Terror at Christmas: Jack Scratch’s Hellish Holiday!

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The street is empty, the Christmas lights hume like they

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are alive. You don't remember your name until you find

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a photo in your pocket. Here ho ho ho, dragging

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closer through the snow. Then you realize the worst part

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isn't the dying, and that's just one of three? How

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did you get in here? Ho ho ho? What's that

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You want to be scared? Come with me? This is

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Weekly Spooky. Hello, my spooks. It's Tuesday, Yes, I know,

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but it's almost Christmas and I have so many gifts

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left to give you, so don't worry. If you're a

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big fan of this Week in Horror History, that will

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be dropping on the feed in just a few hours.

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But right now I have a very very special visit

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from Jack Scratch for this Christmas. Three terrifying tales to

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keep you enthralled and in the holiday spirit. But before

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we get to that, I want to say thank you

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all so much. This has been the most successful Weekly

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Spooky Holiday season ever. So many new folks have joined

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us in October, November, and and I'm just honored to

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bring you a little bit of entertainment, even if my

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throat does not love all the extra work. And make

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sure you're subscribed if you're not already, Because the holidays

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are not where Weekly Spooky ends. We bring you something

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terrifying multiple times a week, all year long. So click

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that subscribe button and leave us a five star rating

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on your favorite podcasting app. It helps us out a lot,

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And if you really want to support us, you can

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head to Weeklyspooky dot com slash join and find out

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how for as little as one dollar a month you

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can get two bonus episodes every single month. And of course,

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my undying gratitude. But now I'm too excited. I want

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to unwrap the gifts now, and they come in threes,

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so pull in close. What if Christmas did an end

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when you died? What if it followed you down past

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the clouds, past the dirt, past the last prayer, and

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into a place where paperwork is sacred, hope is a trap,

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and the decorations are just camouflage for something rotten. Because

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tonight we're not just telling stories. We're opening a door,

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a door to Hell's holiday season, where a man in

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a red suit isn't here to give gifts, where a

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mountain of bones glows with a promise you're never meant

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to reach, and wear one machine that can erase you.

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Forever waits, silent, hungry, and overdo for a test. So

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if you're ready, toss another log on the fire, and

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whatever you do, do not, under any circumstance, trust the

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laughter you hear in the dark Terror at Christmas by

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Keith Tomlin. The air warped and a small, cluttered office

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faded into view. A tall, very thin man sat behind

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a desk, dressed in simple black pants and a billowing

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white shirt. His hand moved impossibly fast as he wrote

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a list of names on old parchment, the quill scratching

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like a rat in the walls. When the page was full,

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he capped the quill and put a stopper in the ink.

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He sat both down with the careful reverence of a

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man who considered paperwork holy. He then stretched bones, popping

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and bending to impossible angles. The man sat still for

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one more heartbeat, then he exploded into motion. He leapt

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onto the chair. It spun faster and faster, until the

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man became a blur of black and white. Red streaked

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through the spin like blood in water. A bright flash

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filled the room. When it faded, Jack Scratch stood there,

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in all his glory, dressed in ring master attire. His

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top hat sat at an impossible angle. His red jacket

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was immaculate. A green vest could be seen beneath it,

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as though paying tribute to the season or mocking it.

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His grin was too wide to be trusted. The walls,

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which were plane and empty a few seconds ago, were

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now adorned with Christmas decorations. But upon closer inspection, the

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corruption could be seen. Debauchery tucked into the garland, corruption

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peeking out from behind the tinsel vice, woven right into

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the holiday scenes, like it belonged there. Little cherubs with

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sharpened teeth, a wreath hung with something that wasn't missiletone,

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a stocking that twitched when no one touched it. Jack

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raised his cane, arms spreading wide, and hopped down from

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the chair as if stepping onto a stage. Welcome, he said, brightly,

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and thank you for accepting my invitation that you had

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a choice. Spinning his cane at breathtaking speeds, he continued,

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I thought it would be amusing to give a few

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mortals a glance, just a mere glimpse at Hell in

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all of its glory. His smile sharpened. Also, I was

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born the cane stopped spinning as quickly as it started.

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No worries, my friends, no one can see or hear you.

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He lowered the cane and pointed down. A few of

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my colleagues may suspect mortals are about, but you should

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be fine. Probably, He held up one finger, suddenly serious,

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or at least the closest thing Jack had to serious. First,

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I want to show you that we take our business seriously.

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I've spent the last few hundred years trying to drag

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this organization out of the Stone Age, in spite of

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a few reactionaries who insist on maintaining the status quo.

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His grin returned, warm and wrong. Jack snapped his fingers,

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and the air shimmered the Santa experiment. The man opened

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his eyes, squinting from the glare of the Christmas lights

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strung across the awning above him. The bulbs hummed faintly,

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a wavering tone that one could sense in their dental fillings.

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He sat up, confused, blinking flakes of snow from his eyelashes.

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A thin white layer covered the ground. The falling snow

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seemed to hang in the air for too long before

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drifting down, each flake catching the yellow glow of the

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street lamp until the whole night shimmered like a shaken

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snow globe. Struggling to his feet, he shivered as a

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cold wind slid beneath his damp shirt and pressed against

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his spine. He took a moment to steady himself before

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looking around. He was standing on a narrow sidewalk before

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a brick building with Fanny's Used book store painted in

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fading gold across the front window. The other storefronts near by,

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Henson's Hardware, Cherry's Cafe, a barber shop where the name

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on the window was too faded to read in the

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dim light, were all one or two stories high, their

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windows dark but trimmed in strings of colored bulbs. At

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first glance, it was a postcard scene. Then he saw

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the rot bricks bowed and crumbled. A few of the

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lights blinked a rhythmically, as though dying. A Mannikin in

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a boutique window stared out through a frost patterned pane,

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its plastic smile cracked, one blue glass eye turned slightly askew.

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The air smelled faintly of pine, with something sour underneath,

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like spoiled fruit. A single bulb overhead flickered, buzzed, and

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went dark. The sudden absence of light made him realize

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how few bulbs still burned. He looked up and down

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the street. The dark road stretched empty in both directions,

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No cars, no footsteps, just the faint sound of something

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metallic creaking, a sign swaying on a chain somewhere beyond sight.

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He thought he heard a bell, quick and distant, but

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when he turned toward it, there was only the whisper

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of the wind moving through tinsel. He tore his eyes

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from the street and looked down at himself, trying to

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find something, anything, that could identify him. He was a

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rubber band pulled to its breaking point. The tension ratcheted

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up to ten. He didn't know his name, he didn't

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know what had happened, didn't even know what he should feel, panic,

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maybe helplessness. He felt too tired to feel anything, numb

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all over. Who am I? It was such a small

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question with a huge impact. A thousand little details were gone.

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The way he took his coffee, whether he had anyone

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who'd miss him, did he like pineapple on his pizza?

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Humans he thought were made of memories. Without them, what

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was left just a shape that moved and breathed, pretending

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to be someone. He shook his head as if he

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could rattle something loose, no pain, no wounds. He looked

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down at his clothes, a tweed jacket much too thin

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for the cold, a scarf, a flat cap pulled low,

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corduroy pants, and loafers caked with slush. He looked respectable,

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maybe even scholarly, like a man who gave lectures on

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things that didn't matter anymore. He checked his pockets empty,

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his chest tightened, his pulse started to climb. He patted

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himself down again, desperate, half expecting to feel something that

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proved he existed nothing. A hollow laugh scraped his throat perfect,

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he muttered, his voice hoarse. Then, on a hunch, he

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slipped his hand into his inside jacket pocket again. His

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fingers brushed paper thin and soft from where a photograph.

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He drew it out carefully, the edges worn and creased

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from being handled too much. He stared at the image

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until the colors began to swim. A woman with long,

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dark hair and two small children in her lap. The

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woman's smile was tight, forced, as if she wanted whoever

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held the camera to hurry up. The boy, maybe five

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or six, had been crying, his cheeks puffy, one eye swollen.

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The little girl no older than three, was laughing so

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hard her face was a blur. The sight hit him

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in the chest, a pulse of warmth and grief all

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at once. Something stirred in the back of his skull,

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the faintest whisper of familiarity, and then her laugh. He

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could hear it, bright, infectious, spilling through the air. He

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could hear his own voice, silly, high pitched, doing that

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Elmo impression that always made her squeal with delight. That

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was it. The memory cracked open, and the past came

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rushing in the picnic. Ellen, his wife, had packed sandwiches

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and a checkered blanket. The boy, Nikki, had been stung

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by a bee and was in a full meltdown when

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Ellen tried to soothe him and keep Becca from running

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toward the pond. He remembered laughing camera in his hand,

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as Ellen glared at him over the chaos. Stephen Thomas Franklin.

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She snapped, half exasperated, half smiling, you have three seconds

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to take the picture, or I'll make you hold the

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kids while I do it. He laughed out loud, now,

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right there in the empty street. The sound startled him.

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It was too sharp, too alive. His breath fogged the air,

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and for a moment, the lights around him seemed brighter, kinder.

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He felt like someone waking from a long dream. Stephen

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Thomas Franklin. That was his name, A husband, a father.

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The picnic took place at the college where he was

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a professor of philosophy. Of all things, the details of

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his life beyond that picnic were still hidden, blurred at

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the edges, like the faces of strangers. But that one

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memory burned bright and perfect, a single island of light

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in the dark. He pressed the photo to his chest

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and let out a long, shaky breath. I remember, he whispered,

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almost laughing. I remember somewhere behind him there was a laugh,

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just a quick chuckle, but it echoed in the night air.

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The laugh was a reminder that even if he did

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get a small portion of his life back, there were

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other things in the darkness that he still needed to

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deal with. Putting the picture back in his pocket, he

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walked past the run down shops and boarded up townhouses,

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some with strings of holiday lights with bulbs missing, but

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most were dark holes in the night. The wind kicked

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up again, and he shivered, pulling his jacket tighter around him.

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A sound was carried by the wind, faint at first,

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but it grew louder. It was a sarcastic, almost mocking

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mantra of ho ho Ho. Stephen began to move faster,

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looking around, trying to pinpoint where the sound was coming from.

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Looking behind him, a few blocks away, he saw a

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tall man dressed as Santa Claus step out of a

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dark doorway. He strolled to the middle of the street

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and turned to stare at Stephen. He stopped and stared back,

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feeling like a deer caught in headlights. He watched as

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Santa moved the arm that was behind his back, revealing

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a large fireman's axe, Ho ho ho. The head of

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the axe bounced slightly when it hit the ground. Santa,

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still holding the weapon by the handle, strolled forward like

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he didn't have a care in the world, the head

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of the axe making a scraping sound as Santa dragged

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it behind him. Stephen felt the photo through his jacket

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pocket and thought, I need to get back to my family.

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With that thought, he turned and ran. Santa let out aloud,

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Ho ho ho, followed by maniacal laughter. The laughter seemed

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to surround Stephen as he ran. Christmas lights flashed by

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as Stephen went, no music, no street sounds, nothing except

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for the wind and the sound of his feet hitting

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the pavement. When his chest burned and he was gasping

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for breath, he finally stopped and leaned against a street light.

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As he caught his wind, he could hear something metal

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being dragged across the ground. He looked behind him and

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saw Santa strolling towards him, the axe still trailing behind

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Ho ho ho. Stephen thought, how could he be back there?

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That's not possible. He started to run again, past windows

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decorated with strands of Christmas lights, past doorways strung with garland,

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oblivious to all except moving one foot in front of

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the other. After countless minutes, he turned a corner, gasping

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for breath. Seeing a dark alleyway, he ducked into it.

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The alley had tall buildings on each side, blocking out

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the moonlight. Pausing to finish catching his breath, Stephen peered

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around the corner and right into Santa's gaze. He couldn't

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see it because of the beard, but Stephen knew that

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Santa was smiling from over a block away. He raised

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the axe and threw it one handed. Caught in the

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light of the street lamp, the axe twinkled like a star,

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flying right at Stephen. Stunned, he watched it twirl through

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00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:13.000
the air and slam into the brick wall next to

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his head, burying itself into the bricks, its handle vibrating

241
00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:24.839
from the force of the throw, jerking his head back.

242
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He finally turned and ran down the alley. He tripped

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over some wet, empty cardboard boxes and plowed head first

244
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into a pile of broken pallets, coming up with splinters

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00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:43.400
embedded in his palm. He clamped his hand under his

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arm and kept moving, feet slapping cold paving bricks, his

247
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breath coming in gasps. Exiting the alley, he crossed a

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tiny park fenced in with waist high wrought iron. He

249
00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:03.759
stared for half a second at three plastic candy canes

250
00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:10.400
half buried in a snowbank, and then kept moving, ignoring

251
00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:14.440
the sound. Stephen looked ahead of him and noticed a large,

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00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:20.240
three story structure. It looked like a parking garage, thinking

253
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that he could maybe find some help or a car

254
00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:27.720
with keys. He headed for it, trying not to pay

255
00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:32.519
attention to the pains in his chest. He burst into

256
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the mouth of a parking garage, the muscles in his

257
00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:39.920
thigh cramping as he limped up the short ramp. Blinking

258
00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:45.759
fluorescent tubes hummed overhead, and the air smelled like antifreeze

259
00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:51.440
and grease. The garage was empty, no cars in sight.

260
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He ran among the columns until he heard the noise

261
00:23:56.000 --> 00:24:01.079
of metal being dragged on concrete. Stepping behind a pillar,

262
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he tried to make himself as small as possible, fighting

263
00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:09.359
to keep his gasping breath from being heard over the

264
00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:13.039
wind that blew in over the half walls that made

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up the perimeter of the building. A shadow was cast

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00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:23.559
on the wall behind Stephen. As Santa stepped into the garage,

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Ho ho ho reverberated throughout the structure. There was triumph

268
00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:36.400
in his voice, like a hunter that finally tracked down

269
00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:42.039
his prey. Stephen reached behind him and felt around. His

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00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:46.519
hand touched the shaft of a metal pipe. Santa strode

271
00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:51.920
confidently down the driving lane, his head swiveling back and forth,

272
00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:57.039
the manic grin on his face unnerving Stephen almost as

273
00:24:57.119 --> 00:25:01.640
much as the sound of the axe being dragged on

274
00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:07.200
the concrete. When Santa passed him, Stephen raised the pipe

275
00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:10.640
high in the air and rushed out from behind the pillar,

276
00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:15.680
roaring in anger and frustration. His scream seemed to catch

277
00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:19.920
Santa off guard. He turned towards Stephen just as he

278
00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:24.039
brought the pipe down on his head with all his might.

279
00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:28.599
It hit Santa in the side of the skull, and

280
00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:32.799
he went down to one knee. Turning to look at Stephen,

281
00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:40.119
he noticed that Santa's eyes were reptilian. It grinned up

282
00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:44.920
at Stephen, a forked tongue flicked out of its mouth.

283
00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:51.920
Stephen paused, shocked at the revelation. What the hell is

284
00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:56.119
this thing? Ran through his head as he stood there,

285
00:25:56.359 --> 00:26:00.640
pipe raised in the air. The creature, dressed as Santa,

286
00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:05.559
seemed to grin as it opened its mouth, exposing rows

287
00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:10.319
of razor sharp teeth that glimmered in the fluorescent light.

288
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Ho ho, it began to say. As Stephen brought the

289
00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:21.880
pipe down, cutting it short. He swung the pipe until

290
00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:25.680
the creature was laying on the ground a bloody mess.

291
00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:30.480
He finally stopped when his arm shook with the effort

292
00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:35.279
of raising the pipe. Stephen turned and headed toward a

293
00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:40.160
pile of boxes covered with an old painter's tarp. Ripping

294
00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:44.160
the tarp away, he kicked the boxes, most of which

295
00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:49.519
contained construction supplies. He spotted a road flare and put

296
00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:54.279
it in his pocket. Starting to turn away, he saw

297
00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:59.160
the red of a gas can and grabbed it too.

298
00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:03.000
He half cared, carried, half dragged the five gallon jug

299
00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:07.759
over to the creature, his arms trembling with the effort.

300
00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:12.200
The creature started to twitch as Stephen stood above it.

301
00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:16.319
He didn't wait for any further movement. He dropped the

302
00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:20.880
pipe and grabbed the can with both hands, emptying it

303
00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:24.279
over the creature. He was assaulted with the odor of

304
00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:29.839
stale gasoline and burning in his eyes. After the can

305
00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:34.319
was empty, the creature was soaked. Stephen threw the can

306
00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:39.839
aside and backed up several steps. The Santa creature began

307
00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:45.079
to move, pushing itself up on its knees. Stephen panicked

308
00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:49.079
and pulled the flare from his pocket, almost dropping it.

309
00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:52.519
After a few tries, he was able to light it.

310
00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:55.920
He glanced over at the creature and was shocked to

311
00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:02.279
find that it was standing, although shakily, without thinking, he

312
00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:06.400
threw the flare and caught Santa in the chest fire

313
00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:09.839
leapt like it had been in waiting. The fur trim

314
00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:14.319
lit first orange flames, leaping upwards. The beard went at

315
00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:18.240
the edges and curled into black strings. The flames then

316
00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:21.359
flowed downward, and the creature went up like a candle,

317
00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:27.079
and in human cry echoed off the concrete walls. After

318
00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:31.920
a few minutes of floundering around, it finally stopped moving.

319
00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:38.680
The garage grew noticeably darker as the flames subsided and

320
00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:44.119
went out. Stephen took several steps back until he bumped

321
00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:48.119
against a concrete pillar and slid down to rest on

322
00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:52.839
the floor, eyes stinging from the gas that had splashed

323
00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:58.039
onto his jacket. With tired arms, he fumbled around his

324
00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:03.920
pockets and pulled out the photograph of his family. His

325
00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:08.640
eyes misted as he stared at the figure in the photo,

326
00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:14.559
trying to remember more details, but failing. As the numbness

327
00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:19.279
crept into his bones, Stephen laid his head back and

328
00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:24.000
closed his eyes, allowing his mind to drift away as

329
00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:27.759
he gave in to the exhaustion and the biting cold.

330
00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:32.720
He lay there for minutes or maybe hours, on the

331
00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:38.440
edge of consciousness, unmoving until the sound of something scraping

332
00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:44.480
against concrete brought him back around. He opened his eyes

333
00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:49.319
and saw the Santa creature pushing itself up onto its knees,

334
00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:55.799
both reptilian eyes staring at him unblinking. His face a

335
00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:59.880
mess of charred flesh and hunks of cheap polyester beer.

336
00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:04.960
His cheeks were missing, and he grinned with his whole face,

337
00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:10.960
his sharp pointed teeth, looking predatory in the dim light.

338
00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:16.000
Stephen tried to stand to run, but his leg was

339
00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:20.400
numb and wouldn't support his weight. He slumped down to

340
00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:24.480
the ground a second time and watched in horror as

341
00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:30.799
the creature slowly stood. It reached down and grabbed the axe,

342
00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:35.079
flesh from its hand and arms falling off like a

343
00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:44.240
snake shedding its skin. Stephen screamed no. As Santa slowly

344
00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:50.000
made its way to him. It raised the axe and

345
00:30:50.119 --> 00:30:57.119
brought it down, violently, silencing Stephen's cries. It struck again

346
00:30:57.680 --> 00:31:05.079
and again, punctual, waiting each hit with a jolly ho

347
00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:12.279
ho ho Jarak. Watched the axe slam down several times,

348
00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:18.039
making sure the subject was dead. He reached over and

349
00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:23.240
shut off the monitor laying down the clipboard after making

350
00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:28.440
a few notes, he stood there, tapping his fingers along

351
00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:33.119
the top of the massive control panel that stretched across

352
00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:37.160
the room. It was dimly lit and looked like a

353
00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:41.279
smaller version of the control room used during the NASA

354
00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:45.440
moon landings. The wall in front of Jarak was taken

355
00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:49.960
up by a high definition screen with smaller monitors. Off

356
00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:53.640
to the left and right. Two more people sat to

357
00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:59.200
Jarak's left, each in front of monitors with keyboard and mouse.

358
00:32:00.119 --> 00:32:05.400
These men were dressed in khakis, short sleeve white shirts, headphones,

359
00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:11.079
and dark blue ties. Jarak was dressed the same, except

360
00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:16.599
that his tie was red blood red. Jarak stood there

361
00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:22.279
for minutes, fingers drumming, thinking about the results. The man

362
00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:27.440
on the far left, Martin, finally cleared his throat. Jarak

363
00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:31.200
started as if waking from a dream and gave the

364
00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:38.200
men a dirty look. What he snarled. Martin looked terrified,

365
00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:44.000
but he quickly answered, why are we doing this? Seems

366
00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:46.119
like a lot of trouble to go through for another

367
00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:50.480
dead human. Jarak stared at him until Martin seemed to

368
00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:56.000
shrink and avoided the other man's eyes. Finally, he spoke

369
00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:59.519
Studies have shown that there is a drop in the

370
00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:04.519
terror rate of seven point three percent every century when

371
00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:08.359
level set for all forms of torture. That's with a

372
00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:12.799
memory wipe between each session. The drop is greater when

373
00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:17.160
no wipe is performed. Varying the type of torture reduces

374
00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:21.920
the drop to around five percent, but that's still unacceptable.

375
00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:25.519
The theory that I'm trying to prove is that with

376
00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:30.200
our current memory wiping methodology, some residue of traumatic or

377
00:33:30.599 --> 00:33:35.160
monumental memories are left in the subconscious. Over time, these

378
00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:39.880
can rise to the surface and unconsciously affect the subject's behavior.

379
00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:44.880
Jaak's voice rose passionately as he warms up to his

380
00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:49.240
favorite subject. Take a look at this run. We ran

381
00:33:49.319 --> 00:33:52.720
this scenario. Jerrek checks the clipboard in front of him

382
00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:56.599
seven hundred and thirty five times, and in the last

383
00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:59.720
forty five or so, he recognized the people in the

384
00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:04.000
pickure as his wife and kids. After he discovered the

385
00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:07.519
gasoline and flare, he went straight to it sixty two

386
00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:11.199
percent of the time. Remember that we wiped his memory

387
00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:15.320
between each session, and yet he seemed to have remembered it.

388
00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:18.800
We need to prove that there is an issue with

389
00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:21.800
the wipe before they'll let me test out my correction.

390
00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:26.079
Jarek realized that he was waving his arms around to

391
00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:30.719
punctuate each point. He looked at his audience. Martin was

392
00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:36.400
fixated on him. The other one looked bored. Anyway, Let's

393
00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:39.639
mix things up for the next one hundred sessions. Let's

394
00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:43.239
slowly change out the picture so each of the people

395
00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:47.719
in it looks less like his family. That way we

396
00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:53.360
can tell how specific the suppressed memory is. Also, fill

397
00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:56.159
the gas can with water. I want to see how

398
00:34:56.199 --> 00:34:59.679
long it takes before he stops going to it. Jaack

399
00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:03.000
looked looked at each of the two technicians to see

400
00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:08.079
if they understood. They nodded and began to adjust controls.

401
00:35:08.920 --> 00:35:12.960
After a few minutes, Martin takes off his headset and

402
00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:17.000
nervously rubs the two small horns sticking out of the

403
00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:22.360
top of his head. He sheepishly speaks, May I ask

404
00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:27.039
a question. Jerak, who was lost in thought again, looked

405
00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:30.280
at the younger demon. He'll have to keep an eye

406
00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:35.440
on this one, he thought warily. After a moment, he nodded,

407
00:35:36.599 --> 00:35:40.199
I understand what you're trying to prove, but what I

408
00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:43.119
don't get is why is the killer dressed up like

409
00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:49.679
Santa Claus Jerak smiled for the first time. That's easy.

410
00:35:50.480 --> 00:36:11.000
I fucking love Christmas. Somebody deserves a raise, Jack shouted,

411
00:36:11.400 --> 00:36:18.159
clapping his hands together. You see innovation, initiative. It warms

412
00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:22.800
my shriveled little heart to see technology used for the

413
00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:27.480
betterment of the human race. He twirled his cane as

414
00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:31.800
he strutted down a stone corridor, boots clicking in time

415
00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:36.760
with his steps. The walls were ribbed with bone and iron,

416
00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:42.679
lit by torches whose flames bent toward him as he passed.

417
00:36:43.320 --> 00:36:47.719
Move along, people all aboard, he called over his shoulder,

418
00:36:48.239 --> 00:36:51.719
Trust me, you do not want to be left behind.

419
00:36:52.599 --> 00:36:57.000
Jack made it halfway down the corridor before stopping abruptly.

420
00:36:57.679 --> 00:37:01.840
He turned, spread his arms water and waved his hands

421
00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:08.199
in a grand, theatrical flourish. The air rippled. A circle

422
00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:12.719
of shimmering light tore itself open, expanding until it filled

423
00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:16.920
the entire width of the corridor. On the other side,

424
00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:25.280
darkness and something pale, stacked high, barely visible. Come on, kiddos,

425
00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:31.400
Jack said, gesturing toward the portal with his cane. Everybody

426
00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:35.400
knows you can't visit Hell and not see the Great

427
00:37:35.599 --> 00:37:41.840
Bone Mountain. He grinned, eyes gleaming. Maybe, if you behave

428
00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:46.400
I'll show you the pit of never ending torment. It

429
00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:54.920
really gives you a new perspective on life. Christmas Bones.

430
00:37:57.440 --> 00:38:01.880
The wind blew across the summit of a mountain made

431
00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:06.239
of skulls and bones, with the acrid scent of brimstone

432
00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:12.079
and sulfur. Dozens of the lost souls of humanity clinging

433
00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:16.920
to the side of the mountain, seeking the top. Standing

434
00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:22.320
on the flat peak stood two demons. Their twisted bodies

435
00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:27.159
were gaunt and covered with ash from the dead. Horns

436
00:38:27.239 --> 00:38:31.800
protrude from their skulls and wrapped around behind their ears

437
00:38:32.320 --> 00:38:37.360
and ended in a point near each cheek. The screams

438
00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:40.840
of the tortured and dying, brought up by the wind,

439
00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:46.320
reverberating all around them, but centuries of exposure had given

440
00:38:46.360 --> 00:38:52.239
them the ability to unconsciously tune them out. Blood sucking

441
00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:57.280
flying insects surround them, trying to pierce their leathery skin,

442
00:38:58.039 --> 00:39:01.719
only to fall prey to the demis's whip like tails.

443
00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:06.239
Each one of them holds a long pitchfork with a

444
00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:11.280
handle made from bone. Behind them is a ring of

445
00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:17.639
light that radiated peace and tranquility. The ring of light

446
00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:22.440
seems to make the demons uncomfortable, and they purposefully do

447
00:39:22.599 --> 00:39:28.159
not look in that direction. One demon, slightly smaller than

448
00:39:28.199 --> 00:39:34.159
the other turns and speaks. So, uh, it seems a

449
00:39:34.239 --> 00:39:40.599
bit slow lately, Othrin said, yes, it does, although I'm

450
00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:48.480
not complaining. Cravat replied, yep, me neither. Othren takes a

451
00:39:48.559 --> 00:39:53.440
moment to examine his pitchfork. I think one of the

452
00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:58.400
tines is bent. I may need another one soon. Cravat

453
00:39:58.480 --> 00:40:02.800
looked at his partner, can fused. Normally, Othren was a

454
00:40:02.880 --> 00:40:07.559
demon of few words, but today he was downright chatty.

455
00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:11.719
You better take it easy on that. You only get

456
00:40:11.760 --> 00:40:15.320
three per rotation. After that you'll have to take care

457
00:40:15.360 --> 00:40:20.880
of the lost souls with your bare hands. And uncomfortable

458
00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:25.920
silence filled the space between the two. The monotony was

459
00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:29.920
only broken by the occasional lost soul who reached the

460
00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:34.039
top of Bone Mountain, only to be thrown off by

461
00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:41.719
one of the demons. Finally, as if the silence became

462
00:40:41.840 --> 00:40:48.119
too much, Othren cleared his throat. Uh, I think it

463
00:40:48.199 --> 00:40:53.599
may be Christmas up there. Cravat looked at Othren as

464
00:40:53.639 --> 00:41:00.599
if he was insane. Wait what he said, Chris, It's

465
00:41:00.679 --> 00:41:09.199
like it feels like Christmas? Oh, Cravat replied, Looking confused,

466
00:41:09.679 --> 00:41:16.320
he continued, why do you think that? Othren, feeling embarrassed,

467
00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:21.239
just nods toward the glowing circle of light, giving a

468
00:41:21.320 --> 00:41:26.280
quick glance behind them. Both demons shivered and shook as

469
00:41:26.320 --> 00:41:34.760
if something ran across their gray. There were only a

470
00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:39.119
few gateways between heaven and hell, and this circle of

471
00:41:39.199 --> 00:41:43.719
light was one of them. Neither guard knew why the

472
00:41:43.800 --> 00:41:47.880
gateway existed, but Othren once heard one of the winged

473
00:41:47.960 --> 00:41:53.239
overseer demons say that nothing creates hope more than having

474
00:41:53.320 --> 00:41:58.079
an escape to salvation nearby, and nothing makes the pain

475
00:41:58.320 --> 00:42:03.559
and betrayal tastes sweeter than taking away hope from the

476
00:42:03.639 --> 00:42:08.920
lost souls of humanity. At the last moment, O kay

477
00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:13.079
was all that, Cravat said, as he watched one of

478
00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:17.119
the lost souls climb over the edge on to the summit.

479
00:42:18.199 --> 00:42:22.320
This one was a naked man covered in blood, a

480
00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:26.079
thigh bone jutting out of his side. He stumbled to

481
00:42:26.159 --> 00:42:29.599
his feet. As the man saw the ring of light,

482
00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:34.119
his face lit up with pure joy, and he ran

483
00:42:34.320 --> 00:42:42.559
toward the light, forgetting his countless wounds freedom. His voice croaked.

484
00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:48.280
Othren rushed at him and thrust the pitchfork forward, spearing

485
00:42:48.360 --> 00:42:52.159
him in the abdomen. With an amazing show of strength,

486
00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:55.920
he lifted the man into the air and flung the

487
00:42:55.960 --> 00:43:00.000
still smiling soul into the air and over the edge.

488
00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:07.119
He returned to his position next to Cravat, and they

489
00:43:07.159 --> 00:43:13.760
both stood there silently for some time, maybe minutes maybe

490
00:43:13.880 --> 00:43:23.079
ours in hell time worked strangely. Are you happy, Othren asked.

491
00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:29.880
Cravat looked at his companion shocked. Of course not, we're

492
00:43:29.920 --> 00:43:33.119
in Hell. I'm just glad I'm no longer one of

493
00:43:33.159 --> 00:43:38.719
those things. He pointed downward. If there's pain involved, I'd

494
00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:45.920
rather give than receive. Othren pressed, I mean, what's the point,

495
00:43:47.000 --> 00:43:53.400
why do we do this? Look, Cravat whispered, looking straight ahead.

496
00:43:54.480 --> 00:43:56.800
Don't let one of the others hear you talk like that,

497
00:43:57.480 --> 00:44:00.199
or you'll be back down there and I'll be throwing

498
00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:05.159
you off the mountain. Cravat risked a sideways glance to

499
00:44:05.280 --> 00:44:09.320
see if his words hit home. Another of the lost

500
00:44:09.519 --> 00:44:14.320
clawed their way to the summit, a woman, this time. Amazingly,

501
00:44:14.519 --> 00:44:17.800
she still had part of a blouse that clung to

502
00:44:17.880 --> 00:44:22.599
her shoulders glued on by blood. She laid at the

503
00:44:22.760 --> 00:44:26.840
edge for a few moments before she looked up and

504
00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:32.400
saw the glowing ring of light. My lord, I'm coming.

505
00:44:33.199 --> 00:44:36.679
She forced herself to her feet and stumbled forward, at

506
00:44:36.719 --> 00:44:43.079
which point Cravat slammed his pitchfork into her stomach. Roaring,

507
00:44:43.679 --> 00:44:48.920
He lifted her up and flicked her uncaringly over the edge.

508
00:44:49.719 --> 00:45:00.239
Her screams. Her screams slowly fade away. Cravat walks back

509
00:45:00.360 --> 00:45:05.199
to his partner. See it's not difficult. If someone runs

510
00:45:05.239 --> 00:45:08.159
towards the light, you spear them and toss him over

511
00:45:08.159 --> 00:45:15.719
the edge. Simple, easy, and a story. But why, Othren

512
00:45:15.800 --> 00:45:20.320
wondered out loud by the pit. We've been doing this51300:45:20.360 --> 00:45:23.440



for a thousand years, and if we keep doing it51400:45:23.480 --> 00:45:27.760



for a thousand more, maybe we'll move up to overseer,51500:45:28.360 --> 00:45:30.679



where we'll get a day off every decade or so.51600:45:31.880 --> 00:45:36.920



Don't ruin this for me, Cravat warned. Othren didn't speak51700:45:37.400 --> 00:45:41.800



for a long time. He took his turns flinging souls51800:45:41.800 --> 00:45:47.639



from the mountain. Although he moved almost mechanically, all joy51900:45:47.800 --> 00:45:53.280



gone from his actions. He finally spoke, although more to52000:45:53.400 --> 00:46:00.199



himself than to Cravat. I don't know how, but I52100:46:00.239 --> 00:46:04.239



suddenly remember getting a red bicycle when I was a kid.52200:46:05.360 --> 00:46:11.519



He sighed, I loved that bike. Cravat groaned in frustration.52300:46:12.519 --> 00:46:16.119



Knowing how noises carry, he tried to keep his voice52400:46:16.199 --> 00:46:22.400



quiet and calm. No, you can't remember. That's one of52500:46:22.440 --> 00:46:26.800



the perks of being a demon. Everything you did or52600:46:26.920 --> 00:46:32.199



knew as a human is wiped away. Now stop this52700:46:32.400 --> 00:46:38.960



shit before you get us in trouble. I remember snow bells,52800:46:40.159 --> 00:46:44.159



the scent of pine. I was such a good kid.52900:46:45.519 --> 00:46:49.559



I wonder where I went wrong, Othrin said in a53000:46:49.639 --> 00:46:56.440



melancholy tone. Cravat shook his head and snorted, I give up.53100:46:57.000 --> 00:47:00.760



You're on your own. He turned and saw that a53200:47:00.800 --> 00:47:04.320



woman had climbed to the top and had started running53300:47:04.360 --> 00:47:08.280



toward the light, screaming about how the Lord is going53400:47:08.360 --> 00:47:13.559



to save her. It's your turn, Cravat said. When he53500:47:13.639 --> 00:47:18.119



received no reply from his partner, he grunted and moved53600:47:18.199 --> 00:47:24.159



forward to intercept the lost one. When Cravat moved away,53700:47:24.599 --> 00:47:28.440



Othrin looked toward the light, which did not hurt his53800:47:28.559 --> 00:47:33.039



eyes as it did before. He could have sworn that.53900:47:33.159 --> 00:47:37.960



The light grew brighter and began to pulse with his heartbeat.54000:47:39.000 --> 00:47:44.519



He stared opened mouth at the ring, and memories of54100:47:44.639 --> 00:47:56.159



Christmas past began to flood into his mind. Days prior,54200:47:57.679 --> 00:48:01.519



John glanced at the summit a few hundred yards above him.54300:48:02.400 --> 00:48:05.559



He collapsed onto the bones that make up the mountain.54400:48:06.440 --> 00:48:11.159



He could feel the pull, the unrelenting optimism and redemption54500:48:11.719 --> 00:48:16.079



from the top of the mountain, demanding that he moves forward.54600:48:17.840 --> 00:48:23.559



John composed himself and started moving upward again. His life54700:48:23.679 --> 00:48:28.280



prior to this was fuzzy. He could remember that people54800:48:28.400 --> 00:48:32.119



called him John, but the only details from his life54900:48:32.159 --> 00:48:36.239



he could recall were the bad stuff, the sin, and55000:48:36.320 --> 00:48:41.360



the hurt he caused others. He remembered shoplifting as a teenager,55100:48:42.119 --> 00:48:46.679



cheating on his taxes and his ex wives, and misleading55200:48:46.719 --> 00:48:50.440



his customers about the used cars he would try and55300:48:50.559 --> 00:48:57.840



sell them. Nothing big, all minor stuff, except for one night.55400:48:59.000 --> 00:49:02.960



That night, he made the choice to drink and then55500:49:03.400 --> 00:49:07.400



get behind the wheel. The man driving the car that55600:49:07.480 --> 00:49:11.920



John hit didn't die, but he did spend the rest55700:49:11.960 --> 00:49:17.039



of his life in a wheelchair. After getting released from prison,55800:49:17.599 --> 00:49:21.920



John cleaned up and stop drinking. He started going to55900:49:22.079 --> 00:49:26.320



church and found a god fearing woman to settle down56000:49:26.360 --> 00:49:32.039



with should one night, one bad choice consign you to56100:49:32.119 --> 00:49:36.960



an eternity of suffering? Shaking his head to clear it,56200:49:37.400 --> 00:49:41.920



he looked up and saw a golden light illuminating the56300:49:42.039 --> 00:49:47.280



ridge just above him. He forgot everything except the light56400:49:48.039 --> 00:49:51.880



and the pull it exerted on him. Peace and love56500:49:52.119 --> 00:49:55.960



radiated from the light, and he began to climb faster,56600:49:56.760 --> 00:50:00.920



ignoring all the sharp edges from the broken bow he56700:50:01.039 --> 00:50:04.599



had to crawl over. He made it to the edge,56800:50:05.000 --> 00:50:09.360



blood seeping from a hundred different wounds. He pulled himself56900:50:09.400 --> 00:50:13.199



over and laid there for a second, trying to will57000:50:13.320 --> 00:50:19.000



himself to stand. When he was finally able to rise up,57100:50:19.440 --> 00:50:24.000



he began shuffling to the light on shaky legs. His57200:50:24.159 --> 00:50:27.639



vision tunneled, and all he could see or think about57300:50:27.760 --> 00:50:31.519



was the beam of light shooting up into the sky.57400:50:32.360 --> 00:50:36.199



He was halfway there when something sprang up in front57500:50:36.239 --> 00:50:39.800



of him. He tried to sidestep to the left, when57600:50:39.880 --> 00:50:45.199



piercing pain brought him back to reality. He stared into57700:50:45.239 --> 00:50:52.719



the face of a demon so alien yet familiar. The57800:50:52.760 --> 00:50:58.760



thing smiled and then screamed in triumph. John felt himself57900:50:58.840 --> 00:51:03.079



being lifted into the air, his body sliding down the58000:51:03.239 --> 00:51:08.559



ties of the pitchfork. A sudden thrust sent him flying58100:51:08.679 --> 00:51:14.039



over the edge, and he fell. John seemed to fall forever,58200:51:14.679 --> 00:51:19.039



the pain in his stomach overriding the other terrible pains58300:51:19.559 --> 00:51:23.440



all across his body. He watched the glow of the58400:51:23.519 --> 00:51:30.039



yellow light fade as he fell, and with it his hope.58500:51:30.119 --> 00:51:34.480



After what felt like hours, he finally hit the ground58600:51:35.239 --> 00:51:41.000



and his world went black. When he woke, his body58700:51:41.159 --> 00:51:45.719



was bloody, the pain overshadowed any other that he felt58800:51:45.760 --> 00:51:53.119



so far. His bones were shattered, and his spirit was broken. Well,58900:51:53.840 --> 00:51:59.760



what do we have here? A large, animalistic face appeared59000:51:59.800 --> 00:52:06.360



a him. John focused and saw a winged devil standing59100:52:06.400 --> 00:52:11.280



next to him. In a voice that was surprisingly smooth59200:52:11.760 --> 00:52:17.559



and understanding, he purred, You must not have wanted it enough,59300:52:18.239 --> 00:52:23.639



But Satan is generous. He'll give you another chance. Redemption59400:52:23.800 --> 00:52:28.400



awaits those who climb the mountain, reach the golden light,59500:52:29.119 --> 00:52:34.800



and Heaven will take you. The overseer reached down and59600:52:34.920 --> 00:52:39.719



touched John on the forehead. He screamed as his bones59700:52:40.039 --> 00:52:44.760



knit back together, one at a time, filling his entire59800:52:44.880 --> 00:52:50.840



being with unimaginable agony. The process seemed to take days,59900:52:50.960 --> 00:52:54.159



and although John was on the edge of passing out.60000:52:54.519 --> 00:53:02.280



The entire time he stayed conscious. Afterwards, he laid there, screaming,60100:53:03.000 --> 00:53:08.800



but fully healed. Eventually he turned his head and saw60200:53:08.840 --> 00:53:14.199



the mountain of bone. Slowly getting to his feet, he60300:53:14.239 --> 00:53:22.960



began heading to the pile and to the light. Days later,60400:53:23.880 --> 00:53:28.519



Cravat threw up his hands in frustration. You are insane.60500:53:28.840 --> 00:53:32.079



That's not how things work here. You put your head down,60600:53:32.400 --> 00:53:35.760



do your job, and maybe, just maybe, in a couple60700:53:35.840 --> 00:53:39.840



of thousand years, you'll get promoted, maybe even get some60800:53:39.960 --> 00:53:47.079



time off. Shaking his head, Othren spoke at almost a whisper.60900:53:48.159 --> 00:53:51.960



That's not how things should be. We should not hurt61000:53:52.039 --> 00:53:58.599



others for any reason. This is hell, Cravat screamed, This61100:53:58.960 --> 00:54:04.239



is what we do, this is who we are. That61200:54:04.440 --> 00:54:09.639



doesn't make it right, Othren retorted. John climbed onto the61300:54:09.679 --> 00:54:14.360



summit and rolled on his back, catching his breath. He61400:54:14.400 --> 00:54:17.960



could barely hear the din of an argument, but the61500:54:18.000 --> 00:54:22.639



pulsating ping from the light drowned out all other noise.61600:54:23.599 --> 00:54:27.880



He climbed to his feet and began to hobble toward61700:54:27.960 --> 00:54:32.960



the light. Cravat stood in front of John, his pitchfork61800:54:33.079 --> 00:54:38.360



held high. His weapon poised to strike. Just as he61900:54:38.480 --> 00:54:44.400



began to bring the pitchfork forward, he experienced a horrible pain.62000:54:45.679 --> 00:54:49.559



He looked down at the three prongs that protruded from62100:54:49.599 --> 00:54:54.199



his stomach. The breath of Othren tickled the back of62200:54:54.280 --> 00:55:01.039



his neck as the renegade yelled no more killing. Cravat62300:55:01.239 --> 00:55:07.320



was then lifted into the air and flung over the side.62400:55:07.360 --> 00:55:14.239



His screams slowly faded as he disappeared from sight. John62500:55:14.480 --> 00:55:18.480



continued on, stopping only at the edge of the circle62600:55:18.559 --> 00:55:22.679



of light. With tears flowing down his cheek and a62700:55:22.719 --> 00:55:27.159



prayer on his lips, he stepped forward. All of his62800:55:27.320 --> 00:55:33.159



wounds faded away. Peace and love filled his core until62900:55:33.159 --> 00:55:37.840



he felt like he would explode. Looking down, he realized63000:55:38.400 --> 00:55:44.159



that he was floating up toward the heavens. Finally, he63100:55:44.320 --> 00:55:49.960



said peace as he shot up into the sky in63200:55:50.039 --> 00:55:55.199



a dazzling streak of light. Othren stared at the empty63300:55:55.280 --> 00:56:00.639



space where Cravat plummeted. The pulsating light from the ring63400:56:01.159 --> 00:56:05.320



broke him out of his trance. He turned and sprinted63500:56:05.440 --> 00:56:08.719



toward the ring of light, which seemed to have grown63600:56:09.360 --> 00:56:13.559



since he last looked. When he approached the edge, he63700:56:13.679 --> 00:56:18.239



leaped into the light and exploded in a shower of sparks,63800:56:19.119 --> 00:56:23.679



a smile on his face. You could hear the words63900:56:24.519 --> 00:56:31.320



forgive me echo throughout the area. The sparks rained down64000:56:31.599 --> 00:56:36.639



far and wide. One landed on overseer Gorkaw, who absently64100:56:36.760 --> 00:56:40.840



rubbed the spot between his horns where it landed. He64200:56:41.000 --> 00:56:44.679



raised his whip to give this lost human another lash.64300:56:45.400 --> 00:56:50.320



When he suddenly stopped, the smell of hot chocolate filled64400:56:50.320 --> 00:56:55.960



his nostrils, and he remembered spending Christmas at his grandmother's.64500:56:56.840 --> 00:57:00.000



He shook his head and began whipping the lost one again,64600:57:00.800 --> 00:57:06.480



although with less enthusiasm. He kept thinking of putting up64700:57:06.599 --> 00:57:12.039



Christmas trees. Listening to stories by the fireplace dinner of64800:57:12.199 --> 00:57:17.840



roasted chicken, The whip moved slower, the passion for his64900:57:18.000 --> 00:57:23.119



work draining from him. He risked a look up at65000:57:23.159 --> 00:57:28.559



the faint light on the distant bone mountain and sighed.65100:57:40.199 --> 00:57:44.280



Jack Scratch stepped out from behind a pillar of skulls,65200:57:44.800 --> 00:57:52.920



brushing imaginary dust from his red sleeve. Ah, he sighed, contentedly.65300:57:53.960 --> 00:57:56.920



Nothing like a good pile of bones to remind you65400:57:57.039 --> 00:58:03.880



how temporary things are festive in its own way. He65500:58:04.039 --> 00:58:08.400



tapped his cane once against the stone floor. The echo65600:58:08.599 --> 00:58:13.519



lingered longer than it should have. But let's move on,65700:58:13.800 --> 00:58:18.440



shall we. We've had our fun with spectacle. He glanced65800:58:18.480 --> 00:58:22.280



back over his shoulder, where the distant sound of shifting65900:58:22.360 --> 00:58:27.599



bones still whispered to itself. Now I want to show66000:58:27.639 --> 00:58:33.719



you something a little more instructional. Jack began walking, and66100:58:33.840 --> 00:58:39.760



the landscape around him subtly changed, a corridor slowly materializing66200:58:39.840 --> 00:58:44.840



behind them. The jagged blocks of limestone gave way to66300:58:45.559 --> 00:58:52.559



older stone, cleaner lines, purpose built, less art, more architecture.66400:58:53.440 --> 00:58:57.840



This is the part of hell most tourists never see,66500:58:58.239 --> 00:59:06.159



he said lightly. No screaming choires, no elaborate pageantry, Just intake, assessment,66600:59:06.320 --> 00:59:13.480



and processing, he smiled, without warmth efficiency. He stopped beside66700:59:13.519 --> 00:59:19.000



a wide, circular chamber carved into the rock. The air66800:59:19.119 --> 00:59:24.199



here was heavier, hotter, and threaded, with a sound like66900:59:24.760 --> 00:59:29.679



distant breathing. Jack walked out on a balcony and pointed67000:59:29.719 --> 00:59:36.159



to the valley below. Every soul comes through here, Jack continued,67100:59:37.039 --> 00:59:43.519



every single one, lines, doors, clipboards, forms in triplicate. It's67200:59:43.599 --> 00:59:49.800



all very civilized. He leaned closer, lowering his voice as67300:59:49.800 --> 00:59:53.679



if sharing a secret. Most of them think. The worst67400:59:53.760 --> 00:59:59.159



thing about hell is the pain. Jack straightened and snapped67500:59:59.159 --> 01:00:07.639



his fingers their wrong. Jack's grin returned, slow, knowing sharp.67601:00:08.039 --> 01:00:13.119



The worst thing is the anticipation of pain, He laughed,67701:00:13.559 --> 01:00:16.440



and then peered over the edge of the stone railing67801:00:17.079 --> 01:00:27.199



to watch the procession. Below the furnace, Surrounded on all67901:00:27.360 --> 01:00:32.320



sides by tall, sheer cliffs of red clay, lay a68001:00:32.360 --> 01:00:37.800



circle of stone doorways set into a cracked flagstone floor.68101:00:38.760 --> 01:00:43.079



The air stank of sulfur and scorched earth, and a faint,68201:00:43.320 --> 01:00:49.079



almost human moan echoed through the canyon as wind scraped68301:00:49.119 --> 01:00:53.480



across the cliff faces. From the center of the circle,68401:00:53.960 --> 01:00:57.960



a line of human souls stretched toward a holding area68501:00:58.679 --> 01:01:03.480



carved into the cliff. Thousands of the newly dead, in68601:01:03.639 --> 01:01:09.079



various states of undress, shuffled forward with the slow inevitability68701:01:09.159 --> 01:01:13.559



of a factory line. All but one trembled in terror68801:01:14.039 --> 01:01:20.480



and confusion. Minor demons with short horns, pitchforks, and the68901:01:20.519 --> 01:01:26.400



temperaments of irritated bureaucrats stalked the queue, snapping orders and69001:01:26.599 --> 01:01:31.000



prodding the laggards. A robed demon stood at the center,69101:01:31.480 --> 01:01:35.679



judging each soul brought before him. And assigning them to69201:01:35.800 --> 01:01:39.800



one of the doorways. A guard would then escort the69301:01:40.079 --> 01:01:44.760



lost one through the selected portal, where each vanished in69401:01:44.840 --> 01:01:49.440



a dim flash of red light. Only one soul showed69501:01:49.559 --> 01:01:54.840



no fear. He waited patiently, nodding politely to the guards,69601:01:55.360 --> 01:01:58.760



who increasingly went out of their way to avoid eye69701:01:58.800 --> 01:02:03.920



contact with him. He unsettled them, and unsettling a demon69801:02:04.519 --> 01:02:08.679



was an accomplishment. One of them risked a glance at69901:02:08.719 --> 01:02:13.880



the human, an old fashioned nightgown, a drooping nightcap, a70001:02:13.960 --> 01:02:18.480



long white beard that shimmered faintly, as though touched by frost.70101:02:19.519 --> 01:02:22.760



His belly was round, but his muscles beneath the cloth70201:02:23.079 --> 01:02:27.880



were taut corded with strength, and when he stepped forward,70301:02:28.559 --> 01:02:33.639



the air cooled almost imperceptibly around him. When the robed70401:02:33.719 --> 01:02:40.360



demon finally barked next, the man ambled forward, accompanied by70501:02:40.440 --> 01:02:48.440



a guard who still refused to look at him. Krekia,70601:02:48.599 --> 01:02:53.639



the chooser, looked vaguely human except for his reptilian skin70701:02:54.320 --> 01:02:57.960



and the small horns jutting from a mop of gray hair.70801:02:58.880 --> 01:03:02.840



In demonic circle, he was well known, the one who70901:03:02.920 --> 01:03:08.320



met every lost soul, stared into their eyes, and instantly71001:03:08.400 --> 01:03:13.800



divined which torment would break them best. As the rotund71101:03:13.920 --> 01:03:19.360



man approached, Krakia checked the sparse notes on his clipboard, sighed,71201:03:19.920 --> 01:03:26.320



and lifted his gaze. He froze. The man's calm, steady71301:03:26.480 --> 01:03:31.159



eyes pierced straight through him. The clarity in them shook71401:03:31.239 --> 01:03:36.800



Krekia to his core. Nothing scares him. The demon wasn't71501:03:36.880 --> 01:03:40.840



sure how long he stood with his mouth hanging open71601:03:41.400 --> 01:03:46.519



before the man leaned slightly closer and whispered loud enough71701:03:46.519 --> 01:03:51.199



for every guard to hear. It's all right, son, do71801:03:51.320 --> 01:03:56.159



what you gotta do. Krakia jerked himself back to focus.71901:03:57.000 --> 01:04:02.679



Right right, um, send this man into the drowning pool,72001:04:03.440 --> 01:04:06.719



he gestured to the guard, grateful to be rid of72101:04:06.760 --> 01:04:10.039



this one. His power had failed him for the first72201:04:10.079 --> 01:04:15.079



time in centuries. He couldn't see which torment would terrify72301:04:15.159 --> 01:04:21.599



the old man most, so he chose at random, but honestly,72401:04:22.320 --> 01:04:29.800



everyone hates drowning. Krakia's nerves still hadn't settled by the72501:04:29.840 --> 01:04:35.000



time he reached the Overseer's chamber. The stone door radiated72601:04:35.079 --> 01:04:39.000



enough heat to blister mortal skin, but he pushed it72701:04:39.039 --> 01:04:46.079



open without hesitation. Inside Grolleth overseer of torments. Hunched over72801:04:46.159 --> 01:04:50.760



his desk, his wings almost hitting the ceiling. He dipped72901:04:50.760 --> 01:04:54.559



a claw from his right hand into ink and started73001:04:54.639 --> 01:04:59.239



updating records on the ancient parchments. When the smaller demon73101:04:59.320 --> 01:05:04.360



approached his desk, he didn't bother looking up. What now,73201:05:04.719 --> 01:05:10.760



he muttered. Already annoyed, Krachia clasped his hands behind his back,73301:05:11.400 --> 01:05:15.840



trying to stop them from trembling. We have a complication73401:05:16.599 --> 01:05:20.880



at the drowning pool. There's always a complication at the73501:05:20.960 --> 01:05:24.280



drowning pool. If they're fighting, put more weight on them,73601:05:24.599 --> 01:05:28.159



if they're trying to escape. He didn't try to escape,73701:05:28.159 --> 01:05:34.639



Sir Grolith's claw paused mid stroke. Then what did he do?73801:05:35.719 --> 01:05:41.559



Krakia inhaled, It's more like what he didn't do? Grolith73901:05:41.639 --> 01:05:45.480



slowly lifted his gaze. He took a few seconds to74001:05:45.519 --> 01:05:49.320



push back the rage he felt at this little creature.74101:05:50.199 --> 01:05:57.320



Grolith spoke, each word dripping with implied violence. What didn't74201:05:57.599 --> 01:06:05.159



he do? Swallowed hard. He didn't drown. In fact, he74301:06:05.320 --> 01:06:10.320



uh seemed to have enjoyed it. Putting his claws on74401:06:10.360 --> 01:06:12.800



the arms of the chair was the only thing that74501:06:12.920 --> 01:06:16.840



prevented Grolith from tearing the horns out of Krekia's skull.74601:06:18.079 --> 01:06:22.559



How can that be? He said? It is a drowning pool.74701:06:22.920 --> 01:06:28.519



Drowning people is the one thing it is designed to accomplish, Yes, sir,74801:06:29.079 --> 01:06:32.840



which is why I came directly to you. A long74901:06:33.000 --> 01:06:39.239



breath escaped Grolith. Show me. They made their way down75001:06:39.280 --> 01:06:44.559



the corridor into the drowning cavern. Steam drifted along the floor,75101:06:45.039 --> 01:06:49.840



smelling faintly of rust and heated stone. The pool churned75201:06:49.840 --> 01:06:54.719



in its usual violent rhythm, dark water boiling and pooling75301:06:54.800 --> 01:07:01.199



down below, but the expected shouts, commands, and gasping souls75401:07:01.880 --> 01:07:06.639



were absent. Instead, the two demons assigned to guard the75501:07:06.719 --> 01:07:11.000



pool sat on the sandy bank, knees drawn up to75601:07:11.079 --> 01:07:15.480



their chests, muttering at each other. Their bodies were as75701:07:15.519 --> 01:07:20.599



imposing as ever, scaled, muscular, horned, but their expressions were75801:07:21.079 --> 01:07:26.840



slack and unfocused. Their voices were oddly high, as though75901:07:26.880 --> 01:07:31.159



filtered through the mind of a child. That's my sand,76001:07:31.760 --> 01:07:35.679



one demon whined, sliding a small pile of sand to76101:07:35.800 --> 01:07:40.239



his side. You're not even playing right, the other snapped,76201:07:40.480 --> 01:07:44.519



jumping to his feet. You're messing it all up, he said,76301:07:44.760 --> 01:07:48.119



using his hoofed foot to knock down a castle wall76401:07:48.639 --> 01:07:55.079



made from sand. Krakia stopped short. Grolith did too. The76501:07:55.119 --> 01:08:00.800



demons hadn't changed physically, but their demeanor, their tone, their76601:08:01.360 --> 01:08:07.320



complete lack of awareness of their surroundings, it was unmistakable,76701:08:07.840 --> 01:08:14.000



Sir Krekia said quietly. They were competent when I left them.76801:08:14.800 --> 01:08:19.720



Rolith said nothing. His jaw flexed once. One of the76901:08:19.760 --> 01:08:24.319



demons looked up at them. Confused, are we in trouble?77001:08:24.920 --> 01:08:30.000



He asked, the words wobbling like a frightened child's. The77101:08:30.079 --> 01:08:33.640



other demon immediately pointed at him. He did it. It77201:08:33.760 --> 01:08:38.439



was him, I did not. The first shrieked, bursting into tears.77301:08:39.199 --> 01:08:44.199



Before Krekia could intervene, the crying demon turned spotted the77401:08:44.279 --> 01:08:51.680



drowning pool and gasped. The water's scary, he whispered, trembling.77501:08:52.720 --> 01:09:01.039



I don't like it. Krakia close used his eyes for77601:09:01.119 --> 01:09:07.720



a moment. Four year olds, he realized, grimly. They've regressed77701:09:08.000 --> 01:09:13.840



to four year olds. Grolith's gaze moved past them. Where77801:09:13.920 --> 01:09:19.560



is the soul? Krekia looked around, then pointed towards the right.77901:09:20.680 --> 01:09:24.479



A portly human lay on the warm sand near the78001:09:24.520 --> 01:09:29.720



water's edge, hands behind his head, eyes, half closed, as78101:09:29.760 --> 01:09:33.800



if enjoying the heat of the cavern. His nightcap had78201:09:33.840 --> 01:09:38.399



been pushed back, his beard drying in soft curls. He78301:09:38.560 --> 01:09:43.199



was the embodiment of relaxation. He could have been mistaken78401:09:43.279 --> 01:09:46.640



for one of the thousands of vacationers in the Caribbean78501:09:47.239 --> 01:09:51.439



sunning themselves at a resort. The only elements breaking the78601:09:51.479 --> 01:09:55.720



illusion were the lack of actual sunshine and the fact78701:09:55.800 --> 01:10:00.000



that he was wearing a nightgown. He turned his head78801:10:00.199 --> 01:10:06.960



slightly and offered a cordial nod Afternoon gentlemen. Grolith didn't respond.78901:10:07.600 --> 01:10:13.479



Krakia swallowed. They kept holding him under sir, each time79001:10:14.000 --> 01:10:19.720



longer than before, Krakia said quietly. When he surfaced, he79101:10:19.800 --> 01:10:26.680



seemed rested, jovial even And what happened to the guards,79201:10:27.359 --> 01:10:32.520



Gralith asked. They were fine when I left, taking turns79301:10:32.600 --> 01:10:37.560



dunking the human. But now, Krakia gestured at the two79401:10:37.640 --> 01:10:42.000



demons sitting side by side, drawing pictures in the sand79501:10:42.079 --> 01:10:46.560



with their claws. One leaned over and whispered something, the79601:10:46.600 --> 01:10:52.159



other giggled uncontrollably. Krekia looked back at Groleith and shrugged.79701:10:53.720 --> 01:10:58.840



Grolith felt like he needed to clamp down hard, very well.79801:10:59.439 --> 01:11:03.600



The over said, at last, we need to set an example.79901:11:04.279 --> 01:11:08.119



I'll assign him to Cray the Cruel. Cray the Cruel80001:11:08.319 --> 01:11:12.479



was an ancient demon, one of the oldest and most feared.80101:11:13.319 --> 01:11:16.720



It is said that he can break anyone's spirit with80201:11:17.039 --> 01:11:22.199



just three cracks of his whip. Yes, Sir, Krakia nodded80301:11:22.600 --> 01:11:27.960



and approached the reclining man. You've been reassigned. The man80401:11:28.119 --> 01:11:32.199



sat up easily, brushed a bit of sand from his gown,80501:11:32.479 --> 01:11:37.560



and smiled, whatever you need. Krakia led him toward the80601:11:37.680 --> 01:11:43.560



iron rimmed doorway carved with hooks and nails. Behind him,80701:11:44.039 --> 01:11:48.199



one of the child minded demons began to cry again.80801:11:49.520 --> 01:11:54.000



Graluth watched them leave, hoping he'd seen the last of80901:11:54.119 --> 01:12:03.000



the white haired human. The iron door to Brackmoor's office81001:12:03.079 --> 01:12:08.159



stood half open, leaking a faint red glow into the hallway.81101:12:09.000 --> 01:12:13.359



The light came from a collection of floating embers suspended81201:12:13.399 --> 01:12:19.920



above his desk, drifting like captive stars. Brackmore preferred them81301:12:19.960 --> 01:12:24.079



to torches. He enjoyed the slow sizzle of the embers81401:12:24.640 --> 01:12:28.239



rather than the spark and pop of an open flame.81501:12:29.439 --> 01:12:33.920



The sector overseer of torment. Division four leaned over a81601:12:34.039 --> 01:12:39.399



large obsidian map table, studying the carved layout of Hell's81701:12:39.720 --> 01:12:46.039



lower chambers. Small rooms glowed wherever a sector reported activity,81801:12:46.760 --> 01:12:53.359



flickering orange for routine torment, steady red for failures, bright81901:12:53.479 --> 01:12:59.239



white for incidents requiring intervention. A single point glowed in82001:12:59.319 --> 01:13:05.479



a soft blue. Jack scratches domain. Brackmore traced a claw82101:13:05.600 --> 01:13:12.680



over it, eyes narrowing soon, he murmured, the old showman82201:13:12.840 --> 01:13:17.840



won't see it coming. One final step and the stage82301:13:18.239 --> 01:13:23.680



is mine. He reached for a bone quill, scratching notes82401:13:23.920 --> 01:13:28.640



into a private ledger, the kind that erased itself if82501:13:28.680 --> 01:13:33.760



anyone but Brackmore touched it. He was halfway through recording82601:13:33.840 --> 01:13:37.720



the next stage of his coup when a frantic knock82701:13:38.239 --> 01:13:45.159



rattled the iron door. Brackmore's wings shifted slightly, annoyance crackling82801:13:45.279 --> 01:13:53.319



through his calm enter, he said, without turning. Grolith hurried inside,82901:13:53.880 --> 01:13:58.520



steam rising from his shoulders where sweat touched heated air83001:13:59.680 --> 01:14:06.840



hewed stiffly. Sector overseer Brackmore, we have a problem. Brackmore83101:14:07.000 --> 01:14:11.600



didn't look up. There are always problems, That's why I83201:14:11.680 --> 01:14:19.039



have subordinates. This is not routine sir, Brackmore finally raised83301:14:19.039 --> 01:14:25.880



his eyes. Explain. Graleith cleared his throat. A soul arrived83401:14:25.960 --> 01:14:35.159



this cycle human elderly appears harmless. However, he hesitated. Brackmore motion83501:14:35.439 --> 01:14:40.840



sharply for him to continue. The drowning pool did not83601:14:41.039 --> 01:14:46.479



harm him. We attempted full submersion, repeated cycles, increased durations.83701:14:47.359 --> 01:14:56.119



He resisted everything calmly. Brackmore blinked once impossible, Yes, sir,83801:14:56.439 --> 01:15:01.680



that's what I thought. Graalith swallowed. I then assigned him83901:15:01.680 --> 01:15:04.880



to Cray, figuring that we needed to use the soul84001:15:04.960 --> 01:15:09.560



as an example of what happens to those who defy us.84101:15:10.079 --> 01:15:16.600



And what happened, Brackmore asked, the human is unscathed. It84201:15:16.720 --> 01:15:20.720



seemed that nothing that Cray had could pierce his skin.84301:15:21.600 --> 01:15:25.920



Grollith stopped speaking, but he clearly had more to say,84401:15:27.159 --> 01:15:33.039



and Brockmore prompted. Cray is in his room and won't84501:15:33.039 --> 01:15:36.119



come out. He says that everyone is mad at him,84601:15:36.319 --> 01:15:41.399



and Brackmore stared at Groleith until he started talking again.84701:15:42.560 --> 01:15:51.239



M He called everyone big meanis Brockmore looked confused, Wait,84801:15:51.960 --> 01:15:55.000



you mean that one of the oldest and most feared84901:15:55.199 --> 01:16:03.359



demons used the term big Meani. Groleith looked aghast, Yes, Sir,85001:16:03.960 --> 01:16:09.199



two guards in the drowning pool also suffered mental regression.85101:16:09.880 --> 01:16:14.920



They retained physical form, but developed the cognition of human children.85201:16:16.079 --> 01:16:26.239



We believe the soul caused this. Brockmore straightened slowly, expression tightening.85301:16:27.199 --> 01:16:34.199



His tail twitched once a sharp, irritated flick. And why,85401:16:34.920 --> 01:16:43.439



he said, quietly, did you bring this irregularity to me? Because,85501:16:44.479 --> 01:16:49.880



Grolith answered, voice strained, I am no longer certain the85601:16:49.920 --> 01:16:56.039



situation can be contained at my level. Brockmore closed the85701:16:56.159 --> 01:17:01.600



ledger carefully, as though afraid the sound might betray something,85801:17:02.359 --> 01:17:07.319



and stepped around the table. His shadow stretched across the floor,85901:17:07.960 --> 01:17:12.680



long and branching, like cracks in the stone. We are86001:17:12.720 --> 01:17:19.520



on the threshold of significant administrative restructuring, he said, the86101:17:19.640 --> 01:17:25.239



kind that draws attention from dangerous eyes. I cannot afford86201:17:25.319 --> 01:17:29.640



scrutiny in my sector right now, not from scratch, not86301:17:29.800 --> 01:17:35.960



from the dark one, not from anyone. Groleth frowned. How86401:17:36.000 --> 01:17:40.560



should we handle the soul, Sir? Brockmore clasped his hands86501:17:40.600 --> 01:17:44.800



behind his back. We will place him in the eternal furnace.86601:17:46.000 --> 01:17:49.840



The eternal furnace was the one thing that could destroy86701:17:49.920 --> 01:17:54.399



a soul, human or demon. For this reason, it was86801:17:54.439 --> 01:17:59.159



strictly regulated and rarely used. Falling out of favor over86901:17:59.199 --> 01:18:04.159



the last time ten centuries or so, Grolith's eyes widened.87001:18:04.880 --> 01:18:10.159



Sector overseer. That requires direct authorization from the Dark One himself.87101:18:10.720 --> 01:18:16.239



A soul cannot simply be It can Brackmore interrupted. If87201:18:16.239 --> 01:18:19.600



the records show a test fire, the furnace is due87301:18:19.640 --> 01:18:24.159



for one, the logs will reflect exactly that, no deviation,87401:18:24.880 --> 01:18:30.960



no unusual entries. Grolith shook his head. But, Sir, a87501:18:31.039 --> 01:18:36.359



test fire requires I will handle the records, Brockmore said, sharply,87601:18:37.199 --> 01:18:43.960



your responsibility ends at the furnace door. Grolith hesitated, torn87701:18:44.079 --> 01:18:49.760



between obedience and fear. Sir, the soul is unlike anything87801:18:49.880 --> 01:18:53.199



I have seen. Putting him into the furnace may draw87901:18:53.319 --> 01:18:59.039



even more attention. If if nothing Brackmore snapped, you will88001:18:59.079 --> 01:19:02.600



deliver him to the furnace chamber. Log the incident as88101:19:02.640 --> 01:19:05.880



a routine system check, and remove any trace of his88201:19:06.000 --> 01:19:10.600



presence from the intake registry. When the Dark One reviews88301:19:10.640 --> 01:19:14.520



the heat signatures, he will see what he expects to see.88401:19:15.119 --> 01:19:20.560



Groleeth bowed, despite the visible tension in his posture as88501:19:20.600 --> 01:19:27.119



you command. Brackmore's voice dropped to a low growl. Dismissed,88601:19:28.760 --> 01:19:34.880



Grolith hurried out, closing the iron door behind him. Brackmore88701:19:34.960 --> 01:19:38.960



remained still for a moment, staring at the spot where88801:19:39.000 --> 01:19:45.399



the blue light lit the map. Jack scratches territory. Then88901:19:45.600 --> 01:19:51.840



he whispered, not now, not when I'm this close Above him,89001:19:52.279 --> 01:19:58.039



the ember lights flickered uneasily, as though disturbed by some presence.89101:19:58.760 --> 01:20:07.319



Neither demon yet understood. El Gore looked over at his partner, Tharn.89201:20:08.439 --> 01:20:12.880



I have a bad feeling about this, Tharn answered, as89301:20:12.920 --> 01:20:16.680



he pushed the fat old man ahead of him. You89401:20:16.800 --> 01:20:20.199



have a bad feeling about everything. You worry too much.89501:20:21.199 --> 01:20:24.880



Come on, el Gore said. We were told to throw89601:20:24.960 --> 01:20:27.359



this human in the furnace and then log it as89701:20:27.399 --> 01:20:30.600



a test fire. If they're willing to delete a human89801:20:30.640 --> 01:20:33.960



without the proper approvals, what do you think they would89901:20:33.960 --> 01:20:39.119



do to witnesses. I just do what I'm told, Tharn said,90001:20:39.319 --> 01:20:44.239



stretching his small wings. The humans stopped and faced them.90101:20:45.359 --> 01:20:48.479



I'm so sorry that I'm responsible for all this trouble.90201:20:49.239 --> 01:20:51.600



I can fill out the logs myself if that would90301:20:51.640 --> 01:20:55.720



help you out. Tharn pushed the man so hard that90401:20:55.800 --> 01:20:59.520



he almost fell, keeping upright only by grabbing on to90501:20:59.640 --> 01:21:03.520



one of the statues of a gargoyle that lined the hallway.90601:21:04.479 --> 01:21:09.239



The man shrugged and continued walking. The walk took them90701:21:09.279 --> 01:21:13.840



out of the commonly used corridors and into an ancient section.90801:21:14.720 --> 01:21:20.760



The stone changed here, less ornamental and more functional, long90901:21:20.960 --> 01:21:26.640



halls broken by the occasional stone door. Soon, the screams91001:21:26.680 --> 01:21:31.199



of the tortured and damned faded away, adding to the91101:21:31.319 --> 01:21:38.600



unease of Elgre. Tharn still seemed unfazed. This place was91201:21:38.640 --> 01:21:45.359



here before the redesigns. Elgre muttered, mostly to himself. The91301:21:45.479 --> 01:21:49.960



human whistled appreciatively. They don't build him like this anymore.91401:21:50.840 --> 01:21:54.680



That earned him a sharp look, but the guard didn't91501:21:54.720 --> 01:21:59.119



correct him. At the end of the corridor, the eternal91601:21:59.199 --> 01:22:04.920



furnace waited. The guards stood before a large metal door91701:22:05.439 --> 01:22:10.800



embedded into the bedrock itself. It was enormous, an iron monolith,91801:22:10.880 --> 01:22:14.880



with its surface etched with sigils meant to unmake rather91901:22:15.319 --> 01:22:19.239



than harm. The guards stood at the left and right92001:22:19.279 --> 01:22:23.600



of the door, and, nodding to each other, they both92101:22:23.680 --> 01:22:27.439



pushed a button on their control panel At the same time.92201:22:28.279 --> 01:22:31.960



Lights began to flash above the door, and they could92301:22:31.960 --> 01:22:36.399



hear massive bolts sliding out of place with a thud92401:22:36.479 --> 01:22:40.920



that shook the walls. The door began to move, opening92501:22:41.000 --> 01:22:45.840



up for the first time in centuries. Dust shimmered in92601:22:45.880 --> 01:22:50.640



the air, while a loud, scraping sound filled the hallway.92701:22:56.880 --> 01:23:01.119



Once the door was open, the guards led the captive's92801:23:01.119 --> 01:23:05.239



soul into the furnace, sitting him down in the only92901:23:05.359 --> 01:23:11.039



object in the large room, a stone chair. The human93001:23:11.159 --> 01:23:15.319



laughed as the demons chained him to the seat. I93101:23:15.399 --> 01:23:17.600



get to see something that no one has seen in93201:23:17.640 --> 01:23:21.840



a thousand years or more. Yeah, but it'll be the93301:23:21.920 --> 01:23:27.479



last thing you ever see. Tharn replied, maybe, but what93401:23:27.640 --> 01:23:32.520



a sight. The human grew serious. I'm sorry to have93501:23:32.560 --> 01:23:36.920



to put you boys through this. I do apologize, yeah,93601:23:36.960 --> 01:23:42.800



and I apologize for ending your entire existence, el Gore said, sarcastically,93701:23:43.600 --> 01:23:47.520



standing as he finished securing the chains to the chair.93801:23:48.680 --> 01:23:54.600



Fair enough, the human said, laughing. Christmas is tomorrow, so93901:23:55.159 --> 01:23:58.239



be sure to spread some love and cheer, he said,94001:23:58.840 --> 01:24:02.800



with a twinkle in his eye. Sure, and maybe I'll94101:24:02.800 --> 01:24:06.760



get a red fire truck for Christmas. El Gore snapped back,94201:24:08.199 --> 01:24:12.880



don't you remember I already gave you one for your94301:24:12.880 --> 01:24:17.960



eighth Christmas, the human replied. El Gore stared at the94401:24:18.000 --> 01:24:23.119



portly man sitting on an oversized stone chair. He didn't94501:24:23.239 --> 01:24:29.279



have any memory of his human life, but this felt right.94601:24:30.399 --> 01:24:33.039



It was like an itch in the back of his mind.94701:24:33.720 --> 01:24:37.079



He couldn't scratch it, but he knew it was there.94801:24:38.159 --> 01:24:43.079



Tharn finally snapped elgre out of his trance. Move. We94901:24:43.199 --> 01:24:46.840



need to get this over with, he said, giving the95001:24:46.920 --> 01:24:51.600



other guard a small push towards the door. El Gore95101:24:51.680 --> 01:24:55.439



and Tharn both walked out of the furnace, leaving the95201:24:55.520 --> 01:24:59.279



man swinging his legs like a child sitting in his95301:24:59.399 --> 01:25:03.960



daddy's chair. Once in the hall, el Gore grabbed a95401:25:03.960 --> 01:25:09.079



clipboard and started filling out the paperwork while Tharn closed95501:25:09.119 --> 01:25:15.920



the furnace door. Once the door was shut and sealed,95601:25:16.560 --> 01:25:20.239



they both stood at their control panels and flipped a95701:25:20.359 --> 01:25:26.439



switch to activate the furnace once again. They nodded at95801:25:26.439 --> 01:25:30.439



each other before flipping the switch to ignite the furnace.95901:25:31.359 --> 01:25:35.239



The sudden roar surprised both of them. They had to96001:25:35.279 --> 01:25:39.079



cover their ears and take a few steps back. The96101:25:39.119 --> 01:25:44.800



green light on each panel turned red. The walls and96201:25:44.960 --> 01:25:49.479



floor shook, causing some loose stones to fall from the ceiling.96301:25:50.239 --> 01:25:54.600



The two demons winced in pain as the roaring got louder.96401:25:55.439 --> 01:26:00.319



Just as suddenly as it started, the furnace stopped and96501:26:00.399 --> 01:26:05.399



the lights on the panel went back to green. A loud,96601:26:05.600 --> 01:26:10.119



grinding noise echoed in the wide hallway. As the demons96701:26:10.159 --> 01:26:14.279



worked the control panel, they stepped back as the door96801:26:14.479 --> 01:26:19.880



slowly opened. The smell of burnt ozone filled up the corridor.96901:26:20.680 --> 01:26:24.840



As a small amount of smoke streamed out into the hall,97001:26:25.840 --> 01:26:31.640



the guards stepped forward, their eyes wide with shock. The97101:26:31.640 --> 01:26:41.600



furnace room was awash in bright holiday lights. The green97201:26:41.720 --> 01:26:46.159



and red danced happily on the stone walls. There were97301:26:46.239 --> 01:26:51.239



life sized toy soldiers flanking the doorway, garland and tinsel97401:26:51.319 --> 01:26:56.880



on all the walls, and Christmas decorations sitting everywhere. The97501:26:56.920 --> 01:27:01.920



centerpiece of the display was the Christmas tree. It was97601:27:02.000 --> 01:27:07.359



decorated in hundreds of ornaments, thousands of blinking lights, and97701:27:07.560 --> 01:27:17.680



yards of garland. Hanging from the tree was an envelope.97801:27:17.880 --> 01:27:23.720



Grolith almost walked into Brackmore's office without knocking, which may97901:27:23.840 --> 01:27:29.439



have been fatal. He knocked frantically until he heard Brackmore's98001:27:29.520 --> 01:27:35.000



voice say enter. Filled with rage, Brackmore looked at the98101:27:35.000 --> 01:27:40.439



frazzled demon and knew that something went wrong. What happened,98201:27:40.920 --> 01:27:47.680



he said, trying to keep his voice even. Grolith swallowed hard.98301:27:48.720 --> 01:27:55.199



The human is gone vanished. Seeing Brackmore begin to open98401:27:55.279 --> 01:27:59.960



his mouth, the terrified demon went on faster. We don't think.98501:28:00.000 --> 01:28:03.279



I think he disappeared in the fire. He left behind98601:28:03.680 --> 01:28:10.399



decorations and this. Growith handed a Christmas card to Brackmore.98701:28:11.720 --> 01:28:15.680



He read the handwritten card out loud in a flat,98801:28:16.079 --> 01:28:25.760



tight voice. Every soul deserves love, Every memory matters. Merry Christmas. PS.98901:28:26.520 --> 01:28:29.880



If you try to lock Santa up, don't leave him99001:28:29.920 --> 01:28:34.439



in a room with a chimney. Brockmore laid the card99101:28:34.520 --> 01:28:38.560



on the table with care, suppressing the anger that boiled99201:28:39.000 --> 01:28:42.720



under the surface. So you're telling me that a human99301:28:42.880 --> 01:28:46.560



escaped one of the most powerful artifacts dating back to99401:28:46.640 --> 01:28:52.960



the creation of Hell itself. Well, there is something else,99501:28:53.800 --> 01:29:02.920



Grawith interjected. Carmel Indiana. Santa Claus, now dressed in his99601:29:03.079 --> 01:29:07.079



traditional red and white suit, helped a haggard man in99701:29:07.119 --> 01:29:11.319



his late twenties to his feet. The man looked around99801:29:11.439 --> 01:29:16.960



fearfully flinching at every sound. Come now, Corey, you're safe.99901:29:17.439 --> 01:29:22.319



No worries about demons or eternal damnation here. Taking another100001:29:22.439 --> 01:29:26.960



look into Corey's eyes, Santa said, let me take some100101:29:27.079 --> 01:29:30.800



of the pain away. Santa placed his hands on the100201:29:30.840 --> 01:29:35.399



sides of Corey's face and both were bathed in a warm,100301:29:35.840 --> 01:29:39.840



soft light. Most of the haunted look that filled the100401:29:39.920 --> 01:29:45.760



young man's eyes slowly disappeared, but if you look close enough,100501:29:46.479 --> 01:29:50.640



you can still see the seeds of pain and madness.100601:29:51.640 --> 01:29:59.640



What what happened? Corey croaked, his voice raw and tender well.100701:30:00.279 --> 01:30:03.920



Santa said, I got a letter from a little girl100801:30:04.600 --> 01:30:08.359



saying that her daddy died and she wanted him back100901:30:08.479 --> 01:30:15.239



for Christmas. I get these all the time, heartbreaking. Santa101001:30:15.359 --> 01:30:20.199



shook his head sadly, but normally there's nothing I can101101:30:20.239 --> 01:30:25.560



do about it. However, in this case, it seems like101201:30:25.600 --> 01:30:29.159



a mistake was made and I was able to fulfill101301:30:29.279 --> 01:30:32.720



her Christmas request. I was able to have a bit101401:30:32.760 --> 01:30:36.960



of fun in the process too. The man still looked101501:30:37.119 --> 01:30:42.560



confused and overwhelmed. Santa gently turned him to face a101601:30:42.600 --> 01:30:47.279



modest ranch house decorated in Christmas lights and to blow101701:30:47.359 --> 01:30:52.680



up frosty that was swaying gently in the wind. All101801:30:52.800 --> 01:30:57.000



you need to do, Santa whispered in the man's ear,101901:30:58.000 --> 01:31:01.479



is go in there and see your wife and daughter.102001:31:02.720 --> 01:31:07.520



Go on, scoot. The man started moving after a gentle102101:31:07.640 --> 01:31:12.479



push from Santa. The man slowly walked up the path102201:31:12.600 --> 01:31:17.279



to the front door, then hesitated. After a moment, he102301:31:17.359 --> 01:31:22.600



turned the knob and went inside. Santa's head felt like102401:31:22.720 --> 01:31:26.239



it was about to split when his grin became even102501:31:26.359 --> 01:31:31.680



wider upon hearing the cries of relief and joy coming102601:31:31.760 --> 01:31:35.760



from the house. With a little spring in his step,102701:31:36.359 --> 01:31:47.520



Santa walked away into the darkness. Brackmore led out a102801:31:47.560 --> 01:31:51.560



deep growl and slammed his fist into the desk again.102901:31:52.560 --> 01:31:56.479



How could this happen? He thought? I had planned this103001:31:56.600 --> 01:32:01.680



for centuries and had every contingency work a way to103101:32:01.800 --> 01:32:09.119



counter anything that Jack Scratch did, anything except this. He103201:32:09.239 --> 01:32:13.399



slammed his fist again. The blue light on his map103301:32:13.920 --> 01:32:18.880



started to blink, indicating that there was a message from Jack.103401:32:19.960 --> 01:32:23.600



Brackmore stared at it for a few seconds before reaching103501:32:23.640 --> 01:32:27.600



out with a razor sharp claw to the control panel103601:32:28.359 --> 01:32:31.520



and tapping the button next to Jack's name.103701:32:32.439 --> 01:32:35.159



Hey, Bracky, how are the wings hanging.103801:32:35.960 --> 01:32:39.439



Jack's voice echoed throughout the office.103901:32:39.520 --> 01:32:43.119



There are reports that two souls were lost in your sector.104001:32:43.840 --> 01:32:47.039



I have also heard rumors of a demon going crazy104101:32:47.119 --> 01:32:51.800



and allowing some other souls to escape to heaven. I104201:32:51.840 --> 01:32:54.760



don't believe it, not even for a minute, knowing how104301:32:55.199 --> 01:33:01.680



responsible and dedicated you are. But others are talking. The104401:33:01.720 --> 01:33:07.640



big guy downstairs has opened an investigation. Anyway, just wanted104501:33:07.680 --> 01:33:10.840



to let you know. Stay gruesome toodles.104601:33:11.960 --> 01:33:15.359



The red light next to Jack's name went out, but104701:33:15.920 --> 01:33:21.560



before Brackmore could do anything, the whole map started blinking red.104801:33:22.359 --> 01:33:26.279



Brackmore's eyes shot to the control panel and saw what104901:33:26.399 --> 01:33:31.239



he knew would be there, a blinking red light next105001:33:31.279 --> 01:33:35.560



to the dark One's name. Trying to control his panic,105101:33:36.319 --> 01:33:42.920



he reached out slowly and pressed the glowing button. Jack105201:33:43.000 --> 01:33:48.119



Scratch stood alone in his office. The decorations were gone,105301:33:48.800 --> 01:33:53.880



no ornaments, no tinsel, just neat stacks of parchments on105401:33:53.960 --> 01:33:57.880



the desk and a faint hum in the air, like105501:33:57.920 --> 01:34:04.239



a machine idling somewhere far below. Jack straightened his cuffs105601:34:04.279 --> 01:34:13.239



and smiled to himself. Well, he said, softly, that was educational.105701:34:14.079 --> 01:34:19.439



He lifted the top parchment scanned it and clicked his tongue.105801:34:19.680 --> 01:34:24.920



Such a shame, really, all that planning, centuries of contingencies.105901:34:25.600 --> 01:34:31.680



He flipped the page and undone by something so very unexpected.106001:34:32.560 --> 01:34:36.119



Jack set the paper down and leaned on his own cane,106101:34:36.600 --> 01:34:42.920



gazing at nothing in particular. You see, Brackmore always believed106201:34:43.000 --> 01:34:49.239



power came from control, he said, lightly, from locking every door,106301:34:49.640 --> 01:34:56.079



double checking every form, keeping everything neat, predictable. He tapped106401:34:56.079 --> 01:35:02.439



his cane once somewhere far away. Thing answered, But control106501:35:02.640 --> 01:35:07.640



is a funny thing, Jack continued. The harder you squeeze,106601:35:08.319 --> 01:35:14.119



he smiled, the more that slips through your fingers. Jack106701:35:14.199 --> 01:35:18.800



turned slightly and bowed. Thank you for coming, he said,106801:35:19.399 --> 01:35:25.560



his voice almost sincere. Almost the powers that be could106901:35:25.640 --> 01:35:29.560



sense your presence, but they couldn't place you, and in107001:35:29.680 --> 01:35:35.560



trying to do so, he shrunk. Well. They noticed other things,107101:35:36.479 --> 01:35:41.279



Jack peered at another document, Things that shouldn't happen in107201:35:41.319 --> 01:35:46.800



a well run sector. He went on, Escapes, irregularities, a107301:35:46.840 --> 01:35:52.800



certain mountain, allowing souls into heaven. He clicked his tongue107401:35:52.960 --> 01:35:56.159



In case you can't guess, that's a big no no,107501:35:57.000 --> 01:36:01.000



he chuckled. Brackmore will spend the next few centuries trying107601:36:01.039 --> 01:36:04.119



to figure out how a soul slipped through a system107701:36:04.159 --> 01:36:09.960



that never fails. He'll audit logs, rewrite procedures, blame subordinates.107801:36:10.680 --> 01:36:16.520



Jack shook his head almost kindly. He'll blame everyone but himself,107901:36:17.359 --> 01:36:24.680



especially me. A pause, Ah, the good times ahead. Jack108001:36:24.720 --> 01:36:29.560



straightened and gave a small wave downward. He'll always lose,108101:36:30.239 --> 01:36:35.840



Jack said, because he's always looking down. He tipped his108201:36:35.880 --> 01:36:40.760



head back, gazing upward. I, on the other hand, prefer108301:36:41.119 --> 01:36:47.199



to look up toward the mortal world. A grin occupational108401:36:47.279 --> 01:36:51.880



hazard of a talent scout. Really, his tone softened just108501:36:51.960 --> 01:36:57.199



a fraction. I've grown rather fond of the living, especially108601:36:57.319 --> 01:37:03.760



when they're dyeing another beat, sentimental, I know. Jack adjusted108701:37:03.760 --> 01:37:07.880



his hat, careful not to tip it too far. He108801:37:07.960 --> 01:37:11.680



gathered a small stack of parchments and tucked them neatly108901:37:12.039 --> 01:37:15.880



under his arm. I should get back to work, he109001:37:15.960 --> 01:37:21.119



said lightly. But don't worry. You didn't do anything wrong.109101:37:22.039 --> 01:37:27.000



A wink you could hear. You are simply in the109201:37:27.079 --> 01:37:32.279



right place at the right time, and sometimes that's more109301:37:32.399 --> 01:37:37.840



than enough. The air around him began to shimmer. Oh109401:37:37.880 --> 01:37:43.600



and if anyone asks, Jack said over his shoulder, you109501:37:43.680 --> 01:37:50.119



were never here, a smile crept into his voice, Merry Christmas,109601:37:50.800 --> 01:37:56.720



I'll be seeing you soon. Laughter followed, the office collapsed109701:37:57.079 --> 01:38:03.359



into darkness, somewhere deep in hell, a legend erased itself,109801:38:04.359 --> 01:38:14.359



and Jack scratch smile. Well, my spookys, that's tonight's little109901:38:14.439 --> 01:38:18.399



holiday trip, straight through the slush and into the furnace.110001:38:18.880 --> 01:38:20.800



If you made it to the end, please do me110101:38:20.840 --> 01:38:24.520



a favor and subscribe on your favorite podcasting app. Drop110201:38:24.560 --> 01:38:26.840



a rating while you're at it, and tell a friend110301:38:26.840 --> 01:38:30.600



who thinks Christmas horror means one killer Santa movie in110401:38:30.640 --> 01:38:33.720



a mug of coca, Because we are out here proving110501:38:33.800 --> 01:38:39.439



the season can be cozy, creepy, and absolutely unhinged all110601:38:39.479 --> 01:38:44.239



at once, and speaking of unhinged, tomorrow on Christmas Eve.110701:38:44.600 --> 01:38:48.479



It's our final holiday horror story of the year, well110801:38:48.600 --> 01:38:52.079



not including New Year's next week, and it is mean110901:38:52.359 --> 01:38:55.640



in the best way. Imagine a small town in nineteen111001:38:55.720 --> 01:38:59.239



ninety six, a big k kmart packed with last minute111101:38:59.279 --> 01:39:02.880



shoppers and a lonely guy who thinks a cashier's small111201:39:02.960 --> 01:39:07.520



talk is secret love language. It becomes a holiday plan111301:39:07.640 --> 01:39:13.640



that goes from romantic to full sleigh ride slay real fast.111401:39:14.199 --> 01:39:16.960



The snow comes down, the lights go out, and a111501:39:17.000 --> 01:39:21.159



man in a red suit starts handing out very different111601:39:21.640 --> 01:39:24.039



kinds of gifts. And I want to say an extra111701:39:24.079 --> 01:39:27.319



special thank you to our Patreon podcast boosters, folks who111801:39:27.359 --> 01:39:29.520



pay just a little bit more to hear their names111901:39:29.520 --> 01:39:31.920



at the end of the show. And they are Johnny Nicks,112001:39:32.000 --> 01:39:37.039



Kate and Lulu, Jessica Fuller, Mike Aeschuey, Jenny Green, Amber Hansford,112101:39:37.119 --> 01:39:39.920



Karen Wee, met Jack Ker, and Craig Cohen. And if112201:39:39.920 --> 01:39:40.800



you want to join.112301:39:40.600 --> 01:39:44.439



Them, and over ninety other spookies at weeklyspooky dot com112401:39:44.479 --> 01:39:48.239



slash join in supporting the program, I sure would appreciate it.112501:39:48.279 --> 01:39:50.520



And if you sign up at fifteen dollars a month112601:39:50.560 --> 01:39:52.640



or higher, you can hear your name at the end112701:39:52.680 --> 01:39:55.479



of the show, just like theirs. But now it's time112801:39:55.479 --> 01:39:56.920



for me to get back to work. We have one112901:39:57.000 --> 01:40:00.479



more holiday horror novella to drop on you before the113001:40:00.520 --> 01:40:04.119



big Christmas Day. So for myself, for my executive producers113101:40:04.199 --> 01:40:08.000



Rob Fields and Bubbletopia dot Com, my producer Dan Wilder,113201:40:08.039 --> 01:40:11.199



and of course my creepy composer Ray Maddis, I will113301:40:11.239 --> 01:40:14.760



talk at you tomorrow, So stay festive out there.113401:40:15.560 --> 01:40:16.600



Thank you for listening.113501:40:17.680 --> 01:40:20.439



Make sure to find your way back next week.113601:40:20.359 --> 01:40:26.279



Week, but for now you are safe. Trust me.