WEBVTT
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A crack of gunfire splits the trees, something falls, something
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that was a wolf and then it wasn't. By nightfall,
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there's a knock at the door, a father asking for
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his boy back. The moon is full and the woods
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are listening.
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What's that You want to be scared to? Come with me.
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You will experience tales over overall ghosts, and it is
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not recommended for the weeded heart listeners. In the dark
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park is more funny than Way Way Way. This is
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Weekly Spooking.
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Hello, my Spookyes, it's Wednesday, and you know what that means.
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It's time for a little spooky in your weekly I'm
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your host and narrator, Enrique Kuto, and I hope you're
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not experiencing too much of the post Halloween blues because
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I'm here to make sure the Halloween spirit haunts us
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all year long. And tonight we have a very hair
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raising story to make sure you feel afraid to go
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back into the woods. But before we get to that,
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I want to say thank you all so much for
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spending your October with me. It was an incredible experience
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publishing thirty one shows in thirty one days. You may
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have noticed that yesterday there was a brand new show
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on the Weekly Spooky Feed. It's called This Week in
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Horror History, and we'll be publishing it every Tuesday to
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celebrate the history of horror movies, books, TV shows, video games,
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as well as the people who create them. So make
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sure you're subscribed on your favorite podcasting app, and while
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you're at it, leave us a five star rating if
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you haven't already, and a special thank you to save
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Arista Coffee for supporting the program. They feature bold and
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flavorful coffee in half calf and dcalf, but without sacrificing
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flavor or complexity. If you head to Saveorista dot com
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and use promo code Spooky at checkout, you get twenty
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five percent off your order and it supports Weekly Spooky directly.
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That's Saveorista dot Com promo code spooky. But now, as
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for tonight, imagine the woods after sundown, where every branch
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looks like a claw and every shadow breathes. Two hunters
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take their shot, only to learn they weren't the only
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predators in the wilderness. What if the thing you wounded
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could wear a child's face. What if his family could
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find your home and your child before dawn gone hunting
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by Morgan Moore. The sounds of repeated cracks pierced through
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the area. You hit it, RJ exclaimed emphatically. Mitchell McCormick
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grinned as he looked at his friend. The sounds had
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come from his rifle. Mitchell and R Jay were out
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hunting and the day had been rather lackluster. It was
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near twilight and they were close to leaving their hiding
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spot when RJ spotted movement in the distance. It was
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unclear what kind of animal it was, but it was
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worth a shot. Mitchell had tracked the movement through his
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scope while R Jay tried to follow more closely with
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his binoculars. It had been a hard prize to track,
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even with both of their eyes on it. Whatever it
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was had moved quickly, almost inhumanly fast. What finally gave
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it away was a small glimpse of fur. It wasn't much,
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but it was all Mitchell needed. After all, hunting was
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his family's pastime and he had learned it at an
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early age. Let's go claim our prize, Mitchell said, and
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the two hunters descended from their perch and headed towards
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their kill. The two men approached the spot where they
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determined the animal had been shot. To their surprise, it
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wasn't there. Instead, they found a trail of blood. Must
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have had enough strength left to try and escape. RJ said,
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try is the key word. If those shots didn't get it,
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the next one will, Mitchell said, as he playfully held
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up his rifle. RJ chuckled. The duo headed down the
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path of blood stained earth, with the amount of red
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growing in volume. As they moved on, Mitchell noticed that
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not only did the amount increase, but the way it
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was lying on the ground became more and more sporadic.
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Whatever he had hit must have in its escape thrashed
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around on the ground. More than likely, he hadn't hit
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any vital organs, and the animal was in agonizing pain.
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It wouldn't have to suffer much longer, though, he thought
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to himself. Their path soon came to an end, and
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what they saw caught them off guard. It was not
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at all what they had expected to find. What was
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lying on the ground, quivering and writhing in pain was
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and in human sight, but also human. Dear God, RJ began,
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before stopping to vomit. God has nothing to do with this,
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Mitchell continued. Prey was something that looked like an average wolf,
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which wouldn't be too out of place. After all, the
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hunting grounds were located in a forest, which made it
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plausible that a wolf could wander in and become a trophy.
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But this dying beast was not an average wolf. While
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it had wolf like features, it was also clearly something
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akin to a human, and it was becoming more so
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as the seconds passed. R J and Mitchell watched in
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disgusted horror as the creature morphed into a more human shape,
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a smaller shape. What lay before them now was a
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child of no more than ten years old, whimpering, naked
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and bleeding out What the actual hell is that? R
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J exclaimed, I couldn't tell you, Mitchell responded hoarsely, how
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does what I? R J couldn't find the words. Mitchell
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just stared at the sight before him. The child continued
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to whimper. Mitchell gulped hard and turned his head away.
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R J looked at him, eyes wide in disbelief, knowing
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what was coming cracks. The whimpering stopped. Let's get this
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to the truck. We can handle it when we get
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back to my place, Mitchell instructed coldly, He slung the
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strap of his rifle over his shoulder and approached the body.
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R Jay moved and took hold of the feet, Mitchell
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taking hold under the arms. They hoisted it up and
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carried it to Mitchell's truck, throwing it in the bed
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with their gear. Mitchell then took a tarp he had
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lying in the corner of the bed and draped it
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over the body. The pair got in the pickup and
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drove off, leaving the hunting grounds behind them in a
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cloud of dust. An hour later, Mitchell pulled into his driveway.
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R J and he looked around the area before getting
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out of the truck and picking up the body. Cautiously.
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They carried it into a shed and laid it on
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the ground. What now, r J asked, solemnly. We leave
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it here for now we go in have dinner, and
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when Jude and Sam go to sleep, we bury. Mitchell explained,
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bury it where RJ questioned, anywhere worry about it later,
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Mitchell said, Before leaving the shed, RJ looked at the
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tarp covered body and then followed his friend out. The
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sun was only a soft pink glow as the mccormicks
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and r J sat down at the dinner table, Mitchell
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ate his food slowly and quietly, only speaking when his wife, Jude,
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asked him the occasional question. RJ picked at his food,
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the image of the dead boy still fresh in his mind.
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His stomach reacted in disgust. Jude began to notice as
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dinner went on. Everything all right, Jude asked, Oh, yeah,
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just kinda not all that hungry, I guess, r J said,
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with barely any thought or attachment to the conversation. Is
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something wrong. I've never seen you barely eat, especially when
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it's something I make, She said, don't mind him. He
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fell into a deer while we were out, Mitchell explained.
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He glanced at RJ to keep him in line. Yeah,
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I fell into some deer that had been eaten away.
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Had to wash up at a pond nearby, RJ added.
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Sam the mccormicks four year old pushed his face into
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his plate. When he brought his head back up, it
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was covered in the group's dinner. Fell like that, he asked.
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The adults laughed at the child, Yeah, something like that,
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RJ told the tike, his spirits rising a little for
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the moment. Their laughter was interrupted by a thunderous knock
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at the door. The table went quiet as they listened,
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the knock coming in intervals of five. R J turned
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to look at Mitchell. Mitchell sat there quietly and sternly.
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The knocking continued. Well, since nobody else wants to get it,
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Jude finally said, breaking the silence, Jude leaves the table
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and heads to the front door in the other room.
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From their seats, Mitchell and RJ hear her open the
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door and speak with whoever is there. Their words were
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too quiet to hear, but the voice Jude spoke to
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was clearly masculine. Mitchell, somebody wants to see you, she
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called from the other room. Who is it, he asked,
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A mister Holloway. He says it's something hunting related, Jude replied.
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Mitchell and r J looked at each other. The duo
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slowly stood up from their seats and made their way
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to the living room. When they reached the door, Jude
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left them standing. There was a tall, muscular man, dressed
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as if he had just walked out of a classic Western.
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His skin was tanned and his features were dark the eyes, though,
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Something about his eyes made the two men feel like
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they were being set ablaze. May I help you, Mitchell
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asked the man. Indeed, my name is Thomas. Earlier today
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you two were out hunting. You shot something you shouldn't have,
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Thomas explained. And just what would that be? Mitchell questioned,
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My boy, Thomas said bluntly. The two men look at
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their visitor. Mitchell stands cool and collected, and he shock
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that he had was well hidden. R J, however, was
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struggling to keep it together. Thoughts of what might happen
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played out in his head. Sweat flowed from his pores,
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and his body began to shake. He looked over at
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Mitchell and found him staring back. Disgusted, RJ's eyes drifted
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to the stranger he was staring him down. Don't pay
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any attention to my friend here. He's got a stomach bug,
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Mitchell explained. Thomas scoffed at the explanation. Is that so, yeah,
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had a bad burrito off a food truck earlier? RJ
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stammered out. Sure. Back to the matter at hand, my
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boy give him back, Thomas commands. Now, exactly why do
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you think we have him? Mitchell asked. Thomas stepped up
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into Mitchell and RJ's faces. Look, I know what you did.
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You shot my boy dead, then you brought him back
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here and hit him. This is your last chance to
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do the right thing. Give me my son or else.
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His words were direct and filled with threatening menace. R
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J felt himself shrink at them, and found that he
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was no longer filled with anxiety about being found out,
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but instead with fear of what this man was going
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to do. The complete opposite of him was Mitchell. He
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smirked a little and stared down at Thomas. You don't
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scare me. You have nothing anyway. If you did, you
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would have brought the police with you. But by all means,
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keep threatening me, my friend and my family. I have
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your boy. You say you think I have his dead
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little body hidden somewhere, then by all means look for it.
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He won't find anything, and then I'll have you arrested
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for harassment. Better yet, I'll shoot you dead for your threats,
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and everybody will say I simply stood my ground your call.
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The two men continued staring each other down, neither wanting
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to give an inch. R J stood there watching as
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the two carried on, waiting and praying that someone, something,
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would put an end to this. He got his wish daddy,
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can we play? Sam ran up to his father and
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locked his arms around Mitchell's legs. The child then looked
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up at Thomas, the stranger staring down at him. Mitchell
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looked from his son to the man who was threatening
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himself and his family. Who are you, Sam asked a friend.
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Thomas replied he looked over his shoulder and watched as
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the son started to see. Just remember you had your
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chance with that. Thomas turned around and left. Daddy. Sam asked, Yeah, Samo,
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we'll play. I'll meet you out back, Mitchell told him.
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Sam ran off, squealing in delight. Mitchell closes the front
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door and turns to look at RJ. What are we
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going to do? He asked. You're going to stay here
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tonight and we're gonna wait for this asshole to show up,
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Mitchell explained. Crickets chirped as night drifted along. Inside the
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McCormick's living room, sat Mitchell and RJ, each with a
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cup of coffee and ale. After their visitor had left,
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the duo took care of the body, burying it far
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out in a field behind the McCormick's house. They planned
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to simply wait and see if Thomas would show up
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and make good on his threat. If he did, Mitchell
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planned on dealing with it. RJ, though, was uneasy about
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the whole thing. To him, they should have simply confessed
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their crime to haul away, and whatever would happen would
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simply happen. But Mitchell wouldn't allow it. He wanted the thing,
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the situation, everything to be buried and long gone so
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everyone could move on. R J knew Mitchell would easily
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get on with life. He wouldn't, though the sight he
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saw earlier in the day would stay with him forever.
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RJ couldn't get the image of the boy, the thing
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out of his head. He never would. Guilt flowed through him,
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and as the night went on, he felt an overwhelming
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desire to either run or turn the rifle on himself.
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He felt disgusted with what they had done and told
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himself that when he went home, his friendship with Mitchell,
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his association with the mccormicks were done. A wall clock
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ticked away, and r J found himself looking at it.
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Its hands told him that it was half past one
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in the morning. Sunrise was still a while off, and
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he hoped that that might be the end of the situation.
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Whether or not Holloway would come back, he decided would
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not be his problem. Once morning came and he was
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able to distance himself from Mitchell. Are you awake, Mitchell
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00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:19.759
asked his friend, catching him staring at the clock in
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a trance. Yeah, just see in what time it is.
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RJ replied, you better not fall asleep. His friend said,
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Mitchell wasn't just telling him, he was commanding him Mitchell,
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r J said, Yeah, what are you going to do
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00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:46.559
if he doesn't come tonight? Forget about the whole thing
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and move on. What I mean is, how do you
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know if he doesn't come tonight that he won't keep
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it up? He could try to start something whenever or
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wherever I'll be ready, Mitchell responded coldly. RJ sighed, is
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it really going to be that simple? Though? We don't
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00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:17.480
even know? He stopped midward as a cry tore through
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the house. The two men stood up. R J wanted
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to ask where it came from, but had no chance
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before Mitchell raced out of the living room and was
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bee lining to the stairs. R J followed after him
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and did so until the duo were in Sam's room.
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The window was smashed open and Sam's bed was empty,
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with his blanket and sheets thrown about. Jude came running
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up behind them and pushed her way into the room.
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At the sight of the empty bed and smashed window,
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her face twisted into horror and her knees shook until
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they gave out. The distraught mother fell, unable to scream
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for how terrible the situation was. R Jay went to
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lay a hand on Jude's shoulder to try and comfort her,
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but was whisked away by Mitchell, the latter dragging the
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former back down the stairs and out the front door.
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Where are we going? R Jay asked after them. Mitchell replied,
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00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:41.599
and while tempted to question who exactly they were, r
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00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:47.160
J knew he meant Holloway and Sam. The two stopped
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once outside and listened for any sign of where to
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go next. Their answer came from a scream, and in
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00:23:57.400 --> 00:24:01.880
an instant, Mitchell was sprinting off behind the house and
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00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:06.720
into the countryside. R J looked to his friend and
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00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:09.839
then to the truck they used earlier in the day.
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Two thoughts entered his head. Take the truck and get
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the hell out, or use it to cover more ground.
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As much as he wanted to leave, Mitchell and distance
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00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:27.160
himself from the whole affair. It was Sam who was
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00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:32.920
in danger, Little Samo, whom r Jay had known since
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00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:37.400
he was born and was a surrogate uncle too. He
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00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:40.960
returned to the house and got the keys to the truck,
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00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:47.160
then raced like a madman to it. Inside he turned
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00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:51.599
the key and brought the vehicle to life, before speeding
285
00:24:51.640 --> 00:25:01.839
off into the darkness of the country. Mitchell charged through
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00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:06.359
the country in pursuit of Sam, his son, the scream
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00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:10.200
being his only guide as to what direction to go.
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00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:14.880
He had to give Holloway credit for not only making
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00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:18.599
good on his threat, but for the extremity of how
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00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:24.200
he was going about it. Unfortunately for him, however, his
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00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:29.319
only reward would be a bullet or two punching through
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00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:33.200
his head. Mitchell looked briefly at the full moon in
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00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:38.799
the sky before another scream directed his attention to a
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00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:43.720
line of trees. His brain didn't have to do much work,
295
00:25:44.279 --> 00:25:47.720
and before he knew it, his legs were carrying him
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00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:53.400
to the tree line, passed it, and forward deeper into
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00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:58.359
the wilderness. Soon he found himself in a small clearing
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00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:06.240
encircled by trees, the sky clear as day above. Those
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00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:11.640
details were trivial, though most important to Mitchell was that
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00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:16.799
in the clearing with him was Holloway. There you are,
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00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:20.680
you son of a bitch. He greeted his enemy harshly
302
00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:26.400
and raised his rifle and set aim. It might be night,
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00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:29.720
but I have a scope to help me see you
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00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:36.079
in the dark. I've been waiting for you, McCormick, Holloway said, calmly.
305
00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:42.240
He was shirtless. He also noticed no sign of the boy.
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00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:49.519
Where's my son? Mitchell demanded. It isn't important, Holloway answered,
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00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:53.799
I beg to differ, asshole. You broke into my home
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00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:58.400
and took my kid. Where the fuck is he? Mitchell
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00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:04.079
fired back. Holloway scoffed, I seem to remember you not
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00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:07.480
wanting to be quick to answer questions like that when
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00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:12.839
I first visited you. What's your point? The point is
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00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:16.480
you know what I want, so I'll ask you again.
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00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:23.799
Where is my son's body? Holloway demanded, and something in
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00:27:23.880 --> 00:27:30.039
his voice sent shivers down Mitchell's spine. I told you,
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00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:35.079
I don't know what you're talking about. Mitchell was determined
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00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:42.160
not to say what happened, even if it killed him.
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00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:50.079
Holloway sighed, it appears we're at an impasse. Then I'll
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00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:53.680
ask you one more time, and your answer is going
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00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:56.920
to be what decides how the rest of your night goes.
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00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:00.960
So I suggest you think long and carefully about how
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00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:08.200
you answer, where is my son's body? Mitchell believed what
322
00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:13.400
Holloway said. Something in the air hunter's instinct if you
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00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:20.559
will told him that something was about to happen. Internally,
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00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:24.920
he found himself at a crossroads of either owning up
325
00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:28.640
to the hunting accident, which was now surely going to
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00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:33.640
look like murder due to his actions, or continuing to
327
00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:39.240
deny it happened at all. The only problem was Sam
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00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:44.440
wasn't accounted for. If Mitchell continued to hide the truth,
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00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:49.279
knowing where or how his boy was was going to
330
00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:55.839
be nigh impossible. Holloway made that much clear, but maybe
331
00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:59.680
there was a middle ground he could use to his advantage.
332
00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:06.119
What would you say to a compromise, Mitchell asked, Oh,
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00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:11.759
Holloway replied, I think you and I both know what
334
00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:15.519
happened earlier today, and that means you and I know
335
00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:22.519
how unique this situation is. Let's stop pretending that we don't.
336
00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:25.920
So I tell you what. If you tell me where
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00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:29.759
my boy is, I'll tell you where yours is. We
338
00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:34.640
both get what we want without any bullshit. Sound like
339
00:29:34.680 --> 00:29:39.240
a deal. Crickets chirped in the night, as the only
340
00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:44.240
breakers of the silence between the two men. Through the scope,
341
00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:49.480
Mitchell could see that Holloway was putting some thought into
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00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:54.960
the offer. A small smirk formed across his lips, and
343
00:29:55.119 --> 00:30:00.240
Mitchell became suddenly aware of the area growing quiet, it
344
00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:07.799
animals seeming to evacuate the scene. McCormick, I must admit
345
00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:12.119
you're dumber than I thought. Trying to phrase what I've
346
00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:15.160
been telling you as if it was your idea, just
347
00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:19.839
because of how unique the situation is shows just how
348
00:30:19.880 --> 00:30:23.400
little you actually know of it, and just how bad
349
00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:30.119
off you are. Nature seemingly ceased then, and everything was
350
00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:36.920
still deathly still. Mitchell had lived through moments like this
351
00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:41.279
when out on a hunt. There were moments when one
352
00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:45.200
would become hyper aware and it was as if they
353
00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:51.240
had slowed time and everything else normally. Mitchell had experienced
354
00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:56.200
that when in the position of the hunter. Now he
355
00:30:56.359 --> 00:31:01.599
felt as if he was being hunted. Through the scope,
356
00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:06.119
he saw a glimmer in Holloway's eyes that confused him.
357
00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:12.000
He lowered the rifle and saw the amber glimmer clear
358
00:31:12.079 --> 00:31:15.200
as day in the eyes of the man in front
359
00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:22.519
of him. Then another set appeared behind Holloway, and before
360
00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:27.720
he knew it, there were glimmers of amber all around him.
361
00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:33.319
But that wasn't what horrified Mitchell. It definitely caught him
362
00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:40.039
off guard, confused him, and had him cornered. No, what
363
00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:47.200
petrified him was the change he witnessed happening to Holloway.
364
00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:52.119
The hairs on his arms seemed to grow out of
365
00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:56.759
the flesh that was becoming darker in tone, until it
366
00:31:56.839 --> 00:32:00.960
looked as if he had fur warmers on his arm.
367
00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:06.039
Hair growth wasn't just on his arms, though, it was
368
00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:11.599
rapidly happening over his chest and face. Yet what caused
369
00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:15.920
Mitchell's stomach to fall further into a pit of unease
370
00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:21.599
was the physical shifting of the man. The muscles across
371
00:32:21.640 --> 00:32:26.240
his body grew in inhuman size, and the sound of
372
00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:30.599
bones cracking and popping in and out of sockets as
373
00:32:30.640 --> 00:32:36.720
the limbs and fingers extended. Such was the physical growth
374
00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:41.519
that what clothing Holloway still had on was ripping at
375
00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:47.720
the seams before becoming tatters. The boots he wore lost
376
00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:53.079
their toes as Holloway's digits pierced through the leather, but
377
00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:59.079
most shocking was his face. It morphed into an elongated
378
00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:06.480
shape that was an unholy combination of man and animal, teeth,
379
00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:12.680
growing to shocking and sharp lengths, akin to a saber tooth.
380
00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:19.440
And then he or it roared and Mitchell felt his
381
00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:29.160
bladder release in response. Transformation complete, Holloway started towards Mitchell. Instinctively,
382
00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:33.359
he began to fire at whatever it was he was facing,
383
00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:38.759
but no matter where he aimed, the bullets caused little
384
00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:43.440
to know damage. Mitchell knew he couldn't waste all of
385
00:33:43.480 --> 00:33:48.799
the AMMO in his magazine. Hell, he didn't even have
386
00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:53.200
another one on him. The only other weapon he had
387
00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:58.559
was a hunting knife, and something told him it wouldn't
388
00:33:58.599 --> 00:34:05.039
do much good. Suddenly, Holloway stopped his movements towards his
389
00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:09.599
prey and made a sound that Mitchell could only liken
390
00:34:10.559 --> 00:34:15.559
to a demented laugh. He was confused by the laugh
391
00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:22.400
and the stopping of pursuit that quickly changed as Mitchell
392
00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:26.280
saw the other amber glimmers move out of the tree
393
00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:31.760
lines and into view. Each set of amber belonged to
394
00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:37.079
a creature akin to Holloway. Now it wasn't just his
395
00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:43.440
bladder that emptied, but also his bowels. Mitchell understood before
396
00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:47.480
when he saw the Gleams that he was in trouble.
397
00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:51.679
When Holloway morphed into the being in front of him,
398
00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:56.280
he knew he was out of his league. Now, though
399
00:34:56.920 --> 00:35:02.320
Mitchell knew just how grave the city situation truly was.
400
00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:15.719
RJ sped through the country when he heard the sounds
401
00:35:15.760 --> 00:35:21.800
of gunshots. At first, they were steadily paced, and then
402
00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:30.000
there was silence. The gunfire sounded frantic until it ceased,
403
00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:36.239
and a blanket of quiet covered the night. It wasn't
404
00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:41.280
one of calm, though. RJ figured the gunfire had to
405
00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:46.119
be from Mitchell. But that left the question of why
406
00:35:46.199 --> 00:35:50.719
it went from steady to hectic, and just what exactly
407
00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:56.320
was going on that and why RJ had a feeling
408
00:35:57.119 --> 00:36:03.000
in his gut that his friend was dead. It was
409
00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:07.519
these thoughts that caused him to nearly miss the silhouette
410
00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:13.079
of a human as he drove. Luckily, RJ braked and
411
00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:19.440
maneuvered the truck to where the headlights could illuminate the shape.
412
00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:27.599
Oh Christ Samo. He exclaimed it was indeed Sam, and
413
00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:32.000
though he looked startled. He didn't appear to be harmed
414
00:36:32.199 --> 00:36:37.960
at all. Scared, witless and pale, with dark circles under
415
00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:43.440
his eyes, but not hurt. Get in, Samo, I'm getting
416
00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:48.239
you back home to your mom. RJ told him. What
417
00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:53.440
about Dad? The boy asked. R J felt the sting
418
00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:58.400
of uncertainty as to what to say. His gut told
419
00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:02.000
him one thing, but he knew in his heart he
420
00:37:02.119 --> 00:37:07.840
had to tell the boy something more optimistic and for
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00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:12.400
all he knew, maybe Mitchell was alive and the crazed
422
00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:16.559
gunfire was him cutting loose on the man who had
423
00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:21.400
terrorized his family. Once I get you dropped off, I'm
424
00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:24.280
going to pick him up and bring him home. He
425
00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:28.239
went out into the woods to find you. Sam nodded
426
00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:33.719
and walked to the truck and hopped in. RJ turned
427
00:37:33.719 --> 00:37:37.400
the vehicle back in the direction he had come and
428
00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:42.280
sped off towards the McCormick home. He prayed he was
429
00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:47.599
wrong about his friend. Oh. He still planned to cut most,
430
00:37:48.199 --> 00:37:52.960
if not all, contact with Mitchell, but concern for somebody
431
00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:57.519
you care about is eternal, and he wouldn't wish Sam
432
00:37:57.599 --> 00:38:02.000
to grow up without a father. R J thought of
433
00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:07.400
nothing but getting the child home and then finding his friend.
434
00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:12.920
The thoughts kept him centered and tunnel visioned on his goal,
435
00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:18.199
so much so that he didn't notice or pay attention
436
00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:25.760
to the odd amber gleam in Sam's eyes. And even
437
00:38:25.840 --> 00:38:29.840
if he saw the boy from behind, he most likely
438
00:38:29.920 --> 00:38:34.840
wouldn't have given much thought to the marks from animal
439
00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:40.320
claws or the bite marks at the base of his neck.
440
00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:46.239
He would have only assumed they came from his kidnapping.
441
00:38:47.719 --> 00:38:52.159
But Sam knew darn well where they came from and
442
00:38:52.360 --> 00:38:58.239
why they were there. Thinking about it, he started to
443
00:38:58.360 --> 00:39:05.320
laugh in the song a child normally does, and looked
444
00:39:05.320 --> 00:39:08.760
at the man he had known since he was a baby,
445
00:39:10.199 --> 00:39:16.639
the man oblivious to it all, including the growl beginning
446
00:39:16.679 --> 00:39:26.760
to mingle with the laughter, and that, my spookies, is
447
00:39:26.840 --> 00:39:31.039
why you never assume the woods will keep your secrets.
448
00:39:31.679 --> 00:39:35.320
If you're heading out under a full moon tonight, count
449
00:39:35.360 --> 00:39:39.440
your shots, mind your footsteps, and don't answer the knock
450
00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:43.519
unless you're sure it's human. I also want to let
451
00:39:43.559 --> 00:39:47.639
you guys know this Friday, I'm sitting down with Andrew Shearer,
452
00:39:48.239 --> 00:39:51.840
arts and culture reporter at Athens Banner Herald and online
453
00:39:51.880 --> 00:39:54.719
Athens dot com, as well as a good buddy of
454
00:39:54.760 --> 00:39:59.719
mine for a special retrospective on six years of Weekly Spooky.
455
00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:03.079
So if you want to peek behind the veil, that
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show is just for you. So make sure you're subscribed
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single month, as well as my undying gratitude. And I
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want to say an extra special thank you to our
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Patreon podcast boosters, folks who pay just a little bit
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and they are Johnny Nicks, Kate and Lulu, Jessica Fuller,
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And if you want to hear your name at the
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end of every episode of Weekly Spooky, just head to
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dollars a month or hire. You'll also get your two
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bonus episodes every month and over five five years of
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exclusive audiobooks and creepy pasta readings. That's at Weeklyspooky dot
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com slash Join. Ninety other spookies have signed up and
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now is the perfect time. I would consider it an
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00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:16.000
early Christmas present, But now it's time for me to
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get back to work. So many more scares as we
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00:41:19.079 --> 00:41:22.440
head into the holidays, So for myself, for my executive
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00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:26.840
producers Rob Fields and Bobbletopia dot Com, my producer Dan Wilder,
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00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:30.400
and of course my creepy composer Ray Mattis. I'll talk
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00:41:30.440 --> 00:41:31.800
at you next time.
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Thank you for listening. Make sure to find your way
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back next week. But for now you are safe, trust me.
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