Sept. 6, 2024

Four Tales of Murder and Monsters from Shane Migliavacca!

Four Tales of Murder and Monsters from Shane Migliavacca!

4 tales of murder, monsters and love from our very own Shane Migliavacca! Support Us and Get Bonus Shows on http://patreon.com/IncrediblyHandsome! Contact Us/Submit a Story http://twitter.com/WeeklySpooky http://facebook.com/WeeklySpooky...

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4 tales of murder, monsters and love from our very own Shane Migliavacca!

Support Us and Get Bonus Shows on Patreon!

Contact Us/Submit a Story
twitter.com/WeeklySpooky
facebook.com/WeeklySpooky
WeeklySpooky@gmail.com

Music by Ray Mattis http://raymattispresents.bandcamp.com

Executive Producers
Rob Fields
Mark Shields
Bobbletopia.com

Produced by Daniel Wilder

This episode sponsored by
HenFlix.com

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

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

📬 Contact Us / Submit Your Horror Story!


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

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

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here bringing you another compilation of some of the finest

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fears we've ever featured here on Weekly Spooky. This time

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we're pointing our spooky spotlight on author Shane migliovaka, the

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man who wrote the first ever episode of Weekly Spooky

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and so many other delightfully delirious episodes to follow. So

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kick back and relax as I present to you four

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of the most fearful tales Shane has ever written right

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here for our podcast to help you get ready for

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spooky season, which, in my opinion, has already begun because

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it's September and October is just a stone's throwaway. So

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make sure you're subscribed on your favorite podcasting app because

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in October we're doing thirty one shows in thirty one days.

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But now get comfortable. The first story starts right now.

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Survivors by Shame Migliavaka. The girl stared at the picture

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of her mother. She was only a baby in the photo,

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her mom holding her tight and smiling. The girl was

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only one when the world ended. Her mom died, then

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in the ensuing chaos, she was fifteen. Now. Her father

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had escaped the city with her raised her out here

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in the middle of nowhere. They lived in a cabin

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surrounded by beautiful trees. He taught her how to read,

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to hunt, to survive. She could hear the thunk of

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the axe outside. He was cutting some firewood. It was

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a comforting sound. They'd need that wood soon. Fall's chill

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was heavy in the air. She loved the smell of

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burning wood, curling up by the fire and reading a book.

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Father had brought a bunch of books with him. He'd

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brought a few more back on a recent supply run.

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The girl hoped someday he'd let her come along on one,

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but there was only the two of them. He told

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her that someone needed to guard the cabin and their stuff.

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There were scavengers out there, people like them, but willing

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to hurt and kill others to get what they want.

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Worse than the scavengers were the dead. They were the

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ones that destroyed everything. Dead bodies returned to life. They

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attacked the living, ate their flesh. One bite from them,

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even a scratch, and you'd get sick and turn into

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one of them. That's what happened to Mom. She'd seen

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some pictures of them. Dad had shown her terrible looking things.

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Shiver around down her spine just thinking about those pictures.

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There was always a risk those things could show up here.

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The girl felt nervous. She got up from her chair

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and went over to the window. From here she could

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see her father working. Her dad brought down the axe,

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splitting a large piece of wood. His face was sweaty.

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He was starting to grow a beard. She didn't like

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him with the beard. It hit his smile. He said

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it kept his face warm in the winter. Her dad

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looked up and saw her watching. He waved. The girl

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waved back. Just seeing him, she felt reassured. There wasn't

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much to do right now. She'd washed the dishes from breakfast.

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It was too early to think about making lunch. They

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had a good garden going here. She'd gotten pretty good

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at gardening. Her dad had learned it from mom, and

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later from mom's books, the same books the girl read

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growing up. They, along with the photo, made her feel

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still connected to her mother. Dad didn't talk much about her.

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It made him too sad. She could see it in

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his eyes. Besides the garden, they hunted the local wildlife

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for food. There were deer, turkey, rabbits, and squirrels. She'd

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gone a few times, but as good as they tasted,

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she couldn't bring herself to shoot one. Dad had been disappointed, mainly,

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he said, because he feared what would happen if he

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wasn't around. This always led her to getting upset, so

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he dropped it. Now he went hunting by himself. She

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was better at setting traps for the smaller ones. At

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least she didn't have to be there for those when

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it happened when they died. Her Dad checked the traps

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once or twice a day. Mostly they just got squirrels.

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They made a good stew meat. Dad said they tasted

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a bit like pork, something they didn't have anymore around here.

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He said. Maybe someday they'd get lucky and find a

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wild pig. There was some time before it would be lunchtime.

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She didn't really want to stay in the cabin all day.

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It was too nice outside. A little chilly, maybe, but

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the morning sun was warming things up. Maybe she could

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convince Dad to let her go check the traps. It

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would be a nice walk and a chance to get

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some fresh air. The cabin tended to get a little stuffy.

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If she was going to convince her father, she needed

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to get equipped. The girl went over to the wall

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of weapons. That was her name for it anyway. On

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the gun rack sat there hunting rifle and a shotgun. Underneath,

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on a table sat a bow and a bunch of arrows.

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Next to them was her pistol, sitting in its holster.

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If Dad had his way, she'd wear the gun all

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the time, even to bed. The girl picked the holster up,

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taking the gun out and checking it loaded and ready

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to go. She took the belt with the holster and

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fastened the buckle. It felt tight against her waist. The

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girl took a sheath with a knife that was setting

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on the table. Couldn't forget that. She tied it to

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her leg. Then she slid on her flannel jacket, putting

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a handful of rounds in one pocket. Now all she

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needed to do was convince her father. After promising her

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father about fifty times she'd be careful and keep to

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the root, the girl got to go. He offered to

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go with her, but after telling him she wanted to

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do it herself, he relented. The girl wouldn't have minded

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her dad's company at all, but they spent so much

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time together in the cabin. It was nice to have

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some time all to herself. Besides, she was getting older,

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it was time she had more responsibility. As she headed out,

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the girl could still hear a few birds chirping away

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in the trees. There were some that hadn't left yet.

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She hoped they'd be okay. The brush crunched under her boots.

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The trees had started losing their leaves. They looked so

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beautiful this time of year, with the orange and red leaves.

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It was a shame they couldn't look that way all

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year round. She heard a distant rumble in the sky.

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Looking up, she saw the great bird, far up in

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the clouds. Father told her about them. They soared through

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the skies, letting out a great roar. Their bodies sparkled

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with lights, leaving a great trail of smoke behind them.

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As they went. The girls stared up in awe. She

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followed after, waving her arms and calling to it, not

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that it could see or hear her way down on

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the ground. As it flew through the heavens, it reminded

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the girl of one of the dragons, and the books

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she read tales of great warriors fighting mighty beasts, all

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for fair princesses. Then the warrior and the princess would

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go off together, happily ever after. The stories always end

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with that what was happily ever after? Sometimes the books

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had pictures. The girl would look at the pictures of

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the handsome warrior and feel odd. She dare not tell

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her father the feelings made her feel embarrassed. Sometimes she

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dreamed about those warriors. The ground gave way underneath her.

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The girl went tumbling down a hill, crashing through some brush.

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Leaves and branches scraped her face and hands as she

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rolled down the hill, Coming to a sudden stop in

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a small ditch, the girl could feel blood trickled down

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her cheek. She stood, feeling dumb. She'd done what her

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father always warned her about lost focus. She'd been so

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caught up with watching the great bird and daydreaming. The

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girl felt sore and had some cuts, but she was

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lucky to be alive. She turned, looking up at the

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hill she'd just came down. It was quite steep. It

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was a miracle she didn't break anything more than the

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physical pain. She felt ashamed. Ashamed she'd let her father's

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faith in her down. The girl started back up the hill,

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but the dirt was too loose. All she could manage

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was to get a little ways up before sliding back down.

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Finally giving up, she used a few of the words

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her father told her not to. She'd have to find

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another way back. The girl looked around. A sliver of

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fear ran through her belly. She'd never been here before.

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She touched the gun at her side, reassured by its

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cold surface and weight against her hip. There was nothing

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to fear if she remembered what her father had taught her,

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keep her head and stay on the goal. She started walking,

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looking for a way around, or maybe an easier place

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to climb, her eyes scanning the terrain. As the girl

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made her way through the woods, a sound stopped her.

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It was a man's voice, gruff, sounding not at all

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like your dad's. It sounded mean, violent. Keep your eyes open, Dale,

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it said, saying the name with anger. The girl's heart

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started to beat fast. That slipper of fear started to multiply.

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Another voice, younger answered him, I am, I am. The

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girl crouched low and crept forward. She wanted to get

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a look at these intruders, sized them up. Did they

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know her and her dad were there. Did they come

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to take their supplies? She hid behind a large fallen tree,

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long dead in its roots, looked like the mouth of

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an angry monster peeking over the tree as she saw them.

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There were three of them. The gruff sounding one was

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the oldest. Then there was another male about her age,

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it looked, then a boy, the one he called Dale,

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maybe twelve or thirteen years old. The girl eased along

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the dead trees as they moved forward. She needed to

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stay behind some cover. Slowly, she drew her pistol, taking

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the safety off with a click. Unless she ambushed them,

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they had the advantage with the rifles. They had the

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benefit of distance on their side. They'd have to come

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closer for her to get a good shot. So she waited,

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breathing heavily, Sweat dripping down her forehead, mixing with the

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blood from the scratches. The girl wiped her forehead, leaving

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a greasy, bloody smear across it. You have to be

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careful with that rifle, son, the older man said, sounding

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a bit annoyed yet fatherly, were these his sons out here?

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You could hurt yourself on one of us, And there's

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nobody to help. It reminded her of her own training.

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Maybe they were good people. Maybe if she called out

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to them, approached them, they could be friends. No, she

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remembered what her father had told her about the others.

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They only wanted everything for themselves. Looking at the lanky,

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older man, she could believe it. He had a look

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about him, something that told her to stay away. They'd

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most likely shoot her and go after her dad and

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their stuff. She could just let them pass, stay hidden,

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but if they kept heading the way they were, they'd

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find the cabin. There was every chance her dad might

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come looking for stumble into these three. They might gun

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him down without a thought. The girl had to act.

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What would father do? She thought, How would he handle

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it if they'd switched places?

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If you thought that was scary, just you wait, weekly spooky,

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We'll be right back.

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The girl didn't want to kill them, especially the boy.

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They were just trying to survive like her. Maybe she

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could lead them away, get them to chase her, get

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them going in the other direction, away from their home.

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Adrenaline started flowing through her veins as the girl got ready,

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just let them get a little closer. Her body tensed

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with nervous energy. She had to protect her home, her father.

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A tingling feeling shot through her body. Instinct took over

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as she bolted from her hiding place, squeezing off two

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controlled shots, ripping through the calm, quiet morning. The first

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shot was a warning to scare them. The second hit

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the older man in the arm, grazing it. This shot

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was to get them to come after her. Down down,

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the youngest son screamed, daddy. The younger boy called out,

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terror filled his voice. Their crashed through the underbrush, the

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crack of a rifle. A bullet smashed into the tree

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she just passed. She pumped her legs, zigzagging between trees.

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Another rifle crack, this time nowhere close ten feet ahead

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of her was a slight, rocky slope. The girl scrambled

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up to it. The sharp rocks dug into her hands

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as she used them to pull herself up the slope.

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Somewhere behind her, another rifle blast, this one zinging off

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a rock. The girl ran, ran, then walked, then ran again.

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After a while, the sun was lower in the sky.

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It was after noon. Now it was getting darker. Were

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they still following or had she lost them? The only

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thing she knew for sure was that she was lost, lost,

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and tired. She stopped, sitting down on a tree stump.

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The girl was thirsty if she'd only taken a canteen

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with her lost. Tired and thirsty, the girl started to weep.

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A few minutes of crying, she got frustrated with herself.

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Using her sleeve, she wiped the tears from her burning eyes.

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She stood, licking her lips for the moisture from the tears.

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The girl's throat hurt from crying, making her even thirstier. Water.

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The stream, yes, the one they used for their water.

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Dad had told her if she got lost, look for it.

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It would lead her home. Just find the stream, she thought.

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The girl searched fruitlessly for the stream for an hour

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or more. She felt more lost now than earlier. It

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was hopeless, The woods were endless. She wasn't even scared anymore,

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just defeated. Defeated and tired. How long has it been

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since she ate anything? The girl yawned, Her head was

241
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spinning a bit. Maybe a little nap just to clear

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her head, recharge her energy. The girl sat, leaning her

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head against a tree. The air was getting cold as

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the sun went down, hugging herself to keep warm. The

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girl's eyes felt heavy. Just a quick nap, she told herself,

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that's all she needed. Closing her eyes, she let sleep

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take her. A beast roared through the woods, startling the

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girl from her brief nap. What sort of animal made

249
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that kind of noise? Did those men bring it with

250
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them using it to hunt her down? Red, white, and

251
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blue lights danced over the trees, casting an unearthly glow.

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Look over the woods. Curious, she got up, advancing through

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the trees ahead of her. Moving slowly, she gripped her

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pistol tight. Pushing past the group of trees and brush,

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she found herself on a long stretch of what once

256
00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:51.440
was a road. Father had told her about roads and cars.

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People used to use them to travel back and forth

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all the time before everything had ended. There was nothing here,

259
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no beast, nothing what had made that sound? Farther down

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the road, she saw something moving coming her way, bright

261
00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:17.840
light coming from it, white, red, blue, swirling, dancing, same

262
00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:21.200
as before, She darted back into the cover of the trees.

263
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As the thing drew closer, it made a high wailing

264
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sound as it passed by. It was followed by two more.

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She caught brief glimpses of their insides as they sped by.

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There were people inside were these cars? Dad had told

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her there was no more gas to power them. How

268
00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:43.919
was this possible? The girl waited until she was sure

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no more were coming before stepping out onto the road again.

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She stood at its center, looking one way than the next.

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The last rays of sunlight were slowly fading away. It

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would be dark soon. The cold air on her skin

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woke her up from her hate. The girl felt reinvigorated.

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She could do this. Listening to the birds chirping away

275
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in the trees, singing their song, there was another sound

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there under them, a familiar rhythm. Water. Without thinking, she

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rushed to the other side of the road. There, down

278
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at the bottom of the dirt embankment was a stream,

279
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maybe the stream. If she followed it back, it might

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lead her home, or she thought, looking down the road

281
00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:32.920
where those things had come from, she could go there.

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Maybe there were more people there, good people, people that

283
00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:40.559
could help her get back to her dad, the road

284
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or the stream. After a few moments of thought, the

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girl headed down the embankment toward the stream. She cupped

286
00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:50.799
her hands and gulped down some water. It was cold,

287
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but tasted good. The stream ran parallel to the road

288
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for a bit before curving off further into the woods.

289
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After all, could she really trust an anyone. No, she'd

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find her way home to her father on her own.

291
00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:14.039
Detective Jean Morrell watched the man through the two way glass.

292
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Doctor Wong had been talking to him for a couple

293
00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:20.880
of hours. Now Wong was good. Morel had never seen

294
00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:24.799
a smoother psychiatrist. She almost got the impression he cared

295
00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:29.079
about these nuts hell Maybe he did. They'd picked up

296
00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:31.599
the scruffy looking man after they got a call about

297
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a hunter and his two sons getting shot by a

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wild girl in the woods. He'd been found not that

299
00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:41.160
far from the shooting by the search party. Surprisingly, he

300
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went with them without incident. He was more worried about

301
00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:48.319
them finding the girl his daughter. Morel had listened as

302
00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:51.480
the man told the doctor about his family, a wife

303
00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:54.400
and daughter killed in a car crash by a teenage

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girl asleep at the wheel. The driver, being a teen,

305
00:18:58.119 --> 00:19:00.720
got a light sentence, but the man had lost everything,

306
00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:06.319
left his job, his house, and became virtually homeless, living

307
00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:09.839
out of his car, until one day he came across

308
00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:14.880
the driver now in her twenties, living a normal life.

309
00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:17.680
This was too much for him. He followed her home,

310
00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:23.599
stalking her with one thought in mind, revenge. He killed

311
00:19:23.640 --> 00:19:26.640
the young woman, but he hadn't counted on one thing.

312
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The woman had a six month old girl. He couldn't

313
00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:38.799
just leave the little girl. Instead, he took her, disappearing

314
00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:42.759
from the world, raising her as the daughter he'd lost,

315
00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:48.519
telling her about the end of the world, teaching her

316
00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:55.920
to survive, loving her like the daughter he'd lost. Morrel

317
00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:00.359
shook her head as she listened. They'd never had known

318
00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:03.359
about this if it wasn't for the father and his

319
00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:07.799
son's hunting trip where they happened across the girl. That

320
00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:12.359
girl they had yet to find. She was still out

321
00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:25.839
there somewhere. The Dinner Guests by Shane Migliovoka Orville Trench

322
00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:29.240
admired his reflection in the car window. He missed his

323
00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:32.880
long black ponytail and beard. His hair was cut short now.

324
00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:36.759
He ran a hand over his smooth chin. He'd had

325
00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:39.440
that beard so long it was like cutting off a limb.

326
00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:42.519
But it had to go. It was time to get

327
00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:45.119
a new car too. The old one would be drawing

328
00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:49.920
too much attention. Soon Cherry Kowalski, the love of his life,

329
00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:54.440
appeared in the reflection. Her eyes were large, piercing and dark,

330
00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:59.039
dark to match her long, wild black hair streaked with

331
00:20:59.079 --> 00:21:03.240
purple and green, that hung to her shoulders. She twirled

332
00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:05.759
one of the long strands of hair around her index finger.

333
00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:09.200
Hanging around her neck was a simple silver necklace. A

334
00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:12.880
small plastic baby arm dangled from it. You look good,

335
00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:17.880
she said, I didn't ask. Fuck you, she laughed, loudly,

336
00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:22.319
giving her lover double middle fingers. Orville spun around, grabbing

337
00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:28.319
her by the shoulders. His eyes narrowed. Oh, yes, yes, indeed.

338
00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:32.480
He scanned the parking lot of the convenience store. There

339
00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:36.039
were only three cars here, an old pickup truck, a

340
00:21:36.119 --> 00:21:41.039
rusting black Camaro, and a fairly new suv. Not much

341
00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:45.000
to pick from. Shouldn't be that many people inside. He

342
00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:48.160
looked at the sign over the door. It read quick

343
00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:51.799
save mart. It would be quick, all right. He couldn't

344
00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:54.079
wait to get out of East fuck Witt, New York.

345
00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:58.400
Orville touched the cold steel under his jacket, a Colt

346
00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:01.880
Trooper m K three, like the sheriff carried in walking

347
00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:06.839
tall the seventies one he loved that film, not that

348
00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:10.680
shit remake with that Nancy boy wrestler. It hung from

349
00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:14.319
a shoulder holster under his jacket. A flaming devil face

350
00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:18.599
was emblazoned to cross the jacket's back, Just as he expected.

351
00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:21.880
The door had a little bell that chimed when it opened.

352
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He sized up the store. Orville liked to think of

353
00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:29.519
himself as a hunter, though what he hunted he didn't

354
00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:33.839
buy a license for. The store was typical five aals

355
00:22:33.880 --> 00:22:37.839
of various overpriced crap, cold drinks in the back, and

356
00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:41.839
some not so fresh looking coffee. The kid behind the counter,

357
00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:44.759
who couldn't be older than twenty, didn't even look up

358
00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:47.400
from his cell phone when they entered. He was dressed

359
00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:52.440
to the nines and eminem cast offs. Another white boy wannabe.

360
00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:56.920
He'd be easy enough. Picking through the beer. Was a

361
00:22:56.920 --> 00:23:01.119
bear of a man, dirty coverall's baseball cap and a long,

362
00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:05.119
graying beard. Had to be the pickup driver. This one

363
00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:10.160
could be trouble. He'd be the first. The last customer

364
00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:14.240
was a young woman mid twenties. Two in the afternoon,

365
00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:18.880
and she's wearing fucking pajamas. Orville shakes his head. Too

366
00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:23.039
bad for her. She wasn't his type? Anything good for you, hun,

367
00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:28.599
he asks Cherry slim pickens. The big man came up

368
00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:32.319
to the counter carrying two six packs. He set them

369
00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:34.759
on the counter. It took a couple seconds before the

370
00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:38.119
kid looked up from his phone. That all, mister Scott,

371
00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:41.799
the kid asked for now, you know that damned phone

372
00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:45.200
gonna turn you into a zombie. Jimmy, all you kids

373
00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.720
just stare at him all the time, sucking your minds out.

374
00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:52.880
Not just kids doing it, seen plenty of adults too.

375
00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:57.559
Scott opens his wallet. Goddamn right about that. The wife

376
00:23:57.599 --> 00:24:00.920
is always doing that Facebook shit. Why you think I

377
00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:04.640
got these for tonight? The two have a laugh. Cherry

378
00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:09.160
makes a mock vomiting face to Orville. Orville mouths which one.

379
00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:15.359
Cherry nods towards large. Mister Scott, gonna start off Friday night, right,

380
00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:19.359
Scott says. Cherry slides up next to him. She leans

381
00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:22.720
against the counter, showing Jimmy her cleavage. His eyes go

382
00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:27.200
right to it. How's about speeding up all the talkie talkie,

383
00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:32.079
she says. Excuse me, young lady. Scott says, no need

384
00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:36.519
to be fucking rude. Orville stood next to the coffee pot.

385
00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:40.079
Watching Cherry do her thing, he poured himself a cup,

386
00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:43.599
dropping in a ton of creamer and sugar, gulping down

387
00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:46.720
the cup in one go. I just want to make

388
00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:50.000
a purchase and go. Not listen to your fucking life story,

389
00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:54.200
she says, noticing she's not even holding anything. Cherry quickly

390
00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:58.880
grabs a handful of slim JEMs. These delicious treats. Yum, yum.

391
00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:01.720
Scott's sit takes his head and turns back to Jimmy.

392
00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:05.559
What do I owe you? Orville lets his eye flicker

393
00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:09.039
over the female shopper. She'd selected some chips and now

394
00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:11.920
stood in front of the soda cooler. Oblivious to the

395
00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:15.319
fun up front. Scott paid Jimmy and turned to leave,

396
00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:21.680
picking up his beer. Cherry blocked his way. Excuse me, miss, No, no,

397
00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:25.480
you don't get to leave until you apologize. Cherry stomped

398
00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:29.240
her booted foot hard on the floor. Just get out

399
00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:32.480
of my way, crazy bitch. He tried to push past her.

400
00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:36.640
Angry Cherry clawed him, opening red trenches on the left

401
00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:40.480
side of his face. Bitch. Scott dropped both of his

402
00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:42.680
six packs to the floor with a crash. Some of

403
00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:45.880
the cans exploded in a foamy blast. He made an

404
00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:51.200
unsuccessful grab at Cherry. Too slow, she laughed. Scott lunged

405
00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:53.960
at Cherry, only to come face to face with Orville's

406
00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:58.519
Colt trooper. Orville smiled a wicked smile as he pulled

407
00:25:58.519 --> 00:26:03.279
the hammer back. Hands off, my girl. He pulled the trigger,

408
00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:07.279
sending Scott's brains all over the newspaper rack. Scott fell

409
00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:10.400
to the ground, twitching, lying on his back. Orville fired

410
00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:14.480
a couple more shots into the dying man's chest. He

411
00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:18.160
saw Jimmy behind the counter, his face slack with dull horror.

412
00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:23.279
Orville pointed the cold at him. Stay planted right there, ZiT, boy,

413
00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:28.640
You move, you die. The boy nodded, Shit, Ory, he

414
00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:32.799
was mine. Cherry pouts, and you took too long. The

415
00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:35.799
female shopper screamed at the top of her lungs and bolted.

416
00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:41.759
Orville sighs get her. Cherry let out a blood curdling

417
00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:45.200
scream and pursued her prey. Cherry grabbed cans from one

418
00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:47.519
of the shelves and hurled them at the woman. Where

419
00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:51.039
ye going baby? A can hit one of the glass coolers,

420
00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:54.480
cracking it. Another one hit the woman's leg. She fell

421
00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:57.240
against a display of dog biscuits, knocking it over with

422
00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:59.960
a loud crash. Cherry picked up a loaf of bread

423
00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:03.640
and beat the woman with it. Give up, she laughed,

424
00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:07.079
pulling the woman up by her hair. Orville watches the

425
00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:10.720
sad spectacle, laughing out of the corner of his eye.

426
00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:14.720
Jimmy inches towards his phone on the back counter. Don't

427
00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:18.759
even think about it, white chocolate. Cherry marched the pajama

428
00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:22.119
clad shopper up to the counter. Upon seeing Scott lying

429
00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:24.640
on the ground in a pool of blood, the captives

430
00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:29.200
started to sob. Oh, God, don't hurt me. Orville looked

431
00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:32.799
at the woman. Don't worry. Nobody's getting hurt as long

432
00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:36.119
as you give us a little ride. A glint of

433
00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:39.799
metal caught his eye too late. He saw Jimmy aiming

434
00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:42.960
a cheap pistol at him. The nervous boy squeezed the trigger,

435
00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:46.400
trying to fire one handed. The pistol fired wild. The

436
00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:49.319
bullet whizzed past Orville and hit the female shopper in

437
00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:52.359
the throat. Orville took aim with the colt and blasted

438
00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:55.440
Jimmy between the eyes. The boy slumped dead against a

439
00:27:55.440 --> 00:28:00.720
display of lotto tickets. Damn, Orville says, that was something.

440
00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:04.119
Orville looked over at the side of the counter at Jimmy.

441
00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:06.880
What brains he had leaking out of the wound above

442
00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:11.119
his eyes. Orville shot him again, you get to have

443
00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:16.680
all the fun, Cherry pouts. He holsters the colt. Get

444
00:28:16.720 --> 00:28:20.000
some supplies for the road. Orville walked over to the

445
00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:22.599
body of the woman. He crouched down and turned her

446
00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:26.200
on her back. She stares up at him with lifeless eyes.

447
00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:30.200
He rummages through her pajama pockets and pulls out a

448
00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:33.119
pair of keys. He was about to stand when a

449
00:28:33.119 --> 00:28:35.720
bell dinged as a car pulled up to one of

450
00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:38.440
the pumps. He looked back at Cherry filling up a

451
00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:43.400
plastic bag with groceries. Get down, he hissed, We've got company.

452
00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:47.079
Orvill peeked around an end cap of beef jerky. It

453
00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:49.039
was hard to make out the car or the driver

454
00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:51.359
since they were on the other side of the gas pumps,

455
00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:55.079
but he thought he saw a glimpse of long blonde hair.

456
00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:58.920
All the while, Orville kept his eyes on the new arrival.

457
00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:01.799
They stepped from by behind the pump. He was right.

458
00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:08.279
It was a girl about eighteen long blonde hair, longer legs. Instantly,

459
00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:11.960
Orville felt his crotch come alive. Goddamn, he wanted to

460
00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:14.960
fuck her on the spot. This called for a change

461
00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:18.799
of plans. He'd planned on taking the woman in Pajama's hostage,

462
00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:22.759
having her drive them somewhere secluded and lie low, but

463
00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:26.400
White Chocolate got trigger happy and fucked that up, so

464
00:29:26.440 --> 00:29:29.119
we'd settle for just taking her car and some supplies

465
00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:32.759
and high tailing it. But now Blondie had dropped into

466
00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:35.920
their laps, and if he was lucky, she'd be riding

467
00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:39.000
it later tonight after he was done, Cherry could have

468
00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:42.880
a go. She'd like that. Orville licked his lips at

469
00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:46.799
the thought. From behind the counter. Another urgent beep as

470
00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:50.359
the blonde pressed a button on the pump. Finally giving up,

471
00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:55.640
she walked frustrated towards the store. Here we go, Orville whispered.

472
00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:59.279
The blonde pulled the door open, making the bell chime

473
00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:04.759
as she unknown stepped into hell. Jimmy, you awaken here,

474
00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:09.640
she asked, a second before seeing the blood. Jimmy, nope,

475
00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:15.839
Orville stood. The colt pointed at her. Jimmy's on break blood,

476
00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:20.039
the girl said, biting her lip. Did you sure did,

477
00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:23.720
Cherry said, as she walked towards them, carrying an overstuffed

478
00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:29.480
bag of groceries. How sweet fresh meat. She's also going

479
00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:31.680
to be all right out of here, ain't you? Baby?

480
00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:34.519
The girl looked down at the bodies, then up at

481
00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:39.960
Orville and Cherry dumb struck, right, Orville said, a bit annoyed.

482
00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:42.680
He took the blonde's chin with his hand and forced

483
00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:46.920
the girl to nod an agreement. Right. He took his

484
00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:51.680
hand away, leaving bloody fingerprints. Who are you, the girl asked,

485
00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:56.559
her voice quivering. I'm a demon? Orville answered, straight from Hell.

486
00:30:57.119 --> 00:31:01.519
I eat up little girls like you. You're gonna kill

487
00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:09.759
me depends. What's your name, sweetness? Lauren? Lauren dolar Well, Lauren?

488
00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:14.079
Where were you headed this fine afternoon? The girl took

489
00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:18.960
a deep breath. To my parents for dinner, To her

490
00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:24.319
parents for dinner? Cherry mocked, And where do said parents live?

491
00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:28.359
You don't want to go there, please, I'll take you

492
00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:33.799
anywhere else. Orville snapped his fingers. Where do they live?

493
00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:37.559
I don't want anybody to get hurt, she offered up.

494
00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:44.720
Orville snapped his fingers again. Where defeated? She sighed outside

495
00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:50.119
Hillbury on Old Gorge Road. Sounds homie, just the folks there,

496
00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:56.599
sweet Pea, Yes, only child. He grabbed her ass. Great,

497
00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:01.319
let's mount up, road trip, Cherry said, doing a little dance.

498
00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:05.440
Lauren looked down at the dead bodies. You're just gonna

499
00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:11.279
leave them there like that. Cherry looked down at the bodies.

500
00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:14.920
They're dead, honey, they ain't got anything to worry about.

501
00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:17.079
Now move your ass.

502
00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:22.640
You're not safe yet. Weekly Spooky will be right back.

503
00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:31.559
They filled up the gas tank of Lauren's Chevrolet hatchback

504
00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:34.519
and loaded up the back with several bags of groceries.

505
00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:38.200
Orville had formulated a new plan. They'd go to the

506
00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:41.240
parents' house, maybe spend a day or two laying low.

507
00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:45.680
This massacre would be all over the news. He could

508
00:32:45.680 --> 00:32:48.960
take the time to have some fun with Lauren. Orville

509
00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:52.559
looked over the car. We're all set, sweet Pea. You

510
00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:57.799
know the way you drive, Shotgun, Cherry shouted, Sorry, honey,

511
00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:00.519
I gotta keep an eye on our driver. You'll have

512
00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:03.759
to ride in the back seat. Oh fuck. Cherry kicked

513
00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:07.799
the car tire. I never get Shotgun. Orville slid into

514
00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:11.039
the passenger's side and glanced at the blonde. She had

515
00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:15.240
her bloodstained fingers near her mouth. Did she just lick

516
00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:19.079
the blood? No? No, couldn't be just a trick. His

517
00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:22.599
eyes played on him. Orville watched the trees on both

518
00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:25.640
sides of the road pass by, their branches stretched out

519
00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:29.400
towards him like skeletal arms. It wasn't fall yet, but

520
00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:33.200
all the trees had lost their leaves. What's with the trees,

521
00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:37.359
he asked out loud to nobody in particular. Lauren, who

522
00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:40.920
was focused on the road, answered him that's because of

523
00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:44.279
the original Hillbury. There was a chemical spill back in

524
00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:48.680
the eighties. Shit really, Cherry said, poking her head in

525
00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:52.039
from the back seat. This spooked Lauren, whose hands slipped

526
00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:55.799
on the wheel. Easy there, girl, Orville said. He slipped

527
00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:58.839
his hand to Lauren's bare leg, running his hand up

528
00:33:58.920 --> 00:34:03.559
under her skirt. Can't have you crashing, Cherry slapped Orville

529
00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:06.400
on the shoulder. Lay off, Let her tell the story.

530
00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:10.800
Orville's hand moved away from Lauren's leg, allowing her to

531
00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:15.360
pull her skirt back down. There's no real story, just

532
00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:18.039
some company spilled a bunch of chemicals near the town,

533
00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:22.199
killed all the trees in grass, poisoned the water. A

534
00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:26.039
few people got sick. All the townsfolks moved to New Hillbury.

535
00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:29.159
She pointed past Orville. You can see part of the

536
00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:33.679
old town there through the trees there. Orville and Cherry turned.

537
00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:37.800
As the dead trees flew by, a few dilapidated houses

538
00:34:37.840 --> 00:34:43.079
could be seen, weathered, abandoned and forgotten to time. Your

539
00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:45.840
parents live all the way out here. It'll be much

540
00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:50.360
easier that way, away from prying eyes. Orville smiled at

541
00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:53.800
this thought. No need to worry about all the screaming.

542
00:34:55.280 --> 00:34:57.280
My parents like it out in the country, away from

543
00:34:57.320 --> 00:35:00.679
the hustle and bustle. There were a little old, old fashioned.

544
00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:04.679
Orville let his eyes wander to the girl's chest. Her

545
00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:08.239
tits were nicely sized. He got hard. His thoughts of

546
00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:12.639
burying his face and them ran through his mind. Not you, though, huh,

547
00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:18.199
You like the tight, tight, cramped modern world. That's a

548
00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:21.840
hell of a commute for daddy, Cherry piped in. Cherry

549
00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:24.280
knew what he was thinking, and it pissed her off.

550
00:35:24.760 --> 00:35:29.760
He could tell dead kind of works from home. Lucky him,

551
00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:33.159
Orville said. He looked at the sky growing dark as

552
00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:36.639
the evening crept in. The car sank into quiet as

553
00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:38.880
Orville turned his thoughts to what had to be done.

554
00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:42.960
The parents shouldn't be too hard to control, especially since

555
00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:46.840
he had the girl and the gun. Besides, in a

556
00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:49.159
day or two, the happy family would be dead as

557
00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:53.480
dog shit. Orville looked at the girl, seeing her as

558
00:35:53.559 --> 00:36:00.239
yet another decayed corpse left in his wake. Too much quiet,

559
00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:03.679
Cherry barked from the back seat. Turn on some tunes

560
00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:08.199
or good idea, he said. He turned on the radio,

561
00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:12.440
cycling through the channels, most of it was static. The

562
00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:16.599
first actual station he got was a religious one. A

563
00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:20.519
woman was preaching, screaming the words in a frenzy, Exodus

564
00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:24.519
four twenty five. You are indeed a bridegroom of blood

565
00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:27.920
to me. The woman's voice was raw, like her throat

566
00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:32.519
was bloody. Ah nope, Cherry interjected from the back seat.

567
00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:36.519
The next station he found was a pop station. Dubstep

568
00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:41.159
strained the car speakers. Hell fucking no. The next station,

569
00:36:41.400 --> 00:36:46.199
Kenny G Was playing his heart out crap. Next, Orville

570
00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:50.440
switched it again. Black sabbaths paranoid assaulted their ear drums.

571
00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:54.639
Hell yeah, Cherry squealed. It was dark before they got

572
00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:57.599
to the house. Lauren drove without the headlights on until

573
00:36:57.719 --> 00:37:00.639
Orville said something. She was so ner she must have

574
00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:04.360
forgot to turn them on. I can take you anywhere,

575
00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:10.719
she pleaded, Please, just don't involve my parents. Really, I'm sorry, sweetness,

576
00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:14.599
but no, even if he somehow took pity on her

577
00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:17.360
and it was too late now anyway, on the left

578
00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:20.679
side of the road, a large house loomed, lights burning

579
00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:23.800
quaintly in the windows. This had to be the place.

580
00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:26.719
It was the first man made structure they'd seen in miles.

581
00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:30.840
Lauren pulled off the road down on a long dirt driveway.

582
00:37:31.280 --> 00:37:35.000
Off to the house's right, a large walled in cemetery loomed,

583
00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:41.719
its stone walls ancient and crumbling. Whoa creepy, Cherry said,

584
00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:46.360
pressing her face to the window. A graveyard. Your parents

585
00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:51.159
live next to a fucking graveyard, Orville asked. Dad's the caretaker,

586
00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:54.880
Lauren answered, as she pulled up to the house. When

587
00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:58.760
the town moved, the cemetery stayed. They still bury people

588
00:37:58.800 --> 00:38:02.000
from the new town here. They got out of the car.

589
00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:05.239
Orville glanced up at the house. It looked old, but

590
00:38:05.679 --> 00:38:08.719
in pretty good condition. Daddy probably had a lot of

591
00:38:08.760 --> 00:38:12.199
time on his hands to keep the place nice. Won't

592
00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:16.440
Mom and dad be surprised, Cherry said, doing a little skip,

593
00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:19.880
lead the way, Princess. Orville reached into his jacket and

594
00:38:19.920 --> 00:38:22.599
pulled out an old switchblade. He held the blade to

595
00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:26.639
Lauren's side. Don't think of being a hero. This old

596
00:38:26.679 --> 00:38:30.119
girl as Sally killed my first dog with her, She'll

597
00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:36.599
gut you all the same. Understand, Yes, good, let's go

598
00:38:36.679 --> 00:38:40.920
meet the folks. Lauren pushed open the door, Orville right

599
00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:44.199
behind her. The house looked homey, he thought, would be

600
00:38:44.239 --> 00:38:48.760
a shame to make a mess of it. Mom, Dad,

601
00:38:49.239 --> 00:38:52.719
I'm here. Orville could hear a TV playing in one

602
00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:55.840
of the rooms. The smell of something good cooking hung

603
00:38:55.880 --> 00:38:58.960
in the air. A middle aged couple stepped into the room.

604
00:38:59.320 --> 00:39:04.840
Their looks of turned to questioning looks upon seeing their guests. Honey,

605
00:39:05.639 --> 00:39:09.039
who are these people? The mother asked. The father looked

606
00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:13.800
at Orville, the recognition visible on his face. Look who's

607
00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:19.400
come to dinner? Daddy, Dear, Orville says, behave. He flashes

608
00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:24.840
the colt in its holster. Oh god, Mom stammered, what

609
00:39:24.920 --> 00:39:28.760
do you want? Some grub would be cool. They're the

610
00:39:28.760 --> 00:39:33.599
ones on the news serial killers, Lauren's father said, has

611
00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:37.079
our little rest stop made us splash already, Orville said,

612
00:39:37.320 --> 00:39:40.239
putting his arm around Lauren. He could see the father's

613
00:39:40.239 --> 00:39:44.719
face light up with anger and then helplessness. This thrilled

614
00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:48.360
Orville to no end. Orville might have to make Daddy

615
00:39:48.440 --> 00:39:52.320
watch as he fucked the girl's brains out. Why don't

616
00:39:52.320 --> 00:39:55.760
we mosey into the dining room and eat? Mom and

617
00:39:55.840 --> 00:39:59.360
dad led the way as Orville walked with Lauren, Cherry

618
00:39:59.400 --> 00:40:04.840
following by. What do we have in mom? Orville asked, roast?

619
00:40:05.320 --> 00:40:08.559
But it's still in the oven, she answered, looking nervously

620
00:40:08.559 --> 00:40:12.360
at her husband. I should get it, Cherry. Why don't

621
00:40:12.400 --> 00:40:15.280
you help mom get the food? Orville winked at the mother,

622
00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:20.960
I'll entertain, pops. Cherry frowned, Come on, you, old bat.

623
00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:24.159
She took the woman roughly by the arm. Where's the kitchen?

624
00:40:25.000 --> 00:40:27.679
Orville pulled Lauren tight to him. He took a whiff

625
00:40:27.719 --> 00:40:32.320
of her hair and skin. Your daughter smells great, Daddy,

626
00:40:32.920 --> 00:40:36.360
ever have a piece? He could see the hate burning

627
00:40:36.679 --> 00:40:40.360
in the man's eyes. Orville half wanted him to try something.

628
00:40:40.920 --> 00:40:44.519
He ran his hand roughly over Lauren's chest. Bet she

629
00:40:44.679 --> 00:40:48.599
tastes great too, as he hoped this was too much

630
00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:50.920
for Dad. Orville pushed Lauren out of the way and

631
00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:53.639
sent the girl sailing into a small stand. The father

632
00:40:53.800 --> 00:40:56.679
charged at Orville, swinging at him with his huge fist.

633
00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:59.360
Orville sidestepped the swing and grabbed the man by the

634
00:40:59.400 --> 00:41:03.000
throat slammed him down hard against a nearby table. The

635
00:41:03.079 --> 00:41:06.840
mother appeared in the doorway, Cherry right behind her. Get

636
00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:09.880
the fuck back in the kitchen, Cherry. Cherry did as

637
00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:12.400
she was told, pulling the woman back to the kitchen.

638
00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:16.840
Orville pulled out sally and sliced a large gash across

639
00:41:16.880 --> 00:41:21.880
the man's right cheek. Bad dad. He took a quick

640
00:41:21.880 --> 00:41:27.239
glance at Lauren. Hey, princess, where's the basement? Lauren stood,

641
00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:31.679
unsure on her feet. Please don't hurt them, Just go

642
00:41:32.840 --> 00:41:36.760
not gonna happen basement now, or Daddy loses an eye.

643
00:41:37.719 --> 00:41:41.199
Lauren led them to the basement door and nervously opened it.

644
00:41:42.400 --> 00:41:46.360
What are you gonna do, Lauren pleaded. Orville dragged her

645
00:41:46.400 --> 00:41:49.360
old man to the stairs. All Orville could see were

646
00:41:49.400 --> 00:41:54.639
some old woodstairs descending into darkness. Can you fly, daddy?

647
00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:57.880
Orville took the man by the collar and threw him

648
00:41:57.920 --> 00:42:00.719
down the stairs. Lauren screamed her guts out as her

649
00:42:00.760 --> 00:42:03.960
father was swallowed up by the darkness. Orville thought he

650
00:42:04.039 --> 00:42:07.599
heard the sound of bones breaking as the man hit bottom.

651
00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:12.119
He looked at Lauren, tears streamed down her cheeks. It's

652
00:42:12.159 --> 00:42:19.800
possibly survived, maybe, she sobbed why? Orville licked his lips.

653
00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:25.320
You don't want mom to get the treatment? Do you

654
00:42:25.360 --> 00:42:30.760
no good? You'll do what I say. Then she nodded,

655
00:42:31.880 --> 00:42:34.719
here's what I want. He knew she'd still have a

656
00:42:34.800 --> 00:42:37.639
room here. The kid moves out, but the folks always

657
00:42:37.719 --> 00:42:40.960
keep the room untouched. Stuffed animals sat on the bed,

658
00:42:41.360 --> 00:42:45.079
silent judgment on their furry faces. Orville turned on the

659
00:42:45.199 --> 00:42:49.039
radio on the girl's dresser. Stevie B's Postman song was on.

660
00:42:50.119 --> 00:42:53.639
Not sexy, but Orville didn't want to wait anymore. He

661
00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:56.320
pushed the stuffed animals off the bed, scattering them to

662
00:42:56.360 --> 00:42:59.960
the floor. He hopped on the old bed. It springs

663
00:43:00.400 --> 00:43:09.079
and protest. Okay, sweet pea showtime strip. Lauren gulped. Cherry

664
00:43:09.119 --> 00:43:11.679
watched the mom trying to prepare dinner. Like all hell

665
00:43:11.760 --> 00:43:14.119
hadn't just broke loose in the other room a few

666
00:43:14.159 --> 00:43:17.000
minutes ago. She had to hand it to the old bat.

667
00:43:17.320 --> 00:43:20.159
She could keep it under control. It had grown quiet.

668
00:43:20.199 --> 00:43:24.599
Now what could be going on? Cherry thought, before she

669
00:43:24.679 --> 00:43:27.920
investigated that. The smell of the roast caught her limited

670
00:43:27.960 --> 00:43:31.679
attention span. Fully, Cherry stabbed a big slice of it

671
00:43:31.719 --> 00:43:35.079
with her knife and took a large bite, sending juices

672
00:43:35.159 --> 00:43:39.960
dribbling down her chin. So good, mommy, she said, I

673
00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:43.920
think I just came in my panties. The woman didn't answer.

674
00:43:44.599 --> 00:43:47.000
She cut off a slice to replace the one Cherry took.

675
00:43:48.760 --> 00:43:53.440
Bee for pork, Cherry asks, I can't nail the taste.

676
00:43:53.599 --> 00:43:56.800
Putting down the carving knife, mother cleaned off her hands

677
00:43:56.800 --> 00:44:02.960
with a towel. Pork. It's damn good, mom, Why do

678
00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:07.360
you do it hurt people? Cherry thought, for a moment,

679
00:44:08.440 --> 00:44:11.800
because it's something to do. Lauren stood in her bra

680
00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:16.760
and panties nervously trying to emulate a sexy dance. Orville watched.

681
00:44:17.239 --> 00:44:20.920
It was time. He could wait no longer. Come here.

682
00:44:21.480 --> 00:44:25.360
She walked toward him, her face pale white. Orville was

683
00:44:25.400 --> 00:44:28.000
a little bit disappointed in her choice of playing pink

684
00:44:28.079 --> 00:44:31.000
panties and bra. He'd hope they'd be something a little

685
00:44:31.039 --> 00:44:35.119
more exciting, or at least funny. Lauren sat down next

686
00:44:35.119 --> 00:44:41.039
to him, her body shaking. Undo my pants. Cherry was

687
00:44:41.079 --> 00:44:44.840
getting a little nervous. Where was or She didn't hear

688
00:44:44.880 --> 00:44:47.679
anything out in the dining room. Maybe Orville was getting

689
00:44:47.719 --> 00:44:50.440
rid of the dad. She watched mother as she washed

690
00:44:50.480 --> 00:44:53.920
the carving knife. When can we go out there? She asked?

691
00:44:54.440 --> 00:44:58.000
The food will get cold, Just hold your horses. Don't

692
00:44:58.039 --> 00:45:00.679
you have any other food to get ready? It was

693
00:45:00.719 --> 00:45:03.519
weird the whole time they were in the kitchen. She

694
00:45:03.559 --> 00:45:08.480
didn't see the woman prepare anything else. No vegetables, no potatoes,

695
00:45:08.519 --> 00:45:14.000
no stuffing, nothing. Did they only eat meat? The meat

696
00:45:14.039 --> 00:45:17.159
had made her thirsty. Cherry walked over to the fridge.

697
00:45:17.360 --> 00:45:20.000
She could go for something cold. It was too much

698
00:45:20.039 --> 00:45:22.960
to hope these fucks had beer. She pulled open the

699
00:45:22.960 --> 00:45:28.039
fridge door. Sitting there on a large plate was a

700
00:45:28.079 --> 00:45:31.440
severed human arm with a rather large chunk cut out

701
00:45:31.480 --> 00:45:37.760
from it. Cherry suddenly felt very weak. Behind her came noises.

702
00:45:37.840 --> 00:45:41.360
No human ears should ever hear the sound of flesh

703
00:45:41.400 --> 00:45:46.599
and bones stretching moving. She spun around. The woman looked

704
00:45:47.119 --> 00:45:51.599
different now, her skin grayish, her eyes black, Long teeth

705
00:45:51.639 --> 00:45:55.159
protruded from her mouth, and her hands had become claws.

706
00:45:56.000 --> 00:45:59.760
We can't eat just any flesh, she growled. It has

707
00:45:59.800 --> 00:46:03.320
to be dead first, the father said. Standing in the door,

708
00:46:03.880 --> 00:46:06.679
he was a little bloodied, but looking very much like

709
00:46:06.719 --> 00:46:10.000
his wife did. Now. The only thing between Oravilee and

710
00:46:10.079 --> 00:46:13.559
Lauren was his boxers and her underwear. He felt like

711
00:46:13.599 --> 00:46:16.519
a boy on Christmas morning. He told Lauren to pull

712
00:46:16.599 --> 00:46:20.960
down his boxers. They fell to the floor. Here he

713
00:46:21.000 --> 00:46:24.360
took her head, lowering it toward his excited dick. He

714
00:46:24.440 --> 00:46:27.320
leaned his head back, looking up at the ceiling. The

715
00:46:27.360 --> 00:46:31.000
girl was pretty good at this. There was a gunshot

716
00:46:31.119 --> 00:46:36.199
somewhere downstairs, followed by Cherry screaming in horror. What the fuck?

717
00:46:37.079 --> 00:46:40.079
But it was already too late. In the next instant,

718
00:46:40.320 --> 00:46:44.719
pains sliced through him. He felt something warm splash his chest.

719
00:46:44.840 --> 00:46:47.559
He was almost too terrified to look down. His crutch

720
00:46:47.639 --> 00:46:51.199
was covered in warm red blood. The small stump where

721
00:46:51.239 --> 00:46:54.599
his dick had been was busy pumping more out. As

722
00:46:54.599 --> 00:46:57.320
he started to slip into shock, he looked at Lauren,

723
00:46:57.679 --> 00:47:01.679
whose body was undergoing a horrible chain. She spat blood

724
00:47:01.679 --> 00:47:03.840
from her mouth along with his severed manhood.

725
00:47:04.639 --> 00:47:07.320
I change you to leave us alone.

726
00:47:08.159 --> 00:47:12.079
Orville could hear the heavenly chorus calling him. They sounded

727
00:47:12.679 --> 00:47:29.039
like howling wolves. Incident at Isotope Inn by Shane Migliovoka.

728
00:47:31.199 --> 00:47:35.440
You could disappear out here, Jane Whitman thought, which was

729
00:47:35.519 --> 00:47:39.599
exactly what she wanted to do, disappear from the world.

730
00:47:40.719 --> 00:47:44.480
The endless emptiness of the desert stretched out on either

731
00:47:44.599 --> 00:47:47.960
side of the car. Jane felt the weight of the

732
00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:51.960
snub nose thirty eight against her leg. She better hide

733
00:47:52.000 --> 00:47:55.840
the gun before she forgot it was there again. Can't

734
00:47:55.880 --> 00:47:59.760
let somebody see it. They might get the wrong idea.

735
00:48:00.639 --> 00:48:06.119
But what was the right idea? He'd given it to you, Alan,

736
00:48:06.599 --> 00:48:12.039
your husband, late husband, for those long nights when he

737
00:48:12.159 --> 00:48:18.400
was away. Protection couldn't be too careful nowadays. Alan had

738
00:48:18.440 --> 00:48:21.599
been a truck driver. One night he'd been on a

739
00:48:21.639 --> 00:48:25.679
long run when the girl's car had jumped the line.

740
00:48:25.800 --> 00:48:34.400
The girl had died. Alan was paralyzed. Alan always blamed himself,

741
00:48:35.360 --> 00:48:40.360
blamed himself for not reacting faster. He'd wasted away in

742
00:48:40.440 --> 00:48:45.719
that bed until Jane trembled at the rush of memories.

743
00:48:46.159 --> 00:48:49.480
Her eyes started to tear up, making it hard to

744
00:48:49.480 --> 00:48:53.960
see the road. Shit, she said, wiping the tears from

745
00:48:53.960 --> 00:48:59.039
her eyes. Stop thinking about it, she ordered herself. Her

746
00:48:59.159 --> 00:49:03.039
vision was clear when something darted across the road in

747
00:49:03.079 --> 00:49:07.440
front of her car, causing Jane to slam on the brakes.

748
00:49:08.400 --> 00:49:12.039
The car skidded to a stop. Going off the road,

749
00:49:13.239 --> 00:49:18.920
Jane avoided, nearly hitting a large metal fence. Fuck, she gasped,

750
00:49:19.440 --> 00:49:23.119
her heart beating like crazy. She stared up at the

751
00:49:23.199 --> 00:49:29.760
sign black Ridge trespassers will be met with lethal force.

752
00:49:31.199 --> 00:49:35.719
Jane felt a shiver run down her spine. She got

753
00:49:35.760 --> 00:49:38.920
out of the car to check for damage. When the

754
00:49:39.000 --> 00:49:43.800
hair on the back of her neck stood up. Jane turned,

755
00:49:43.920 --> 00:49:47.719
catching a glimpse of something out of the corner of

756
00:49:47.760 --> 00:49:53.440
her eye. There was a large, hitherto unrevealed crack in

757
00:49:53.519 --> 00:49:59.440
the road. Then the ringing started filling the world with

758
00:49:59.519 --> 00:50:03.159
its stone Eddie Drone calling to her with a song

759
00:50:03.280 --> 00:50:07.000
only she could hear from the desert behind the fence

760
00:50:07.480 --> 00:50:15.880
she had so narrowly avoided hitting with her car. Carly

761
00:50:16.000 --> 00:50:20.760
Allen flicked a pebble another day, another dollar in good

762
00:50:20.760 --> 00:50:25.119
old frozen Arizona. Whoever came up with that name for

763
00:50:25.159 --> 00:50:29.679
the town was a real wise ass, thought Carly. She

764
00:50:29.800 --> 00:50:32.559
tapped her black boots on the metal of the rusty

765
00:50:32.639 --> 00:50:36.239
lawn chair she slouched in. She noticed a rip in

766
00:50:36.280 --> 00:50:40.480
her black fishnets. Oh well. At this point she was

767
00:50:40.519 --> 00:50:45.199
bored beyond caring. An open sketchbook rested on a rusty

768
00:50:45.280 --> 00:50:49.960
barrel next to her, a half finished charcoal landscape spread

769
00:50:49.960 --> 00:50:55.559
out on the page. Her friend, Todd Torrevio, sat on

770
00:50:55.599 --> 00:50:58.880
a stack of crates, thumbing through an old joke book.

771
00:50:59.480 --> 00:51:03.079
Her friend since middle school and his parents owned the

772
00:51:03.119 --> 00:51:07.840
isotope in which they currently had their collected asses parked

773
00:51:07.840 --> 00:51:13.599
in front of Thunder rumbled in the distance. This one

774
00:51:13.639 --> 00:51:17.719
is perfect, Todd exclaimed. Why can't you trust an adam?

775
00:51:18.400 --> 00:51:24.000
He paused, waiting for Carly to respond. She shrugged, Fuck

776
00:51:24.039 --> 00:51:29.360
if I know, because they make up everything. She leaned

777
00:51:29.400 --> 00:51:34.719
back in the chair, groaning in pain. Oh dude, not cool.

778
00:51:36.000 --> 00:51:39.960
Lightning flashed in the sky, followed by a burst of thunder.

779
00:51:42.920 --> 00:51:46.280
It was getting closer. What do you call a belt

780
00:51:46.599 --> 00:51:51.119
made of watches? I'm going to burn that book. Wish

781
00:51:51.199 --> 00:51:54.599
I'd never found the damn thing. Carly thumped her head

782
00:51:54.599 --> 00:52:00.000
against the back of her chair. Any guests left, Carly asked,

783
00:52:00.960 --> 00:52:04.159
just that old couple the mcnabs. The old man is

784
00:52:04.199 --> 00:52:12.119
a bit of a grouch, lucky you. Thunder rumbled across

785
00:52:12.159 --> 00:52:18.079
the sky, gonna pour soon. Carly observed. They grabbed their

786
00:52:18.119 --> 00:52:22.880
stuff and went inside. They crashed in reception. Todd sat

787
00:52:22.920 --> 00:52:26.320
at the desk, an old hunting rifle hung on the wall.

788
00:52:26.400 --> 00:52:30.760
Behind him. Carly pursued a rack of bags of potato

789
00:52:30.840 --> 00:52:34.880
chips and candy. A TV fixed to the wall droned

790
00:52:34.920 --> 00:52:42.079
on the reception, periodically destroyed by the approaching storm, daring

791
00:52:42.199 --> 00:52:48.000
daylight jailbreak. Notorious bank robber escaped. The rain started coming

792
00:52:48.039 --> 00:52:54.119
down outside. Carly watched the downpour, lost in thought as

793
00:52:54.199 --> 00:52:58.880
Todd told her another joke. Orange you glad you didn't

794
00:52:58.920 --> 00:53:03.719
say Holy shit, Carly exclaimed. As a car raced through

795
00:53:03.760 --> 00:53:10.719
the rain into the motel parking lot. Jane barely made

796
00:53:10.760 --> 00:53:14.119
it into the parking lot without an accident, shutting off

797
00:53:14.119 --> 00:53:17.119
the car. She rested her head on the steering wheel.

798
00:53:18.000 --> 00:53:23.320
She regained her composure and hurried inside the isotope. In inside,

799
00:53:23.360 --> 00:53:26.599
a punky looking girl and a dark haired boy gawked

800
00:53:26.639 --> 00:53:29.239
at her as she shook off some of the rain.

801
00:53:30.239 --> 00:53:35.320
I'd like a room, sure, the boy answered, forty five

802
00:53:35.360 --> 00:53:38.960
bucks for the night, cables included. She pulled out a

803
00:53:39.000 --> 00:53:42.119
fifty and slid it across the counter keep the change.

804
00:53:42.719 --> 00:53:47.440
The boy looked, surprised. Mighty kind of you quite a

805
00:53:47.480 --> 00:53:53.199
storm out there, the girl said, yeah, quite. Jane saw

806
00:53:53.280 --> 00:53:56.599
the rack of goods against the wall. You guys sell

807
00:53:56.599 --> 00:54:01.639
any aspirin and maybe some cigarettes. Just what's there, the

808
00:54:01.719 --> 00:54:04.800
boy said, But I'm sure the folks have some aspirin.

809
00:54:04.920 --> 00:54:10.559
I can snag you a few, Jane smiled. Thanks, Todd,

810
00:54:11.280 --> 00:54:14.480
the boy said, before going into the office. Behind the desk,

811
00:54:15.639 --> 00:54:18.920
the girl spoke in a hushed voice, I can get

812
00:54:18.960 --> 00:54:22.360
you a couple of smokes. If she saw Todd coming

813
00:54:22.400 --> 00:54:25.639
back and stopped. Here you go. Todd held out a

814
00:54:25.639 --> 00:54:29.199
bottle of aspirin. You ain't gonna like od on him

815
00:54:29.280 --> 00:54:33.360
or anything, are you, Jane laughed. No, I only need

816
00:54:33.400 --> 00:54:36.800
a couple and maybe a soda. There's a machine near

817
00:54:36.800 --> 00:54:40.880
your room. I can show her, the girl offered. Cool,

818
00:54:41.559 --> 00:54:46.000
Todd said, tossing the room key to the girl outside.

819
00:54:46.039 --> 00:54:49.320
The heavy downpour had turned into a mild one as

820
00:54:49.400 --> 00:54:53.880
Jane followed the girl to the soda machine. Here you go,

821
00:54:54.480 --> 00:54:59.320
the girl said, It's got all the greats Cola Cola, Doctor,

822
00:54:59.440 --> 00:55:04.559
Cherry Mountain citrus orange slash grape. Jane made a face.

823
00:55:05.559 --> 00:55:10.960
Mountain citrus is pretty good. Actually, Jane counted out some change.

824
00:55:11.039 --> 00:55:14.280
Before your boyfriend came back. You mentioned getting a couple

825
00:55:14.360 --> 00:55:19.760
of cigarettes. The girl looked at Jane shocked. Boyfriend, me

826
00:55:19.880 --> 00:55:23.679
and Todd are just best buds. He's like a brother. Sorry,

827
00:55:23.920 --> 00:55:27.679
didn't mean to offend. No big deal, the girl said,

828
00:55:28.119 --> 00:55:30.360
slipping a couple of cigarettes out of her beat up

829
00:55:30.440 --> 00:55:33.519
army jacket. We used to get teased about it in

830
00:55:33.599 --> 00:55:38.719
high school. She handed them to Jane, along with a lighter. Thanks.

831
00:55:39.400 --> 00:55:42.480
Just don't let Todd know if he found out I

832
00:55:42.559 --> 00:55:46.159
was smoking, he'd freak. Jane lit one of the cigarettes,

833
00:55:46.440 --> 00:55:50.760
handing the lighter to the girl. Thanks, I'm Carly. By

834
00:55:50.800 --> 00:55:54.599
the way. They stood watching the downpour for a moment,

835
00:55:55.639 --> 00:56:00.239
neither of them talking. I have a question, Jane spoke up.

836
00:56:01.360 --> 00:56:05.119
What's up with the motel's name? Somebody lose a bed,

837
00:56:06.119 --> 00:56:10.639
Carly laughed. Back in the old days, the fifties, I

838
00:56:10.719 --> 00:56:14.000
think the government used to do nuclear testing out there,

839
00:56:14.679 --> 00:56:18.000
she pointed, towards the desert. There was some talk of

840
00:56:18.039 --> 00:56:23.719
a base out under black Ridge. Black Ridge. Jane suddenly

841
00:56:23.800 --> 00:56:30.199
felt lightheaded. You okay, Carly asked, Yeah, just need a

842
00:56:30.199 --> 00:56:36.079
good sleep. Jane lay propped up by pillows on the bed,

843
00:56:36.119 --> 00:56:40.400
flipping through the cable channels, only paying half attention. A

844
00:56:40.440 --> 00:56:46.039
cigarette dangled from her lips. Black Ridge out there in

845
00:56:46.119 --> 00:56:50.559
the desert. The channels flipped by faster and faster. On

846
00:56:50.599 --> 00:56:54.480
the TV, moving on up. It began with a closed,

847
00:56:54.480 --> 00:56:58.119
deserted diner news at eleven, a shadowy flight into the

848
00:56:58.199 --> 00:57:01.760
dangerous world of a man who does not exist. Jane

849
00:57:01.760 --> 00:57:05.920
felt her head grow heavy. The remote slipped from her

850
00:57:06.000 --> 00:57:11.000
hand as the TV screen hissed with static. Her sleep

851
00:57:11.119 --> 00:57:16.119
glazed eyes strained as light filled the dingy room. At

852
00:57:16.159 --> 00:57:20.960
the light's center was the outline of a person. A

853
00:57:21.039 --> 00:57:25.119
crimson clad hand reached out of the light towards Jane.

854
00:57:25.480 --> 00:57:32.639
As mechanical screeching grew louder and louder. Jane's eyes snapped open.

855
00:57:33.159 --> 00:57:38.480
She sat up in bed. Thunder crashed outside. The storm

856
00:57:39.519 --> 00:57:44.679
was back. Jane lay back on the bed, listening to

857
00:57:44.760 --> 00:57:49.559
the steady downpour of rain outside that black Ridge place.

858
00:57:50.280 --> 00:57:53.639
Ever since seeing that damn name on the fence, something

859
00:57:53.679 --> 00:57:57.320
had been off. Jane could feel the headache coming back

860
00:57:57.440 --> 00:58:01.480
full force. She got dressed again, as much as she

861
00:58:01.599 --> 00:58:05.320
hated to. Maybe she could bum a couple more aspirin

862
00:58:05.400 --> 00:58:09.679
off that kid two weren't doing the trick. She hurried

863
00:58:09.719 --> 00:58:13.960
out the door into the rain. Halfway to the office,

864
00:58:14.800 --> 00:58:20.480
Jane remembered something. The gun. Fuck was it still sitting

865
00:58:20.519 --> 00:58:24.760
there on the passenger side. First the aspirin, then the gun.

866
00:58:27.159 --> 00:58:31.559
There's more scares where that came from. Weekly, spooky. We'll

867
00:58:31.559 --> 00:58:32.360
be right back.

868
00:58:38.280 --> 00:58:41.320
In the reception area, a stocky looking older man in

869
00:58:41.400 --> 00:58:45.559
shorts was bitching at Todd. A woman in glasses stood

870
00:58:45.599 --> 00:58:49.320
next to the man. It's leaking in the bathroom, the

871
00:58:49.360 --> 00:58:52.440
old man complained. I'm sorry, sir, I'll get someone to

872
00:58:52.440 --> 00:58:56.920
look at it tomorrow. Tomorrow, the old man grumbled, what

873
00:58:57.039 --> 00:59:02.079
about tonight. I can give you a bucket. Unbelievable, a bucket,

874
00:59:02.280 --> 00:59:05.880
A bucket, boy. I ought to kick your Harold, the

875
00:59:05.960 --> 00:59:12.000
old woman scolded, damn it, bargie shish, Harold shouted. Jane

876
00:59:12.119 --> 00:59:16.320
rubbed her forehead. Maybe she should have gotten the gun first.

877
00:59:17.760 --> 00:59:20.360
I'm sorry, sir, It's either that or I can move

878
00:59:20.400 --> 00:59:26.159
you to another room. Todd offered, it hasn't been cleaned yet. Fine,

879
00:59:26.639 --> 00:59:30.079
the old man grumbled, grabbing the room keys from Tod's hand.

880
00:59:30.760 --> 00:59:34.320
I won't come here again, he barged out the door,

881
00:59:34.760 --> 00:59:39.440
his exhausted wife in tow. Todd saw Jane standing there.

882
00:59:39.960 --> 00:59:42.880
Oh shit, you don't got a leak too, do you?

883
00:59:44.000 --> 00:59:45.599
Jane managed half a smile.

884
00:59:46.480 --> 00:59:46.559
No.

885
00:59:46.880 --> 00:59:50.800
Uh. Wondering if I could borrow a couple more aspirin,

886
00:59:51.599 --> 00:59:55.360
Todd let out a sigh of relief. Oh sure. Thing

887
00:59:56.079 --> 00:59:59.920
Behind him, Jane saw Carly sitting in the office play

888
01:00:00.159 --> 01:00:05.519
a video game on a computer, pink headphones on. Totally engrossed,

889
01:00:06.679 --> 01:00:10.239
Jane stood watching the rain as Todd went to fetch

890
01:00:10.280 --> 01:00:14.880
the aspirin. She daydreamed for what felt like hours before

891
01:00:14.920 --> 01:00:18.320
Todd woke her up from her Stupor there you go,

892
01:00:18.760 --> 01:00:23.480
he smiled. If there's anything else, let me know, thanks,

893
01:00:24.320 --> 01:00:32.880
Jane said quietly. Jane was halfway to her car when

894
01:00:32.920 --> 01:00:36.519
another vehicle came screeching into the parking lot, as if

895
01:00:36.679 --> 01:00:40.239
chased by the hordes of hell. She jumped back as

896
01:00:40.280 --> 01:00:43.519
the car sped through, Feeling the heat of the vehicle

897
01:00:43.559 --> 01:00:46.639
as it went by. Jane was sure it was going

898
01:00:46.679 --> 01:00:49.320
to crash right into the motel at the speed they

899
01:00:49.320 --> 01:00:53.760
were going, but the car came to a jarring stop.

900
01:00:54.559 --> 01:00:57.199
A woman burst out of the back seat a wild

901
01:00:57.280 --> 01:01:01.760
look in her eye. Oh shit, oh shit, she exclaimed.

902
01:01:02.559 --> 01:01:05.840
There was something wrong with the woman. Jane could make

903
01:01:05.880 --> 01:01:11.519
out blood on her hands and t shirt. Jane's natural

904
01:01:11.559 --> 01:01:14.159
instincts took over, and she rushed over to the woman.

905
01:01:14.920 --> 01:01:17.840
As Jane approached, she made out at least three other

906
01:01:17.920 --> 01:01:22.639
people in the car. Miss are you all right? The

907
01:01:22.679 --> 01:01:29.280
woman's desperate ashen face beamed why, perfect little darling. Her

908
01:01:29.360 --> 01:01:32.719
voice had a Southern drawl to it. There was a

909
01:01:32.760 --> 01:01:36.400
flash of steel as Jane felt something sharp and hard

910
01:01:36.840 --> 01:01:41.679
pressing into her side. Take us to your leader, the

911
01:01:41.719 --> 01:01:45.559
woman ordered. A burly man slid out of the car.

912
01:01:46.000 --> 01:01:50.880
Stubble covered his scarred cheek, his dead eyes burned holes

913
01:01:51.000 --> 01:01:56.519
through Jane. My my, what little fish have you caught? Sherry?

914
01:01:57.599 --> 01:02:01.360
She smells like a New York sissy. Bit dell baby.

915
01:02:02.000 --> 01:02:06.559
Sherry pulled Jane's head back with a handful of hair shit.

916
01:02:07.280 --> 01:02:10.800
Jane cursed her luck if she'd just gone for her

917
01:02:10.920 --> 01:02:16.400
damn gun first move. Cherry barked, pulling Jane toward reception.

918
01:02:17.440 --> 01:02:21.239
Jane caught a brief glimpse of two other men getting

919
01:02:21.280 --> 01:02:25.760
out of the car. As Sherry pushed her inside. Todd

920
01:02:25.840 --> 01:02:31.400
stood there, dumbfounded. What the fuck the man called? Dell

921
01:02:31.519 --> 01:02:37.039
aimed a pistol at Todd, be cool Tonto. Carly came

922
01:02:37.079 --> 01:02:40.480
out of the office, lowering her headphones. They forced the

923
01:02:40.519 --> 01:02:43.519
three to stand with their backs to the wall, Todd

924
01:02:43.599 --> 01:02:47.679
in the middle, with Carly and Jane flanking him. Don't move,

925
01:02:47.760 --> 01:02:53.320
sweet pea, Dell smiled. Got quite a party here. Two

926
01:02:53.400 --> 01:02:57.400
more men entered behind Dell and Sherry. Both were pale,

927
01:02:57.480 --> 01:03:03.519
white and identical twins. Who's in charge here, Dell asked,

928
01:03:03.880 --> 01:03:09.800
his eyes flickering from Todd to Carly and Jane. I

929
01:03:09.840 --> 01:03:15.000
am Todd answered good, who else is here? And don't lie?

930
01:03:16.199 --> 01:03:22.000
Todd hesitated. Dell snapped his fingers chief. The first albino

931
01:03:22.119 --> 01:03:26.440
man asked Spider. If he doesn't answer, chop one of

932
01:03:26.480 --> 01:03:32.119
these bitches big toes off. The second man answered, right, boss,

933
01:03:32.639 --> 01:03:39.239
every dang time. The first man grumbled, always forgets Who's who? Shushfly,

934
01:03:39.840 --> 01:03:43.760
Spider warned, work to do. He pulled a large knife

935
01:03:43.760 --> 01:03:47.679
from his coat. A spiderweb design was carved on its hilt.

936
01:03:48.199 --> 01:03:52.119
Who'd like to donate a toe? Todd looked at Carly,

937
01:03:52.199 --> 01:03:58.760
and Jane, and then Spider here, little piggy Spider sang.

938
01:04:00.760 --> 01:04:05.199
Todd swore, there's just an old couple, the mcnabs from Wisconsin.

939
01:04:05.360 --> 01:04:09.519
They're in room six. Dell padded Todd on the head.

940
01:04:10.679 --> 01:04:15.400
That wasn't so hard, now, was it? Shit? Todd repeated,

941
01:04:16.559 --> 01:04:24.400
Damn Spider, mumbled, Spider, fly, go fetch, Dell ordered. The

942
01:04:24.440 --> 01:04:30.760
albino twins left Fly excitedly, whooping. Spider is a little disappointed.

943
01:04:31.239 --> 01:04:34.199
Dell informed them he's got a bit of a thing

944
01:04:34.360 --> 01:04:39.719
for toes. He collects them, he smiled. And I like

945
01:04:39.800 --> 01:04:44.719
to indulge my gang's passions. Keeps them happy, Dell chuckled,

946
01:04:45.320 --> 01:04:47.840
You don't even want to know what turns his brother on.

947
01:04:48.679 --> 01:04:52.320
Jane noticed Tod's gaze drift over to the rifle hanging

948
01:04:52.360 --> 01:04:57.039
on the wall behind the sinan desk. Jane nudged Tod

949
01:04:57.079 --> 01:05:00.960
in the ribs, shaking her head. He'd never make it,

950
01:05:01.400 --> 01:05:06.119
at least not yet. Best to wait for an opening, provided,

951
01:05:06.199 --> 01:05:10.920
of course, that the rifle was even loaded. The door

952
01:05:11.000 --> 01:05:14.079
flew open as the twins dragged the couple in, the

953
01:05:14.119 --> 01:05:17.320
old man swearing up a storm. What the hell is

954
01:05:17.360 --> 01:05:22.079
the meaning of this? The old man asked, well, Dell said,

955
01:05:23.039 --> 01:05:28.199
this here is some pants shitting fuckery. You're that degenerate

956
01:05:28.239 --> 01:05:33.719
on the news. Dell smiled guilty. He did a little curtsey.

957
01:05:34.840 --> 01:05:39.840
I hope they fucking hang you, Harold, please. His wife begged,

958
01:05:40.280 --> 01:05:43.360
I hope they nailed your damn depraved ass to a wall.

959
01:05:44.079 --> 01:05:47.159
Harold spit out. Decent people shouldn't have to put up

960
01:05:47.159 --> 01:05:49.760
with your kind of scum. I bet you blame mommy

961
01:05:49.800 --> 01:05:52.119
and daddy. Maybe you pissed the bed as a kid

962
01:05:52.280 --> 01:05:57.639
got slapped around. Jane saw something flash across Dell's eyes

963
01:05:58.559 --> 01:06:04.360
that chilled her to the core. Hurts donut, Del calmly

964
01:06:04.440 --> 01:06:09.679
replied what the old man barked. In one swift motion,

965
01:06:10.280 --> 01:06:14.159
Del pulled out a large pistol from his jacket and

966
01:06:14.239 --> 01:06:20.559
blew Harold's face off, redecorating the room and its occupants

967
01:06:20.599 --> 01:06:24.920
in bits of Harold, I said, motherfucker, hurts, don't it.

968
01:06:26.000 --> 01:06:29.320
Maggie started screaming and screaming as Harold twitched on the

969
01:06:29.360 --> 01:06:34.599
floor before lying still. Cherry gave the woman a slap

970
01:06:34.639 --> 01:06:39.440
across the face. Quiet grahams. Jane could feel the old

971
01:06:39.480 --> 01:06:43.159
man's blood running down her face. A bit of something

972
01:06:43.239 --> 01:06:46.760
stuck to her cheek. She flicked it off her A

973
01:06:46.840 --> 01:06:49.800
part of that old man murdered in front of them.

974
01:06:51.159 --> 01:06:53.960
It wasn't the first time she'd seen someone die in

975
01:06:54.000 --> 01:06:57.599
front of her. Jane felt her hands start to tremble.

976
01:06:58.599 --> 01:07:03.760
God not now, The question is what to do with

977
01:07:03.840 --> 01:07:07.880
the rest of you, Dell pondered. He noticed the office

978
01:07:07.920 --> 01:07:12.599
behind the desk. Cool, we'll take the party there, del

979
01:07:12.719 --> 01:07:17.159
fixed his steely eyes on Todd. Boy, got anything to

980
01:07:17.199 --> 01:07:22.519
eat around here? There's some candy and stuff. Todd pointed

981
01:07:22.519 --> 01:07:26.840
to the rack of snacks. But there's old man brains

982
01:07:26.840 --> 01:07:31.199
all over that shit. There's stuff at the house behind

983
01:07:31.239 --> 01:07:36.039
the motel. Excellent, Sherry, take the kid, have him show

984
01:07:36.079 --> 01:07:40.719
you where everything is, and don't try anything. Kid, Sherry

985
01:07:40.760 --> 01:07:46.880
can be a real demon, he laughed. Outside. Thunder rumbled

986
01:07:46.880 --> 01:07:54.800
across the sky. Ladies, He motioned them towards the office.

987
01:07:55.440 --> 01:07:59.440
Jane and Carly helped their older fellow hostage up. Dell

988
01:07:59.519 --> 01:08:03.800
at Meyer the rifle on the wall. Nice, might have

989
01:08:03.880 --> 01:08:07.159
to take that with me, he caught Jane looking at

990
01:08:07.159 --> 01:08:10.320
the rifle as they went by. Think you can make it.

991
01:08:11.280 --> 01:08:16.760
Jane helped Carly take Maggie into the office. No guess not,

992
01:08:17.680 --> 01:08:22.560
Dell said sadly. Jane took a deep breath. What do

993
01:08:22.600 --> 01:08:27.640
you want? She asked? What do we want? Dell replied,

994
01:08:28.239 --> 01:08:32.520
what do we want? Puppy dogs and rainbows and milkshakes

995
01:08:32.800 --> 01:08:36.319
walking hand in hand on the beach. What do we want?

996
01:08:37.039 --> 01:08:40.960
What kind of question is that? He shrugged? How the

997
01:08:41.000 --> 01:08:43.920
hell should I know? If I knew, maybe I wouldn't

998
01:08:43.960 --> 01:08:47.720
have killed so many fucking people. He pulled out the

999
01:08:47.720 --> 01:08:50.920
pistol he was carrying. The silver of it caught the light,

1000
01:08:51.680 --> 01:08:56.439
seeming impossibly bright. He aimed at Carly. I could kill

1001
01:08:56.479 --> 01:09:00.600
you now and I wouldn't feel a thing. Leave her alone.

1002
01:09:01.239 --> 01:09:05.399
Jane spoke up, She's just a kid. That means she

1003
01:09:05.439 --> 01:09:09.439
doesn't deserve to die anymore than you. He swung his

1004
01:09:09.520 --> 01:09:15.159
aim to Jane, who says I don't? Jane answered, stone faced.

1005
01:09:16.000 --> 01:09:19.640
Dell pulled the hammer back on the pistol. Jane felt

1006
01:09:19.680 --> 01:09:22.880
sweat rolled down her back as she stared at Dell's

1007
01:09:22.920 --> 01:09:27.560
smiling face. The phone on the desk rang, cutting through

1008
01:09:27.600 --> 01:09:32.159
the silent tension, causing them all to jump. Dell laughed,

1009
01:09:32.359 --> 01:09:36.800
easing the hammer down. He motioned to Carly answer that

1010
01:09:37.920 --> 01:09:43.600
she picked up the receiver slowly Hello. After a moment,

1011
01:09:43.680 --> 01:09:49.039
she set it back down again. Dinner's ready. Wooh boy.

1012
01:09:49.680 --> 01:09:52.600
Dell stood macaroni in gravy time.

1013
01:09:52.800 --> 01:10:01.079
Kiddos, are you afraid? Good? Weakly spooky. We'll be right back.

1014
01:10:11.920 --> 01:10:15.560
They sat around the large wooden dinner table, like the

1015
01:10:15.640 --> 01:10:19.800
last supper from Hell. Sherry set out some plates in

1016
01:10:19.840 --> 01:10:25.159
a large pot of spaghetti. Dell sniffed the air. Yum, yum,

1017
01:10:25.600 --> 01:10:30.319
smells good. Baby Spider walked in, frowning. So this is

1018
01:10:30.359 --> 01:10:33.680
where everybody is. Could have told me instead of letting

1019
01:10:33.680 --> 01:10:37.119
me wander around out there in the rain. Dell and

1020
01:10:37.199 --> 01:10:41.479
his gang sat eating. Jane glanced down at her fork,

1021
01:10:42.359 --> 01:10:46.760
then across the table at Dell. Next to her. Carly

1022
01:10:46.960 --> 01:10:51.119
was playing with her food. Eat up. Dell ordered, come on,

1023
01:10:51.239 --> 01:10:55.880
you fucks. Sherry slaved over that food. Carly started to

1024
01:10:55.920 --> 01:11:01.119
eat a little, but Jane sat like a statue. After

1025
01:11:01.199 --> 01:11:04.680
Dell was finished, he took out a small pill, gulping

1026
01:11:04.680 --> 01:11:08.920
it down with his drink. So boy, he said, looking

1027
01:11:08.960 --> 01:11:12.359
down the table at Todd, what do you know about

1028
01:11:13.279 --> 01:11:17.520
black Ridge? Jane felt a sudden weight in her chest

1029
01:11:17.560 --> 01:11:21.239
at the mention of that place. I've heard a lot

1030
01:11:21.279 --> 01:11:24.399
of shit about it, Del sat back in the chair.

1031
01:11:25.199 --> 01:11:31.520
Aliens and atomic tests and fucking time travel. I don't know,

1032
01:11:32.520 --> 01:11:36.359
Todd answered, we hear that all the time around here.

1033
01:11:37.119 --> 01:11:40.640
Nobody puts any stock in. It brings the tourists. I

1034
01:11:40.680 --> 01:11:48.439
guess no alien Sidn's come on, Dell said, disappointed. Spider burped,

1035
01:11:49.159 --> 01:11:54.720
I'm full. Cherry stood, gathering up some of the dirty dishes. Well, then,

1036
01:11:54.720 --> 01:11:58.319
why don't you help me? Sherry's request was cut off

1037
01:11:58.479 --> 01:12:02.760
as one of the windows cracked. They all turned to look,

1038
01:12:04.399 --> 01:12:09.479
all except for Sherry, who clutched her throat. She gasped

1039
01:12:09.520 --> 01:12:13.199
as blood escaped through her fingers, running down her shirt.

1040
01:12:14.399 --> 01:12:18.600
Dell stood, trying and failing to catch Sherry before she

1041
01:12:18.760 --> 01:12:22.600
fell face down on the table. There was a loud

1042
01:12:22.680 --> 01:12:27.560
crack as a second window shattered. They all turned to look,

1043
01:12:29.199 --> 01:12:34.279
all except for Sherry, who clutched her throat. She gasped

1044
01:12:34.319 --> 01:12:38.439
as blood escaped through her fingers, running down her shirt.

1045
01:12:39.199 --> 01:12:43.399
Dell stood, trying and failing to catch Sherry before she

1046
01:12:43.560 --> 01:12:47.399
fell face down on the table. There was a loud

1047
01:12:47.520 --> 01:12:52.920
crack as a second window shattered. Sniper Fly shouted as

1048
01:12:52.960 --> 01:12:57.560
a bowl exploded on the table down. Dell ordered shit.

1049
01:12:58.199 --> 01:13:01.600
He looked up at Sherry lying on the table. Pulling

1050
01:13:01.600 --> 01:13:05.039
his silver pistol out. He pointed it at a crouching Tod.

1051
01:13:05.960 --> 01:13:08.840
You got friends out there, boy, somebody you didn't tell

1052
01:13:08.880 --> 01:13:13.000
me about. Todd shook his head. Another shot rang out.

1053
01:13:13.319 --> 01:13:17.800
This one's striking a wall spider. Fly sneak out. I'll

1054
01:13:17.880 --> 01:13:21.359
draw their fire. See if you can find our friend's position,

1055
01:13:21.520 --> 01:13:26.039
then flank the little shit. The albino brothers hesitated, but

1056
01:13:26.199 --> 01:13:30.359
Dell's stare told them it was a bad idea, and

1057
01:13:30.439 --> 01:13:34.399
they were soon out the door. Dell turned to Jane

1058
01:13:34.520 --> 01:13:38.640
and the others come here. He grabbed Jane by the arm.

1059
01:13:39.000 --> 01:13:43.600
I got a theory. He pressed the gun to her neck. Don't.

1060
01:13:44.159 --> 01:13:46.840
Carly jumped at him, only to be slapped across the

1061
01:13:46.880 --> 01:13:50.760
face by Dell's free hand. Tod grabbed her, pulling her back.

1062
01:13:51.760 --> 01:13:57.319
I have a feeling they won't shoot you. Stand, he

1063
01:13:57.439 --> 01:14:01.239
ordered Jane, forcing her to turn around. They stood in

1064
01:14:01.239 --> 01:14:05.439
front of the shattered window, Dell behind Jane. Come on, you,

1065
01:14:05.560 --> 01:14:10.079
son of a bitch, Dell muttered, let's see you. A

1066
01:14:10.119 --> 01:14:13.880
scream erupted next to them, causing Dell to flinch. Tod

1067
01:14:13.880 --> 01:14:17.439
and Carly lunged at Dell. In his brief confusion, Carly

1068
01:14:17.600 --> 01:14:20.640
stabbed Dell in the shin with a fork, then pushed

1069
01:14:20.680 --> 01:14:24.479
him out the window, while Tod grabbed Jane, pulling her down.

1070
01:14:24.920 --> 01:14:27.640
Just as a bullet cut through the air an inch

1071
01:14:28.119 --> 01:14:31.119
from where Jane had stood. We have to get out

1072
01:14:31.119 --> 01:14:34.680
of here. Another shot ripped through the night, hitting the house.

1073
01:14:35.359 --> 01:14:37.800
Jane looked at the old woman huddled in the corner.

1074
01:14:38.560 --> 01:14:41.159
You guys, take her, get out of here. Head for

1075
01:14:41.199 --> 01:14:47.199
the highway. I'll buy you time, but Carly stammered, go,

1076
01:14:47.920 --> 01:14:53.640
no time for butt, get going. Jane hung close to

1077
01:14:53.680 --> 01:14:57.439
the house, her back pressed to it, kitchen knife in hand.

1078
01:14:57.800 --> 01:15:01.319
Make it back to her car, grab the rever kill Dell.

1079
01:15:02.039 --> 01:15:06.199
She could run, but deep down, Jane knew her destiny

1080
01:15:06.359 --> 01:15:11.880
was here in the desert. Lightning crackled across the sky.

1081
01:15:11.960 --> 01:15:17.399
As Jane reached her car. You are a killer, a

1082
01:15:17.479 --> 01:15:22.720
voice whispered in her head. She found Spider first, what

1083
01:15:22.920 --> 01:15:26.479
was left of him anyway. His large knife with the

1084
01:15:26.520 --> 01:15:30.479
web hilt was still in his hand. Part of the

1085
01:15:30.520 --> 01:15:35.199
blade looked melted. What could have done this to a

1086
01:15:35.239 --> 01:15:38.800
man and affected the blade like that? Oh my god,

1087
01:15:39.359 --> 01:15:43.319
A girl gasped. Jane turned to see Carly standing there.

1088
01:15:44.239 --> 01:15:47.720
I told you to go. I couldn't Todd and the

1089
01:15:47.760 --> 01:15:51.239
old lady got away and I came back for you.

1090
01:15:52.039 --> 01:15:58.399
Let's go. No, I have to get him, why, Carly

1091
01:15:58.479 --> 01:16:03.720
asked Jane. Down there were two sets of footprints headed

1092
01:16:03.760 --> 01:16:08.039
further into the desert. One of them had to be Dell.

1093
01:16:09.319 --> 01:16:15.359
I just do, Jane answered. Carly screamed. Fly stood there

1094
01:16:15.560 --> 01:16:21.159
twirling his butterfly knife. What did you do? Bitch? Before

1095
01:16:21.279 --> 01:16:23.840
Jane could utter a word, he came at her. She

1096
01:16:23.960 --> 01:16:27.920
fired twice, catching him in the chest and arm. Fly

1097
01:16:28.159 --> 01:16:32.760
lay there in the sand. Jane kicked the knife away

1098
01:16:32.760 --> 01:16:36.600
from his reach as he coughed up blood. She left

1099
01:16:36.640 --> 01:16:40.520
him there to die. As he coughed up blood. She

1100
01:16:40.680 --> 01:16:46.119
left him there to die with his brother. Carly followed

1101
01:16:46.159 --> 01:16:50.680
after her as Jane tracked the footprints. As they reached

1102
01:16:50.720 --> 01:16:54.319
the summit of a nearby rock embankment, Carly looked up

1103
01:16:54.359 --> 01:17:00.319
at the sky. Never seen a storm like this. Why

1104
01:17:00.399 --> 01:17:04.880
is the sky red? I don't know, Jane answered as

1105
01:17:04.880 --> 01:17:10.119
she gasped for breath. But deep inside Jane knew the answer.

1106
01:17:11.920 --> 01:17:16.039
It was the end down the other side. They went

1107
01:17:16.680 --> 01:17:19.399
at the bottom. Jane picked up on the tracks again.

1108
01:17:20.159 --> 01:17:26.319
Still two sets headed off into the desert. It started

1109
01:17:26.359 --> 01:17:29.880
as a red, hovering ball on the horizon, but as

1110
01:17:29.920 --> 01:17:36.039
they approached it, it grew. The air felt thick with electricity.

1111
01:17:37.439 --> 01:17:42.479
A figure took shape at the sphere's center, slim, wearing

1112
01:17:42.560 --> 01:17:47.119
some kind of flight suit and helmet. A dark visor

1113
01:17:47.199 --> 01:17:51.640
hid the being's face. Jane could hear a voice coming

1114
01:17:51.680 --> 01:17:55.720
from within the sphere. She moved closer, feeling the hair

1115
01:17:55.760 --> 01:18:00.119
on her arms burn from the intense heat radiating from

1116
01:18:01.079 --> 01:18:05.640
interference too strong. This is a warning, don't go through

1117
01:18:06.279 --> 01:18:12.159
past can't be changed. Paradox With a blinding flash, the

1118
01:18:12.239 --> 01:18:17.279
figure was gone. What the fuck was that? Carly cried,

1119
01:18:17.840 --> 01:18:23.079
what is happening? I wish I knew? Jane said, go back,

1120
01:18:23.159 --> 01:18:27.800
find Todd. I have to stop that maniac. She felt

1121
01:18:27.800 --> 01:18:31.399
the gun in her hand, only a few bullets left.

1122
01:18:32.319 --> 01:18:39.640
One had Dell's name written on it. The laughter over

1123
01:18:39.680 --> 01:18:43.479
the howl of the wind. She heard it, recognized it.

1124
01:18:44.239 --> 01:18:49.279
She stood newly invigorated, like a beacon. She followed the

1125
01:18:49.359 --> 01:18:53.880
laughter through the storm. Then, after a few minutes of

1126
01:18:54.000 --> 01:18:59.479
blindly marching toward the Maelstrom, it died away. Leaving a

1127
01:18:59.600 --> 01:19:06.079
sand battered Jane in its wake. A small rock landed

1128
01:19:06.079 --> 01:19:11.359
at her feet. There you are, Dell laughed, Who've been

1129
01:19:11.399 --> 01:19:17.600
waiting for you? Jane looked up on jagged outcropping of rocks.

1130
01:19:17.640 --> 01:19:22.479
Del sat like a medieval lord on his throne. Battered

1131
01:19:22.520 --> 01:19:27.840
as he was. She took aim, ready to finish him.

1132
01:19:27.880 --> 01:19:31.880
Gonna shoot, he asked. That's what I like about you.

1133
01:19:32.399 --> 01:19:34.840
When you fart, you don't have to shit to back

1134
01:19:34.920 --> 01:19:39.000
it up, he laughed. But you're too late. He took

1135
01:19:39.039 --> 01:19:42.439
his hand away from his side, revealing a red stain.

1136
01:19:43.720 --> 01:19:50.039
Who Jane asked, He laughed, hysterically, you did. He popped

1137
01:19:50.079 --> 01:19:54.239
another pill in his mouth. The things I've seen out here,

1138
01:19:55.000 --> 01:19:59.239
Dell stood, raising his hands like a conductor all around

1139
01:19:59.359 --> 01:20:03.920
us the residue. They set off a bomb here so

1140
01:20:04.119 --> 01:20:09.359
powerful it scared them bam. Jane felt a shiver run

1141
01:20:09.399 --> 01:20:14.520
down her spine. Somehow she knew he was right. You

1142
01:20:14.600 --> 01:20:20.000
were drawn here, just like me, Dell said, black Ridge.

1143
01:20:21.079 --> 01:20:25.920
It called to you with glorious purpose. Jane felt the

1144
01:20:26.000 --> 01:20:31.079
static grow louder and louder within her. It was calling,

1145
01:20:32.239 --> 01:20:37.800
come on, he beckoned her up Truce, Del smiled, want

1146
01:20:37.800 --> 01:20:40.600
to see it. He reached out his hand to her.

1147
01:20:41.800 --> 01:20:44.760
Jane ignored it, climbing up beside him on her own.

1148
01:20:45.239 --> 01:20:49.439
She followed him, nervously, keeping one eye on Dell and

1149
01:20:49.520 --> 01:20:54.720
one on the rocks as they climbed down. Magnificent, isn't it,

1150
01:20:55.199 --> 01:21:00.640
del asked, a staircase to the heavens. Stand There in

1151
01:21:00.680 --> 01:21:05.159
a long stretch of flat ground was a door which

1152
01:21:05.319 --> 01:21:10.560
was decidedly not a staircase. It's just like the basement

1153
01:21:10.600 --> 01:21:14.520
stairs I used to sit on, Dell stated. Mama used

1154
01:21:14.560 --> 01:21:17.720
to lock me down there when she was in her bottles,

1155
01:21:18.239 --> 01:21:22.039
otherwise something could have gotten broken. I'd sit there in

1156
01:21:22.079 --> 01:21:24.760
the dark, with a crack of light from under the

1157
01:21:24.840 --> 01:21:29.279
door as my only comfort. Jane didn't say anything, only

1158
01:21:29.359 --> 01:21:34.399
half listening to Dell. That door resembled it wants us,

1159
01:21:34.840 --> 01:21:41.560
Dell said. To pass through the door, Jane thought, looked

1160
01:21:41.680 --> 01:21:47.439
just like the bedroom door, their bedroom door, the one

1161
01:21:47.560 --> 01:21:52.640
she went through every day to check on Alan when

1162
01:21:52.680 --> 01:21:57.399
he wouldn't leave the bed, when he couldn't walk. I

1163
01:21:57.479 --> 01:22:01.279
see it in your eyes, girl, Dell said, touching her arm,

1164
01:22:01.840 --> 01:22:07.079
making Jane flinch pain. There's a storm in you, girl,

1165
01:22:08.199 --> 01:22:13.159
just like me. Kill him. Jane thought it would be

1166
01:22:13.239 --> 01:22:20.199
so easy, easy as alan. No, not now. For so

1167
01:22:20.399 --> 01:22:23.239
long I thought that pain inside me made me a hunter,

1168
01:22:23.760 --> 01:22:27.960
a shark. But no, I was so wrong. What I

1169
01:22:28.079 --> 01:22:33.560
was doing was nothing small potatoes. No, No, I was

1170
01:22:33.600 --> 01:22:39.399
born to murder everyone. He put his hands on Jane's shoulders,

1171
01:22:40.079 --> 01:22:43.399
and you're gonna help me, She pulled away from him.

1172
01:22:43.760 --> 01:22:48.399
You're a psychopath, hey, Dell slapped her. Never say that.

1173
01:22:49.199 --> 01:22:53.439
Jane pointed the gun at him. Enough can you do it?

1174
01:22:54.239 --> 01:22:58.119
Del asked? See the life ebb from your victim's body

1175
01:22:58.640 --> 01:23:02.199
as they look you in the eye eyes. Jane let

1176
01:23:02.239 --> 01:23:06.920
out a tired laugh. I killed my husband. He was paralyzed.

1177
01:23:07.159 --> 01:23:09.880
He begged me every day to do it, called me

1178
01:23:10.000 --> 01:23:14.159
weak because I wouldn't. Tears rolled down her cheeks. It

1179
01:23:14.279 --> 01:23:19.279
was too much after a while, his guilt, anger, hate, disgust.

1180
01:23:20.159 --> 01:23:23.000
So I went in there one morning, after a night

1181
01:23:23.039 --> 01:23:27.439
of tears and smothered him. She pulled the hammer of

1182
01:23:27.520 --> 01:23:32.640
the gun back, killing You ain't shit to me. The

1183
01:23:32.680 --> 01:23:36.720
ground started to rumble and shake, making Jane stumble back

1184
01:23:36.960 --> 01:23:40.920
and pitching Dell forward toward her. He grabbed the gun,

1185
01:23:41.000 --> 01:23:44.399
trying to pull it from her hands. The gun went off.

1186
01:23:45.199 --> 01:23:48.840
The bullet went wild, hitting a rock. Jane kicked at

1187
01:23:48.880 --> 01:23:51.640
Dell as he wrenched the gun from her hand, knocking

1188
01:23:51.680 --> 01:23:54.760
the gun from his hands and sending it tumbling into

1189
01:23:54.760 --> 01:23:58.920
a growing fissure in the ground. Dell leapt on Jane,

1190
01:23:59.239 --> 01:24:03.359
his hands ran around her throat. Jane gasped for air

1191
01:24:03.439 --> 01:24:06.479
as he straddled her. She clawed at his face with

1192
01:24:06.560 --> 01:24:10.760
her fingers, pressing one of her fingers into his left eye.

1193
01:24:10.800 --> 01:24:15.479
He howled in pain, letting go of her. Dell caught

1194
01:24:15.479 --> 01:24:19.079
her hand with his mouth. He bit into her pinky finger,

1195
01:24:19.760 --> 01:24:24.560
nearly severing it, causing Jane to scream in pain. Lashing out,

1196
01:24:24.640 --> 01:24:27.840
she kicked him between the legs, causing him to fall

1197
01:24:28.079 --> 01:24:32.439
to the ground. Jane scrambled away from Dell, holding her

1198
01:24:32.479 --> 01:24:36.960
injured hand. The ground started to rumble. Coughing and wheezing

1199
01:24:37.039 --> 01:24:43.000
in pain, Dell started to laugh hysterically. Death is here,

1200
01:24:44.680 --> 01:24:48.560
Death is here. Jane looked up from her bleeding hand

1201
01:24:49.079 --> 01:24:53.800
to see an ominous shadow standing on the rock holding

1202
01:24:53.840 --> 01:24:58.840
the rifle from the motel office. The figure jumped down

1203
01:24:58.880 --> 01:25:02.960
from the rocks, wearing a black duster that billowed in

1204
01:25:03.039 --> 01:25:06.960
the wind. Half of the figure's face and one hand

1205
01:25:07.359 --> 01:25:12.960
were bandaged, the face aged by turmoil, yet Jane could

1206
01:25:13.000 --> 01:25:19.800
tell who she was staring at was herself. It ends here, other,

1207
01:25:19.960 --> 01:25:23.600
Jane said, raising the rifle. Neither of you can go

1208
01:25:23.640 --> 01:25:28.560
through that door. Believe me, I know. She aimed at Jane,

1209
01:25:29.039 --> 01:25:35.000
than Dell, then Jane again. No, Dell roared, you can't

1210
01:25:35.039 --> 01:25:39.199
take away my destiny. He leapt up, charging at the

1211
01:25:39.239 --> 01:25:42.399
other Jane. She swung the butt of the rifle at him.

1212
01:25:42.640 --> 01:25:45.640
The wild man ducked it. Other Jane kneed him in

1213
01:25:45.680 --> 01:25:49.800
the face, knocking him back. The ground pitched underneath them

1214
01:25:49.840 --> 01:25:53.560
as the earth rumbled again, this time stronger than before.

1215
01:25:54.239 --> 01:25:57.439
Jane fell to the ground as a large fissure ripped

1216
01:25:57.479 --> 01:26:02.560
from the desert floor, separating Jane and Dell from other Jane. Dell,

1217
01:26:02.800 --> 01:26:05.439
near the edge of the fissure, lost his footing as

1218
01:26:05.479 --> 01:26:09.000
the ground crumbled away. He reached out to save himself,

1219
01:26:09.119 --> 01:26:12.560
grabbing Jane's leg, pulling her toward the gaping wound in

1220
01:26:12.600 --> 01:26:20.199
the earth. Mama, Dell screamed, save me. Jane frantically kicked

1221
01:26:20.239 --> 01:26:22.439
him in the head until he let go o her

1222
01:26:23.399 --> 01:26:27.600
Fuck you. Dell madly grabbed at the earth as it

1223
01:26:27.640 --> 01:26:32.239
crumbled around him. No, Mama, not the darkness again. I'll

1224
01:26:32.239 --> 01:26:37.640
be good. And with that he lost hold and tumbled

1225
01:26:38.199 --> 01:26:44.279
into the chasm. Jane knelt there, catching her breath. Her

1226
01:26:44.359 --> 01:26:48.479
double aimed the rifle at her from the opposite side

1227
01:26:48.560 --> 01:26:52.239
as her heart beat thundered in her ears. Jane felt

1228
01:26:52.279 --> 01:26:59.079
it that humming. It was calling her. Jane stood as

1229
01:26:59.119 --> 01:27:02.760
if hearing at her. The other Jane called out, don't

1230
01:27:02.760 --> 01:27:07.399
do it. She took aim. Jane stood before the door.

1231
01:27:08.000 --> 01:27:12.199
Its call was unbearable. Now it's energy radiated out toward her,

1232
01:27:12.600 --> 01:27:15.119
making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

1233
01:27:15.960 --> 01:27:20.880
No other Jane screamed. The past can't be changed. I tried,

1234
01:27:21.560 --> 01:27:29.600
I tried. She squeezed the trigger forgive me click empty.

1235
01:27:29.840 --> 01:27:32.520
Whatever you think you can change by going through it

1236
01:27:32.600 --> 01:27:37.479
won't work. It can't be rewritten. Time is splintering. Jane

1237
01:27:37.600 --> 01:27:42.359
reached for the door handle. She hesitated. Maybe the other

1238
01:27:42.399 --> 01:27:48.680
one failed, but she wouldn't. She could fix it. Jane's

1239
01:27:48.760 --> 01:27:53.840
hand gripped the handle. She could do it, she wouldn't fail.

1240
01:27:54.880 --> 01:27:59.680
Jane turned the handle and hesitated for a moment. What

1241
01:27:59.800 --> 01:28:15.359
if be my by Shane Migliovoka. She just sat down

1242
01:28:15.359 --> 01:28:18.000
on the bed with the cat snuggling up next to her.

1243
01:28:18.560 --> 01:28:21.960
When the knock came at the door, Blake looked over

1244
01:28:22.000 --> 01:28:25.239
at her roommate, Cassie, buried in her phone and closer

1245
01:28:25.279 --> 01:28:31.319
to the door door. Cassie didn't answer. Nope, guess not.

1246
01:28:32.359 --> 01:28:36.680
Blake looked down at her cat, Dean, Sorry, buddy. She

1247
01:28:36.840 --> 01:28:40.119
stood as the cat looked up at her, completely disappointed.

1248
01:28:40.800 --> 01:28:44.239
Blake crossed the small, messy dorm room as another knock came.

1249
01:28:44.920 --> 01:28:50.479
I got it, huh, Cassie mumbled. Opening the door, Blake

1250
01:28:50.600 --> 01:28:53.760
was greeted by Maggie from down the hall. The girl

1251
01:28:53.840 --> 01:28:56.319
beamed at her from behind a pair of thick glasses.

1252
01:28:57.039 --> 01:29:02.600
Here she thrust a pink heart shaped box at Blake. Uh. Thanks,

1253
01:29:03.159 --> 01:29:08.000
I guess, Blake said, taking the box. Maggie frowned. It's

1254
01:29:08.039 --> 01:29:10.359
not for me. It was sitting on the table in

1255
01:29:10.399 --> 01:29:15.199
the lobby with your name on it. Oh. Thanks, a

1256
01:29:15.239 --> 01:29:19.600
box of candy for her. There was nobody she could

1257
01:29:19.640 --> 01:29:22.560
think of who'd do something like that. Going to the

1258
01:29:22.640 --> 01:29:27.560
Valentine's dance tonight, Maggie asked, before Blake could shut the door. Nope,

1259
01:29:27.760 --> 01:29:31.960
got a paper to finish. That sucks. Blake shut the door.

1260
01:29:32.720 --> 01:29:35.880
It really did suck, but not for the reason. Maggie thought.

1261
01:29:36.239 --> 01:29:38.800
She was struggling with the assignment, dragging her feet on

1262
01:29:38.880 --> 01:29:43.079
it since day one. Now the deadline was looming. There

1263
01:29:43.119 --> 01:29:45.640
was a pink envelope taped to the boxes front with

1264
01:29:45.720 --> 01:29:49.720
Blake's name written in glitter. Inside was a Valentine's card

1265
01:29:49.760 --> 01:29:53.399
with a cute cat on the front, which read Your Prefect.

1266
01:29:54.720 --> 01:29:57.800
Underneath the card's message was another written in red ink.

1267
01:29:58.399 --> 01:30:03.520
It read rose are red, Violets are blue. I choose

1268
01:30:03.560 --> 01:30:07.439
you meet me under the East bleachers at eight pm.

1269
01:30:08.560 --> 01:30:15.520
What's that, Cassie asked, She lives, Blake answered, huh. Blake

1270
01:30:15.600 --> 01:30:20.000
rattled the box. Someone left me a Valentine's gift. You

1271
01:30:20.079 --> 01:30:24.119
got a secret admirer. Guess so they want me to

1272
01:30:24.119 --> 01:30:28.640
meet them tonight under the bleachers. Probably some tawny rapists

1273
01:30:28.680 --> 01:30:32.359
looking to assault a rich college girl. I'm not rich.

1274
01:30:33.319 --> 01:30:36.920
They don't know that. Pop that fucker open, Cassie said,

1275
01:30:36.960 --> 01:30:43.159
sliding forward on her bed. Bet there's a human heart inside. Nope, candies,

1276
01:30:43.600 --> 01:30:48.439
Blake answered, popping a chocolate into her mouth. Damn, Cassie groaned,

1277
01:30:48.960 --> 01:30:53.720
gonna meet this mystery admirer. No time for love, doctor, Jones.

1278
01:30:53.960 --> 01:30:56.680
I've got a paper to finish. Blake pet the cat,

1279
01:30:56.920 --> 01:30:59.479
still lounging on her bed, before picking up her coat

1280
01:30:59.520 --> 01:31:03.399
and book. I'm off to the library. Billy's letting me in.

1281
01:31:04.159 --> 01:31:09.359
Oh kinky, Cassie laughed. There's your secret heart, sender, Billy.

1282
01:31:10.279 --> 01:31:15.640
I'm pretty sure he's gay. Well so are you, Casey stated,

1283
01:31:16.039 --> 01:31:18.680
it doesn't work that way. He doesn't have the kind

1284
01:31:18.720 --> 01:31:22.640
of parts I like. Blake slipped on her coat and

1285
01:31:22.720 --> 01:31:24.920
rested the strap of the book bag on her shoulder.

1286
01:31:25.640 --> 01:31:29.600
What about you meeting Steve at the dance? Cassie's gaze

1287
01:31:29.640 --> 01:31:32.000
drifted over to her phone, lying on the bed next

1288
01:31:32.000 --> 01:31:36.039
to her. Nah, he's busy tonight, Just gonna chill here

1289
01:31:36.039 --> 01:31:40.359
with the cat and some TV. Oh sorry, I knew

1290
01:31:40.399 --> 01:31:43.520
you were looking forward to it. A smile crept across

1291
01:31:43.600 --> 01:31:48.279
Cassie's face. Hey, we could go together. Blake could see

1292
01:31:48.319 --> 01:31:51.159
the hopeful look in her friend's eyes, which made what

1293
01:31:51.199 --> 01:31:55.800
she had to say painful. I'm sorry, I wish I could,

1294
01:31:55.960 --> 01:31:58.880
she said. If I don't hunk her down and finish

1295
01:31:58.960 --> 01:32:02.680
his paper, I can't screw up. My parents sacrificed a

1296
01:32:02.680 --> 01:32:05.359
lot to get me here. She could feel her heart

1297
01:32:05.439 --> 01:32:08.079
start to beat a bit faster as she imagined going

1298
01:32:08.119 --> 01:32:11.800
back home after flunking out. The disappointment etched into her

1299
01:32:11.840 --> 01:32:15.520
parents faces. Blake felt sweat trickled down her cheek as

1300
01:32:15.520 --> 01:32:20.119
she started to breathe more rapidly. Control, she told herself,

1301
01:32:20.159 --> 01:32:24.319
taking in a deep, slow breath. Don't worry about it.

1302
01:32:24.359 --> 01:32:29.279
I wasn't totally serious, Cassie said, perhaps sensing her friend's stress.

1303
01:32:29.960 --> 01:32:34.640
I'm better off staying in tonight anyway. Everything okay, yeah,

1304
01:32:34.920 --> 01:32:39.560
just a little bummed, nothing big. You sure I could stay?

1305
01:32:40.319 --> 01:32:44.880
I'm sure. Go get that paper done? Okay, I'm sorry,

1306
01:32:45.479 --> 01:32:49.680
don't be I never am. Blake stepped out into the hallway,

1307
01:32:49.760 --> 01:32:52.119
making her way past a group of girls all dressed

1308
01:32:52.199 --> 01:32:55.039
up for the dance, before stepping outside into the bitter

1309
01:32:55.119 --> 01:32:58.479
February air. The cold cut through her as she started

1310
01:32:58.479 --> 01:33:01.800
across campus. Taking a pair of earbuds from her coat,

1311
01:33:01.920 --> 01:33:04.560
she hit play on her phone. She'd put together a

1312
01:33:04.600 --> 01:33:07.640
mix for tonight, something to get her motivated and keep

1313
01:33:07.640 --> 01:33:11.199
her going. Walking along a lit path, snow and ice

1314
01:33:11.279 --> 01:33:14.560
crunched under Blake's boots. Taking in a deep breath of

1315
01:33:14.600 --> 01:33:17.680
cold air, she felt her heartbeat going back to normal.

1316
01:33:18.439 --> 01:33:21.800
Since middle school, Blake had suffered from panic attacks. She

1317
01:33:21.880 --> 01:33:25.359
had trouble keeping her grades up, trouble fitting in. She'd

1318
01:33:25.359 --> 01:33:27.199
found ways to cope with it over the years, with

1319
01:33:27.239 --> 01:33:30.600
the help of the school counselor Miss Cheryl. Getting this

1320
01:33:30.680 --> 01:33:34.199
paper finished would relieve a lot of stress. Most of

1321
01:33:34.239 --> 01:33:37.119
the campus buildings were dark, only lit by a few

1322
01:33:37.239 --> 01:33:40.680
lights left on and some spotlights on the outside, So

1323
01:33:40.800 --> 01:33:45.880
many shadows, perfect for a towny to be lurking. Blake

1324
01:33:45.960 --> 01:33:50.479
wanted to laugh off Cassie's comment, but here alone in

1325
01:33:50.520 --> 01:33:53.239
the night, she wasn't so sure it was something to

1326
01:33:53.319 --> 01:33:56.960
laugh at. Stopping to adjust her heavy book bag, Blake

1327
01:33:57.039 --> 01:33:59.960
became aware of something as the song she was listen

1328
01:34:00.000 --> 01:34:05.560
listening to faded out footfalls on the snow. She turned,

1329
01:34:05.680 --> 01:34:09.880
picturing a salivating pack of Towney boys ready to pounce,

1330
01:34:10.479 --> 01:34:12.880
ready to swing her book bag like a mace. Blake

1331
01:34:12.880 --> 01:34:16.720
wouldn't go down without a fight. She turned and found

1332
01:34:16.720 --> 01:34:22.319
herself face to face with a campus security guard. Hey hey, miss,

1333
01:34:22.600 --> 01:34:26.119
the man nodded, where are you headed tonight? Not wanting

1334
01:34:26.159 --> 01:34:29.399
to get Billy in trouble, she fibbed. Meeting a friend

1335
01:34:29.399 --> 01:34:33.199
to study, she smiled. She noticed his name tag red

1336
01:34:33.279 --> 01:34:37.199
stew He looked like a stew Blake thought, I see

1337
01:34:37.439 --> 01:34:42.159
nose to the grindstone and all that commendable thanks. Blake

1338
01:34:42.199 --> 01:34:44.640
could feel his eyes on her as she continued on.

1339
01:34:45.159 --> 01:34:47.600
She felt a little better knowing there was somebody out

1340
01:34:47.680 --> 01:34:50.399
keeping watch. While most of the campus was at the dance,

1341
01:34:50.960 --> 01:34:54.439
the library, designed in the mid sixties, stood out against

1342
01:34:54.479 --> 01:34:56.800
the rest of the campus, which had been renovated over

1343
01:34:56.840 --> 01:35:00.239
the last few years. She knocked on the staff door

1344
01:35:00.279 --> 01:35:03.760
around the building's back. After a few minutes of standing around,

1345
01:35:03.840 --> 01:35:07.319
waiting and thinking Billy wasn't even there, the lock clicked

1346
01:35:07.319 --> 01:35:10.399
and the metal door opened. A young man, a thin

1347
01:35:10.560 --> 01:35:13.720
shadow of stubble covering his lower face, peeked his head out.

1348
01:35:14.119 --> 01:35:17.000
His eyes darted back and forth before stopping on Blake.

1349
01:35:17.840 --> 01:35:22.720
Is it secret? Is it safe? Billy Blake said wearily.

1350
01:35:23.319 --> 01:35:28.640
He smiled broadly. Sorry, couldn't resist all this clandestine shit.

1351
01:35:29.439 --> 01:35:31.680
It was your idea for me to use the staff entrance.

1352
01:35:32.159 --> 01:35:34.920
Didn't want somebody seeing you come in the front after hours,

1353
01:35:35.239 --> 01:35:38.279
Old man Styles would have my ass for breakfast. Blake

1354
01:35:38.359 --> 01:35:41.319
shivered as the wind gusted, gonna let me in already,

1355
01:35:41.319 --> 01:35:44.920
my non existent lady balls are freezing off. Billy stepped

1356
01:35:44.920 --> 01:35:47.920
aside and Blake entered what appeared to be the library's

1357
01:35:47.960 --> 01:35:52.640
office area, a cluttered mess of desks and cabinets from

1358
01:35:52.680 --> 01:35:55.760
somewhere in the library. Elvis crooned away as they stepped

1359
01:35:55.760 --> 01:35:58.880
into the main room, Only half lit, the library was

1360
01:35:58.920 --> 01:36:02.640
a maze of bookshelf and shadows. Feel free to set

1361
01:36:02.720 --> 01:36:05.760
up shop anywhere. I'll be down here doing inventory a while,

1362
01:36:05.960 --> 01:36:09.760
so don't worry about getting the boot. Blake smiled, Thank

1363
01:36:09.800 --> 01:36:12.439
you for this. There's just too much chaos back at

1364
01:36:12.439 --> 01:36:16.760
the dorm to focus. Besides, Cassie didn't go out tonight. Oh,

1365
01:36:17.520 --> 01:36:21.439
she didn't go to the dance. Nah, God stood up

1366
01:36:22.640 --> 01:36:25.119
kind of the same for me. All my help bailed

1367
01:36:25.159 --> 01:36:28.439
so they could go to the dance. Well, at least

1368
01:36:28.520 --> 01:36:31.640
you got the king. Music isn't going to be a problem,

1369
01:36:31.680 --> 01:36:35.600
is it. Nope? Brought my own. Blake pointed to her earbuds.

1370
01:36:36.239 --> 01:36:39.520
Where's it coming from anyway? Old man styles as a

1371
01:36:39.560 --> 01:36:42.119
record player hooked up to the PA. He's got a

1372
01:36:42.159 --> 01:36:45.319
shit ton of vinyl in his office. Billy pointed over

1373
01:36:45.359 --> 01:36:48.399
his shoulder at the head librarian's office. Helps the night

1374
01:36:48.479 --> 01:36:52.239
go by quicker, Blake headed upstairs and plopped down at

1375
01:36:52.239 --> 01:36:54.840
a desk off in a corner with her paper and

1376
01:36:54.880 --> 01:36:58.199
reference material laid out on the desk, Blake popped open

1377
01:36:58.239 --> 01:37:02.239
an energy drink and took a sip Sweet Sweet caffeine.

1378
01:37:02.920 --> 01:37:08.760
She unpaused her music and got to work. Cassie's finger

1379
01:37:08.880 --> 01:37:11.760
hung over the send button. How long ago had it

1380
01:37:11.800 --> 01:37:15.119
been since she'd scent it? She wasn't sure. She read

1381
01:37:15.159 --> 01:37:18.279
the message again, I know about the two of you.

1382
01:37:19.159 --> 01:37:22.680
The message remained unseen by Steve. A part of her

1383
01:37:22.800 --> 01:37:26.760
regretted sending it, the part that still loved him even

1384
01:37:26.760 --> 01:37:31.760
though she'd seen them together. Fuck it, Fuck him the shit.

1385
01:37:32.600 --> 01:37:37.279
More cheaters coming up after this, the TV promised. Cassie

1386
01:37:37.359 --> 01:37:40.560
pet the cat lying next to her. Here, I am

1387
01:37:40.640 --> 01:37:44.640
on Valentine's Day petting my gay roommate's pussy, watching cheaters

1388
01:37:44.680 --> 01:37:48.359
all alone. Cassie groaned, tapping the back of her head

1389
01:37:48.359 --> 01:37:51.920
against the wall. Sorry, kitty, but I got a bounce.

1390
01:37:52.880 --> 01:37:56.079
Cassie put on some lipstick, looking at herself in the mirror.

1391
01:37:57.039 --> 01:38:01.680
Fuck you, Steve. Putting on her jacket, Cassie looked at

1392
01:38:01.680 --> 01:38:04.399
the cat curled up on her bed. I'll leave the

1393
01:38:04.439 --> 01:38:08.079
TV on for you. Learn from Cheater's pal, don't fall

1394
01:38:08.119 --> 01:38:08.479
in love.

1395
01:38:10.600 --> 01:38:15.760
The only thing scarier than that is not being subscribed weakly.

1396
01:38:15.840 --> 01:38:17.319
Spooky will be right back.

1397
01:38:20.720 --> 01:38:23.640
Snow had begun to fall, whipped along by the wind.

1398
01:38:24.119 --> 01:38:28.199
Cassie was in the mood to do something bad. She

1399
01:38:28.239 --> 01:38:32.000
could head to the dance, maybe find some action there. Now,

1400
01:38:33.000 --> 01:38:37.760
all those couples dancing kissing, she'd feel more alone than

1401
01:38:37.840 --> 01:38:42.000
back in the dorm room. Instead, Cassie headed towards the library.

1402
01:38:42.880 --> 01:38:45.359
She hugged herself as the wind blew across the path,

1403
01:38:45.439 --> 01:38:49.319
swirling snow in its wake. Cassie approached the sliding glass

1404
01:38:49.359 --> 01:38:53.920
door and peered inside. She knocked on the glass, Hello,

1405
01:38:54.560 --> 01:38:58.039
anybody around. She shivered and knocked on the window again.

1406
01:38:58.680 --> 01:39:02.000
There seemed to be music coming from inside. Someone had

1407
01:39:02.039 --> 01:39:06.600
to be in there. Hey, anybody alive in there? Keep

1408
01:39:06.640 --> 01:39:09.960
it down. A voice barked at her from inside. Billy

1409
01:39:10.039 --> 01:39:14.960
glared at her from over a stack of books. Cassie frowned, Sorry, Geez,

1410
01:39:15.560 --> 01:39:19.119
is blake in there? Why I'm her roommate. I gotta

1411
01:39:19.119 --> 01:39:24.199
tell her something. Cassie shivered, please. Billy shook his head.

1412
01:39:24.840 --> 01:39:29.039
Go around back. Thanks. Going around the back of the building,

1413
01:39:29.159 --> 01:39:31.359
she saw the door open, and the young man motioned

1414
01:39:31.359 --> 01:39:34.159
for her to hurry up. He slammed the door shut

1415
01:39:34.199 --> 01:39:37.039
behind them as Cassie silently gave thanks for the heat.

1416
01:39:37.920 --> 01:39:40.560
When I invited Blake to study here tonight, I didn't

1417
01:39:40.560 --> 01:39:45.600
think it was an open invitation, Billy, Cassie asked. Blake

1418
01:39:45.640 --> 01:39:48.640
didn't tell me you were such a grump. He laughed.

1419
01:39:49.159 --> 01:39:50.800
I just don't want to get my ass in trouble.

1420
01:39:50.840 --> 01:39:54.279
This job helps pay the bills. Cassie looked him over.

1421
01:39:55.239 --> 01:39:58.920
I don't see any trouble with your ass. This visibly

1422
01:39:59.000 --> 01:40:02.920
threw him off. So Blake is upstairs studying. I can

1423
01:40:02.960 --> 01:40:05.520
show you the way. No need to show me. I've

1424
01:40:05.560 --> 01:40:09.439
been here before, I know her hangout spot. I've noticed

1425
01:40:09.479 --> 01:40:13.279
you around. Really. A loud knock from the front of

1426
01:40:13.319 --> 01:40:16.319
the library startled the both of them. What the fuck,

1427
01:40:16.600 --> 01:40:22.479
Billy complained, are you expecting somebody? Um? No, unless the

1428
01:40:22.560 --> 01:40:27.479
cat followed me. Bill Murdoch, a man hollered from outside. Shit,

1429
01:40:27.760 --> 01:40:32.399
Billy said, stay here, stay hidden. Billy left the office.

1430
01:40:32.640 --> 01:40:35.560
Cassie could hear him talking to the other man. Music

1431
01:40:35.600 --> 01:40:39.479
from the speakers obscuring some of their conversation. Billy assured

1432
01:40:39.560 --> 01:40:43.479
him everything was okay. The man laughed, then wished Billy

1433
01:40:43.520 --> 01:40:47.560
a good night. He came back looking harried. Everything cool,

1434
01:40:47.960 --> 01:40:51.840
Cassie asked, yeah, just the security guy making his rounds.

1435
01:40:52.119 --> 01:40:58.960
You better head up before someone else shows up. Stu

1436
01:40:59.119 --> 01:41:01.800
almost made it back to the security hut, as he

1437
01:41:01.880 --> 01:41:05.319
called it, when his phone rang. The psycho theme ring

1438
01:41:05.399 --> 01:41:08.159
tone told him all he needed to know. He didn't

1439
01:41:08.159 --> 01:41:12.880
want to answer it, but ignoring it would be worse. Hi, honey,

1440
01:41:13.119 --> 01:41:16.039
Stu tried to sound happy as he answered, what are

1441
01:41:16.079 --> 01:41:20.960
you doing walking my rounds? How about you, honey? Sitting

1442
01:41:21.000 --> 01:41:25.439
here alone? What do you think? Shit? Wrong choice of words.

1443
01:41:26.199 --> 01:41:28.439
I'm sorry, baby. If I could get out of this,

1444
01:41:28.560 --> 01:41:32.000
I would, but there's nobody else. Tell me the truth.

1445
01:41:32.319 --> 01:41:35.079
You're not banging one of those young college floozies, are

1446
01:41:35.119 --> 01:41:39.279
you No? He tried to reassure her. I never would.

1447
01:41:39.560 --> 01:41:44.239
I love you. Somebody giggled, Are you laughing at me?

1448
01:41:44.840 --> 01:41:49.560
He asked, the hell are you talking about? The childlike

1449
01:41:49.600 --> 01:41:54.039
giggle came again. This time he was sure it wasn't

1450
01:41:54.319 --> 01:42:00.000
his wife. Okay, who's out here? Another giggle came from

1451
01:42:00.119 --> 01:42:04.600
somewhere in the dark, just off the footpath. Stu took

1452
01:42:04.640 --> 01:42:07.840
out his flashlight and shined it into the darkness. He

1453
01:42:07.880 --> 01:42:11.239
expected to see a couple of students pranking him, but

1454
01:42:11.359 --> 01:42:16.319
instead there was nothing. Stu, what the hell is going on?

1455
01:42:16.640 --> 01:42:21.399
His wife asked, sorry, honey, work gotta go. He hung up.

1456
01:42:22.119 --> 01:42:24.600
Stepping off the path, he shined his light over the

1457
01:42:24.600 --> 01:42:27.760
snow covered ground. There was nothing out of the ordinary,

1458
01:42:28.359 --> 01:42:30.720
but a quick flash of movement among the trees caught

1459
01:42:30.720 --> 01:42:36.479
his eye. More giggling, rung out. Look, knock it off, kid,

1460
01:42:36.520 --> 01:42:39.880
go back to the dance or the dorm. Unholstering his pistol,

1461
01:42:39.960 --> 01:42:43.159
Stu approached the trees. If I catch you and you're

1462
01:42:43.199 --> 01:42:46.840
high on something, your butt will be expelled. His gut

1463
01:42:46.880 --> 01:42:50.439
instinct was to walk away. Don't give the little punk

1464
01:42:50.479 --> 01:42:54.079
the satisfaction of playing their game. Sadly, when it came

1465
01:42:54.119 --> 01:42:57.520
to his job, Stu was a stubborn man, so he

1466
01:42:57.560 --> 01:43:01.520
went forward. Listen, show yourself. I'll take you in. You

1467
01:43:01.520 --> 01:43:03.159
can sleep it off on the couch and go in

1468
01:43:03.199 --> 01:43:07.119
the morning. Sound good, Stu was answered with the sound

1469
01:43:07.159 --> 01:43:12.319
of glass shattering. Shit had to do this the hard way.

1470
01:43:13.079 --> 01:43:15.880
Ahead through the trees, Stu could see the side of

1471
01:43:15.920 --> 01:43:18.239
the Visual Arts building. The glass of one of the

1472
01:43:18.239 --> 01:43:21.920
ground floor windows had been broken. Shining the flashlight inside,

1473
01:43:21.960 --> 01:43:24.840
he could see traces of snow on the dark linoleum floor.

1474
01:43:26.319 --> 01:43:29.920
So much for a quiet night, he muttered. Entering the

1475
01:43:29.960 --> 01:43:34.319
side door rounding the corner, he stopped. Something was laid

1476
01:43:34.319 --> 01:43:36.399
out on the floor in a straight line leading further

1477
01:43:36.479 --> 01:43:40.039
down the hallway. Stu bent down, getting a good look

1478
01:43:40.079 --> 01:43:43.079
at what was sitting on the floor, a little pink

1479
01:43:43.479 --> 01:43:47.199
candy heart. For the first time he could remember, Stu

1480
01:43:47.439 --> 01:43:50.840
was scared shitless. As much as he wanted to head

1481
01:43:50.880 --> 01:43:53.720
back to the hut and forget this crap, he couldn't.

1482
01:43:54.640 --> 01:43:57.479
He stood gun at the ready and followed the trail

1483
01:43:57.520 --> 01:44:00.720
of candy. The trail ended in front of a pair

1484
01:44:00.800 --> 01:44:05.600
of large auditorium doors. Stu nudged the doors open slowly.

1485
01:44:06.319 --> 01:44:10.319
The large room was completely dark. He advanced slowly down

1486
01:44:10.319 --> 01:44:13.880
the main aisle, swinging his flashlight side to side. The

1487
01:44:13.960 --> 01:44:16.720
light danced over the seats, pausing on each one long

1488
01:44:16.840 --> 01:44:21.560
enough to see nobody. There was only one place left

1489
01:44:21.640 --> 01:44:26.199
someone could be hiding, the stage. The stage was made

1490
01:44:26.279 --> 01:44:28.640
up to look like a girl's bedroom. There was a

1491
01:44:28.720 --> 01:44:31.840
large bed, a desk, and nightstand. As he walked up

1492
01:44:31.880 --> 01:44:34.159
the wooden steps to the stage. There was an obvious

1493
01:44:34.239 --> 01:44:38.600
shape under the blankets on the bed, A human shape.

1494
01:44:38.720 --> 01:44:42.920
All right, Stu said, gun trained on the bed, Game's up.

1495
01:44:43.520 --> 01:44:46.279
He yanked back the blankets in one swift motion, ready

1496
01:44:46.279 --> 01:44:49.960
to grab the little shit hiding there. A grinning plastic

1497
01:44:50.000 --> 01:44:52.800
face stared up at him from the human sized doll

1498
01:44:52.840 --> 01:44:57.520
that laid there. Suddenly, pain erupted from his left achilles tendon.

1499
01:44:57.760 --> 01:45:00.119
He fell hard, sending his gun and flashlight from his

1500
01:45:00.159 --> 01:45:03.520
hands and across the stage floor. Stu watched as the

1501
01:45:03.520 --> 01:45:06.199
figure slid out from under the bed and stood brandishing

1502
01:45:06.239 --> 01:45:09.520
a bloody knife in their gloved hand. The short figure

1503
01:45:09.600 --> 01:45:12.079
wore a beat up old army jacket with a gray

1504
01:45:12.119 --> 01:45:15.720
hoodie underneath. The hood was pulled up, hiding their face

1505
01:45:15.800 --> 01:45:22.439
in shadows. They playfully waved at him. Oh God, Stu stammered.

1506
01:45:22.600 --> 01:45:25.920
Turning over, he crawled towards the gun. Leave me alone,

1507
01:45:26.399 --> 01:45:29.600
he screamed. Those words would be Stu's last. As the

1508
01:45:29.600 --> 01:45:32.159
figure jumped on his back, driving their knees in and

1509
01:45:32.239 --> 01:45:34.680
knocking the wind out of him. Stu felt the cold

1510
01:45:34.720 --> 01:45:37.720
steel of the blade against his throat as that childish

1511
01:45:37.840 --> 01:45:46.640
laugh filled his ears. Cassie found Blake sound asleep at

1512
01:45:46.640 --> 01:45:49.520
her desk. She didn't have the heart to wake her

1513
01:45:49.520 --> 01:45:53.359
sleeping friend. Instead, she went downstairs, where Billy was still

1514
01:45:53.359 --> 01:45:56.239
hard at work as Bobby Darren sang about the sea.

1515
01:45:57.439 --> 01:46:00.960
Don't you ever take a break? Sooner? Get this done sooner?

1516
01:46:01.000 --> 01:46:03.960
I get to go home and sleep, Billy said, scanning

1517
01:46:03.960 --> 01:46:07.479
a book. Sleep is overrated. Come on, take a break.

1518
01:46:08.039 --> 01:46:10.079
She walked over to Billy and leaned on one of

1519
01:46:10.119 --> 01:46:14.119
the bookshelves, trying to look as seductive as possible. How's

1520
01:46:14.159 --> 01:46:17.479
Blake doing, Billy asked, sounding a little uncomfortable with her

1521
01:46:17.600 --> 01:46:24.199
close proximity. Unfortunately, she's sleeping. Now here's my thing. I'm

1522
01:46:24.239 --> 01:46:28.680
having a bad night. I need something, anything, to take

1523
01:46:28.720 --> 01:46:31.640
my mind off the shit. She leaned in close to

1524
01:46:31.680 --> 01:46:38.199
Billy's ear. So how about taking a break. You're very attractive.

1525
01:46:38.279 --> 01:46:42.279
Don't think I haven't noticed, but I have a lot

1526
01:46:42.319 --> 01:46:45.399
of work here in shit. She kissed him on the cheek.

1527
01:46:46.039 --> 01:46:53.239
I can help. I'm very good with the Dewey decimal system. Well, oh,

1528
01:46:53.560 --> 01:46:58.880
Cassie exclaimed, so not gay. Huh. Billy looked up at

1529
01:46:58.920 --> 01:47:02.439
her nothing, she said, breathing heavy. They were in the

1530
01:47:02.479 --> 01:47:05.399
back corner of the library, behind a shelf of rarely

1531
01:47:05.520 --> 01:47:08.920
used books. Cassie laid her head on Billy's bare shoulder.

1532
01:47:09.319 --> 01:47:12.840
I don't do this, it's just tonight, she said. I

1533
01:47:12.840 --> 01:47:16.920
don't want you to think I'm easy. I don't. I wouldn't.

1534
01:47:16.960 --> 01:47:19.760
Billy said, I know this is just a fluke, a

1535
01:47:19.800 --> 01:47:26.479
one time thing. I wouldn't say that. She laughed. We'll see, okay. Yeah.

1536
01:47:27.159 --> 01:47:29.880
Cassie laid there, feeling her heartbeat go back to normal.

1537
01:47:30.239 --> 01:47:34.079
It was the first time she noticed the silence the

1538
01:47:34.159 --> 01:47:38.600
record stopped. She said, guess so, how much trouble would

1539
01:47:38.600 --> 01:47:41.479
you be in if old Man Styles caught us? Are

1540
01:47:41.479 --> 01:47:44.119
you crazy? He'd have my ass thrown out of school.

1541
01:47:44.920 --> 01:47:47.159
From what I've heard, this isn't the first time someone

1542
01:47:47.199 --> 01:47:52.119
got some in the library, Miss Walton. Cassie nodded, and

1543
01:47:52.199 --> 01:47:56.840
Coach Greer, it's a rumor anyway, Billy laughed. It's more

1544
01:47:56.880 --> 01:47:59.039
than that. I almost walked in on them one night

1545
01:47:59.079 --> 01:48:01.560
in the projection room. She might have asked you to

1546
01:48:01.640 --> 01:48:05.800
join in the pair giggled. Well, I gotta get back

1547
01:48:05.840 --> 01:48:09.119
to work. Billy said, I wish Cassie cut him off,

1548
01:48:09.640 --> 01:48:14.239
kissing him. I know duty calls she sat up. I'll

1549
01:48:14.239 --> 01:48:15.399
go see if Blake is up.

1550
01:48:17.399 --> 01:48:21.600
I like it, spooky, weekly, spooky. We'll be right back.

1551
01:48:27.720 --> 01:48:31.159
The PA crackled with static as another record started to play.

1552
01:48:32.800 --> 01:48:38.760
How Cassie asked, looking at Billy, only one way? He replied,

1553
01:48:39.439 --> 01:48:44.720
somebody else? Who Blake wouldn't I don't think I'll go. Look,

1554
01:48:45.159 --> 01:48:48.319
I'll go with you. Stay here. If it's the old

1555
01:48:48.359 --> 01:48:53.039
man or stew or somebody, I'm toast. He surprised Cassie

1556
01:48:53.039 --> 01:48:55.319
by giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. She

1557
01:48:55.439 --> 01:48:59.920
watched him hurry off, Feeling a sudden nervousness. She waited,

1558
01:49:00.680 --> 01:49:04.920
listening with the music, it was hard to make anything out.

1559
01:49:05.119 --> 01:49:08.439
Cassie could hear Billy say something. Then he yelled one

1560
01:49:08.439 --> 01:49:12.199
word that sent a chill through her whole body. Run.

1561
01:49:15.439 --> 01:49:18.319
Blake woke with a start. She dreamed of a dark

1562
01:49:18.359 --> 01:49:22.199
figure standing behind her, stroking her hair. A great mechanical

1563
01:49:22.319 --> 01:49:26.079
roar erupted from within it, making her jump above her

1564
01:49:26.640 --> 01:49:29.960
The overhead heater rumbled to life. How long had she

1565
01:49:30.000 --> 01:49:33.640
been asleep? How much time had she lost? She'd only

1566
01:49:33.680 --> 01:49:37.199
meant to grab a quick nap. Groggy Blake fumbled for

1567
01:49:37.239 --> 01:49:41.279
her phone, knocking over an empty energy, drink caffeine, you

1568
01:49:41.399 --> 01:49:45.319
betray me. The earbuds dangled from her ears, but her

1569
01:49:45.359 --> 01:49:48.399
phone was gone. Blake checked the rest of the desk

1570
01:49:48.439 --> 01:49:52.960
and floor. What the hell it couldn't just be gone.

1571
01:49:53.760 --> 01:49:58.000
From downstairs? Music drifted up. Billy was still here. The

1572
01:49:58.079 --> 01:50:01.600
music was something classical, though Blake wasn't sure of the composer.

1573
01:50:02.520 --> 01:50:06.239
Blake went downstairs. Despite the music, there was an odd

1574
01:50:06.279 --> 01:50:11.800
stillness to everything. Billy. The song reached its climax before

1575
01:50:11.800 --> 01:50:16.560
going to static. Outside, wind rattled the library's large glass windows.

1576
01:50:16.960 --> 01:50:20.239
The snow was starting to fall heavier now. The clock

1577
01:50:20.279 --> 01:50:26.000
over the front desk read one thirty. She'd slept for hours, Billy.

1578
01:50:26.600 --> 01:50:30.920
She called out again, worry straining her voice. From somewhere

1579
01:50:30.920 --> 01:50:35.760
in the library, A childlike giggle answered her, Come on,

1580
01:50:35.920 --> 01:50:39.880
this isn't funny. Stop screwing around. Fear climbed up her

1581
01:50:39.920 --> 01:50:42.760
rib cage and threatened to take hold of her. A

1582
01:50:42.800 --> 01:50:45.960
flicker of light caught Blake's eye. Something moved in the

1583
01:50:46.000 --> 01:50:50.319
library's rear, accompanied by the sound of voices. The light

1584
01:50:50.439 --> 01:50:53.640
was coming from the conference room. The wall mounted TV

1585
01:50:53.720 --> 01:50:56.760
had been turned on, and a presentation on the college's

1586
01:50:56.800 --> 01:51:01.199
renovations played to a darkened room. A lone figure sat

1587
01:51:01.600 --> 01:51:05.720
back to Blake, watching the screen. Blake walked around the

1588
01:51:05.760 --> 01:51:09.119
side of the seated figure. Before she saw their face,

1589
01:51:09.760 --> 01:51:16.159
she knew Billy sat there, unmoving, staring straight ahead. A

1590
01:51:16.279 --> 01:51:19.920
large bloody wound covered his chest. His arms laid out

1591
01:51:19.920 --> 01:51:22.560
stretched in front of him, his hands cut together holding

1592
01:51:22.720 --> 01:51:28.159
something an offering. A heart sat in his hands. A

1593
01:51:28.239 --> 01:51:32.600
note was pinned to it, I Heart you, written in blood.

1594
01:51:33.560 --> 01:51:35.680
She ran from the room and charged the front door,

1595
01:51:35.680 --> 01:51:40.279
only to find it locked. Frustrated and scared, she pounded

1596
01:51:40.279 --> 01:51:43.279
on the glass, but it was unwavering. There had to

1597
01:51:43.279 --> 01:51:47.560
be another way out the office, the office where Billy

1598
01:51:47.560 --> 01:51:51.800
had let her in. Entering the office, Blake scanned the room.

1599
01:51:52.439 --> 01:51:55.119
There could be somebody hiding behind one of the desks.

1600
01:51:55.880 --> 01:51:57.399
The door on the other side of the room might

1601
01:51:57.439 --> 01:52:01.039
as well have been miles away. Blake grabbed a silver

1602
01:52:01.119 --> 01:52:04.119
letter opener from the nearest desk. She held it out

1603
01:52:04.279 --> 01:52:08.279
like a crucifix to ward off some unseen evil. Blake

1604
01:52:08.319 --> 01:52:12.359
got to the door without incident and found it locked. Shit.

1605
01:52:13.479 --> 01:52:16.319
She headed back out to the main area. There must

1606
01:52:16.359 --> 01:52:20.079
be another way out, a fire exit or something. She

1607
01:52:20.199 --> 01:52:24.199
headed through the center of the library. Something slowly moved

1608
01:52:24.239 --> 01:52:28.720
down one of the aisles, making Blake stop crouching. She

1609
01:52:28.760 --> 01:52:32.119
slid the letter opener in her jeans pocket. She crawled

1610
01:52:32.159 --> 01:52:36.000
on her hands and knees, trying to get a better view. Slowly,

1611
01:52:36.520 --> 01:52:38.880
she pulled a book from the shelf and peered through

1612
01:52:38.880 --> 01:52:44.119
the gap, coming face to face with stew the security guard.

1613
01:52:44.920 --> 01:52:48.720
His body lay on the ground, lifeless, his head tilted

1614
01:52:48.720 --> 01:52:52.479
to the side, looking straight at her. Her breathing became louder,

1615
01:52:53.000 --> 01:52:59.039
more ragged, threatening to give her away control. A gloved

1616
01:52:59.039 --> 01:53:04.239
hand gripped her should boo. Grabbing a book from the shelf,

1617
01:53:04.279 --> 01:53:07.680
Blake lashed out, hitting somebody. She didn't stay to see who.

1618
01:53:08.399 --> 01:53:11.399
She ran, throwing books over her shoulder at an unseen pursuer.

1619
01:53:11.760 --> 01:53:14.199
Blake ran back to the entrance, pounding on the glass.

1620
01:53:14.520 --> 01:53:18.520
Let me out, she screamed. Enthusiastic clapping made her turn

1621
01:53:18.560 --> 01:53:20.880
to see a figure sitting at the checkout counter, a

1622
01:53:20.920 --> 01:53:26.239
hood obscuring their face. Wow, that was great. They pulled

1623
01:53:26.279 --> 01:53:30.039
the hood down, revealing a young woman with short black hair.

1624
01:53:30.920 --> 01:53:34.319
I was surprised, the girl said, holding up a cell phone.

1625
01:53:34.560 --> 01:53:38.199
You have an eclectic taste in music. The girl started

1626
01:53:38.239 --> 01:53:40.560
swiping through the tracks on the phone as Blake stood

1627
01:53:40.600 --> 01:53:45.319
watching in shock. Some of it is good, but there's

1628
01:53:45.399 --> 01:53:53.000
a lot of crap, she continued, going through the songs. Crap, crap, crap. Ooh,

1629
01:53:53.039 --> 01:53:59.479
she laughed, Barrakuda, tossing the phone over her shoulder. What

1630
01:53:59.520 --> 01:54:03.239
the fuck is going on? Blake asked, why didn't you

1631
01:54:03.319 --> 01:54:07.000
meet me? The girl sounded hurt. I sent you chocolates.

1632
01:54:07.119 --> 01:54:09.560
Would it have been so hard? I thought you were

1633
01:54:09.560 --> 01:54:13.800
different than those others. Blake had seen this girl somewhere before,

1634
01:54:14.399 --> 01:54:18.039
in the dorm or a class. Maybe they'd passed in

1635
01:54:18.079 --> 01:54:22.840
the hallway. The girl looked at her genuinely hurt. You

1636
01:54:22.840 --> 01:54:27.079
don't remember first day orientation. You sat down next to

1637
01:54:27.119 --> 01:54:29.479
me and smiled. We talked about how nervous we were,

1638
01:54:30.199 --> 01:54:32.840
or that time I tripped. You stopped when nobody else

1639
01:54:32.840 --> 01:54:35.359
did help me pick up my books. Asked me if

1640
01:54:35.359 --> 01:54:39.319
I was okay. The girl sighed, I've loved you since

1641
01:54:39.359 --> 01:54:41.880
I first saw you. That's why I got transferred to

1642
01:54:41.920 --> 01:54:45.520
mister Sigmund's class so I could be near you. You

1643
01:54:45.680 --> 01:54:49.800
killed Billy because of me. Blake felt her head spin.

1644
01:54:51.159 --> 01:54:54.760
Like the song says, the problem with me is you.

1645
01:54:55.359 --> 01:54:58.439
The girl jumped down from the counter. Billy wasn't the

1646
01:54:58.439 --> 01:55:02.199
only one. As you saw. I killed that dufous security guard.

1647
01:55:02.319 --> 01:55:05.239
Can't have him interrupting. She reached into her jacket and

1648
01:55:05.239 --> 01:55:10.840
pulled out a keychain. Besides, I needed this, This was madness.

1649
01:55:11.279 --> 01:55:14.760
Blake needed to get away, get help. She felt her

1650
01:55:14.800 --> 01:55:18.960
heart beat faster, felt it harder to breathe. You think

1651
01:55:19.000 --> 01:55:23.279
I'll just fall in love with you? Why not? You're

1652
01:55:23.319 --> 01:55:25.960
the only one who ever noticed me. No one else has.

1653
01:55:26.880 --> 01:55:31.800
They ignore me. Oh god, you insane bitch. I'm in love.

1654
01:55:33.319 --> 01:55:39.359
Maybe maybe you are. Blake smiled. You did this all

1655
01:55:39.439 --> 01:55:43.640
for me. She walked towards the girl. I don't even

1656
01:55:43.680 --> 01:55:49.039
know your name, Terry. My name is Terry. That's a

1657
01:55:49.119 --> 01:55:52.800
nice name. Blake reached her hand out towards the girl.

1658
01:55:53.359 --> 01:55:56.239
Her hand slid into her pocket, touching the hilt of

1659
01:55:56.239 --> 01:56:00.319
the letter opener. Terry grabbed Blake's outstretched arm, pulling her along.

1660
01:56:01.039 --> 01:56:03.920
Come on, I have one last gift for you. They

1661
01:56:03.960 --> 01:56:07.239
stopped at the door to Old Man Style's office. What's

1662
01:56:07.279 --> 01:56:12.239
behind door number one? Terry asked, any guesses. Blake held

1663
01:56:12.239 --> 01:56:14.800
the letter open, her now concealed under her shirt, sleeve.

1664
01:56:15.439 --> 01:56:17.279
What could this maniac be planning?

1665
01:56:18.119 --> 01:56:18.159
No?

1666
01:56:19.159 --> 01:56:22.880
All right, Terry sighed a little disappointed. She opened the

1667
01:56:22.920 --> 01:56:26.279
door to reveal a beaten Cassie lashed to mister Styles's chair.

1668
01:56:27.119 --> 01:56:31.439
Terry wheeled her out of the office. Oh shit, Blake

1669
01:56:31.479 --> 01:56:35.960
took a step back. What have you done? Nothing but

1670
01:56:36.079 --> 01:56:40.319
you're going to see she had to come snooping around

1671
01:56:40.560 --> 01:56:43.479
screw up everything. She gave Billy a pretty good screw

1672
01:56:43.560 --> 01:56:46.680
before I killed him. Cassie glared at the girl. A

1673
01:56:46.760 --> 01:56:50.640
muffled fuck you could be heard through her gag. If

1674
01:56:50.680 --> 01:56:55.199
you really really love me, then you'll kill her like

1675
01:56:55.279 --> 01:56:59.319
I killed for you. Terry pulled Stew's gun from her

1676
01:56:59.399 --> 01:57:03.279
jacket and pushed the barrel against Cassie's temple. With her

1677
01:57:03.319 --> 01:57:05.960
other hand, she pulled a large knife out and tossed

1678
01:57:06.000 --> 01:57:09.279
it onto the floor in front of Blake. Two things

1679
01:57:09.319 --> 01:57:13.520
can happen, Terry stated, pick up that knife and kill her,

1680
01:57:14.199 --> 01:57:17.760
or I kill the both of you. Blake shook her

1681
01:57:17.800 --> 01:57:21.319
head in disbelief. How would we get away with it?

1682
01:57:21.920 --> 01:57:28.079
Your fingerprints, my fingerprints all over everything? Simple? She did it.

1683
01:57:28.600 --> 01:57:31.880
We'd be each other's alibi. She went nuts, killed Stu,

1684
01:57:32.159 --> 01:57:35.119
fucked Billy, and then came after us. We killed her

1685
01:57:35.159 --> 01:57:40.600
in self defense, and we live happily ever after. More

1686
01:57:40.720 --> 01:57:43.680
or less, Blake looked down at her best friend, then

1687
01:57:43.760 --> 01:57:46.279
up at Terry, bending down as she picked up the

1688
01:57:46.359 --> 01:57:49.600
knife and stood in front of her terrified friend. Terry

1689
01:57:49.640 --> 01:57:53.880
trained the gun on Blake. Don't try anything. Blake and

1690
01:57:53.960 --> 01:57:59.039
Cassie locked eyes. Would you just kill the bitch already?

1691
01:57:59.319 --> 01:58:03.399
Terry ordered, It's been a long night. Blake took a

1692
01:58:03.439 --> 01:58:07.680
deep breath. Finally in control, she pushed the chair into

1693
01:58:07.720 --> 01:58:10.479
Terry with all her strength, knocking the girl down. The

1694
01:58:10.520 --> 01:58:13.359
gun erupted as Terry fired. Blake fell on the girl.

1695
01:58:13.399 --> 01:58:15.880
They struggled, and the gun flew from Terry's hand. The

1696
01:58:15.920 --> 01:58:18.199
two fought for the knife until finally the knife found

1697
01:58:18.199 --> 01:58:22.439
its way in to Terry. Terry looked into Blake's eyes

1698
01:58:22.920 --> 01:58:29.000
and smiled, blood staining her lips. She loves me, she

1699
01:58:29.119 --> 01:58:33.520
loves me not, Terry lamented, touching Blake's face before letting

1700
01:58:33.560 --> 01:58:37.880
out a groan and going limp. Blake used her last

1701
01:58:37.880 --> 01:58:41.560
bit of strength to cut her friend. Free you okay,

1702
01:58:42.000 --> 01:58:48.039
she asked Cassie. Not really? Cassie laughed, choking back tears.

1703
01:58:49.000 --> 01:58:53.039
Fuck Blake said, looking down at her side and expanding

1704
01:58:53.079 --> 01:58:57.640
red stain darkened her shirt. I've been shot. Hang on,

1705
01:58:58.039 --> 01:59:01.680
I'll get help. Cassie ran in styles office. Blake could

1706
01:59:01.720 --> 01:59:04.800
hear her talking to nine one one. Blake leaned against

1707
01:59:04.840 --> 01:59:20.079
a bookshelf, looking at Terry. Happy fucking Valentine's Day. All right,

1708
01:59:20.239 --> 01:59:24.600
my spookies, I hope you enjoyed those terror tales courtesy

1709
01:59:24.600 --> 01:59:29.000
of our good buddy Shane MIGLEYOVAKA, And don't worry, He'll

1710
01:59:29.000 --> 01:59:32.199
have a brand new Fearful Fright for you to enjoy

1711
01:59:32.840 --> 01:59:37.840
on October thirty first, for our Halloween episode, also known

1712
01:59:37.920 --> 01:59:42.600
as our six year anniversary. So make sure you're subscribed

1713
01:59:42.600 --> 01:59:47.000
on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or whatever podcasting app you use,

1714
01:59:47.399 --> 01:59:51.279
and if you don't mind, leave us five stars. It

1715
01:59:51.399 --> 01:59:55.600
really helps new people discover the program. Now, I'm gonna

1716
01:59:55.600 --> 01:59:58.439
get back to work, because you see, in October we'll

1717
01:59:58.479 --> 02:00:02.119
be debuting five brand and new novellas just for your

1718
02:00:02.159 --> 02:00:07.960
listening displeasure. But I'll be back sooner than later. In fact,

1719
02:00:07.960 --> 02:00:12.680
you'll hear from me this Monday and Tuesday as always,

1720
02:00:13.399 --> 02:00:18.399
So until next week, stay spooky and I'll talk at

1721
02:00:18.439 --> 02:00:19.359
you later