 --> 02:27:32.840
Elena was beginning to think she was going to make it.224002:27:33.559 --> 02:27:37.239
She was going to see her mother again. The crack224102:27:37.360 --> 02:27:41.399
of a gunshot was the last sound Elena heard before224202:27:41.479 --> 02:27:46.120
the darkness of the water claimed her. Langley Pond was224302:27:46.239 --> 02:27:58.600
going to be her grave. Summer twoenty twenty one. Jenny's224402:27:58.600 --> 02:28:02.920
face was flush when Brionneana finished the story. Was that224502:28:03.120 --> 02:28:08.680
true what you told me? She asked pretty much. I224602:28:08.719 --> 02:28:11.559
don't know if that's exactly how the conversations went down,224702:28:11.680 --> 02:28:15.000
but the facts are. Elena and Dustin went to Langley Pond.224802:28:15.840 --> 02:28:19.399
Dustin's head was chopped off. They found the body in224902:28:19.479 --> 02:28:21.959
the boat and Elena had been shot in the head.225002:28:22.840 --> 02:28:25.000
It took them a while to find her body, though225102:28:25.760 --> 02:28:29.159
longer than it probably should have. They say her body225202:28:29.319 --> 02:28:31.559
was in the pond long enough for her spirit to225302:28:31.639 --> 02:28:35.719
be trapped here. Some people say they can hear splashing225402:28:35.799 --> 02:28:40.440
around and hollering. Sometimes me, I think it's just the225502:28:40.559 --> 02:28:43.559
bass having their late night snacks. They can make quite225602:28:43.600 --> 02:28:47.360
a ruckus when they're attacking frogs, lizards and whatnot. I225702:28:47.399 --> 02:28:50.959
wouldn't let it scare you too much, though. Brianna finished225802:28:51.239 --> 02:28:54.879
and patted Jenny on her hands. Did they ever catch225902:28:54.959 --> 02:28:59.159
the guy that did it? Jenny asked, Well, that's the226002:28:59.280 --> 02:29:03.440
thing they did. That's how we got this story that's226102:29:03.479 --> 02:29:06.440
been passed down for forty years. But he was shot226202:29:06.520 --> 02:29:08.280
in the head with a long range rifle as he226302:29:08.399 --> 02:29:11.799
was escorted to the courthouse. Let's just say the police226402:29:11.840 --> 02:29:14.000
didn't spend a lot of time looking for the killer226502:29:14.079 --> 02:29:18.159
of Billy Jean Morris. From what's been passed down. A226602:29:18.239 --> 02:29:20.079
lot of folks think it was set up that way.226702:29:20.799 --> 02:29:23.399
The police can turn a blind eye sometimes when it226802:29:23.479 --> 02:29:27.600
comes to Valley justice, especially when it's a couple of226902:29:27.680 --> 02:29:32.319
local kids that were killed. Kids that everybody knew kids227002:29:32.360 --> 02:29:36.280
that everybody loved. There were some rumors that it was227102:29:36.360 --> 02:29:40.239
Elene's daddy or even Dustin's daddy. They were both avid227202:29:40.319 --> 02:29:44.440
hunters with rifles to do the job. They weren't even questioned.227302:29:45.479 --> 02:29:47.319
I don't blame either one of them. If they killed227402:29:47.360 --> 02:29:52.440
Billy Jean, he deserved it, Brianna finished. Jinny looked at227502:29:52.479 --> 02:29:55.600
her in all seriousness and said, what if Billy Jean227602:29:55.719 --> 02:29:59.360
didn't kill them? What if someone else did? And what227702:29:59.479 --> 02:30:02.559
if that's some some one else is still around? Jenny asked,227802:30:03.200 --> 02:30:06.719
clearly working herself up into something that Brianna thought was silly.227902:30:07.559 --> 02:30:10.559
Calm down, girl, it was Billy Jean. I know it228002:30:10.680 --> 02:30:14.040
was Billy Jean. It's a valley thing. He wouldn't understand.228102:30:14.559 --> 02:30:16.399
Now let's go see what those boys are up to.228202:30:17.479 --> 02:30:19.719
Frog was grinning from ear to ear as he saw228302:30:19.799 --> 02:30:24.479
the girl's approach. Andy was downing another PBR. I was228402:30:24.559 --> 02:30:27.440
beginning to worry about you too. You get your girl228502:30:27.559 --> 02:30:32.000
talk in, Frog asked, as he grabbed his own PBR. Yeah,228602:30:32.319 --> 02:30:35.760
something like that, Brianna replied, and winked at Jenny to228702:30:35.879 --> 02:30:38.959
let her know it was okay. It was just a228802:30:39.120 --> 02:30:44.120
stupid local legend. Nothing to worry about, Frog, Are we228902:30:44.280 --> 02:30:47.639
really having Beanie Weenies for dinner? I mean, I'd rather229002:30:47.760 --> 02:30:50.399
go to the store and grab some sandwich stuff. Maybe229102:30:50.479 --> 02:30:52.799
Brianna and I could run to the grocery store real quick.229202:30:53.079 --> 02:30:54.559
We'll get a bag of ice and some more of229302:30:54.600 --> 02:30:57.959
that beer, y'all. Like, Frog was all set to disagree229402:30:58.239 --> 02:31:01.399
and force the Beanie Weenie supper, but when the bee229502:31:01.520 --> 02:31:06.120
word came up, he changed his course of thinking. I229602:31:06.200 --> 02:31:08.879
think that'd be okay. What do you think Andy? The229702:31:08.959 --> 02:31:11.360
girls can go get the sandwich stuff in another case229802:31:11.360 --> 02:31:15.040
of beer. I'll contribute ten bucks for the cause, Frog said,229902:31:15.079 --> 02:31:19.440
and pulled a crinkled bill from his well weathered leather wallet. Yeah,230002:31:19.479 --> 02:31:22.399
I reckon that'll be okay. Brianna. Take her to the230102:31:22.440 --> 02:31:25.000
bilo where Jimmy works. He'll let you buy the beer230202:31:25.079 --> 02:31:28.520
with no id. Brianna rolled her eyes at Andy like230302:31:28.639 --> 02:31:31.680
she didn't already know that she had bought beer at230402:31:31.719 --> 02:31:35.079
that bilo since she was fourteen years old. The Valley230502:31:35.159 --> 02:31:38.399
kids knew where to go without being ripped off. There230602:31:38.520 --> 02:31:41.000
was always the quick shop option, where the owner would230702:31:41.040 --> 02:31:44.360
only sell the swill known as Milwaukee's best for triple230802:31:44.440 --> 02:31:48.079
the labeled price to desperate teens. That's the only way230902:31:48.159 --> 02:31:50.200
he could get rid of the crap, and he had231002:31:50.280 --> 02:31:52.000
to carry it because it was such an under the231102:31:52.079 --> 02:31:55.559
table money maker for him. Any Way he can stick231202:31:55.639 --> 02:31:58.040
it to the government and help raise the next generation231302:31:58.159 --> 02:32:00.799
of Valley rats, the better for his ay, pride and231402:32:01.239 --> 02:32:06.079
his pockets. Andy tossed the truck keys to Brianna. Be careful, babe,231502:32:06.399 --> 02:32:08.719
don't wreck my truck, and don't get caught with that beer.231602:32:09.440 --> 02:32:11.959
Brianna gave him another eye roll and trotted to the231702:32:12.040 --> 02:32:15.680
driver's side. Jenny felt a wave of relief when Brianna231802:32:15.760 --> 02:32:18.639
started the engine and the cool lair from the ac231902:32:19.040 --> 02:32:24.920
kissed her face. Andy Frog said with a wicked grin, Yeah,232002:32:26.159 --> 02:32:28.520
I had Jenny going pretty good with the spirit of232102:32:28.600 --> 02:32:31.680
Langley Pond. You want to have some fun and scare232202:32:31.719 --> 02:32:35.280
the girls when they get back, more Jenny than Brianna.232302:32:35.920 --> 02:32:39.639
I know she's tough to scare. I don't know, man,232402:32:40.079 --> 02:32:42.680
that new girl might go off the deep end. I mean,232502:32:42.879 --> 02:32:45.840
you don't know her all that well, and it'll severely232602:32:45.959 --> 02:32:48.520
reduce your chances of playing hide the snake. If you232702:32:48.840 --> 02:32:52.479
catch my drift, it'll be more like a whack a mole,232802:32:53.000 --> 02:32:57.239
Andy replied and smiled. I don't care. Frog began, I232902:32:57.280 --> 02:33:00.319
don't think she's gonna give it up anyway. We'll have233002:33:00.479 --> 02:33:02.959
some fun with her. She's creeped out over the ghost233102:33:03.040 --> 02:33:07.440
of Elena Sanders. First, what did you have in mind?233202:33:07.520 --> 02:33:13.399
And second, if Brianna gets pissed, it's on you. Andy replied, Look,233302:33:14.000 --> 02:33:16.319
while they're gone, I'm gonna go to the edge of233402:33:16.360 --> 02:33:19.440
the woods over yonder. Frog pointed to the shoreline at233502:33:19.479 --> 02:33:24.440
his left. You see that cluster of trees over there. Yeah, well,233602:33:24.479 --> 02:33:27.440
I'm gonna go over there behind them trees and start233702:33:27.520 --> 02:33:29.799
tossing some of the red bricks that Ricky put over233802:33:29.920 --> 02:33:32.760
in that clearing into the pond. He'll never miss him.233902:33:33.200 --> 02:33:35.600
He done forgot he put them out there. And check234002:33:35.680 --> 02:33:38.680
this out real quick, give me a second. Frog ran234102:33:38.760 --> 02:33:41.040
to his car, and Andy could hear him rustling before234202:33:41.079 --> 02:33:44.520
he came trotting back with a palm sized speaker. It's234302:33:44.600 --> 02:33:48.920
a bluetooth, man, I'm gonna place some Halloween screams out234402:33:48.959 --> 02:33:51.600
of this bad boy. It works right off my phone.234502:33:52.479 --> 02:33:55.040
And while you're doing all this shit, where am I234602:33:55.159 --> 02:33:57.799
supposed to tell them? You are? Tell them? I went234702:33:57.840 --> 02:33:59.479
to the other side of the pond to go giggin.234802:34:00.040 --> 02:34:02.879
Brianna will believe that she knows how much I love234902:34:03.040 --> 02:34:06.840
to go giggin, and when she finds out that's a lie,235002:34:07.559 --> 02:34:09.399
then me and my right hand are going to be235102:34:09.479 --> 02:34:11.959
best friends for the rest of the trip. I don't235202:34:12.040 --> 02:34:15.920
think so, Andy replied, you have to take the fun235302:34:16.000 --> 02:34:18.440
out of everything. Man. Look, I will tell you that235402:34:18.559 --> 02:34:20.840
I was going giggin and I'm going to disappear for235502:34:20.879 --> 02:34:23.079
a little while. Then you won't be lying, and you235602:34:23.159 --> 02:34:25.440
can act like you're just as pissed as the girls.235702:34:25.959 --> 02:34:28.559
I suspect I'll be taking Jenny home after this stunt,235802:34:28.600 --> 02:34:30.920
and you and Brianna will be all alone in the cabin.235902:34:31.600 --> 02:34:34.440
Frog grinned and poked his finger through the hole he236002:34:34.600 --> 02:34:38.399
made with his other hand. A smile ran across Andy's face.236102:34:39.280 --> 02:34:42.280
Now that sounds like a better plan, my man. I236202:34:42.440 --> 02:34:45.319
know nothing, I see nothing, I hear nothing but the236302:34:45.399 --> 02:34:49.200
spirit of Elena Ann Sanders splashing and screaming in the water.236402:34:50.360 --> 02:34:59.719
That's the spirit, Frog replied, without realizing the pun. Darkness236502:34:59.840 --> 02:35:02.120
was closing in on the valley when Andy saw the236602:35:02.200 --> 02:35:05.520
lights of his truck coming down the path. They're back,236702:35:06.079 --> 02:35:08.840
he shouted, which sent Frog scurrying for the tree line.236802:35:09.200 --> 02:35:12.440
Brianna and Jenny were still laughing from their conversation on236902:35:12.520 --> 02:35:16.559
the trip back. Hey, girls, need a hand, Andy walked237002:35:16.600 --> 02:35:20.799
toward them. Where's Frog was the first question from Jenny's lips,237102:35:21.040 --> 02:35:24.159
and Brianna already had her doubting eyes looking around for237202:35:24.239 --> 02:35:28.559
the mischievous valley prints. He'll be back directly, he went,237302:35:28.600 --> 02:35:31.360
Gigan on the other side of the pond. What's gigin,237402:35:32.000 --> 02:35:34.959
Jenny asked, thinking it was some made up thing by237502:35:35.040 --> 02:35:39.559
these valley people. He went to kill his namesake. Brianna answered.237602:35:39.920 --> 02:35:42.680
Gigin is when you basically take a three prong metal237702:35:42.760 --> 02:35:45.840
spear and go stab frogs with them. Don't worry, though,237802:35:46.280 --> 02:35:49.319
Frog isn't killing them entirely for fun. He'll cut the237902:35:49.399 --> 02:35:52.479
legs off and fry them up. Ew he's going to238002:35:52.559 --> 02:35:57.079
eat their legs. Jenny couldn't believe what she was hearing. Yeah,238102:35:57.799 --> 02:36:01.239
I'll probably eat some too. Andy. Oh, he's not much238202:36:01.280 --> 02:36:04.879
on frog legs, are you, babe? Brianna asked, y'all can238302:36:04.959 --> 02:36:07.120
have that. If I eat a fried leg, you better238402:36:07.159 --> 02:36:10.319
have belonged to a chicken. That's all I'll say. Did238502:36:10.399 --> 02:36:15.079
he say when he's coming back? Jenny asked, Well, with frog,238602:36:15.200 --> 02:36:17.879
you never can tell. If he starts sticking them left238702:36:17.920 --> 02:36:19.959
and right, it might be a while. But if he238802:36:20.040 --> 02:36:22.559
can't catch him, then he might not be gone so long.238902:36:23.639 --> 02:36:26.920
Is he good at catching them? Jenny asked, best in239002:36:27.040 --> 02:36:32.200
the valley? Brianna replied, oh. Jenny said she thought that239102:36:32.399 --> 02:36:33.920
was a hell of a way to treat your date.239202:36:34.399 --> 02:36:36.159
Send her off to get your beer while you go239302:36:36.360 --> 02:36:39.360
kill frogs around the pond. Jenny made up her mind239402:36:39.399 --> 02:36:41.360
that Frog would have to take her home as soon239502:36:41.399 --> 02:36:45.280
as he got back. Here's your beer, Brianna said, and239602:36:45.399 --> 02:36:47.840
pulled the case from the bed of the pickup. It's239702:36:47.879 --> 02:36:50.479
still cold, Jenny and I are going to make ourselves239802:36:50.520 --> 02:36:53.000
a couple of sandwiches. You want a ham and cheese,239902:36:53.600 --> 02:36:55.959
you know I do? Can you bring it back out here?240002:36:56.159 --> 02:36:58.920
I'm gonna start a fire in the pit. It's eighty240102:36:59.040 --> 02:37:01.040
something de grease out andy. Do you really want to240202:37:01.079 --> 02:37:03.799
make it any hotter? I like to see the people240302:37:03.879 --> 02:37:08.000
in the flames, Babe. I won't keep it lit all night, alrighty,240402:37:08.120 --> 02:37:11.159
then go see your flame people. Come on, Jenny, I'm240502:37:11.159 --> 02:37:14.799
starving the girls went into the cabin. Andy lit up240602:37:14.840 --> 02:37:17.239
the fire pit and waited to hear the first splash.240702:37:17.920 --> 02:37:20.920
Brianna came out ten minutes later with Andy sandwich wrapped240802:37:20.959 --> 02:37:25.440
in a paper towel. Did Frog really go giggin, Brian asked.240902:37:26.120 --> 02:37:29.600
Andy truthfully answered, that's where he told me he was going.241002:37:29.680 --> 02:37:32.440
But you never know with Frog. He added that just241102:37:32.520 --> 02:37:34.559
to cover his ass for when the shit went down.241202:37:35.559 --> 02:37:38.280
All right, it's pretty dark out here, now, you coming241302:37:38.360 --> 02:37:41.200
in soon? Yeah, I'll be in in a little bit.241402:37:41.639 --> 02:37:43.479
I was trying to wait on Frog to get back.241502:37:43.680 --> 02:37:45.760
I'm surprised he didn't come running when he heard the241602:37:45.840 --> 02:37:49.440
beer truck, Andy said, already thinking of how fake mad241702:37:49.520 --> 02:37:52.079
he was going to be with Frog when the prank unfolded.241802:37:52.639 --> 02:37:55.040
Andy wondered if Frog would let him get a punch in,241902:37:55.600 --> 02:37:59.040
just to completely exonerate himself from any involvement in his242002:37:59.239 --> 02:38:02.680
childish ploy. Just put that fire out before you come in.242102:38:03.159 --> 02:38:04.760
We don't want to be the ones to burn down242202:38:04.799 --> 02:38:09.239
the cabins. Roger that. Andy smiled and pursed his lips242302:38:09.280 --> 02:38:13.399
for a kiss. Brianna gave him a quick pack. Fifteen242402:38:13.440 --> 02:38:16.559
minutes passed and there was no splash, no sound from242502:38:16.600 --> 02:38:20.000
the area in which Frog disappeared. Andy was getting a242602:38:20.000 --> 02:38:22.719
little antsy as he stood from his chair, took another242702:38:22.760 --> 02:38:26.360
gulp of PBR, and turned toward the cabin. He could242802:38:26.360 --> 02:38:29.280
see the outline of the girls standing near the ac unit.242902:38:30.120 --> 02:38:33.840
Andy began walking toward the cabin when the first splash243002:38:34.440 --> 02:38:41.239
finally came. Ah, so it begins, Andy thought to himself.243102:38:41.959 --> 02:38:44.479
The girls didn't hear it, or if they did, it243202:38:44.639 --> 02:38:48.159
wasn't enough ruckus yet to make them come outside. Then243302:38:48.920 --> 02:38:53.799
there was a second splash, much louder than the first.243402:38:54.600 --> 02:38:57.840
He saw Brianna's head turn, but she didn't come outside.243502:38:58.760 --> 02:39:01.239
I guess third times a child, is what Andy thought.243602:39:01.920 --> 02:39:05.159
The third splash came, and it was much louder than243702:39:05.200 --> 02:39:10.079
the first two. This time he saw Brianna move toward243802:39:10.159 --> 02:39:18.559
the door. Then came the scream. It was loud, shrill,243902:39:18.959 --> 02:39:24.319
and brief, almost inhuman. It was a scream of severe pain.244002:39:25.159 --> 02:39:28.719
Brianna came bursting out the door. All right, Andy, tell244102:39:28.799 --> 02:39:31.639
Frog to cut the shit. Jenny's freaking the hell out244202:39:31.719 --> 02:39:35.479
in there. She's afraid to come out. Frog, cut the shit,244302:39:36.200 --> 02:39:39.799
Brianna hollered in the direction of the commotion. There were244402:39:39.879 --> 02:39:47.000
more splashes. They got louder and closer, louder and closer.244502:39:48.319 --> 02:39:53.719
Then the second scream. It was so loud. Andy was244602:39:53.799 --> 02:39:56.120
thinking that was one hell of a speaker. Frog had244702:39:56.159 --> 02:39:59.719
brought Andy and Brianna heard running, and it was coming244802:39:59.760 --> 02:40:05.159
toward them very quickly. Frog emerged from the darkness and244902:40:05.280 --> 02:40:08.600
his face was white as a sheet. Frog, You son245002:40:08.680 --> 02:40:12.319
of a bit, Brianna began and then stopped. Her heart245102:40:12.440 --> 02:40:15.440
felt like it was going baboom out of her chest245202:40:15.559 --> 02:40:19.760
when she heard the next scream. This was no bluetooth speaker.245302:40:20.799 --> 02:40:25.280
This was menacing and so full of pain. Damn Frog,245402:40:26.000 --> 02:40:29.680
how are you doing that, Andy asked, still not getting it,245502:40:30.399 --> 02:40:35.120
actually impressed with his friend's skill. It's not me, Andy,245602:40:35.719 --> 02:40:39.920
it's a Lena and I pissed her off. Stop at Frog,245702:40:40.319 --> 02:40:43.600
take me home. I'm done with this shit, Jenny yelled.245802:40:44.200 --> 02:40:47.680
Her entire body was shaking. The poor girl was scared245902:40:47.719 --> 02:40:50.200
out of her mind. I think we all need to leave,246002:40:50.719 --> 02:40:54.559
Andy said, as he realized his buddy wasn't joking. Andy246102:40:54.680 --> 02:40:58.200
kept calm. Let's just go. We'll come clean up our246202:40:58.239 --> 02:41:02.520
crap in the morning. There was another tremendous splash, and246302:41:02.639 --> 02:41:05.639
it was closer than any of the others. The rhythm246402:41:05.840 --> 02:41:09.959
was almost like thunder followed by lightning. A few seconds246502:41:10.000 --> 02:41:13.879
after the splash, the screech came. It was a sound246602:41:13.920 --> 02:41:18.040
of unmitigated pain. The four of them froze in place,246702:41:18.760 --> 02:41:23.159
and their mouths fell open, almost in unison at what246802:41:23.360 --> 02:41:28.319
they saw next. The apparition of Elena was floating above246902:41:28.399 --> 02:41:31.680
the water, just past the shoreline. The front of her247002:41:31.760 --> 02:41:35.120
head was busted wide open, and her eyes were contorted247102:41:35.239 --> 02:41:40.000
black pools that looked in opposite directions. She fell into247202:41:40.079 --> 02:41:46.280
the water with a loud, cursed splash, and slowly rose again.247302:41:47.440 --> 02:41:51.920
Her mouth opened wide, and this time the scream pierced them.247402:41:52.559 --> 02:41:54.920
The ear drums of all four of them were on247502:41:55.040 --> 02:41:58.280
the verge of exploding in their skulls. Hands went to247602:41:58.360 --> 02:42:01.840
cover ears on instinct, but it didn't matter. This scream247702:42:02.239 --> 02:42:06.520
moved through flesh and bone, through space and time. This247802:42:06.920 --> 02:42:11.840
was the scream of the dead, the dead trapped in247902:42:11.959 --> 02:42:15.639
her watery grave. It was a macabre dance of the248002:42:15.799 --> 02:42:20.319
dead in which Elena was forever trapped. Jenny was the248102:42:20.399 --> 02:42:24.360
first to speak when the screaming stopped. She's not gonna248202:42:24.399 --> 02:42:27.920
let us leave. Brianna looked at Andy, and they felt248302:42:27.959 --> 02:42:32.399
the same apprehension that Jenny spoke aloud, but Andy simply said,248402:42:33.200 --> 02:42:36.159
let's get the hell out of here. Andy and Brianna248502:42:36.280 --> 02:42:38.760
ran to the truck, while Frog and Jenny ran to248602:42:38.879 --> 02:42:42.440
Frog's mustang. Andy turned the key and heard the clicking248702:42:42.600 --> 02:42:46.959
sound associated with a dead battery. Frog did the same.248802:42:47.760 --> 02:42:51.559
Jenny was shaking in her seat. Brianna was already thinking248902:42:51.639 --> 02:42:54.159
that they would just book it to four twenty one249002:42:54.239 --> 02:42:57.040
on foot. It wasn't that far away, and once they249102:42:57.079 --> 02:42:59.799
were on that stretch of road they would be home free.249202:43:01.000 --> 02:43:04.719
The wind suddenly picked up and the temperature dropped. The249302:43:04.840 --> 02:43:07.600
four of them got out of the vehicles and moved249402:43:07.680 --> 02:43:11.959
closer to one another. Brianna wanted to scream, wanted to249502:43:12.040 --> 02:43:14.600
tell them to run, but something in her gut warned249602:43:14.639 --> 02:43:18.840
her that would be a big mistake. Jenny's lips were249702:43:18.920 --> 02:43:22.079
quivering with fear, and Frog didn't look like a prince249802:43:22.159 --> 02:43:25.799
at all. For the first time in his life, Frog249902:43:26.000 --> 02:43:30.040
truly felt fear rush up his spine. The calmness that250002:43:30.159 --> 02:43:33.239
Andy displayed just moments before was replaced with a feeling250102:43:33.319 --> 02:43:37.719
of despair. They all felt like Brianna felt as if250202:43:37.760 --> 02:43:42.719
they should run but couldn't. Not that anyone or anything250302:43:42.840 --> 02:43:46.879
was stopping them, but it just felt like a very250402:43:47.040 --> 02:43:50.760
bad idea. There was another screech, and the four of250502:43:50.840 --> 02:43:54.680
them turned toward the pond. The apparition was floating above250602:43:54.719 --> 02:43:58.120
the water, just at the shoreline. Her dark hair was250702:43:58.239 --> 02:44:02.799
flowing behind her, and she wasn't falling this time. Her250802:44:02.920 --> 02:44:05.920
mouth was contorted as if she were about to release250902:44:05.959 --> 02:44:11.040
another screech, but this time she didn't. The spirit of251002:44:11.079 --> 02:44:15.280
Elena looked directly at Frog with a face of recognition.251102:44:16.200 --> 02:44:20.159
The spirit began shaking above the water. What the fuck, frog,251202:44:20.879 --> 02:44:28.000
Andy whispered, I don't know, man, Frog whispered back, she's251302:44:28.079 --> 02:44:32.879
pointing at you, Jenny said, on the verge of sobbing. No,251402:44:33.040 --> 02:44:36.280
she's not. She's pointing at us. She don't want us251502:44:36.360 --> 02:44:37.959
to be here, and I think we should give her251602:44:38.000 --> 02:44:42.440
what she wants. Frog whispered back. Andy, Jenny, and Brianna251702:44:42.879 --> 02:44:47.520
slowly stepped away from Frog. Elena's spirit kept pointing to251802:44:47.600 --> 02:44:52.799
the valley Prince. It was recognition and it wasn't coincidence.251902:44:54.159 --> 02:44:56.040
What the hell, man, what did I ever do to her?252002:44:56.680 --> 02:44:59.280
I don't know, man, but I wouldn't make any sudden252102:44:59.360 --> 02:45:05.639
movements if I why were you? Summer nineteen eighty one.252202:45:06.680 --> 02:45:09.239
He had seen Elena come in his store through the years.252302:45:09.920 --> 02:45:14.200
He longed for her, but she was taken. Dustin Hines252402:45:14.319 --> 02:45:16.760
was her man, and it didn't sit well with him,252502:45:17.360 --> 02:45:20.399
not one bit. He heard it through the grapevine that252602:45:20.479 --> 02:45:23.319
they were going to Langley Pond for a romantic getaway252702:45:23.399 --> 02:45:28.319
this weekend, and today was Friday. Elena wouldn't give him252802:45:28.360 --> 02:45:31.319
the time of day, would barely utter a word when252902:45:31.360 --> 02:45:35.040
she came in to pick out a movie. Sometimes Dustin253002:45:35.079 --> 02:45:38.000
would be with her. She would come in with her beautiful,253102:45:38.120 --> 02:45:42.120
long black hair and perfect smile, teasing him. Elena had253202:45:42.200 --> 02:45:44.280
to know that he was in love with her, but253302:45:44.399 --> 02:45:47.000
she would come in with Dustin, flaunting her love for253402:45:47.159 --> 02:45:52.479
him and in a sense, a disdain for Frog Spradley.253502:45:53.280 --> 02:45:56.840
He didn't understand why Valley Video was going to be253602:45:56.959 --> 02:45:59.959
his outright In another year he would be a reput253702:46:00.000 --> 02:46:03.399
suitable business owner. Frog was sure that the video rental253802:46:03.479 --> 02:46:07.159
business would be a necessity for generations to come. But253902:46:07.360 --> 02:46:12.879
she would come and go, tease him, taunt him, show254002:46:13.000 --> 02:46:16.200
him what he can't have, show him who was getting254102:46:16.280 --> 02:46:20.200
her love? This wasn't going to work for Frog. He254202:46:20.280 --> 02:46:23.959
would be at that pond tonight, just like the song said,254302:46:25.520 --> 02:46:30.479
bang bang, he shot me down, Bang bang, I hit254402:46:30.600 --> 02:46:36.680
the ground, Bang bang. That awful sound bang bang. My254502:46:36.840 --> 02:46:41.360
baby shot me down. And that's exactly what Frog would do.254602:46:42.239 --> 02:46:44.959
He would go to the pond. He would hear them254702:46:45.040 --> 02:46:48.200
making love in the tent. He would take his machete254802:46:48.639 --> 02:46:51.600
and get Dustin to come outside. While Elena was sleeping,254902:46:52.440 --> 02:46:55.799
he'd hack him up and chop off his head. He'd255002:46:55.840 --> 02:46:59.280
take the john boat out late he heard them talking255102:46:59.319 --> 02:47:02.600
about their late night fishing trip. She would come out.255202:47:03.159 --> 02:47:05.559
She would see the light. She would think that her255302:47:05.639 --> 02:47:08.879
lover was fishing without her. She'd see the man that255402:47:09.000 --> 02:47:13.159
she scorned, see what she could have had. He would255502:47:13.239 --> 02:47:16.600
toss the head of her betrothed. She would see him.255602:47:17.399 --> 02:47:20.760
All she had to do was keep swimming to the boat,255702:47:21.319 --> 02:47:24.959
and she would have lived. But she turned and swam away,255802:47:25.719 --> 02:47:28.079
afraid of the man that was truly meant for her.255902:47:28.639 --> 02:47:31.879
He'd line her up with his deer rifle. Frog was256002:47:31.959 --> 02:47:35.879
a dead shot. He wasn't going to miss. He'd let256102:47:35.920 --> 02:47:38.760
her feel as if she may get away before the256202:47:38.879 --> 02:47:43.000
shot would zip through the back of her skull. It256302:47:43.120 --> 02:47:45.639
was pure luck that they pinned it on Billy Jean.256402:47:46.319 --> 02:47:49.360
He always had a short fuse, and that was all256502:47:49.639 --> 02:47:52.920
very well and good with Frog. He'd find another love,256602:47:53.639 --> 02:47:56.879
one that would love him. They'd have a baby boy,256702:47:57.280 --> 02:48:00.639
and he would keep the name of Frog alive. Frog256802:48:00.799 --> 02:48:03.559
was the spitting image of his father and his grandfather.256902:48:04.399 --> 02:48:07.920
He'd grow up as a valley prince. Frog Senior wouldn't257002:48:07.959 --> 02:48:11.399
think of Elena again until he took his final breath257102:48:12.000 --> 02:48:16.239
in twenty fifteen, when the song floated through his mind257202:48:16.799 --> 02:48:22.200
for the first time since that day. Bang bang, he257302:48:22.360 --> 02:48:28.200
shot me down. Bang bang, I hit the ground, Bang257402:48:28.399 --> 02:48:34.639
bang that awful sound Bang bang, My baby shot me down.257502:48:36.040 --> 02:48:39.479
Frog died with his loved ones around him and tears257602:48:39.559 --> 02:48:44.600
in his eyes. His family didn't know the tears weren't257702:48:44.639 --> 02:48:50.840
for them, but for Elena, the spirit of Langley Pond.257802:48:54.719 --> 02:49:00.520
Summer twoenty twenty one. The specter was transfixed on Frog,257902:49:00.959 --> 02:49:04.639
and he was in turn locked onto her lifeless eyes.258002:49:05.559 --> 02:49:08.799
Her mouth curled in pain, and it was as if258102:49:09.319 --> 02:49:13.760
she were the one seeing a ghost. Frog couldn't move.258202:49:14.479 --> 02:49:16.959
It was as if he were stuck knees deep in258302:49:17.120 --> 02:49:20.639
mud and the air around him was infused with a258402:49:20.760 --> 02:49:26.000
coldness that chilled him to his soul. The spirit of258502:49:26.120 --> 02:49:29.879
Langley Pond seemed to know him, and she didn't seem258602:49:29.959 --> 02:49:33.840
all that thrilled that he was looking at her. Oh258702:49:33.920 --> 02:49:38.079
my god, Brianna screamed in Frog's direction, she knows you.258802:49:39.000 --> 02:49:43.000
Andy turned away from the ghost and saw the angst258902:49:43.079 --> 02:49:47.920
in Frog's face before he said, that's impossible. There's no259002:49:48.040 --> 02:49:51.719
way she knows Frog. The ghost floated closer to them259102:49:52.159 --> 02:49:55.120
and seemed to put her feet on the ground. The259202:49:55.360 --> 02:49:59.120
entire shoreline got much colder, and the others felt it.259302:49:59.680 --> 02:50:02.559
Every one was stuck in their spot, afraid to make259402:50:02.680 --> 02:50:06.639
any sudden movement. The four of them formed somewhat of259502:50:06.680 --> 02:50:10.200
a straight line, and they all faced the spirit of Elena,259602:50:10.959 --> 02:50:13.719
But that spirit was only focused on one of them,259702:50:14.920 --> 02:50:18.600
and she changed The life came back into her eyes.259802:50:19.360 --> 02:50:24.479
They turned from black pools to light brown. The distortion259902:50:24.680 --> 02:50:28.840
in her face also melted away. The ghostly apparition that260002:50:28.920 --> 02:50:32.040
the four of them witnessed floating above the pond changed260102:50:32.120 --> 02:50:36.239
into healed flesh and blood. She no longer floated, but260202:50:36.440 --> 02:50:41.239
walked toward Frog. He managed to utter the first words260302:50:41.479 --> 02:50:46.520
to break the silence. Hey, look, what do you want260402:50:46.559 --> 02:50:50.360
from us? The young woman smiled at him and held260502:50:50.399 --> 02:50:53.840
out her hands. Frog wanted to believe this was just260602:50:53.920 --> 02:50:57.239
a dream, that he had drank five too many PBRs260702:50:57.600 --> 02:51:00.440
and would wake up any minute, but he knew that260802:51:00.559 --> 02:51:04.239
he was in the here and now take my hand.260902:51:05.440 --> 02:51:10.200
You were there. You killed my boyfriend, you chopped off261002:51:10.239 --> 02:51:15.000
his head, and you shot me, Elena said, and continued,261102:51:15.760 --> 02:51:20.280
take my hand so I can leave this god forsaken place.261202:51:21.000 --> 02:51:24.520
Frog trembled. His brain was trying to fight the overwhelming261302:51:24.600 --> 02:51:30.040
compulsion to grab Elena's hand. If he did, he thought261402:51:30.079 --> 02:51:32.280
it might be the last thing that he ever did.261502:51:33.600 --> 02:51:39.799
Brianna found her courage and spoke Elena. The girl turned261602:51:39.840 --> 02:51:43.159
to face her. He couldn't have killed your boyfriend or261702:51:43.319 --> 02:51:48.200
you please just listen to me. Elena placed her hands261802:51:48.239 --> 02:51:51.440
at her side and gave Brianna a sense of relief.261902:51:52.360 --> 02:51:55.879
She was going to listen to her. Good, good, Look.262002:51:56.920 --> 02:52:00.559
The year is twenty twenty one. They were killed in262102:52:00.680 --> 02:52:03.840
nineteen eighty one by Billy Jean Morris. It was in262202:52:03.959 --> 02:52:06.959
all the papers. My mama told me about it. The262302:52:07.040 --> 02:52:10.399
whole town knew it was Billy Jean. He was shot dead, Elena,262402:52:11.000 --> 02:52:13.360
they got the man that killed you and your boyfriend.262502:52:15.000 --> 02:52:18.399
Elena turned her attention away from Frog for just a262602:52:18.520 --> 02:52:22.719
moment and walked to Brianna. Jenny ran to Andy and262702:52:22.799 --> 02:52:24.680
stuck her head in the crook of his arm, like262802:52:24.799 --> 02:52:27.239
she was trying to shield herself from seeing a kill262902:52:27.280 --> 02:52:31.840
in a horror movie. Elena walked toward Brianna. She seemed263002:52:31.879 --> 02:52:35.280
to admire the beauty of the girl. They were close263102:52:35.360 --> 02:52:39.120
to the same age. Billy Jean Morris did not kill me.263202:52:40.000 --> 02:52:43.879
Billy Jean Morris never talked to me. I know who263302:52:43.959 --> 02:52:48.760
I saw, and it was his face, she said, and263402:52:48.920 --> 02:52:53.360
pointed back at Frog. Shit, woman, I wasn't even born yet.263502:52:53.879 --> 02:52:59.639
Please Frog pleaded, It was him, Elena said and started263602:52:59.680 --> 02:53:03.520
to turn away from Brianna. Brianna lunged forward and grabbed263702:53:03.559 --> 02:53:07.360
Elena around her wrist. She was surprised that she didn't263802:53:07.440 --> 02:53:10.840
pass through her. Brianna really had a grip on the263902:53:10.920 --> 02:53:15.159
young woman. Elena spun around and Brianna's backwards hug like264002:53:15.239 --> 02:53:19.120
a slippery eel, and placed her hands on Brianna's head.264102:53:20.120 --> 02:53:24.040
The memory of that night and her death filled Brianna's264202:53:24.120 --> 02:53:30.600
mind in what felt like a wave of electricity. Brianna264302:53:30.719 --> 02:53:34.200
blinked rapidly. Andy pushed Jenny away and started to run264402:53:34.239 --> 02:53:40.719
toward his girlfriend. No, Brianna screamed, stop. Andy stopped in264502:53:40.799 --> 02:53:45.920
his tracks. Elena looked into Brianna's eyes, looking for understanding.264602:53:46.559 --> 02:53:51.360
You see it was him, You see that now right.264702:53:52.360 --> 02:53:56.000
Elena broke Brianna's grip around her waist and turned back264802:53:56.079 --> 02:53:59.639
to Frog. What the hell, man, I wasn't even on264902:53:59.760 --> 02:54:04.920
the planet. Then it was his daddy, Brianna shouted. This265002:54:05.159 --> 02:54:09.600
made Elena pause. It is twenty twenty one. His daddy's265102:54:09.680 --> 02:54:12.760
name was Frog, and his name is Frog. He looks265202:54:12.879 --> 02:54:15.280
just like his daddy. He didn't have anything to do265302:54:15.399 --> 02:54:19.280
with it. Andy rushed to his girlfriend's side, and Jenny265402:54:19.440 --> 02:54:22.239
was right behind him. The three of them stood together.265502:54:22.840 --> 02:54:27.159
Frog was still frozen in place. Elena moved closer to Frog.265602:54:27.799 --> 02:54:30.319
She could see the man that chopped off Dustin's head.265702:54:31.040 --> 02:54:33.760
She could almost feel the bullet break open the back265802:54:33.799 --> 02:54:37.280
of her skull all over again. He put his hands265902:54:37.360 --> 02:54:40.120
out in front of him, hoping this would keep her266002:54:40.159 --> 02:54:44.639
at arm's length. She touched his hand and it was266102:54:44.799 --> 02:54:48.200
colder than anything he had ever felt in his young life.266202:54:48.840 --> 02:54:53.120
You have his blood and a penance has to be paid,266302:54:53.639 --> 02:54:56.840
Elena said as she grabbed the Valley Prince by the hand.266402:54:57.360 --> 02:55:00.719
I will not stay here any longer. I was waiting266502:55:00.799 --> 02:55:04.000
on him to return, and he never did. He did,266602:55:04.680 --> 02:55:08.280
but his son will do. You carry the blood of266702:55:08.360 --> 02:55:12.239
the man that killed me. You should have never been born,266802:55:12.879 --> 02:55:17.319
Elena said, and pulled Frog closer to her. Brienna and266902:55:17.440 --> 02:55:20.959
Andy started to run toward them. Jenny was a blubbering267002:55:21.079 --> 02:55:24.879
mess to save their friend, but it was too late.267102:55:25.239 --> 02:55:28.120
Alena had a firm grip on both of Frog's arms267202:55:28.600 --> 02:55:32.840
and she morphed back into the specter. Frog was lifted267302:55:32.959 --> 02:55:35.799
straight up into the sky, his legs kicking and his267402:55:35.959 --> 02:55:40.520
lungs screaming into the night. Brienna and Andy shouted Frog's name.267502:55:41.079 --> 02:55:46.680
As he disappeared into the sky, his screams went silent.267602:55:47.360 --> 02:55:51.399
Andy and Brianna looked at one another, waiting for another sound,267702:55:52.239 --> 02:55:56.959
another sign of life from the Valley Prince. What they267802:55:57.120 --> 02:56:01.079
heard in the far distance of the pond was a splash,267902:56:02.200 --> 02:56:11.079
a cackle, and then silence. The spirit of Elena Anne268002:56:11.200 --> 02:56:16.600
Sanders was now free. It was replaced by the son268102:56:16.680 --> 02:56:20.680
of the man that killed her and Dustin. This would268202:56:20.719 --> 02:56:26.600
be the penance that set her free. Brianna, Andy and268302:56:26.760 --> 02:56:30.319
Jenny would never be able to explain what they witnessed.268402:56:31.200 --> 02:56:35.040
They just said Frog went giggin and never came back.268502:56:36.440 --> 02:56:49.879
What else could they say? And there you have it,268602:56:50.399 --> 02:56:55.920
my Spookies, six ghostly tales to carry us through the268702:56:56.079 --> 02:57:03.719
quiet after Halloween. Marigolds will fade, the candles will go out,268802:57:04.479 --> 02:57:12.120
but the spirits never really leave, do they No, they268902:57:12.360 --> 02:57:18.600
just get hungry. And speaking of hunger, Monday on Terrifying269002:57:18.719 --> 02:57:22.200
and True, We're diving deep into one of the darkest269102:57:22.399 --> 02:57:28.559
chapters of American history, a story of desperation, madness, and269202:57:28.760 --> 02:57:35.000
survival against the frozen unknown. We'll be covering the Donner Party,269302:57:35.719 --> 02:57:40.159
and trust me, my friends, you'll want to eat before269402:57:40.879 --> 02:57:47.799
you listen. So until then, keep your candles burning, your269502:57:47.879 --> 02:57:53.920
windows closed tight, and remember here at Weekly Spooky the269602:57:54.079 --> 02:58:01.639
stories may end, but the spirits never go anywhere. Make269702:58:01.680 --> 02:58:06.079
sure you subscribe. It might just save your life.
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