Nov. 22, 2023

Ep.228 – Homecoming - Thanksgiving Dinner is YOU!

Ep.228 –  Homecoming - Thanksgiving Dinner is YOU!

Bella and her friend Einny go on a roadtrip to an old family home for a relaxing Thanksgiving feast, but monsterous creatures living in the woods nearby have their own dinner plans...

Homecoming by Rob Fields

Contact Us/Submit a Story...

Apple Podcasts podcast player badge
Spotify podcast player badge
Spreaker podcast player badge
Audible podcast player badge
Castro podcast player badge
RSS Feed podcast player badge
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconSpreaker podcast player iconAudible podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player icon

Bella and her friend Einny go on a roadtrip to an old family home for a relaxing Thanksgiving feast, but monsterous creatures living in the woods nearby have their own dinner plans...

Homecoming by Rob Fields

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

WEBVTT

1
00:00:03.439 --> 00:00:09.160
It's time for a feast, time
to celebrate what you're thankful for, not

2
00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:14.679
only the food on your table,
but the people around you. But what

3
00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:25.640
happens when those two things are actually
one and the same. What's that you

4
00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:38.439
want to be scared? Come with
me. You will experience tales over our

5
00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:48.600
ghosts and death. It is not
recommended for the week at hard Heart listen

6
00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:54.679
as in the dark. It's more
fun at that way way. This is

7
00:00:54.880 --> 00:01:07.519
Weekly speaking. Hello, my spookys. It's Wednesday, and you know what

8
00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:12.439
that means. It's time for a
little spooky in your weekly. And this

9
00:01:12.519 --> 00:01:19.000
year we'll be spending a very scary
holiday with our favorite master vampire, Bella

10
00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:23.719
Tabar. But before we get to
that, I want to say something I

11
00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:30.840
am truly thankful for, and that's
you listening. The listenership on this program

12
00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:36.519
has been incredible, watching it grow
and change and hearing from you when you

13
00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:42.480
send an emails or comment on Spotify. It's really it's incredible to see so

14
00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:48.519
many people come together because they love
scary stories. I mean I love them.

15
00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:52.400
That's why I show up here every
week. And beyond and speaking of

16
00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:57.159
this holiday season, there's going to
be a whole lot of content, so

17
00:01:57.319 --> 00:02:00.599
make sure you're subscribed on your favorite
podcasting app. And while you're at it,

18
00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:05.519
why not leave us a five star
rating at Spotify or Apple Podcasts if

19
00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:10.360
you haven't already. We'll have bonus
episodes, exclusive novellas, and free audio

20
00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:16.400
books along with the scary story every
Wednesday that you've grown accustomed to and terrifying

21
00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:22.280
and true on Mondays. So don't
go anywhere. There's a whole lot for

22
00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:27.759
you to enjoy coming right up here
at Weekly Spooky. But now, my

23
00:02:27.879 --> 00:02:32.639
friends, it's about time we really
celebrate what we're thankful for. And I

24
00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:38.159
think many of you would agree that
you're thankful for the town of Strickfield,

25
00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:42.280
for the world that Rob Fields has
developed for us here at Weekly Spooky.

26
00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:46.360
I know I'm thankful for it because
I love reading every story that comes in

27
00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:53.240
and collaborating with Rob online. So
fasten your seat belts. It's time to

28
00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:59.840
go visit your old relatives way out
in Strickfield, Ohio. We'll be starting

29
00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:07.000
this scary story in just a moment, but first a quick word from our

30
00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:22.319
sponsors. Can't start Christmas shopping too
early. Homecoming by Rob Field's perspective,

31
00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:28.400
Bella Anie and I couldn't get out
of Strickfield High School fast enough. As

32
00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:30.919
soon as that bell to end the
school day rang, Ainnie and I shot

33
00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:36.360
up out of our seats and were
right out the side doors. We're really

34
00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:38.960
going to do this, bells,
she asks me in her mousey voice.

35
00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:45.120
What get the fuck out of Strickfield
for Thanksgiving? Hugh, damn betcha?

36
00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:49.840
I raise my finger. I haven't
even told you the best part. You

37
00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:53.919
keep saying it's going to be a
surprise. Well prepare to be surprised.

38
00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:59.360
Anie. I opened my mouth to
tell her, but it seems iine's hearing

39
00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:04.719
me speak the voice of Principal Matthew
van Deste bella tabon you stop right there,

40
00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:09.840
right there. I sigh and look
up to the cloudy sky and mutter,

41
00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:14.919
God, damn it. Then I
lower my eyes to see our esteemed

42
00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:19.120
school leader marching right at eini in
me. I give him a very toothy

43
00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:25.600
smile. Why, Matthew, how
the hell are you today? Principal van

44
00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:30.079
Des sticks his finger right in my
face. You are supposed to be walking

45
00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:33.040
to detention hall right now. You
are not going to just walk on home

46
00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:39.680
like you you? I swear all
day every student and teacher has been gawking

47
00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:43.920
at my new outfit and wearing a
black leather crop top that kind of looks

48
00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:48.639
like a bra and matching short shorts. I actually took Ininie's advice and wore

49
00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:55.000
a pair of her heeled platform sandals. My long, dirty blonde hair almost

50
00:04:55.040 --> 00:05:00.000
flows like a cape in the breeze. I'm still smiling for him as always.

51
00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:03.319
He's undressing me with his eyes.
Thanks to my vampire hearing, I

52
00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:08.800
can hear his heart pounding. Why
do you have to be so madly in

53
00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:13.560
love with me, Matthew, I'm
thinking, problem is I don't really have

54
00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:17.399
any room to talk. I can't
deny there's the very real possibility that I

55
00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:25.680
reciprocate his feelings. Heavy sigh,
Why me, well, Matthew, I

56
00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:30.000
think we both know I ain't going
anywhere near detention hall, I tell him

57
00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:34.279
flatly. Then I raise my finger, but I'll be more than happy to

58
00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:40.120
no Bella. You have to get
back in there and serve it right now.

59
00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:45.800
Vandiste tells me I caught you red
handed flipping a teacher off, even

60
00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:49.240
if his back was turned to you. Now I laugh and flip him off?

61
00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:53.639
How many times? Have I done
this very thing to you? You

62
00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:57.800
never once gave me a detention for
it. Yet I flip off that fucking

63
00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:00.680
blowheart of a science teacher, and
you're gonna send me to detention for that?

64
00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:06.959
Please? Van Deiste starts lecturing me. I move my hands up and

65
00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:13.560
into my hair. Now he's stammering
when I'm using my tight body to mesmerize

66
00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:16.519
him. Okay, I admit I'm
being a flirt, but I'd be lying

67
00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:20.399
if I said I wasn't enjoying it
just as much as him. When I

68
00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:26.160
lower my hands, he grabs them
and takes them in his His blue eyes

69
00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:30.279
meet my red ones. I actually
feel myself softened up and my face get

70
00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:36.480
hot. Damn it, I'm fucking
blushing. Then Inini quickly tells Van Deiste

71
00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:40.639
that she's not feeling very well and
that I've got to get her home.

72
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:46.000
I give him my look that says
she ain't lying. Come on, just

73
00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:49.519
for today, Matthew, I say, I promise I'll serve it on Monday

74
00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:54.879
after school before going to cheerleading practice. But I've got to get Einy home.

75
00:06:55.120 --> 00:07:00.240
Please. When he still seems to
refuse me, I have no choice.

76
00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:04.439
I lean in and give him a
gentle peck on the lips. Bad

77
00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:09.439
move, Bella, that just made
you blush even more. But at least

78
00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:14.160
Van Deiste is finally letting go of
my hands, only to wrap his arms

79
00:07:14.279 --> 00:07:18.360
around me. I can't help myself
and wrap my arms around him. Then

80
00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:24.519
we share a gentle, passionate kiss. When the kiss is done, we

81
00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:30.120
just look at each other. My
face is really hot. Now, okay,

82
00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:33.040
Bella, since it's Thanksgiving, I'll
give you a pass this time.

83
00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:39.160
He glances at Aine. Go ahead
and get her home. Then he does

84
00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:43.639
look at her. Hope you get
better over Thanksgiving. Break. Thank you,

85
00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:47.079
sir, AINI says Aine, and
I turn away from Vandiste after wishing

86
00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:51.120
him a happy Thanksgiving. I can
tell she's going to give me hell about

87
00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:57.519
kissing Vandiste later. How are you
feeling, I ask her. I'll make

88
00:07:57.560 --> 00:08:01.240
it home, but I think I've
got a feet. She tells me,

89
00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:05.519
I've got one last treatment I can
try. That may make you well again

90
00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:09.040
for a time, but I don't
know how long it'll last. I just

91
00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:15.439
wish my body didn't build tolerances against
your remedies, Iini complains, you and

92
00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:20.079
me both. Aine's a trooper.
And makes the walk home. We come

93
00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:24.279
inside and see Martin's not here.
That's Ainy's older brother, always nice when

94
00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:28.759
that motherfucker ain't home. The way
Iini resents Martin, I've come to believe

95
00:08:28.839 --> 00:08:33.799
he's the reason why she's sick.
After I get Iiny upstairs to her bed,

96
00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:37.720
I come back downstairs and mix up
the last remedy. I can remember

97
00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:41.879
Graham's teaching me from back in the
day, of course, I'm talking about

98
00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:46.440
the late eighteen hundreds, where I'm
originally from. Graham's taught me a lot

99
00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:52.200
about using tabon magic. My older
brother Nicholas wasn't interested in learning from Graham's,

100
00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:58.200
and I tighten my fists at the
thought of her. God, damn

101
00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:03.039
you, Cassie, I hiss,
I fucking hate you. I'm so fucking

102
00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:07.320
glad you're dead. I would tell
you about Cassie, but now's not really

103
00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:13.080
the best time. Anyway. She
really wasn't interested in learning from Grahams either.

104
00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:16.320
Since I was the little devil in
our family, I figured learning from

105
00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:20.600
Grams would add to my craftiness even
more. I learned so much from her,

106
00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:26.519
but not nearly enough. Since the
day came when Thornton Gillian A powerful

107
00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:33.840
master vampire came hunting for us.
Nicholas got really fucking over confident and thought

108
00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:37.039
he could take down Jillian by himself. I know he was my older brother,

109
00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:41.639
but what an idiot. And Cassie
never lifted a finger to help Nicholas.

110
00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:46.279
She even watched as Gillian killed Grahams. Grams and I both tried to

111
00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:54.480
fight him off, as Cassie just
walked away. Gillian killed Gramps and then

112
00:09:54.600 --> 00:10:00.320
beat me within an inch of my
life Thornton. Gillian deliberately let me live.

113
00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:03.519
He said I would be the last
Tabon and for me to go find

114
00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:09.000
a husband to rule over me and
make babies with. He told me next

115
00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:13.759
time we crossed paths, he would
kill me. Graham's magic lessons came in

116
00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:18.519
handy when I prepared to fight him
myself after months and months of training,

117
00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:24.200
not to mention having to sleep with
a female master vampire just to learn his

118
00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:30.399
whereabouts. I barely defeated Gillian thanks
to the lessons both Grahams and Grams taught

119
00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:35.159
me. But I was hurt very
badly when I fell. Gillian's blood mixed

120
00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:41.120
with my pure Tabon blood and transformed
me into a very unique version of a

121
00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:45.759
master vampire. I've lived for more
than one hundred years being all alone,

122
00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:50.679
except when I'd need a man to
satisfy my libido. Not only did Gillian's

123
00:10:50.679 --> 00:10:56.919
blood amp up my sex drive,
it it made me feral. This is

124
00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:01.639
why I dress very slutty all the
time. Then there's all the food I

125
00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:07.039
eat in order to fuel my power, and I am very powerful. Then

126
00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:13.919
I cry, knowing Iiny ain't nearby
to see me. Aileen Donnerly is the

127
00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:18.399
only real friend I have right now. I call her Aine because it's short

128
00:11:18.440 --> 00:11:22.200
for Einstein. Her older brother Martin
called her that on account of her very

129
00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:28.559
gifted intelligence. Anyway, we didn't
start off as friends, but the longer

130
00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.039
the two of us hung out together
and did things, the closer we became,

131
00:11:31.720 --> 00:11:37.919
especially when I learned she was sick. In truth, Aine probably should

132
00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:41.279
have been dead months ago. It
was the remedies I learned from Grahams that

133
00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:48.399
prolonged her life. I believe Aini
has aids how she got it. I

134
00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:54.080
don't know. She hasn't told me
as of yet, but I feel she

135
00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:58.919
will when she's ready again. I'm
quite sure Martin was responsible. No,

136
00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:03.000
oh, he didn't give it to
her himself, but he must have done

137
00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:09.000
something that caused her to become sick. I've never cried for someone the way

138
00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:13.120
I'm crying for AINI, not since
my grandparents died. And for the record,

139
00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:18.600
we ain't lovers. That's not how
our friendship works. I just know

140
00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:22.639
I've gotten too close to this mortal, especially when I said I would never

141
00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:30.000
become close to any mortals after I
became a master vampire. But it happened,

142
00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:33.759
you know. I get the crying
out of my system and finish the

143
00:12:33.799 --> 00:12:37.039
remedy. This one I remembered out
of Graham's book is the most powerful one.

144
00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:43.039
Yet it's also the last one.
I know. It's time to give

145
00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:48.279
Aini the remedy and spring the surprise
on her. I head up to her

146
00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:52.759
room and find her waiting for me. You okay, bells, shit,

147
00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:58.039
I never wipe my tears. It's
nothing. Iine here. I created these

148
00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:03.799
new capsules for you. It's powerful
stuff. Start off with one and we'll

149
00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:09.120
go from there. Iiny obeys and
takes a capsule with water. After minutes

150
00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:13.440
have passed, she starts feeling much
better then I look at her. I'm

151
00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:20.480
taking you home for Thanksgiving. She
gives me wide eyes your house, I

152
00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:24.320
nod. I need to go look
through Graham's books for more remedies and possible

153
00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:28.279
spells that may help you. I
don't know how long this last one will

154
00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:33.919
last, and I don't know any
more remedies at all. Don't worry.

155
00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:37.240
We'll be back here in Strickfield in
time to return to school on Monday.

156
00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:41.639
Also, I'll make us a hell
of a Thanksgiving dinner, just the way

157
00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:45.480
Graham's used to. We'll just have
to do some shopping along the way.

158
00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:52.480
Iine smiles, just a little.
Okay, when are we leaving? As

159
00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:56.679
soon as possible? If you feel
well enough, She gets out of bed.

160
00:13:56.519 --> 00:14:01.639
I'm feeling much better now, Let's
go. Anything beats having to stay

161
00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:11.759
here with Martin. We didn't have
any problems getting a rental car. Thankfully

162
00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:16.039
the place we get them never asks
for a driver's license, since neither Iini

163
00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:20.559
nor me has one. Neither of
us learned how to drive. Actually,

164
00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:22.799
scratch that, when Inini and I
went to Shore City over the summer,

165
00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:28.039
I had to learn and fast.
Now I'm driving a good hundred miles an

166
00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:33.559
hour. Seriously, fuck these stupid
speed limits. It took a few seconds

167
00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:35.600
to get used to this car.
After that, it was like riding a

168
00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:41.879
bike. No scratch that, I've
never even ridden a bike. Yeah,

169
00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:45.919
yeah, I'm not used to a
lot of modern technology. This little devil

170
00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:50.639
is as old school as can be, as Ini will learn soon. Along

171
00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:54.559
the way, we made some stops. I had to buy lots and lots

172
00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:58.759
of turkeys and plenty of stuff to
make the sides. I promised Iine a

173
00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:01.879
meal like Graham's made. I'm gonna
give it to her. After driving hundreds

174
00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:07.279
of miles, I surprise Iine by
turning off the headlights. Um bells,

175
00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:15.120
Iiny mutters. Trust me, I
tell her my house is off the beaten

176
00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:18.919
path. Literally. A good five
miles later, I turn off the road

177
00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:24.960
and am driving through the grass.
Thanks to my vampire vision, I don't

178
00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:28.200
have any problem seeing in the darkness. Whatsoever? What time is it,

179
00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:35.120
I ask Iini takes out her smartphone. Almost midnight. Are we really going

180
00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:39.200
to be off the road? I'm
afraid so. You see, my house

181
00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:43.519
doesn't have a road or a driveway. Never did I lightly smack her shoulder.

182
00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:50.720
Have faith. It's another fifteen or
so minutes of driving until we're finally

183
00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:56.600
there. Wow, there really is
a house here, Iini asks. It's

184
00:15:56.679 --> 00:16:00.360
dark, but I can see how
big it is. It's not a mansion

185
00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:04.360
like what those mirrors back in Strickfield
have. But this is where Grahams and

186
00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:08.399
Grahams raised me. Also, I
was born here. As soon as we

187
00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:11.000
get out of the car, I
move around to Iiny and give her a

188
00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:18.440
jar. It lights up in her
hands. It's liquid sunlight. Against Thornton

189
00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:22.639
Jillian that night, it proved to
be a very powerful weapon. But in

190
00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:26.960
your hands it'll be the brightest lantern
you've ever carried. Don't worry, it

191
00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:32.279
won't burn you as long as it
stays in the jar. Where are we

192
00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:37.080
bells? She asks me. This
is the area known as Ravenhenge. I

193
00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:41.240
tell her you'll never find it on
any map. In fact, the barriers

194
00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:47.159
of invisibility keep it so that outsiders
can't see it whatsoever. The only reason

195
00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:52.000
you can is because you're with me. I bring Irony into the house.

196
00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:56.039
The only way to turn on any
lights is to use my cheap parlor tricks

197
00:16:56.039 --> 00:17:02.000
to light torches. Wow, Iiny
exclaims, it's like going back in time.

198
00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:07.720
You'd better believe it. Also,
your smartphone's the only modern convenience you

199
00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:11.319
got here. I'm surprised you're even
getting any signal here anyway. There's no

200
00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:15.799
phone line and no internet. There
ain't even TV here. In fact,

201
00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:19.039
the last time I was at this
house was back in eighteen eighty nine.

202
00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:23.559
Iiny, gulps, I can't believe
you really grew up here, Bells.

203
00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:27.279
I mean, it seems like you
and your family were cut off from the

204
00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:30.759
rest of the world. Okay,
maybe that's the wrong thing to say and

205
00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:37.240
everything, but no, you're right, iiny, I confirm that's exactly what

206
00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:41.000
iom Ere Tabon had in mind when
this house was built. Let's just say

207
00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:45.799
he's my gramps, but with a
lot of grates in front of it.

208
00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:49.759
I turned to her, So you
want me to give you the grand tour

209
00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:53.240
or are you tired from the drive. If you need to sleep, I'll

210
00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:59.559
take you to the most comfortable bed
you'll ever sleep on. Don't go away

211
00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:12.039
weekly, Spooky will be right back. Perspective a leen. At first,

212
00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:18.559
I was contemplating maybe going to bed. However, I'm actually feeling pretty good

213
00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:22.240
still. Whatever you whipped up back
at my house is still making me feel

214
00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:26.920
strong. I'd love to see your
house, Bells. She nods once Okay,

215
00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:32.039
you're in for quite the tour.
Carry your liquid sunlight with you if

216
00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:34.200
you want, but I can light
more torches as we go through the rooms.

217
00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:40.640
We'll end our tour in the library. Bells takes me through one magnificent

218
00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:45.559
room after another. The house has
two big floors. All of the bedrooms

219
00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:49.240
are upstairs. Much to my surprise, not everything is old school. For

220
00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:55.640
example, the bathrooms we come by
have running water. There are even showers,

221
00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:59.000
and a few of them with tubs
in the others. I can give

222
00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.920
you a room by one of these
bathrooms if you want. This way,

223
00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:06.640
you're by a shower, Bell said, seeing my excitement. Yeah, we

224
00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:10.400
may be as old school as old
school can be, but we weren't cave

225
00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:15.880
people. I never said you were. I quickly say a nee, lighten

226
00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:19.200
up, just a little humor on
my part. I could tell Bell's was

227
00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:26.480
avoiding talking about it. But I
have to know you kissed Principal Van dest

228
00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:30.240
She sighs. I know. I'm
sorry. She turns to look at me.

229
00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:36.240
I still won't choose him over you, but you still have feelings for

230
00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:41.559
him. I state again, I'm
sorry. She looks me in the face.

231
00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:45.960
Now I'll never understand why we love
each other. I'm just one fucking

232
00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:51.160
girl at Strickfield High. I'm the
bad schoolgirl, one fucking girl out of

233
00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:55.519
all those others, and he falls
in love with me. Then she cries.

234
00:19:56.680 --> 00:20:00.839
I put a gentle hand on her
shoulder. Bell's, I really didn't

235
00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:04.960
want you to see me like this, she whispers. As much as I

236
00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:08.039
torture that worm of a man,
and as much as I try to forget

237
00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:15.880
him by fucking other guys at school, I still care for him a lot.

238
00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:21.279
You know, I told Grahams I'd
never be bound to another man.

239
00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:26.200
Know what she said, Once you've
met the one, your fate shall be

240
00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:33.599
joined with his until death do you
part. Grahams was wise and many things.

241
00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:37.200
She takes her hand off my shoulder, then turns her back to me

242
00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:41.319
and shouts, but why does my
one have to be a fucking worm of

243
00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:48.559
a man? Bells? I ask, are you okay? She turns back

244
00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:52.640
to me. I just wanted to
get us the hell away from that school

245
00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:57.440
and not have to serve detention.
Plus I could tell you weren't feeling good.

246
00:20:59.119 --> 00:21:06.359
That's why I kiss himione, But
fuck, she sighs. Your friendship

247
00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:11.559
means far more to me than being
Matthew Van Deist's soulmate. I tighten my

248
00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:18.119
fists. Just answer me truthfully,
Belle's do you really love him in the

249
00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:25.640
same way he loves you? Tears
run down her face again. Yes,

250
00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:33.000
she chokes out, I'm sorry.
A long pause. Bell speaks up again

251
00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:40.039
once again. I won't choose him
over you, But what if your feelings

252
00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:44.559
get to be too strong? I
demand sharply. I've seen how Van Deste

253
00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:48.680
looks at you. How long before
you're both ready to come together again,

254
00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:55.559
especially when you've kissed him the way
you did again? Van Deiste being with

255
00:21:55.599 --> 00:22:00.160
you is forbidden. Bell's tightens her
fists. Now you think I don't know

256
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:04.960
that, Aileen Donnerly be pissed at
me all you want. I know.

257
00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:11.480
Having Thornton Gillian's blood mixed with my
own gave me a very high libido and

258
00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:15.799
made me feral in a lot of
ways. But I can still think rationally

259
00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:22.519
and feel emotions. I didn't want
to feel anything after Jillian killed the rest

260
00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:29.000
of my family, and for years
I did very well. Then I met

261
00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:33.920
Martin and you. I never imagined
we'd become as close as we are now.

262
00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:41.599
We're not lovers, but we've got
a connection between us. Yes,

263
00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:45.759
Iini, I fell in love with
our fucking principle. I can't just shut

264
00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:49.359
my emotions off. You got pissed
at me about it? When we face

265
00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:55.839
down that sucubus. Be pissed at
me all you want, but I can't

266
00:22:55.920 --> 00:23:02.920
help how I feel. I love
him again. We have a long silence

267
00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:08.400
between us. Then I'm crying myself. And what happens if you finally succeed

268
00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:15.480
in curing me? Do you leave
Strickfield like you've always wanted? Or is

269
00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:22.000
this your plan? You stay here
and never return? Bells points very sharply

270
00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:26.920
at me. Now, how dare
you? She tightens her fists again.

271
00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:32.039
I'm trying to cure you because it's
the right thing to do. Do you

272
00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:36.559
honestly think I'd be that fucking cruel
to you? Is that why you're so

273
00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:41.240
fucking pissed off about Van dest You
think I'll just go and share my life

274
00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:45.079
with him and forget all about you? Are you that afraid of losing me?

275
00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:52.160
Aileen? Yes, I fucking hate
Strickfield, hate it. I could

276
00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:56.960
have left any time I wanted,
but I remained there because of you and

277
00:23:56.039 --> 00:24:03.640
our friendship. What more do you
want from me? Then Bell's backs up

278
00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:08.160
against a wall, sinks to a
sitting position, and cries again. I

279
00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:14.079
turn and walk away from Bell's.
Why does this happen? She and I

280
00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:18.720
have been with each other for many
months since that first wintry night she came

281
00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:22.680
to Strickfield. In the beginning,
I wanted her to stay here, to

282
00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:26.920
be with my older brother Martin and
keep him honest. But who am I

283
00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:32.920
kidding? There's no keeping mean Martin
honest. I tried to be the supportive

284
00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:38.559
and loving sister, but again,
he'll always be mean Martin. I walk

285
00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:44.319
outside and eventually leave the property.
I still have the liquid sunlight in my

286
00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:51.240
hands. Then I cry again.
Bell's is right. I am afraid of

287
00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:56.000
losing her, just like I know
I'm losing my life. Bell's is trying

288
00:24:56.079 --> 00:25:00.240
so hard to cure me of my
affliction. That's why she brought me here,

289
00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:07.559
right. I know nothing lasts forever, not even life. Have never

290
00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:12.119
really had any friends. I envy
my twin cousin Madeline in her circle of

291
00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:18.759
friends, but she does come and
see me. Yet I'm so insecure.

292
00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:22.799
I guess that's how you feel when
you've been picked on all your life,

293
00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:27.799
when you got beat up a lot
for being smart, when people look at

294
00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:33.119
you and think you're just as bad
as your own big brother, when you

295
00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:37.799
end up becoming sick because your big
brother goes to a party and can't keep

296
00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:41.359
it in his pants when some drunk
girl throws herself at him. I'm so

297
00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:47.480
raving mad now that I look up
at the sky. I fucking hate you,

298
00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:52.319
Martin. I fall to my knees, then onto my side. Then

299
00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:56.359
I sob again because I may have
just thrown away the one good thing in

300
00:25:56.400 --> 00:26:03.880
my life. Bell's was the only
true friend I ever had. She's right,

301
00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:10.680
though we're not lovers, we just
developed a deep bond of friendship between

302
00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:14.880
us. I even wanted to help
Bells when she'd go out at night,

303
00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:22.200
so I started making our toys to
fight supernatural enemies. She was even teaching

304
00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:26.960
me how to fight. Why do
I mess things up between me and Bells?

305
00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:32.960
Just then I hear movement on the
grass and quickly sit up. Bells?

306
00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:37.440
Is that you? I pick up
my liquid sunlight? Who's there?

307
00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:45.720
When I see them? I quickly
turn and run. Problem is being a

308
00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:49.160
petite and skinny girl. I'm not
very athletic and i can't run fast.

309
00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:52.720
Next thing I know, a hand
goes around my mouth and a big,

310
00:26:52.839 --> 00:27:00.640
hairy arm goes around me. Oh
my god, the stench. I can't

311
00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:04.559
scream for help as I'm being held
against what I'm thinking is a giant and

312
00:27:04.680 --> 00:27:11.720
he really stinks. Next thing I
know, another giant of a man hits

313
00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:15.640
me on the head. I groan
and am dazed. I'm about to be

314
00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:21.319
placed into his sack and am kicking
my little legs to try and fight back.

315
00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:26.799
I get hit again and fade to
black as I'm being dropped into the

316
00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:38.039
sack. I'm so sorry, Bells
perspective, Bella. I finish crying and

317
00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:44.440
stand up. I fucking hate it
that I love Van Deste. I can't

318
00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:47.839
help the way I feel, and
it's driving a wedge between me and Iiny

319
00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:52.000
Graham's always had lots of advice to
give me. In fact, I know

320
00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:57.440
what she'd say to me right now. You never abandon your true friends,

321
00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:03.559
Bella. Likewise, they'll never abandon
you. But you did abandon me,

322
00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:11.680
didn't you? Iine? Still,
Graham's words keep echoing in my mind again

323
00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:17.440
and again. No, I gotta
find her and talk things out. I

324
00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:22.200
gotta make her understand that she'll never
lose me as a friend, even after

325
00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:27.240
I succeed in curing her illness.
I walk out the back door and shout,

326
00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:33.920
heine, where are you? I
walk out to the barn. I'm

327
00:28:33.960 --> 00:28:40.519
surprised it still looks nicely preserved and
is still standing after all these years.

328
00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:45.440
The house too. I walk into
the barn, but I know Irony hasn't

329
00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:52.000
been in here. Then I remember
I have her sent. When you've been

330
00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:55.480
around your best friend long enough,
you'll never forget what she smells like,

331
00:28:56.640 --> 00:29:00.200
or her fucking brother, for that
matter. Leave the barn and go out

332
00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:03.319
to the big fire pit, which
is where I'm planning to cook all those

333
00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:10.400
Thanksgiving turkeys. I take a nice
whiff and have her scent. I look

334
00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:15.240
past the vast backyard and start following
her. Before long, I see some

335
00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:21.440
bright light and move to it.
I see the jar of liquid sunlight that

336
00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:26.279
I gave. Iiny, what the
fuck is it doing laying all the way

337
00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:30.480
out here in the grass. I'm
about to call out to her again.

338
00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:36.160
When I pick up new sense.
I can still smell Iiny, but I

339
00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:45.359
can also smell ugh. Yeah,
I smell two very stinky scents. I'd

340
00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:51.200
rather not describe the smells, use
your imagination. Being iiny scent is mixed

341
00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:57.720
in. I can only assume something
or someone found and snatched her. Okay,

342
00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:03.640
time bitch up and find my best
friend, and I'll tell you,

343
00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:07.839
all right, mother fucking now,
that whoever's got iron, he's gonna wish

344
00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:18.839
they'd never been born. Perspective Aileen. I moan a little and finally manage

345
00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:22.920
to shake off the cobwebs as I
wake up and see I'm all tied up

346
00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:27.400
and gagged on a cot Where am
I? I can see the only source

347
00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:32.920
of light is the big fire pit
in the middle of the best I can

348
00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:37.799
describe it as the equivalent of a
kitchen. My eyes get wide fast when

349
00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:44.480
I see there are both human and
animal bones everywhere. Now I see two

350
00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:49.119
very huge things looking at a weathered
cookbook. They're looking at a picture of

351
00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:56.839
a turkey. Then one of them
points at me. These things are planning

352
00:30:56.880 --> 00:31:03.279
to have me for thanks Thanksgiving dinner. Seriously, why does life have to

353
00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:07.599
be so hard? All I want
to do is live mine? Then I

354
00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:12.920
learned monsters are real, and hoped
and prayed they just leave me alone.

355
00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:15.799
All I can think of through all. This is how my brother Martin is

356
00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:21.839
an even worse monster than these two. I can see more of them now.

357
00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:26.359
These things are huge. I'm talking
as huge as the comic book versions

358
00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:30.880
of The Incredible Hulk work. Yeah. I'm scared of dying, but I

359
00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:36.039
think I'm even more scared of these
things. But again, my older brother

360
00:31:36.119 --> 00:31:41.160
scares me more than them. What
am I gonna do here? Calm down,

361
00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:45.440
Aileen, Just think about this for
a minute. Me and Martin calls

362
00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:49.680
you Einstein to be cruel, But
you've been using that big brain of yours

363
00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:55.839
and making Einstein work for you.
Use that big brain. Now I can

364
00:31:55.880 --> 00:31:59.960
see that I'm lying down. I
turn myself over and fall on the floor.

365
00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:04.960
Then I keep turning over until I
reach the wall and can stand up.

366
00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:08.400
I have to be careful not to
let those things hear me. Shit,

367
00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:14.759
I accidentally knock over something that makes
a loud clang. Those things turn

368
00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:17.839
to me and are on me again. One of them lifts me up by

369
00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:22.720
my ropes and holds the knife to
my face, practically the size of a

370
00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:28.599
sword. Then he utters a bunch
of groans if he expects me to understand

371
00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:32.480
him. My brain isn't that big. On top of that, I cannot

372
00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:38.279
overstate the stink. I have to
fight back the urge to puke. God,

373
00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:45.839
I am so dead. More scarce
to come weekly, spooky, We'll

374
00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:58.640
be right back. I see my
opening. When he lowers me, I

375
00:32:58.759 --> 00:33:01.640
quickly swing my leg together, like
being on a swing set, and kick

376
00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:06.880
at his groin with both feet as
hard as I can. The thing groans

377
00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:09.400
in pain and falls to his knees. I end up on my feet and

378
00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:14.200
know the other one is right behind
me. Then I remember a trick that

379
00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:17.319
cousin Madeline does. I drop to
my knees and scurry in between the thing's

380
00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:22.039
legs. When he turns around,
I go through his legs again. I

381
00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:25.079
spring back to my feet and jump
fast. I hear the thing roaring and

382
00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:29.759
coming after me. If I can't
find a way to get free, I'm

383
00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:32.680
done for my life. Can't end
like this, Please not like this.

384
00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:37.519
Then I come right to a big
open circle that's supposed to serve as a

385
00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:40.720
window. There's a chair right next
to it. I quickly jump up onto

386
00:33:40.720 --> 00:33:45.599
the chair and then dive through the
window. I hit the dead, overgrown

387
00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:50.680
grass below before I get back up
and keep running. Boy do I ever

388
00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:54.200
make that thing mad, he roars
really loud. I have to keep moving.

389
00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:58.200
He can't get through the window,
but he can still walk through the

390
00:33:58.240 --> 00:34:01.559
doors. And then both of those
things are outside. When one of them

391
00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:06.799
bursts right through, I keep jumping
fast until I come to the barn.

392
00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:10.159
I duck inside and jump some more
until I find some tall hay to hide

393
00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:15.760
in. My eyes open wide.
When I see I came very close to

394
00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:20.480
landing on a sickle, I turn
it and start rubbing the ropes against the

395
00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:24.400
blade. Problem is, the blade
is very dull. It's going to take

396
00:34:24.440 --> 00:34:29.519
some time to get through these ropes, and time is not a luxury I

397
00:34:29.599 --> 00:34:32.920
have. Right now, I hear
those things coming in and have to stop.

398
00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:38.760
When they're near where I'm hiding.
They both yell and frustration. Sounds

399
00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:44.599
like they're a bit on the slow
side. I make myself stay calm and

400
00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:49.920
work on the ropes, binding my
wrists. My eyes open wide when I

401
00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:53.960
feel those ropes slipping away. Guess
they either didn't tie the rope good enough

402
00:34:54.000 --> 00:35:00.960
there or they underestimated how little I
am. Very quiet, I work to

403
00:35:00.039 --> 00:35:05.559
untie the rest of the ropes.
Wouldn't you know it? No sooner do

404
00:35:05.639 --> 00:35:08.079
I get the last rope off.
One of them looks in and sees me.

405
00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:14.760
He points at me and cries out
loud shit. I shriek, actually,

406
00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:19.360
more like a loud mousey wail.
I scream. When the thing that

407
00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:22.800
saw me tries jumping on me,
I quickly turn over so he lands flat

408
00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:27.199
on his belly. When the other
one tries picking me up again, I

409
00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:30.960
swing my legs and catch him in
his groin. Again. He drops me

410
00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:35.480
as he's dropping down to his knees. I get up and run like hell.

411
00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:38.199
As soon as I'm about to clear
the barn, one of the things

412
00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:43.679
bursts right through it and almost grabs
me. I scream and run with everything

413
00:35:43.719 --> 00:35:46.840
I've got back to the house.
I dive through another window and look around.

414
00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:52.880
I keep running through the other rooms
to try looking for another window.

415
00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:57.679
Just as I'm about to climb out
through one, a big, hairy and

416
00:35:57.920 --> 00:36:04.480
stinky hand grabs me. No.
No. Then the thing that caught me

417
00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:09.440
brings me right up to him and
screams right in my face. Ugh.

418
00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:15.159
He's spitting all over me, and
his bad breath nearly makes me pass out.

419
00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:20.800
I growl and start kicking and punching
with my little fists and feet.

420
00:36:21.079 --> 00:36:23.679
Want to hear some irony. Back
when I was in Strickfield Junior High,

421
00:36:23.719 --> 00:36:29.239
people called me mouse, just like
they call my cousin Madeline today. The

422
00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:32.320
difference between me and her was that
I hated it and the other students knew

423
00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:37.199
it. Maddie's really laid back and
doesn't care one way or another. I

424
00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:43.039
am so mad right now. Then
I pull off another mouse kind of move

425
00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:45.599
and bring my feet up to kick
the thing right in the eyes. He

426
00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:50.320
screams and drops me. I get
up and run, only to feel something

427
00:36:50.440 --> 00:36:54.159
hit me hard on the back of
the head. Everything's spinning when I fall

428
00:36:54.199 --> 00:37:00.599
on my side fast. Then I
feel the other thing lifting me up and

429
00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:07.199
patting me, knowing he's finally got
me. I'm shaking my head to clear

430
00:37:07.239 --> 00:37:14.360
the cobwebs, but he hit me
real good. By the time I finally

431
00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:19.599
shake the cobwebs, I feel a
big stick at my back and heat on

432
00:37:19.639 --> 00:37:24.679
my front. Those things have me
tied to a big stick and they're turning

433
00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:31.960
me over the fire like a rotisserie. They're really cooking me alive. I'm

434
00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:37.880
so screwed. Hi, guys,
what's for dinner? Then I feel the

435
00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:45.039
absolute biggest excitement I've ever felt in
my life, Bells. When the things

436
00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:51.679
turn and see Bells, they look
at her and start growling happily, like

437
00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:59.400
they struck it rich with another morsel
they can eat, perspective Bella. As

438
00:37:59.400 --> 00:38:02.639
soon as those big motherfuckers see me, I stretch myself to let them hear

439
00:38:02.719 --> 00:38:09.119
my bones cracking. Yeah, I'm
definitely ready for a fight. Really,

440
00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:15.599
you're cooking that scrawny little thing for
your Thanksgiving dinner? Then I chuckle,

441
00:38:15.119 --> 00:38:21.159
there's hardly any meat on those bones, or mine for that matter. The

442
00:38:21.239 --> 00:38:25.039
things roar and come at me.
As they stupidly jump, I use my

443
00:38:25.159 --> 00:38:30.920
vampiric powers and warp right to Iini. I quickly break the ropes and snatch

444
00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:35.360
her to me. You came for
me, Belles, she squeaks happily.

445
00:38:36.280 --> 00:38:40.199
Duh, I tell her, I
promised you a big Thanksgiving dinner, not

446
00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:45.119
that you'd be dinner. Look out, Iiny warns me. I grab her

447
00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:50.519
and warp us both to the door. I hand her the liquid sunlight haul

448
00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:53.639
ass back to the house. I'll
be right behind you. As soon as

449
00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:59.000
Iine turns and runs, I quickly
run outside myself. Those things are hot.

450
00:38:59.039 --> 00:39:01.719
After me. Now, I leap
to put some distance in between me

451
00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:07.679
and those things. Before turning to
face them, I give them my evil

452
00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:12.719
smirt. You fuckers want this little
devil come and get me. Then,

453
00:39:13.800 --> 00:39:17.199
it's been a little bit since I've
had a good fight. They roar and

454
00:39:17.280 --> 00:39:21.840
come at me. When the closest
one reaches me, I leap up and

455
00:39:21.920 --> 00:39:25.400
pop him hard in the face.
He drops over like a freshly cut tree.

456
00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:30.119
When the other one's on me,
I easily lift him up over my

457
00:39:30.239 --> 00:39:34.960
head and throw him back into his
house. Yeah. These fuckers are easily

458
00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:39.039
four hundred pounds plus and a good
eight feet tall. When they try coming

459
00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:43.679
at me again, I use my
cheap parlor tricks and cause a wall of

460
00:39:43.760 --> 00:39:47.800
fire to erupt in between me and
them. Don't test me, motherfuckers,

461
00:39:49.239 --> 00:39:52.679
I warn them. But they can't
understand me, can they. They keep

462
00:39:52.719 --> 00:39:58.159
coming for me. I'm just toying
with those things right now. For the

463
00:39:58.199 --> 00:40:01.519
record, these two are definitely dying
for all the innocent people they've killed.

464
00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:07.719
Yeah, I saw the human bones
in their house, and then there's the

465
00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:13.000
fact that they were gonna eat Irony. The fuckers come through my firewall your

466
00:40:13.079 --> 00:40:17.159
funeral, I tell them Suddenly,
Iinny comes right up beside me. Boy,

467
00:40:17.280 --> 00:40:23.360
is she really pissed? Fuck you, she screams before she heaves the

468
00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:28.960
liquid sunlight at them. The jar
shatters on the one's head and instantly sets

469
00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:32.719
him on fire. He screams like
he's never screamed in his life. On

470
00:40:32.840 --> 00:40:37.960
instinct, he grabs the other thing
and accidentally sets him on fire. These

471
00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:43.119
big lugs are so fucked liquid sunlight's
very lethal. Went out of the jar.

472
00:40:43.960 --> 00:40:47.239
Irony and I watch them burn until
there's nothing left, but they're big

473
00:40:47.280 --> 00:40:55.880
ass bones. Then Iiny and Me
turn to face each other. The fire

474
00:40:55.960 --> 00:41:00.920
from the burning bodies is still making
enough light to where it's right. I'm

475
00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:07.360
sorry, Bells, Ainie says,
I'm sorry too. I tell her,

476
00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:15.639
then I take her hands. I
won't choose van Deiste over you. I

477
00:41:15.719 --> 00:41:20.000
told you before. Our friendship is
more important to me and always will be.

478
00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:24.599
Then Iini squeezes my hands. I
just don't want to lose you,

479
00:41:24.639 --> 00:41:32.039
Bells. You're the only real friend
I've got, and you me. She

480
00:41:32.239 --> 00:41:37.039
sighs. I wouldn't be a good
friend to you if I tried keeping you

481
00:41:37.079 --> 00:41:43.159
all to myself. I admit I'm
very insecure but you came for me,

482
00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:46.159
so I know and understand. Now
I'll never lose you as a friend.

483
00:41:47.280 --> 00:41:51.360
You can go ahead and see where
things go with you. In principal,

484
00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:55.719
Van dest just be careful. If
he gets fired over this, there might

485
00:41:55.760 --> 00:42:01.679
be a big scandal. Even you
don't need that. That's another reason why

486
00:42:01.679 --> 00:42:07.719
I'm not ultimately pursuing Vandist. I
tell her I don't want to ruin his

487
00:42:07.840 --> 00:42:12.320
life. As far as the average
person is concerned, I'm a teenager,

488
00:42:13.280 --> 00:42:20.000
but you need to know bells.
Heine says, either that or leave Strickfield

489
00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:25.800
High. I smirk. Well,
since you won't let me leave Strickfield High,

490
00:42:27.079 --> 00:42:31.599
you're coming back to Strickfield with me, Anie asks in anticipation. Duh,

491
00:42:31.760 --> 00:42:35.679
I gotta bring you back home.
Now. Let's get back to the

492
00:42:35.719 --> 00:42:39.440
house and get some rest. Tomorrow's
Thanksgiving, and I don't want you falling

493
00:42:39.480 --> 00:42:45.440
asleep during our big feast. She
smiles, sounds good bells. Before we

494
00:42:45.559 --> 00:42:51.599
leave, we check the house for
any possible survivors. When we don't find

495
00:42:51.639 --> 00:42:54.920
any, we head back outside.
I use my cheap parlor tricks to set

496
00:42:54.920 --> 00:43:00.079
the house ablaze. Nobody needs to
stumble upon this home of nightmares. Ever

497
00:43:00.199 --> 00:43:06.800
again. Once it burns to the
ground, it's gone. When we're both

498
00:43:06.840 --> 00:43:15.880
satisfied, Ainie and I head back
to my house dig In, I tell

499
00:43:15.960 --> 00:43:19.000
Aini when I set the platter with
her meal down in front of her.

500
00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:24.039
On Thanksgiving afternoon, I was outside
at sunrise and cooking all the turkeys in

501
00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:29.280
the big fire pit. I made
the rest of the sides in Graham's kitchen,

502
00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:36.000
just the way she taught me.
I mean, I made everything from

503
00:43:36.039 --> 00:43:39.880
mashed potatoes and gravy, to green
beans, to corn biscuits, and even

504
00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:45.039
fresh apple pie for dessert. Iini
ate more at my table than she probably

505
00:43:45.079 --> 00:43:51.639
has ever before in her life.
I also managed to go through the Tabon

506
00:43:51.760 --> 00:43:57.840
family library and find Graham's big Book
of Remedies. There are lots and lots

507
00:43:57.880 --> 00:44:01.559
of treatments I can whip up for
Iini. I'll be taking the book back

508
00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:07.039
to Strickfield. So far, the
new treatment I whipped up for her yesterday

509
00:44:07.079 --> 00:44:10.920
continues to work. I just hope
this one will last long enough to where

510
00:44:10.920 --> 00:44:20.159
I can maybe find something much better, or fingers crossed, maybe even a

511
00:44:20.199 --> 00:44:24.960
cure. We spend all of Thanksgiving
at my house. On Friday, we

512
00:44:25.039 --> 00:44:30.320
leave Ravenhenge and drive back to Strickfield. We have plenty of leftovers from our

513
00:44:30.360 --> 00:44:37.519
feast. I silently thank Grahams for
teaching me the things she did. As

514
00:44:37.559 --> 00:44:44.360
any and me talk about things Grahams
was right about never abandoning your true friends.

515
00:44:45.239 --> 00:44:49.199
Ainie came back for me when she
didn't have to. Yeah, she

516
00:44:49.320 --> 00:44:52.559
probably wanted revenge on those things,
but she came back for me, just

517
00:44:52.639 --> 00:44:59.679
like I came for her. Again, I remember what Graham's told me about

518
00:44:59.679 --> 00:45:07.360
friend You never abandon your true friends
Bella. Likewise, they will never abandon

519
00:45:07.440 --> 00:45:12.760
you. Yeah, I know,
I'm a wicked little devil. Grahams was

520
00:45:12.760 --> 00:45:15.719
the one who named me that.
By the way. Still I feel like

521
00:45:15.800 --> 00:45:21.159
I'm becoming more like Grahams than I
want to let on. She couldn't teach

522
00:45:21.199 --> 00:45:27.239
me everything she knew, but she
taught me good. Just the same as

523
00:45:27.280 --> 00:45:30.719
for my feelings, I've still got
to consider things with Van dest but I

524
00:45:30.760 --> 00:45:35.960
won't risk exploring them, not if
it means losing Iiny as a friend,

525
00:45:37.199 --> 00:45:40.000
even if he's not worth her friendship. When we cross into Strickfield, I'm

526
00:45:40.039 --> 00:45:47.760
already feeling how much I hate this
village. At the same time, it's

527
00:45:47.800 --> 00:45:54.920
home. Speaking of home, we
pull in at the Donnerly House. Yeah,

528
00:45:55.440 --> 00:46:01.320
home at last. That's when I
realize that wherever Ainie and I are

529
00:46:01.360 --> 00:46:09.360
together, that's home. Like I
said, Iinie and Me ain't lovers,

530
00:46:10.480 --> 00:46:15.960
and now I'm starting to understand what
our connection really is. Ainie had said

531
00:46:15.960 --> 00:46:21.920
what we were in front of her
grandmother last summer in Shore City. I

532
00:46:22.079 --> 00:46:28.239
look at my very best friend and
know that we are a family, the

533
00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:32.880
two of us. Yeah. I
can bear living in Strickfield for as long

534
00:46:32.960 --> 00:46:39.960
as needed because this village is where
my family is, and like Graham's would

535
00:46:40.000 --> 00:47:00.480
tell you, nothing is more important
than your true family. Well, my

536
00:47:00.639 --> 00:47:07.320
friends, another violent and vicious story
of Bella Tabon that ends on a heartwarming

537
00:47:07.400 --> 00:47:12.760
now which frankly I could use right
about now. So I don't want to

538
00:47:12.880 --> 00:47:16.719
lament on my problems, but I
do want to mention a huge thank you

539
00:47:16.760 --> 00:47:23.079
to everybody who has helped with my
dog, Chicanos cancer treatment fun. Unfortunately,

540
00:47:23.199 --> 00:47:30.880
this week we found out that his
cancer has returned and there's just not

541
00:47:30.960 --> 00:47:36.320
a lot we can do. So
what I am doing is treating him like

542
00:47:36.360 --> 00:47:39.960
a little king, giving him lots
of chicken and treats and loving on him

543
00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:44.679
all the time. He's literally sleeping
on my feet right now, keeping them

544
00:47:44.760 --> 00:47:47.639
nice and toasty. So thank you
to everybody for all the well wishes and

545
00:47:47.679 --> 00:47:52.920
all the help. It really means
the world to me. But he and

546
00:47:52.960 --> 00:47:59.119
I are done fighting and now we're
going to settle into a cozy winter together

547
00:47:59.199 --> 00:48:02.719
and see what happens next. That
all being said, I want to focus

548
00:48:02.760 --> 00:48:07.000
on some positives. We have a
lot of fun shows coming up, a

549
00:48:07.000 --> 00:48:10.119
lot of awesome content to share with
you, and I want to say a

550
00:48:10.239 --> 00:48:15.480
very special and heartfelt thank you to
our Patreon podcast boosters, folks who pay

551
00:48:15.599 --> 00:48:17.760
just a little bit more every month
to get their name on the show and

552
00:48:17.840 --> 00:48:22.199
more importantly, keep the Spooky rolling
on the Weekly. And they are Johnny

553
00:48:22.280 --> 00:48:29.199
Nix, John callenbobotopia dot com,
Megan Hua, Julia Kersh, Brent McCalla,

554
00:48:29.320 --> 00:48:32.719
Steve King, Karen We met,
Jack Kerr and Craig Cohen and hey,

555
00:48:34.239 --> 00:48:36.320
if you want to join them and
have your name on the show,

556
00:48:36.440 --> 00:48:39.480
just go to Weeklyspooky dot com and
click on Patreon. For as little as

557
00:48:39.480 --> 00:48:44.280
one dollar a month, you get
an exclusive show every single month, and

558
00:48:45.000 --> 00:48:49.800
my undead gratitude and hey, if
you're looking for something to watch this Thanksgiving,

559
00:48:50.039 --> 00:48:53.920
it's not horror, but my film
Awkward Thanksgiving is readily available at two

560
00:48:53.960 --> 00:48:58.519
BTV free to watch with ads,
so make sure to check that out if

561
00:48:58.519 --> 00:49:00.719
you have a little bit of time. I'd appreciate you watching it, but

562
00:49:00.760 --> 00:49:02.679
now I need to get out of
here, So for myself, for my

563
00:49:02.760 --> 00:49:07.400
executive producer Rob Fields, my producer
Dan Wilder, and our composer Ray Maddis,

564
00:49:07.760 --> 00:49:10.280
I will catch you next time.
Thank you for listening to me.

565
00:49:10.920 --> 00:49:16.679
Make sure to find your way back
next week week, but for now you

566
00:49:16.760 --> 00:49:20.880
are safe, trust me.