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Feb. 18, 2026

Road Trip: Snowbound in a Small-Town Bar With Monsters and a Militia

Road Trip: Snowbound in a Small-Town Bar With Monsters and a Militia
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Road trip horror meets supernatural action in a snow-choked small town where bad decisions don’t stay personal for long. Caroline Quinn—government “Troubleshooter,” part vampire, and currently running from her own heartbreak—heads west to disappear for two weeks… only to end up in Germfask, Michigan, a place with failing cell service, bitter cold, and a neon sign that simply says BEER.

Inside a rural dive called The Den, the locals aren’t just unfriendly—they’re organized. Armed. Watching. And when Caroline realizes she didn’t walk into a bar at all but something closer to a lair, the night turns into a brutal fight for survival against a violent crew tied to the Claw of the Northern Patriots.

Road Trip — by Mike Ashkewe

Road Trip builds its tension through cryptid and creature horror, road and travel horror, and vampire horror, letting the characters’ decisions push the danger from an identifiable setup toward a final turn best left unspoiled.

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

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Snow hisses under the tires. Cell service dies one bar

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at a time, and the first warm light you see

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in a town of five hundred is a Neon promise beer.

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You walk inside to realize you didn't walk into a bar,

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You walked into a layer.

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What's that? You want to be scared? Come with me.

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You will experience tales over over a, ghosts and death.

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It is not recommended for the weed at art listeners

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in the dark Park. It's more fun that way way.

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This is Weekly Speaking, Hello, my spooks. It's Wednesday, and

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you know what that means. It's time for a little

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spooky in your Weekly. I'm your host and narrator, Enrique Kuto,

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and tonight's story gets a little hairy, but we'll get

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to that in a little bit. First, I want to

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say a huge thank you for joining us here tonight.

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While the Halloween's season is our biggest time of year,

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right now is when the true spookies are listening, those

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who love the scary side of life all year long.

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And I'm proud to provide. And if you love what

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we're doing here at Weekly Spooky and want to show

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us a little support, we would appreciate it. Just head

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to Weeklyspooky dot Com slash for as little as one

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00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:05.280
dollar a month. You get two bonus episodes every single

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month and over five years of exclusive audio books and

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creepy pasta readings for your enjoyment. That's at Weeklyspooky dot

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Com Slash. Join join ninety other spookies in keeping the

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show going and growing. But now, as for tonight, we

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have a tale about the kind of trip you take

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when your heart is shattered and you tell yourself distance,

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We'll fix it. Caroline Quinn is good at surviving monsters,

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good at violence, good at running, good at hiding the

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parts of herself that scare normal people. But tonight the

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road takes her someplace colder than fear, a tiny town

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buried in snow, a bar full of men, or at

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least we think they're men, and to welcome that feels

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more like a trap snapping shut. Because sometimes the worst

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thing you can do on a road trip is stop

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for one drink. So kick back and relax. Is the

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spooky comes to you, and make sure you're subscribed on

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your favorite podcasting app, and while you're at it, leave

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us a five star rating. It helps other spookies like

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you find the show Road Trip from the Case Files

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of Caroline Quinn by Mike Eskewie. Sometimes you just need

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to hit the road and clear your head. Well, in

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this case, unfortunately, it's more like I want to put

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as many miles between myself and my latest fuck up

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as I can. I don't deal well with heartbreak, especially

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when it's my fault. Caroline Quinn supernaturally powered government troubleshooter

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asset to the United States. When the superpowered runs into

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the supernatural and it all goes sideways, I'm also a

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world class fucking idiot. That's me. Sure. I have traits

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in common with gifted individuals, like real life superheroes and

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some of the supernatural traits from my vampire mother. I

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can dodge a bullet, break solid steel, and heal wounds

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that would drop the terminator. But one thing I can't

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do is say I love you. It wouldn't have taken

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much to fix this problem, you know, show up, dress

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real nice and tell my girlfriend that I love her. Nope, Instead,

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I left her on red I got in the car

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and just drove. I don't know if I can make

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a commitment, and frankly, I don't want to put her

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in danger. Should trouble come looking for me, it should

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be her choice, but no, I'm making it for the

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both of us. This will be easier though, Right I

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try to wipe the tears out of my eyes and

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try to keep my focus on the snow covered highway.

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Told the paranormal Resources director I was taking off for

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two weeks. I mostly turned off my phone. Who am

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I kidding? They definitely have my car tractor, maybe implanted

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something inside me at some point. I also need the

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phone for directions anyway, So there is that. I left

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Washington and just started driving west. I had a place

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where I was told that I could crash out if

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I ever needed some time away. It was in Michigan,

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near Hiawatha National Park, a small town called Germfask. It's

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the kind of place where calling it a one horse

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town is kind of giving it too much credit, kind

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of hoping a place where sell service is a luxury

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and the locals don't ask too many questions will give

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me time to get my head back on straight. Actually,

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I'll probably drink by myself until I black out. That's

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how adults solve problems. Right, I should just call her

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back and turn this car around, but I'll be in

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Germfask in a few hours. Rheanne, I am so sorry.

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Just keep your attention on the road and try to

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enjoy the scenery of ice and snow. The rattling of

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the car breaks the silence just enough where I'm not

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totally alone with my thoughts. I glance over to the

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passenger side and expect to see Rheanne sitting there, playing

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with my hair and giving me a smile. Keep driving.

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A couple of bathroom breaks later, and a few gas

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station burritos which aren't sitting too well, and I'm here

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stocked up on food, liquor and some warmer clothes. I

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didn't think my leather jacket and shitkicker boots were gonna

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cut it here. Maybe I'll even blend in if I

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wear some flannel and knock out a few of my teeth.

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I catch myself smirking at that. I think it's the

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first time anything other than a scowl has crossed my

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face in days. Passing the town limits sign and we're

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on the main road almost to where I need to

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be Germfask, Michigan. A single traffic light greets me in

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the blowing snow. It's green glare, blending into the night

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like some sort of monstrous eye. It's a town of

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less than five hundred people and too far out of

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the way for most to come looking for me. I

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peek down at my phone and already we're having connectivity issues.

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Well better for me, I guess, can't find a tracker

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if you don't have a good signal. Anyway, Well, one

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bar is better than nothing. I'm pretty sure I remember

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where I'm supposed to go once I hit the center

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of town. Still a bit unsure, I've only ever been

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told about this place. I roll down my window and

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take a look around, get an idea of town. Most

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of the houses here aren't in great shape, and a

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few of the local businesses are closed up for the night.

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I do see one place open with its pink neon

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sign welcoming me with a familiar word beer, a little

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bar called the Den. Good. We can get this pity

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party off to a grand start. Get drunk till closing time,

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sleep in the car while my regenerative vampire abilities purge

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most of the worst hangover, and then find my little

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cabin in the morning. There's a ton of snowmobiles and

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vehicles with entirely too many American flags on them out front,

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hill billy's and rednecks for sure, hopefully a polite crowd tonight.

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What's it they say about small town hospitality whatever? As

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I pull the car into the lot, I take down

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the mirror and get a good look at myself, tie

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my blonde hair in a simple ponytail, and just let

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out a deep sigh. I can see my breath already.

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I knew Michigan was cold, but this is something else.

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I've had the car off for less than a few minutes.

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I look back through the rear windshield and see something

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move unnaturally fast. I'm not entirely sure I saw anything,

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though I'm tired, so it could be my imagination. However,

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I am in the weird wilds of deep north Michigan.

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It could be skin walkers, any number of wear creatures, wolves, ravens,

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could be a vampire. Or it could be nothing. And

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you're emotionally and physically exhausted. Have a drink, bitch. I

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get out of the car and quickly look at my

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glove box. I don't need my side arm tonight. My

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glock nineteen is secured tight. It's not like I can't

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handle myself. If someone wants to start trouble, I'll have

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no problem ending it, and they'll likely want to keep

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quiet about how a six foot tall blonde girl broke

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their arm in several places. Now, let's go get drunk.

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The heavy door to the bar swings open, and immediately

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I've walked into an almost aggressive level of ruralness. Vintage

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advertising on the walls, mounted fish, busted TVs playing sports

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no one cares about, and worn pool tables. Smoke fills

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the air, along with the stench of old beer, sweat

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and exhaust from the snowmobiles, and everyone's eyes turn on

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this stranger who crashed their party. A couple of big

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fellas and snowmobile coveralls give me the once over. I

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can hear one of them say something to one of

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his friends, look at the tits on her. They all

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laugh and continue to stare as I make my way

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to the mostly empty bar top. Oh, well, don't go

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out of your way to make a lady feel welcome.

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Pulling up a seat, I start examining my surroundings and

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fellow patrons a little more closely. I can't help it.

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It's that whole threat analysis thing they drill into you

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when you get that devious government training. The group of

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snowmobilers are all wearing the same style of coveralls, but

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that isn't what catches my interest. Out of the seven

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guys that I can clearly see, at least three of

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them are wearing plate carriers and have patches of some type.

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I order a shitty beer from a clearly disinterested bartender

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and keep my eyes moving around the room. Everyone else

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is giving that group a wide berth and won't even

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go near the pool tables. They also seem to harass

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anyone who dares to go to the bathroom. The snowmobilers

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aren't cops or park rangers, or if they are, they

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are unorganized and undisciplined. Be some kind of local militia

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or a biker gang if I had to guess. I

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also notice a lot of them have long guns just

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stored across the back of the bar on a raised railing,

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probably the type to get drunk and go shooting with

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a complete disregard for safety. I can feel their eyes

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on me, even with my back mostly turned to them.

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I keep looking at a nearby TV so I can

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watch them without being obvious. One of them is a

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very large man, probably almost seven feet tall. If I

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had to guess, that guy moves differently than the others

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and carries an aura of authority that the others are

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almost submissive to. Creaking boots on the ancient worn floor

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approach me from behind. My senses sharpened and certain muscles

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tense up. I can smell something else in the air

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as this man gets closer, a musk that goes beyond

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body odor and gasoline. I can feel death on them,

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like old rotted meat. Instinctively, I put my hand down

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and go for my sidearm, which is in the glove box. Fuck, okay,

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gotta play it cool, assess, strategize, de escalate, and engage

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only if necessary. Far too many civilians in here. If

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those good old boys decide to mount up and get loud.

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I also don't want this turning into a firefight or

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a hostage situation. I can see a few exits if

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I need to get out of here in a hurry. Finally,

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this absolute giant of a man sits beside me and

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just leers. His breath is absolutely loathsome, and he grins

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at me. I can feel his gaze undress me inch

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by inch. What's a pretty little thing like you doing

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at a place like this? You lost, honey, I stare

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straight forward and keep my body language neutral. Can't provoke

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him and risk this entire situation going south. I take

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a deep drink of this horrible logger and keep my

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eyes forward on the ratty television. Nope, just passing through. Well,

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come back with my friends and I and have a drink.

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Maybe we'll keep you company before you're on your way.

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Not interested, I reply coolly and evenly. Take the hint, asshole, Oh,

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don't be like that. He tries to be smooth, but

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fails about as miserably as you would expect. He spins

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me around on my barstool so I can look directly

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at him. I look him up and down, study him.

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There's something about him that feels off, feels wrong. He

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feels like he's a rope stretched too tight and ready

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to snap. This isn't some drunk looking for a good time.

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The televisions flash some random commercial and the lighting in

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the room changes. That's when I see it in his eyes,

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the eyes of a predator, the eyes of some kind

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00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:44.559
of wear creature. This isn't a bar, it's a layer.

221
00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:50.039
I walked right into it. Well, now I'm not asking.

222
00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:54.519
He picks me up, almost one handed and takes me

223
00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:58.279
totally off guard. He's pulling me away from the bar

224
00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:02.159
and towards him in his group. I initially struggle, but

225
00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:05.240
relent as we approach them in the back of the bar.

226
00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.279
The bartender shoots me a look as if to say, please,

227
00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:14.400
don't cause any trouble. Pretty clear that he won't be

228
00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:18.319
any help unless the bartender is a souper with powers

229
00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:22.839
or somehow has silver on him. I can't put anyone

230
00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:27.359
in danger tonight. The big guy practically pulls my arm

231
00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:30.680
out of the socket and forcibly drags me towards the

232
00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:34.440
back of the bar, near the pool tables. I'm now

233
00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:38.160
surrounded on all sides by a group of about seven.

234
00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:42.880
I'm pushed with enough impact against a pool table that

235
00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:45.680
it knocks off a few beers that were perched on

236
00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:49.559
the edge. The group laughs as the glasses shatter on

237
00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:54.079
the floor. The worried bartender is already sending over a

238
00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:59.559
scared looking waitress with fresh drinks. I'm finally able to

239
00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:01.799
get a better look at what I'm dealing with Now

240
00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:06.640
that I'm uncomfortably close to these guys. The patches on

241
00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:11.200
the plate carriers say Claw of the Northern Patriots. The

242
00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:16.960
insignia is a stylized bear claw clutching a rifle. Militia

243
00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:21.759
types great, the type of guys who love the Second Amendment,

244
00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:26.519
hate authority in all forms, and especially hate anything wearing

245
00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:30.559
a badge. I still have no idea what I'm dealing with.

246
00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:34.920
I suspect some kind of a shifter. I don't know

247
00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:38.839
if it's a wolf. The movements are all wrong. What

248
00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:42.240
really tips me off is what they don't do. They

249
00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:46.039
don't seem to be as organized. I'm hoping that all

250
00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:50.519
the drinking has dulled whatever supernatural senses they likely have.

251
00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:54.920
If there is more than one, werewolves hunt in packs,

252
00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:59.559
and that's what makes them especially dangerous, because where there's one,

253
00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:04.960
there are likely three or more. No, this is something

254
00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:09.160
I haven't encountered before. The big one lays his hands

255
00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:14.160
on me again and leans in uncomfortably close. He breathes

256
00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:18.440
in deep and smells me. We're so close that we

257
00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:22.279
could kiss, if the very image didn't disgust me. On

258
00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:27.960
a primal level. He's looking for something. He knows something

259
00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:31.680
that I don't. I play along and try to act

260
00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:35.759
as helpless as I can. I don't want to play possum,

261
00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:38.920
but it's getting pretty clear that I am going to

262
00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:43.720
have to make a move sooner rather than later. Hey, Kevin,

263
00:19:43.880 --> 00:19:48.160
who's our new friend? Is she as friendly as she looks?

264
00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:52.079
One of the smaller guys in the plate carrier says.

265
00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:55.640
Kevin looks down at me, and I met his eyes

266
00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:59.240
without any sense of fear in them. He grabs the

267
00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:03.440
lapels of my jacket and pulls me in close, tries

268
00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:06.640
to stick his tongue down my throat. I use my

269
00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:09.960
free hand to feel around the table behind me for

270
00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:14.519
something I can use as a weapon. Fortune smiles upon

271
00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:19.519
me today a pool ball. I tightly grasp it in

272
00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:22.759
my right hand and swing it with so much force

273
00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:27.720
that it should collapse this guy's skull. Only it doesn't.

274
00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:32.279
The next impact throws me off my feet and across

275
00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:36.000
the table. I don't even have time to register where

276
00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:39.519
the hit came from. I taste blood in my mouth.

277
00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:42.359
I open my eyes, and this is where I get

278
00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:47.680
the biggest literal surprise of my life. I'm staring in

279
00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:54.720
the face of an impossibly large brown bear razors, sharp teeth,

280
00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:58.519
and a jaw that could likely break armor plating like

281
00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:04.519
cheap glass. Wear bears the one type of shifter that

282
00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:09.799
you don't walk away from. Rare, powerful, and in my case,

283
00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:15.880
extremely pissed off. I thought I smelled a vampire kunt

284
00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:19.799
when you walked in here. The bear growls at me

285
00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:25.279
in barely understandable speech. He could bite my head clean

286
00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:28.839
off my shoulders at this range, I need to put

287
00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:33.160
some distance between me and him. His buddies behind me

288
00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:37.759
have started shifting into their hybrid forms. Out of the group,

289
00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:41.480
only three of them appear to be wear bears. A

290
00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:45.920
small blessing, I prepare to get myself up off the floor.

291
00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:49.920
As I stare at this monster in its ugly snout,

292
00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:53.799
I drive my palm upwards under its jaw with all

293
00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:59.039
the supernatural force that I can muster, a resounding crack

294
00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:04.359
as bone could impresses under my strike. Rolling aside, getting

295
00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:07.559
back on my feet, I'm starting to get a bead

296
00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:13.240
on what's happening around me. In a word, panic, people

297
00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:16.240
scream as most of the civilians run for the door.

298
00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:20.759
The bartender hides behind the bar. I've lost track of

299
00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:24.400
the waitress, though, hope she made it outside with the others.

300
00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:29.279
Then I hear it the unmistakable sound of a slide

301
00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:37.480
being racked on a gun. The first shots explode behind

302
00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:42.119
me and above my shoulder. The second impact hits the

303
00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:46.119
table in front of me and sprays wood, splinters, glass,

304
00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:51.559
and plastic. Move your ass, Caroline. I make a short,

305
00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:55.039
tactical sprint towards the raised railing where one of the

306
00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:59.440
guns lay. I keep my body profile small and in motion,

307
00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:03.960
trying to not be an easy target. A few more

308
00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:07.160
stray bullets hit near me, but never quite find their

309
00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:11.079
true target. One of the human militia guys is still

310
00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:15.079
struggling to his feet and scrambling toward his weapon, the

311
00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:19.759
same weapon I am also going for a quick shoulder charge,

312
00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:21.880
and the guy is knocked into the wall with a

313
00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:25.640
sickening thud. I grab a hold of the shotgun almost

314
00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:28.839
out of mid air, and swing my body around to

315
00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:33.240
aim more carefully. One of the wear bears closes position

316
00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:37.160
on me fast and tosses a pool table aside like

317
00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:40.839
it's a toy. It's not the one known as Kevin.

318
00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:44.599
It's one of his goons. In all the excitement, I've

319
00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:47.920
lost track of Kevin. How the hell did I lose

320
00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:52.359
track of a nine foot fucking bear? Monster doesn't matter.

321
00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:55.920
This guy is up in my face. The wear bear

322
00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:58.839
extends his giant claws to take a swipe at me.

323
00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:02.920
The one thing that can hurt a supernatural is another

324
00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:07.200
supernatural's teeth and claws. This one wants to gut me

325
00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:11.279
and paint the walls with my intestines. I can slow

326
00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:14.000
him down at the very least and try and buy

327
00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:17.240
some time. I take a step back, more out of

328
00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:21.119
instinct than anything planned. I can feel the air where

329
00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:24.799
my face once was, and the whistle of claws rings

330
00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:28.880
loudly in my ears. The shifter makes a fatal mistake

331
00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:31.799
as he puts his head down to roar at me

332
00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:37.319
in some attempt to intimidate. Hot and foul air escapes

333
00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:41.960
his maw and saliva coats my face. I hear a

334
00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:46.440
satisfying click as I rack the slide, and a fresh

335
00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:50.839
shell goes into the chamber. I shove the pump shotgun

336
00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:53.839
into his face until I feel the back of his throat.

337
00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:57.319
I can't help but smile as I got this fucker

338
00:24:57.480 --> 00:25:00.559
right where I want him. I pull the trick until

339
00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:08.680
the recoil goes limp metallic clank slide locked empty. Might

340
00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:11.759
not kill you, but you're not getting up anytime soon.

341
00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:15.960
I feel something hot tear down my back and shred

342
00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:19.839
my jacket to ribbons. I fall forward from the impact

343
00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:23.319
and try to roll, but fail to mitigate the force.

344
00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:27.759
I land hard, face first, and the shotgun goes skittering

345
00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:34.279
across the shattered tables and ruined floors. This hurts, This

346
00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:38.799
hurts bad. Blood runs down my back from a set

347
00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:43.319
of claws. Somehow, Kevin had gotten behind me while I

348
00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:47.720
was fighting his friend. Then I feel a crushing weight

349
00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:52.240
as Kevin puts his claws on me and flips me over.

350
00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:56.680
Now I'm looking up at him. The worst pain I've

351
00:25:56.720 --> 00:26:00.160
ever felt tears into my flesh as Kevin bites. It's

352
00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:05.279
into my shoulder. It's an overwhelming amount of pain as

353
00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:10.000
every nerve in my body screams out in response. My

354
00:26:10.119 --> 00:26:13.480
world goes out of focus for a heartbeat, and a

355
00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:17.400
mix of adrenaline and fear comes flooding into my mind.

356
00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:22.720
I could die here. It's always been a possibility when

357
00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:28.319
you fight ghouls, guys with unimaginable superpowers, or even crazy

358
00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:32.400
people who know how to kill the gifted and supernatural alike.

359
00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:37.799
I just never thought i'd die here in Michigan, Ranne,

360
00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:43.119
I am so sorry. I do love you, and I

361
00:26:43.160 --> 00:26:51.640
wish i'd told you that. Am I dead? No, it's

362
00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:56.519
too cold to be hell, why am I outside? The

363
00:26:56.599 --> 00:27:00.799
remaining six took me out and surrounded me in the park.

364
00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:03.599
The other wear Bear will have to be dragged out

365
00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:07.279
of here. He's neutralized for the time being, with his

366
00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:10.880
head being blown apart, and all these guys left me

367
00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:13.960
bleeding out in the snow. I keep my head down

368
00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:19.240
and my eyes partially closed. Why they have me propped

369
00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:23.440
up against my car? My car? The cold metal of

370
00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:27.079
the passenger door seared into the open wounds on my back.

371
00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:31.359
I can see steam escaping from some of my freshest

372
00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:35.559
Kevin and the remaining wear Bear are standing in front

373
00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:39.200
of me on their hind legs. Seeing a humanoid bear

374
00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:43.000
wearing a flat jacket isn't something you see every day.

375
00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:47.440
The bears are arguing, judging by the harsh inflection of

376
00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:52.880
the roars being exchanged, the other four humans are also arguing,

377
00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:57.680
she fucking greased Pete man. Oh, he'll be fine in

378
00:27:57.720 --> 00:28:00.720
a few days. Once we pick up what's left of

379
00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:04.519
his skull, we gonna let this fucking fed come here

380
00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:08.960
and start shit. Fuck. They found my badge in my

381
00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:13.480
jacket pocket while I was unconscious. A roar from Kevin

382
00:28:13.680 --> 00:28:17.240
echoes across the dead still of the winter night. It

383
00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:23.480
fills the air with malice, authority, and dark intent. Shut up,

384
00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:28.839
all of you. The rest of the group falls silent. Bitch,

385
00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:32.519
Wake up. I know you can hear me. I can

386
00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:37.039
hear your heartbeat, or what passes for one. I raise

387
00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:40.599
my head up through the wind and blowing snow. I

388
00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:45.119
can clearly see the warbear leader Kevin in this moment.

389
00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:51.000
He's showing mercy, if that word means anything for someone

390
00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:55.200
like him. Thought you could come here and fuck with

391
00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:59.680
the claw of the Northern Patriots. We are patriots. It's

392
00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:03.440
our god given right to protect our land. We have

393
00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:08.920
the literal right to bear arms, literally and figuratively. His

394
00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:13.400
friends laugh at that. He puts his ursine face close

395
00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:16.519
to mine. If he wanted to tear my head off

396
00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:20.440
my shoulders, he could, and I'd be powerless to stop it.

397
00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:25.400
I can't help it. I laugh too. Maybe it's the pain,

398
00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:30.039
Maybe it's the irony. Maybe it's because he thinks he's

399
00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:34.799
already got me served up. He recoils at this and

400
00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:40.920
is visibly confused. What's so funny? I grimace and straighten

401
00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:44.799
up my posture and cough up some blood for good measure.

402
00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:48.480
Maybe I've got a play if I can stall for

403
00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:52.759
a little bit of time. I'm on vacation. I don't

404
00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:56.319
even know who the fuck you are. I literally am

405
00:29:56.400 --> 00:30:00.400
not paid enough to give a shit right now. Laughter

406
00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:04.480
stops from the others. The men sound confused, with a

407
00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:09.519
mix of what and the fuck do you mean? Kevin

408
00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:14.480
turns around and stares daggers at his gang. Everyone immediately

409
00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:17.599
shuts up, and all you can hear is the wind

410
00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:24.400
howling across Lake Michigan and my laughter. I said, shut up.

411
00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:29.079
He smashes the passenger side window with his massive paw.

412
00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:34.359
Shards of glass rain into my hair like tiny razor blades.

413
00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:39.200
That's right, asshole, Keep on getting mad. I'm only gonna

414
00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:42.880
get one shot at this anyway. You're not even worth

415
00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:46.880
an email. Ah fuck? Who am I kidding? Not even

416
00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:50.759
a goddamn sticky note. He slams my head off the

417
00:30:50.839 --> 00:30:53.880
door in anger. It's not enough to kill me, but

418
00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:59.480
It's clear he's getting sloppy. We are the most dangerous predators.

419
00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:04.720
All are prey to us. He bellows in absolute rage

420
00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:08.400
and again slams my head into the door, putting a

421
00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:12.920
visible dent into my car. I laugh even harder as

422
00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:17.480
blood runs down my face from multiple wounds. Seems I

423
00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:20.599
hit a nerve. She can't talk to us like that.

424
00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:24.359
One of the humans aims his gun at me and

425
00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:28.519
prepares to fire. It doesn't even take a second before

426
00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:32.920
his weapon is slapped down by the other wearbear good

427
00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:37.559
got them fighting amongst themselves. I struggled to my feet

428
00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:41.200
and used the door as leverage. I look inside the

429
00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:46.640
broken passenger side door and see what I'm after. The

430
00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:57.319
glove box, my glock nineteen and one magazine of silver

431
00:31:57.400 --> 00:32:02.279
ammunition crafted from blessed silver by a pair of lovely

432
00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:08.160
witches from Salem by way of the Department of Paranormal Resources. Now,

433
00:32:08.279 --> 00:32:10.680
why don't I arrest you and the rest of your

434
00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:15.519
boy scouts for assaulting a federal officer. His face twists

435
00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:19.920
into a cruel sneer, and saliva just oozes out of

436
00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:24.119
his mouth onto his bulletproof vest. Kevin winds up and

437
00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:28.559
prepares to bring his viciously clawed hand down upon me.

438
00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:32.480
He intends to finish me off before I can call

439
00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:35.839
in any of my friends and tell them about what

440
00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:40.599
happened here. Time slows in my perception just enough that

441
00:32:40.680 --> 00:32:44.720
I put my hail merry plan into action, moving my

442
00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:47.920
head in the space of a heartbeat, and just enough

443
00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:52.160
to throw off my assailant. His clawed hand rakes into

444
00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:56.279
the roof and door frame behind me. Steel screams and

445
00:32:56.400 --> 00:33:01.119
plastic groans. They stick and are held for just a moment.

446
00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:05.640
He's already trying to remove them and take another shot

447
00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:10.480
at me. An unbelievably loud roar escapes his throat and

448
00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:14.559
he attempts to snap at me in retaliation. That's all

449
00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:18.440
I need. I can feel pain turning into energy and

450
00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:23.160
engaging my supernatural abilities. I rip the passenger side door,

451
00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:26.200
clean off the hinges, and toss it into the crowd,

452
00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:31.920
temporarily stunning them into place. Scrambling and almost fumbling, I'm

453
00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:34.799
able to recover my side arm and some of the

454
00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:40.960
spare magazines from the glove box, not all of my ammunition, okay,

455
00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:45.319
fifteen shots of regular ammo in the weapon, I hope.

456
00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:48.559
I grabbed the silvered mag or. This fight is going

457
00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:52.519
to end with me being splattered across the snow. No

458
00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:56.759
time to check. I'm already moving away from Kevin and

459
00:33:56.880 --> 00:34:01.559
charging towards the group of armed men. Their reactions should

460
00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:04.480
be slow enough that I can subdue at least one

461
00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:08.280
of them. Shots explode and muzzle flashes light up the

462
00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:12.800
small parking lot. The smell of gunpowder hangs heavy in

463
00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:16.800
the air as the wind continues to howl in my ear.

464
00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:20.599
I grab the closest goon to me and throw up

465
00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:24.719
a forearm across his face. His world is sent spinning

466
00:34:24.760 --> 00:34:26.599
as I throw him in front of me like a

467
00:34:26.679 --> 00:34:31.440
human shield. Forceful impacts slam into the body as his

468
00:34:31.559 --> 00:34:35.400
bodies start throwing lead down range to take me out

469
00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:40.639
with no success. One down, three more humans to go,

470
00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:46.039
and two wear bears. Ah fuck Jim. One of the

471
00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:50.119
men exclaims and unloads his hunting rifle at me. I

472
00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:54.079
point my weapon back and start firing off rounds, using

473
00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:58.239
the body to give myself some cover. They start returning

474
00:34:58.320 --> 00:35:01.079
fire at me, but now don't have a clean shot.

475
00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:04.000
I drop one of them as they struggle to keep

476
00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:08.920
clean aim on me. Two humans are dead. Another shot

477
00:35:09.039 --> 00:35:12.800
slams into my side and it definitely hurts. It didn't

478
00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:16.880
hit anything vital, and I can heal tomorrow if I

479
00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:20.400
make it till then tag the bitch. An older man

480
00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:24.679
shouts and lets his attention wane. I return fire before

481
00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:28.880
he can reacquire me as a target. Not entirely sure

482
00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:32.079
if I took them down, though I think I'm halfway

483
00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:36.639
through this magazine. Two more humans left. One of them

484
00:35:36.679 --> 00:35:39.119
looks like they are losing the will to fight, though.

485
00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:43.639
They both start aiming at me again to launch another assault.

486
00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:47.719
I drop the limp body and dive behind a car

487
00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:52.280
as I can hear Kevin and his wherebear compatriot coming

488
00:35:52.360 --> 00:35:56.599
for me. Glass shatters as powerful limbs smash into the

489
00:35:56.639 --> 00:36:00.719
windshields and the vehicles are quickly being turned in side out.

490
00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:04.960
The smaller wear bear sticks his head down in my

491
00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:09.320
hiding place where practically face to face, and he tries

492
00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:12.199
to take a bite right out of me. They miss

493
00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:16.039
by a hair's width. I point the pistol forward and

494
00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:20.199
up and fire, knowing that this won't do anything to

495
00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:25.079
permanently drop him with regular AMMO. However, that's not what

496
00:36:25.159 --> 00:36:29.199
I'm going for. I fire multiple rounds into his face

497
00:36:29.760 --> 00:36:34.800
and namely his eyes. I want him blind. The slide

498
00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:39.199
locks and the weapon is empty. I eject the spent

499
00:36:39.320 --> 00:36:43.679
magazine and start rolling away to another position. The blind

500
00:36:43.760 --> 00:36:46.159
wear Bear is in too much pain right now to

501
00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:49.960
find me. Got to keep moving and not be stationary.

502
00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:54.360
Make him work for it. I manage to avoid getting

503
00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:58.559
shot several more times by getting behind the parked snowmobiles,

504
00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:02.920
looking down for just a heartbeat as I reload the weapon.

505
00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:08.320
It's the silver magazine. I have fifteen shots left to

506
00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:13.639
deal with this threat. The gunfire stops. I'm not shooting

507
00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:17.679
my sled. Kevin, one of the goons, cries out in protest.

508
00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:21.800
The roar of the blinded wear Bear shakes the air

509
00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:27.039
and vibrates every surface. The unmistakable sound of flesh being

510
00:37:27.079 --> 00:37:31.519
torn apart assaults my years. I peek my head up

511
00:37:31.519 --> 00:37:34.559
from my hiding spot to assess what the hell I

512
00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:39.000
just heard. Kevin has torn the head clean off one

513
00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:44.199
of his crew. Three humans down. The other wear bear

514
00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:49.239
retreats towards the bar, clutching his eyes. The remaining human

515
00:37:49.360 --> 00:37:55.280
goon stands almost frozen with his weapon half pointed at Kevin.

516
00:37:56.320 --> 00:38:00.800
He rises to his full frightening height and start positioning

517
00:38:00.840 --> 00:38:04.519
where he can effectively cut me off, making it so

518
00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:11.159
that I can't run anymore. Face me. Okay, let's end

519
00:38:11.199 --> 00:38:15.119
it right now. I pull myself up from behind the

520
00:38:15.159 --> 00:38:19.800
snowmobile and have my weapon aimed at him. I'm hurt bad,

521
00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:23.280
but I can keep my aim steady enough if I

522
00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:31.599
brace my shooting position. The battlefield falls silent. Seriously, who

523
00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:35.400
the hell left their ringer on? This is a firefight?

524
00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:43.719
Wait that ring tone? Rhianne, the enraged warbear holds his

525
00:38:43.840 --> 00:38:47.440
ground and I hold my aim on him. My fingers

526
00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:51.119
are so cold, and my grip on the gun is painful.

527
00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:56.199
Is that all you have left? You already know your

528
00:38:56.280 --> 00:39:00.599
weapons are ineffective. I offer you the glory of a

529
00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:05.000
clean death. Or you can keep fighting and I'll pick

530
00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:08.960
pieces of you out of my teeth. I keep my

531
00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:12.599
movement small and start painting where I want to hit him.

532
00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:17.880
In my mind's eye, I readjust the pistol and aim

533
00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:23.400
for his heart. Seems I fucked your day. I suggest

534
00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:27.000
you walk away before I put you down and use

535
00:39:27.079 --> 00:39:31.760
you as a rug. It's your call, Kevin, I reply,

536
00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:37.559
calmly and evenly, in a heartbeat, Kevin makes his choice.

537
00:39:38.119 --> 00:39:42.480
The warbear charges with claws aimed for me. He knocks

538
00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:45.960
aside a few of the cars as he approaches. He's

539
00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:51.400
closing the distance impossibly fast. I have seconds if that,

540
00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:56.679
and he's within twenty feet of me. Don't pull the trigger, Caroline,

541
00:39:57.400 --> 00:40:04.079
squeeze it. Silvered round strike through their intended target. Kevin's body,

542
00:40:04.519 --> 00:40:08.840
which must weigh close to a ton, flies forward with

543
00:40:08.960 --> 00:40:12.639
the momentum it built up. He lands dead a few

544
00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:16.639
feet from me. The remaining human looks at me with

545
00:40:16.760 --> 00:40:20.840
abject terror all over his face. I don't let my

546
00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:26.039
expression drop. I am serious, I am committed, and I

547
00:40:26.079 --> 00:40:30.000
am ending this here and now. I slowly turn my

548
00:40:30.079 --> 00:40:34.480
weapon in their direction. The blind warbear is guided away

549
00:40:34.599 --> 00:40:39.039
by the other survivor in a full retreat. They won't

550
00:40:39.079 --> 00:40:43.559
be any more trouble. Just when they leave my sight,

551
00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:49.079
that's when all the strength leaves my body and the

552
00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:53.320
moments catch up to me. My gun drops into the snow,

553
00:40:54.239 --> 00:41:02.320
quietly depleted. If they came back, I would be easy pray. However,

554
00:41:02.440 --> 00:41:08.119
for now I've won. The night is silent except for

555
00:41:08.280 --> 00:41:12.960
my labored breathing. I arrive at my car and search

556
00:41:13.039 --> 00:41:18.039
the interior looking for my phone. The car is wrecked,

557
00:41:18.079 --> 00:41:23.159
but I start searching everywhere I can. It's not ringing anymore.

558
00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:28.400
My hand slips under the driver's seat and I find it.

559
00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:33.599
Its dull light escapes from its damaged display. One missed

560
00:41:33.639 --> 00:41:40.320
call from Rheanne. No, no, no, I quietly whisper to myself,

561
00:41:40.840 --> 00:41:44.639
trying to fumble with the keypad to dial Rheanne's number back.

562
00:41:45.960 --> 00:41:50.800
Please pick up, please pick up, Hey, this is Rheanne.

563
00:41:51.239 --> 00:41:55.400
A cheerful voice comes over the speaker. Look before you

564
00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:59.000
say anything, I need to say. I'm sorry for everything

565
00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:02.880
I shouldn't have left. I shouldn't have said. I can't

566
00:42:02.920 --> 00:42:05.719
answer my cell phone right now, so leave a message

567
00:42:05.719 --> 00:42:09.000
and I'll call you back. Love you. My heart freezes

568
00:42:09.039 --> 00:42:15.559
in my chest and I start crying. I can't stop myself. Rhann,

569
00:42:16.239 --> 00:42:20.280
it's you know who this is. I want to talk.

570
00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:24.000
I have a lot to say to you in person.

571
00:42:25.119 --> 00:42:28.800
I take a deep breath and collect myself. I stop

572
00:42:28.880 --> 00:42:33.119
crying just long enough to say what really matters next,

573
00:42:33.840 --> 00:42:36.119
and I want to look you in the eyes when

574
00:42:36.159 --> 00:42:39.320
I say it too. I'll be home as quick as

575
00:42:39.320 --> 00:42:43.199
I can be. It's going to be a long way

576
00:42:43.960 --> 00:42:51.559
back home. All right, my spooks, let's do a quick

577
00:42:51.719 --> 00:42:58.679
post trip checklist. Gas tank half full, phone charged, emergency

578
00:42:58.800 --> 00:43:03.280
can't packed, stopping at a bar in a snowstorm to

579
00:43:03.320 --> 00:43:08.400
get a drink and a little bit of rest. Well, congratulations,

580
00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:13.039
you have unlocked the secret bad ending. Caroline Quinn tried

581
00:43:13.079 --> 00:43:15.679
to take a little me time on the highway, just

582
00:43:15.840 --> 00:43:19.719
miles music in the sweet lie that distance fixes heartbreak,

583
00:43:19.760 --> 00:43:23.440
but the road had its own plans. And thank you

584
00:43:23.480 --> 00:43:25.679
all so much for joining us for a brand new

585
00:43:25.719 --> 00:43:30.079
scary story as we do every single Wednesday and have

586
00:43:30.559 --> 00:43:35.280
for over six years and counting, and we have zero

587
00:43:35.519 --> 00:43:39.559
intention of stopping. Make sure you're subscribed on your favorite

588
00:43:39.599 --> 00:43:43.480
podcasting app because there'll be a special compilation episode coming

589
00:43:43.559 --> 00:43:46.719
up this weekend, and of course on Monday, we'll have

590
00:43:46.800 --> 00:43:50.719
our fun month in roundup of all things spooky and

591
00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:55.039
fun over on Monthly Spooky this Monday. And I want

592
00:43:55.079 --> 00:43:57.880
to say an extra special thank you to our Patreon

593
00:43:58.039 --> 00:44:03.000
podcast boosters, folks who had Doweeklyspooky dot com slash join

594
00:44:03.280 --> 00:44:06.039
and pay just a little bit extra every month to

595
00:44:06.119 --> 00:44:08.000
hear their name at the end of the show. And

596
00:44:08.079 --> 00:44:12.280
they are Johnny Nix, Kate and Lulu, Jessica Fuller, Tonight's author,

597
00:44:12.360 --> 00:44:16.320
Mike is Skewey, Jenny Green, Amber Hansford, Karen we Met,

598
00:44:16.480 --> 00:44:19.880
Jack Kerr and Craig Cohen. Thank you all so much,

599
00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:21.519
and if you want to hear your name at the

600
00:44:21.639 --> 00:44:25.079
end of every episode of Weekly Spooky, just head to

601
00:44:25.159 --> 00:44:29.480
Weeklyspooky dot com slash join and choose a tear at

602
00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:33.880
fifteen dollars a month or higher. We really do appreciate it.

603
00:44:33.920 --> 00:44:35.880
But now it's time for me to get back to work.

604
00:44:35.920 --> 00:44:39.199
There's so much more fear to come, so many stories

605
00:44:39.199 --> 00:44:42.280
to tell, so many terrifying and true ones to drop

606
00:44:42.320 --> 00:44:46.320
on Mondays, and so very much more so for myself,

607
00:44:46.440 --> 00:44:50.440
for my executive producers Rob Fields and Bobbletopia dot Com,

608
00:44:50.599 --> 00:44:54.639
my creepy composer Ray Mattis, and my producer Dan Wilder.

609
00:44:55.039 --> 00:44:58.840
I will talk at you next time. Stay on the interstate.

610
00:44:59.239 --> 00:45:03.239
Thank you, Ana. Make sure to find your way back

611
00:45:03.320 --> 00:45:10.320
next week week. But for now you are safe. Trust me.