WEBVTT
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Hey, my spookies, welcome back to the IDEs of March.
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When the month feels like it's leaning in close, smiling
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politely to your face while it hides a knife behind
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its back. Tonight we start where you're supposed to be safe,
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bright hauls, familiar routines, a world that feels normal. But
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sometimes the lesson plan changes. A shadow slips into the room,
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a whisper turns into a summons, and something old and
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hungry remembers your name like it's been waiting on the
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roll sheet for years. Then comes the promise of a
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new beginning, clean slate, fresh start protection. But the IDEs
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of March love a fresh start because it gives fate
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something soft to grab. Not everything that offers help is
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doing it out of kindness. And some guardians come with
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fire in their veins and a price that you won't like.
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And by the time we reach the end, where out
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in the wild, places where grudges don't die, but they
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do hibernate, where revenge carries old weapons, returns on schedule
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and doesn't care if you've changed. So settle in, get
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those lights low, and if you hear something scratching at
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the door, well just remember sometimes it's not trying to
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get in sometimes it's just trying to let you know
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it's arrived. And be sure to return next Saturday for
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our final installment of the IDEs of March, featuring the
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scariest stories from the weekly Spooky Vault. And every Wednesday
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there's a brand new scary story to enjoy. So make
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sure you're subscribed and let's get this show on the road.
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Academia Demonia by David O. Hanler, August nineteen twenty five.
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He crept along the side of the farmhouse, sticking to
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the shadows as he pushed the shotgun shells into his
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Winchester eighteen ninety seven honeysuckle drifted on the night breeze.
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He pinched his nose, trying to fight the urge to sneeze.
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The man rarely strayed from the grimy comfort of the
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Chicago streets out in the Illinois boondocks. His allergies were
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giving him and the goddamn mosquitoes loved his aftershave more
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than the wars on State Street. He couldn't wait to
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be back home, and it wouldn't be much longer. Just
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eight pulls of the trigger. Once the sneeze passed. The
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man continued his slow stalk to the back porch. Something
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sat sourly in his stomach. Vincenzo Rissoli was paying a
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premium for a job that anyone could do. One nosey accountant,
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his family, and a four man contingent of state police.
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Rissoli could have hired a half dozen zips for what
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he was paying for the shotgun man. The man killed
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exclusively with his Winchester shotgun, so that was the moniker
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he'd been given. Gangsters were terrible at names. Admittedly, he
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liked the simplicity of the title and the anonymity it provided.
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Guys like riz worried too much about their names. They
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wanted people to know who they were. They wanted to
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be feared. But the man knew fear didn't have a name,
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It had a sound. He racked the pump and kicked
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the back door. One of the coppers tried to earn
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his paycheck and capped off two rounds into the broken
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jam the shotgun man. He returned fire, turning the gunfighter's
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face into a part of the decorps. He had perfected
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his craft in the trenches. He kept the trigger depressed
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and worked the pump to slam fire the weapon. In
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less than three seconds, the shotgun w empty and all
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the cops were down. Three were dead, and one was
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catching up. The shotgun man pulled a shell from his
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bandolier and loaded it straight into the smoking chamber. He
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listened to the soothing death rattle of the one he
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caught in the chest. During the war, the Germans had
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claimed shotguns caused unnecessary suffering. Seemed more like a perk
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to him. Feet stomped frantically overhead as the family upstairs
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looked for places to hide. He wondered if they'd split up.
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A witness with a clear description would kill him as
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dead as a cop with a gun could. The accountant
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had brought his wife and two kids to the safe house.
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The shotgun man hated shooting kids. They moved too much.
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Three hours later, the shotgunman stood over the shallow grave
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he'd prepared on the opposite side of the farm. He'd
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moved the eight victims from the farmhouse before setting it ablaze.
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Authorities would find no remains in the ashes, and if
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there were no bodies, then there were no murders. The
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shotgunman struck a match with his thumb and puffed a
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lucky to life between his thin lips. He held the
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match inside the stolen ford. There you are. He grabbed
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the boy's arm and tossed it into the pit with
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the rest of the child. He started the grueling task
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of filling the hole back in. When headlights turned onto
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the gravel road, he watched the three pairs of lights
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jostling on the rough terrain. He dropped the shovel and
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retrieved his shotgun. The motors were too loud to be
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the Oldsmobile thirty seven's the state police used, but any
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guest was an unwelcomed one. At a crime scene. A
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pair of Buicks arrived first, flanking both ends of the
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shotgun man's Model T. He couldn't see the drivers, but
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he knew exactly who they were. When the third car
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pulled in, a parade of flaming elephants would have been
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less conspicuous than Rizzoli's rolls Royce Phantom. The shotgun man
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watched as the goombas unloaded from their cars. A gut
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feeling told the shotgun man he should be shooting aady.
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The Phantom's door swung open and the gangsters stepped out,
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giving a wave to the assassin got him all pally,
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Riz asked, of course you fucking did, Hugh Mok see
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that pit. The shotgun man always comes through. That's why
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he's gotta go. Rizzo whipped the Tommy gun from behind
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the door. The shotgun man never had a chance to move.
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The bullets stitched him up from groin to gullet, sending
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him into a backwards jig until he fell on top
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of the Knight's other victims. Riz had betrayed him, paying
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him off with thirty pieces of lead. He could smell
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his gums cooking against the hot slug buried in his jaw.
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He was losing feeling in his limbs. He struggled to
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wrap his fingers around the walnut grip of the shotgun.
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He wanted that to be the last thing he felt.
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A shovel full of dirt hid him in the face,
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then another. He squeezed the shotgun tight in his dying
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grasp and prayed for revenge. Someone was listening. One hundred
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years later, Michel Iomi and Dia Patel passed the vape
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pen between themselves in a butterscotch scented cloud that seemed
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to hang indefinitely over the picnic table the four cheerleaders
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had commandeered for their free period. Shahi Riley watched E
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and Crow carving into another table on the far side
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of the yard. What is he even doing here, she growled.
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We running short on rusties. Rusties were the people who
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lived south of the town's junkyard. During the Great Depression,
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children from the area would bathe in the creek and
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the water would stain their skin with the rust that
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washed down from the yard. Almost a century later, the
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pejorative was still going strong. Then again, so was the
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poverty school choice law. Dia told her address doesn't matter anymore. Well,
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it shouldn't apply to him. Shahri defended her stance. He's
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always given me the creeps, not the only one. Chelsea
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resolutely pointed to the far end of the school. That
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Perv's been hanging around since I got off the bus.
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What perv? Michelle looked around. I don't see anyone that
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guy right, shit, he was right there, Chelsea shrugged. He's
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been watching us for like an hour. Maybe he finally
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filled his spank bank. You mean that weird guy in
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the hat, Dia asked, You saw him too, Chelsea took
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the vape from her right before I came out. Dia
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said he was hanging by the library. What kind of
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freak wears a trench coat? Dude gave me the serious dick.
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He was right there, though, Chelsea said, you couldn't have
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seen him inside I did. Dia squirmed. What if there's
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like a group of them, like one of those peto
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pizza cults. Don't be stupid, Shari rolled her eyes. This
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town is full of degenerates, like, Hey, where'd Ethan go?
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Don Roberts kept his eyes on the map as he
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navigated halfheartedly to his classroom. He'd grown up wanting to
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be a teacher. After thirty years working in Chicago public schools,
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he just wanted to retire. This was his first year
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at LAHHS. It was a smaller school with less problems,
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but kids were kids everywhere you went, and kids were
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always little shits. His first year teaching, he'd been stabbed
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by a student. His last he'd been turned into a meme.
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Both had cut him deeply. Thankfully, he didn't have a
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class scheduled until second period, so he'd be able to
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get in a nip of jamison before the little bastards
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rolled in if he ever found the damned classroom. Roberts
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jumped at a shadow on the wall. The black shade
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of the long coat and the hipster cap were distinctive
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on the mint green paint. His eyes traced the sketched
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form back to an adjoining hall. The teacher took careful
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steps so that he could get a good jump out
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of the truant student. He paused at the corner and
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tried to wipe off the shit eating grin. Hey kid,
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he shouted as he swung into the corridor. What the heck,
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where'd you go? Kid? No one was there. No footsteps
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had retreated across the speckled flooring. Yet the closest place
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to hide were the bathrooms at the far end. Windows
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lined one side of the hall, and Roberts glanced uncomfortably
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at his squat shadow directly opposite them. Despite the August
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sunlight spilling in, he found himself shivering. Robert's beat a
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quick path to the restroom. Okay, kid, time to get
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back to class. No one answered. Roberts walked into the
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men's room and heard the rattle of feet pulling up
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onto a seat. The teacher pushed the door. It swung inward,
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bumping against the teen's knee. The kid took look out
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one earbud and held his hand out expectantly. Hugh here
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to help me wipe, he asked, pinch it off. Roberts
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nodded to the exit. You're missing class. I'm not missing
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a goddamn thing, the kid responded, Kid Ethan. The teen
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corrected him. Okay, Ethan, you need to get back to
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class now, or what Ethan snickered? You'll expel me from
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the place I don't want to be for not being
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here a bit early in the year to be this defeatist. Bruh,
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I got forty six days until I turn eighteen. Ethan
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put his earbud back in. Hugh and the rest of
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the faculty can ignore me that long. Then I'll get
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out of your hair. All four you got left, That'll
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be enough. Roberts grabbed the teen's arm. Let's go see Ms. Wardlow.
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He's back, Kevin Spacey. He shouldered into Roberts to knock
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him away. You can't touch me. This ain't nineteen eighty four.
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Then act your age and walk yourself. Why don't you
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suck these balls of academia pops Roberts snapped a finger
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at the door. Now the lights flickered, drawing the teacher's
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attention long enough for Ethan to run for the exit.
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The bell rang, swallowing the sound of the door banging
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into the wall. By the time Roberts got there, the
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delinquent had melded into the swell of students escaping first period.
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I should have stayed in the city, Roberts grumped. Chelsea
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watched out the third floor window of her ap history class.
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The first day of school normally had lots of vacant
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desks as the teens begrudgingly broke from their summer routines. However,
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by fourth period, Chelsea was sure something else was going on.
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Despite thirty six desks, only nineteen students occupied the classroom.
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Two of the missing had just been with her in
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trig She wasn't the only one that noticed. No one,
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including the teacher, seemed particularly interested in the curriculum. A
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sudden bang drew attention to the back of the room,
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where Darcy Smith sat. Darcy stared at the book she
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dropped with confusion, but didn't make a move to pick
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it up. Chelsea turned to the window again and gasped
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at the silhouette of a man outside. Dia screamed. Darcy
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was convulsing at her desk. Foam flew from her mouth
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and her eyes rolled back before she fell to the floor.
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Most of the students shrank away from the violent seizure,
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clinging to the walls while pulling out their phones. The
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teacher slid to the girl's side. I'll get the nurse,
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Chelsea said, chancing one last glance around for the specter
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in the window before darting out of the class. U
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sh it was only the wind, your safe weekly Spooky
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will be right back. Nurse McBride was occupied with her
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sixth case of I don't feel good for the day.
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Hunter Prescott made a show of holding his stomach while groaning.
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McBride poured him a shot of pepto, but when she
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turned around Hunter was missing. The door was still closed
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and she hadn't heard it open. She shrugged, downing the
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pink syrup herself. The first week was always full of
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whiners looking to go home sick. There were at least
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three waiting outside the office for their chance to try.
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A warm, wet droplet exploded on McBride's hand. She looked
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down at the strange, foamy green yellow spatter yuck. She
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raised her eyes to the ceiling. Assuming it had come
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from a second story bathroom, she expected a spreading stain
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of sewage saturating the overhead tiles. Nothing prepared her for
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what she found. Instead. Ethan sat in the janitor's closet.
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He'd been changing hiding spots every period since his run
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in with that new teacher. There were enough problems at
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home he needed to come to school just enough to
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keep the principal from calling the cops. Last time that happened,
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he walked into a door and spent a week in
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the hospital. Once he turned eighteen, he'd drop out and
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haul ass to Canada. Ethan leaned against the wall and
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thought about where he'd hide out next. A hiss emanated
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from the mip sync he sat on. A sulfurous scent
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wafted up from the drain. He fanned the smell away.
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The closet door inched open. Ethan prepared to make a
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run for it, but no one was there. The stench
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grew stronger with another strange hiss. Someone in the hall
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whistled a slow tune. He saw their shadow on the wall,
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but not its owner. Ethan watched the shadow peel itself
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from the cinder blocks. The darkness stretched away like black sinew,
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holding meat to bone. It snapped audibly as the shadow
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Man moved to the doorway. We have work to do,
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the voice, coming from the walls themselves growled. The sea
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snake shot from the drain, twisting its massive body around Ethan.
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The shade stroked the snake's scales, leaving an oily streak
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along its length. As the serpent forced itself between the
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teen's teeth. Ethan's throat swelled as the snake descended into
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his belly. The shadow Man leaned over him, dripping shadow
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onto the boy like it were sweat. Darcy snarled and
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spat until she abruptly fell still. Miss Kirk leaned over
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Darcy's mouth to listen for a breath. The forked tongue
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dry licked the teacher's ear. Kirk fell backwards. Darcy lifted
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from the ground, springing upright on the tips of her toes.
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Her milky eyes moved between the students, then settled on
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Miss Kirk. Darcy's sneakers squelched on the tile as she
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glided across the room. Holy shit, a classmate exclaimed, Fuck
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the nurse, get a priest. Darcy waved her hand, sending
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a desk soaring towards the student and smashing his skull
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between it and the wall. Darcy's spine broke with a
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wet crunch as her head continued. Turning to face her
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fellow students. Pestis eram vivus, she growled inhumanly, marience, do
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a morris errol. Nurse McBride stared up at Hunter. Clinging
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to the ceiling. He smiled until his cheeks tore open
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and his mouth stretched to an impossible width. Luminescent green
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yellow vomit showered over the nurse. Her shoes slipped in
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the chunky fluid. A rash of blisters broke out across
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her skin. Roaches and worms squirmed in the vomit. McBride
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screamed for help. Maggots wriggled from Hunter's pores, dropping down
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onto the nurse. They squirmed vigorously from the weeping blisters
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and chewed their way into her flesh. Hunter dropped from
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the ceiling, pinning McBride to the floor. She stared into
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his ragged, gaping mouth, eyes shining like a cat's stared
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back at her from deep inside his throat. No wonder
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his stomach had hurt. Chelsea banged on the door to
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the robotics lab. Mister Clark was a total nerd and
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would surely be able to help with Darcy, she thought.
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She threw the door open. A number of students were
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convulsing on the floor. Others were doing the same on
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the ceiling. Mister Clark tisked loudly. This isn't your class,
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miss Risoldi, he said. Chelsea stood frozen, unable to find
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the words she needed. She shakily pointed at the students.
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She wanted help, She wanted answers, She wanted to say
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anything at all, but there weren't any words made for
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that sort of thing. The teacher turned to her. Clark's
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hollow eye sockets met her gaze. He was smiling widely
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with the organs staring at Chelsea. Held between his teeth,
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he bit down, crushing his eyeballs. Ocular fluids spurted across
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Chelsea's blouse. She ran out of the room. Blood drained
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out of a locker, causing her to slip but not fall.
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At least three more lockers were leaking around her. Chelsea
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thought of the missing students. She pulled her phone from
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her pocket. The screen flashed and flickered in a pixelated
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rainbow of colors. She spotted the fire alarm on the
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wall and darted for it. Her fingers stretched for the
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white handle. Someone caught her by the wrist. The hand
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was delicate, but the grip was anything but. Principal Wardlow
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tossed Chelsea's hand clear of the alarm. What is the
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meaning of this, the prim Principle demanded. Hi, don't smell
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smoke out here. Something something is wrong, Chelsea stammered. Everyone
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00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:35.400
is fuck. I don't know. They're sick. Okay, we need
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help sick. Wardlow cackled and gestured to the hall. They
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look perfectly healthy to me, Chelsea. World around, the students
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were filing out of the robotics lab. They crawled along
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the walls and ceilings like spiders. Mister Clark stalked out
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of the room. All fours classrooms filled with guttural shouting
311
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in an unknown language. People screamed. A locker popped open,
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spilling the mutilated corpse of a former classmate at Chelsea's feet.
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Don't run the principal said, this is your party, kiddo.
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Chelsea damn sure ran on the fifty yard line. Ethan
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clawed away chunks of turf from the football field. Nurse McBride,
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with her face hanging in ragged strips from her skull,
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crawled onto the field. She sniffed at Ethan and snarled.
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The team continued his mad digging. Hunter dropped to his
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other side. Their hands tore into the earth alongside Ethan's.
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More students came to their aid. A long shadow fell
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over them. The silhouette removed its fedora as it watched
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them work. In three hours, the final bell would ring,
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buses would arrive, parents would be waiting outside. The task
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had to be done before then. That was the deal
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that had been struck. What is wrong with my phone?
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Da whined, It's an android, Michelle answered, taking out her
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new iPhone. Fuck. Her screen was an array of flashing colors.
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Others had encountered the problem when they tried to film
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Darcy levitating. That had been scary in but Michelle, Scharie
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and Dia got the hell out of there when she
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started ripping off heads. Scharie kept her back to the
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bathroom door to hold it shut. Dia paced the room.
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Michelle threw her phone against one of the mirrors and
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slunk into a stall. Are you trying to get us killed?
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We have to stay quiet, Shari warned, you saw what
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Darcy did. We need to call for help. All the
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phones are broken. Dia said, why is she doing this?
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Michelle sobbed. That bitch was always crazy. Scharie pressed her
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ear to the door. I don't hear anything. Maybe we
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should make a run for it. We need to shelter
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in place, Dia protested, Just like the drills, bad idea,
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the guttural voice said from within the walls. Darcy's face,
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now festering with sores, appeared in the broken mirror. She smiled.
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Her teeth were stained with blood and black bile. The
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bathroom door flung open, sliding Charie across the floor. Darcy
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floated into the bathroom, dragging her toes. She rolled a
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severed head like a bowling ball to DIA's feet. If
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you want to be popular, Darcy said, you gotta give
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a little head. The ceiling tiles collapsed over the three girls,
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and a cascade of large, hairy spiders showered down onto them.
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The bathroom door slammed on its own. Darcy's laughter rattled
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like stones in a blender. Dia stomped at the arachnids.
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Then the lights went out. Ethan snapped the skeleton's fingers
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off to free the Winchester shotgun. It felt at home
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in his hands. He pushed the slide back to see
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a shell still in the chamber. He stared at the
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disembodied arm of a child mixed among the graves many bones.
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Nurse mc bride slipped the bandolier of extra ammunition over
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Ethan's head and straightened it for him. The fifth period
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bell rang. Those that hadn't been possessed or killed would
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be cowering inside, praying for a rescue. The thing inside
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McBride snarled. It knew all to well what it was
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like waiting to be saved. They'd smoldered for millennia, spewing
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unanswered prayers themselves. Hell's darkest soul had become their light.
365
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His revenge would be their freedom. Legion would inherit the earth.
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Chelsea watched through the locker vents as possessed students stalk
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the hall for survivors. A shrill cry echoed down the corridor.
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The students paused, growling lowly amongst themselves. Two freshmen sprinted
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past Chelsea's hiding place. A possessed student drove one to
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the floor. Others sprang at the teen's flailing limbs. Gunshots
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echoed through the halls of the school. Chelsea almost screamed.
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It had to be the cops. Someone's phone had worked
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and they'd called for help. That was the only thing
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that made sense, not that anything had to during a
375
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demonic invasion. Chelsea broke from cover while the possessed were
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busy ripping their victim apart. There was no shortage of
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freshmen anyhow. Chelsea hurdled a skateboard that zipped across her path.
378
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The rider, a future dropout named Kyle Long, winked at
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her from the ceiling. Foamy saliva rolled down his inverted face,
380
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etching the flesh to his hairline. Kyle dropped onto the floor.
381
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He growled and gnashed his teeth complete abi some A
382
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snarl emanated from within him, not that one, a disembodied
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00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:07.760
voice commanded, we have a deal. The others are for you,
384
00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:16.679
but this one is mine. Non ducor duco, Kyle's demon replied.
385
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The shotgun boomed. Kyle's head flopped to the side, clinging
386
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to his body by ravaged muscle. The second shot blasted
387
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him down the hallway. Chelsea looked down the hall, expecting
388
00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:38.159
a savior. Instead, she saw Ethan crow racking a fresh
389
00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:43.400
shell into his shotgun. The flickering lights cast a long
390
00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:47.960
shadow behind him, the shadow of a man in a
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long coat and Fedora. Her knees shook with a primal
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urge to spring into action, but she held her ground. Ethan,
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00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:06.559
she said, softly, you saved me. The barrel shifted in
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her direction. Chelsea dived to the floor. Kyle's black blood
395
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had turned the tile into a slipping slide that carried
396
00:36:15.400 --> 00:36:19.920
her across the corridor. The shotgun blew chunks out of
397
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the floor. Ethan let out an inhuman scream as his
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prey scrambled to her feet and ran for the stairwell.
399
00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:34.159
He drew a shell from the bandolier. The century old
400
00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:39.519
plastic crumbled between his fingers, spilling powder and shot at
401
00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:44.440
his feet. He sprinted after her. The teen took the
402
00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:49.599
stairs two and three at a time. Ethan hurriedly loaded
403
00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:54.039
three rounds into the gun. His first shot reduced a
404
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cinder block to dust. Inches from his target. Chelsea flung
405
00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:03.400
herself op over the handrail, falling the last ten feet
406
00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:08.800
to the ground. She heard Ethan land behind her. As
407
00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:13.000
she scrambled to her feet, Paine shot up her leg,
408
00:37:13.599 --> 00:37:17.559
but she forced herself to hobble toward the daylight spilling
409
00:37:17.639 --> 00:37:22.199
through the front entrance. The shotgun butt struck her neck,
410
00:37:22.840 --> 00:37:27.159
and she sprawled out on to the floor. The black
411
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slit pupils of Ethan's yellow eyes gazed down on her.
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Venomous saliva rolled off his teeth, trickling onto his bottom lip.
413
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His shadow moved across the walls, circling Chelsea. No more
414
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running Risoli, the voice said through Ethan's mouth. Why Ethan,
415
00:37:55.000 --> 00:38:02.480
not Ethan? It's he pursed his lips. I don't actually
416
00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:08.159
recall one hundred years up here feels like a thousand
417
00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:15.280
down there. Only name I remember is yours. I made
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00:38:15.320 --> 00:38:20.800
sure of that. Every day the imps ripped my skin
419
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from my bones, and when it grew back, I carved
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your name in anew to make sure I would never
421
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forget who put me in that pit. I never did
422
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anything to you, Chelsea whimpered. Guilt is in the blood
423
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your blood knows me well. Ethan moved a hand to
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his bare head, and the shadow tipped his hat. Time
425
00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:58.719
to pay up riz The shotgun man's silhouette peeled away
426
00:38:58.760 --> 00:39:04.800
from Ethan to kneel beside Chelsea. His frozen fingers moved
427
00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:09.639
the hair away from her face. He traced an oily
428
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black X onto her forehead. He gripped a fistful of
429
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her hair to keep her still, and turned to Ethan.
430
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Don't miss, boy, he said. Ethan pressed the stock into
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his shoulder. Tears ran down his cheeks as he lined
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up the shot. The possessed students and faculty assembled behind
433
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him to watch. When the deed was done, they'd be
434
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free upon the world. Legions snarled and hissed with anticipation.
435
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Ethan shook his head, mumbling apologies as he moved against
436
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his will. The barrel of the gun stared at Chelsea
437
00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:07.159
like a wide black eye. Ethan's fingers squeezed the trigger.
438
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Nothing happened. He pumped the bad shell to the floor
439
00:40:13.239 --> 00:40:17.079
and pumped in a new one. Chelsea swung her foot
440
00:40:17.159 --> 00:40:21.199
up to his groin. The gun went off, blasting the
441
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shotgun man's shadow. The immaterial spattered the floor. The shotgun
442
00:40:27.559 --> 00:40:31.320
man stared at the shadow of his severed arm. A
443
00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:36.480
distant memory followed him back from Hell. The appendage melted
444
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into a greasy puddle as he thought about that night
445
00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:45.719
at the farmhouse. The shotgun man looked up to see
446
00:40:45.800 --> 00:40:50.880
Chelsea limping away from him, but she was no longer alone.
447
00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:55.840
A child held her hand, guiding her to the exit.
448
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The ragged stump of the little boy's right arm dripped
449
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sunlight onto the floor. Ethan fell to all fours, wretching violently.
450
00:41:08.519 --> 00:41:13.079
The shotgunmn watched the serpent spilling from the teen's mouth.
451
00:41:14.079 --> 00:41:19.559
It coiled around itself. Its muscular, striped body withered, Its
452
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scales flaked from its rotting muscles. One of the possessed
453
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fell from the ceiling, then another. The building trembled. Demonic
454
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screams filled the corridors of the high school. Sulfurous fog
455
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roiled from the lockers and classrooms. Hell had noticed their absence.
456
00:41:42.960 --> 00:41:48.760
Do something. The shotgunman barked to the assembled mob. Shadowy
457
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in human figures stood over the disoriented students. Their glowing
458
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red eyes glared balefully at the shotgun man. The yellow
459
00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:04.079
so fog swirled around them. Dragging them from the hallway
460
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in a cacophony of screams and curses. A locker creaked
461
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open behind the shotgun man. He glanced one last time
462
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at his beloved weapon, and then to Chelsea as she
463
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stepped out of the school. The final bell of the
464
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day rang. Serpentine wisps of fog reached out of the
465
00:42:29.880 --> 00:42:35.360
locker and wrapped around his form. We had a deal,
466
00:42:36.239 --> 00:42:41.639
he whispered. The fog ripped him backwards, and the locker
467
00:42:42.360 --> 00:42:51.280
slammed shut. Chelsea squinted against the afternoon sun at the
468
00:42:51.280 --> 00:42:56.159
crowd gathered in front of the school. Emergency lights flashed
469
00:42:56.199 --> 00:43:00.360
on top of police cars and fire trucks. The warm
470
00:43:00.440 --> 00:43:03.960
grip of the child's hand faded, and she looked down
471
00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:09.639
to find him missing entirely. The other students, the ones
472
00:43:09.679 --> 00:43:13.960
who survived, began staggering out of the doors behind her.
473
00:43:14.920 --> 00:43:19.719
Yellow tendrils of fog drifted around their feet and dissipated
474
00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:25.880
into the air. The students stumbled around, murmuring amongst themselves.
475
00:43:26.760 --> 00:43:30.760
No one remembered what had happened. No one knew why
476
00:43:30.800 --> 00:43:34.599
they were filthy, or could taste the blood and meat
477
00:43:35.079 --> 00:43:40.679
of their classmates still in their mouths. Chelsea sat on
478
00:43:40.760 --> 00:43:45.440
the steps and hugged her knees to her chest. She
479
00:43:45.559 --> 00:43:50.199
saw the one armed child walking through the throngs of
480
00:43:50.320 --> 00:43:55.880
sobbing parents rushing to their children. At the edge of
481
00:43:55.920 --> 00:44:07.280
the lot, his family waited to take came home a
482
00:44:07.440 --> 00:44:17.559
new beginning by rob Fields. I have been walking along
483
00:44:17.639 --> 00:44:22.480
this road in the heat for hours. Soon I shall
484
00:44:22.519 --> 00:44:27.280
reach the village known as Strickfield. To someone like me,
485
00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:33.639
this heat feels like heaven. I smile at, knowing that
486
00:44:33.760 --> 00:44:37.360
this could not have been a better time to have
487
00:44:37.480 --> 00:44:42.599
left Ravenhenge. Within a few weeks, it shall be summer.
488
00:44:43.800 --> 00:44:47.199
I am observant of the glances that I receive from
489
00:44:47.239 --> 00:44:52.719
the mortals passing along in their metal chariots. I suppose
490
00:44:52.800 --> 00:44:57.400
that it is uncommon to see a humanoid female walking
491
00:44:57.559 --> 00:45:04.119
and wearing a fiery red dress with matching glass heels. Unfortunately,
492
00:45:04.679 --> 00:45:09.800
I could not just appear at my intended destination and
493
00:45:10.039 --> 00:45:14.119
utilize the closest of the seven gates of Hell, which
494
00:45:14.239 --> 00:45:19.639
was in Ravenhenge itself. I am finally crossing into Strickfield
495
00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:24.400
and soon reached the university. Mother had me learn of
496
00:45:24.480 --> 00:45:29.320
this village and surrounding areas. The dwelling where I must
497
00:45:29.360 --> 00:45:33.320
go is on the opposite end of this institution of
498
00:45:33.880 --> 00:45:39.400
higher learning. Many of the males attending this university look
499
00:45:39.519 --> 00:45:44.840
upon me. I sense their lust, But these foul vermin
500
00:45:45.440 --> 00:45:50.320
shall never come to possess me. They are most unworthy
501
00:45:50.960 --> 00:45:57.679
of the elder Princess of Hell. Upon leaving the university grounds,
502
00:45:58.079 --> 00:46:01.559
I stop long enough to close rose my eyes and
503
00:46:01.840 --> 00:46:07.519
moan softly. This heat shall be most enjoyable here in
504
00:46:07.599 --> 00:46:11.840
the mortal realm. I am confident that the summer season
505
00:46:11.960 --> 00:46:16.960
shall become even hotter. I have noticed that many of
506
00:46:17.000 --> 00:46:21.440
the mortals that I pass are wet with their own sweat.
507
00:46:22.559 --> 00:46:28.119
Such pathetic weaklings. I continue onward to the dwelling that
508
00:46:28.239 --> 00:46:32.880
I must reach. I could have arrived sooner, but Father
509
00:46:33.079 --> 00:46:36.599
was specific that I am to pass for one of
510
00:46:36.639 --> 00:46:43.559
these mortals and not use my unlimited power unless I
511
00:46:43.639 --> 00:46:49.519
absolutely must. This status shall change once I have found
512
00:46:49.599 --> 00:46:55.199
the one mortal that I seek. Mother has spoken most51300:46:55.360 --> 00:47:01.880
highly of Elaine Donnerly during my up bringing. I look51400:47:02.000 --> 00:47:06.880
forward to finally meeting this mortal female who has earned51500:47:06.960 --> 00:47:12.960
both Mother's respect and love. She has also advised me51600:47:13.079 --> 00:47:19.159
of her older brother. Just thinking about Martin, Donnerly makes51700:47:19.159 --> 00:47:25.519
me desire to end him most slowly, or better still,51800:47:26.199 --> 00:47:31.280
feed him to my hell hounds back home. However, I51900:47:31.320 --> 00:47:37.480
am not permitted to harm him without cause. Upon reaching52000:47:37.519 --> 00:47:43.440
the Donnerly dwelling, I see a metal chariot stopped just outside.52100:47:43.679 --> 00:47:48.119
There are five mortals altogether in the road. Four of52200:47:48.159 --> 00:47:52.079
them appear to have someone surrounded and are beating on52300:47:53.400 --> 00:47:57.639
Aileen Donnerly. I call out. The four of them, cease52400:47:57.800 --> 00:48:01.960
kicking a Leen and face me me. A rather thin,52500:48:02.320 --> 00:48:07.760
ugly female glares at me, piss off. The other girl,52600:48:08.239 --> 00:48:12.599
who looks poudy, points right at me. Four of us52700:48:12.639 --> 00:48:17.280
to one of you. Aileen sees me and reaches out52800:48:18.480 --> 00:48:23.559
help me. I move to these vile girls and seize52900:48:23.599 --> 00:48:28.119
them both to slam their heads together. Once they fall53000:48:28.199 --> 00:48:33.280
onto the road that leaves only the males. The muscular53100:48:33.320 --> 00:48:37.280
one points at me, you just messed up, bad bitch.53200:48:38.239 --> 00:48:44.599
No you did, I respond, using mortals speak for the53300:48:44.639 --> 00:48:49.480
first time in many years. When the two males come53400:48:49.519 --> 00:48:53.000
at me, I grab them by their necks and lift53500:48:53.079 --> 00:48:57.679
them off the road effortlessly. I toss the muscular one53600:48:57.719 --> 00:49:02.400
onto the back of their metal chinariot, making him shatter53700:49:02.519 --> 00:49:06.960
the window and land in the back seat. Let me go,53800:49:07.760 --> 00:49:13.039
The other male groans in fear. I would teach these53900:49:13.159 --> 00:49:17.679
fools a lesson they would not soon forget. But Aileen54000:49:17.840 --> 00:49:22.920
donnerly needs me. I turn the male to the two54100:49:23.079 --> 00:49:27.840
females and toss him into them with a single hand.54200:49:28.800 --> 00:49:32.800
After the male topples the females, he returns to his54300:49:32.920 --> 00:49:38.239
feet and helps them to theirs. Let's get out of here,54400:49:38.960 --> 00:49:44.559
the male yells. Now the thin, ugly female sees the54500:49:44.559 --> 00:49:49.000
back window. God, damn it, my dad's gonna kill me.54600:49:50.079 --> 00:49:55.440
She turns and points at me. This ain't over. Then54700:49:55.599 --> 00:49:59.519
she points to Aileen, and we damn sure ain't done54800:49:59.599 --> 00:50:05.840
with you. I no longer regard them, and now regard Aileen.54900:50:06.800 --> 00:50:10.159
She takes my hand and allows me to assist her55000:50:10.519 --> 00:50:16.800
to her feet. Are you hurt? I ask? Aileen slowly55100:50:16.920 --> 00:50:21.559
throws her arms around me and hugs me tightly. Thank you.55200:50:22.800 --> 00:50:29.039
I slowly return her hug. Soon we regard one another again.55300:50:30.119 --> 00:50:34.960
Aileen looks me over. To sum up my appearance, you55400:50:35.079 --> 00:50:38.440
could say that I am a near one for one55500:50:38.599 --> 00:50:46.159
doppelganger of my mother Bella Tabon. The most noticeable difference55600:50:46.199 --> 00:50:50.159
between the two of us are that I have even55700:50:50.320 --> 00:50:56.119
longer blonde hair, which I keep in pigtails that unnaturally55800:50:56.239 --> 00:51:01.960
extend and hang out past my shoulders, my radiant green55900:51:02.119 --> 00:51:07.719
eyes to her red ones, and my large bosoms. Aileen56000:51:07.920 --> 00:51:13.039
regards me strangely, Um, how do you know my name?56100:51:14.400 --> 00:51:19.800
I am with patience. My family summoned me here to56200:51:20.000 --> 00:51:24.920
find and protect you. I shall only remain with you56300:51:25.599 --> 00:51:32.119
if you wish. But who are you and how do56400:51:32.159 --> 00:51:39.920
you know me? Aileen stammers. I am Lucibella Tabon I reveal,56500:51:40.840 --> 00:51:46.159
and the history that I shall share with you is complicated.56600:51:46.760 --> 00:51:50.800
Aileen wipes sweat from her forehead with the back of56700:51:50.840 --> 00:51:57.239
her hand. It's really hot out here. Let's go inside.56800:51:57.440 --> 00:52:02.159
I allow her to lead me to her dwell. Once inside,56900:52:02.719 --> 00:52:06.599
I am amazed at how much cooler it is. I57000:52:06.639 --> 00:52:12.360
have never experienced anything of this sort at Ravenhenge, and57100:52:12.519 --> 00:52:18.400
certainly not Hell itself. I would rather have remained outside57200:52:18.679 --> 00:52:23.840
in the heat. Nevertheless, I am not threatened, since the57300:52:23.880 --> 00:52:29.320
cold cannot harm me. After a lean drinks some water,57400:52:29.880 --> 00:52:35.360
she regards me, would you like something to drink? Not presently,57500:52:35.920 --> 00:52:41.960
I answer, We shall speak when you are ready. Aileen57600:52:42.079 --> 00:52:46.199
invites me into her living room. She seats herself in57700:52:46.280 --> 00:52:51.119
a chair and I upon the couch. Now we regard57800:52:51.280 --> 00:52:56.159
one another again. I tell her the history of what57900:52:56.440 --> 00:53:02.840
was once her timeline with Bella Tabon my mother. I58000:53:02.960 --> 00:53:07.360
explained the events of what had happened with Mother and58100:53:07.480 --> 00:53:11.239
how hell Weaver had deceived her into thinking that she58200:53:11.599 --> 00:53:16.840
was being offered the second Chance compact. As it turned out,58300:53:17.440 --> 00:53:22.320
someone close to Mother would offer herself in exchange for58400:53:22.440 --> 00:53:28.000
the final opportunity in the compact. Mother and I both58500:53:28.159 --> 00:53:34.880
know that this person was Aileen Donnerly. Mother spoke of58600:53:34.920 --> 00:53:38.840
Aileen's history on how she was part of a revenge58700:53:38.920 --> 00:53:44.840
plot from those mortals outside. Her older brother Martin had58800:53:44.880 --> 00:53:50.679
taken advantage of that ugly girl, Courtney Rickman, who had58900:53:50.719 --> 00:53:56.079
become taken with drink at a gathering. When the alcohol59000:53:56.199 --> 00:54:01.840
had worn off, Courtney swore revenge upon Mark after accusing59100:54:01.920 --> 00:54:08.159
him of violating her. In the former timeline, those mortals59200:54:08.559 --> 00:54:12.760
had come to this dwelling to seek vengeance upon Martin.59300:54:13.719 --> 00:54:19.960
He was not here, however, but Aileen was. Courtney had59400:54:19.960 --> 00:54:25.119
her elder brother with her, and Biff Rickman both assaulted59500:54:25.679 --> 00:54:31.719
and violated Aileen. She became infected with a disease that59600:54:31.920 --> 00:54:37.239
easily manifested itself within her body due to her weak59700:54:37.320 --> 00:54:43.719
immune system. Aileen finds this difficult to believe, but Mother59800:54:43.880 --> 00:54:48.079
said that I must speak the truth. These events have59900:54:48.199 --> 00:54:52.719
not happened in this new timeline as of yet. Mother60000:54:53.079 --> 00:54:57.320
was explicit that I not allow you to be assaulted60100:54:57.760 --> 00:55:01.360
and violated in the way that that I have described.60200:55:02.440 --> 00:55:08.519
Make no mistake, they shall return here tomorrow night. As60300:55:08.559 --> 00:55:13.519
I have spoken, I raise my finger. I am to60400:55:13.599 --> 00:55:19.320
remain at your side until tomorrow night has passed. From there.60500:55:19.800 --> 00:55:22.880
If you wish for me to depart, then I shall60600:55:23.519 --> 00:55:30.239
without question. Otherwise I shall bring you before my great grandmother.60700:55:31.239 --> 00:55:35.519
Aileen points to me. So you knew what was happening60800:55:35.519 --> 00:55:38.440
to me out there, You knew to be there to60900:55:38.480 --> 00:55:44.760
help me. I did. I admit. Great Grahams lives here61000:55:44.800 --> 00:55:48.800
in Strickfield and has powerful magics to be able to61100:55:48.840 --> 00:55:54.039
see across space and time, which was why she insisted61200:55:54.039 --> 00:55:57.440
that I could waste no time in coming here to you.61300:55:58.920 --> 00:56:02.519
Mother would have come for you herself, but she is61400:56:02.599 --> 00:56:08.920
currently undertaking a quest. She shall return upon completion of61500:56:08.920 --> 00:56:13.800
that quest. I raise my finger. If you doubt me,61600:56:14.480 --> 00:56:18.920
then I shall offer you proof your brother shall return61700:56:19.039 --> 00:56:25.039
home within the next ten of your minutes. Aileen shakes61800:56:25.039 --> 00:56:29.239
her head. Martin said he'll be working at Mere and61900:56:29.320 --> 00:56:36.199
Automotive until eleven thirty tonight. He shall return home within62000:56:36.760 --> 00:56:43.079
ten minutes, I insist. Aileen sighs and asks me how62100:56:43.119 --> 00:56:48.400
I could easily handle Courtney Rickman and her friends. I62200:56:48.440 --> 00:56:54.679
am not of your world, Aileen donnerly. I answer, though62300:56:54.719 --> 00:56:58.360
I must call the mortal realm my home now. My62400:56:58.559 --> 00:57:04.800
birth realm is Hell. Aileen seems frightened of me now,62500:57:05.239 --> 00:57:09.480
but does not order me to depart. I am here62600:57:09.719 --> 00:57:14.840
for you. I remind her whatever you may require of me.62700:57:16.559 --> 00:57:23.360
Aileen studies me more. Why didn't Bella come herself. She62800:57:23.639 --> 00:57:29.000
shall come to you, I assure her. While she currently62900:57:29.079 --> 00:57:34.039
resides here in Strickfield with great Grams, she also rules63000:57:34.119 --> 00:57:40.559
Hell at father's side. Again. She is undertaking a quest,63100:57:40.760 --> 00:57:46.039
which is why my family in Strickfield summoned me. The63200:57:46.199 --> 00:57:51.280
choice is yours. Once tomorrow's danger has passed, you may63300:57:51.400 --> 00:57:54.920
keep me here at your side or send me back63400:57:55.559 --> 00:58:01.760
to Hell. Aileen remembers you said you would do whatever63500:58:01.840 --> 00:58:07.440
I asked. Yes, my unlimited power is yours to command63600:58:08.480 --> 00:58:11.960
whatever you may ask of me, it shall be done.63700:58:13.119 --> 00:58:17.159
Mother wishes for you to be my guide here in63800:58:17.239 --> 00:58:21.559
the mortal realm. She said that you could be trusted63900:58:22.440 --> 00:58:28.559
to keep me honest. Just then the back door opens,64000:58:28.599 --> 00:58:33.400
Martin Donnerly enters and regards the two of us. The64100:58:33.519 --> 00:58:41.000
fool's eyes open wide upon beholding me. Can I help you?64200:58:42.199 --> 00:58:46.599
His eyes move from my face to my bosoms repeatedly.64300:58:47.679 --> 00:58:52.400
His emotions convey his longing for me to become the64400:58:52.480 --> 00:58:57.599
latest in his string of wars. I am enraged and64500:58:57.760 --> 00:59:02.840
stand to engage him as he approached me. Upon his reaching,64600:59:03.280 --> 00:59:07.280
I snatch his throat and slam him against a nearby wall.64700:59:08.280 --> 00:59:12.519
Dare to lay your hands upon me, mortal vermin, and64800:59:12.599 --> 00:59:17.480
I shall no. Aileen cries as she takes hold of64900:59:17.519 --> 00:59:24.519
my free hand. When I regard her, she explains herself, Please, Lusabella,65000:59:24.719 --> 00:59:29.079
don't hurt Martin. I can't stand him, but he's the65100:59:29.119 --> 00:59:35.159
only family I have. I release Martin. Your sister still65200:59:35.239 --> 00:59:40.400
cares for you to a degree. This is why you65300:59:40.519 --> 00:59:44.880
yet live. Never attempt to lay hold of me again.65400:59:45.840 --> 00:59:51.119
Martin regards Aileen as she explains who I am and65500:59:51.239 --> 00:59:57.679
why I am here? Now, he displays a more dominant expression.65600:59:58.880 --> 01:00:02.280
I don't care what this is. Little snippet says, you're65701:00:02.400 --> 01:00:08.719
not staying here. Aileen tightens her fists, but she will Martin.65801:00:09.280 --> 01:00:15.159
Lousabella's here for me, She tells him about those mortals65901:00:15.440 --> 01:00:20.280
who attacked her prior to my arrival. You and your66001:00:20.440 --> 01:00:26.800
male kind are indeed fools, Martin, I add, you only66101:00:27.000 --> 01:00:32.719
think with your loins, never your brain. Was Courtney Rickman's66201:00:32.760 --> 01:00:39.039
flesh worth those fools attacking your sister. Martin points to me.66301:00:40.000 --> 01:00:44.079
Don't you talk to me like that. Aileen becomes upset.66401:00:45.079 --> 01:00:48.599
She's right, Martin. I know you've hated taking care of66501:00:48.639 --> 01:00:52.280
me after mom and Dad were killed. I never cared66601:00:52.280 --> 01:00:57.880
who you were with sexually or whatever. But seriously, you66701:00:58.000 --> 01:01:00.559
took full advantage of Courtney Rickman and when she was66801:01:00.679 --> 01:01:03.880
drunk off her ass, and I've got to pay for it.66901:01:04.920 --> 01:01:09.440
I move in between them. It matters not Aileen. What67001:01:09.599 --> 01:01:13.480
matters is that I am here now and no harm67101:01:13.800 --> 01:01:19.519
shall come to you again. My infinite power is yours67201:01:19.639 --> 01:01:25.440
to command. Aileen addresses Martin again, I've tried to play67301:01:25.519 --> 01:01:29.400
the loving sister and be there for you, but I67401:01:29.440 --> 01:01:33.039
won't pay the price because you just can't keep it67501:01:33.079 --> 01:01:38.320
in your pants, she regards me. Now, let's go upstairs.67601:01:38.719 --> 01:01:41.320
I want you to come to school with me tomorrow67701:01:42.159 --> 01:01:48.159
as you wish. I returned. I accompany Aileen to her bedchamber,67801:01:48.559 --> 01:01:51.400
where she motions for me to sit upon a chair67901:01:51.519 --> 01:01:55.320
at her desk. Once she is seated upon her bed,68001:01:55.960 --> 01:02:00.840
we converse. Aileen wishes for me to continue accompanying her68101:02:01.519 --> 01:02:07.679
until the threat has ended. Mortal vermin like Martin is68201:02:07.760 --> 01:02:17.000
one among multiple reasons why I bear such hatred for males.68301:02:18.360 --> 01:02:23.000
The next morning, I enter Strickfield High School with Aileen.68401:02:24.039 --> 01:02:28.199
She could only educate me in so many details about68501:02:28.239 --> 01:02:32.159
being a high school student. Of course, I could not68601:02:32.320 --> 01:02:35.440
wear the outfit that I wore to the mortal realm.68701:02:36.199 --> 01:02:41.199
Aileen has provided me with one of her cheerleading uniforms.68801:02:41.719 --> 01:02:46.320
Because of my large bosoms, the jersey causes my midrift68901:02:46.480 --> 01:02:54.320
to become fully exposed, assuring much distraction to foolish males.69001:02:55.159 --> 01:02:59.440
Aileen brings me into the school leader's office, where I69101:02:59.480 --> 01:03:04.320
am to stand before Matthew Van Deste. The school leader69201:03:04.400 --> 01:03:09.320
regards Aileen as he points to me, last time I checked,69301:03:09.719 --> 01:03:13.840
miss Donnerly, this girl is not on the cheerleading squad.69401:03:14.880 --> 01:03:19.119
Now he regards me. You're not even a student here,69501:03:19.760 --> 01:03:24.000
so remove that cheerleading uniform and put some other clothes on.69601:03:25.320 --> 01:03:28.960
Normally I would have enslaved him in hell for the69701:03:28.960 --> 01:03:33.239
way he has spoken to me. However, he knows not69801:03:33.920 --> 01:03:39.000
who I truly am, so I shall overlook this and69901:03:39.159 --> 01:03:45.679
resort to mischief. I give him a wicked smile, as70001:03:45.719 --> 01:03:51.079
you command, Matthew. The school leader gasps when I remove70101:03:51.239 --> 01:03:55.760
the top and throw it away. The other females working70201:03:55.800 --> 01:04:01.000
with him either gasp or speak of their God. I70301:04:01.039 --> 01:04:04.679
am ready to remove the skirt, when Aileen is quick70401:04:04.800 --> 01:04:10.280
to stop me. No, Lucy, she shrieks, cover those up quick.70501:04:11.320 --> 01:04:15.639
I obey Aileen and cover my bosoms with my hands.70601:04:16.280 --> 01:04:20.880
I allow these fools to behold them again. As I70701:04:21.000 --> 01:04:25.840
accept the top from Aileen and reapply it, the school70801:04:25.920 --> 01:04:30.599
leader gives me an expression that says he wishes to70901:04:30.760 --> 01:04:36.719
expel me. Instead, he groans and moves to gather papers.71001:04:37.360 --> 01:04:42.000
I would require Aileen's assistance in writing the needed information71101:04:42.920 --> 01:04:47.599
upon the papers. Fortunately, I listen to mother when she71201:04:47.760 --> 01:04:53.760
insisted that I learn mortal speak, speech, reading and writing71301:04:54.840 --> 01:04:59.039
to my irony, Matthew Van Deste has accepted me as71401:04:59.079 --> 01:05:03.519
a new student at Strickfield High School in spite of71501:05:03.559 --> 01:05:10.000
my blatant mischief. Lucy, why did you do that? Aileen71601:05:10.159 --> 01:05:14.960
demands upon us leaving the office. Did you not inform71701:05:15.079 --> 01:05:20.079
me in your bedchamber that your school leader greatly regards71801:05:20.159 --> 01:05:28.599
these mortal female's bosoms? I respond, Aileen sighs. You really71901:05:28.639 --> 01:05:32.840
don't know how things work here, do you. I do72001:05:33.039 --> 01:05:38.519
understand the structures here in Strickfield, as well as surrounding72101:05:38.639 --> 01:05:42.840
cities and villages. I have not existed in the mortal72201:05:42.920 --> 01:05:48.719
realm long enough to know its ways. Have I dishonored you?72301:05:50.000 --> 01:05:55.800
Aileen sighs again, then smiles a little. I don't think72401:05:55.840 --> 01:06:00.320
the office staff was expecting what you did. I mean,72501:06:01.199 --> 01:06:05.599
Van Deste did enroll you. She puts her hand upon72601:06:05.599 --> 01:06:10.280
my shoulder. It'll be okay, Lucy when we get to class.72701:06:10.400 --> 01:06:14.719
Let me do the talking, at least for now. I72801:06:14.880 --> 01:06:21.199
stop her and raise an eyebrow. Lucy, Um, I can72901:06:21.280 --> 01:06:26.920
call you Lucibella. She corrects herself. It was just easier73001:06:26.960 --> 01:06:30.880
to call you Lucy. We regard each other for a73101:06:30.920 --> 01:06:36.039
brief time, then I nod. Once you may call me73201:06:36.239 --> 01:06:41.480
Lucy as we walk the hallways, many males regard me73301:06:42.079 --> 01:06:46.360
with lust. I can feel that they wish to lie73401:06:46.440 --> 01:06:52.880
with me. These underlings shall most certainly die trying at73501:06:52.960 --> 01:06:57.480
lunch period. Aileen would later ask me about my hatred73601:06:57.559 --> 01:07:03.760
for males, my father being the one exception here is73701:07:03.800 --> 01:07:09.239
that history. Mother once brought me into the mortal Realm herself.73801:07:09.880 --> 01:07:13.199
I told my parents that I desired to remain in73901:07:13.400 --> 01:07:18.920
hell and did not wish to intermingle with mortals. Mother74001:07:19.119 --> 01:07:23.119
insisted that I would have to enter the mortal realm eventually,74101:07:23.880 --> 01:07:27.599
especially if I was to become a ruler of Hell.74201:07:28.159 --> 01:07:33.239
One day, Father took her side and suggested that Mother74301:07:33.400 --> 01:07:37.639
bring me here at once. I trusted Mother, and I74401:07:37.760 --> 01:07:42.360
listened to her lessons there. In truth, I am certain74501:07:42.480 --> 01:07:46.199
that I shall come to appreciate the mortal realm in74601:07:46.280 --> 01:07:51.639
regards to its beauty and wonders. As for its people,74701:07:52.559 --> 01:07:57.480
there leaves much to be desired. Mother and I were74801:07:57.599 --> 01:08:02.239
walking across a college campus in the magnificent Shore City.74901:08:03.239 --> 01:08:06.079
After Mother had shown me the view of the top75001:08:06.400 --> 01:08:10.599
of the tallest building there, we returned to the concrete75101:08:10.760 --> 01:08:16.600
surface and continued our journey. In time, we heard a75201:08:16.720 --> 01:08:22.600
mortal crying for help. Mother and I investigated and regarded75301:08:22.760 --> 01:08:28.920
four mortal males, college boys looking to overpower a single75401:08:29.000 --> 01:08:34.800
female for the purpose of forcing sex from her. Since75501:08:34.960 --> 01:08:41.319
she would not concede it, she would be violated. If75601:08:41.319 --> 01:08:45.319
there was one thing that truly angered Father, it was75701:08:45.359 --> 01:08:48.800
when mortal males felt that they needed to make sure75801:08:48.880 --> 01:08:54.720
their female counterparts knew their place here. As far as75901:08:54.760 --> 01:08:59.279
males were concerned, females were never to have wills of76001:08:59.319 --> 01:09:04.239
their own. Father told me that females were created to76101:09:04.319 --> 01:09:09.680
be at the sides of males and not subservient to them.76201:09:09.880 --> 01:09:13.560
I think this was one of the many reasons why76301:09:13.680 --> 01:09:18.640
Mother ultimately came to love Father. He regarded her as76401:09:18.680 --> 01:09:24.079
his equal, his queen, but very few mortal males would76501:09:24.079 --> 01:09:29.840
ever regard females as such. Because of Father's teachings, I76601:09:29.880 --> 01:09:34.960
became disgusted with the concept of rape. Mother attempted to76701:09:35.000 --> 01:09:38.880
stop me, but I was too enraged to hear her76801:09:39.560 --> 01:09:44.279
and unknowingly back handed her. She flew into a nearby76901:09:44.439 --> 01:09:49.560
wall and was dazed. In my rage, I would ultimately77001:09:49.640 --> 01:09:55.800
break and tear those males apart, killing them. I relished77101:09:55.920 --> 01:10:00.199
being soaked in their blood. When I was finished. The77201:10:00.199 --> 01:10:04.680
female that I had saved was most frightened and felt77301:10:04.720 --> 01:10:10.640
that I would also destroy her. Mother had revived and77401:10:10.840 --> 01:10:14.960
came in between us. She had used her glam to77501:10:15.039 --> 01:10:19.640
make the girl forget ever, seeing what I had done,77601:10:20.239 --> 01:10:23.840
Mother brought me back to Hell and explain to Father77701:10:24.439 --> 01:10:29.800
about what I had done. Father did not approve and77801:10:30.000 --> 01:10:34.520
ruled that I would never return to the mortal realm again.77901:10:36.399 --> 01:10:40.479
Mother would have her say, however, and proposed a counter78001:10:40.600 --> 01:10:44.399
offer to allow me to be able to return to78101:10:44.439 --> 01:10:51.359
the mortal realm with certain conditions. Father reconsidered his ruling78201:10:51.800 --> 01:10:56.399
and specifically stated that I was never again to kill78301:10:56.560 --> 01:11:01.000
any living beings in the mortal realm unless it was78401:11:01.039 --> 01:11:07.640
a matter of dire importance. That day would come when78501:11:07.720 --> 01:11:12.159
Father explained why Mother required me to return to the78601:11:12.199 --> 01:11:17.319
mortal realm, I would obey and leave Hell to seek78701:11:17.399 --> 01:11:23.000
out a lean Donnerly to this day, my hatred for78801:11:23.159 --> 01:11:28.560
mortal males has never diminished. I shall never become bound78901:11:28.640 --> 01:11:33.720
by marriage, or become subservient to a mortal male, nor79001:11:33.920 --> 01:11:39.279
surrender my body or my heart. Mortal males may look79101:11:39.399 --> 01:11:43.960
upon me, but they shall never possess The Elder Princess79201:11:44.359 --> 01:11:54.239
of hell. That evening, A Lean and I are returning79301:11:54.319 --> 01:11:59.840
home from cheerleading practice. The boy's basketball team would have79401:11:59.880 --> 01:12:03.560
a game the next day and we would be required79501:12:03.840 --> 01:12:07.279
to cheer for them. How did I come to be79601:12:07.359 --> 01:12:11.600
a member of this squad? After that incident in the79701:12:11.680 --> 01:12:16.640
principal's office, Matthew Vandese turned me over to Sondra Temple,79801:12:17.279 --> 01:12:21.159
who was also in the office. This woman informed me79901:12:21.279 --> 01:12:24.920
that there was an opening on the cheerleading squad and80001:12:25.039 --> 01:12:29.199
offered it to me. You've certainly got a unique look80101:12:29.239 --> 01:12:33.920
to you, Temple had complimented. Whether or not you remain80201:12:34.000 --> 01:12:37.439
on the squad will depend on how fast you can adapt.80301:12:38.399 --> 01:12:44.760
I laughed scornfully at her. Oh I shall adapt. I80401:12:44.840 --> 01:12:48.439
believe that I have secured my position on the squad80501:12:48.479 --> 01:12:53.479
with how easily I have adapted to the cheerleader's configurations,80601:12:54.039 --> 01:12:59.239
including their pyramid. I believe that Sondra Temple was most80701:12:59.279 --> 01:13:03.079
impressed because she has not released me from the squad80801:13:03.359 --> 01:13:07.199
as of yet. Speaking of the squad, I have been80901:13:07.199 --> 01:13:11.520
an Aileen Donnerly's company for a day's time, and I81001:13:11.560 --> 01:13:15.000
have already come to care about her a great deal.81101:13:16.159 --> 01:13:20.159
I feel that our bond shall strengthen further with time.81201:13:21.359 --> 01:13:25.159
As we turn on to the street where Aileen's dwelling is,81301:13:25.760 --> 01:13:30.039
I sense a metal chariot coming at us most swiftly.81401:13:31.039 --> 01:13:34.319
I glance over my shoulder and see that it is81501:13:34.520 --> 01:13:40.079
the same metal chariot from the day before. Those mortals81601:13:40.199 --> 01:13:44.520
kept their distance during school and have waited until now81701:13:45.000 --> 01:13:50.199
to return, as I had foretold to Aileen the day81801:13:50.279 --> 01:13:57.359
before Lucy. Aileen shrieks upon seeing that metal chariot will81901:13:57.399 --> 01:14:03.039
easily strike us. Mother and father entrusted me to protect82001:14:03.079 --> 01:14:07.600
a Leen Donnerly, I shall not fail in my second82101:14:07.680 --> 01:14:12.520
journey here in the mortal realm. I seize a Leen82201:14:12.640 --> 01:14:17.279
to me and stand firm. As the metal chariot impacts82301:14:17.319 --> 01:14:21.640
with my back. I remain where I stand still, holding82401:14:21.720 --> 01:14:27.239
a Leen to me. The chariot, however, shall require much attention.82501:14:28.319 --> 01:14:31.680
The front has a rounded crescent from the impact with82601:14:31.800 --> 01:14:35.560
my back, as though the chariot had collided with a82701:14:35.720 --> 01:14:40.359
large tree to become damaged itself, but not harm the82801:14:40.439 --> 01:14:44.960
tree in any way. A Leen is most surprised at82901:14:44.960 --> 01:14:49.359
what has transpired. I release her and turn my attention83001:14:49.600 --> 01:14:55.560
to her enemies, who are now my enemies. The four83101:14:55.640 --> 01:14:59.439
Mortals are shaken, yet they are not harmed because of83201:14:59.520 --> 01:15:05.119
their protective restraints. The four of them exit the damaged chariot.83301:15:05.800 --> 01:15:11.000
The driver, Courtney Rickman, points at me. You are so dead,83401:15:11.760 --> 01:15:17.640
both of you. I laugh with scorn. Make no mistake.83501:15:18.039 --> 01:15:23.439
You shall never harm Aileen Donnerly again. After this day.83601:15:24.680 --> 01:15:29.880
I feel Aileen's hands grab one of mine. Don't kill them, Lucy,83701:15:31.079 --> 01:15:35.640
I shall not. I promise her mother and father would83801:15:35.640 --> 01:15:41.000
be most angry with me again. But now I consider83901:15:41.079 --> 01:15:44.840
how Aileen would feel, and I do not wish to84001:15:44.960 --> 01:15:51.239
know negativity from her. However, I shall make these mortal84101:15:51.359 --> 01:15:56.520
fools understand what it means to incur my wrath. The84201:15:56.640 --> 01:16:00.359
foolish children make the mistake of looking into my eyes84301:16:00.520 --> 01:16:04.600
as they glow with the brightness of hell fire. To begin,84401:16:04.960 --> 01:16:08.479
I take hold of the male known as Jason Stamen84501:16:09.159 --> 01:16:13.439
and set him ablaze. Truly, he has never tasted the84601:16:13.560 --> 01:16:17.880
very flames of hell. As he feels his body, his84701:16:18.199 --> 01:16:23.119
very soul burn at my touch. I release him. He84801:16:23.199 --> 01:16:27.359
tries to flee, but the flames shall remain bound to him.84901:16:28.520 --> 01:16:35.039
His guilt and sin shall continue to feed the flames indefinitely.85001:16:36.439 --> 01:16:41.319
I look upon the other male brad order and stare85101:16:41.720 --> 01:16:46.399
deep into his eyes. He screams only for a moment85201:16:47.199 --> 01:16:51.039
before he realizes that he can no longer do so,85301:16:51.720 --> 01:16:56.840
as I command forces that literally grind his very bones85401:16:57.239 --> 01:17:03.079
into ashes from within his own flesh, while retaining his85501:17:03.279 --> 01:17:09.119
life force. Amanda Dawson turns to flee, but I appear85601:17:09.319 --> 01:17:13.439
before her. She shrieks with fright when I take hold85701:17:13.479 --> 01:17:17.800
of her. Now she moans in anguish when she feels85801:17:17.800 --> 01:17:21.960
herself growing old, to the point where she is so85901:17:22.239 --> 01:17:26.239
frail that a mere burst of a simple wind would86001:17:26.279 --> 01:17:30.600
cause her to fall over. Her fate shall be that86101:17:30.720 --> 01:17:36.199
her young soul be forever imprisoned within her frail body86201:17:37.039 --> 01:17:43.520
as her living tomb. Finally, I turn my attention to86301:17:43.680 --> 01:17:49.239
Courtney Rickman. She has such fear and anguish upon her face.86401:17:49.640 --> 01:17:54.239
After seeing what I have done to her friends, she86501:17:54.319 --> 01:17:59.880
now begs the elder Princess of Hell for her very life.86601:18:00.199 --> 01:18:05.760
I am with amusement and laugh scornfully once more as86701:18:05.800 --> 01:18:10.640
I behold her. You sought to end the life of86801:18:10.760 --> 01:18:15.359
Aileen Donnerly, I point to her, Were you not the86901:18:15.359 --> 01:18:20.000
one who became taken with drink? Why do you mortals87001:18:20.600 --> 01:18:26.319
always push the blame on to others. Aileen did nothing87101:18:26.399 --> 01:18:30.159
to you, Yet you would harm Aileen simply to harm87201:18:30.239 --> 01:18:35.199
the man that took advantage of you. You attack Martin87301:18:35.279 --> 01:18:39.560
Donnery's younger sister out of cowardice, as you sought to87401:18:39.640 --> 01:18:44.039
do the day before. Now you shall face punishment for87501:18:44.159 --> 01:18:48.680
your actions. Since you seem to enjoy the pleasures of87601:18:48.720 --> 01:18:53.399
the flesh so much, I shall turn your own against you.87701:18:54.319 --> 01:18:59.680
When Courtney gazes into my eyes, her body becomes afflicted87801:18:59.760 --> 01:19:04.279
with the very disease that Aileen had become infected with87901:19:04.840 --> 01:19:10.039
in mother's former timeline. On a much more advanced level.88001:19:11.159 --> 01:19:15.760
Courtney falls to her side with sweat, dark bruises, and88101:19:15.960 --> 01:19:25.159
large boils from her fever. She raises her arm to me, please,88201:19:26.439 --> 01:19:31.880
I ignore her, please, and say to the fools, this is88301:19:32.039 --> 01:19:37.199
my final judgment. I stand and watch as their souls88401:19:37.319 --> 01:19:42.159
writhe in what would become their eternal torment. But remember88501:19:43.000 --> 01:19:48.199
I am forbidden to claim the lives of mortals unless88601:19:48.199 --> 01:19:53.079
I should be presented with no other alternative. The fools88701:19:53.119 --> 01:19:57.600
are suddenly released from their trances when they gaze into88801:19:57.640 --> 01:20:02.560
my eyes. I merely plant my realities for them within88901:20:02.640 --> 01:20:07.039
their own minds. Think of it as a greatly enhanced89001:20:07.119 --> 01:20:13.840
form of your technology known as virtual reality. The fools89101:20:13.960 --> 01:20:17.680
literally experienced the fates that I would have granted them89201:20:18.119 --> 01:20:23.119
if I were without restraint, complete with the feelings of89301:20:23.159 --> 01:20:29.319
those experiences. However, I never harmed them in any way.89401:20:30.520 --> 01:20:35.159
Let's get out of here. Courtney screams in terror. I89501:20:35.319 --> 01:20:39.239
laugh when they flee for their lives. If I truly89601:20:39.319 --> 01:20:43.960
wish to find them, it will not be difficult. After all,89701:20:44.479 --> 01:20:48.359
how would you even escape from the elder princess of89801:20:48.439 --> 01:20:55.720
Hell herself. Aileen approaches me, Lucy, what about their car?89901:20:56.800 --> 01:21:02.399
I give her a gentle smile. Observe. I place my90001:21:02.600 --> 01:21:06.760
hands upon the car as I now understand it to90101:21:06.840 --> 01:21:11.960
be named, and restore it to as it was, including90201:21:12.039 --> 01:21:16.520
the back window that was shattered the day before. The90301:21:16.640 --> 01:21:21.000
four mortal children shall be believed for fools should they90401:21:21.039 --> 01:21:25.520
speak of the events that they believe they have experienced90501:21:26.840 --> 01:21:31.920
with all as it was. I turn to Aileen. We90601:21:32.039 --> 01:21:37.399
shall go another way. Great Grams wishes to speak to you.90701:21:38.680 --> 01:21:42.880
Aileen trusts in me enough to accompany me to the90801:21:42.960 --> 01:21:47.720
dwelling where Great Grams and Mother reside. When the two90901:21:47.760 --> 01:21:52.039
of us are before the front door, it opens to91001:21:52.119 --> 01:21:59.640
reveal Anathea Tabon. Great Grams has many years, but her91101:21:59.680 --> 01:22:05.520
appearpearance is that of a mortal woman of thirty. The91201:22:05.560 --> 01:22:11.680
elder matriarch of the Tabon family is a vampire. After91301:22:11.720 --> 01:22:16.319
being invited inside, Great Grams and I embrace one another.91401:22:17.119 --> 01:22:23.399
Then she regards me, thank you for bringing Aileen Donnerly Lusabella.91501:22:24.319 --> 01:22:29.720
Now she turns to face my friend. I suspect you91601:22:29.920 --> 01:22:35.920
want answers. Aileen sighs. I just don't understand why I'm91701:22:36.399 --> 01:22:41.319
suddenly being protected by Lucy. She explains the events from91801:22:41.399 --> 01:22:46.039
the day before when I first came upon her. You91901:22:46.119 --> 01:22:52.039
shall have your answers, child, Great Grams promises. Aileen listens92001:22:52.239 --> 01:22:57.279
as Great Grahams speaks in our native Tabon language. When92101:22:57.279 --> 01:23:02.600
she finishes, she caresses the side of Aileen's temple before92201:23:02.680 --> 01:23:09.560
finishing with our word for remember. Aileen gasps and looks92301:23:09.600 --> 01:23:16.279
around quickly. What I've restored your memories from Bella's former92401:23:16.359 --> 01:23:21.279
timeline prior to her accepting the second Chance compact, Great92501:23:21.359 --> 01:23:30.720
Grams informs her remember Aileen donner Lely. Aileen regards me, now, wow,92601:23:31.680 --> 01:23:35.159
I know you're not Bell's, but you look so much92701:23:35.359 --> 01:23:42.039
like her. Lucy. Then she is saddened. I really screwed92801:23:42.119 --> 01:23:49.399
things up. Great Grams gives Aileen her grandmotherly smile. Perhaps92901:23:49.479 --> 01:23:53.479
it is we who should be thanking you, Aileen, though93001:23:53.520 --> 01:23:56.680
we know why you bargained with hell Weaver. I have93101:23:56.840 --> 01:24:00.399
seen all in my mediums and know you did it93201:24:00.960 --> 01:24:05.760
for my granddaughter. Between you and Bella, your actions are93301:24:05.800 --> 01:24:10.000
the reason the Tabon family continues to live and grow.93401:24:11.239 --> 01:24:15.079
The only downside is that there were likely negative effects93501:24:15.119 --> 01:24:19.920
resulting from Bella's rewriting her history and you attempting to93601:24:19.960 --> 01:24:23.720
rewrite yours to save her. But as for my great93701:24:23.760 --> 01:24:28.800
granddaughter here and myself, we exist now and must accept93801:24:28.960 --> 01:24:32.600
that we do. I fold my arms in front of me.93901:24:33.640 --> 01:24:38.279
You speak as if we are accursed, Great Grams, I94001:24:38.359 --> 01:24:43.399
originally died a long time ago, Lucy, Bella and you94101:24:43.600 --> 01:24:47.680
and your siblings never existed before Hell Weaver was able94201:24:47.760 --> 01:24:53.640
to escape perdition. She puts her hand on my forearm. Nevertheless,94301:24:54.199 --> 01:24:57.199
we must do what we can to prevent hell Weaver94401:24:57.279 --> 01:25:02.159
from conquering the multiverse, and it shall take as many94501:25:02.279 --> 01:25:06.079
allies as we can gather to even have the slightest94601:25:06.199 --> 01:25:11.680
chance of stopping her. I want to help too, Aileen offers.94701:25:12.880 --> 01:25:17.880
I watch as Great Grams uses her magics to examine Aileen,94801:25:18.840 --> 01:25:22.199
you no longer carry the disease which threatened your life94901:25:22.239 --> 01:25:27.119
in your former timeline. However, you still remain altered as95001:25:27.119 --> 01:25:30.479
a result of that vampire bite you sustained from an95101:25:30.520 --> 01:25:36.159
alternate universe. Aileen is with optimism. Now, then I don't95201:25:36.239 --> 01:25:40.039
have to stay with Martin anymore. I can go my95301:25:40.119 --> 01:25:44.720
own way. I have plenty of room here. Great Grams95401:25:44.760 --> 01:25:49.119
informs us. In fact, both of you shall reside here.95501:25:49.720 --> 01:25:53.159
We can determine our next course of action. While Bella95601:25:53.319 --> 01:25:57.920
is away on her quest, I unfold my arms. As95701:25:57.960 --> 01:26:02.520
Aileen and I behold one. It would seem that you95801:26:02.600 --> 01:26:08.840
and I shall become even closer. Now, I say, Aileen95901:26:08.960 --> 01:26:13.359
and I embrace as true friends. I suppose that Great96001:26:13.399 --> 01:26:17.760
Grahams is correct. We would not exist in this time96101:26:18.520 --> 01:26:23.439
or at all, had time itself not been altered. In96201:26:23.520 --> 01:26:27.399
the meantime, it seems that the elder Princess of Hell96301:26:27.960 --> 01:26:31.600
must serve as a protector in the vast space that96401:26:31.880 --> 01:26:36.399
is the mortal realm. I know that I must perfect96501:26:36.520 --> 01:26:40.720
my mortal speak while I reside here in time, I96601:26:40.760 --> 01:26:45.039
shall be able to blend in perfectly among the mortals.96701:26:45.680 --> 01:26:50.840
With Aileen Donnerly as my new friend and my guide,96801:26:51.079 --> 01:26:53.840
I am feeling that I do not wish to return96901:26:53.920 --> 01:26:59.640
to Hell. So soon. Perhaps I shall learn to appreciate97001:27:00.239 --> 01:27:12.520
the mortal realm after all. Breaking the Seal by Douglas Waltz.97101:27:15.199 --> 01:27:17.640
The sharp pain in my head was what woke me97201:27:17.720 --> 01:27:22.920
from my unconscious state. My head felt like thin glass97301:27:23.079 --> 01:27:27.479
ready to break without warning. Drinking always did that to me.97401:27:28.640 --> 01:27:31.520
The sudden urge to use the bathroom is what convinced97501:27:31.520 --> 01:27:35.119
me to actually leave the warmth of my bed. I97601:27:35.119 --> 01:27:38.920
ignored the protests of my aching head and realized I97701:27:38.920 --> 01:27:43.000
had fallen asleep with my pants on. A fuzzy memory97801:27:43.079 --> 01:27:45.399
led me to believe that there should have been someone97901:27:45.439 --> 01:27:48.560
else in bed with me. The state of the blankets98001:27:48.560 --> 01:27:51.119
on the far side of the bed confirmed this, but98101:27:51.960 --> 01:27:56.359
there was no one there. I shrugged and staggered down98201:27:56.399 --> 01:27:59.720
the hallway to the bathroom. I didn't even try to98301:27:59.800 --> 01:28:03.680
un zip my pants. I unzipped them and dropped them98401:28:03.760 --> 01:28:08.239
to the cool tile floor. My bladder protested at the delay,98501:28:08.560 --> 01:28:11.319
and I lifted the lid to let loose the contents98601:28:11.359 --> 01:28:16.680
of said bladder filled with the previous nights drinking. The98701:28:16.840 --> 01:28:19.479
urine erupted from me with a force I had never98801:28:19.560 --> 01:28:23.720
seen before. I instantly grabbed my penis as it started98901:28:23.720 --> 01:28:27.000
to travel up, splashing the entire lid and the back99001:28:27.119 --> 01:28:29.600
of the toilet. I was sure it would have hit99101:28:29.640 --> 01:28:32.720
the ceiling if I hadn't interfered by aiming it back99201:28:32.760 --> 01:28:36.239
in the bowl. The water in the bowl churned and99301:28:36.359 --> 01:28:39.760
frothed from the sheer velocity of the stream of urine99401:28:39.800 --> 01:28:44.920
coming from me. To be honest, I had never experienced99501:28:44.920 --> 01:28:48.640
a piss like this before. Usually there is the initial99601:28:48.680 --> 01:28:53.000
relaxation upon release, but now it was more of a99701:28:53.119 --> 01:28:57.520
sense of panic. It was then I realized two things.99801:28:58.800 --> 01:29:01.840
The bowl of the toilet was filling rapidly, and my99901:29:01.960 --> 01:29:05.880
stream of urine had not decreased in the slightest, still100001:29:06.000 --> 01:29:09.119
churning the water like an outboard motor. I flushed the100101:29:09.119 --> 01:29:13.920
toilet and continued to urinate. The flushing barely stayed ahead100201:29:13.920 --> 01:29:16.800
of what was coming out of me. It already felt100301:29:16.840 --> 01:29:20.640
like I had been there longer than was normal. Looking down,100401:29:20.720 --> 01:29:25.560
I noticed something on my chest. What the hell was100501:29:25.600 --> 01:29:28.680
on my chest? I turned the top half of me100601:29:28.800 --> 01:29:32.600
towards the bathroom mirror over the sink and nearly jumped100701:29:32.600 --> 01:29:38.239
out of my skin. There was a bloody pentagram on100801:29:38.319 --> 01:29:42.600
my chest. Why was there a bloody pentagram on my chest?100901:29:43.560 --> 01:29:47.880
I tentatively touched it and was mildly surprised it didn't hurt.101001:29:49.000 --> 01:29:52.359
I snapped out of the examination of this new discovery101101:29:52.359 --> 01:29:57.520
to flush the toilet again before it overflowed. My finger101201:29:57.600 --> 01:30:00.680
had what looked like blood on it, but I figured101301:30:00.720 --> 01:30:04.239
it wasn't mine. That led to a whole new list101401:30:04.279 --> 01:30:07.800
of questions. As the urine continued to flow with the101501:30:07.840 --> 01:30:12.199
same velocity as it had when it started. The uppermost101601:30:12.239 --> 01:30:15.800
in my mind would be whose blood was on my101701:30:16.000 --> 01:30:20.880
chest in the form of a pentagram? Then my phone rang,101801:30:21.520 --> 01:30:24.319
I jumped from the sudden noise in urine splashed the101901:30:24.359 --> 01:30:28.680
wall behind the toilet. I had apparently left my phone102001:30:28.720 --> 01:30:32.199
in my pants pocket when I fell asleep. How much102101:30:32.279 --> 01:30:35.359
did I have to drink last night? I wondered as102201:30:35.399 --> 01:30:37.560
I tried to figure out a plan to retrieve my102301:30:37.680 --> 01:30:43.000
phone from my pants. First, I flushed again when I102401:30:43.039 --> 01:30:45.680
pushed down the handle, for at least what I thought102501:30:46.199 --> 01:30:49.800
was the fourth or fifth time. It hit me. I102601:30:49.840 --> 01:30:53.319
had just fallen into a routine where flushing the toilet102701:30:53.359 --> 01:30:57.640
repeatedly was part of my life. Now my skin crawled102801:30:57.680 --> 01:30:59.800
with panic as I reached out for the leg of102901:30:59.840 --> 01:31:03.720
my pants and dragged it closer to me. I thought103001:31:03.760 --> 01:31:06.520
I could just force my kegel muscles to stop the103101:31:06.560 --> 01:31:09.479
flow of piss long enough to reach down and grab103201:31:09.520 --> 01:31:16.239
my pants. That was a horrible idea. The attempt was103301:31:16.319 --> 01:31:19.359
met by a lancing, white hot pain in my penis,103401:31:19.760 --> 01:31:25.359
and it accomplished absolutely nothing. The urine continued to flow,103501:31:25.359 --> 01:31:29.279
and I screamed from the agony. My head erupted in sweat,103601:31:29.319 --> 01:31:32.600
and I saw little black dots swimming in my field103701:31:32.600 --> 01:31:35.960
of vision. I knew I couldn't pass out. I was103801:31:36.000 --> 01:31:40.560
absolutely positive that even unconscious, I would continue to piss,103901:31:40.800 --> 01:31:44.239
filling the room in no time. I was in a104001:31:44.319 --> 01:31:47.960
ground floor apartment, so the piss would have nowhere to go.104101:31:48.920 --> 01:31:53.920
I took some deep breaths and relaxed, and continued to104201:31:54.039 --> 01:31:59.199
drag the pants closer. The ringing had stopped, but now104301:31:59.239 --> 01:32:02.199
that I knew my was in the room, I had104401:32:02.199 --> 01:32:06.079
a lifeline to the outside world. But there was no104501:32:06.199 --> 01:32:07.880
way I was going to be able to pick up104601:32:07.920 --> 01:32:12.800
the pants and emerge unscathed. I glanced over my shoulder104701:32:12.800 --> 01:32:16.079
at the bathtub and knew what was going to happen.104801:32:17.119 --> 01:32:20.560
It was my only option. I continued to hold my104901:32:20.640 --> 01:32:24.600
penis and squatted, grabbing my pants, and took the three105001:32:24.640 --> 01:32:28.680
steps to the bathtub and hopped in. I pulled the105101:32:28.720 --> 01:32:31.680
curtain to contain the flow and held my pants away105201:32:31.720 --> 01:32:34.920
from the stream. I realized that I would need both105301:32:34.960 --> 01:32:38.239
hands to get the phone out of my jeans. I105401:32:38.279 --> 01:32:41.920
took another deep breath, released my cock from my hand,105501:32:42.199 --> 01:32:45.720
and went for it. Five seconds later, I had my105601:32:45.800 --> 01:32:48.720
phone in my right hand, my penis back in my105701:32:48.800 --> 01:32:53.520
left hand, and there was piss in my hair. The105801:32:53.560 --> 01:32:56.439
call had come from my friend Nate. I checked the105901:32:56.439 --> 01:33:01.199
message he left and had answered more than a few questions. Apparently,106001:33:01.279 --> 01:33:04.439
at my buddy Nate's house, we had been slamming shots106101:33:04.439 --> 01:33:07.800
and beer like they were water. When I'm drunk, I've106201:33:07.800 --> 01:33:12.640
been told that I become aggressively horny. I had left106301:33:12.680 --> 01:33:16.359
with a girl he called Twitch the witch. He was106401:33:16.439 --> 01:33:20.159
checking up on me. I called him back and asked106501:33:20.239 --> 01:33:23.399
him about the evening. I also found out the reason106601:33:23.479 --> 01:33:27.199
for the odd name for my choice of female companionship106701:33:27.199 --> 01:33:30.439
for that night. She was always showing up at parties106801:33:30.479 --> 01:33:34.279
and tweaking out on meth. Usually she drank a lot,106901:33:34.640 --> 01:33:36.560
caused a scene, and that was the end of it.107001:33:37.199 --> 01:33:40.560
But my horny vision had selected her for my advances107101:33:41.199 --> 01:33:45.000
and we'd left together. Nate also mentioned that she was107201:33:45.039 --> 01:33:48.560
a practicing witch. When he asked if I was next107301:33:48.560 --> 01:33:51.239
to a stream or something. I just ignored it and107401:33:51.319 --> 01:33:55.239
asked if he had her number. Nate has everybody's number,107501:33:56.479 --> 01:33:59.239
she answered on the first ring. I could hear the107601:33:59.359 --> 01:34:02.000
sneer in her voice when she asked how my morning107701:34:02.079 --> 01:34:06.319
piss went, and I realized my drunken personality had taken107801:34:06.399 --> 01:34:11.520
things way too far. After much pleading and begging, she107901:34:11.680 --> 01:34:15.439
felt that I had been punished enough. I gave her108001:34:15.479 --> 01:34:19.000
my address and she said she had two requirements for108101:34:19.079 --> 01:34:23.479
removing the curse. One she had something else to do,108201:34:23.560 --> 01:34:27.079
and it would be an hour two to complete my108301:34:27.239 --> 01:34:32.800
utter humiliation. I would have to meet her outside. I108401:34:32.840 --> 01:34:36.439
agreed to the terms because I didn't see any other108501:34:36.479 --> 01:34:40.680
way out of an impossible situation. But at the same time,108601:34:41.399 --> 01:34:45.920
my alcohol riddled brain saw a way to decrease my108701:34:46.720 --> 01:34:50.760
utter humiliation. I used my delivery app on my phone108801:34:50.800 --> 01:34:54.359
to order a pack of super absorbent adult diapers and108901:34:54.439 --> 01:34:58.560
a pair of oversized sweatpants. I even left a huge109001:34:58.600 --> 01:35:01.560
tip to make sure that they were left by my doorstep.109101:35:02.720 --> 01:35:05.800
The delivery got there with ten minutes to spare before109201:35:05.880 --> 01:35:10.760
Twitch had scheduled to arrive, plenty of time. I bawled109301:35:10.840 --> 01:35:14.199
up my jeans, held them against my penis, and ran109401:35:14.279 --> 01:35:17.880
for the front door. I flung it open, grabbed the bag,109501:35:17.960 --> 01:35:21.439
and made a dash back to the bathroom. The jeans109601:35:21.439 --> 01:35:25.279
were already soaked, but the stream was blocked sufficiently that109701:35:25.359 --> 01:35:29.039
there wasn't piss everywhere. I dropped the bag on the109801:35:29.119 --> 01:35:32.720
sink and stood in the bathtub while I familiarized myself109901:35:32.760 --> 01:35:36.119
with how the diapers worked. It was a pack of twenty,110001:35:36.560 --> 01:35:39.239
but I was only going to need about four to110101:35:39.319 --> 01:35:42.800
pull this off. I was interrupted by a text from110201:35:42.880 --> 01:35:46.039
Twitch telling me she was parking her car and on110301:35:46.119 --> 01:35:49.560
her way to my apartment. I strapped on the first110401:35:49.600 --> 01:35:53.720
diaper and layered it with four more. Then I pulled110501:35:53.760 --> 01:35:58.119
on the sweatpants. I was glad they were black hides110601:35:58.199 --> 01:36:02.560
the piss better. That made me laugh. For some reason.110701:36:03.399 --> 01:36:05.680
I stuffed two more down the front of my pants110801:36:05.720 --> 01:36:08.840
and headed for the door. Opening the door, I saw110901:36:08.920 --> 01:36:12.960
Twitch across the street. At least I assumed it was her.111001:36:13.640 --> 01:36:16.920
She was the only person dressed in black goth clothes111101:36:17.000 --> 01:36:20.880
with a head of shocking green hair. An evil smile111201:36:21.039 --> 01:36:24.000
crossed her face when we made eye contact, and she111301:36:24.079 --> 01:36:28.399
stepped off the curb to cross the street. The landscaping111401:36:28.439 --> 01:36:32.600
truck never saw I live on a main road with111501:36:32.640 --> 01:36:35.840
a speed limit of forty five miles per hour, and111601:36:35.960 --> 01:36:38.920
she bounced off the front grill of that truck and111701:36:39.079 --> 01:36:44.239
was sucked under the vehicle. The loudest sickening crunch filled111801:36:44.239 --> 01:36:50.239
the air, followed immediately by the screeching of the truck's brakes.111901:36:51.159 --> 01:36:54.960
Twitch lay mangled on the road, her eyes wide open112001:36:55.399 --> 01:36:59.640
and staring at me. Blood and gray matter trickled down112101:36:59.720 --> 01:37:04.640
her ruined face. The diapers had lost the battle, and112201:37:04.760 --> 01:37:08.319
twin jets of piss shot down both my legs, onto112301:37:08.359 --> 01:37:12.319
the sidewalk and into the street. I knew the urine112401:37:12.359 --> 01:37:17.399
would reach Twitch, and I started to laugh. The end112501:37:24.840 --> 01:37:31.880
Satan's Shotgun by Daniel Wilder. I had a revelation come112601:37:31.920 --> 01:37:35.920
New Year's Eve of eighteen ninety nine, Jesus ain't nothing112701:37:36.600 --> 01:37:39.399
I reckon. I could resurrect myself like a right heavyweight112801:37:39.479 --> 01:37:42.640
champion long as my boy's bones held out, that is.112901:37:43.079 --> 01:37:45.960
But admittedly I couldn't hold a candle to that water113001:37:46.039 --> 01:37:49.359
to rotgut routine, and I sure as fuck couldn't walk113101:37:49.399 --> 01:37:52.239
on water, And they're sure as shit ain't any virgins113201:37:52.239 --> 01:37:55.359
in my vicinity. I guess I truly meant that coming113301:37:55.439 --> 01:37:59.039
back from the dead wasn't any great shakes. What brought113401:37:59.079 --> 01:38:02.560
me to that biddo elation were the events of nearly113501:38:02.600 --> 01:38:06.319
twelve years prior eighteen eighty seven. If you can cipher113601:38:07.000 --> 01:38:11.199
the night Gideon Pharaoh's Nightmare Zodiac Death Gang came a knocking,113701:38:12.039 --> 01:38:16.359
And that's exactly as those hocus pocus braggarts build themselves too.113801:38:16.960 --> 01:38:20.520
Nightmare Zodiac Death Gang should have spent more time practicing113901:38:20.560 --> 01:38:23.439
with pistols than coming up with candy ass gang titles.114001:38:23.840 --> 01:38:28.319
But I digress. You see, I was a simple man then, farming,114101:38:28.680 --> 01:38:31.199
maybe a bit of trap and not to mention interpreting114201:38:31.239 --> 01:38:33.159
for the local tribes and those they caught in to114301:38:33.239 --> 01:38:35.640
trade with. It wasn't the high life, but it was114401:38:35.680 --> 01:38:39.479
good enough for me, Elizabeth and our boy Lazarus. That114501:38:39.640 --> 01:38:43.159
name was a bit of a on the nose serendipity114601:38:43.159 --> 01:38:45.520
that the fates served up to us by and the bye,114701:38:46.000 --> 01:38:48.319
let me tell you true, And I sure as hell114801:38:48.479 --> 01:38:52.399
wasn't amused to weren't eighteen months after our boy's birth114901:38:52.399 --> 01:38:55.680
that the sack headed sidewinder Gideon and his posse arrived115001:38:55.760 --> 01:39:00.319
on our doorstep and ended his life and his mama's.115101:39:00.760 --> 01:39:03.199
But as was their folly, they never checked if my115201:39:03.279 --> 01:39:05.800
heart had stopped, And to be fair, I never asked115301:39:05.840 --> 01:39:08.199
them why they were so sore with me and mine.115401:39:08.319 --> 01:39:11.199
So yeah, mistakes were made all around on that day.115501:39:11.920 --> 01:39:15.119
So once their devilish deeds were done, they headed off115601:39:15.159 --> 01:39:18.000
into the still night with arya thought of the hell115701:39:18.079 --> 01:39:22.439
they had borne that day. And still my heart continued115801:39:22.439 --> 01:39:26.680
to beat like a native drum, a doom dirge, banging115901:39:26.720 --> 01:39:30.000
away to attract any midnight motherfucker within six hundred and116001:39:30.039 --> 01:39:35.039
sixty six yards and a track, it surely did. The116101:39:35.079 --> 01:39:38.279
shaman entered what remained of our home casual as can be.116201:39:38.960 --> 01:39:41.880
The fully bandaged man. He led on a leash, followed,116301:39:41.920 --> 01:39:46.119
seemingly devoid of thought as well as grace, He slinked116401:39:46.119 --> 01:39:48.960
his way over to me like a mongoose, all sinew116501:39:49.039 --> 01:39:52.520
and glide, the bones around his waist clanking together like116601:39:52.560 --> 01:39:55.239
the gnashing teeth of some desert devil risen from an116701:39:55.279 --> 01:39:59.720
unholy hell, ready to feast. As my eyes strained to focus,116801:39:59.760 --> 01:40:02.760
I I saw that bastard light a fire of green flame,116901:40:03.399 --> 01:40:05.920
a flame he used to rend the prone form of117001:40:05.960 --> 01:40:08.680
my boy to ashes and bone. In as much time117101:40:08.720 --> 01:40:12.560
as it takes to tell, I admit the darkness took117201:40:12.600 --> 01:40:15.159
me then, as I was a powerful sight, weaker in117301:40:15.239 --> 01:40:18.680
constitution than I am now, though I have a dread117401:40:18.760 --> 01:40:22.039
vision of that bandaged fellow placing a lipless mouth over117501:40:22.119 --> 01:40:25.000
my own and blowing a dust that wreaked a high117601:40:25.039 --> 01:40:27.319
hell of rot deep into my lungs, that made them117701:40:27.479 --> 01:40:29.680
feel as if they was filled with the fire of117801:40:29.720 --> 01:40:34.239
old Scratch himself. I came to walking along a trail117901:40:34.279 --> 01:40:37.600
deep in the nearby Adirondacks, a foul scented wrapping from118001:40:37.600 --> 01:40:42.399
the shaman's friend tied tightly around my eyes. While you118101:40:42.479 --> 01:40:45.680
may get to thinking that would seriously impede my journey,118201:40:45.680 --> 01:40:48.479
the exact opposite held true. I could sense where I118301:40:48.600 --> 01:40:50.840
was going, and just where the first of those I118401:40:50.840 --> 01:40:54.560
sought were hunkered down, so onward I trecked my boy's118501:40:54.600 --> 01:40:57.439
bones rattling, and the leather sack strapped to my left118601:40:57.479 --> 01:41:01.000
shoulder that same rattle at any man or beast in118701:41:01.079 --> 01:41:03.279
my path. No, that I surely was not to be118801:41:03.359 --> 01:41:06.680
fucked with. As I began my stride along Revenge's rough road.118901:41:07.520 --> 01:41:10.000
I walked those wicked woods until the sun fell low119001:41:10.119 --> 01:41:13.039
and the sky was streaked in hues of lavender and rose.119101:41:13.640 --> 01:41:16.600
And it was then I came upon the cabin on119201:41:16.760 --> 01:41:21.359
New Year's Eve, painted as it were in two differing colors,119301:41:21.960 --> 01:41:26.680
sky blue and soft pink, the abode of Gemini, two119401:41:26.760 --> 01:41:30.319
doses of poison in one pill. The smoke that poured119501:41:30.319 --> 01:41:33.000
from the chimney let me know those that needed correcting119601:41:33.560 --> 01:41:38.279
were home, sweet home. I didn't stand on formality. The119701:41:38.359 --> 01:41:41.359
door exploded inward from the impact of my left shit kicker,119801:41:41.640 --> 01:41:44.840
splinters spreading out like buckshot, acting as my calling card.119901:41:45.319 --> 01:41:47.760
It took me a fraction of a second to realize120001:41:47.920 --> 01:41:51.039
no one was visible in the room, magic eyewear or no.120101:41:51.760 --> 01:41:55.520
But I could smell them just fine. Naturally, they didn't120201:41:55.520 --> 01:41:58.199
surprise me none when they exploded from the shadows of120301:41:58.239 --> 01:42:01.439
the cabin's ceiling. However, the fact that they could move120401:42:01.479 --> 01:42:04.560
together like a great spider in their conjoined state definitely120501:42:05.159 --> 01:42:08.720
raised an eyebrow. I unloaded my rifle with a thunderous roar.120601:42:08.880 --> 01:42:11.000
The shot tore a nice chunk of whatever the lady120701:42:11.079 --> 01:42:13.359
side of this thing was called, but she wasn't going120801:42:13.439 --> 01:42:15.960
down by a long shot. Before I knew it, the120901:42:16.000 --> 01:42:18.399
male side of the equation had maneuvered himself in such121001:42:18.439 --> 01:42:20.199
a way that he both knocked me to the ground121101:42:20.279 --> 01:42:22.359
and managed to wrap the fleshy band that kept these121201:42:22.359 --> 01:42:26.000
two eternally bound around my neck. That same bit of121301:42:26.000 --> 01:42:29.079
flesh began flexing and throbbing until I couldn't draw a breath.121401:42:29.359 --> 01:42:32.520
The various veins and sinew contained under that warm sleeve121501:42:32.600 --> 01:42:36.399
pulsing like a bag of snakes. Things began swirling and121601:42:36.439 --> 01:42:39.960
growing ever darker. That's when I died for the first time.121701:42:40.439 --> 01:42:44.199
The shaman appeared shortly thereafter, though my enemies never noticed,121801:42:44.600 --> 01:42:47.560
although if they did, I wager they'd have been confused121901:42:47.560 --> 01:42:51.039
as all get out. See that fella simply strolled in,122001:42:51.479 --> 01:42:55.560
leaned low, and whispered in my ear. He was a bone.122101:42:56.520 --> 01:42:58.720
I didn't quite gather what he was on about, but122201:42:58.760 --> 01:43:00.560
it seemed like a question I shud shod answer in122301:43:00.600 --> 01:43:04.000
the affirmative. He reached into my rucksack, pulled out one122401:43:04.000 --> 01:43:06.520
of the twelve bones of my boy that clattered inside,122501:43:06.560 --> 01:43:09.520
and shoved that room covered ivory femur right in my mouth.122601:43:10.199 --> 01:43:13.319
It dissolved on contact with my tongue, and I was122701:43:13.439 --> 01:43:17.560
back in business. I sat up, puked, and roared at122801:43:17.560 --> 01:43:19.920
my killers, who had now sat down to a nice122901:43:19.960 --> 01:43:23.279
warm meal after their deed was done. What I did123001:43:23.359 --> 01:43:26.760
next would become a bit of a legend. See. I123101:43:26.840 --> 01:43:28.840
grabbed the steak knife out of the hand of the123201:43:28.840 --> 01:43:32.800
twin closest to me, who honestly didn't even resist, probably123301:43:32.840 --> 01:43:36.199
the shock of a corpse interrupting his din din. Anyway,123401:43:36.439 --> 01:43:39.119
I took that blade and commenced to slice that ribbon123501:43:39.159 --> 01:43:42.079
that held them together like a rabid wolf. But then123601:43:42.359 --> 01:43:45.760
I had a pang of conscience. These two had been123701:43:45.800 --> 01:43:48.800
together since day one, so it would be ashamed to123801:43:48.880 --> 01:43:52.279
take that away from them. Fortunately I learned to sew123901:43:52.319 --> 01:43:56.399
at a tender age. I can only imagine the look124001:43:56.439 --> 01:43:59.640
on Gideon's face when he saw one or two. Not124101:43:59.680 --> 01:44:03.079
sure how they counted themselves anyway, saw a member of124201:44:03.119 --> 01:44:06.960
his posse fixed mouth to crotch of their opposite number,124301:44:07.119 --> 01:44:09.800
like those yin yang symbols the Chinese fellas out west124401:44:09.800 --> 01:44:12.760
were so fond of. And imagine it would have to124501:44:12.760 --> 01:44:15.479
be as Once my work was done, I sunk into124601:44:15.479 --> 01:44:19.000
the earth outside the Gemini's doorstep, and there I slept124701:44:19.560 --> 01:44:27.039
for a full year. And so it went. At the124801:44:27.159 --> 01:44:29.399
very end of each and every year, I'd rise up124901:44:29.560 --> 01:44:33.840
and put a murder on one of those psychos Pisces,125001:44:33.880 --> 01:44:37.960
hard to breathe with concrete in your gills, Taurus. Let's125101:44:38.079 --> 01:44:40.720
just say he wasn't just a bull from the shoulders up,125201:44:41.000 --> 01:44:43.399
but that would be his undoing when I rammed that125301:44:43.560 --> 01:44:49.000
tally whacker straight down his throat. Aries Leo Cancer, Sagittarius,125401:44:49.079 --> 01:44:54.840
Virgo Libra, Capricorn, Aquarius, dead dead dead dead dead dead125501:44:55.000 --> 01:44:59.960
dead and double dead. Don't ask. Year after year I fought,125601:45:00.159 --> 01:45:02.560
and year after year I lost a little bit more125701:45:02.560 --> 01:45:12.039
of my boy peace by peace. Finally I came to Scorpio.125801:45:12.119 --> 01:45:14.840
And if you think the other Menagerie made for a125901:45:14.880 --> 01:45:17.439
one of a kind corpse gallery, I can assure you126001:45:17.479 --> 01:45:21.199
all that that final member of that gang, minus their126101:45:21.279 --> 01:45:23.680
ring master, but I'll get to his arcane ass and126201:45:23.760 --> 01:45:26.760
a tick. See after the decade and change of carnival126301:45:26.800 --> 01:45:29.359
exhibits I'd tussled with, I wouldn't blame you none if126401:45:29.399 --> 01:45:31.920
you wagered Scorpio would be some kind of insect man.126501:45:32.039 --> 01:45:35.239
But it wasn't hell. It wasn't even a man. As126601:45:35.239 --> 01:45:38.039
you could guess from the hiring of those darling siblings126701:45:38.079 --> 01:45:41.520
I jawed about earlier, Gideon didn't give a single shit126801:45:41.640 --> 01:45:44.000
if those that worked for him were men or women,126901:45:44.399 --> 01:45:46.760
A real rarity as far as evil posses went. In127001:45:46.800 --> 01:45:50.199
the late eighteen hundreds. Of course, half those motherfuckers would127101:45:50.199 --> 01:45:53.079
be a right challenge to even classify as human. When127201:45:53.119 --> 01:45:56.560
I sauntered up to that gypsy wagon Lady Scorpio called home,127301:45:56.800 --> 01:45:58.600
I could just tell I was in for a hell127401:45:58.640 --> 01:46:02.079
of a time of burning herbs filled the air, and127501:46:02.119 --> 01:46:05.720
the roaring flame burning brightly beside the gaudy wagon was127601:46:05.760 --> 01:46:08.920
doing a solid job of roasting a large pheasant. I127701:46:09.000 --> 01:46:11.840
hunkered down by the fire. It always feels good to127801:46:11.880 --> 01:46:14.560
warm my hands after pointing my boots toward the sky127901:46:14.800 --> 01:46:18.800
for twelve months. The lavender and crimson curtains that covered128001:46:18.800 --> 01:46:22.000
the entrance to the wagon parted, and she appeared, a128101:46:22.119 --> 01:46:24.760
raven haired beauty with eyes as cruel and cold then128201:46:24.840 --> 01:46:28.720
as a whole nest of vipers could possess. I told128301:46:28.760 --> 01:46:32.520
Guineon doing your wife and boy was a grave mistake. Well,128401:46:33.359 --> 01:46:36.079
it's a mistake that will surely put you in your grave, Missy.128501:46:36.760 --> 01:46:38.720
She laughed, and I had to admit it was an128601:46:38.800 --> 01:46:42.680
unbelievably delicate thing. If that is to be my fate,128701:46:43.119 --> 01:46:45.760
there is little I can do to change it. I128801:46:45.800 --> 01:46:50.039
spit at her feet. Yep, won't you come inside a moment.128901:46:51.159 --> 01:46:53.359
It's your funeral. You can have it anyway you want.129001:46:54.199 --> 01:46:57.760
I entered the wagon and beheld the interior, which contained129101:46:57.800 --> 01:47:01.079
nothing save for an opulent bed. I sat down and129201:47:01.119 --> 01:47:04.479
waited for the show to start. She slid into the129301:47:04.479 --> 01:47:06.880
bed beside me, pushed me down, and started to rub129401:47:06.960 --> 01:47:10.079
up against me, all feline like. I grabbed her hair,129501:47:10.159 --> 01:47:12.399
tugged it hard, and whispered the most romantic thing I129601:47:12.439 --> 01:47:16.560
could think of into her ear. This is for Lizabeth.129701:47:17.399 --> 01:47:19.279
I drove the blade of the hunting knife through the129801:47:19.319 --> 01:47:21.239
back of her head before she could even realize I129901:47:21.239 --> 01:47:23.520
had pulled it from my left boot. She made that130001:47:23.600 --> 01:47:26.760
weird gargle, whistling, exhale thing that you never really got130101:47:26.840 --> 01:47:30.000
used to. Then the light and those big brown eyes130201:47:30.960 --> 01:47:35.960
went dim. Should have started with this one. I managed130301:47:36.000 --> 01:47:37.880
to remove my knife from her skull and kick her130401:47:37.920 --> 01:47:40.560
ass right out of the wagon in a near seamless movement.130501:47:41.359 --> 01:47:46.399
I heard her hit the ground and then splash her skin,130601:47:46.560 --> 01:47:49.079
flew through the curtains and collided with the far wall130701:47:49.119 --> 01:47:51.720
of the wagon with a sickening sound akin to pig130801:47:51.760 --> 01:47:55.800
in herds being thrown at a whorehouse. Ah here we go,130901:47:56.159 --> 01:47:59.920
I said, as the giant scorpion clickety clack through the entryway.131001:48:00.600 --> 01:48:03.239
The odd thing about this here scorpion is it had131101:48:03.279 --> 01:48:05.800
a great set of breasts and a tail equipped with131201:48:05.840 --> 01:48:10.079
a rather orainery looking cock where the poisonous sting should131301:48:10.119 --> 01:48:13.760
have rested. I'm going to fuck you one way or another,131401:48:13.880 --> 01:48:17.359
lover to bet spat from a mouthful of spearlike teeth131501:48:17.399 --> 01:48:21.239
and bad intentions get in lines, sister. I drew my131601:48:21.319 --> 01:48:23.840
iron and unloaded on that nightmare with barrel of blazon.131701:48:24.319 --> 01:48:26.560
That damn tail whipped at me again and again. His131801:48:26.680 --> 01:48:29.399
scorpio's face looked like a vat of prize winning chili.131901:48:29.640 --> 01:48:32.439
And to my horror, the loads that appended shot were132001:48:32.479 --> 01:48:35.560
some sort of vile acid. While the walls of the132101:48:35.560 --> 01:48:39.239
wagon began to dissolve, the bitch stopped or bucking' well,132201:48:39.319 --> 01:48:42.680
fuck me, silly, I didn't die this go around. I132301:48:42.720 --> 01:48:46.239
wonder if I'll still take a dirt nap yep, I said,132401:48:46.680 --> 01:48:50.840
as I folded into the cold earth for the first132501:48:50.840 --> 01:48:56.720
time in years, I dreamed. I saw my family, the132601:48:56.840 --> 01:49:00.640
unspeakable terror life had become, the soul crushing scream into132701:49:00.640 --> 01:49:03.039
the abyss I'd make year after year as I was132801:49:03.079 --> 01:49:06.680
reborn to put down one monster after another. And I132901:49:06.720 --> 01:49:09.640
saw that burlap headed bastard that had made this all so.133001:49:11.319 --> 01:49:16.159
And I saw children, unfamiliar, children with their faces tinted133101:49:16.199 --> 01:49:19.560
a glowing blue, the exact same hue of which I133201:49:19.560 --> 01:49:25.159
had never seen the like of before. Guess what day133301:49:25.199 --> 01:49:28.600
it is. That's right, the day I end the life133401:49:28.600 --> 01:49:31.880
of that masked son of a bitch and finally rest133501:49:31.920 --> 01:49:36.479
in peace. That's the theory anyway. The morning of New133601:49:36.600 --> 01:49:41.439
Year's Eve eighteen ninety nine, I had that Jesus thought133701:49:41.479 --> 01:49:44.000
I mentioned at the start of this yarn, and I133801:49:44.079 --> 01:49:48.199
found myself wandering the streets of old Manhattan town, beastly133901:49:48.279 --> 01:49:53.239
bandages in place. Everything was cold, gray until I got134001:49:53.239 --> 01:49:56.439
that unholy vision that Gideon was well and truly a134101:49:56.439 --> 01:50:00.399
man about town, though he wore a false human face134201:50:00.479 --> 01:50:04.279
over his rough mask. I followed him around a pace,134301:50:04.760 --> 01:50:07.720
but he seemed to make stops at random, and although134401:50:07.760 --> 01:50:10.039
he made no indication that he knew I was there,134501:50:11.159 --> 01:50:15.479
I knew damn well he did. Finally he got the134601:50:15.560 --> 01:50:19.079
drop on me after a rather well executed disappearing act134701:50:19.119 --> 01:50:23.159
in the bowery. Let's retire to my residence and talk134801:50:23.239 --> 01:50:28.720
this through a dead man, he purred, yep, I answered.134901:50:32.680 --> 01:50:37.840
We entered the luxurious townhouse Gideon called home. Please relax,135001:50:38.279 --> 01:50:41.960
Gideon said, gesturing to an array of sofas and chairs135101:50:42.000 --> 01:50:45.560
that festooned his abode. I took a load off on135201:50:45.600 --> 01:50:49.520
a nearby Persian rug. That furniture was doubtless cursed and135301:50:49.560 --> 01:50:51.800
would spell my doom if I dare put my ass135401:50:51.880 --> 01:50:56.279
upon it. Are you a gambling man? He asked? Not135501:50:56.399 --> 01:50:59.800
by nature, no I am, And if I had to135601:50:59.800 --> 01:51:02.039
play my hand, I would wager. You want to know135701:51:02.159 --> 01:51:05.760
why I chose you and your kin to slaughter? The135801:51:05.880 --> 01:51:08.880
thought had crossed my mind a time or two. If135901:51:08.920 --> 01:51:12.880
I'm to be honest, I answered, True, I had heard136001:51:12.880 --> 01:51:15.720
that if you do someone a cosmic level injustice, like136101:51:15.880 --> 01:51:19.479
a random killing, for instance, then powerful magic is revealed136201:51:19.479 --> 01:51:23.359
to those willing to travel a dark path. You heard rightly,136301:51:24.079 --> 01:51:29.920
he gestured toward my rucksack. The magic my son, Your136401:51:29.960 --> 01:51:33.760
son became the rarest of magics. You should be kissing136501:51:33.800 --> 01:51:38.720
my feet for this gift. I see it a tad different,136601:51:39.720 --> 01:51:43.680
I wager you do. Nevertheless, my theory was correct. Nevertheless,136701:51:43.680 --> 01:51:47.159
you should have listened to your pet, bug Scorpio. She136801:51:47.279 --> 01:51:50.760
was always the most in tune of my menagerie. Was136901:51:51.399 --> 01:51:55.119
is the operative word? I care little that you killed137001:51:55.119 --> 01:52:01.039
any of those sideshow attractions. You're all heart, No, I'm137101:52:01.079 --> 01:52:07.039
all business. How so, I queried, Let's say you give137201:52:07.119 --> 01:52:09.840
me that last bone in your sack, and I let137301:52:09.880 --> 01:52:11.760
you walk out of here and live a long and137401:52:11.840 --> 01:52:17.359
happy life. Let's say I do. What does that give me?137501:52:18.079 --> 01:52:23.479
An eternity without those I love, those you took from me. True,137601:52:23.560 --> 01:52:26.840
but a life is a life. I thought on this137701:52:26.920 --> 01:52:30.720
a spell, and I had me a revelation. Hold on,137801:52:30.840 --> 01:52:35.880
you'll see fine, you want the bone? Here it is.137901:52:36.560 --> 01:52:39.479
I removed my son's skull from the sack and held138001:52:39.520 --> 01:52:43.960
it up for that snake to see. Glorious, Please let138101:52:44.000 --> 01:52:47.159
me hold it. The shaman spoke into my ear for138201:52:47.199 --> 01:52:51.800
the last time. I nodded. I tossed my boy's skull138301:52:51.880 --> 01:52:54.880
to Gideon, and as that bone grew ever closer, I138401:52:54.960 --> 01:52:58.000
drew my pistol and fired. The skull exploded when the138501:52:58.000 --> 01:53:01.479
bullet hit the bone. The shaman laughed. His Egyptian pal laughed.138601:53:01.640 --> 01:53:07.720
I laughed Gideon, however. Gideon, however, did most assuredly not laugh.138701:53:08.159 --> 01:53:11.159
The shards of the skull became missiles and pierced Gideon's138801:53:11.159 --> 01:53:14.279
mask in one hundred razor sharp volleys. He did that138901:53:14.439 --> 01:53:19.399
gargle thing and fell like a sack of potatoes. That's that, then,139001:53:20.199 --> 01:53:24.600
I said, I waited for some sort of cosmic redemption.139101:53:25.199 --> 01:53:28.039
Would I stand before my family once more? Would I139201:53:28.079 --> 01:53:32.840
finally be able to rest? A glowing letter A appeared139301:53:32.840 --> 01:53:37.720
in the sky. A glowing s followed it, and another139401:53:37.920 --> 01:53:43.680
s ass. Real cute, I thought, as I finally succumbed139501:53:44.000 --> 01:53:51.079
to the darkness. Brent laughed, ass classic. Yeah, man, this139601:53:51.199 --> 01:53:54.119
game is so easy if you have enough quarters. Todd said,139701:53:54.560 --> 01:53:58.159
I've beaten it like a hundred times. The duo walked139801:53:58.199 --> 01:54:01.520
away from the cabinet as the tracked screen of Satan's139901:54:01.520 --> 01:54:05.479
shotgun called out to the next player, and Elizabeth and140001:54:05.600 --> 01:54:16.880
Lazarus died a new well. My spooky is if The140101:54:17.039 --> 01:54:22.760
IDEs of March had a motto, it would probably be congratulations,140201:54:23.479 --> 01:54:29.920
you made a choice, and then immediately, here are your consequences.140301:54:30.720 --> 01:54:35.800
Because tonight we learned a few important life lessons, like140401:54:36.159 --> 01:54:40.039
if a place feels safe, that's usually when the floor140501:54:40.239 --> 01:54:45.479
decides to open up. If someone offers you a fresh start,140601:54:46.000 --> 01:54:49.800
maybe ask what the interest rate is. If you're about140701:54:49.840 --> 01:54:52.800
to mess around with something that can be described as140801:54:52.840 --> 01:54:59.399
a seal, a ritual, or ancient maybe just pass on140901:54:59.439 --> 01:55:03.439
that one. And if you see a suspicious symbol anywhere141001:55:03.479 --> 01:55:07.960
near a bathroom, the correct response is not gross, it's141101:55:08.680 --> 01:55:13.600
I'm moving to another state tonight. Also, The IDEs of141201:55:13.640 --> 01:55:17.359
March remains undefeated in its ability to turn a bad141301:55:17.520 --> 01:55:21.840
night into a legend. One minute you're laughing with your friends,141401:55:21.960 --> 01:55:25.920
the next minute you're trying to explain to emergency services141501:55:26.000 --> 01:55:33.039
why your problem is technically supernatural but also deeply embarrassing. Really,141601:55:33.279 --> 01:55:38.159
the worst combo there is terror and shame. Or maybe141701:55:38.239 --> 01:55:41.720
it's two great tastes that tastes great together. So make141801:55:41.800 --> 01:55:44.560
sure to mind your own business, keep your doors locked,141901:55:44.600 --> 01:55:48.680
and if you hear a whisper of power being promised,142001:55:49.520 --> 01:55:53.840
do what any reasonable person would do, pretend you didn't142101:55:53.840 --> 01:55:57.800
hear it, and go back to scrolling on your phone.142201:55:58.000 --> 01:56:00.359
I hope you'll join me next week for the final142301:56:00.439 --> 01:56:04.600
installment of our IDEs of March collection. Things are gonna142401:56:04.640 --> 01:56:09.039
get a lot worse before they get better. Until then,142501:56:09.239 --> 01:56:12.479
sleep tight, and if you wake up at three am142601:56:12.640 --> 01:56:17.920
on the dot, don't check the mirror, because well, that's142701:56:18.600 --> 01:56:22.560
how it wins. See you next time.
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