Ep.198 – These Dark Woods - A Hungry Beasts is Stalking You!

A Bigfoot like monster is stalking Missouri known as "Momo" and it seems to be hungry for any flesh it can get...
These Dark Woods by David O'Hanlon
Contact Us/Submit a Story
twitter.com/WeeklySpooky
facebook.com/WeeklySpooky
https://gmail.com/...
A Bigfoot like monster is stalking Missouri known as "Momo" and it seems to be hungry for any flesh it can get...
These Dark Woods by David O'Hanlon
Contact Us/Submit a Story
twitter.com/WeeklySpooky
facebook.com/WeeklySpooky
WeeklySpooky@gmail.com
Music by Ray Mattis http://raymattispresents.bandcamp.com
Executive Producer Rob Fields
Produced by Daniel Wilder
This episode sponsored by
HenFlix.com
For everything else visit
WeeklySpooky.com
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It's a beautiful summer and you've been
hiking and camping all day long. But
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now it's nighttime and behind the trees
you see eyes peering at you. Who
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are they or what are they?
And what do they want? But more
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importantly than all that, do you
have any hope at all of escape?
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What's that you want to be scared? Come with me. You will experience
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tales over opera, ghosts and death. It is not recommended at the foot
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the week at heart time, listen
us in the dark. It's more fun
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than that way. This is Weekly
Speaking. Hello, my spookies. It's
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Wednesday, and you know what that
means. It's time for a little spooky
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in your weekly. I'm your host
and narrator, Enrique Kuto, and we
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have a very very fun and very
double sized monster sized if you will episode
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for you to enjoy. I wanted
something that at least gave a little bit
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of the feeling of summer in America, as we just had the fourth of
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July yesterday. Well, what could
be more summer than camping? And what
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could be more terrifying when you hear
a noise you don't recognize than camping.
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So that's where we're heading thanks to
author David O'Hanlon, but before we get
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to that, I want to say
thank you so much for listening. It's
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the dead of summer, the time
of year when all the normal people don't
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need scary stories in their week.
But you and I we're not normal people.
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We love the spooky every single week, and I promise you I'll deliver
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that every week, just as I
have for the last one hundred and ninety
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eight weeks. That's right, boy. We've made a lot of episodes and
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if you want to help support us, we really could use your support.
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A free way to do that is
go to your favorite podcasting Apple like Apple
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Podcasts or Spotify and leave us a
star rating. On Spotify we have over
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two hundred star ratings, and on
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sixty four. So log onto your
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leave us a star rating. It
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And if you want to hang out with
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fellow spookies, just go to Facebook
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It's a little group where we share
well memes and on their scary things
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that we enjoy. And if you
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to Weekly Spooky dot com and click
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dollar a month, you can get
a bonus episode and tons of additional content.
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But now, my friends, I
think it's about time for a little
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cryptid terror after these quick words These
Dark Woods by David Ohan. It wasn't
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always like this, Lucy Burr said, lowering her voice. When I was
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a kid, you are a kid, one of the campers interrupted her.
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Lucy sneered at the ungrateful brat.
At seventeen, she had at least six
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years on any of the scouts,
and better things to do with a three
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day weekend than entertain the five rejects. The least they could do was keep
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their yaps shut long enough for her
to scare the Bejesus out of them.
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Timmy, let me tell the story, she said in her normal nasal wine
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before leaning in and clearing her throat. She began in her spooky voice.
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When I was a kid, there
was a summer camp on these very grounds.
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It was fourth of July weekend,
nineteen seventy six, and a record
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number of kiddies had come to Sweetwater
Lake. There weren't enough counselors to go
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around for the big overnight camping trip. Buddy Deets, the head of the
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camp, decided to let the older
kids oversee themselves. Lucky Timmy, whispered
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to his best friend Paolo. Lucy
jabbed a warning finger at the two youngest
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scouts. You might think they're lucky
now, but without an experienced guide,
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or the scout master's daughter, Rebecca, the oldest of the group at eleven,
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whispered under her breath. Without an
experienced guide, Lucy continued, with
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growing frustration. They didn't know where
to set up their tents for the night.
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Several of the groups got lost,
and one wandered far beyond the boundaries
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of the camp to a wide holler
much like this one. Perhaps it even
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was this very one. What happened
to them? Ralph, the only of
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the snots she liked, asked,
as he adjusted his beaver scout ball cap
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atop his mop of brown hair.
No one knows, Lucy said, leaning
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closer to the fire so the flames
flicked shadows across her alabaster features. The
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next morning, when mister Deets welcomed
everyone back, over twenty campers were missing.
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It took the entire day to find
most of them. Most that's it,
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Tiffany asked, incredulously, pushing her
glasses up her narrow nose. Kids
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got lost in the woods, and
that's supposed to be scary. Did they
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even have their land navigation badges?
What about signaling? Was this Deet Sky
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a complete ignoramus? Actually, he's
the greatest outdoorsman in the Midwest. He's
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a park ranger now, and he
designed a lot of the material you beaver
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Scouts learn. As a matter of
fact, Lucy told her that's not the
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point, though, What was the
point? Rebecca huffed. The point was
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that no one has been allowed to
camp here for the last nine years for
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good reason. But Lucy slapped her
thighs and sat up straight. Why am
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I bothering roast hot dogs and sing
silly songs. We're supposed to be practicing
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our scouting skills, Tiffany reminded her, that's what your dad, I mean.
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Scout Master Kevin said, I did
mine already, Timmy gestured to his
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and Paullo's tent. I set it
up without any help. That's why it's
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leaning. Rebecca chided, Yeah,
well it's a lean to Timmy offered,
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what was the reason? Pallo asked, why couldn't anybody come here? Yeah,
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Ralph prodded. Lucy sighed and took
her seat at the fire once more.
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It was late that next evening when
they finally found the campsite of the
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missing children. The tents had been
flattened and torn to shreds. The fire
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had burned out, but the smell
of cooked meat hung in the air.
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The campers were all missing, and
the only clue was a set of big,
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bare footprints leading into the forest.
You mean, Ralph gulped. They
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were killed and eaten. Lucy hissed. A posse searched for three weeks.
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They found bits of clothing, but
never any bodies. No whole bodies anyway,
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Buddy deets found a pile of dung
with a tiny white finger bone inside.
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The men called off the search and
condemned the entire area. So why
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are we allowed out here now,
Paulo asked, who says we are?
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Lucy gave a wicked smile. It's
because there's no such thing as momo.
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Rebecca rolled her eyes. It was
a movie of the week. You dweebs.
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It's like Bigfoot, but trashy,
like Timmy, eat my shorts,
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brace face. Timmy fired back.
Does Momo have bright orange eyes, Tiffany
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asked in a trembling squeak. Yep, Rebecca said, and stinky brown fur.
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Maybe you shouldn't say stinky. Tiffany
raised her hand, pointing shakily.
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He might not like it. A
hulking figure lingered at the tree line.
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Its fiery eyes stayed locked on the
campers as it lumbered through the brush.
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Lucy screamed, eliciting the same sponse
from the others. Oh no, Rebecca
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rolled her eyes and laughed, you
guys are such lame brains. It's scout
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Master Kevin trying to scare us.
It's working, Timmy muttered. Something slashed
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across the sky. The spear punched
through Rebecca's chest, whipping her off the
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log. Paolo slapped his hands over
his eyes and fell into a fetal position.
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Lucy leaped to her feet, looking
between the dead child and the monster
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in the woods. The creature rushed
forward. It howled and shrieked, swinging
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its arm around in a circle overhead. A stone launched from its hand and
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turned Timmy's skull into jelly. Lucy
jerked Ralph to his feet and slung him
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away from the fire. Everybody run, she screamed, get out of here.
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Ralph did as he was told.
Tiffany bolted after him. Paolo just
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laid there sobbing. Lucy started to
leave him, then turned and scooped him
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from the ground. She ran as
best she could with the boy cradled in
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her arms. Momo roared behind her, and she didn't dare look back.
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Her legs burned and ached. Almost
immediately, a stone whipped past her head,
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spurring her on. Ralph was already
out of sight, swallowed up by
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the dark forest. She hoped he'd
find a safe place to hide until help
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arrived. Tiffany wheezed loudly ahead of
her. The child stumbled, but stayed
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up. All they had to do
was keep running. Help would come.
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She'd almost caught up with Tiffany by
the time she reached the trees. The
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little girl was a shadow flashing through
the spears of moonlight that stabbed into the
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Hemingway National Forest. A twig snapped
loudly. Something crashed through branches overhead.
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Lucy saw it for just a second
as it swung through a palladium pillar of
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light. The log hit the child
hard enough to burst her torso and lift
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her from the ground with a deafening
crunch. Her ruptured body dangled from the
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sharpened stakes along the booby trap's length. Lucy stopped so abruptly that she dumped
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Pallo into the dirt. He cried
out. She held her hand out for
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him, but kept her eyes on
the forest. Mom. The Missouri Monster
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was supposed to be a kind of
missing link. It made sense. It
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used tools and set traps. It
had nine years to do so, completely
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undisturbed too. She tried to remember
what she could about traffic. Her father
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and Buddy Deets had been junior scouts
together. He always told the story of
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how they set a snare with too
heavy of a counterweight and tore a poor
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rabbit in half. It still screaming
and twitching when they found it. He
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wouldn't even wear the merit badge he'd
gotten for it, and only skimmed over
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the subject when he had to teach
it. She would need to keep her
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attention focused on their surroundings if she
was going to get them to safety.
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She snapped her fingers until Paolo reached
up and took her hand. She gave
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him a tug to bring him to
his feet and knelt so they were face
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to face. It's Momo, the
boy said, and we're beaver scouts.
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She said, beaver scouts don't give
a damn. The boy didn't get it.
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He just wanted to go home,
so did Lucy. Over Paulo's shoulder,
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she watched the pendulum swing back and
forth like a clock with Tiffany's body
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stuck on it. The child's toes
dragged the ground. She had to save
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one of them, just one.
She panned around, looking for any sign
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of Momo. Nothing was out there. She felt relief for all of two
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seconds. The odds that anyone would
stumble into a singular trap were abysmally slim.
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A good trapper set too close by
one to catch the animal, and
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the other along the path it would
likely run if the first one missed.
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The realization sat sourly in the pit
of her stomach. The monster wasn't chasing
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her in Pallo because the area was
a minefield. All Momo had to do
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was wait until they stepped on the
wrong twig. It was like picking a
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stake from a cooler at the Pigley
Wigly it was grocery shopping. We have
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to keep moving, Pallo, she
whispered, stay behind me, only step
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where I do. He nodded.
They continued on deeper into the forest.
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Lucy thought about Ralph and wondered if
he had found a hiding spot, or
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if he was hanging from a snare
or skewered in a pit. She shook
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away the thought and helped Paolo over
a trip wire. She found the second
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switch and moved them around. She
didn't bother examining the trap it would set
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off, but caught a glimpse of
three spikes hiding in the underbrush. They
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skirted an oddly littered patch of earth
in case it covered a dead fall,
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and nearly set off a snare immediately
beside it. It went on like that
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for several more minutes. They didn't
find Ralph's body, which gave Lucy hope.
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After an hour of walking without finding
any more triggers, she let Paolo
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rest next to a rotting stump of
a down tree. Lucy sat on the
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fallen trunk next to him and tried
rubbing the cramps out of her thighs.
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She tussled his hair. She wanted
to tell him they'd be safe, and
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she thought it was true. Momo
wouldn't be chasing them because it would be
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busy butchering the children. She would
survive because three children hadn't. She turned
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and puked. When she was finished, she sat up and wiped her mouth
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on the back of her hand.
Lucy slid off the log to sit next
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to Pallo. A sharp whistle cut
through the darkness, and an arrow split
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the bark of the log between her
and the boy. Lucy pulled Pallow down
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and pushed him under the tree.
Another whistle pricked her ears. The stone
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point took off her pinkie and imbedded
in the rotten timber. Lucy pushed away
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from the tree, tearing the last
strand of muscle keeping the digit attached.
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Pallo shrieked and hid his face in
his arms. She rolled next to him.
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You have to stay quiet, she
whispered, as best she could.
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I'm going to lead him away.
She pushed herself up as an arrow stuck
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into the ground where her head had
been. The glowing eyes froze. Suddenly,
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Lucy took a breath. It was
preparing another arrow. She heard the
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whistle and dived to the left,
rolling through the detritus. She came to
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her feet and sprinted away, glancing
back to make sure it was giving chase.
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It wasn't. It lumbered in a
straight path toward Paolo. Lucy stopped
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running, catching herself on a tree. Run Paolo, you have to run.
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It's coming, she warned. The
boy listened. Unfortunately, he sprang
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from his hiding spot, and Momo
put an arrow through his skull. Just
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as quick Lucy screamed. The glowing
orbs snapped around to face her. Momo
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charged barreling through the scrub after its
last victim. It threw down the bow
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and bashed away branches with its hairy, powerful arms. Lucy ran deeper into
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the woods, blinded by the tears
that wouldn't stop coming. She held her
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hands out to guide her as much
as possible. She bounced off an oak
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and righted herself before tripping over a
tangle of vines. She slid through the
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leaves until her face struck a protruding
rock. Lucy stood shakily. Blood streamed
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down her filthy face from the gash
in her forehead. Momo was drawing nearer.
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It stopped, hunkered down and watched
her regain her composure. She stared
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at its furry form. She understood
it wanted to hunt. Lucy took off
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like a shot. Momo launched after
her. She hurtled logs and rocks,
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ducked low branches, and twisted around
trees. She didn't dare stop moving.
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The cacophony of Momo's pursuit was getting
louder. A dense tangle of branches blocked
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her path. Lucy found some hidden
reserve to make herself run harder. She
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crossed her arms over her face and
squeezed her eyes tight as she plowed through
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it. Her legs continued pumping,
but the ground was gone. Lucy turned
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as she fell over the ledge of
the cliff. She saw the fierce,
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glowing orange eyes watching her plummet into
the river below. More scarce to come
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after these quick messages, Lucy Burr
snapped awake, soaked in sweat. The
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nightmares came whenever she drank too much, which was whenever she ventured into civilization.
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Lucy flopped back and rolled onto her
side. She'd washed up in Sweetwater
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Lake and regained consciousness two days afterwards, when rumors spread about what she'd seen.
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Buddy Deets came down to lead the
search himself. Just like before,
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the children's bodies were never found.
They even came up empty handed on the
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traps she'd told them about. There
were no signs of murder or Momo.
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In the end, everyone made up
their minds to blame Lucy. Whenever she
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went to town for supplies, they
reminded her of that. Then she went
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home and drank herself into a mild
coma, and it was that night all
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over again. Lucy reached for the
hot, half full bottle of Papst and
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took a swig. She rubbed the
long scar on her forehead and thought about
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those damned eyes watching her fall.
It had been seven years, and she
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remembered them like yesterday. She closed
her eyes and slid opened the door.
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The blazing daylight sent razors slicing through
her eyelids straight into her brain. She
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turned away and crawled to the front
of the van and to grab her aviators
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from the rear view mirror. She
slipped them on and clamored out of the
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van. Her father didn't believe her
story about Momo any more than the rest,
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but he didn't buy their version either. He'd given her the old camp
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van so she could start over somewhere
else she kind of had. Lucy drove
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around the country without direction for the
first two years of her hermitage. She
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used all the skills her dad had
taught her to provide food, odd jobs,
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and the occasional theft provided the fuel. She'd become a competent outdoors woman.
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In that time, a trio of
hikers went missing in the same vicinity
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as before, game and fish quarantine
the whole area around the lake from the
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old campgrounds up to the peak where
she'd seen Momo. They said they were
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creating a game preserve, but they
were just scared shitless. It gave Lucy
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a measure of closure that Momo wouldn't
be eating any more kids. Then,
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one night in the spring of nineteen
ninety, she picked up a hitchhiker that
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told her a familiar story. The
man's brother had gone missing while poaching deer
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in a game preserve near a secluded
lake in Missouri. She returned home later
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in the week, using an old
logging road to access the forbidden territory.
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Then the real work began. Once
Lucy finished her morning bath, she got
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dressed and pulled the kayak down from
the roof of the van. She took
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it across the lake to the old
campgrounds. Everything was filthy, covered in
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cobwebs and dust, and plenty of
leaves that had blown in since it was
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abandoned. One building had collapsed entirely
after a torrential storm. Another belonged to
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a family of raccoons that scared her
far more than Momo. She eased opened
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the door of the counselor's cabin.
The roof was partially caved in, providing
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ample sun for her to consult her
map. Every day for almost two years,
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she followed the same routine. First
a morning bath to wash off the
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smell of civilization. Then she checked
the map she'd stolen from a rangers station
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and marked the daily destination. That
was followed by calisthenics and then out into
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the woods by noon. Momo had
never been seen during the day, so
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she figured it was safe enough.
Lucy made sure to step carelessly whenever she
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was in his territory. She displaced
rocks and broke branches, carved initials into
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trees, sprayed perfume, and dropped
her litter in plain sight. When she
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finished up for the day, She
took a careful path back to the van,
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leaving no trail at all. Lucy
moved her finger from one blue axe
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to the next. Each represented a
Momo sighting. Her encounter was marked with
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a red one, as was the
destroyed campsite from seventy six. They formed
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a very clear picture for her.
The territorial range of an apex predator.
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Dashes and green marker indicated the areas
she'd hiked. They were the most likely
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game trails Momo would hunt along.
She polluted his domain and made her presence
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known in and around every sighting.
She gave the summer camp one last inspection
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and then went outside. It was
finally time. Lucy rode across the lake
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and stashed the kayak. Like every
other trip into Momo's terrain, she made
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a mess of things. She took
the bottle of Designer impostor perfume from her
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00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:48.240
khaki shorts and threw it hard against
a tree. The glass shattered, and
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the breeze immediately carried the pungent scent
up the mountain. Once she reached the
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holler from that night, she took
a break. She sat on the log
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where Rebecca had died and placed her
knapsack in front of her. She pulled
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out a walkman loaded with the girl's
favorite tape, Spring Session m by Missing
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Persons, and a can of pib
The soda was the drink Pallo had requested
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they bring on the trip. Lunch
consisted of a bologny sandwich. It was
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the only thing Timmy ever brought camping. For dessert, she had Ralph's favorite
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candy bar, a butterfinger. When
she finished eating, she sang the beaver
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scout anthem, which Tiffany was proud
to have learned in two different languages.
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For an extra merit badge, she
checked her TIMEX right on schedule. After
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the memorial, she headed back down
to the van, only this time she
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made sure to leave a trail.
She carved the names of each child into
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a tree and dropped the empty candy
wrapper at its roots. The last thirty
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yards of the hike, she dug
her boots into the earth on each step
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for a nice clean print. Lucy
slid open the van door and retrieved the
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necessary supplies for the evening. She
unfolded a lawn chair in front of the
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fire and started grilling a well marbled
ribi. The succulent aroma rose on,
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twisting fingers of smoke into the pink
orange dusk above. Music played from the
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van's stereo, just loud enough to
be heard, but not loud enough to
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drown out any warnings. Lucy rubbed
the nub where her pinkie had been.
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Despite the age of the wound,
it throbbed like arthritis before a storm.
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Only the storm seemed to have stalled. Lucy threw the fourth empty bottle into
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the fire. The steak sat heavy
in her stomach and had been a damned
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fine final meal. If that's how
the evening played out. She reached for
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the fifth papst Where are you,
you, miserable skunk ape? She pried
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00:25:55.839 --> 00:26:00.359
off the cap. There were stories
everywhere she'd been about things like Momo.
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00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:06.599
She kept a spiral bound notebook in
the glove box with all that she'd heard
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00:26:06.640 --> 00:26:11.720
over. One thing that all the
tales agreed on was that the beasts were
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territorial. She knew the trail back
to her van would be too sweet a
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bait for it to pass up.
The creature was coming. She took a
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sip of beer. What's taking so
long? Lucy woke up to a stray
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beam of dawns stabbing into her eyes. She should have stopped at one beer.
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She rolled on to her side.
Momo hadn't come for her, so
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she'd have to make another trip out. She hypothesized. The creatures kept to
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a range of no more than a
hundred square miles. However, sightings of
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Momo around Sweetwater Lake were always at
the same time of year. The bastard
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was home and she'd been in true
she knew it wasn't afraid of her.
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Lucy squinted at the window of the
van's sliding door. She snapped upright.
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The four bloody lines ran parallel across
the glass. Lucy kept her eyes on
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the marks while her hands slithered under
the pillow for the Ruger Blackhawk. The
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sturdy revolver was loaded with overpressured,
flat nosed rounds that could drop a grizzly
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00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:30.759
in one try. Lucy crawled on
her knees, listening for any abnormal sounds
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outside. As she reached for the
door, she threw it open and whipped
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the pistol up in a flash.
Only the hangover attacked her. The world
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spun and her stomach nodded, but
she forced herself to focus. She stepped
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out of the van and knelt.
Big bare footprints were easy to spot,
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as was the hollowed out bobcat carcass
Momo had discarded next to her front tire.
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She closed the door to investigate the
bloody markings round steady, no clause,
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she whispered to herself. She sprayed
her fingers and set them over the
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streaks. Small hands and such big
feet, she grunted. You know what
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they say about a monster with small
hands. Her eyes followed the markings to
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the front of the vehicle and to
the thing left hanging there. Her thumb
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moved the revolver's hammer to the fully
cocked position. Fear and anger made her
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legs heavy. The half dozen steps
forward felt like miles. She reached up
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and took the offering from her antenna, a beaver scout ball cap, just
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like Ralph had been wearing when she
told him to run. She never found
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out if Momo got him or the
woods did. He'd simply vanished. That
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00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:03.519
hurt her more. If Momo didn't
kill Ralph, then she did. When
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she told him to hide in the
forest, A long shadow cast out of
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the tree line. She took a
knee and shielded her eyes from the light.
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It was hard to pick out,
but she knew what was watching her.
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Momo wanted to make sure Lucy knew
her role in the hunt. She
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did. The black hawks snapped up, and she squeezed off two rounds.
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Dirt kicked up where the bullets had
intentionally dropped short of the beast. It
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didn't move. Lucy snorted. Neither
of them were going to back down.
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They'd exchanged threat displays, and now
there was only one thing left for the
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00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:52.839
two predators to do. She adjusted
her aim. The shadow lumbered away.
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That's right, She followed Momo with
the gun's blade sight. This ends tonight.
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00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:10.759
Lucy glanced at the sunset appreciatively as
she withdrew the walnut case from the
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glove compartment. She went to her
little folding TV dinner stand and sat the
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box next to the glass vial with
three xes marked on the masking tape label
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and Arkansas gunsmith had made her six
cartridges he called Bigfoot Specials for her hunt.
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Lucy hadn't planned on using them unless
there was no other choice. She
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wanted a clean hunt. She wanted
to beat the animal at its own game.
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After their encounter that morning, however, she'd learned Momo was no animal.
336
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It was a monster, and the
monster was not playing any game.
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Lucy took each of the specials from
the box and stood them on the tray.
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She removed the dropper from the bottle
and filled each of the three twenty
339
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grain hollow points with the liquid metal. The bullet would hit Momo fast enough
340
00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:10.440
to bury deep inside its body.
Then the filler would react to the moisture
341
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and detonate, turning the creature's insides
into smoldering outsides the alloy hardened into place.
342
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The same reaction would slowly degrade the
seal of the bullet to the casing,
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making them worthless within a day.
She slipped each bullet into a chamber
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and snapped the revolver shut before holstering
it across the small of her back.
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Her fingers curled around the rubberized grip
of the buck fieldmates strapped to her hip.
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The knife had tasted blood before Lucy
crawled into the van, shutting the
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door behind her, and settled on
to the Mattress. Campgrounds and rest stops
348
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were dangerous for young women traveling alone. Lucy saw those places a lot during
349
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her hermitage. She was in the
Wayne National Forest investigating a Momo like creature
350
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called the grassman. When the two
pecker woods force their way into the van.
351
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The field mate had been forgotten underneath
the front seat. She found it
352
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just in time. The knife sawback
had been exceptionally useful in breaking down the
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men's joints, so she could dispose
of the pieces over seventy miles and three
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states. She drew the knife from
the camo sheath and tossed it from hand
355
00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:31.799
to hand. Momo would come after
dark, and the anticipation was maddening.
356
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She'd never figured out its pattern.
That was why she'd spread her marks across
357
00:32:37.480 --> 00:32:44.079
the entire range for so long.
She thought about the children's names she'd carved
358
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in the tree, and about Ralph's
hat dangling for her. She marked her
359
00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:53.839
territory, and she stared at the
blood on the window, and then down
360
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at her own hand. Her mind
drifted to the map back at the campgrounds.
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She'd stolen it from a ranger's station
and had had their patrol trails marked.
362
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That was how Momo avoided detection.
It followed the hunters. Had it
363
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been following her? Did it know
what she had planned. The window shattered
364
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behind her. The rank, furry
arm wrapped around her throat, and her
365
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knife flew from her hand, pinning
itself into the mattress. It hadn't waited.
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The muscles bulged against the sides of
her neck. She punched at the
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arm a constricted tighter. Her vision
blurred. Lucy threw her hands back,
368
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scratching at the creature. Her nails
raked down its face. She felt something
369
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round and jammed her thumb into it, tearing it out. The eye landed
370
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on the quilt next to her knife, but Momo choked her harder. Her
371
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hand went for the black Hawk.
Momo dragged her halfway through the window,
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trapping a weapon in its holster.
Lucy grabbed the window frame with both hands.
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She pushed with everything she had.
Momo jerked her out of the window,
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twisting her sideways in the process.
She stared down at the ground at
375
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the feet. Lucy snapped her hand
back to the revolver and fired it from
376
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the holster. The magnum's shot was
deafening in the confines of the van.
377
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Its muzzle flash scorched her shorts,
and the round punched a fist sized hole
378
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through the side of the vehicle.
The projectile missed Momo, but startled it
379
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enough that it let go and darted
away. Lucy slumped to the mattress,
380
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rolling away from the window in a
coughing fit. She jerked her knife free
381
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and blew the polyester stuffing from the
teeth of the sawback before sheathing it.
382
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The orange orb caught her attention.
Lucy picked up the eye by the two
383
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broken wires and held it close to
her face. It wasn't an eye,
384
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it was a light bulb. Her
vision had been blurry, but she'd seen
385
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Momo's feet. They were boots,
oversized, modified, but boots. It
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all registered. As the van shifted, Her ears rang from the shot,
387
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so she couldn't hear the sudden bursting
of the tire. Momo streaked by the
388
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windshield and disappeared out of sight.
He not it was crippling the vehicle.
389
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Lucy threw open the door and jumped
out of the van, hitting the ground
390
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with her shoulder and rolling through.
The Blackhawk cleared its holster. You're not
391
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safe yet weakly, Spooky will be
right back. Lucy rounded the back of
392
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the van, clutching the revolver in
a two handed grip. She twisted around
393
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the side of the vehicle. No
Momo. The kayak flipped over the edge
394
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of the roof and knocked her sideways. She pivoted and fired a moment too
395
00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:08.679
late. Momo jumped off the roof
and landed in a crouch. He flung
396
00:36:08.719 --> 00:36:14.519
his hand outward. Lucy screamed,
nearly dropping the gun as the white hot
397
00:36:14.559 --> 00:36:19.559
paine raced through her leg. The
stone knife stuck out of her thigh,
398
00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:24.480
with its tip scraping the bone inside. Momo slapped the pistol from her hand
399
00:36:24.639 --> 00:36:30.159
and decked her across the jaw.
The ground knocked the air from her lungs.
400
00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:35.000
When she landed, she glanced around
and saw the day's last bit of
401
00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:39.360
light glinting off the revolver on the
lake shore, his shadow cast over her.
402
00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:46.840
Momo was just a costume. Coyote, bobcat, and skunk firs were
403
00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:52.440
stitched to a suit of elkyde.
The patchwork was hidden behind leaves and branches
404
00:36:52.679 --> 00:37:00.239
woven into the seams like camouflage.
Dear antlers protruded from the shoulders like sikes
405
00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:05.519
on a punk's leather jacket. The
remaining orange bulb glowed in a hood over
406
00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:15.400
a carved wooden mask adorned with hog
tusks. Momo stalked forward. Then Momo
407
00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:21.039
spoke to her, but between hearing
damage and her own screams, she couldn't
408
00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:24.920
make it out. She crawled backward
until she got her feet under her.
409
00:37:25.639 --> 00:37:31.400
The muscles tensed around the flint blade, bisecting her quadraceep. She forced herself
410
00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:37.599
to stand and wave him on.
He accepted the offer. Momo charged into
411
00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:43.760
her with his shoulder, knocking her
off her feet again and closer to the
412
00:37:43.840 --> 00:37:49.840
revolver. She grabbed the weapon and
clamored to her feet. Momo's fist pounded
413
00:37:49.880 --> 00:37:52.719
onto the back of her neck,
driving her to her knees. He grabbed
414
00:37:52.719 --> 00:37:58.280
her throat and slammed her into the
ground, throttling her. Lucy brought the
415
00:37:58.320 --> 00:38:02.039
pistol up, but mom Momo grabbed
the cylinder, jamming his thumb in front
416
00:38:02.039 --> 00:38:08.000
of the hammer so it couldn't fire. Sweetwater's cool evening waters lapped over Lucy's
417
00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:13.719
shoulder. She pressed the barrel toward
Momo's face, and he pushed against her
418
00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:17.239
efforts. His hand moved from her
neck to her face, forcing her head
419
00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:22.440
into the lake. Lucy saw the
gun through the thrashing water. The gun
420
00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:29.840
loaded with its highly reactive Bigfoot specials. She twisted her face until she got
421
00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:32.639
a bite on the web of Momo's
thumb. He jerked his hand back,
422
00:38:32.719 --> 00:38:37.159
but she kept that piece clamped between
her teeth. She sat up, spat
423
00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:40.760
the morsel at the mask, and
wrestled the gun under his chin with both
424
00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:47.639
hands. He shoved it away hard
fine Lucy growled, keep it. Lucy
425
00:38:47.760 --> 00:38:52.639
let go of the gun, causing
Momo to fall forward and plunge the weapon
426
00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:57.039
into the lake. The lake flooded
the chambers, hitting the liquid metal alloy.
427
00:38:57.800 --> 00:39:02.000
The muffled womph of the ilian was
followed by the roar of agony.
428
00:39:02.800 --> 00:39:07.679
Momo raised his arm, gawking at
the tendrils of ruined flesh flailing from the
429
00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:14.920
pulpy stump. Artery spurted from the
furry sleeve of his costume. He clutched
430
00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:20.599
his forearm to his chest. Lucy's
field mate buried into Momo's navel. She
431
00:39:20.760 --> 00:39:23.679
tore the mask away from his face
and clutched the back of his neck.
432
00:39:24.880 --> 00:39:30.920
You're just a man, she said, That's how you die. Not a
433
00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:37.920
monster, not a legend, just
a fucking man. Lucy worked the knife
434
00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:44.280
back and forth, using the sawback
to open his torso intestine slithered into the
435
00:39:44.360 --> 00:39:50.079
lake like water moccasins. The knife
grated against Momo's sternham. She twisted the
436
00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:55.000
blade up. Momo slumped to the
side. His weathered face was splattered with
437
00:39:55.119 --> 00:40:01.559
the blood burbling out of his mouth
as he whispered something. Lucy knelt beside
438
00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:08.159
him and pushed the hood back.
The man was old, with chubby jowls.
439
00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:13.440
She cocked her head to the side. The half moon wasn't giving her
440
00:40:13.519 --> 00:40:19.840
much to work with, but she
recognized him. She was sure of it.
441
00:40:20.760 --> 00:40:27.400
Buddy Deets, she gasped. It
all made sense. Lucy sniffled and
442
00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:35.360
then snickered. She watched Deets's eyes
glaze over, then laughed at herself for
443
00:40:35.480 --> 00:40:39.199
believing Momo was real for so many
years. She looked at the silhouette of
444
00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:45.920
her van, and suddenly nothing was
funny anymore. She had a notebook full
445
00:40:45.960 --> 00:40:52.440
of Bigfoot stories. How many of
them were sick bastards like Buddy Deets?
446
00:40:52.280 --> 00:40:59.760
For that matter, how many were
Buddy Deets? Boggy Creek, Honey Island,
447
00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:04.440
Dewey Lake. They were a couple
of days drive and all the sightings
448
00:41:04.480 --> 00:41:10.360
started around the same time. Her
mind connected the dots until the arrow whizzed
449
00:41:10.360 --> 00:41:15.559
past her ear. Lucy stared at
it sticking out of the shallow water,
450
00:41:16.320 --> 00:41:22.880
then looked around. Another disappeared into
Buddy's corpse with a wet thwack. She
451
00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:31.239
saw the two glowing eyes. As
another momo ran along the shore. Lucy
452
00:41:31.320 --> 00:41:36.639
grabbed Buddy around the neck and backstroked
onto the lake, dragging him in a
453
00:41:36.679 --> 00:41:40.719
rescue carry that shielded her from another
arrow. A final shot pierced the soul
454
00:41:40.800 --> 00:41:45.559
of Buddy's boot. Lucy dragged him
along until she was sure she was out
455
00:41:45.559 --> 00:41:51.519
of range of the archaic weapon,
then let him sink to the bottom of
456
00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:55.239
Sweetwater Lake. She turned over and
swam as fast as she could toward the
457
00:41:55.320 --> 00:42:00.000
camp. Whoever the second killer was, he would know that that was the
458
00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:06.280
only place for her to go.
After ten minutes, she rolled onto her
459
00:42:06.280 --> 00:42:10.559
back and let herself float. She
needed the rest. She'd timed the routes
460
00:42:10.599 --> 00:42:15.239
around the lake to the camp several
times. Her pursuer would take forty five
461
00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:20.760
minutes to run the distance. The
kayak would have been faster, but she
462
00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:24.719
could swim it in thirty worst case
scenario, she had ten minutes of lead
463
00:42:24.760 --> 00:42:30.519
time. On the second momo,
she stared up at the hunter's moon and
464
00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:36.719
thought about that next time. On
Rickey Lake, she chuckled psychos that dress
465
00:42:36.800 --> 00:42:40.880
up his bigfoot and the women that
love them breaks over Burr get moving.
466
00:42:42.599 --> 00:42:46.039
She turned to her chest and started
swimming again. When she finally made it
467
00:42:46.039 --> 00:42:52.000
to shore, she stayed low to
the ground, watching for the orange lights.
468
00:42:52.079 --> 00:42:57.199
Things looked clear. She crawled all
the way to the counselor's cabin to
469
00:42:57.280 --> 00:43:01.519
be sure. She stood and took
a better look around. Still no sign
470
00:43:01.559 --> 00:43:07.239
of the killer. She pushed the
door open and went inside, securing a
471
00:43:07.320 --> 00:43:12.840
hook through the islet screwed into the
door jam. Afterwards, she went to
472
00:43:12.880 --> 00:43:15.920
the window and busted one of the
remaining panes with her elbow. In the
473
00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:22.679
still and quiet game Preserve, the
falling glass sounded like a cannonade. Lucy
474
00:43:22.760 --> 00:43:25.800
retrieved her first aid kit and took
a seat on the corner of her desk.
475
00:43:27.679 --> 00:43:30.400
Once her leg was patched up,
she tossed the surplus medics bag to
476
00:43:30.440 --> 00:43:35.880
the floor and leaned back. Her
hand slipped on something, and she raised
477
00:43:35.880 --> 00:43:40.239
it to her face. Moonlight revealed
a dark stripe on her palm. She
478
00:43:40.320 --> 00:43:45.079
sniffed it, wondering if a raccoon
had made a latrine in the cabin.
479
00:43:45.079 --> 00:43:50.559
The mystery substance didn't smell like shit. She dabbed her tongue to it.
480
00:43:51.280 --> 00:43:55.880
Lucy swallowed hard and found where it
had come from, an empty butterfinger wrapper.
481
00:43:57.880 --> 00:44:01.519
You forgot about the kayak, the
gentle voice said from behind the fallen
482
00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:06.360
roofing. It took you longer to
swim here than I thought it would.
483
00:44:06.800 --> 00:44:10.320
I was starting to think you'd drowned
out there. Momo stepped out from the
484
00:44:10.360 --> 00:44:15.320
cover. He'd shed his mask and
hood, revealing the softer features of a
485
00:44:15.400 --> 00:44:22.280
young man or older teen. He
took something from his pocket and flicked it
486
00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:27.920
open. He slipped the beaver scout
cap on to his sweaty mop of brown
487
00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:35.400
hair. Doesn't fit so well any
more, he said, Ralph, you're
488
00:44:35.400 --> 00:44:42.800
alive. Lucy wasn't sure if she
was asking him or telling herself all this
489
00:44:42.920 --> 00:44:47.000
time, but he had you.
He saved me, Ralph corrected her.
490
00:44:47.679 --> 00:44:52.480
I fell in a crevice after you
told me to run. I was stuck
491
00:44:52.519 --> 00:44:55.840
for two days. I thought I
was going to die there. Ralph came
492
00:44:55.880 --> 00:45:01.800
closer, then paused. He knelt
and gingerly cleared the detritus from a spot
493
00:45:01.800 --> 00:45:07.840
on the floor. Lucy sighed.
Ralph lifted the loop of steel cable with
494
00:45:07.880 --> 00:45:13.119
a chuckle a snare. Were you
going to catch Momo and turn him into
495
00:45:13.119 --> 00:45:17.440
the police like Scooby Doo? Ralph
shook his head. Why'd you come back,
496
00:45:17.519 --> 00:45:22.400
Lucy? Why'd you? He waved
his hand around the cabin, the
497
00:45:22.559 --> 00:45:28.280
traps, the map, all the
preparation. He continued, Why were you
498
00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:32.360
so obsessed with Momo? You hated
the scouts and the trips and all the
499
00:45:32.400 --> 00:45:37.519
other stuff your dad made you do
with us, Rebecca, Timmy, Paolo.
500
00:45:37.679 --> 00:45:42.679
They were all such little shits.
Why go through all this trouble to
501
00:45:42.719 --> 00:45:46.960
avenge them? No, Lucy wiped
her nose on the back of her hand.
502
00:45:47.639 --> 00:45:52.480
Not them, not even you,
Ralph. I really did like you,
503
00:45:52.559 --> 00:45:58.199
by the way. You were my
favorite. They blamed me for what
504
00:45:58.320 --> 00:46:01.760
happened, said, I got you
all killed. My dad sent me away,
505
00:46:02.360 --> 00:46:07.000
banished me from my own home and
the only town I'd ever known.
506
00:46:07.280 --> 00:46:12.639
It's really not that great of a
town, it isn't. The people are
507
00:46:12.760 --> 00:46:17.400
terrible, Lucy said. Parents didn't
want the dad of that irresponsible girl that
508
00:46:17.480 --> 00:46:22.559
got those kids killed leading a Scouts
group anymore, he blew his brains out.
509
00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:30.639
A year later, oh Ralph hung
his head. Scout Master Kevin was
510
00:46:30.679 --> 00:46:35.639
always nice to me. He gave
me my first merit badge. He gave
511
00:46:35.639 --> 00:46:38.639
a lot of kids their first merit
badge. I can't let you leave,
512
00:46:38.719 --> 00:46:45.559
Lucy. Then come and finish it. Momo. Ralph took a stone tomahawk
513
00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:51.039
from his belt and stalked forward.
A board snapped with a sharp crack.
514
00:46:51.480 --> 00:46:57.079
Ralph's leg disappeared through the floor.
He pushed himself up. Spikes dug into
515
00:46:57.119 --> 00:47:01.440
his flesh, holding him securely in
place. He screamed and slashed at her.
516
00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:07.880
Lucy skirted around him and found the
snare. Didn't buddy teach you how
517
00:47:07.880 --> 00:47:10.599
to set traps, Ralph. She
tossed the loop over his head like a
518
00:47:10.719 --> 00:47:16.840
lasso. You always set them in
twos. Come back here, Ralph demanded.
519
00:47:17.280 --> 00:47:21.280
Don't you leave me like this.
Please let me go back to the
520
00:47:21.280 --> 00:47:23.760
woods. I won't hurt anyone else. Don't turn me in. They'll take
521
00:47:23.800 --> 00:47:30.320
me away away from my home.
I'm begging you. Lucy went to the
522
00:47:30.360 --> 00:47:36.360
front door and paused with her hand
on the knob. Ralph. She turned
523
00:47:36.400 --> 00:47:40.400
to face him. Beaver scouts don't
give a damn. She opened the door.
524
00:47:42.320 --> 00:47:46.000
The trip wire twanged and zipped through
the collapsing ceiling. As the counterweight
525
00:47:46.400 --> 00:47:53.719
fell inside, the snare tightened,
jerking Ralph upwards. The spikes drove into
526
00:47:53.719 --> 00:47:59.840
the bone, halting his ascent.
The scout's head ripped off from his body
527
00:48:00.400 --> 00:48:06.519
and bounded across the floor. Lucy
limped outside and made her way along the
528
00:48:06.599 --> 00:48:13.079
shore until she found the kayak.
She froze in her tracks as a shadow
529
00:48:13.199 --> 00:48:17.679
lumbered around the vessel. The creature's
eyes glinted in the moonlight. As it
530
00:48:17.760 --> 00:48:24.440
noticed her, It sank down,
leaning on its knuckles. Lucy tensed.
531
00:48:25.760 --> 00:48:30.239
The thing, gave a primal shriek, and then charged into the trees on
532
00:48:30.320 --> 00:48:37.239
all fours. Lucy kept her eyes
on the woods as she dragged the kayak
533
00:48:37.320 --> 00:48:44.920
out into the lake. The forest
ape remained hidden. She climbed inside and
534
00:48:45.079 --> 00:48:51.159
rode away from the campgrounds. Unsure
of what she'd seen, or if she'd
535
00:48:51.159 --> 00:48:57.920
seen anything at all. She laughed
at herself for believing in monsters. Then
536
00:48:58.079 --> 00:49:05.639
she looked back one last time,
and more eyes shimmered in the darkness.
537
00:49:13.760 --> 00:49:16.920
Well, I have to say that
story definitely hit the spot. Pardon the
538
00:49:16.960 --> 00:49:21.639
pun, but I have been enjoying
some barbecue and cookouts. I hope everybody
539
00:49:21.840 --> 00:49:25.800
in the United States had a very
good and relaxing fourth of July. I'm
540
00:49:25.800 --> 00:49:29.880
actually recording this on the fourth of
July, and so far, so good.
541
00:49:29.880 --> 00:49:34.079
I'm about to make some hamburgers and
hot dogs, and of course keep
542
00:49:34.119 --> 00:49:38.559
my eye out for any orange eyes
in the distance. That was such a
543
00:49:38.599 --> 00:49:44.199
great story to kick off the summertime
spookies, and I'm happy to have it
544
00:49:44.280 --> 00:49:46.119
here, and I'm happy to have
you all here with me. And speaking
545
00:49:46.159 --> 00:49:50.800
of having you all here with me, if you haven't already, please consider
546
00:49:50.880 --> 00:49:53.559
joining our Patreon for as little as
one dollar a month. You get bonus
547
00:49:53.559 --> 00:49:59.760
episodes, a ton of extra content, and my undead gratitude. And if
548
00:49:59.760 --> 00:50:04.159
you love cryptids and you can't get
enough of Bigfoot, why not go to
549
00:50:04.159 --> 00:50:07.199
TB Yeah, that's right to be
TV, where you watch TV and movies
550
00:50:07.239 --> 00:50:10.679
for free and search Boggy Creek the
series. It's a television series directed by
551
00:50:10.719 --> 00:50:15.519
me and produced by me, and
I know you'll have a real good time
552
00:50:15.519 --> 00:50:20.679
with it. Six episodes perfect for
binge watching. And speaking of all the
553
00:50:20.719 --> 00:50:23.360
folks who help us keep the Spookty
coming every single week. I want to
554
00:50:23.360 --> 00:50:28.199
say an extra special thank you to
our Patreon podcast boosters, folks who pay
555
00:50:28.239 --> 00:50:30.880
a little bit more every month to
hear their names on the show. And
556
00:50:30.920 --> 00:50:36.840
they are Bobbletopia dot Com, Megan
Hua, Julia Kersh, Brent mccallus,
557
00:50:36.840 --> 00:50:39.679
Steve King, Karen we Met,
Jack Kerr, and Craig Cohen. Thank
558
00:50:39.719 --> 00:50:43.320
you all so much, And if
you want to hear your name on the
559
00:50:43.400 --> 00:50:45.840
end of every program, just go
to Weekly Spooky dot com, click on
560
00:50:45.880 --> 00:50:52.599
Patreon and select the podcast booster tier. Oh you get everything you could ever
561
00:50:52.679 --> 00:50:57.360
hope to get as far as bonus
materials, spooky stuff and movie related content.
562
00:50:57.679 --> 00:51:00.440
But now, my friends, it's
about time for me to wrap it
563
00:51:00.559 --> 00:51:04.599
up. But I look forward to
bringing you a very fun, very creepy
564
00:51:04.679 --> 00:51:07.880
compilation this Friday, so keep an
eye out for that. But until next
565
00:51:07.920 --> 00:51:12.679
time, for myself, for my
producer Dan Wilder, from my executive producer
566
00:51:12.880 --> 00:51:16.280
Rob Fields, and our composer Ray
Madis, watch out for momo and I'll
567
00:51:16.320 --> 00:51:22.719
talk at you later. Bye.
Thank you for listening. Make sure to
568
00:51:22.800 --> 00:51:30.840
find your way back next week.
But for now, you are safe, trust me














