Aug. 22, 2026

4 Scary Stories | Serial Killers, Witches, Werewolves & Supernatural Monsters

4 Scary Stories | Serial Killers, Witches, Werewolves & Supernatural Monsters
Apple Podcasts podcast player badge
Spotify podcast player badge
Spreaker podcast player badge
Audible podcast player badge
Castro podcast player badge
RSS Feed podcast player badge
Apple Podcasts podcast player icon Spotify podcast player icon Spreaker podcast player icon Audible podcast player icon Castro podcast player icon RSS Feed podcast player icon
Terrifying & True

Key Takeaways

  • In the horror fiction story "Crime and Bedevilment: The Falling Out of Two Brothers" by Joe Solmo, two criminal brothers attempt a simple house robbery that turns into a supernatural nightmare involving witchcraft.
  • Joe Solmo's tale highlights the dangers of interrupting an ancient occult ritual and unleashing a bloodthirsty werewolf curse.
  • The episode features a complete horror anthology celebrating Summerween and Halloween in summer with four distinct dark fiction stories.
  • Listeners can explore more terrifying horror audiobooks and stories every Wednesday by subscribing to Weekly Spooky.

Four scary stories unleash serial killers, witchcraft, a werewolf curse, supernatural seduction, and a gigantic killer gummy worm. Celebrate Summerween and Halloween in summer with a complete horror fiction anthology packed with occult rituals, crime horror, murder mysteries, supernatural monsters, body horror, and dark comedy.

Two criminal brothers follow a wealthy woman home expecting an easy robbery. Instead, they interrupt a secret witchcraft ritual involving an ancient enchanted collar—and one thief begins transforming into a bloodthirsty werewolf-like monster.

Then a mysterious woman named Roxie overwhelms Jake Blackmon with an unnatural attraction before disappearing from his life. When she returns and orders him to kill, Jake discovers that Roxie is not human—and that other men may already be trapped beneath the same supernatural influence.
Next, emotionless Strickfield vigilante Raigen Devereux battles a dangerous fever while hunting the Queen of Hearts serial killer through a raging blizzard. Bodies marked with playing cards, preserved human hearts, a kidnapped former fiancé, and a deeply personal connection transform the investigation into a deadly confrontation between two killers.

Finally, an ex-con named Penn accepts a criminal job and discovers that his employer murders victims for their tattooed skin. Trapped inside an unfinished high-rise with a skin-suit serial killer, Penn receives unexpected supernatural help when a magical tattoo transforms a bag of candy into an enormous, flesh-dissolving gummy worm monster.

Tonight’s Scary Stories:
“Crime and Bedevilment: The Falling Out of Two Brothers” by Joe Solmo
An occult crime-horror story featuring two thieves, a secret coven, an ancient magical collar, and a robbery that unleashes a savage werewolf curse.
“Roxie” by Charles Campbell
A supernatural seduction story about a mysterious nonhuman woman who charms ordinary men into committing murder on her behalf.
“Sick With Rage” by Rob Fields
A Strickfield serial-killer thriller featuring Raigen Devereux, the Queen of Hearts killer, stolen human hearts, a missing former fiancé, and a deadly investigation during a blizzard. “The Worm Has Turned” by David O’Hanlon
A darkly funny supernatural monster story involving criminals, stolen tattooed skin, a magical amulet, National Gummi Worm Day, and one gigantic candy creature with a taste for killers.

These four terrifying tales combine serial-killer horror, supernatural crime, witchcraft, occult rituals, cursed transformations, werewolf horror, supernatural seduction, murder investigations, preserved human hearts, skin-suit killers, giant monsters, body horror, revenge, survival horror, and dark comedy.

Perfect for listeners searching for scary stories, horror audiobooks, horror fiction podcasts, serial-killer stories, supernatural thrillers, witchcraft horror, occult horror, werewolf stories, crime horror, murder mysteries, monster stories, giant-creature horror, body horror, dark-comedy horror, Strickfield stories, Summerween entertainment, and Halloween podcasts.

The summer nights are hot, but somewhere a blizzard is hiding a killer, an ancient collar is waiting for its next victim, and an innocent bag of candy is preparing to become something enormous.

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

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

📬 Contact Us / Submit Your Horror Story!


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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the story by Joe Solmo featured in this episode about?

Joe Solmo's story, "Crime and Bedevilment: The Falling Out of Two Brothers," follows two thieves who break into a wealthy woman's home only to interrupt a secret witchcraft ritual, resulting in a werewolf curse.

Who wrote "Crime and Bedevilment: The Falling Out of Two Brothers"?

The occult crime-horror story was written by Joe Solmo.

What themes are explored in this Weekly Spooky episode?

This episode combines serial-killer horror, supernatural crime, witchcraft, occult rituals, werewolf curses, and dark comedy.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:06.639
Every criminal believes there's someone out there more dangerous than them.

2
00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:12.679
Most simply hope they never meet. Tonight, two thieves break

3
00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:16.600
into a house where robbery is the least frightening crime

4
00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:22.359
taking place. A beautiful stranger whispers promises that turn ordinary

5
00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:27.280
men into murderers. A serial killer suffering through the flu

6
00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:33.320
hunts another killer collecting human hearts, and somewhere inside a

7
00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:37.240
darkened building, a bag of gummy worms is about to

8
00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:42.119
become the biggest problem in the room. This is the

9
00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:47.640
strange magic of summer ween. Anything can become frightening once

10
00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:53.000
the sun goes down, even romance, candy and a poorly

11
00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:58.159
planned robbery. So check your playing cards, avoid women who

12
00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:04.439
smell impossibly sweat, and never underestimate the supernatural importance of

13
00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:08.599
a ridiculous national holiday. And make sure you subscribe to

14
00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:11.760
us here at Weekly Spooky, because these are some of

15
00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:15.920
the scariest stories in our vault. But every Wednesday there's

16
00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:19.560
a brand new scary story, and every day of the

17
00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:23.719
week we publish something creepy to keep your Halloween vibe

18
00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:28.760
going all the way to October and beyond. But now

19
00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:33.040
let's take a little break and see what's happening between

20
00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:41.359
these two brothers, Crime and the Devilment by Joe Slimy.

21
00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:47.599
Damn it, Mickey, what did I tell you, Brandon said,

22
00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:50.040
slamming the butt of his pistol down on the hood

23
00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:53.439
of the Ford pickup rust rained down on the tall

24
00:01:53.480 --> 00:01:57.239
grass along the side of the country road to dress

25
00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:04.239
incon in continent. No inconsequential, Mickey replied, looking up at

26
00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:08.319
his older brother. Ten years separated them, so they hadn't

27
00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:12.240
grown up close. Rather, the brothers grew closer as they

28
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:16.840
both realized they liked stealing, must be in their blood.

29
00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:20.639
Their father had been in prison since Brandon was just fourteen.

30
00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:27.240
Mickey barely remembered him at all. Inconspicuous, you idiot, you

31
00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:31.479
look like a goddamn cartoon under that all black outfit

32
00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:34.680
and black sche mask. You wearing a raccoon eyed mask,

33
00:02:34.759 --> 00:02:37.159
striped shirt and a bag with a big fucking dollar

34
00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:42.439
sign on it, Brandon sneered, just my regular clothes. I

35
00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:46.800
didn't know there was a fucking uniform for criming, Mickey responded.

36
00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:49.879
He pulled the black hoodie over his head and tossed

37
00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:53.240
it onto the grass against the fence. His hair rose

38
00:02:53.319 --> 00:02:57.360
in the dry static charged air of the northeast. Jesus

39
00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:01.560
fucking Christ, Brandon said, and shook his head. He couldn't

40
00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:05.080
help but laugh. Under the hoodie. Micky was wearing a

41
00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:10.120
Hawaiian shirt. The ridiculous bright colors assaulted his sight. Were

42
00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:13.479
you dropped on your head as a child? Ma would

43
00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:15.840
never have done that to me. I was her favorite,

44
00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:20.080
Micky said, proudly, His white toothed smile cut through the

45
00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:24.199
fading light. Fuck your mother, she was quite the looker

46
00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:26.879
back in the day. Did you see their wedding album?

47
00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:30.960
Micky asked, For fock's sake, go check the lock on

48
00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:33.080
the gate before you reach a point where you couldn't

49
00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:37.960
possibly disappoint me more, Brandon said, and checked the contents

50
00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:40.120
of the backpack on the ripped seat of the Ford.

51
00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:44.159
He'd be mad about the rip, but it wasn't his truck.

52
00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:48.639
Mickey wandered over to the gate and wiggled the wrought iron.

53
00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:52.319
It clanked in its locked housing. He shook his head

54
00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:54.639
as he dug in his back pocket for the tools

55
00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:59.039
he needed to get it open. And another thing, Brandon

56
00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:02.599
said as he approached. When you steal a getaway vehicle,

57
00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:06.599
never go forward. We don't need to be breaking down

58
00:04:06.639 --> 00:04:10.360
when the cops are chasing. Use what little brains you got,

59
00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:13.919
will you. I can't concentrate when you're picking on me,

60
00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:17.519
Mickey said, jamming a small straight piece of metal into

61
00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:21.800
the lock. I'm a little jumpy, is all. My heart's

62
00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:24.319
racing like I drank a thirty pack of mountain dew.

63
00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:27.800
This could be a big score. You saw the escort

64
00:04:27.839 --> 00:04:30.279
the lady got from the room with the safe deposits

65
00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:33.480
back at the bank. Whatever was in that box they

66
00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:36.439
carried to her audi has to be worth a fortune.

67
00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:40.560
I'm glad we noticed her. It'll be so much easier

68
00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:44.120
to rob one woman than a whole bank, Brandon explained.

69
00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:49.000
Just watch the driveway. I almost got it, Micky said,

70
00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:53.480
and an audible clink was heard. The old rusty gate

71
00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:56.319
swung in towards them a few inches with a creek.

72
00:04:57.000 --> 00:04:59.839
Micky turned to his brother with a smug smile and

73
00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:03.360
leaned his back on the gate. Now, who's the idiot?

74
00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:07.279
His eyes grew large as the gate swung shut behind him,

75
00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:12.600
the lock clicking in place. My opinion hasn't changed, brother,

76
00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:16.720
Brandon said. Now, hurry up, it's about to snow, and

77
00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:19.079
I bet that beater Ford ain't got no snow tires.

78
00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:21.959
I noticed it's a two wheel drive. Who the fuck

79
00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:26.519
buys a two wheel drive truck? What's the fucking point? Hey,

80
00:05:26.600 --> 00:05:29.519
let me grab that hoodie. I'm freezing, Mickey said, before

81
00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:32.759
working on the lock again. After a few moments, they

82
00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:35.560
were making their way up the long driveway leading to

83
00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:39.959
a large house looming in the distance. The sun was

84
00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:43.480
setting behind the house, making it a black rectangle to

85
00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:47.000
the brothers. A row of trees lined either side of

86
00:05:47.040 --> 00:05:50.519
the gravel drive, and Brandon had them weave through them

87
00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:56.680
on the approach to avoid detection. Brandon, I just thought

88
00:05:56.680 --> 00:06:00.439
of something, Mickey said, halting behind a tree. He was

89
00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:04.759
out of breath already and needed to stop. That's dangerous.

90
00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:07.839
Although I am curious as this is your first one,

91
00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:12.839
Brandon retorted, seriously, what if they have big dogs roaming

92
00:06:12.839 --> 00:06:15.639
the grounds or something. You would think a rich lady

93
00:06:15.720 --> 00:06:18.240
like this would have some kind of protection. Way out here,

94
00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:23.079
you carry a steak in your pants? No, but I

95
00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:26.399
have a peanut butter granola protein bar in case we're

96
00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:29.040
out late. I bring them because I know you can't

97
00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:30.920
have them and won't eat it on me like you do.

98
00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:35.519
Those chocolate ones, Mickey replied, looks like you're doomed. Then

99
00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:39.120
come on, let's get this over with. You remember the plan,

100
00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:43.240
Brandon asked, you scope out the house quick to see

101
00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:46.279
how many people are inside. We come in from opposite

102
00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:49.040
ends and round people into the living room. Then we

103
00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:51.839
make the bitch get the box from the bank, We

104
00:06:51.959 --> 00:06:55.600
tie them up, and we leave. Mickey repeated the plan

105
00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:59.759
Brandon told him earlier. Yeah, no need to actually hurt

106
00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:03.240
any one if we got us sure, I ain't got

107
00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:05.680
no problem laying the bitch to rest, to get away

108
00:07:05.759 --> 00:07:09.319
or something, but just don't get carried away. Remember no names.

109
00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:12.560
Once we are in there, Brandon said, what if I

110
00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:15.120
have to get your attention? What do I call? You?

111
00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:19.759
Call me Willy Wonka, Brandon said, sarcastically. Micky gave him

112
00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:22.560
a confused look for a second, and then whispered the

113
00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:26.480
name back, like he was committing it to memory. Brandon

114
00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:29.040
reached into the bag and pulled out a flashlight and

115
00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:32.360
checked that it worked, lighting up the ground below them.

116
00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:35.560
He tucked it into his belt buckle and shivered. The

117
00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:38.839
temperature had dropped and the first flakes of snow started

118
00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:43.839
to fall. We better hurry. This snow means footprints, Brandon said.

119
00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:48.800
Wait here, okay, Willy wonka, Micky said, with a seriousness

120
00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:52.000
that made Brandon crack a smile. He took off towards

121
00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.920
the house and a jog, leaving Micky leaning against the

122
00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:58.879
large oak tree. He noticed some scratches in the bark

123
00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:01.800
of the tree and started to carve his initials into

124
00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:05.199
it out of boredom. Then at the last minute realized

125
00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:08.639
that was a dumb mistake. Although he couldn't read what

126
00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:11.759
the other people had carved, it looked like four lines.

127
00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:15.439
He didn't want to leave evidence. Brandon would get super

128
00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:18.839
pissed at him if he did. I have to smarten up,

129
00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:22.079
like Brandon, says. Mickey muttered and put his knife away.

130
00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:25.680
The large flakes of snow had already covered the ground

131
00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:29.480
with a dusting. He always loved the silence of a snowfall.

132
00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:34.279
It's like everything pauses to enjoy the natural beauty. He

133
00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:37.480
thought about his cut of the job. I might retire

134
00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:40.240
to Aspen. I bet it looks like this all the

135
00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:46.080
time there, he thought. Or maybe Maine or Alaska. You

136
00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:48.799
can have the beaches in their crowds and washed up

137
00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:52.639
needles and garbage. Fuck them sharks. I'd rather have to

138
00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:55.759
fight a polar bear than a shark. Anyways, he said

139
00:08:55.919 --> 00:09:00.399
to the night. Who are you fighting, Brandon said, turning

140
00:09:00.440 --> 00:09:04.840
from his recon mission. Not sharks, that's for sure, Mickey replied,

141
00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:08.559
confusing Brandon further. The older brother shook his head to

142
00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:11.480
clear the nonsense and get his thoughts back on track.

143
00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:16.519
Follow me, Brandon said, and led them closer to the house.

144
00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:19.399
They ducked down behind the audi They saw the woman

145
00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:23.159
drive earlier. A layer of snow covered the red paint.

146
00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:26.960
They eyed the front door. I didn't see no cameras.

147
00:09:27.039 --> 00:09:31.200
I think we're good. What's that on the door, Mickey asked,

148
00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:35.480
looking at a strange symbol, probably the family crest or

149
00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:38.000
something nothing for us to worry about. I don't give

150
00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:40.240
a fuck who the old bitch is as long as

151
00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:43.279
she gives us the goods in that box. Brandon said.

152
00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:46.799
It looks like the funny right and the Egyptians did.

153
00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:51.679
Micky said, I need you to focus on the job,

154
00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:55.240
not what's on the door. It don't mean nothing to us,

155
00:09:55.840 --> 00:10:00.159
Brandon whispered through chattering teeth. The only lights on in

156
00:10:00.200 --> 00:10:03.519
the house is in the den, in the back. I'll

157
00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:06.720
go around there and enter. You come through this front

158
00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:10.080
door and meet me there. I heard her talking to someone,

159
00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:12.200
but I think it's just the two of them. It

160
00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:17.080
shouldn't be a problem. Okay, Brandon, I'm focused. I'm really

161
00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:20.240
trying to smarten up. You know, I'm just not wired

162
00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:23.840
for it. I'll do my best, Micky said, you better

163
00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:27.559
do better than that, Brandon said, and started to move.

164
00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:31.399
His boots made a wet squeak as he took a step.

165
00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:35.879
They're gonna hear you coming like that, Micky said. I

166
00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:38.039
told you not to buy those cheap ass boots from

167
00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:40.879
the drug store. Should have ordered some like I did,

168
00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:43.720
Mickey said, jumping up and down to show his brother

169
00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:47.559
that his shoes don't squeak. Will you knock that off?

170
00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:52.320
Give me your boots, Brandon demanded, Fuck off. This time

171
00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:55.799
I was smarter, and I'm gonna reap the rewards warm

172
00:10:56.120 --> 00:11:01.399
toasty feet, Mickey said, with a grin. Fuck, Brandon said,

173
00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:04.679
and took his boots off, stuffing them in the bag

174
00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:08.200
of break in tools. Give me to the count of twenty,

175
00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:11.639
then go in the front door. You can count that high, right,

176
00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:16.440
sure can? That's all my fingers twice. Here, I'll show

177
00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:22.080
you one two. Mickey held both middle fingers to his brother.

178
00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:26.240
You're lucky I don't thump you right now, Brandon said.

179
00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:30.120
He headed around the corner of the house. Mickey started

180
00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:33.639
to count. He would never give his brother the satisfaction

181
00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:35.639
of knowing that he did have to count it out

182
00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:40.080
on his fingers. Besides, why does it matter, I still

183
00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:44.480
get to twenty, he thought. At twenty, Mickey headed to

184
00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:47.399
the door. When he got closer, he got a better

185
00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:50.440
look at the door. The symbol on it wasn't the

186
00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:53.919
pictures of Egyptians, but the circle with the star that

187
00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:57.759
he'd seen in countless horror movies. He didn't like it

188
00:11:57.799 --> 00:12:00.519
one bit. He knew if he didn't go in, his

189
00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:03.879
brother would likely give him that thumping, so he grabbed

190
00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:07.039
the knob and turned it half, hoping it would be

191
00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:09.879
locked and he would have an excuse not to enter.

192
00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:15.240
But much to his chagrin, it opened right up. Son

193
00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:18.440
of a bitch, Micky said, and pulled the pistol from

194
00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:22.279
his waist. It wasn't loaded, Brandon wouldn't let him carry

195
00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:25.120
real bullets, and most of the time, just seeing the

196
00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:27.519
gun was enough for them to get what they wanted

197
00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:31.480
from people anyway. He entered the door and headed towards

198
00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:33.519
the light coming from the end of the hallway in

199
00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:36.559
front of him. He was just a few feet from

200
00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:39.240
the end of the hall when he heard Brandon's voice

201
00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:42.279
telling the people in the room to sit down and

202
00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:46.360
put their hands where he could see them. He rounded

203
00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:49.600
the doorframe and saw a large room lit by a

204
00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:53.320
large fireplace and more candles than he'd ever seen in

205
00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:57.720
his life, like a whole church amount. The symbol from

206
00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:59.840
the door was on the floor in some kind of

207
00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:05.240
white substance, A well muscled man wearing nothing but leather

208
00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:08.320
pants and a ballgag was on his knees, and the

209
00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:11.440
bitch from the bank was wearing some kind of black plastic,

210
00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:16.200
skin tight catsuit. Brandon was standing near the curtained windows

211
00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:20.039
at the far side of the room, gun in his hand.

212
00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:24.320
The woman dropped what appeared to be a large dog's

213
00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:28.000
chew toy on the floor. She moved back a few

214
00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:31.360
steps to a plush chair, and the man crawled over

215
00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:35.679
and sat by her booted feet. What the fuck is

216
00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:38.840
going on in here, Micky asked. The man turned to

217
00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:42.000
him and snarled through the gag. The woman looked up

218
00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:47.720
at him. She had the strangest eyes, all black, no

219
00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:52.279
white at all. It was unnerving. Micky wondered if black

220
00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:55.320
eyes could see in the dark better. Maybe they were

221
00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:58.480
more light sensitive. That's why the mood lighting with the

222
00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:02.840
fucking candles. Seems this old hag got herself a boy

223
00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:07.320
toy and she's into kinky shit, Brandon said, pointing the

224
00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.120
gun at her. His eyes scanned the room looking for

225
00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:12.679
the box they saw her leave the bank with. He

226
00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:16.360
found it on a table near the fireplace. Brother, grab

227
00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:21.639
the box, common thieves. How pathetic, the woman said, and

228
00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:25.320
started to stand up. Move again, and I will plug you.

229
00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:29.960
Brandon said, you have no idea what you've stumbled upon,

230
00:14:30.120 --> 00:14:34.320
do you? This is almost comical, the woman said and

231
00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:39.799
stood up, her skin tight suit creaking as she did so. Blam.

232
00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:43.080
Everyone froze, everyone except the man on his knees at

233
00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:46.039
the foot of the woman. He fell over onto the floor,

234
00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:51.720
blood pulling under him. Consider that a warning, Brandon said,

235
00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:56.159
you said no killing unless it was necessary. Mickey yelled out,

236
00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:00.960
you fool. The woman called out and raised hand. She

237
00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:04.919
said something in another language, and suddenly Brandon found himself

238
00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:08.279
a few inches in the air, arms tight against his body,

239
00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:12.039
he couldn't move. It hurt to breathe. He dropped the

240
00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:15.559
gun on the floor. Do you have any idea how

241
00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:20.879
long it takes to properly train them? Years? To do it? Right? Tonight?

242
00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:24.240
I was going to reward his obedience and make him

243
00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:28.919
one of the protectors, the guardians of the Sisterhood. How

244
00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:32.759
we waited for the right solstice and you buffoons ruined it,

245
00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:36.559
the woman yelled. Mickey could see a power in her

246
00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:40.679
black eyes that scared him. He forgot that his gun

247
00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:44.600
didn't work and squeezed the trigger. The woman heard the

248
00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:47.759
click and sent a wave of force at Mickey. He

249
00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:50.639
fell over the ottoman and on to the hardwood floor.

250
00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:54.600
She turned her attention back to Brandon. She motioned him

251
00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:59.519
over towards the box. You want what's inside? She asked?

252
00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:06.639
You have to have it? Do you worth killing for? Look, lady,

253
00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:10.159
we were just looking for an easy score. Things got

254
00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:14.799
out of hand. Brandon gasped between pained breaths, second guessing

255
00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:19.879
the Knight's plan out of hand, My chosen lay dead.

256
00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:24.080
She made a spinning motion, and Brandon began to rotate

257
00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:28.279
in front of her. I guess you will have to do.

258
00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:32.960
She opened the box and pulled out the contents, turning

259
00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:37.519
back to him. Brandon's greedy eyes fell on the object

260
00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:40.200
in her hand, and his expression changed from one of

261
00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:46.519
greed to confusion, then to disappointment. Mickey knew that look

262
00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:49.960
all too well. It was the one his brother gave

263
00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:53.600
him the most. He hated that look. He had to

264
00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:56.759
try harder to be a good brother. But what could

265
00:16:56.759 --> 00:17:02.840
he do a fucking dog collar, Brandon asked incredulously. That's

266
00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:06.279
what you kept at the bank for safe keeping. Not

267
00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:10.039
just any collar, boy, she said, and undid the clasp

268
00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:14.640
on it. This one is special, made by mad Monks

269
00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:19.640
of Monmouth, commissioned by the head's sister Agatha, my mother

270
00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:23.680
in one thousand and eighty a d to protect us

271
00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:27.599
from the dark times of man. The coven needed muscle

272
00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:31.839
to act when magic had to remain hidden in the shadows.

273
00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:36.039
You will now be the protector of our coven. You

274
00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:41.599
will take his place, she explained, nodding at the corpse

275
00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:45.119
on the floor. She placed the collar on Brandon. A

276
00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:50.240
flash filled the room as she closed the clasp. Put

277
00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:53.759
my brother down, Mickey said, with as steady a voice

278
00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:58.200
as he could muster, don't test me, boy, You've tried

279
00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:02.079
that trick before, the woman said, and waved her hand

280
00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:05.519
dismissively at him, but not before he pulled the trigger

281
00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:09.079
on the gun. This time, it rang out as the

282
00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:12.400
bullet escaped the barrel of Brandon's pistol and entered the

283
00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:16.400
old witch in the chest. She fell back in surprise,

284
00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:20.079
losing her magical grip on Brandon, who fell to the floor.

285
00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:25.200
He began to cough, trying to breathe. Micky unloaded into

286
00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:28.160
the woman, making sure she wasn't going to get back up.

287
00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:31.920
A tear fell down his cheek. He had never shot

288
00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:35.319
anyone before. He knew it was going to stick with

289
00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:38.920
him for a long while the look on her face.

290
00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:42.839
He threw the gun down and turned towards his brother.

291
00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:48.519
I did good, Brandon, he asked, Sure, did little bro

292
00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:54.359
help me up? Brandon said, regaining some strength. Micky held

293
00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:57.640
his arm around his brother. Help me get this fucking

294
00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:01.279
thing off. They both fumbled with the clasp, but it

295
00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:05.880
wouldn't come off. We're gonna need some tools, Micky said,

296
00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:09.759
looking around for the backpack. Just then they heard a

297
00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:13.039
cell phone ringing. Micky found it on the table and

298
00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:16.359
picked it up. He saw the wide eyed look and

299
00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:21.319
disappointment in Brandon's eyes when he answered it, Well, what

300
00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:24.319
was he supposed to do? Let it ring? He hated

301
00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:27.000
the sound of a ringing phone. Who doesn't keep it

302
00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:31.920
on silent nowadays? Carmela, Carmela, dear, we're running a bit late.

303
00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.880
I'm afraid the snow has slowed us. We should arrive

304
00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:38.480
by nine, see you. Then, Mickey and Brandon looked up

305
00:19:38.519 --> 00:19:42.400
at the clock above the fireplace. It was fifteen till nine.

306
00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:46.279
We need to get the fuck out of here, Brandon said,

307
00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:48.880
Grab the bag and the guns. We can fuck with

308
00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:52.519
this collar once we're gone. Micky did as he was told.

309
00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:55.599
Brandon took the candles and placed them by the long

310
00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:59.839
curtains on the window. The flames licking the fabric. Come on,

311
00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:03.039
this place is going to burn down, Brandon said, and

312
00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:05.960
headed for the back door. As they made their way

313
00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:08.519
through the snow of the yard, they saw headlights coming

314
00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:12.759
up the drive. Shit, get down, Brandon yelled. They both

315
00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:15.880
flattened in the snow to avoid detection. They let the

316
00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:19.839
car pass and got up, watching the limo reach the house.

317
00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:23.960
Flames could be seen through the front windows. With any luck,

318
00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:27.880
no one will see what happened inside. Brandon led the

319
00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:31.039
way down the slope toward the fence and the waiting

320
00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:36.599
jalopy of a Ford Mickey had stolen. Uh brother, Micky said,

321
00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:39.759
looking down at the snow in front of him. Brandon stopped.

322
00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:45.319
Are you okay, Mickey asked. Brandon muttered something under his

323
00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:49.119
breath that Mickey assumed was him being mean. It sounded

324
00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:53.440
coarse and angry. Mickey bent down in the darkness to

325
00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:56.799
get a better look at the snow. His brother's footprint

326
00:20:56.920 --> 00:21:02.480
was unrecognizable. It looked ah wider, with a center sunk

327
00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:07.400
in four other indentations near the front. It took Mickey

328
00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:10.640
a moment to realize what he saw. It was a

329
00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:14.839
dog's footprint. Did they really have large dogs on the

330
00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:19.519
grounds prowling for intruders? He fucking knew it. Brandon made

331
00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:23.079
a noise. Mickey looked up at him. What was that,

332
00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:27.880
he asked. When Brandon didn't move, Mickey walked around him

333
00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:32.000
to see his brother's face. But what he saw horrified him.

334
00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:36.519
Short coarse hair covered his face, his nose had grown,

335
00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:40.039
and his lips black like an old dog's parted showing

336
00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:45.200
sharp carnivorous teeth. What did that bitch do to you,

337
00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:49.680
Micky asked. Just then shouts from behind them rang out,

338
00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:53.880
shadows fell on them. As people approached, Brandon snarled and

339
00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:57.400
bounded off towards them. Mickey ran for it the other way.

340
00:21:58.119 --> 00:22:00.240
The gate was in sight. All he had to do

341
00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:03.960
was reach the truck. He ran so fast his feet

342
00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:07.000
were slipping in the snow on the wet grass. He

343
00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:10.200
almost fell twice. The second time. He grabbed the gate

344
00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:14.519
to save himself. Behind him, he heard screaming and an

345
00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:17.000
inhuman roar that made the hair on the back of

346
00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:20.160
his neck stand up. He put the hood up on

347
00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:23.079
the black hoodie he was wearing and slipped through the fence.

348
00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:26.960
The truck was just where he left it. He was

349
00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:29.440
so glad that he had the keys and didn't give

350
00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:32.599
them to his brother like he usually did. He yanked

351
00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:35.599
the door open and climbed in. He jammed the key

352
00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:39.319
in the ignition in a panic and twisted it. Nothing happened,

353
00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:44.720
Not now a fuck, he said, and tried again again.

354
00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:49.240
Nothing happened. Was the battery dead? He listened and heard

355
00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:53.519
no noise from behind the gate. Was his brother okay.

356
00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:57.480
He popped the hood release and reached for the handle

357
00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:00.559
on the door, opening it about six inches before it

358
00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:03.400
was slammed shut on him. The snarling face of his

359
00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:06.400
brother's new form pressed up against the glass of the door,

360
00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:10.799
steaming it in its hot breath. Blood splattered from its

361
00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:14.440
mouth and smeared as the monstrosity tried to come through

362
00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:17.960
the pane of glass. We can fix this. We just

363
00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:21.039
got to get that bitch's collar off of you, Mickey said.

364
00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:24.640
He reached onto the seat behind him for something, anything

365
00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:28.240
to protect himself. He grabbed cold metal and brought it

366
00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:31.640
around between him and the window. He noticed a crack

367
00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:34.039
in the glass as the truck shook from the attack.

368
00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:36.960
He looked down at his hands and saw he was

369
00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:41.039
holding their crowbar. He raised it up towards his brother.

370
00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:45.599
See I can pry that thing off, he said hopefully.

371
00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:50.000
The sound of splintering glass rang in Mickey's ears. He

372
00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:53.039
flinched and closed his eyes for just a second, but

373
00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:55.960
that was long enough for the long, hairy arms to

374
00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:59.599
break through and reach for him. He held out the

375
00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:03.279
crow but it was knocked from his hands. In desperation,

376
00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:06.079
he looked around for anything he could use to defend

377
00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:10.000
himself from his brother. Come on, we've been through a lot.

378
00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:13.319
We got this, Mickey called out as he patted his pockets.

379
00:24:13.880 --> 00:24:16.359
He stopped on the bulge in his left front Jean's

380
00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:21.319
pocket and dug in, pulling out his protein bar. The

381
00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:24.680
creature his brother had turned into climbed half in the truck,

382
00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:28.599
taking up the driver's side as it swung wildly at him.

383
00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:32.599
It opened its mouth and howled to the night. When

384
00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:36.640
it did, its blood stained teeth parted, and Mickey saw

385
00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:40.200
down the creature's throat. He wondered if the people from

386
00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:43.960
the limo earlier also had seen this view before they

387
00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:47.920
were devoured. He hesitated, even though he knew what he

388
00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:51.160
had to do. He thought back to the time when

389
00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:53.480
he was a kid and was grounded and his brother

390
00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:55.759
snuck him out to play with his Tonka trucks in

391
00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:59.480
the dirt driveway. He started to sniffle as the memories

392
00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:03.000
flooded of the times they shared growing up. He remembered

393
00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:06.160
the time Brandon had accidentally eaten a peanut butter cookie

394
00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:10.160
and had to be hospitalized. He had saved his brother's

395
00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:14.319
life that day. His vision was obscured with tears as

396
00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:17.759
he said his final words to his brother, I'm sorry,

397
00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:21.440
Willy Wonka. He threw the protein bar right down his

398
00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:26.480
brother's throat. The beast choked once, then twice, then backed

399
00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:30.400
out of the truck. It clenched its throat. Mickey watched

400
00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:33.480
as his brother's canine tongue swelled up and lulled from

401
00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:35.880
one side of his head. As the monster made heaving

402
00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:39.480
noises and the weirdest breathing sounds Mickey had ever heard,

403
00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:44.039
it stumbled back against a tree, its beastial claws tearing

404
00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:46.799
into its own throat, trying to remove the protein bar.

405
00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:51.079
Blood gushed over the fur as bloody puke exploded both

406
00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:53.359
out of his mouth and the wound in his neck

407
00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:58.920
in a glorious fountain. I'll never eat fondue again, Micky

408
00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:02.000
said as he watched on in horror, never taking his

409
00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:05.279
eyes off his brother, even as he tried the key again,

410
00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:09.480
and this time that piece of shit truck roared to life.

411
00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:13.880
Go figure. The last thing Mickey saw as he drove

412
00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:18.519
off was his brother's wolfhead hanging from the neck sideways

413
00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:24.559
as the beast collapsed to the ground, having nearly decapitating

414
00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:28.960
himself to relieve the allergic reaction. That he didn't see

415
00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:32.119
that coming, Mickey said, as he raced down the lane

416
00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:36.240
back towards the highway. He never made it, though his

417
00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:40.279
brother was right. The truck didn't have snow tires, and

418
00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:42.720
he went into the ravine next to the country road.

419
00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:47.279
They found his body the next morning, when the firefighters

420
00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:51.839
were on their way back from fighting the house fire.

421
00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:11.240
Roxy by Charles Campbell. Thunder only happens when it's raining,

422
00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:15.079
or so Stevie sang in the popular Fleetwood Max song.

423
00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:19.640
But I've found in my lifetime anyway, that is not

424
00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:24.119
always the case. It can thunder without rain, and it

425
00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:29.599
can be oh so very loud, so loud in fact,

426
00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:34.000
that it drowns out everything that once was important. What

427
00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:38.319
was my thunder, you ask? My thunder was a girl

428
00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:42.759
named Roxy, and she rumbled into my life two short

429
00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:48.920
years ago. I wish she hadn't. Two years ago, Jake

430
00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:52.319
Blackman was walking his mud of a dog, minding his

431
00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:56.680
own business. When she passed him by. Jake caught a

432
00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:00.759
whiff of sweetness and turned his head. He took a

433
00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:06.759
deep breath. The scent was immediately intoxicating, and when he

434
00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:09.880
saw her, his eyes widened as if he had just

435
00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:14.119
stumbled upon the Holy Grail. She was the prettiest girl

436
00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:17.640
he'd ever seen. She stopped when she noticed him staring

437
00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:22.559
at her. Jake fumbled for his words. Hi, your name's Jake.

438
00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:25.759
What's yours? He winced as soon as the words escaped

439
00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:30.119
his lips. He felt better when she giggled. You're a

440
00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:34.480
cute one, aren't you? She asked. Her skin was like porcelain,

441
00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:37.240
and her smile cut through Jake in such a way

442
00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:42.440
he felt lightheaded. Let me try that again. I'm Jake Blackman.

443
00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:48.920
What's your name? Roxy? She replied? Roxy? What? No? Roxy? What?

444
00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:54.400
Just Roxy? She answered? Her long jet black hair hung

445
00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:57.000
around her shoulders like a shawl on a cold night.

446
00:28:57.640 --> 00:29:01.000
Roxy's eyes were dark brown pools that pulled Jake in

447
00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:06.480
like a cobra. And her smell, he couldn't quite describe it.

448
00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:10.279
It was sweet, for sure, but not sickeningly so. It

449
00:29:10.359 --> 00:29:13.160
was a smell that felt ancient and new at the

450
00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:17.480
same time. Roxy was a different breed, and Jake felt

451
00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:20.839
it it made him water. Jake's mud of a dog

452
00:29:20.960 --> 00:29:25.240
was even enamored with the woman. Normally, he'd sound off

453
00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:28.640
with barks and growls around someone new, but Rusty seemed

454
00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:32.480
to be just as love struck with Roxy as his owner.

455
00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:37.519
He was sniffing her black knee high boots. Oh what's

456
00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:40.599
your dog's name, Roxy asked as she knelt down and

457
00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:47.200
stroked Rusty's head. Uh. Jake struggled to remember, and Roxy

458
00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:51.880
let him off the hook. Oh his tag says Rusty. Hey, Rusty,

459
00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:55.960
she said. As she stood Rusty jumped up his dirty paws,

460
00:29:56.039 --> 00:30:00.400
leaving streaks on her boots. Rusty, stop, I'm so sy,

461
00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:04.559
Jake said. It's all good, Jake, they'll wipe off. You

462
00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:08.079
want to buy a girl dinner? She asked. Jake was

463
00:30:08.160 --> 00:30:12.160
nodding his head, and she knew this was going to

464
00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:19.599
be easy. After a dinner of burghers and fries, they

465
00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:22.759
walked back to Jake's house, with Rusty hanging closer to

466
00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:27.400
Roxy than the man that fed him. Jake was completely

467
00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:31.480
in love with this woman. Everything about her, her look,

468
00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:35.079
her smell, the way she spoke to him in an

469
00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:39.160
unassuming tone, keeping Jake on edge in a good way.

470
00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:43.000
He felt the thunder for the first time when they

471
00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:47.839
went inside. Do you love me, Jake? Roxy asked. As

472
00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:51.400
soon as they were inside the house, I do Roxy.

473
00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:56.119
He said it wasn't a lie. He was madly in

474
00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:59.440
love with her. Roxy led Jake to the bedroom as

475
00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:02.920
if she had lived there all her life. Rusty followed

476
00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:05.599
behind and whimpered when the door closed in his face.

477
00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:10.640
Roxy and Jake made love. Jake felt the thunder roll

478
00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:13.799
through his heart. She was lying in his arms, and

479
00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:18.200
no words were spoken as the rain began to fall outside.

480
00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:21.799
It was followed by thunder that paled in comparison to

481
00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:27.079
what Roxy had brought him. She was trouble somehow, he

482
00:31:27.160 --> 00:31:37.079
knew it, but Jake didn't care. He would later. Very

483
00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:40.559
early the next morning, Roxy nuzzled her face next to

484
00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:44.240
Jake's neck and breathed that sweet breath in his ear

485
00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:50.000
before she whispered, Jake, will you kill for me? You

486
00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:54.599
know I will, Jake replied, without a second thought. She

487
00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:58.920
was the cobra after all, and she had completely glamored him.

488
00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:05.200
That's good, you sweet man. Now go back to sleep,

489
00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:10.400
she whispered, and that's exactly what Jake did. He went

490
00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:15.599
to sleep. When he awoke four hours later, Roxy was gone.

491
00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:20.160
Jake didn't get a phone number and no last name.

492
00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:25.200
The mystery lover blew his world apart. Without trying. He

493
00:32:25.240 --> 00:32:29.640
looked for her high and low. She was gone. Jake

494
00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:32.119
remembered what she asked him in the middle of the night,

495
00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:37.519
and he remembered his answer. He meant it. He would

496
00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:41.160
kill for her anything to have her in his life.

497
00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:45.839
Rusty mister too. He whimpered and whined for two weeks

498
00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:50.720
straight after Roxy disappeared. Two months after that, Jake wondered

499
00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:54.640
if it was even real. Maybe she never really existed,

500
00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:57.720
Maybe he made the whole thing up in his mind.

501
00:32:58.759 --> 00:33:01.799
It was her scent that he could shake. Jake could

502
00:33:01.799 --> 00:33:05.799
almost smell her. He hungered for it, and he wouldn't

503
00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:08.759
get a full night's sleep until she was in his

504
00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:14.759
arms once again. Another ten months passed. One year later,

505
00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:19.640
Jake was now alone. After Roxy left, Rusty was never

506
00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:24.000
the same. He stopped eating, he didn't want to take

507
00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:27.640
walks anymore, and after more than a few visits to

508
00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:31.480
several different veterinarians, none of them could give Jack a

509
00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:35.519
plausible explanation as to why Rusty's desire to live was

510
00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:40.960
so siphoned away. Rusty passed away one night, lying by

511
00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:45.480
the kitchen door. Jake was devastated. It was three days

512
00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:48.200
after Rusty died and Jake was walking home with his

513
00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:54.440
head hanging. Then the smell hit him. Jake felt a

514
00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:57.519
tingle in the back of his neck. He stopped looking

515
00:33:57.519 --> 00:34:02.200
at his feet. I'm sorry to hear at rusty, Roxy said.

516
00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:05.440
She was standing there in front of him, looking exactly

517
00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:09.679
as she had one year before, same hair, same clothes,

518
00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:16.559
same boots, and she was devastatingly beautiful. Where where have

519
00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:21.639
you been, Jake asked, Oh, it doesn't really matter. You

520
00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:25.880
want to buy a girl dinner, Roxy asked. Jake's sadness

521
00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:29.519
over Rusty vanished. He smiled and took a deep breath

522
00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:32.960
of her sweetness. It was even better than he remembered.

523
00:34:34.280 --> 00:34:38.039
After a dinner of caesar salad and wine, they walked

524
00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:41.599
hand in hand back to Jake's house without uttering a word.

525
00:34:42.400 --> 00:34:46.239
When they got inside, Roxy led him directly to the bedroom,

526
00:34:46.280 --> 00:34:49.480
where she quickly ripped at Jake's shirt. Before they both

527
00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:54.079
hastily undressed. Roxy pulled him toward her. She kissed him

528
00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:57.719
hard and rough. Jake felt a trickle of blood rolled

529
00:34:57.719 --> 00:35:02.079
down his chin, but he didn't care. Jake lifted Roxy.

530
00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:05.719
She was almost weightless, and he set her gently on

531
00:35:05.800 --> 00:35:10.360
the bed. She was rough, he was not he couldn't

532
00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:15.519
be not with her. He moved slowly over her porcelain body,

533
00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:19.639
taking in every feature, and was more intoxicated by the

534
00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:23.159
scent than he had ever been by alcohol. He kissed

535
00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:27.000
her softly, as if he may break her. As soon

536
00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:32.719
as Jake's lips touched Roxy's, she moved so fast Jake

537
00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:36.000
was now under her, and she locked onto his eyes

538
00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:41.039
as she moved rhythmically on top of him. She spoke, Jake,

539
00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:44.440
you said you loved me, and now it's time to

540
00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:48.320
prove it. I need you to kill for me, Roxy said,

541
00:35:48.320 --> 00:35:51.639
as she began to grind harder. He was shaking his

542
00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:55.760
head in obedience and ecstasy. Jake never took his eyes

543
00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:59.719
off of Roxy's and he saw the change. Her eyes

544
00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:03.679
were now opaque, covered by a third lid that sprang

545
00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:07.239
from the bottom corner of her eyes. It was like

546
00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:13.679
a shark's eyes. He wasn't afraid Jake was captured. The

547
00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:23.719
thunder was louder the next morning. It was deja vus

548
00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:28.599
because it certainly happened before. Jake woke in a daze

549
00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:33.000
and Roxy was gone. He searched the house like he

550
00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:36.760
had the year before, and there was one noticeable difference.

551
00:36:37.480 --> 00:36:40.400
There was a single piece of evidence that confirmed to

552
00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:44.079
Jake that he wasn't psychotic. It let him know that

553
00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:48.159
Roxy was real. There was a note on the kitchen table.

554
00:36:48.880 --> 00:36:51.920
He read the only four words on the torn sheet

555
00:36:52.199 --> 00:37:00.519
of notebook paper kill Billy Cuto, Roxy Billy Cuto. Jake

556
00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:04.199
asked the empty room. He hadn't the slightest clue who

557
00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:07.760
this person was or why he had to die, but

558
00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:12.320
he knew he had to do it because Roxy said so.

559
00:37:13.639 --> 00:37:16.960
It was Saturday, so Jake had nowhere to be. He

560
00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:19.079
walked to the small desk in the corner of the

561
00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:22.840
living room, where his laptop lay dormant. Jake clicked the

562
00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:25.679
mouse to bring it back to life, and he entered

563
00:37:25.719 --> 00:37:30.440
his password rusty two zero one seven dollar sign. A

564
00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:35.239
chrome window was already open, and Jake refreshed the Facebook page.

565
00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:39.440
The feed was filled with shared memes, pet and children

566
00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:42.719
pictures he could care less about. He quickly typed the

567
00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:48.239
name Billy Kuto into the search bar. There were three hits,

568
00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:52.719
one of them local, with four mutual friends. Three of

569
00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:57.239
the mutual friends Jake really didn't know. Jake was pretty

570
00:37:57.360 --> 00:38:01.719
lucy goosey with accepting friend requests. He pretty much accepted

571
00:38:01.719 --> 00:38:04.960
them all and deleted the hot chicks that immediately messaged

572
00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:07.599
him out of the blue looking for money. Once a

573
00:38:07.639 --> 00:38:12.519
request passed. Twelve hours later, Billy Kuto stepped onto his

574
00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:15.639
front porch. There was a chill in the air, but

575
00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:19.480
it didn't require a hoodie just yet. Billy lit the

576
00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:23.440
Marlborough that hung loosely from his lips. He glanced at

577
00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:26.840
his phone, hoping for any kind of communication from the

578
00:38:26.880 --> 00:38:29.400
woman that came and went out of his life a

579
00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:32.920
couple of years ago. She was all he could think about.

580
00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:36.719
Billy used to keep his hair cut short, a marine

581
00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:40.280
crew cut if there ever was one. Now his hair

582
00:38:40.360 --> 00:38:43.679
was shoulder length and he sported a nicely groomed beard.

583
00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:48.320
One other change Billy made since she disappeared was discontinuing

584
00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:53.360
his monthly shipment of contacts. Instead, Billy opted to get

585
00:38:53.400 --> 00:38:58.440
some old fashioned horn rimmed glasses, Buddy Holly style. He

586
00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:02.760
shouldn't have threatened to expose. Billy thought, sure she was different,

587
00:39:02.840 --> 00:39:06.960
but aren't we all. She frightened him and he couldn't

588
00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:10.800
handle it. Then she left, and Billy hadn't seen her

589
00:39:10.840 --> 00:39:15.159
since the sound of a hammer being pulled back brought

590
00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:19.079
Billy to the here and now the cigarette fell from

591
00:39:19.079 --> 00:39:23.840
his lips. Roxy sends her regards, Jake said, before the

592
00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:29.039
single shot rang out, scrambling Billy's brain, killing him instantly.

593
00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:33.360
Dogs were barking in the distance. Jake held the smoking

594
00:39:33.480 --> 00:39:37.760
gun and smiled. He had never taken a life, but

595
00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:41.519
Roxy was worth it one hundred times over. He'd killed

596
00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:45.360
the entire fucking town if she asked him to. He

597
00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:53.199
went home to an empty house. Ten months later. It

598
00:39:53.320 --> 00:39:57.599
was now a life of longing. Roxy was all he

599
00:39:57.639 --> 00:40:01.920
could think about. Jake ate just enough to keep him going.

600
00:40:02.639 --> 00:40:06.800
The same went for sleep. He muddled through work every day,

601
00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:11.440
doing just enough not to get fired. But his once

602
00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:16.280
friendly demeanor was replaced by one of constant sadness, and

603
00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:19.840
he was indifferent to people that cared. There was only

604
00:40:19.880 --> 00:40:23.360
one that mattered to him. Jake did what she asked,

605
00:40:23.360 --> 00:40:27.679
and Roxy still hadn't returned. That's really what kept him going.

606
00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:30.840
Jake was compelled to wait on her, no matter how

607
00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:35.199
long it took. It was Friday afternoon and Jake was

608
00:40:35.320 --> 00:40:40.639
zombie walking home. Hey, Jake, Roxy said, as he approached

609
00:40:40.639 --> 00:40:44.320
his house. Jake stopped looking at his feet and raised

610
00:40:44.360 --> 00:40:47.639
his head to meet her gaze. Roxy was sitting on

611
00:40:47.679 --> 00:40:51.480
the front porch steps, looking exactly as she had always looked,

612
00:40:51.960 --> 00:40:56.239
wearing the same outfit. There was one big difference this time.

613
00:40:56.960 --> 00:40:59.920
Beside her sat a little girl that was the spin

614
00:41:00.280 --> 00:41:06.480
image of Roxy. Jake gave her a puzzled look. Who uh,

615
00:41:06.800 --> 00:41:12.719
who's she? Jake asked, she's your daughter, Roxy replied. The

616
00:41:12.760 --> 00:41:16.920
little girl looked up at Jake with the same brown pools.

617
00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:21.039
That's impossible. If she were mine, she'd still be a baby.

618
00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:24.920
This little girl is at least three years old, maybe four.

619
00:41:25.559 --> 00:41:31.239
Jake said. Anger wasn't his emotion. It was confusion, And

620
00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:36.039
then a thought slapped him in the face. Billy. He

621
00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:39.039
bet it was Billy's daughter. Not that it was a

622
00:41:39.079 --> 00:41:43.239
deal breaker, because he wanted Roxy more than anything. His

623
00:41:43.360 --> 00:41:48.920
veil of indifference was yanked away. Hi, Daddy, my name's Roxy.

624
00:41:49.599 --> 00:41:54.280
The little girl said what Jake asked, looking at her mother.

625
00:41:55.239 --> 00:42:00.920
She's me and I'm her, Roxy said, and she's you too, Jake.

626
00:42:01.800 --> 00:42:04.880
The little girl stood and outstretched her hand for a shake.

627
00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:09.400
She looked like a living porcelain doll. Jake took the

628
00:42:09.440 --> 00:42:13.679
girl's hand and smiled. It fell into the everything was

629
00:42:13.719 --> 00:42:17.239
a ok if Roxy was in his life. Lane The

630
00:42:17.280 --> 00:42:23.880
three of them walked into the house together. Jake and

631
00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:27.559
Roxy sat together and listened to little Roxy tell her

632
00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:32.559
father everything about her life, about the things she had learned,

633
00:42:33.079 --> 00:42:36.639
and Jake was amazed. She was smarter than any adult

634
00:42:36.679 --> 00:42:40.599
he'd ever met, and not in a precocious kid way.

635
00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:45.079
She was beyond anything he had ever encountered. The dialect

636
00:42:45.159 --> 00:42:49.039
and intelligence with which she spoke frightened Jake. This was

637
00:42:49.119 --> 00:42:53.760
no ordinary child, and she had no ordinary mother. Jake

638
00:42:53.840 --> 00:42:57.159
remembered the last time he and Roxy made love and

639
00:42:57.239 --> 00:43:01.960
the uniqueness of Roxy's eyes. But Jake thought of himself

640
00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:06.719
as quite ordinary, boring. In fact, he didn't care. He

641
00:43:06.840 --> 00:43:09.360
loved Roxy and the little girl by the same name.

642
00:43:10.280 --> 00:43:13.119
Little Roxy looked at him with the eyes of her mother.

643
00:43:14.159 --> 00:43:20.199
Daddy kill for me, she said, sure, sweetie, Jake answered,

644
00:43:20.840 --> 00:43:24.079
he was just as charmed by Little Roxy. I need

645
00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:27.679
you to kill him, she said, and pointed toward the window.

646
00:43:28.800 --> 00:43:32.280
There was an older man walking down the sidewalk toward

647
00:43:32.440 --> 00:43:37.159
Jake's house. Okay, Jake said, and grabbed the baseball bat

648
00:43:37.199 --> 00:43:40.440
he kept in the hall closet. It was secondary protection

649
00:43:40.559 --> 00:43:43.159
if he wasn't within reach of his pistol if someone

650
00:43:43.239 --> 00:43:46.920
kicked in his door. Jake casually walked out the front door,

651
00:43:47.000 --> 00:43:50.079
looking as if he were going to batting practice. The

652
00:43:50.159 --> 00:43:52.440
man took notice as soon as Jake stepped from his

653
00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:57.280
front porch. Hey there, the man shouted, smiled for a second,

654
00:43:57.480 --> 00:44:01.880
and waved at Jake. Jake didn't returned the wave. He

655
00:44:01.920 --> 00:44:04.719
broke into a sprint, and this is when the older

656
00:44:04.760 --> 00:44:08.280
man realized the threat. Jake held that bat over his

657
00:44:08.360 --> 00:44:11.719
head as he closed the distance between himself and the man.

658
00:44:12.360 --> 00:44:15.519
The man held up his hands in a defensive posture. No,

659
00:44:16.639 --> 00:44:19.480
don't were the two words the man got out of

660
00:44:19.480 --> 00:44:22.400
his mouth before Jake brought the bat down on the

661
00:44:22.440 --> 00:44:26.840
man's skull. The dull thunk of wood striking bone filled

662
00:44:26.880 --> 00:44:30.920
the air. The older man blinked wildly at Jake. His

663
00:44:31.039 --> 00:44:34.719
eyes were crossed and blood trickled down his forehead. He

664
00:44:34.840 --> 00:44:37.719
kept his feet With the first strike, Jake brought it

665
00:44:37.800 --> 00:44:40.960
down again, and this time it sounded like a ripe

666
00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:45.079
melon splitting in half. The man fell face first onto

667
00:44:45.119 --> 00:44:49.079
the sidewalk. Jake went to town on the corpse's head. He

668
00:44:49.159 --> 00:44:53.719
brought the bat down over and over, again, bits of

669
00:44:53.840 --> 00:44:58.679
brain and bone flying with every smash. Little Rocksy smiled

670
00:44:58.679 --> 00:45:02.440
from the window. She watched it all happen. Her mother

671
00:45:02.599 --> 00:45:07.400
was behind her. You learned so fast, Roxy whispered in

672
00:45:07.440 --> 00:45:12.239
her daughter's ear, It's time to go. There was a

673
00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:16.119
scream and a yelp from across the street. Sydney Jones

674
00:45:16.199 --> 00:45:19.440
yanked her dog back by the leash. Jake turned toward

675
00:45:19.480 --> 00:45:21.960
her with a bloody grin on his face, and tipped

676
00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:24.880
the bat toward her as if it were a hat.

677
00:45:25.280 --> 00:45:29.119
Jake wiped his brow with his forearm. His mouth was parched.

678
00:45:29.760 --> 00:45:32.440
He'd go inside so little Roxy and her mother could

679
00:45:32.480 --> 00:45:36.519
see what he did for them. They weren't there. He

680
00:45:36.639 --> 00:45:39.159
looked through the house and stopped when he saw the

681
00:45:39.199 --> 00:45:43.039
note on the kitchen table, thank you for killing Billy

682
00:45:43.159 --> 00:45:48.559
and his daddy, the Roxies. Then the wail of sirens came.

683
00:45:49.519 --> 00:45:51.920
Jake set the bat on the kitchen table and went

684
00:45:51.960 --> 00:45:56.000
to the porch steps. He waited for the police. Jake

685
00:45:56.079 --> 00:45:59.280
knew he'd never see them again. They were worse than

686
00:45:59.360 --> 00:46:02.800
mermaids in the legends of pirates, and they were much

687
00:46:02.880 --> 00:46:08.119
more than mortal. But they needed men to breed. How

688
00:46:08.159 --> 00:46:13.199
many Roxies were in the world. Jake wondered, beautiful creatures

689
00:46:13.199 --> 00:46:16.559
that convinced men to do their evil bidding before disappearing

690
00:46:16.960 --> 00:46:20.599
in a veil of mystery. Jake raised his hands as

691
00:46:20.639 --> 00:46:23.840
the officer stepped from the cruiser. There would be no

692
00:46:23.920 --> 00:46:27.119
trace of DNA evidence suggesting that anyone else was in

693
00:46:27.159 --> 00:46:31.400
the home, just the handwritten note tying Jake to the

694
00:46:31.480 --> 00:46:35.880
killing of the younger Kuto with his bloody prints. Thunder

695
00:46:35.960 --> 00:46:40.519
doesn't only happen when it's raining. Thunder can come from anywhere.

696
00:46:41.119 --> 00:46:45.199
Thunder can have any name. The name of Jake's thunder

697
00:46:45.880 --> 00:46:50.239
was Roxy, and he was certain he wasn't the only

698
00:46:50.320 --> 00:47:01.679
one sick with rage. By Rob Fields. I came into

699
00:47:01.679 --> 00:47:05.719
my dorm room after returning from Denoyer's grill. The funny

700
00:47:05.719 --> 00:47:09.400
thing was, I just couldn't make myself eat anything. I

701
00:47:09.480 --> 00:47:14.280
had my favorite meal right there in front of me, pancakes, sausage,

702
00:47:14.679 --> 00:47:19.880
scrambled eggs, bacon, and a cup of dark coffee. All

703
00:47:19.920 --> 00:47:22.679
I could do was drink the coffee. I ended up

704
00:47:22.719 --> 00:47:25.719
taking the food to go. I put the food on

705
00:47:25.760 --> 00:47:31.119
the counter and remove my coat. WHOA, I really felt off.

706
00:47:32.199 --> 00:47:36.519
Then I had to move fast. I just barely made

707
00:47:36.519 --> 00:47:38.519
it to the toilet as I fell to my knees.

708
00:47:39.039 --> 00:47:41.960
When I finished throwing up, I picked myself up and

709
00:47:42.079 --> 00:47:46.199
looked in the mirror. I looked and felt like shit.

710
00:47:47.079 --> 00:47:49.079
I had been feeling a little off for a few

711
00:47:49.159 --> 00:47:52.039
days now. The problem with me is that I don't

712
00:47:52.079 --> 00:47:55.880
fully feel pain like the rest of you. I must

713
00:47:55.880 --> 00:47:58.360
have been sick for a while and wasn't feeling it

714
00:47:58.559 --> 00:48:02.599
until now. After I took my temperature and came up

715
00:48:02.639 --> 00:48:05.639
with one oh two point three, I assessed my other

716
00:48:05.760 --> 00:48:16.360
symptoms sniffles, headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, fever, body aches, chills, vomiting.

717
00:48:17.719 --> 00:48:20.880
I think I caught that flu that was going around Strickfield.

718
00:48:21.480 --> 00:48:24.119
On top of that, it was in the middle of

719
00:48:24.159 --> 00:48:27.360
a blizzard. I decided to just stay in my dorm

720
00:48:27.440 --> 00:48:31.000
until I felt better. Another problem was that I was

721
00:48:31.039 --> 00:48:36.639
feeling my bloodlust nagging away. I guess it didn't care

722
00:48:36.679 --> 00:48:39.440
whether I was sick or not. I'd have to pick

723
00:48:39.519 --> 00:48:41.960
up a fresh kill as soon as I was better.

724
00:48:43.360 --> 00:48:47.119
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Reagan Devereaux.

725
00:48:48.039 --> 00:48:52.159
Most everybody calls me Rage. I'm a serial killer who

726
00:48:52.199 --> 00:48:57.400
goes after the worst of the worst. Yes, I suppose

727
00:48:57.400 --> 00:49:00.679
you're thinking of Dexter Morgan, but trust me when I

728
00:49:00.719 --> 00:49:05.320
say he's got nothing on me. Unlike Dexter, I have

729
00:49:05.400 --> 00:49:09.719
a highly photographic memory, feel very little pain, and truly

730
00:49:10.320 --> 00:49:15.000
lack emotions. In fact, I only feel things in the physical,

731
00:49:15.920 --> 00:49:20.519
much like my being sick. After throwing some extra blankets on,

732
00:49:20.599 --> 00:49:23.320
I changed and got into bed. I was ready to

733
00:49:23.360 --> 00:49:26.679
fall asleep when my smartphone rang. I didn't want to

734
00:49:26.719 --> 00:49:29.519
answer it, but it could have been Drake or the

735
00:49:29.559 --> 00:49:32.360
Strickfield PD with a lead on the Queen of Heart's

736
00:49:32.480 --> 00:49:36.199
killer case. As part of my college studies, I work

737
00:49:36.280 --> 00:49:39.719
with the police as an intern, and Drake was shadowing me.

738
00:49:40.880 --> 00:49:44.800
It was Delphine Brewster Sloane calling. I answered the phone

739
00:49:44.840 --> 00:49:47.679
and talked to her. Delphine was the only one who

740
00:49:47.800 --> 00:49:51.320
knew I was a serial killer. Last Christmas, after she

741
00:49:51.360 --> 00:49:54.360
and I took down a killer Santa Claus. She told

742
00:49:54.360 --> 00:49:58.199
me she knew my secret and how I knew. Delphine

743
00:49:58.239 --> 00:50:01.239
wouldn't call me unless she wanted to check on me,

744
00:50:01.719 --> 00:50:05.920
or it was an emergency. Unfortunately for me, it was

745
00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:10.000
the latter. Franklin, her step son, hadn't been home for

746
00:50:10.039 --> 00:50:14.559
almost a week, no calls or texts. She was really worried.

747
00:50:14.880 --> 00:50:17.639
As a matter of fact, her husband Joseph hadn't been

748
00:50:17.679 --> 00:50:21.920
home in three days himself. Again, no calls or texts.

749
00:50:22.760 --> 00:50:25.440
She tried talking to the police, but they told her

750
00:50:25.440 --> 00:50:28.960
to file a missing person's report. Now she was calling me.

751
00:50:29.960 --> 00:50:32.960
Delphine knew Franklin broke up with me shortly after that

752
00:50:33.119 --> 00:50:36.800
Christmas to remember, yet she kept in touch with me.

753
00:50:37.800 --> 00:50:40.559
Now she's asking if I could use my detective skills

754
00:50:40.599 --> 00:50:44.519
to find Franklin and Joseph. I wanted to tell her

755
00:50:44.800 --> 00:50:47.920
I was too sick to really do anything, but my

756
00:50:48.039 --> 00:50:54.079
bloodlust was demanding a life. I really didn't have a

757
00:50:54.199 --> 00:50:57.159
choice here. Delphine had been meeting with me and having

758
00:50:57.159 --> 00:51:03.039
me do activities to help potentially trigger my first emotional response. Also,

759
00:51:04.000 --> 00:51:08.280
just by reading her voice, she sounded quite desperate. I

760
00:51:08.360 --> 00:51:11.840
had to help. I told her i'd be over. Shortly

761
00:51:12.760 --> 00:51:15.360
after putting my smartphone down, I got out of bed

762
00:51:16.000 --> 00:51:19.440
and almost fell to the floor. I managed to balance

763
00:51:19.480 --> 00:51:22.800
myself on the wall. I took a few deep breaths

764
00:51:23.119 --> 00:51:27.039
and forced myself to go into overdrive. I changed into

765
00:51:27.079 --> 00:51:29.800
normal clothes and faced forward as I walked out into

766
00:51:29.800 --> 00:51:32.719
the small hallway. I grabbed a soad out of the

767
00:51:32.760 --> 00:51:35.840
refrigerator and dug my food out of the dnoyer's grill bag.

768
00:51:36.719 --> 00:51:40.039
I left my dorm and walked out into the blizzard.

769
00:51:40.599 --> 00:51:43.679
The wind was really blowing and snow was just going

770
00:51:43.760 --> 00:51:47.880
anywhere and everywhere. I forced myself to eat my pancakes

771
00:51:47.920 --> 00:51:51.639
with the eggs, sausage and bacon tucked in between. To

772
00:51:51.719 --> 00:51:55.079
be honest, the soft drink went down easier than the food.

773
00:51:56.000 --> 00:51:59.400
I stopped off to throw the empty can away. After

774
00:51:59.480 --> 00:52:02.800
I did, I took a few steps, dropped to my knees,

775
00:52:03.039 --> 00:52:06.159
and threw up again. So much for trying to put

776
00:52:06.159 --> 00:52:09.239
food in my stomach. After I wiped my mouth, I

777
00:52:09.320 --> 00:52:13.440
got up and forced myself to keep moving. I really

778
00:52:13.480 --> 00:52:16.760
felt like shit now and was shaking all over. I

779
00:52:16.840 --> 00:52:20.119
hit a pop machine just before reaching Delphine's house and

780
00:52:20.199 --> 00:52:23.639
drank a few more sodas. So far I was able

781
00:52:23.679 --> 00:52:27.320
to keep those down. I think I caught my flu

782
00:52:27.480 --> 00:52:31.320
from Detective Drake Kasmirak when he was sick. I took

783
00:52:31.360 --> 00:52:34.119
care of him. I ran his errands, made him food,

784
00:52:34.239 --> 00:52:38.920
played his nurse. I almost never got sick now I

785
00:52:39.000 --> 00:52:41.880
had this flu. Drake would give me hell if he

786
00:52:41.960 --> 00:52:44.000
knew I was out in the blizzard while sick like this.

787
00:52:45.199 --> 00:52:48.400
I reached Delphine's house. She let me in and offered

788
00:52:48.400 --> 00:52:51.400
to take my coat. I told her I'd be leaving

789
00:52:51.480 --> 00:52:54.400
once I finished talking to her. Delphine gave me a

790
00:52:54.440 --> 00:52:57.840
cup of coffee and offered me a chair. I declined

791
00:52:57.880 --> 00:53:00.199
to sit, on the count of becoming too relaxed next

792
00:53:00.679 --> 00:53:03.519
and allowing my flu to get the better of me again.

793
00:53:04.679 --> 00:53:08.239
Delphine sat and talked to me. You haven't met my

794
00:53:08.280 --> 00:53:14.360
biological daughter, Rigby. She and I are estranged. You know

795
00:53:14.519 --> 00:53:17.239
I'm a woman of God. I've tried to reach and

796
00:53:17.360 --> 00:53:20.719
do right by Rigby. As she got older, she became

797
00:53:20.800 --> 00:53:25.760
more rebellious. Little did I realize how interesting things would

798
00:53:25.760 --> 00:53:29.360
get once I met Franklin's father. I didn't know that

799
00:53:29.480 --> 00:53:33.599
Rigby and Franklin, Joseph's son, had already known each other.

800
00:53:34.360 --> 00:53:37.079
Joseph and I talked more after his wife passed away.

801
00:53:37.840 --> 00:53:42.280
We fell in love and eventually married. I don't know

802
00:53:42.280 --> 00:53:45.679
what it is, Reagan, but something's just never been right

803
00:53:45.719 --> 00:53:49.360
with Rigby. After I married Joseph, I was processing what

804
00:53:49.400 --> 00:53:55.079
Delphine was telling me. You suspect Rigby, I asked. Delphine

805
00:53:55.079 --> 00:53:59.639
shook her head quickly. I I I just don't know, Reagan.

806
00:54:00.199 --> 00:54:02.920
It seemed to me rick By and Franklin were getting

807
00:54:02.960 --> 00:54:07.199
along so well. She seemed happy. When it got closer

808
00:54:07.239 --> 00:54:10.920
to our wedding, she became more rebellious and belligerent against

809
00:54:10.920 --> 00:54:16.239
me her own mother, Reagan, what's the matter. Since I

810
00:54:16.360 --> 00:54:20.079
was standing, my nasal passages were still open. If I

811
00:54:20.119 --> 00:54:23.800
would have sat or laid down, one or both nostrils

812
00:54:23.840 --> 00:54:27.639
would have been completely swollen shut. Something smelled off in

813
00:54:27.679 --> 00:54:31.320
this house, even through the smell of fresh hot coffee.

814
00:54:32.679 --> 00:54:38.760
You don't smell that, Delphine, I asked. Delphine sniffed, oh

815
00:54:38.840 --> 00:54:42.360
that I boiled some cabbage earlier. I tried cooking to

816
00:54:42.400 --> 00:54:46.360
calm my nerves. I shook my head quickly. No, it's

817
00:54:46.920 --> 00:54:49.639
it's not cabbage. I mean, I smell it a little,

818
00:54:49.719 --> 00:54:54.039
but this is it stinks. Do you mind if I

819
00:54:54.239 --> 00:54:58.960
follow the smell? Delphine's eyes opened a little wide. Do

820
00:54:59.039 --> 00:55:02.199
what you have to do, Raygan. I nodded once and

821
00:55:02.239 --> 00:55:05.320
put my coffee mug down. I followed my nose to

822
00:55:05.360 --> 00:55:10.039
the stairway. Reagan. Delphine called out I turned to see

823
00:55:10.039 --> 00:55:13.440
her handing me a kitchen knife. I nodded once and

824
00:55:13.519 --> 00:55:17.360
took it. Now armed, I made my way upstairs, with

825
00:55:17.400 --> 00:55:21.639
Delphine following closely. When we reached the top, I turned

826
00:55:21.639 --> 00:55:26.280
to her. The smells stronger up here. Delphine sniffed again.

827
00:55:27.239 --> 00:55:31.320
I still don't smell anything. I scanned the hallway and

828
00:55:31.400 --> 00:55:33.760
then found the one door that stood out to me.

829
00:55:34.480 --> 00:55:37.119
The second I opened the attic, we were both hit

830
00:55:37.239 --> 00:55:42.920
with that smell. Delphine gagged. Now, oh god, I can't

831
00:55:42.920 --> 00:55:47.079
believe you could smell that from downstairs, Reagan, Delphine choked.

832
00:55:47.760 --> 00:55:50.599
Call it another way. My brain's wired differently from yours.

833
00:55:50.960 --> 00:55:55.360
I said, stay down here, I'm going up. No, I

834
00:55:55.440 --> 00:55:59.119
want to see what you find, she insisted. I considered

835
00:55:59.119 --> 00:56:03.280
her for a moment. Okay, but you were warned. I

836
00:56:03.400 --> 00:56:06.039
led the way up into the attic. I was only

837
00:56:06.079 --> 00:56:08.159
about half way up when I saw the source of

838
00:56:08.199 --> 00:56:13.920
the stench. Delphine, stop, what is it? She demanded. I

839
00:56:14.000 --> 00:56:17.880
turned to her, go call the police right now. Delphine's

840
00:56:17.920 --> 00:56:20.599
face told me she was determined and wouldn't move away.

841
00:56:21.159 --> 00:56:25.760
I realized I really couldn't stop her. Again, Delphine, you

842
00:56:25.840 --> 00:56:30.559
were warned. Then I stepped aside. Delphine reached the top

843
00:56:30.599 --> 00:56:35.440
of the stairs and screamed. Her husband, Joseph was hung

844
00:56:35.559 --> 00:56:38.880
by his neck off a wooden beam. What was more,

845
00:56:39.559 --> 00:56:43.159
there was blood everywhere. You could easily see that he

846
00:56:43.199 --> 00:56:47.360
had been cut open and his heart extracted. Then I

847
00:56:47.400 --> 00:56:53.360
saw the Queen of Heart's playing card in Joseph's hand. Oh, God, God,

848
00:56:53.480 --> 00:56:57.840
why why him? Delphine wailed. He was a good man.

849
00:56:58.800 --> 00:57:02.000
I came and stood beside. Then she turned to me.

850
00:57:02.880 --> 00:57:05.280
I could read she was very angry as she looked

851
00:57:05.280 --> 00:57:08.920
me over. She reached out and grabbed me, But then

852
00:57:09.199 --> 00:57:13.639
she showed restraint and let go. If I could be surprised,

853
00:57:13.760 --> 00:57:17.400
perhaps I would. She was bowing and kneeling to me.

854
00:57:18.320 --> 00:57:21.000
Forgive me, Lord, I didn't mean to lay a hand

855
00:57:21.039 --> 00:57:25.119
upon your Angel of death. Delphine kept thinking that I

856
00:57:25.280 --> 00:57:29.280
was truly the Angel of Death from the many versions

857
00:57:29.280 --> 00:57:32.719
of the Holy Bible. She kept regarding me as such

858
00:57:32.760 --> 00:57:35.360
ever since I saved the lives of several children back

859
00:57:35.400 --> 00:57:39.639
when I was a freshman at Northridgeway High and unknowingly

860
00:57:39.760 --> 00:57:43.320
hers she discovered I was a serial killer when I

861
00:57:43.440 --> 00:57:47.480
castrated the pedophile minister who kidnapped the children to make

862
00:57:47.519 --> 00:57:50.559
the punishment fit the crime. I took hold of her

863
00:57:50.599 --> 00:57:53.960
and brought her to her feet. Stop. You have no

864
00:57:54.079 --> 00:57:55.880
clue that your God sent me here to be an

865
00:57:55.880 --> 00:57:59.480
instrument of death, I could tell. Delphine wanted to yell,

866
00:58:00.039 --> 00:58:04.920
but she took my hands. Well, we'll discuss this later. Reagan,

867
00:58:05.519 --> 00:58:08.039
you need to find the one who did this. You

868
00:58:08.199 --> 00:58:11.920
must stop that person before more lives are lost. I

869
00:58:11.960 --> 00:58:16.280
nodded once in that we agree. Now call the police.

870
00:58:16.880 --> 00:58:20.800
Delphine nodded quickly. I'll call them after you leave. I

871
00:58:20.840 --> 00:58:24.159
won't tell them you were here, but you stop whoever

872
00:58:24.320 --> 00:58:27.559
is doing this. May I look for clues in Franklin's room,

873
00:58:27.840 --> 00:58:31.760
I asked you. May I left the attic and went

874
00:58:31.800 --> 00:58:35.239
down to Franklin's room. His smartphone was laying on the desk,

875
00:58:35.599 --> 00:58:38.639
more proof that he may have been taken. I picked

876
00:58:38.719 --> 00:58:41.599
up the phone and hacked into it. He had many

877
00:58:41.679 --> 00:58:46.480
picks of himself and Rigby. They looked so happy together.

878
00:58:47.280 --> 00:58:51.440
Each pick was now in my highly photographic memory. Then

879
00:58:51.480 --> 00:58:54.679
I saw another photo entry with my first name and

880
00:58:54.800 --> 00:58:58.239
opened it. Every pick Franklin had taken of me or

881
00:58:58.360 --> 00:59:02.639
us was still here. Why did he keep them. He

882
00:59:02.760 --> 00:59:07.480
broke up with me shortly after he proposed marriage. Unable

883
00:59:07.519 --> 00:59:11.400
to feel emotions, I couldn't understand that. I put the

884
00:59:11.400 --> 00:59:15.800
phone down and walked out. I headed back outside into

885
00:59:15.840 --> 00:59:19.239
the blizzard. Even in my sickened state, my brain still

886
00:59:19.239 --> 00:59:24.920
functioned normally. I was already determining possibilities. Delphine mentioned her

887
00:59:25.000 --> 00:59:29.400
daughter Rigby. I found her number and address on Franklin's phone.

888
00:59:29.440 --> 00:59:32.639
She lived in a loft near the Castalia River. It

889
00:59:32.719 --> 00:59:36.000
took me about fifteen minutes to reach it. The loft

890
00:59:36.079 --> 00:59:40.199
was secluded, no near by neighbors. There were no lights on.

891
00:59:40.719 --> 00:59:45.360
I picked the lock and went inside. Suddenly I had

892
00:59:45.360 --> 00:59:48.079
to run to the bathroom. I made it just in

893
00:59:48.119 --> 00:59:50.079
time to drop to my knees and throw up in

894
00:59:50.119 --> 00:59:54.039
the toilet. I took deep breaths and forced myself back

895
00:59:54.079 --> 00:59:58.280
to my feet. I flushed the toilet and came back out.

896
00:59:58.880 --> 01:00:02.199
I just wanted to lay down and sleep, but I

897
01:00:02.320 --> 01:00:06.400
forced myself into overdrive again. And then I saw a

898
01:00:06.480 --> 01:00:11.239
laptop on the table. I sat, turned it on, and

899
01:00:11.360 --> 01:00:14.639
hacked into it. There were more picks of her and

900
01:00:14.719 --> 01:00:19.559
other guys, the Queen of Heart's victims. She even had

901
01:00:19.599 --> 01:00:23.079
pictures of Joseph Sloane. In every case, all of them

902
01:00:23.119 --> 01:00:25.440
had their hearts removed and the Queen of Heart's playing

903
01:00:25.480 --> 01:00:29.320
card in one hand. I immediately compiled some more data

904
01:00:29.920 --> 01:00:33.599
between the picks on Franklin's phone and Rigby's laptop. I

905
01:00:33.679 --> 01:00:36.719
determined there was a house just outside of Strickfield that

906
01:00:36.840 --> 01:00:39.960
I needed to check out. I turned off the computer

907
01:00:40.199 --> 01:00:42.800
and put everything back the way Rigby had it before

908
01:00:42.800 --> 01:00:47.159
I entered into the Blizzard's icy embrace again. Delphine called

909
01:00:47.159 --> 01:00:49.840
me back and asked for an update. I told her

910
01:00:49.880 --> 01:00:56.400
everything I knew. Are you Are you investigating my my daughter?

911
01:00:57.039 --> 01:01:00.679
She asked, bewildered. She's the only lead I have right now.

912
01:01:01.039 --> 01:01:04.039
I answered. The evidence and logic all point to her

913
01:01:04.079 --> 01:01:07.440
being the Queen of Hearts serial killer. A long silence

914
01:01:07.440 --> 01:01:10.480
on the other end, If it turns out to be Rigby,

915
01:01:11.039 --> 01:01:17.239
will you punish her? Delphine stammered. I will do what

916
01:01:17.320 --> 01:01:24.280
I must, I said, without hesitation. I understand. I wish

917
01:01:24.280 --> 01:01:27.920
it didn't have to come to this. She's my baby, Reagan.

918
01:01:28.880 --> 01:01:32.400
Delphine and I finished our conversation and hung up. I

919
01:01:32.480 --> 01:01:35.360
walked outside the Castalia River until I came to the

920
01:01:35.400 --> 01:01:39.880
house The blizzard was more intense now. I felt even weaker,

921
01:01:39.920 --> 01:01:42.920
but I forced myself to keep going. I looked around

922
01:01:42.960 --> 01:01:45.920
the house but didn't see any lights. I was ready

923
01:01:45.920 --> 01:01:48.960
to pick the lock, but the door was open. I

924
01:01:49.000 --> 01:01:52.639
had to be careful here. I drew my knife and

925
01:01:52.840 --> 01:01:57.199
entered carefully. Once I closed the door, the dizziness started

926
01:01:57.239 --> 01:01:59.840
catching up to me. I moved to the sink, but

927
01:02:00.400 --> 01:02:03.159
I didn't throw up. When I was sure I was

928
01:02:03.199 --> 01:02:05.800
going to be okay, I grabbed a glass and drank

929
01:02:05.840 --> 01:02:10.159
some water. I rested just for a bit. I wasn't

930
01:02:10.199 --> 01:02:12.920
sure how much longer I could go on. I was

931
01:02:13.079 --> 01:02:16.400
likely to pass out at any time. I didn't even

932
01:02:16.440 --> 01:02:18.960
need to touch my skin to know I was burning up.

933
01:02:19.840 --> 01:02:23.800
I just wanted to fall to the floor one more time.

934
01:02:24.119 --> 01:02:28.800
I forced myself into overdrive. I couldn't quit now. Delphine

935
01:02:28.880 --> 01:02:32.280
was counting on me to find Franklin. I know you're

936
01:02:32.280 --> 01:02:37.599
probably asking why Franklin told me he loved me, became

937
01:02:38.079 --> 01:02:41.679
engaged to me, and broke up with me shortly after.

938
01:02:42.360 --> 01:02:46.199
Shouldn't I be mad as hell about that? I suppose

939
01:02:46.800 --> 01:02:51.480
if it were in me, then probably, But remember I'm

940
01:02:51.519 --> 01:02:56.480
truly emotionless. I can't stress that enough. I truly do

941
01:02:56.559 --> 01:03:00.599
not feel anything regarding love or fear. I can only

942
01:03:00.639 --> 01:03:04.239
feel things in the physical. When Franklin broke up with me,

943
01:03:04.639 --> 01:03:07.760
all I could do was seek out another mate. You'd

944
01:03:07.840 --> 01:03:11.239
probably be surprised at how much different you'd feel if

945
01:03:11.280 --> 01:03:16.480
you didn't have emotion. Actually, no, you wouldn't. But I

946
01:03:16.599 --> 01:03:20.320
could feel my sickness, which was in the physical. I

947
01:03:20.480 --> 01:03:23.199
forced myself to keep moving and made my way through

948
01:03:23.239 --> 01:03:26.440
the house. I came to a basement door and carefully

949
01:03:26.519 --> 01:03:31.079
headed downstairs. I pulled out my pocket flashlight and looked around.

950
01:03:32.000 --> 01:03:37.440
I soon found jars with human hearts inside eight total.

951
01:03:38.239 --> 01:03:41.119
I read the labels that displayed the names and dates.

952
01:03:41.880 --> 01:03:45.920
The last name was Joseph Sloane. The date was three

953
01:03:46.039 --> 01:03:51.280
days ago. Rig B. Brewster was definitely the Queen of hearts.

954
01:03:51.960 --> 01:03:55.400
After finding nothing else of significant value, I returned to

955
01:03:55.440 --> 01:03:58.280
the stairway and headed back up. I clicked off the

956
01:03:58.280 --> 01:04:01.039
flashlight and searched until I was heading up more stairs.

957
01:04:01.760 --> 01:04:05.559
As I reached the top, I heard some groaning. It

958
01:04:05.599 --> 01:04:08.519
didn't take long to find the source in the first

959
01:04:08.599 --> 01:04:11.480
room on the right. When I entered the room, the

960
01:04:11.519 --> 01:04:14.000
person tied up to the bed looked my way and

961
01:04:14.119 --> 01:04:18.039
made a muffled scream. I turned on my flashlight and

962
01:04:18.119 --> 01:04:21.599
saw it was Franklin. I knew I had to destroy

963
01:04:21.679 --> 01:04:25.880
Rigby now. The fact that she was Delphine's biological daughter

964
01:04:25.960 --> 01:04:30.039
did not excuse her from my judgment. I sat down

965
01:04:30.079 --> 01:04:33.960
next to Franklin. I'll take your gag off, but you

966
01:04:34.079 --> 01:04:38.519
have to be quiet, I whispered. Franklin nodded. Then I

967
01:04:38.599 --> 01:04:41.800
removed the gag and untied him. I'm going to get

968
01:04:41.840 --> 01:04:46.280
you out of here, Franklin, I said, rage, What are you?

969
01:04:46.920 --> 01:04:50.960
How did you? He stammered. Later, we have to go.

970
01:04:51.639 --> 01:04:54.719
Once my former mate was safe, I would return and

971
01:04:54.880 --> 01:04:58.719
claim Rigby. But just as I got off the bed,

972
01:04:59.760 --> 01:05:05.320
i'd came too dizzy and dropped to the floor. I

973
01:05:05.440 --> 01:05:13.079
was too sick to move, and I passed out. I

974
01:05:13.159 --> 01:05:17.119
woke up sitting. I wasn't sure how long I was unconscious,

975
01:05:17.599 --> 01:05:20.360
but I could feel my hands were tied behind my back.

976
01:05:21.400 --> 01:05:24.039
I still felt like shit, but at least I was

977
01:05:24.159 --> 01:05:26.599
rested a little to where I could be awake for

978
01:05:26.639 --> 01:05:29.519
the moment. We were in a room with only a

979
01:05:29.559 --> 01:05:34.719
single door, black walls, and no windows. Franklin was tied

980
01:05:34.760 --> 01:05:37.119
to a slab and was stripped down to his boxers.

981
01:05:37.920 --> 01:05:42.840
And then Rigby Brewster herself came in. She had straight,

982
01:05:42.920 --> 01:05:46.800
dark hair that went halfway down her back, very pale skin,

983
01:05:47.320 --> 01:05:51.559
and dark eyes. She was wearing only dark clothes and

984
01:05:51.599 --> 01:05:56.599
had dark fingernails. You must be Reagan, Rigby said, in

985
01:05:56.639 --> 01:06:01.239
a soft, yet elegant voice. Franklin just can't stop talking

986
01:06:01.280 --> 01:06:05.639
about you. Now. Can you stay awake, because, to be honest,

987
01:06:05.719 --> 01:06:10.039
you really don't look so good. Why did you kidnap

988
01:06:10.079 --> 01:06:13.920
me like this? Rigby? Franklin demanded, Why are you doing this?

989
01:06:15.239 --> 01:06:18.960
That's not all she did, Franklin, I told him, Rigby,

990
01:06:19.000 --> 01:06:20.880
why don't you tell him about all the hearts you

991
01:06:20.920 --> 01:06:23.840
have stored in the basement? Or should I call you

992
01:06:24.639 --> 01:06:28.000
the Queen of hearts? Rigby looked at me and laughed

993
01:06:28.000 --> 01:06:33.159
a little. Oh, you weren't supposed to find those, She sighed.

994
01:06:34.119 --> 01:06:37.199
Now that you know my secret, I suppose I can

995
01:06:37.239 --> 01:06:41.039
tell you everything before I add your heart to the collection.

996
01:06:41.840 --> 01:06:45.039
Franklin looked both frightened and surprised at the same time.

997
01:06:46.079 --> 01:06:51.320
Rigby what? Rigby caressed the side of his face. Oh, honey,

998
01:06:52.039 --> 01:06:54.079
when you and I fell in love, it was supposed

999
01:06:54.119 --> 01:06:58.480
to be forever, especially when we started having sex. I mean,

1000
01:06:59.519 --> 01:07:03.000
you don't just steal a girl's heart than completely rock

1001
01:07:03.079 --> 01:07:05.960
her world the way you did. You even said you

1002
01:07:05.960 --> 01:07:10.360
would stay with me forever, but then her face goes

1003
01:07:10.400 --> 01:07:14.320
from soft to piste off in a hurry. My fucking

1004
01:07:14.480 --> 01:07:18.559
mom just had to meet your fucking dad. Mom knew

1005
01:07:18.639 --> 01:07:21.400
I was seeing you, but she and Joseph just had

1006
01:07:21.440 --> 01:07:24.800
to fall in love. They just had to get married,

1007
01:07:25.079 --> 01:07:28.719
ruining any chance for us to continue our love. I mean,

1008
01:07:29.199 --> 01:07:35.239
step siblings aren't supposed to get married or see each other, right, Rigby.

1009
01:07:35.639 --> 01:07:39.360
Franklin tried to protest. You broke up with me. Franklin,

1010
01:07:39.760 --> 01:07:43.920
Rigby stated, two months before mom married your dad, you

1011
01:07:44.000 --> 01:07:47.039
broke up with me. You just don't do that to

1012
01:07:47.079 --> 01:07:51.840
the one you love. Then she screamed, you broke my heart.

1013
01:07:52.800 --> 01:07:55.679
But how are we supposed to continue with Dad and

1014
01:07:55.719 --> 01:08:00.599
Delphi married and living together. Franklin protested, we could have

1015
01:08:00.639 --> 01:08:05.360
carried on in secret. Rigby answered, I begged and pleaded

1016
01:08:05.400 --> 01:08:07.920
with you, but you just wouldn't give us that chance.

1017
01:08:08.760 --> 01:08:12.480
She pointed to me, Now you ended up falling for

1018
01:08:12.519 --> 01:08:15.719
this other bitch. You turned away from me and eventually

1019
01:08:15.719 --> 01:08:19.840
found Reagan. You gave your heart to Reagan. You even

1020
01:08:19.880 --> 01:08:25.399
asked Reagan to marry you. That really hurt Franklin. What

1021
01:08:26.159 --> 01:08:29.239
because she has such an angelic face and huge tits,

1022
01:08:29.920 --> 01:08:33.600
You fucking men are all the same. Rigby gently ran

1023
01:08:33.680 --> 01:08:38.319
a long fingernail between Franklin's pecks. But I'm going to

1024
01:08:38.399 --> 01:08:42.800
have your heart once again forever. She looked at me.

1025
01:08:43.560 --> 01:08:48.039
I really wish you hadn't found my hearts. Franklin, Rigby

1026
01:08:48.119 --> 01:08:51.079
killed your father. I told him she has his heart

1027
01:08:51.119 --> 01:08:54.640
down in the basement, along with seven others. She's the

1028
01:08:54.720 --> 01:08:57.920
Queen of Heart's serial killer. Franklin gave her a weird

1029
01:08:58.000 --> 01:09:04.439
look before he screamed passed out. Typical fucking nerd, Grigby muttered.

1030
01:09:05.039 --> 01:09:09.079
Then she turned to me. So you killed those others,

1031
01:09:09.399 --> 01:09:13.880
including Franklin's dad, because of what happened between him and Delphine.

1032
01:09:14.800 --> 01:09:19.039
You're insane, I said, Have you ever been in love Reagan,

1033
01:09:19.600 --> 01:09:24.039
Rigby demanded, yes, I suppose you have. You were ready

1034
01:09:24.039 --> 01:09:26.479
to marry Franklin until I made him break up with you.

1035
01:09:27.279 --> 01:09:29.399
I told him I'd kill his dad if he didn't.

1036
01:09:30.079 --> 01:09:33.520
To prove my point, I killed Joseph and Mom's cat

1037
01:09:33.880 --> 01:09:37.720
right in front of Franklin. You never wondered why he

1038
01:09:37.840 --> 01:09:40.760
suddenly broke it off with you right after he asked

1039
01:09:40.800 --> 01:09:44.479
you to marry him. Now I had my answers. I

1040
01:09:44.600 --> 01:09:47.000
was going to have to do some serious acting here

1041
01:09:47.479 --> 01:09:50.760
and pretend that I had emotions. Is that the reason

1042
01:09:50.800 --> 01:09:53.399
why I've been crying myself to sleep every night since then?

1043
01:09:54.199 --> 01:09:59.279
Because of you. Franklin's heart belongs to me. Grigby snapped

1044
01:10:00.239 --> 01:10:02.720
he broke up with me. I was determined to win

1045
01:10:02.800 --> 01:10:07.079
him back by any means necessary. Joseph Sloane would have

1046
01:10:07.159 --> 01:10:10.600
to pay. But you know what, there were other guys

1047
01:10:10.640 --> 01:10:13.239
pining for me too, so I had to get rid

1048
01:10:13.279 --> 01:10:16.960
of them. They were just going to keep right on coming.

1049
01:10:17.319 --> 01:10:20.000
I trapped them all and took their hearts. I mean

1050
01:10:20.600 --> 01:10:23.960
they were looking to give them to me anyway. Killing

1051
01:10:24.000 --> 01:10:27.600
my stepfather was the next step. He broke my heart

1052
01:10:27.680 --> 01:10:31.399
by taking my mom as his wife, guaranteeing that Franklin

1053
01:10:31.439 --> 01:10:34.119
and I would never be able to get married. So

1054
01:10:34.199 --> 01:10:36.800
I came to the house three days ago and took

1055
01:10:36.840 --> 01:10:41.439
his heart when Mom wasn't home. And what about your mom?

1056
01:10:42.000 --> 01:10:46.600
I asked, after I finished with you, I'm taking her heart.

1057
01:10:47.439 --> 01:10:50.560
She never cared about my feelings, so she is going

1058
01:10:50.560 --> 01:10:56.479
to pay the price. But your own mother, she brought

1059
01:10:56.520 --> 01:10:59.239
you into this world. It looked like I was selling

1060
01:10:59.239 --> 01:11:02.119
her on my dramatic and I'm going to take her

1061
01:11:02.159 --> 01:11:06.119
out of it, Rigby replied, Mom and Joseph had no

1062
01:11:06.279 --> 01:11:09.720
right to get together and separate. Franklin and me talk

1063
01:11:09.760 --> 01:11:14.000
about being selfish. Once I kill Mom, then Franklin can

1064
01:11:14.039 --> 01:11:17.359
be mine once again. We'll be able to get married.

1065
01:11:18.560 --> 01:11:21.880
And what about Franklin, i demanded, What if he doesn't

1066
01:11:21.920 --> 01:11:24.920
feel the same way. I'll make Franklin see that he

1067
01:11:24.960 --> 01:11:28.680
still loves me, just like I love him. I may

1068
01:11:28.720 --> 01:11:31.720
be the Queen of hearts, but I'm the only queen

1069
01:11:31.800 --> 01:11:34.439
of his heart. He'll see that I'm the best thing

1070
01:11:34.520 --> 01:11:37.680
that ever happened to him. Yeah. I know he's a

1071
01:11:37.720 --> 01:11:41.279
geek in everything, but he just has that charming quality

1072
01:11:41.319 --> 01:11:45.159
about him. I'm sure you've seen it too, probably why

1073
01:11:45.199 --> 01:11:48.119
you fell for him. Rigby moved to her table and

1074
01:11:48.159 --> 01:11:51.640
picked up a knife, My knife and a Queen of

1075
01:11:51.680 --> 01:11:55.239
Heart's playing card. I'm going to make such a mess

1076
01:11:55.279 --> 01:11:59.000
in killing you, Reagan, but that's fine, nothing I haven't

1077
01:11:59.039 --> 01:12:02.319
done before. I'll slice your throat and let you bleed out.

1078
01:12:02.840 --> 01:12:05.079
You probably won't even feel much of anything with you

1079
01:12:05.119 --> 01:12:08.239
being sick and all, I'll probably be doing you a favor.

1080
01:12:09.079 --> 01:12:13.560
And now it's time to finish eliminating those who've come

1081
01:12:13.600 --> 01:12:16.920
in between me and Franklin so we can be together

1082
01:12:17.000 --> 01:12:21.920
once again, starting with you. As Rigby came at me,

1083
01:12:22.239 --> 01:12:24.640
I revealed that my hands were free by grabbing her

1084
01:12:24.640 --> 01:12:27.039
wrist with one hand and rising up and punching her

1085
01:12:27.039 --> 01:12:29.359
in the face with the other. My punch would have

1086
01:12:29.439 --> 01:12:31.680
knocked her on her ass if I was well, but

1087
01:12:32.119 --> 01:12:35.560
it just made her stagger. I hit her again, harder

1088
01:12:35.600 --> 01:12:39.079
this time to make her drop the knife. Rigby screamed

1089
01:12:39.119 --> 01:12:42.119
and grabbed my throat. My fever and fatigue were really

1090
01:12:42.159 --> 01:12:45.239
working against me. I had to force myself into overdrive

1091
01:12:45.319 --> 01:12:48.760
one more time. Rigby already overpowered me and had me

1092
01:12:48.840 --> 01:12:51.920
on the floor. I'm going to choke you until you're

1093
01:12:52.000 --> 01:12:56.880
god damn neck snaps, Rigby hissed. I only had one

1094
01:12:56.880 --> 01:13:00.319
option available. As Rigby moved to get on top of me,

1095
01:13:00.600 --> 01:13:02.600
I forced my legs to come up so I could

1096
01:13:02.600 --> 01:13:05.319
lock her in the triangle choke. Once I had it

1097
01:13:05.439 --> 01:13:08.359
fully locked in, she started fighting me. I had to

1098
01:13:08.399 --> 01:13:11.000
summon all the strength I could keep to hold that

1099
01:13:11.119 --> 01:13:14.800
lock tight and put her to sleep. Rigby fought like hell,

1100
01:13:14.960 --> 01:13:17.439
but I focused my strength in spite of my flu.

1101
01:13:18.119 --> 01:13:20.520
It took a few minutes longer than I would have liked,

1102
01:13:20.840 --> 01:13:23.920
but I finally put her out. I released the triangle

1103
01:13:24.000 --> 01:13:27.880
choke and stood up. I realized I didn't have much time.

1104
01:13:28.079 --> 01:13:31.560
I had to claim Rigby and satisfy my bloodlust. I

1105
01:13:31.600 --> 01:13:34.479
called upon whatever reserves of strength I had left to

1106
01:13:34.520 --> 01:13:36.560
lift her up and put her on the table next

1107
01:13:36.600 --> 01:13:39.680
to Franklin. I lifted Franklin off the table and put

1108
01:13:39.760 --> 01:13:42.600
him down on the floor. Next, I found the duct

1109
01:13:42.600 --> 01:13:46.319
tape and secured Rigby to the table. I made sure

1110
01:13:46.399 --> 01:13:50.960
Franklin was still unconscious before I woke Rigby. When she

1111
01:13:51.119 --> 01:13:55.720
was awake, she realized she was incapacitated. I would have

1112
01:13:55.760 --> 01:13:58.439
brought pictures and the usuals to place on the walls,

1113
01:13:58.439 --> 01:14:03.680
but this'll have to Rigby. I showed her her smartphone.

1114
01:14:04.520 --> 01:14:06.960
I hacked it and found plenty of evidence on the

1115
01:14:07.000 --> 01:14:09.800
phone alone to show the police that you're the Queen

1116
01:14:09.840 --> 01:14:13.399
of Hearts killer. They'll find more evidence once they search

1117
01:14:13.399 --> 01:14:17.880
your loft. But now I'm going to remove your heart

1118
01:14:18.359 --> 01:14:22.479
and leave it here with your body. Rigby immediately understood

1119
01:14:22.960 --> 01:14:28.039
and became excited. Holy shit, you're the angel of death.

1120
01:14:28.800 --> 01:14:37.000
You Wow, you're just like me, Reagan. I shook my head. No,

1121
01:14:38.359 --> 01:14:42.880
never like you. I picked up my knife. You mentioned

1122
01:14:42.880 --> 01:14:45.800
your mother and stepfather were selfish for marrying each other.

1123
01:14:46.640 --> 01:14:50.359
I say you were selfish for murdering Joseph Sloane and

1124
01:14:50.399 --> 01:14:53.920
those others, just to have Franklin all to yourself. You

1125
01:14:53.960 --> 01:14:58.640
even want to kill your own mother. Now I have

1126
01:14:58.880 --> 01:15:04.159
you all to myself. I raised the knife, and now

1127
01:15:04.680 --> 01:15:10.159
rig B Brewster let the punishment fit the crime. But

1128
01:15:11.319 --> 01:15:16.880
unfortunately my flu hit me again instead of the knife.

1129
01:15:17.000 --> 01:15:20.880
I went down fast and ended up going into blackness

1130
01:15:21.279 --> 01:15:27.680
before I hit the floor. When I woke up again,

1131
01:15:28.079 --> 01:15:32.319
I found myself in a hospital room in bed. Delphine

1132
01:15:32.319 --> 01:15:35.159
and Drake were both in the room with me. You're

1133
01:15:35.199 --> 01:15:40.079
finally awake, Delphine said, with relief. Franklin called me. I

1134
01:15:40.119 --> 01:15:42.880
came out and found you both. Franklin and I put

1135
01:15:42.880 --> 01:15:45.319
you in the car and brought you here. You've been

1136
01:15:45.359 --> 01:15:48.560
in that bed for the last three days. She became

1137
01:15:48.680 --> 01:15:51.560
more stern. Now you should have told me you were

1138
01:15:51.600 --> 01:15:55.479
sick with the flu. Drake approached me. I can't believe

1139
01:15:55.520 --> 01:15:58.159
you risked your life being sick like that. I could

1140
01:15:58.239 --> 01:16:01.159
tell by his tone that he was angry with me too.

1141
01:16:01.319 --> 01:16:03.479
I did say earlier that he would give me hell.

1142
01:16:04.439 --> 01:16:09.359
Franklin's okay. Then I asked Delphine, he's fine. She assured me.

1143
01:16:10.239 --> 01:16:16.039
You saved his life. What about Rigby, I asked. Delphine

1144
01:16:16.039 --> 01:16:19.199
shook her head. I'm afraid I didn't see Rigby there.

1145
01:16:20.159 --> 01:16:22.880
We saw what looked like someone was taped to the table,

1146
01:16:22.920 --> 01:16:28.119
but whoever it was got free. Franklin took care of

1147
01:16:28.159 --> 01:16:31.640
you until I came. I had to admit I was

1148
01:16:31.920 --> 01:16:35.119
feeling much better. The hospital must have given me some

1149
01:16:35.239 --> 01:16:38.000
good meds through my IV to help against the infection.

1150
01:16:39.000 --> 01:16:42.479
When I started to move, Drake stopped me. WHOA, No,

1151
01:16:42.640 --> 01:16:45.600
you don't rage. You're staying right here until the doctor

1152
01:16:45.640 --> 01:16:48.279
says you can go. You could have died out there,

1153
01:16:48.319 --> 01:16:52.239
you know, that's how sick you were, but I didn't.

1154
01:16:52.640 --> 01:16:56.359
I stressed. Drake gave me hell again, but then he

1155
01:16:56.479 --> 01:16:59.279
softened up. He was in love with me, so he

1156
01:16:59.279 --> 01:17:01.800
couldn't find it in himself to stay angry with me

1157
01:17:01.920 --> 01:17:05.039
for very long. After a little while, he had to

1158
01:17:05.039 --> 01:17:08.960
go to Strickfield PD. That just left Delphine and me.

1159
01:17:09.720 --> 01:17:14.239
What happened to Rigby? I asked, Delphine, She's killed several people,

1160
01:17:14.720 --> 01:17:18.520
including your husband. I told you she's the Queen of

1161
01:17:18.520 --> 01:17:22.359
hearts killer. When I told her about the evidence I found,

1162
01:17:22.720 --> 01:17:27.680
including the hearts, Delphine became sad. I was hoping there

1163
01:17:27.680 --> 01:17:31.760
would be some reconciliation between my daughter and me. You

1164
01:17:31.840 --> 01:17:34.600
were really going to kill her. She's murdered at least

1165
01:17:34.640 --> 01:17:38.479
eight people, Delphine, I stressed, if you want to stop

1166
01:17:38.479 --> 01:17:43.640
me from finding and claiming Rigby, now's your chance. Delphine

1167
01:17:43.640 --> 01:17:48.439
shook her head. No, I'm afraid Rigby is lost to me.

1168
01:17:49.479 --> 01:17:51.760
As the angel of death. You must do your appointed

1169
01:17:51.840 --> 01:17:56.920
duty by God. I understand and will not interfere. Rigby

1170
01:17:56.960 --> 01:18:00.359
has chosen her own path. The only thing I could

1171
01:18:00.359 --> 01:18:03.760
do now was recover. Once out of the hospital, I

1172
01:18:03.800 --> 01:18:07.359
would have to double my efforts to find Rigby. Besides

1173
01:18:07.399 --> 01:18:10.600
my bloodlust, the other motivation was that now she knew

1174
01:18:10.600 --> 01:18:13.760
who I was and could use that to her advantage.

1175
01:18:14.359 --> 01:18:17.000
But to what lengths would she go with my secret?

1176
01:18:17.960 --> 01:18:21.640
How many more hearts would she claim? How many more

1177
01:18:21.680 --> 01:18:26.239
playing cards would be found one way or another, I

1178
01:18:26.239 --> 01:18:29.680
would have to stop Rigby Brewster. But would I end

1179
01:18:29.760 --> 01:18:32.920
up being outed myself as a serial killer to stop her?

1180
01:18:34.000 --> 01:18:46.800
Only time would tell. The worm has turned by David Ohm.

1181
01:18:47.119 --> 01:18:50.359
Penn scratched at the burgundy paint of the park's picnic

1182
01:18:50.399 --> 01:18:53.960
table with his thumbnail. He hated waiting almost as much

1183
01:18:54.319 --> 01:18:58.600
as he hated being broke. Unfortunately, for him, waiting was

1184
01:18:58.720 --> 01:19:02.319
the only way his bills were getting paid. Penn's employment

1185
01:19:02.439 --> 01:19:06.880
history consisted entirely of community service and eight years on

1186
01:19:06.960 --> 01:19:10.880
a prison farm. Carjacking and armed robbery didn't look great

1187
01:19:11.000 --> 01:19:17.199
under the special skills portion of his resume, so he waited. Hi.

1188
01:19:17.720 --> 01:19:21.680
A tiny voice squeaked beside him, I'm ed. Pen looked

1189
01:19:21.720 --> 01:19:24.000
over at the boy who had slipped onto the bench

1190
01:19:24.079 --> 01:19:27.840
beside him. He was scrawny, with oversized glasses and a

1191
01:19:27.880 --> 01:19:30.800
shaggy mop of brown hair that filled the space between

1192
01:19:30.800 --> 01:19:34.840
the lens and his eyes. His shirt was striped intentionally

1193
01:19:35.159 --> 01:19:40.640
with horizontal bars of color and unintentionally with vertical runs

1194
01:19:40.680 --> 01:19:44.479
of ketchup. The offending condiment was drying around his mouth,

1195
01:19:44.479 --> 01:19:47.520
where it seemed to break away into the constellations of

1196
01:19:47.680 --> 01:19:51.920
freckles that covered his entire face. Pen sighed there was

1197
01:19:51.960 --> 01:19:54.399
no way this kid had any friends to go bother

1198
01:19:54.520 --> 01:19:58.479
instead of him. You don't look like an d Penn said,

1199
01:19:59.079 --> 01:20:03.159
Here with your folks. Nope, Ed replied. He stared up

1200
01:20:03.199 --> 01:20:06.600
at Penn, clearly not intending on giving up more information.

1201
01:20:07.359 --> 01:20:11.720
What's your name, mister? Everyone calls me Penn. Pen hadn't

1202
01:20:11.760 --> 01:20:14.439
meant to answer, but part of him felt the need

1203
01:20:14.479 --> 01:20:18.760
to give the kit a break. Life clearly wasn't shouldn't

1204
01:20:18.800 --> 01:20:23.439
you be playing the swings look fun? He suggested. I'm

1205
01:20:23.479 --> 01:20:26.439
allergic to just about everything, and I have basically no

1206
01:20:26.520 --> 01:20:31.000
immune system. Ed shrugged his narrow shoulders. The swings give

1207
01:20:31.039 --> 01:20:35.399
me motion sickness anyway, then why are you at the park?

1208
01:20:36.439 --> 01:20:39.199
Got nowhere else to be? Mom says her cats are

1209
01:20:39.239 --> 01:20:41.119
allergic to me too, and that I should give them

1210
01:20:41.119 --> 01:20:44.520
a break. What about you? Ed scooped the hair to

1211
01:20:44.560 --> 01:20:46.399
the side of his glasses so he could see a

1212
01:20:46.399 --> 01:20:50.479
little better. You're too old for swings, First of all,

1213
01:20:51.039 --> 01:20:53.800
no one is too old for swings. Penn held up

1214
01:20:53.840 --> 01:20:59.560
two fingers. Secondly, I'm working, Ed Nodded sagely. What job

1215
01:20:59.600 --> 01:21:04.840
has you sit in a park? The kind that requires solitude? Oh,

1216
01:21:05.600 --> 01:21:10.680
Ed sighed, I'd be really good at that job. Jesus Christ.

1217
01:21:10.760 --> 01:21:13.479
Kid Pen pinched the bridge of his nose. I've seen

1218
01:21:13.560 --> 01:21:16.399
lifetime movies that were less depressing than you are. Do

1219
01:21:16.439 --> 01:21:19.760
you want some food? I just had three hot dogs,

1220
01:21:20.039 --> 01:21:24.039
Ed chirped happily. Pen looked the frail little boy over suspiciously.

1221
01:21:24.760 --> 01:21:28.199
Where'd you put them in your pockets? I have a

1222
01:21:28.239 --> 01:21:32.399
really high metabolism I can't gain weight. Ed's face soured,

1223
01:21:32.760 --> 01:21:36.199
then perk back up. It's kinda nice because I could

1224
01:21:36.239 --> 01:21:38.600
eat all the ice cream I wanted if I wasn't

1225
01:21:38.640 --> 01:21:42.920
lactose intolerant. Pen's eyes rolled on their own. Of course

1226
01:21:42.960 --> 01:21:45.640
you are. Is there anything you don't have wrong with you?

1227
01:21:46.920 --> 01:21:50.680
It's probably safe to say I don't have gigantism. Ed snickered.

1228
01:21:51.239 --> 01:21:54.680
Pen's stone face cracked and he busted out laughing. He

1229
01:21:54.760 --> 01:21:58.520
patted Ed on the shoulder. Well done, kid, Ed poke

1230
01:21:58.640 --> 01:22:02.960
Pen's right forearm. That's a Nedo tattoo. Does it mean anything?

1231
01:22:03.760 --> 01:22:07.479
Penn glanced at the arabesque design, whose floral pattern twisted

1232
01:22:07.560 --> 01:22:09.960
from the back of his hand to just past his elbow,

1233
01:22:10.079 --> 01:22:13.680
with a lion like creature roaring in the center. Yeah,

1234
01:22:13.760 --> 01:22:17.560
it's a Burmese. That's where my grandmother was from. She

1235
01:22:17.720 --> 01:22:21.039
raised me, so I did this to remember her. She

1236
01:22:21.119 --> 01:22:24.119
had an ambulet with the same symbol that she wore everywhere.

1237
01:22:24.479 --> 01:22:27.079
She said it was magic and protected her from evil.

1238
01:22:28.079 --> 01:22:33.279
That's nifty. Do you believe in magic? Not particularly you,

1239
01:22:34.119 --> 01:22:36.960
of course. Ed took a bag of gummy worms from

1240
01:22:36.960 --> 01:22:40.279
his cargo pants and set them on the table. Today

1241
01:22:40.359 --> 01:22:45.159
is National Gummy Worm Day. That a real thing, Penn asked. Sure.

1242
01:22:45.920 --> 01:22:47.880
Ed opened the bag and plucked out a red and

1243
01:22:47.920 --> 01:22:50.479
green worm. He put it between his buck teeth and

1244
01:22:50.600 --> 01:22:53.720
slurped it into his mouth with a giggle. Penn smiled

1245
01:22:53.720 --> 01:22:56.319
at the boy. It wasn't an expression he got to

1246
01:22:56.399 --> 01:22:59.159
use much. I guess that's the kind of holiday I

1247
01:22:59.199 --> 01:23:03.960
could get behind. It's also give something away day. I'm

1248
01:23:04.000 --> 01:23:07.760
generally on the other side of that one. Penn snagged

1249
01:23:07.760 --> 01:23:10.239
one of the boy's worms with a wink. Then you're

1250
01:23:10.279 --> 01:23:13.279
in luck. Ed took another bag of worms and set

1251
01:23:13.279 --> 01:23:15.720
it in front of Pen. I want to give you these,

1252
01:23:16.439 --> 01:23:21.359
Penn's eyebrow lurched at the gesture. Why. Because that way

1253
01:23:21.399 --> 01:23:25.520
I can celebrate both holidays at once. It's more efficient. No,

1254
01:23:26.079 --> 01:23:29.600
I meant, why give them to me? Penn stared at

1255
01:23:29.600 --> 01:23:33.399
the bag like it might explode. There's plenty of kids here.

1256
01:23:34.399 --> 01:23:36.960
Ed turned on the little bench and waved a bony

1257
01:23:37.000 --> 01:23:40.359
hand across the expanse of the park. Kids shrieked and

1258
01:23:40.439 --> 01:23:44.520
ran around. Old men played chess under the trees, Couples

1259
01:23:44.560 --> 01:23:47.319
picnicked in the open areas, and a group of teens

1260
01:23:47.319 --> 01:23:51.199
sold pot next to the forgotten volleyball court. Ed slurped

1261
01:23:51.239 --> 01:23:54.319
another worm. We're the only two that are here alone,

1262
01:23:55.000 --> 01:23:58.159
he said, between chewy bites. I think that makes you

1263
01:23:58.199 --> 01:24:03.640
worth sharing with. Correction, you're a Hallmark movie. Pen rubbed

1264
01:24:03.640 --> 01:24:07.640
the kid's head. Guess we're not alone now, thanks, Ed,

1265
01:24:08.279 --> 01:24:11.319
no problem. Ed pointed at a man walking toward them

1266
01:24:11.319 --> 01:24:13.479
with a large envelope tucked under his arm and a

1267
01:24:13.479 --> 01:24:17.479
gravestone expression on his square face. That guy needs friends

1268
01:24:17.520 --> 01:24:20.680
more than I do. Oh shit. Pen stood up and

1269
01:24:20.760 --> 01:24:23.199
dug in his pocket for a second. He pulled out

1270
01:24:23.199 --> 01:24:26.359
his last five dollar bill. That's my boss, Happy give

1271
01:24:26.439 --> 01:24:28.880
something away day. Now go get you some non dairy

1272
01:24:28.920 --> 01:24:32.439
ice cream. Don't forget your worms. I think you're gonna

1273
01:24:32.479 --> 01:24:35.399
need them. Ed smiled and took the money. Want to

1274
01:24:35.399 --> 01:24:38.319
hang out tomorrow. Pen tucked the gummy worms into his

1275
01:24:38.359 --> 01:24:42.560
pocket and nodded, Yeah, kid, we'll meet here tomorrow. Same time,

1276
01:24:43.560 --> 01:24:45.880
Ed checked his watch, which was struggling to stay over

1277
01:24:45.920 --> 01:24:49.359
his hand Roger that Ed jumped up and hugged Pen

1278
01:24:49.439 --> 01:24:53.199
around the waist. Pen stood perfectly, still, not sure what

1279
01:24:53.359 --> 01:24:56.159
to do, before deciding on a simple pat on the back,

1280
01:24:56.840 --> 01:24:59.560
stay safe, Ed. He walked away from the boy and

1281
01:24:59.600 --> 01:25:03.359
went to me. The grim gentleman by pen Ed waved

1282
01:25:03.359 --> 01:25:07.159
frantically and trotted away. Who the fuck is that? The

1283
01:25:07.239 --> 01:25:11.000
man asked, with a nod in Ed's direction an undercover cop.

1284
01:25:11.239 --> 01:25:15.960
Pen replied, he's really good, don't you think listen? Wise asked,

1285
01:25:16.399 --> 01:25:18.560
I can find any number of cons to get in

1286
01:25:18.640 --> 01:25:21.039
on this. I'm talking to you as a favor, so

1287
01:25:21.079 --> 01:25:23.560
when I ask a question, you give a straight answer.

1288
01:25:24.840 --> 01:25:28.159
Chill Richter, Penn took the envelope from him. He's just

1289
01:25:28.199 --> 01:25:31.399
a lonely kid looking for someone to talk to. No shit,

1290
01:25:31.479 --> 01:25:35.000
he's lonely. Look at the little loser, Richter said, I've

1291
01:25:35.000 --> 01:25:38.960
seen bigger abortions. Penn smacked his lips and turned the

1292
01:25:39.079 --> 01:25:43.680
envelope over in his hand. You know, just because we're criminals.

1293
01:25:43.880 --> 01:25:47.439
Doesn't mean we have to be pricks. Richter smiled at him.

1294
01:25:47.600 --> 01:25:50.079
It wasn't the kind of smile Pen shared with Ed.

1295
01:25:50.680 --> 01:25:53.239
It was the kind Pen saw on inmates right before

1296
01:25:53.279 --> 01:25:57.079
they stuck a sharpened toothbrush in someone's throat. The expression

1297
01:25:57.159 --> 01:26:00.560
was a morbid scar across Richter's face, and his words

1298
01:26:01.079 --> 01:26:05.520
oozed like septic puss. I heard you'd tell him to

1299
01:26:05.560 --> 01:26:08.600
be back here tomorrow. Maybe you were just being nice,

1300
01:26:08.680 --> 01:26:11.920
but he'll be here regardless. You're going to do your

1301
01:26:11.960 --> 01:26:14.359
homework and be ready for my boys to pick you up,

1302
01:26:14.560 --> 01:26:16.359
and you're going to cut the biggest dick in the

1303
01:26:16.399 --> 01:26:19.840
cell block routine. Richter pressed two fingers into Pen's chest

1304
01:26:20.119 --> 01:26:23.760
and leaned closer. Or tomorrow, I'm going to come here

1305
01:26:23.840 --> 01:26:26.039
and I'm going to rip that little boy's guts out

1306
01:26:26.119 --> 01:26:30.399
to decorate the goddamn seesaw. This job goes off smooth

1307
01:26:30.520 --> 01:26:33.880
and buy the numbers, Say yes, sir, and get moving.

1308
01:26:34.800 --> 01:26:39.359
Penn glanced at Ed, waiting in line for the ice cream. Yes, sir,

1309
01:26:42.800 --> 01:26:45.760
The job was not going smooth or by the numbers.

1310
01:26:46.079 --> 01:26:48.600
Richter's boys showed up at Penn's apartment and took him

1311
01:26:48.640 --> 01:26:51.760
to the fancy downtown apartments. The three of them rode

1312
01:26:51.800 --> 01:26:55.199
the elevator to the seventeenth floor in their AES coveralls,

1313
01:26:55.399 --> 01:26:58.760
with their respective equipment stashed in toolboxes marked with the

1314
01:26:58.800 --> 01:27:03.199
electric company's logo. Only the seventeenth floor didn't look like

1315
01:27:03.239 --> 01:27:06.439
the pictures and Richter's packet. The three men panned their

1316
01:27:06.479 --> 01:27:10.479
flashlights around the darkened space. Penn noticed the painter's drop

1317
01:27:10.520 --> 01:27:13.119
clothes on the floor and the paper that masked the

1318
01:27:13.119 --> 01:27:16.479
windows from the overspray. First, then he noticed the lack

1319
01:27:16.520 --> 01:27:20.279
of overspray. Where there were supposed to be apartments, there

1320
01:27:20.359 --> 01:27:23.760
was only exposed pipes, conduit and two by fours marking

1321
01:27:23.800 --> 01:27:27.840
off their future locations. Not only were the units unlived in,

1322
01:27:28.439 --> 01:27:31.960
but they were nowhere near ready to be painted. Anyone

1323
01:27:31.960 --> 01:27:35.520
else got a bad feeling about this? Penn asked zip It,

1324
01:27:35.800 --> 01:27:37.720
the larger man, and the crew said in a voice

1325
01:27:37.800 --> 01:27:40.720
like shattering glass, high and coarse, with an accent of

1326
01:27:40.800 --> 01:27:44.960
danger it brought. Maybe we got the wrong floor. Yeah,

1327
01:27:45.000 --> 01:27:48.359
I'm sure that's it, the others reassured him. Sweat beaded

1328
01:27:48.399 --> 01:27:50.720
his brow above the snake tattoo that cut down the

1329
01:27:50.760 --> 01:27:53.399
left side of his face. We just got off on

1330
01:27:53.439 --> 01:27:57.920
the wrong floor. You're both idiots, Pen grunted. Unless we're

1331
01:27:57.920 --> 01:28:00.920
stealing power tools, we're in the wrong bill. The package

1332
01:28:00.920 --> 01:28:05.079
said this place was fully rented. Obviously they didn't count

1333
01:28:05.079 --> 01:28:08.039
the floors that were under construction, the big one said.

1334
01:28:08.680 --> 01:28:11.239
Pen leaned on the frame of a future kitchen counter

1335
01:28:11.520 --> 01:28:14.159
and dug the bag of gummy worms from his pocket.

1336
01:28:14.640 --> 01:28:17.119
When one of you geniuses figures out which floor we're

1337
01:28:17.159 --> 01:28:19.279
supposed to be on, let me know how about that.

1338
01:28:20.359 --> 01:28:23.560
What are you doing, the man with the faced hat asked,

1339
01:28:24.239 --> 01:28:27.479
Taking lunch, Pen put a pair of delectable worms in

1340
01:28:27.520 --> 01:28:30.840
his mouth. He shook the bag in his direction. I

1341
01:28:30.880 --> 01:28:34.840
should probably share, since it's give something away day, that

1342
01:28:34.920 --> 01:28:38.840
a real thing, snake face asked. Of course. Penn swallowed

1343
01:28:38.840 --> 01:28:42.479
half the mouthful. It's also gummy worm Day. No one

1344
01:28:42.520 --> 01:28:45.920
thinks the drop clothes are out of place here. They're

1345
01:28:45.960 --> 01:28:49.880
in the perfect place. Someone said. The words carried through

1346
01:28:49.920 --> 01:28:53.039
the darkened hallway like a chill breeze that slapped Pen

1347
01:28:53.159 --> 01:28:57.960
across the face. He recognized the voice. It sounded different,

1348
01:28:58.159 --> 01:29:01.600
but there was an unforgettable ice in the tone. It

1349
01:29:01.680 --> 01:29:03.960
was the same tone he'd used when he threatened at

1350
01:29:04.039 --> 01:29:08.119
at the park. Penn eased his toolbox onto the unfinished counter.

1351
01:29:08.720 --> 01:29:12.199
Richter was hiding in the shadows. Penn's thumb worked the

1352
01:29:12.279 --> 01:29:16.319
latch blindly while he tried to spot his benefactor. The

1353
01:29:16.399 --> 01:29:19.159
metallic snap of the pistol action was all the sound

1354
01:29:19.159 --> 01:29:21.880
they heard. The big man went down with a cry.

1355
01:29:22.279 --> 01:29:25.000
The drop cloth soaked up the arterial spray as fast

1356
01:29:25.039 --> 01:29:26.840
as it could gush from the hole in his neck.

1357
01:29:27.119 --> 01:29:30.560
Another subsonic, suppressed shot struck snake Face in the knee,

1358
01:29:30.640 --> 01:29:33.239
and a third caught him in the hip. The toolbox

1359
01:29:33.279 --> 01:29:37.000
toppled with a crash, and Pen's hopes disappeared as fast

1360
01:29:37.039 --> 01:29:40.920
as the revolver, skittering across the bare concrete. He dipped

1361
01:29:40.960 --> 01:29:43.680
into the alcove and tossed his flashlight in a lazy

1362
01:29:43.800 --> 01:29:47.079
arc so it looked like he ran away. The diversion

1363
01:29:47.199 --> 01:29:51.600
didn't work. There wasn't another shot. The loud clack of

1364
01:29:51.640 --> 01:29:55.680
a switch being thrown illuminated the construction site. Penn chanced

1365
01:29:55.680 --> 01:29:58.640
to look in the direction of the gunfire. A naked

1366
01:29:58.720 --> 01:30:02.119
man sauntered down the cour as if he weren't committing

1367
01:30:02.159 --> 01:30:06.680
mass murder. No, that wasn't right. It wasn't a naked man.

1368
01:30:07.199 --> 01:30:10.840
It was Richter wearing the skin of a naked man.

1369
01:30:11.760 --> 01:30:15.399
The neck hole sagged loosely away from Richter's throat, giving

1370
01:30:15.399 --> 01:30:19.960
the costume away. Thick black stitches danced across the patchwork suit,

1371
01:30:20.279 --> 01:30:24.720
uniting islands of tattooed skin. Snake Face was crying louder,

1372
01:30:24.880 --> 01:30:27.920
and the big guy was growing quieter. He stripped off

1373
01:30:27.960 --> 01:30:30.279
his beanie and pressed it to the pulsing neck wound.

1374
01:30:30.520 --> 01:30:34.239
His bald head was adorned with faded flames. Pen stared

1375
01:30:34.239 --> 01:30:37.279
at them for a moment, then back at the approaching lunatic.

1376
01:30:37.640 --> 01:30:40.199
Between the tribal art of the flesh sleeve and the

1377
01:30:40.239 --> 01:30:44.399
silenced pistol in Richter's right hand was his own bare forearm.

1378
01:30:44.680 --> 01:30:47.840
Pen's eyes flicked to his own, and his stomach threatened

1379
01:30:47.880 --> 01:30:52.279
to purge itself. At the realization the three thieves were

1380
01:30:52.319 --> 01:30:57.960
the missing accessories for Richter's psycho chic outfit, Penn backed

1381
01:30:58.000 --> 01:31:01.600
away from the opening, groping wildly for the revolver. His

1382
01:31:01.720 --> 01:31:04.880
hand landed on the celifane bag of gummy worms. Instead.

1383
01:31:05.720 --> 01:31:10.359
He gripped them tightly. Richter would go after Ed, even

1384
01:31:10.399 --> 01:31:13.760
if he got what he wanted. Penn took another hunkered

1385
01:31:13.800 --> 01:31:17.359
step back, and his heel bumped the walnut grip of

1386
01:31:17.439 --> 01:31:21.640
the Bulldog forty four. The subtle sound of the steel

1387
01:31:21.800 --> 01:31:26.479
spinning on the concrete warmed his heart come out. Pen.

1388
01:31:27.159 --> 01:31:31.199
Richter hissed. Pen's fingers curled around the weapon, and he

1389
01:31:31.319 --> 01:31:34.359
eased through a gap in the two by fours. The

1390
01:31:34.399 --> 01:31:36.800
big thief made it to his feet, only to plummet

1391
01:31:36.840 --> 01:31:40.479
straight back to the floor with an anticlimactic PLoP. Richter

1392
01:31:40.640 --> 01:31:42.720
looked like a man on a Sunday stroll as he

1393
01:31:42.800 --> 01:31:46.279
made his way to snake face. He knelt on the

1394
01:31:46.319 --> 01:31:49.720
man's back and set his pistol on the floor. Penn

1395
01:31:49.760 --> 01:31:53.399
hadn't noticed the object in Richter's other hand until it

1396
01:31:53.439 --> 01:31:57.640
reflected in the work lights. The polished sweep of German

1397
01:31:57.800 --> 01:32:02.920
steel gleamed with malevolent purpose before disappearing into warm meat.

1398
01:32:03.920 --> 01:32:08.439
Ssh so much, screaming, Sean, just be cool, Richter drew

1399
01:32:08.479 --> 01:32:10.920
the blade from his kidney and pressed the edge to

1400
01:32:11.000 --> 01:32:15.239
the snake's tail. Be cool, give me some skin. Pen

1401
01:32:15.359 --> 01:32:18.600
bit his lip until it bled, in a vain attempt

1402
01:32:18.680 --> 01:32:21.960
to calm himself. Between his ever quickening pulse and the

1403
01:32:22.000 --> 01:32:24.760
breath he held onto for dear life, His chest felt

1404
01:32:24.760 --> 01:32:28.279
like it was about to explode. He watched helplessly from

1405
01:32:28.319 --> 01:32:31.319
the shadows of the soon to be dining nook. Snake

1406
01:32:31.359 --> 01:32:35.279
Face Shone screamed weakly while Richter worked the blade along

1407
01:32:35.319 --> 01:32:39.560
the cheekbone and scraped the artwork from his face. Do

1408
01:32:39.600 --> 01:32:43.000
you like to watch, pen, richteror asked, No, shame in

1409
01:32:43.039 --> 01:32:47.199
that you can't escape. Your fate is escapable, but the

1410
01:32:47.239 --> 01:32:50.279
amount of pain you endure is dependent on whether or

1411
01:32:50.319 --> 01:32:53.840
not you come out here and accept it. He held

1412
01:32:53.880 --> 01:32:56.359
the severed flesh up to examine it in the light.

1413
01:32:56.880 --> 01:32:59.399
He pressed it to his cheek and shuddered with an

1414
01:32:59.399 --> 01:33:03.680
ecstatic moan. I really wish you'd given me something a

1415
01:33:03.680 --> 01:33:06.880
bit more useful, kid, Penn whispered, while he flexed his

1416
01:33:06.880 --> 01:33:10.159
fingers around the bag of gummy worms. He eased back

1417
01:33:10.199 --> 01:33:13.479
the pistol's hammer and lobbed the bag like a grenade.

1418
01:33:13.840 --> 01:33:17.319
The delicious fruit flavored snacks struck a light and dislodged

1419
01:33:17.359 --> 01:33:21.159
the bulb, casting darkness over the macabre scene. Richter rolled

1420
01:33:21.159 --> 01:33:24.279
away from Sean, snatched his pistol from the floor, and

1421
01:33:24.399 --> 01:33:29.000
fired in one deft motion. Penn's second attempt at distraction failed.

1422
01:33:29.039 --> 01:33:32.880
More spectacularly than the first. It only gave away his location.

1423
01:33:33.479 --> 01:33:36.920
In fact, his vision flared from pain of the tiny bullet,

1424
01:33:36.960 --> 01:33:40.319
tearing his ear in half. He fired at Richter, but

1425
01:33:40.920 --> 01:33:44.119
the flesh adorned fiend moved too quickly, and the bullet

1426
01:33:44.199 --> 01:33:52.760
struck nothing but shadow. Then he disappeared entirely. Penn pressed

1427
01:33:52.760 --> 01:33:55.439
a hand to his wounded ear and made his way

1428
01:33:55.439 --> 01:33:58.439
through the wilderness of wooden framework Like a big game hunter.

1429
01:33:59.119 --> 01:34:02.640
He tried to anticipate Richter's path, but pain and fear

1430
01:34:02.760 --> 01:34:07.119
overrode higher brain function. He knelt into darkness and opened

1431
01:34:07.159 --> 01:34:10.279
the cylinder of the revolver, dumping the cartridges into his

1432
01:34:10.319 --> 01:34:14.359
bloody palm and sighed. He laid the five empty casings

1433
01:34:14.359 --> 01:34:18.079
on the floor silently and slipped his last bullet into

1434
01:34:18.119 --> 01:34:22.279
the chamber. Hey Pen, Richter called out. The empty space

1435
01:34:22.319 --> 01:34:26.159
made his voice echo in every direction. Didn't you say

1436
01:34:26.199 --> 01:34:31.520
it was give something away day? Here's your opportunity. It's

1437
01:34:31.520 --> 01:34:35.560
such a pretty piece of flesh. Oh, I'm going to

1438
01:34:35.640 --> 01:34:39.479
give you something, Richter. Pen whispered and eased the cylinder

1439
01:34:39.560 --> 01:34:45.399
shut right between the eyes. Pen continued his search. Something

1440
01:34:45.479 --> 01:34:48.760
banged behind him. He spun with the weapon ready. There

1441
01:34:48.760 --> 01:34:51.479
were less lights. Another one crashed to the floor and

1442
01:34:51.560 --> 01:34:55.359
cast the entire area into an obsidian void. Skin slapped

1443
01:34:55.399 --> 01:34:58.920
frantically across the concrete as Richter sprinted somewhere in the

1444
01:34:58.960 --> 01:35:02.600
other direction. Penn's mind raced with the terrifying thought of

1445
01:35:02.680 --> 01:35:06.279
Richter having an accomplice moving in the abyss. Something stirred

1446
01:35:06.319 --> 01:35:10.520
with a wet, disgusting slurp Pen's stomach twisted. The reptilian

1447
01:35:10.560 --> 01:35:12.159
part of his brain told him to run straight for

1448
01:35:12.239 --> 01:35:17.199
the elevator until it wasn't an option anymore. Richter's blade

1449
01:35:17.279 --> 01:35:19.840
bit into the back of his thigh and unzipped the muscle.

1450
01:35:20.239 --> 01:35:23.880
A plumber's bright red wrench dislodged the pistol from Pen's hand.

1451
01:35:24.359 --> 01:35:26.960
Richter kicked him in the chest, sending him crashing through

1452
01:35:26.960 --> 01:35:30.199
the framework into the floor. The wrench clanged next to

1453
01:35:30.239 --> 01:35:33.079
his head, and richteror placed a victorious foot on the

1454
01:35:33.119 --> 01:35:36.680
thief's chest. I always get what I want, Pen. The

1455
01:35:36.760 --> 01:35:39.239
only thing your little game did was ensure that you'd

1456
01:35:39.239 --> 01:35:42.920
still be awake when I take it. Richter stomped on

1457
01:35:42.960 --> 01:35:46.479
Pen's ribs until he heard the wet pop of the breakage.

1458
01:35:47.119 --> 01:35:50.119
Pen rolled to his side and coughed between pained groans.

1459
01:35:50.760 --> 01:35:53.600
More lights went out. He tried to crawl away, even

1460
01:35:53.640 --> 01:35:55.800
though he'd seen the futility of it twice in the

1461
01:35:55.840 --> 01:36:00.640
last fifteen minutes. That damn noise came back, moist, sickly,

1462
01:36:00.760 --> 01:36:04.840
peeling somewhere out there in the expanding gloom. Richter stepped

1463
01:36:04.880 --> 01:36:09.600
over him and towards the darkness. Did you bring someone else?

1464
01:36:09.960 --> 01:36:14.279
Richter growled, who's out there? Penn forced himself to sit up,

1465
01:36:14.760 --> 01:36:17.319
knowing the new arrival wasn't a friend of Richter's, was

1466
01:36:18.399 --> 01:36:22.119
somehow scarier. He cried out as a new pain fought

1467
01:36:22.159 --> 01:36:25.239
for dominance over the surmounting wounds. He held up his arm,

1468
01:36:25.479 --> 01:36:30.920
but saw no injury, only his tattoo. The burning intensified

1469
01:36:30.960 --> 01:36:34.079
and rushed along the floral sprawl. The ink wept from

1470
01:36:34.079 --> 01:36:37.399
his pores, like black rain falling around the mystical lion.

1471
01:36:37.880 --> 01:36:40.279
The drops ignited as they rolled off his arm and

1472
01:36:40.319 --> 01:36:44.279
splashed to the floor. Pen's broken ribs raged in retaliation

1473
01:36:44.399 --> 01:36:48.600
to his terrified screams. Someone else was screaming too. Pen

1474
01:36:48.720 --> 01:36:51.880
peeled his eyes away from the melting tattoo and looked

1475
01:36:51.880 --> 01:36:56.039
at Richter. The lunatic was twirling about shouting profanities and

1476
01:36:56.479 --> 01:37:00.520
half questions. Waves of color swirled across the floor and

1477
01:37:00.079 --> 01:37:03.359
red and green pools just ahead of the creature. A

1478
01:37:03.399 --> 01:37:06.560
moment before, Pen didn't believe anything would ever surprise him

1479
01:37:06.560 --> 01:37:10.399
again if he survived the night. The fifteen foot gummy

1480
01:37:10.439 --> 01:37:14.439
worm proved him wrong. Richter slashed at the worm, and

1481
01:37:14.479 --> 01:37:17.199
the blade parted the gelatine with no effect except a

1482
01:37:17.239 --> 01:37:20.960
wet smack. It dipped away from another cut and slithered

1483
01:37:21.000 --> 01:37:24.439
grotesquely around the killer. It constricted around his body and

1484
01:37:24.520 --> 01:37:27.760
towered over him, looking down at its ensnared prey with

1485
01:37:27.840 --> 01:37:31.760
a featureless head. The blank red and pulsated and split

1486
01:37:31.880 --> 01:37:35.760
into a gaping maw that slid over Richtor's body. Pen

1487
01:37:35.880 --> 01:37:41.840
watched Richter struggle and scream soundlessly inside the colored, translucent

1488
01:37:41.920 --> 01:37:46.720
torso of the gummy monster. The struggle made an awkward

1489
01:37:46.800 --> 01:37:50.720
mac and cheese squish in the otherwise silent construction site.

1490
01:37:50.960 --> 01:37:53.720
Pen forced himself up, keeping his eyes on the beast.

1491
01:37:54.159 --> 01:37:56.920
The silver tip of Richter's filet blade poked through the

1492
01:37:56.960 --> 01:38:01.479
gelatinous material and dragged down. Richter pressed his arms through,

1493
01:38:01.840 --> 01:38:05.159
then his head. Pen limped backward to the elevator. The

1494
01:38:05.199 --> 01:38:08.319
beast squirmed wildly as Richter removed himself in a twisted

1495
01:38:08.359 --> 01:38:11.319
Cesarean rebirth. He dropped to the floor with a scream

1496
01:38:11.359 --> 01:38:14.960
that was part victory and part agony. His skin suit

1497
01:38:15.079 --> 01:38:17.960
smoked and peeled away from his own bright red flesh.

1498
01:38:18.239 --> 01:38:21.159
Richter's lips sagged away from his teeth, his blonde hair

1499
01:38:21.199 --> 01:38:24.359
fell away in clumps, and the screams became all about agony.

1500
01:38:24.960 --> 01:38:29.880
Acidic fruity fumes drifted toward Pen, fueling his need to escape.

1501
01:38:30.399 --> 01:38:35.159
The mouth of the oversized fruit snack slurped around Richter's feet.

1502
01:38:35.479 --> 01:38:40.640
Happy gummy worm day, motherfucker. Pen jabbed the elevator call button.

1503
01:38:41.079 --> 01:38:43.880
The green tail end of the worms swung around, parted,

1504
01:38:43.920 --> 01:38:46.359
and slid over Richt's head until the creature formed a

1505
01:38:46.359 --> 01:38:51.439
flavorful uryborus. With the lunatic dissolving inside, the elevator dinged

1506
01:38:51.479 --> 01:38:55.279
and Pen fell through the doors, leaving Richter to his fate.

1507
01:38:58.319 --> 01:39:01.359
Ed's face split into a toothy smile as Pen limped

1508
01:39:01.359 --> 01:39:04.439
toward the picnic table on his crutches. Penn looked at

1509
01:39:04.479 --> 01:39:06.600
the bench below him, an option for sitting on the

1510
01:39:06.640 --> 01:39:10.520
table instead of attempting the plunge. He rubbed the broken

1511
01:39:10.600 --> 01:39:13.960
ribs and returned the boy's smile. I told you we'd

1512
01:39:13.960 --> 01:39:17.920
hang out today. Yeah. Ed's eyes teared up. No one

1513
01:39:17.960 --> 01:39:20.960
ever hung out with me twice before. I'm glad you're okay.

1514
01:39:22.479 --> 01:39:24.880
I guess I had a little help from a friend.

1515
01:39:25.760 --> 01:39:30.279
Ed giggled. The red and greenlands are my favorites. I

1516
01:39:30.359 --> 01:39:33.439
got a lot of questions. Ed magic is just a

1517
01:39:33.600 --> 01:39:36.960
toy without a battery. The boy padded Pen's blank forearm.

1518
01:39:37.399 --> 01:39:40.279
Want to go get some hot dogs? Pen grimaced as

1519
01:39:40.279 --> 01:39:42.399
he stood and tilted his head toward the hot dog

1520
01:39:42.479 --> 01:39:45.239
curd across the greenway. Of course, we need to get

1521
01:39:45.279 --> 01:39:49.359
some hot dogs. You have a very high metabolism the highest.

1522
01:39:49.800 --> 01:39:52.720
Ed jumped up and hug Pen. Thank you for coming back.

1523
01:39:53.520 --> 01:39:57.199
There's nowhere else I'd rather be. Kid. Pen tussled D's hair.

1524
01:39:57.920 --> 01:40:02.279
Just one thing that's bothering me? What's that? There's no

1525
01:40:02.399 --> 01:40:07.960
more crazy holidays coming up soon? Are there plenty of them? Today?

1526
01:40:08.000 --> 01:40:11.000
Is actually corn fritter day. Ed took a bag from

1527
01:40:11.039 --> 01:40:13.560
his pocket and removed the last gummy worm from it.

1528
01:40:13.920 --> 01:40:17.039
He looked at it thoughtfully before slurping it up like spaghetti.

1529
01:40:17.760 --> 01:40:22.640
Next month, there's national clown Day, clown Day, Penn stopped

1530
01:40:22.680 --> 01:40:27.640
in his tracks. How about we just skip that one? Yeah,

1531
01:40:27.960 --> 01:40:30.439
that one's a little creepy. Ed nodded and tucked the

1532
01:40:30.479 --> 01:40:33.720
empty bag into his pocket. A cool breeze brought a

1533
01:40:33.760 --> 01:40:37.520
momentary reprieve from the July heat. A frisbee flew across

1534
01:40:37.560 --> 01:40:41.159
their path with a golden retriever in hot pursuit. Penn

1535
01:40:41.159 --> 01:40:43.479
looked around the park at the old men playing chess,

1536
01:40:43.880 --> 01:40:47.680
the teens selling weed, and the kids playing games. Then

1537
01:40:47.680 --> 01:40:51.520
he glanced at Ed. No one was there alone anymore.

1538
01:40:52.600 --> 01:40:55.479
The two friends continued their arduous journey to the hot

1539
01:40:55.479 --> 01:40:59.960
dog vendor, laughing and carrying on. Ed clapped his hands excitedly.

1540
01:41:00.199 --> 01:41:02.960
As they arrived. A sandwich board was painted with a

1541
01:41:02.960 --> 01:41:06.199
picture of a dancing sausage. Would you look at that pen?

1542
01:41:06.600 --> 01:41:12.039
Next Wednesday is National hot Dog Day? And there you

1543
01:41:12.239 --> 01:41:18.520
have it. My spookies for frightening reminders that crime rarely pays,

1544
01:41:18.600 --> 01:41:24.319
but it occasionally transforms you into a monster. Maybe more

1545
01:41:24.359 --> 01:41:28.520
than occasionally, if you count figuratively. Tonight we learned that

1546
01:41:28.640 --> 01:41:34.479
ancient collars should remain safely locked away. Mysterious women rarely

1547
01:41:34.560 --> 01:41:39.319
request harmless favors. Collecting human hearts is not a healthy

1548
01:41:39.439 --> 01:41:44.720
response to rejection, and gummy worms deserve considerably more respect

1549
01:41:45.199 --> 01:41:48.800
than we've been giving them. Halloween may still be waiting

1550
01:41:48.920 --> 01:41:52.920
patiently for October, but Summer Ween has already filled the

1551
01:41:53.039 --> 01:41:58.600
darkness with witches, killers, monsters, and one dangerous piece of candy.

1552
01:41:59.319 --> 01:42:02.600
So thank you for joining us, and make sure you

1553
01:42:02.720 --> 01:42:06.439
subscribe to Weekly Spooky on your favorite podcast app and

1554
01:42:06.560 --> 01:42:10.520
return every Wednesday for a brand new scary story. We

1555
01:42:10.600 --> 01:42:13.840
publish something scary every single day of the week, though,

1556
01:42:14.239 --> 01:42:19.000
to make sure the Halloween vibes never die. So until

1557
01:42:19.079 --> 01:42:23.640
next time, stay spooky, and when the worm finally turns,

1558
01:42:24.560 --> 01:42:24.880
run