Oct. 14, 2025

Halloween Horrors: 7 Scary Stories of Zombies, Vampires, and Haunted Portals

Halloween Horrors: 7 Scary Stories of Zombies, Vampires, and Haunted Portals
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Celebrate the spooky season with this chilling compilation of Halloween horror stories, featuring vengeful zombies, vampire legends, cursed portals, haunted hospitals, and bloodthirsty creatures. Perfect for fans of dark legends, quick scares, and spooky tales, this episode delivers seven chilling stories designed to haunt your dreams and fuel your Halloween mood.

If you love creepy legends, supernatural monsters, and atmospheric horror, these stories are your perfect late-night companion. Brace yourself for suspense, terror, and a few surprises that embody the spirit of Halloween.

👻 This episode features:

• A Zombie’s Halloween — by Rob Fields
Bernadette just wanted to ditch class, but after a strange bite in the Strickfield woods, she’s back from the dead… and out for revenge.

• Future Taibon — by Rob Fields
Waking up centuries in the future, a vampire finds herself reborn in a machine body—and Earth has been overrun by monsters far worse than her.

• Sweet Revenge — by David O’Hanlon
When bullies go too far on Halloween night, one girl calls on something dark to even the score. A candy factory becomes a house of horrors.

• Tricks and Treats Volume 2 — by Morgan Moore, Keith Tomlin, and Rob Fields
Three bite-sized Halloween terrors: a child’s sinister reaction to a cursed cookie, a girl stalked by spider-like monsters in her home, and a vampire party gone violently wrong.

• The Portal — by Rob Fields
A mysterious door in the woods only appears on Halloween. Two boys open it… and what comes through isn’t from this world.

• Caroline Quinn: Vampire Hunter — by Mike Ashkewe
Caroline’s job? Slay the undead. But this Halloween, her newest bloodsucking target fights back harder than anything she’s faced before.

• Inbetween — by Shane Migliavacca
A woman wakes in a hospital with no exit, no answers, and something in the shadows that doesn’t belong in the world of the living.

🦇 If you’re a fan of Creepshow, Tales from the Crypt, or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, this is your Halloween fix.

🗓️ Join us next Tuesday for another vault compilation… and don’t forget, a brand-new horror story drops this Wednesday!

🎧 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
WEBVTT

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Welcome back, my spookies. October is in full swing. The

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nights are colder, the moon is brighter, and something wicked

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is lurking in the shadows. To keep the Halloween vibes flowing,

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we're cracking open the vault to bring you seven chilling

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tales of terror. From undead teens to cybernetic vampires, haunted hospitals,

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and cursed Halloween candy. These are the stories that make

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Weekly Spooky a year round fright fest. So grab your flashlight,

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curl up under your coziest of blankets, and prepare to

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get scared. It's the witching season, after all. And while

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you're at it, make sure you're subscribed on your favorite

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podcasting app. And if you're on Apple Podcasts or Spotify,

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leave us a five star rating. It really does help.

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And remember that tomorrow we have a brand new terror

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tale just for you to enjoy, and next Tuesday, another

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compilation of terrifying Halloween tales from the Weekly Spooky Vault.

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We're always here to keep your nightmares fresh. But now

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let's get the first story going right now, A Zombies

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Halloween by Rob Fields. I'm laying in my bed and

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just hoping my alarms won't go off. No such luck.

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The alarm clock and my smartphone both go off at

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almost the same time. I groan and force myself to

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move and turn off the alarms. God damn it, I mutter,

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of course, it's God damn it. Today's Halloween here in Strickfield.

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Today I should be sleeping in, not getting up and

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getting ready for school. What's that you say? There's no

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school on Halloween and Strickfield. If you go to public

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school or Strickfield University, then you'd be right. But if

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you go to Strickfield Academy, however, then you're going to school.

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You see, when it was voted into law to make

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Halloween a seven day event, Strickfield Academy fought and fought

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to make sure they wouldn't have to be included in

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the proposed law. Mayor Patrick Gunter asked that the exception

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be written into the issue. Even with the exception, the

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issue still passed by an overwhelming majority and became village law.

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As I'm showering and trying to wake my sexy ass up,

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I keep being pissed at my parents for enrolling me

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at that fucking hell hole. I keep telling them I

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wanted to go to public school, but no. My parents

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happen to be friends with quite a few of the mirons. No,

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not just friends, they're the personal attorneys for those overly

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rich snobs. Many of them. Those mirrors have their kids

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enrolled at Strickfield Academy and recommended my parents do the

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same for me. I've been at that shithole for the

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last three years. Getting through senior year is going to

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be the most difficult yet. I finish showering and start

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drying off. I look in the mirror and see my

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newly dyed hair. It was originally blonde, but I wanted

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black with flaming orange streaks for Halloween. The other girls

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on the cheerleading squad love it not had Mistress Hiltonson.

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But what can the bitch do? Getting my hair colored

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ain't against school policy. I finish drying off and go

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back to my bedroom. I put on most of my

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cheerleading uniform and then look at my naked upper body

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in the mirror. I love my body, and so do

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many of the boys at Strickfield Academy. Then I put

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my top on. No bra. Yeah, the handbook says we're

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supposed to wear underwear. Including bras. If I got to

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keep going to that fucking hell hole, I'm gonna wear

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whatever I please. It ain't long before Annie Godfrey texts

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me and tells me she'll be at my house shortly.

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I blow myself a kiss in the mirror before I

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get up and leave my room. I make my way

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down to the front door. When I come out with

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my backpack, I see Annie in her new, fully loaded

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Ford Mustang g T. I get in the car and

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accept the Menthol cigarette from her. Looking sexy as always, hotness,

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Annie says, I take a pull on the cigarette and

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hand it back to her. Maybe Hiltonson will finally expel

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me for being so hot. I burn. Annie sticks the

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cigarette back in her mouth and stomps the gas. The

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back tires squeal as we move forward. Her dad owns

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a bunch of car dealerships and gave his baby girl

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whatever new car she wanted for her birthday. Yeah, Annie's

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my spoiled, rotten bestie. I can't believe how this fucking

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village bows to head Mistress Hiltonson, Annie mutters, she's the

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reason we're going to school today and tomorrow. I'm telling

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you we should just skip it. I hint, good idea.

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Then dadd'll find out and take my baby away. I smirk.

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I'd love it if Daddy kicked my sexy ass out

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of the house for skipping school. Annie raised an eyebrow,

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And what would you do for money? I'm sure I

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could find a few rich Mirans and let them fuck

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me for some damn good money, I reply. Annie grins

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and hands me the cigarette again. Better be careful, hotness,

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you're already skating on thin ice with Hiltonson. Fuck her,

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I mutter. At least we can wear our cheerleading outfits

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without the bitch giving us a hard time. Yep, you

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guessed it. Annie and I do anything and everything we

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can to see how far we can push the boundaries.

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It wasn't long ago Castalia Mirn got expelled from Strickfield Academy.

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Lucky bitch. Anyway, we had tattoos and piercings that kept

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getting her into trouble with Hiltonson. When we all heard

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Castalia got expelled, you'd have thought there was a long

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moment of silence throughout the place. Yeah, that's how popular

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she was. And once Castalia was gone, guess who Hiltonson

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turned her attention to. Next. Yep, you guessed it. The

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worst the bitch ever got on me was smoking a

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cigarette outside the cafeteria. She bitched and bitched till she

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was blue in the face. I kept hoping and praying

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she would have eventually expelled me, but no such luck.

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Annie turns into the big gate of Strickfield Academy. You

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can tell the other students are just so fucking happy

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to be here today. But here we are, wearing our

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uniforms and our fake smiles. Our cheerleading squad feels like

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we're the chosen ones since we get to wear these

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sexy outfits. Yeah, we got a game to cheer for

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after school today against Ridgeway Heights. That means a long

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ass bus ride there and back, guaranteeing Annie and I

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are gonna miss out on much of the Halloween happenings tonight.

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Annie parks and we walk to our part of the academy.

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Nobody's wearing any kind of Halloween costume. Want to guess why, Yeah,

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you guessed it. Hiltonson only got on the loudspeaker every

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day last week and reminded everybody that the Strickfield law

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about Halloween does not and will never apply to this shithole. Furthermore,

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anybody caught wearing Halloween costumes will be assigned Saturday detention

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till the end of the school year. We meet up

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with the rest of the squad. We ain't got much

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time for greetings, however, when the iron claw of head

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Mistress Hiltonson snatches my wrist and turns me around to

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face her. You've been smoking again, haven't you, she demands.

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I smile and show the bitch my pearly whites. Why, yes,

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I am. People do call me the hotness for a reason,

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you know. Oh does she ever frown at me? Don't

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you get smart with me, Bernadette Hollow. I don't care

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if your parents are the most powerful lawyers for miles around,

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you will be disciplined for getting out of line. I

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still smile brightly for her, sure thing, your highness, anything

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you say you want me to bend over and pull

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my panties down so you can make my rosy red

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ass even redder. Slap? Oh, yes she did. Hiltonson's hand

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was a blur when she slapped me right across the face,

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making my head snap back fast. I slowly turned back

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to her. You jezbel Hiltonson yells, yeah, the left side

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of my face is real hot. I still smile pretty

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for her. Though. There are plenty of things I can

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do right now, including involving my parents, But I love

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getting under Hiltonson's skin so much. In fact, I lean

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in and lock eyes with the head nuns Happy Halloween slap,

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and that one was even harder than the first. But

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I still show Hiltons in my pearly whites. You want

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me out of this uniform, just say the word. Then.

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I ain't got a cheer for the stupid game. Tonight,

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I can go trigg or treating. Oh and there's the

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retro Halloween weekend horrthon playing at the drive in and slap.

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Now I actually taste blood. Yeah, the bitch hit me

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so hard she drew blood. Then I look right at her.

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Fuck you. Yeah, she wants to throw me out of here,

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but she knows my parents will sue this place. She

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sees the blood on my lips and teeth. Oh, she's

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gonna wish she'd never met me. I really want to

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beat the living shit out of Hiltonson right now. I'm

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gonna come back here tonight and fuck her up. Ever

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hear that saying about being careful what you wish for

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after school. We're on our way to Ridgeway Heights. Well

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at least we were until the bus broke down. Turned

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out some jackass never filled the fucking gas tank before

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leaving the academy. Fine with me, I'd rather be in

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Strickfield doing Halloween things. Then the bitch bus driver points

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right at me. How about you head into these woods

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and see if you could buy some gas for the bus.

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I'm ready to tell the old bat to get fucked,

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but Annie quickly stops me. Then she whispers in my ear,

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go just take your time. Then we'll have to go

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to the fucking game. In fact, I know plenty of

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places we can get drunk and laid tonight. I smile

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well right at Annie and grab the sides of her face.

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We get lots of gasps when I plant one right

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on her lips. When I stop kissing her, Annie looks

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right at me. I think she wants me to kiss

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her again. After I do, she stands up and lets

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me go. I walk to the front of the bus

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and get out to find the gas can the hag

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wants me to take. Now, I see right where we

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ran out of gas at the backwoods of Strickfield. I

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heard all kinds of fucked up shit happens back here. Personally,

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I think it's all bullshit. As I pick up the

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gas can and head into the woods. You wouldn't believe

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all the looks I get. When I come back onto

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the bus. It's almost dark. Now. Oh I did get

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the gas, but I really feel like shit. Now. Both

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my left shoulder and right side of my neck are

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really hurt. Jesus Hotness, what happened to you? Annie asks?

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When I sit down, she sees my neck. Wow, those

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are some long scratches and your shoulder. Are you bleeding?

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I shiver and hold myself. I got my varsity jacket on,

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which usually keeps me warm. Guess I'm bleeding through it.

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Found this house nobody was home. Found the gas. Little

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hillbilly kid surprised me. I don't know what was wrong

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with him. He just looked horrible. He really stank too.

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He jumped up on me from behind and took me down.

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I got the little shit off of me, but he

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scratched me on the neck, and fuck it hurts. Then

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the old bat comes back on the bus. Do you

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have any idea. How late you've made us for the game. Bernadette,

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get fucked, I groan. She wants to unleash her fury

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on me, but sees I'm hurt. She's quickly on her

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smartphone to the academy. After some conversation, she hangs up

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and looks at me again. I'm taking us back, had mistress.

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Hiltonson's going to be very angry with you. Bernadette, Fuck Hiltonson,

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I say under my breath. It takes a little bit

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for the hag to turn the bus around. Then I

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moan a little before I lurch forward and puke all

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over a band geek ew, he cries really. Annie puts

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her hand on my forehead. Then she calls up front

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she's got a fever. She's really burning up. I feel

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the pain on my shoulder again, reminding me the little

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fucker bit me too. I was okay for a while.

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I think I lost a lot of blood from the bite.

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My neck bled too. I know I got away from

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that kid, since I obviously made it back to the bus,

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I can't help myself now. I'm so tired and weak.

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I lay my head on Annie's shoulder and fall asleep.

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Not sure how long I slept, But I feel myself

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starting to twitch and know I'm waking up. Something's different

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now I'm not in any more pain. I'm not even

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burning up and freezing at the same time. But but

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I do still feel cold. Honey, are you okay? Somebody's

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asking me. I fully open my eyes and see a

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nun looking down at me. I think I'm back at

220
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Strickfield Academy. Now the nun gasps in horror. God in

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Heaven your eyes, and then I suddenly grab the nun

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and pull her down to me. She cries out when

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I bite a huge chunk of flesh right out of

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the side of her neck. The nun screams and tries

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to break free. I grab hold of the collar of

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her habit and sit up to take another bite out

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of her neck. The nun's blood squirts hard out of

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her gashes, some getting on me. Then she groans and

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drops to the floor. I growl a little and get

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off the cod Now I'm lowering myself to the floor.

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She's still twitching a little. When I grab her face

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and dig into it, she screams one last time. When

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I pull her skin right off her face, taking one

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of her eyeballs along with it. With her face now

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in my hands, I bring it up to my mouth

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and eat. I don't know why I want to eat

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like this. I just know I'm so hungry and this

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flesh tastes delicious. After I finish eating her face, I

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tear her habit open. Then I tear her stomach wide

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open and pull her guts out. It isn't long before

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I'm wearing more of her blood. After some time passes,

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the nun starts twitching a little, then some more. I

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finish what I'm eating and slowly stand up. I watch

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the nuns stand up too. Now I understand when she

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was talking about my eyes. The nun's eyes were blue.

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Now her one remaining is a sickening, puky yellow. I

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understand the nun is just like me. Now, wow, I

248
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really fucking died that fucking hillbilly brat who attacked me

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in the backwoods he was dead too. He hurt me

250
00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:40.200
bad and made me just like him. I just killed

251
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this nun, and now she's like me and the little boy.

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We both look at each other for a long moment.

253
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I try talking to the nun, but all that comes

254
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out are growls. The nun answers by making this raspy sound.

255
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I turned to the door and start moving towards it. Funny,

256
00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:03.879
I should be able to easily walk, but I can't.

257
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I can walk, but it's like my get up and go,

258
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just got up and left. I'm managing walking just really slowly.

259
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The nun's walking the same pace with me. When we

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reach the door, I open it. We walk out into

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the hallway, and then I know exactly what I want

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to do. I want to scream, Hilton Sin, you're dead,

263
00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:36.960
Meet you, fucking bitch. I'll teach you to slap me again.

264
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All that comes out are a bunch of growls. Christ,

265
00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:44.480
I'm both angry and hungry as fuck. I really want

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to kill the head mistress. I'm hoping the bitch is

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still here. Wait a minute, of course she is. If

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she ain't in her office, then she's got to be

269
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at her cottage here on campus. Remembering where her are offices,

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I turn and start heading there. The nun turns and

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comes with me. I guess thus, dead people gotta stick together, right. Yeah,

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00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:14.359
I'm fucking dead, no doubt about it. I know I

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00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:19.559
ain't breathing. I'm moving really slowly, I'm cold all over.

274
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It's taking effort for me to move the way I want.

275
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I want to walk normal, but I just can't. And

276
00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:29.680
then there's that shit about not being able to talk.

277
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But how am I still thinking normally? I move my

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00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:38.920
hand to my neck. My scratches are still there. I

279
00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:43.079
touch my shoulder. That piece of flesh is still missing

280
00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:46.000
from where that little shit bit me, but I'm not

281
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bleeding anymore. And then I actually have an epiphany. Since

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00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:57.160
I'm a walking dead girl, now I don't ever have

283
00:18:57.240 --> 00:19:00.599
to come to classes here ever again. Right I can

284
00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:07.039
literally do whatever I want. Well right now, head Mistress

285
00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:09.720
Hiltonson is on the menu, and I ain't leaving here

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00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:12.759
until I eat every bit of flesh off her body.

287
00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:17.599
Before long, the faceless Nun and I reach the head

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Mistress's office. I open the door and walk in. I

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00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:25.160
see another nun. It ain't Hiltonson, but I can feed

290
00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:29.599
my gnawing hunger some more. At least she looks at us.

291
00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:36.119
It's Sister Sarah, Bernadette, Sister, are you too all right?

292
00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:41.200
You both know Halloween costumes are not permitted here. When

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the faceless Nun and I are almost to Sister Sarah

294
00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:47.440
she gets all scared now. She quickly gets out of

295
00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:50.160
her desk and starts grabbing and throwing stuff at us.

296
00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:54.400
Get back, Sister Sarah yells, get away from me. You

297
00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:58.799
both are abominations before Almighty God, Oh Lord, save me.

298
00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:04.480
Unfortunately for her, her savior makes no move whatsoever. Is

299
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the Faceless Nun and I both press her up against

300
00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:11.640
the wall and start biting into her. She screams like

301
00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:14.440
a wild banshee as we eat one piece of flesh

302
00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:18.079
right after another off of her. When she falls, we

303
00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:22.839
lower ourselves and start sharing her together. I rip into

304
00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:27.000
Sister Sarah's habit and open her up like I did

305
00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:33.759
the Faceless Nun earlier. After several minutes, Sister Sarah starts twitching.

306
00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:37.559
The Faceless Nun and I both stop eating her and

307
00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:42.960
watch her sit up slowly. Why do we just suddenly

308
00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:47.240
stop when we see she's one of us now? Maybe

309
00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:49.759
it's some kind of instinct built into us or something.

310
00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:53.599
We never eat or attack each other. The three of

311
00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:57.200
us are on our feet. I remember head Mistress Hiltonson's

312
00:20:57.200 --> 00:21:01.319
office and start walking there. When I reach her door,

313
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I grab the handle and open it. Hiltonsen's huge copy

314
00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:08.000
of the Holy Bible is on her desk, but she

315
00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:11.039
ain't here. That means she's got to be at her

316
00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:13.200
cottage at that part of the campus where all the

317
00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:17.480
other senior staff live. Must be nice being an abusive,

318
00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:21.839
fucking bitch and getting generous perks for it. Well, I

319
00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:24.880
ain't givin up. Like I said, I ain't leavin here

320
00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:28.880
until she makes my tummy ready to burst. I turn

321
00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:32.799
and start walking again. I know exactly where the staff

322
00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:37.440
cottages are on campus. I really wish I could fucking run,

323
00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:43.160
but I just can't. No matter. It's just me and

324
00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:46.359
the two nuns I made. I don't know why they

325
00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:48.519
feel they got to stick with me, but I don't care.

326
00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:51.599
The more of us there are, the better we can

327
00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:55.319
score food. In fact, we end up killing and eating

328
00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:59.680
some students who stayed behind. Now they're walking with us.

329
00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:03.720
Now my dead army is up to eight. Even the

330
00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:08.519
others look at me like I'm their leader. Well guess what, Hiltonson,

331
00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:12.279
you fascist bitch. You wanted to keep Halloween as far

332
00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:16.680
away from Strickfield Academy as you could. Well you're gonna

333
00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:21.759
get a Halloween you ain't never gonna forget. We may

334
00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:24.440
be walking so goddamn slow, but we do make it

335
00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:27.960
to your corner of the campus. We're now walking on

336
00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:31.039
the street where all the faculty cottages are lined up

337
00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:36.160
on both sides. Unfortunately for you, I know which one

338
00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:40.240
you happen to live in. It's the odd numbered side

339
00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:43.759
in cottage one. That means we gotta walk the whole

340
00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:47.240
street just to get to you. And if you ain't here,

341
00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:51.039
we can eat up every last person living here. One

342
00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:55.519
way or another, I will get you. And then, as

343
00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:59.759
if luck is walking with us, had Mistress Hiltonson just

344
00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:05.119
happens to open her front door to step outside. She's

345
00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:07.720
wearing a long robe and is smoking one of her

346
00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:12.920
herbal cigarettes. She rarely ever walks around Strickfield without her

347
00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:16.720
habit on. I know she always goes to football games

348
00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:20.160
and regular clothes. I heard a few girls say they'd

349
00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:24.359
love to take her to bed, crazy fucking bitches. Oh

350
00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:28.160
that's right, that crazy Angie wants to take Hiltonson to bed.

351
00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:34.039
Hiltonson's peace is soon disrupted when she hears us making noise.

352
00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:38.400
As soon as she sees us walking deadly slow down

353
00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:44.119
her street, she turns and scowls. Students are not permitted

354
00:23:44.160 --> 00:23:48.599
to be on faculty grounds, Hiltonson states, as headmistress of

355
00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:52.799
Strickfield Academy. I demand you turn around and leave right now.

356
00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:58.440
If you don't, you will all be dealt severe discipline. Yeah,

357
00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:02.279
like we're really gonna let her threats scare us. We

358
00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:06.920
just keep right on coming. Last chance, turn around and

359
00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:11.559
leave right now. Hiltonson yells, you will not be told again.

360
00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:15.799
It ain't long before we're under the street lights near

361
00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:20.599
Hiltonson's cottage. Oh. She gets real pissed off when she

362
00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:24.799
sees us. She points right at us. How dare you

363
00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:29.640
wear Halloween costumes on Strickfield Academy grounds. Halloween is Satan's

364
00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:32.759
holiday and we never celebrate anything of the devil here.

365
00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:38.319
You shall all be dealt with most harshly. When we

366
00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:43.440
keep moving towards her, she finally sees me. Now, Bernadette Hollow,

367
00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:47.359
I should have known, She roars, not only are you

368
00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:51.920
a jezebel, but you're a heathen. Just then, one of

369
00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:54.839
the priests is right there on the street. I just

370
00:24:54.920 --> 00:25:01.359
called security. They'll be along any time. To god Ah,

371
00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:04.519
some of my army grab hold of him and take

372
00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:08.559
him down to the road. Head Mistress Hiltonson gasps and

373
00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:12.680
utter horror when she sees them ripping him apart and

374
00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:16.400
devouring him. I keep my eyes on the prize and

375
00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:21.000
reach out for Hiltonson. I growl when I'm grabbing her forearm,

376
00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:25.559
but it seems I've underestimated the head Mistress. She grabs

377
00:25:25.640 --> 00:25:29.279
my forearm instead. Now she brings her bare foot up

378
00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:33.160
and cracks me in the face. I'm feeling dazed now.

379
00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:37.079
Then she shoves me away from her porch. I fall

380
00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:40.240
on land on my back. It ain't long before I'm

381
00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:45.119
slowly getting back to my feet. Hiltonson gets inside her

382
00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:50.680
cabin and slams her door shut and locks it very quickly.

383
00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:53.920
We all surround her cottage. There are enough of us

384
00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:56.519
behind her front door to make it finally give way

385
00:25:56.559 --> 00:26:01.240
after some minutes. I'm the first one in. She's got

386
00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:05.079
all kinds of religious shit everywhere. I think she really

387
00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:09.720
feels like she's a child of God suddenly had Mistress

388
00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:13.680
Hiltonson comes out of her bedroom. She ain't wearing her

389
00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:17.119
robe no more. She's fully dressed now, not in her

390
00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:23.039
habit though she's wearing everything white pants, turtleneck, sweater, and boots.

391
00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:27.640
You wish to do battle with me? Satan me, She

392
00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:31.480
laughed scornfully. I've trained my whole life for the day

393
00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:35.119
your armies would come for me, Prince of lies, and

394
00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:38.799
now you send an undead army to challenge me. She

395
00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:44.160
raises her fists. Get behind me, Satan. Our dead army

396
00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:48.960
is about to find out we greatly underestimated Hiltonson. The

397
00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:51.400
two dead guys ahead of me get knocked flat on

398
00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:55.519
their backs. I roar and lunge at her. I want

399
00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:57.519
to take a bite out of her so badly. I

400
00:26:57.559 --> 00:27:01.079
really don't care that she can fight again, as others

401
00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:04.920
are coming up beside me. Then Hiltonson kicks me hard

402
00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:08.720
in between my tits, making me stagger back and knocking

403
00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:12.160
a few of my own army down with me. Now

404
00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:15.519
Hiltonson attacks and moves like she's starring in her very

405
00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:20.160
own action movie. This fucking bitch is like Jet Lee.

406
00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:23.400
I can't believe she knows martial arts. She's beating the

407
00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:26.240
snot out of all of us. But I ain't given up.

408
00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:29.240
Either I'm gonna bite her or she'll have to kill me.

409
00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:34.160
Hiltonsen flips herself over to a cabinet and quickly opens it.

410
00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:38.160
She's got guns in her hands. Now see how quickly

411
00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:43.000
I dispel your army, Satan, she fires them. Holy shit,

412
00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:46.519
she's dropping my army fast by shooting them right between

413
00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:51.720
the eyes. When they're hit, they fall over and stay dead.

414
00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:57.480
Now it's just down to her and me. I got

415
00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:59.960
enough sense in my dead brain to quickly move into

416
00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:05.119
little kitchen to avoid getting shot. You can flee, Bernadette,

417
00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:08.240
but we both know you can't move very fast, don't we.

418
00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:11.359
I hear her saying to me, I have faced your

419
00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:14.240
kind before. I shall triumph over you the way I've

420
00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:19.000
triumphed over all of your lord and Master's minions. Come

421
00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:25.960
face me, Heathen, Let me end your suffering. She's right.

422
00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:29.160
If I can't make my dead body move fast enough

423
00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:32.680
to where I can fight Hiltonsen, she'll fucking kill my ass.

424
00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:35.319
I didn't come all the way out here to the

425
00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:38.559
queen bitch herself just to die at her self righteous feet.

426
00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:42.640
Remembering I can still think, I turn and open a

427
00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:47.119
kitchen drawer. When I feel Hiltonson's almost on me, I

428
00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:51.519
attack and stab her with a very sharp kitchen knife. Yeah, bitch,

429
00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:55.519
looks like you underestimated me. Now she's got a knife

430
00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:59.359
buried in her shoulder. Her white turtleneck's turning red quick.

431
00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:04.240
I want to scream, fuck you, Hiltonson again. All that

432
00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:08.799
comes out, though, are loud growls and grunts. Why can't

433
00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:13.839
I fucking talk? Hiltonson's the one screaming though, Yeah, she

434
00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:17.079
didn't like me surprising her like that. She kicks me

435
00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:20.079
hard under my chin and makes me fall on my back.

436
00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:23.839
My head hits hard against the refrigerator, and I'm on

437
00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:27.359
my ass. I look up at her now and growl

438
00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:32.720
with determination. Hiltonson pulls the knife out of her shoulder.

439
00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:36.880
I will send you back to Satan very shortly, Bernadette,

440
00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:39.880
tell your master he must do much better if he's

441
00:29:39.920 --> 00:29:43.839
to defeat a true servant of the Lord. Hiltonson sees

442
00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:47.240
me get to my feet again, she raises the knife

443
00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:50.240
and comes after me. I managed to grab hold of

444
00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:52.920
a pot and swing it hard, cracking her right in

445
00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:57.720
the head again. She never saw it coming. Now she's

446
00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:01.279
on her back. Now I quickly move and drop right

447
00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:06.119
on top of her. No, Hiltonson cries when I'm snapping

448
00:30:06.119 --> 00:30:10.119
my teeth at her. Dear God. No, I'm sitting on

449
00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:14.839
her waist and she's holding my wrists being dead. I

450
00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:17.440
can't match Hiltonson for shit when it comes to speed,

451
00:30:17.880 --> 00:30:20.519
but being this close to her means I can almost

452
00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:23.680
match strength with her. I roar and growl when I

453
00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:28.440
remember her slapping me three times earlier. Today, you drew

454
00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:33.480
blood from me, Hiltonson. Now I want yours. Just seeing

455
00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:36.799
her turtleneck all red now makes me so proud. I

456
00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:39.960
got that fucking bitch worse than she got me. Now

457
00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:43.680
I actually scream at her. Get off of me, Bernadette

458
00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:48.240
Hiltonson yells. I scream again and finally pin her wrists down,

459
00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:52.880
and then I focus. God damn it, I'm gonna say

460
00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:56.279
something to Hiltonson before I eat her. It takes everything

461
00:30:56.279 --> 00:31:03.599
for me to finally get it out. Joh, I end

462
00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:06.359
up opening my mouth so wide it makes the sides

463
00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:12.119
of my face split. Hiltonson shrieks. I hope she pissed herself.

464
00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:16.039
My tongue's practically hanging out of my wide open jaws.

465
00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:23.000
Now I'm finally going to have my meal. Never, Hiltonson screams.

466
00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:26.160
She suddenly roars and finds the strength to shove me

467
00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:28.880
right off her. Then she does a kip up back

468
00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:32.000
to her feet. I'm almost back on my feet. When

469
00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:34.960
she picks up the knife I stabbed her with minutes ago.

470
00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:37.680
As I'm propping myself up on her counter, I look

471
00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:41.400
right at her and stagger her way. That's when Hiltonson

472
00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:45.200
draws back. I'm totally fucked when she easily flings the

473
00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:49.240
knife so it ends up right between my eyes. I

474
00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:52.200
can feel the blade stuck right in my brain. Now

475
00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:57.480
I wobble and drop to my knees. I ain't dead yet,

476
00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:01.720
but I'm losing control of my body. Head Mistress Hiltonson

477
00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:05.880
comes to me. You were foolish to come and challenge me, Bernadette,

478
00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:10.440
me know this before you stand before Almighty God for

479
00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:13.839
his judgment. Through his power, I was able to stand

480
00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:19.839
victorious against an army of your kind. She sneers. Now, oh,

481
00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:23.160
I know there are others out there. I know there

482
00:32:23.160 --> 00:32:27.440
are vampires, werewolves, and other monstrosities that Satan has sent

483
00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:31.559
here to the mortal realm to corrupt humanity. I fall

484
00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:35.720
into a reclining position beside the dishwasher. Now it ain't

485
00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:39.119
gonna be long before I am really gonna be dead.

486
00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:44.359
Hiltonson smiles. By day, I am the headmistress of this

487
00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:50.079
prestigious academy. By night, I go out and prowl for

488
00:32:50.160 --> 00:32:54.799
Satan's creations, like yourself. In slaying such creatures, I have

489
00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:58.119
recently learned of a vampire by the name of Bella

490
00:32:58.240 --> 00:33:01.319
Tabon and a werewolf by the name of Danielle Boyd.

491
00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:04.920
Such a pity you will not be around to see

492
00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:09.119
me destroy them with my own two hands. I make

493
00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:12.680
a last attempt to reach up for Hilton's. She stops

494
00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:15.519
me when she slams her knee onto my tits and

495
00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:20.960
grabs the knife handle. Happy Halloween, Bernadette Hallow. I truly

496
00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:24.759
hope for your sake they celebrate it in Hell, where

497
00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:29.759
I'm sure God will send you very shortly. When she

498
00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:34.240
pushes the knife even further into my brain, it's definitely

499
00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:52.200
the end. Future Tabon by Rob Fields. I suddenly opened

500
00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:58.000
my eyes and realize that I can move. I live.

501
00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:02.039
I can see that I am within a construction designed

502
00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:06.960
specifically to contain my body. With a simple and quick

503
00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:09.840
upward movement, I push the lid off so that it

504
00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:14.239
flies away and hits a nearby wall. I sit up

505
00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:19.000
and see that it is night. However, I can see

506
00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:23.840
everything quite clearly. I look down upon my lap and

507
00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:27.719
see both the wooden steak and the crucifix, the accursed

508
00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:30.960
objects that were used to both bind me and keep

509
00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:35.199
me imprisoned within this vault in a former lifetime. I

510
00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:38.079
stand to my bare feet and leap from the vault

511
00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:41.960
to land upon the floor. I examine myself and see

512
00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:46.880
the tattered and aged remains of my dress. How long

513
00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:51.239
have I been imprisoned within that vault? What has transpired

514
00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:56.199
during that time? More importantly, who was responsible for staking

515
00:34:56.239 --> 00:35:01.320
my heart and binding me? I must be patient. I

516
00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:06.760
currently feel disorientation, but I believe that will pass. I

517
00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:10.400
step outside the crypt and run my fingers through my long,

518
00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:15.199
metallic blonde hair as the wind caresses me. Then I

519
00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:20.719
smile for the first time when I see the lightning flash.

520
00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:27.519
A loud crash of thunder follows. Truly this storm, Truly

521
00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:32.239
this storm shall be powerful. Soon it begins to rain

522
00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:36.159
a little at first, then I quickly become thoroughly soaked,

523
00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:41.199
making me truly relish my freedom. I feel that I

524
00:35:41.239 --> 00:35:44.400
have been imprisoned within that crypt for a great many years.

525
00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:49.159
My disorientation causes me to stagger a little, but I

526
00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:52.639
move through the burial ground in the harsh storm until

527
00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:57.039
I come upon the gates, I see the crucifix that

528
00:35:57.199 --> 00:36:03.559
binds the entrance rules. Before a binding could only be

529
00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:08.960
used against me, and personally, I can easily remove the crucifix,

530
00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:13.119
but I have a better idea. I leap over the

531
00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:16.639
gates and land with the grace of a feline. The

532
00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:20.480
trees on the path before me sway with intensifying winds

533
00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:24.079
as the cold rains continue to soak me through the

534
00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:28.320
remains of my dress for a time. I continue along

535
00:36:28.360 --> 00:36:31.800
the path until I reach what appears to be a

536
00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:35.639
dense forest. I enter it as the lightning flashes again,

537
00:36:36.239 --> 00:36:42.599
followed by a tremendous crash. The trees shield me to

538
00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:47.760
a degree as the storm grows stronger still in time,

539
00:36:48.119 --> 00:36:51.199
I come across the remains of a horse drawn carriage.

540
00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:55.239
As there are two horse skeletons outside, so are there

541
00:36:55.320 --> 00:36:59.840
two human skeletons inside. Their clothes appear to be just

542
00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:04.159
as old and tattered as my dress. After searching the coach,

543
00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:08.079
the only things that I find of potential value are

544
00:37:08.119 --> 00:37:12.079
some gold coins and a few rubies. I leave them

545
00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:15.559
with the skeletons, since I have no use for such riches.

546
00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:19.239
I also do not feel that it is right to

547
00:37:19.360 --> 00:37:23.679
steal from the dead. I exit the coach and continue

548
00:37:23.719 --> 00:37:27.800
along the path. Why do I continue to feel disorientation

549
00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:32.239
in spite of my long slumber? Now I feel a

550
00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:37.960
slight buzzing sensation deep from within my head. The storm

551
00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:42.840
grows ever stronger. Then I discover that my hair shows

552
00:37:42.880 --> 00:37:46.800
no dampness in spite of all the rain. I touch

553
00:37:46.880 --> 00:37:51.000
my metallic hair to find that it feels silky smooth.

554
00:37:52.199 --> 00:37:55.079
Suddenly I am attacked by an inhabitant of this forest,

555
00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:58.880
seemingly out of nowhere. The monster and I tumble over

556
00:37:58.960 --> 00:38:02.199
one another. Knowing that I must now do battle, I

557
00:38:02.320 --> 00:38:05.119
seize the creature with one hand and throw it into

558
00:38:05.199 --> 00:38:08.960
a nearby tree. The creature hits the tree and falls

559
00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:12.440
forward to land in the mud. It springs to its

560
00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:15.599
feet and comes for me again. Remembering that I am

561
00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:20.599
a vampire, I will myself transmorph for battle. However, neither

562
00:38:20.639 --> 00:38:24.760
my face changes nor do my claws emerge. The creature

563
00:38:24.880 --> 00:38:29.960
snarls and attacks me again with lightning reflexes. I seize

564
00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:32.800
the creature by its throat and throw it into the

565
00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:36.920
nearby river with almost no effort. It sinks below the

566
00:38:36.960 --> 00:38:43.039
water and resurfaces shortly after. As I understand more. I

567
00:38:43.079 --> 00:38:47.079
can see that the creature is a werewolf, but with

568
00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:52.599
the tail of a scorpion, not quite a manticore. The

569
00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:57.119
monster leaps at me again, colliding once again, we tumble

570
00:38:57.159 --> 00:39:00.079
over one another. When I am to my feet, and

571
00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:03.840
again the werewolf swiftly lashes out with its tail and

572
00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:08.519
stings me. The pain is brief, but his attack has

573
00:39:08.639 --> 00:39:12.519
angered me. I do not wish to do battle with you,

574
00:39:13.079 --> 00:39:16.880
I yell. I lash out against the creature and subdue it.

575
00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:20.360
I remember my strength from a past life, though it

576
00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:24.760
feels as if I am much stronger now. As I

577
00:39:24.800 --> 00:39:27.480
have the monster down for the final death blow, a

578
00:39:27.519 --> 00:39:33.079
sudden understanding comes over me. No, I am no murderer.

579
00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:36.719
I withdraw from the creature and return to the path

580
00:39:37.079 --> 00:39:42.920
to resume my present course. My disorientation becomes more intense,

581
00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:45.400
and I cry out when I feel a sudden urge

582
00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:49.719
within my head that causes me to fall. I lay

583
00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:53.920
there as the storm continues to wash over me. Have

584
00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:56.760
I emerged from that tomb just to gain a new

585
00:39:56.800 --> 00:40:03.039
one here in the wilderness, No, I scream. I suddenly

586
00:40:03.079 --> 00:40:06.960
sit straight up and fight to stand. I refuse to

587
00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:10.199
be a prisoner within my own body. When I am

588
00:40:10.280 --> 00:40:14.119
to my feet, I fall again. My disorientation and cerebral

589
00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:19.199
pains are too great now, and then my vision suddenly

590
00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:24.639
changes and dims. Shortly after, I see the words flashing

591
00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:28.840
repeatedly in a language I should not be able to understand,

592
00:40:29.880 --> 00:40:36.320
but they read. Initial systems set up commencing. For a

593
00:40:36.320 --> 00:40:40.280
brief moment, I see nothing but multiple words and phrases

594
00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:46.400
rapidly moving upward, and then I can see fully once more.

595
00:40:47.159 --> 00:40:49.840
In fact, I can now see the clearest that I

596
00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:54.639
have ever seen in my brief existence. In under a minute,

597
00:40:54.679 --> 00:40:58.079
the initial system set up is complete. I sit up

598
00:40:58.119 --> 00:41:02.440
again and no law hunger, feel any pain or disorientation.

599
00:41:03.800 --> 00:41:08.599
I begin to understand more as other operations commence. First,

600
00:41:08.639 --> 00:41:12.639
I download and execute a full system's upgrade. I can

601
00:41:12.679 --> 00:41:17.000
see and feel all of the numerous components inside my brain,

602
00:41:17.159 --> 00:41:21.599
receiving the most advanced updates, all of which are being optimized.

603
00:41:22.480 --> 00:41:25.559
In just under two minutes, I am at full optimal

604
00:41:25.599 --> 00:41:29.679
capacity and remember a great many memories prior to being

605
00:41:29.800 --> 00:41:34.039
bound and staked. Feeling that the system is awaiting my

606
00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:39.159
mental commands, I access my internal clock the last time

607
00:41:39.199 --> 00:41:43.199
that I can recall through my memories was October thirty first,

608
00:41:43.800 --> 00:41:48.559
eighteen eighty seven. The interface currently reads October thirty first,

609
00:41:49.239 --> 00:41:53.920
two thousand ninety nine. It just does not seem that

610
00:41:53.960 --> 00:41:56.559
I have been entombed for two hundred and twelve years.

611
00:41:57.000 --> 00:41:59.320
Though I can remember many of the events of my

612
00:41:59.400 --> 00:42:05.239
imprisonment clearly, analyzing these memories, I cannot produce a glimpse

613
00:42:05.280 --> 00:42:08.559
of whom it was that both staked and entombed me,

614
00:42:09.440 --> 00:42:14.760
only the pain and being rendered unconscious. I look up

615
00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:17.519
to the stormy skies and let the rains wash over

616
00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:22.159
my face. Again. After better than two centuries, I live

617
00:42:23.039 --> 00:42:26.960
and no freedom. I must learn about this new time.

618
00:42:27.559 --> 00:42:31.320
Certainly much has happened during my entombment. For now, I

619
00:42:31.360 --> 00:42:34.679
shall continue along this path until I reach a place

620
00:42:34.719 --> 00:42:38.840
of interest. The storm continues to rage ever stronger, still,

621
00:42:39.079 --> 00:42:43.920
with the winds showing their tremendous strength. My patience is

622
00:42:43.960 --> 00:42:47.599
eventually rewarded upon seeing a large structure in the distance.

623
00:42:48.519 --> 00:42:51.400
Upon reaching it, I see what is left of the

624
00:42:51.480 --> 00:42:55.880
sign that once identified it. Using but a minuscule fraction

625
00:42:56.039 --> 00:43:00.000
of my advanced software, I can create a perfect recon

626
00:43:00.079 --> 00:43:04.000
construction of the sign. This structure was once known as

627
00:43:05.079 --> 00:43:14.199
Strickfield Town Center Mall. Immediately accessing the files in my

628
00:43:14.280 --> 00:43:17.599
limitless data banks, I learned that this structure was once

629
00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:22.000
a place of commerce that housed many shops, all under

630
00:43:22.039 --> 00:43:25.840
a single roof. I walked to what was once an

631
00:43:25.960 --> 00:43:30.679
entrance and enter. I walk the brief corridor to reach

632
00:43:30.719 --> 00:43:34.880
the main area itself. Walking the length of this former mall,

633
00:43:35.400 --> 00:43:38.960
I scan the remains of the shops. Though the mall

634
00:43:39.039 --> 00:43:42.239
is quite dark to a normal person, I can easily

635
00:43:42.280 --> 00:43:45.800
see it as if it's still daylight. My software recreates

636
00:43:45.840 --> 00:43:49.800
a map of this mall and codes the shops to it. Soon,

637
00:43:49.920 --> 00:43:55.079
I approach a shop of potential interest and enter. This

638
00:43:55.199 --> 00:43:58.960
shop has many items of vintage clothing that I scanned

639
00:43:59.000 --> 00:44:03.639
to my exterior measurements, finding suitable clothing upon a mannequin,

640
00:44:04.079 --> 00:44:07.599
I remove the tatters of my dress. Feeling the rain

641
00:44:07.679 --> 00:44:10.440
water dripping from my hair and down my naked form,

642
00:44:11.039 --> 00:44:14.639
I apply my new clothing, a short pair of denim

643
00:44:14.719 --> 00:44:18.599
shorts with a belt, an athletic red neon top, a

644
00:44:18.679 --> 00:44:24.519
synthetic leather jacket, and ankle high stiletto boots. Upon seeing

645
00:44:24.559 --> 00:44:28.440
picture displays of various females around the shop, I decide

646
00:44:28.480 --> 00:44:33.960
to utilize handkerchiefs to secure my abundant hair. Now that

647
00:44:34.039 --> 00:44:37.800
I am suitably clothed, I exit the shop and examine

648
00:44:37.840 --> 00:44:42.280
more of this mall. Not finding anything else that I require,

649
00:44:42.400 --> 00:44:46.159
I finish my tour and approach a different entrance to depart.

650
00:44:47.159 --> 00:44:50.840
Seeing the still raging storm, I access a map of

651
00:44:50.880 --> 00:44:56.039
Strickfield and decide to investigate this area. Wishing to venture

652
00:44:56.079 --> 00:45:00.400
there swiftly, I will transmorph into a bat to able

653
00:45:00.440 --> 00:45:06.320
to fly out into the storm. However I cannot, I

654
00:45:06.360 --> 00:45:10.320
will myself to transmorph into a wolf with the same results.

655
00:45:11.079 --> 00:45:14.400
Since it seems these aspects of my fampiric powers are

656
00:45:14.400 --> 00:45:17.400
no longer existent, I leap into the air to make

657
00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:21.239
a long jump. As I focus on my current destination,

658
00:45:22.079 --> 00:45:25.840
all that I see are vast wastelands. It seems as

659
00:45:25.880 --> 00:45:30.559
though someone or something has laid waste to this area.

660
00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:34.559
As I wonder if my imprisonment was the reason, my

661
00:45:34.679 --> 00:45:39.519
new memories are quick to say otherwise. No, my imprisonment

662
00:45:39.679 --> 00:45:43.320
was meant for just that. I must learn the reasons

663
00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:48.400
and those responsible. After one more jump, I land just

664
00:45:48.440 --> 00:45:52.599
outside of the area of Strickfield and enter. As I

665
00:45:52.719 --> 00:45:56.639
explore the remains of this village. I soon enter into

666
00:45:56.679 --> 00:45:59.920
what appears to have been a place of fellowship and dining.

667
00:46:01.440 --> 00:46:05.400
There are skeletons everywhere, many of which are costumed as

668
00:46:05.440 --> 00:46:10.480
though they are in some form of masquerade. I'm quick

669
00:46:10.519 --> 00:46:14.960
to ascertain that in a former life, these organics celebrated

670
00:46:15.000 --> 00:46:20.920
the earth occasion known as Halloween. My software also reconstructs

671
00:46:20.920 --> 00:46:23.639
the structure to show that it was a popular diner

672
00:46:24.199 --> 00:46:28.159
once known as Denoyer's Grille. My data banks tell me

673
00:46:28.199 --> 00:46:31.800
that in the year two thousand and thirty, on Halloween Night,

674
00:46:32.280 --> 00:46:36.440
a powerful deity known as hell Weaver would conquer the

675
00:46:36.480 --> 00:46:41.360
mortal realm utilizing an ancient artifact known as the reality sphere.

676
00:46:41.960 --> 00:46:45.719
A last stand was taken against hell Weaver, her daughter,

677
00:46:46.119 --> 00:46:51.559
and a high priest. Hell Weaver would prove victorious and

678
00:46:51.559 --> 00:46:55.679
and the entire multiverse would fall to her. As a result,

679
00:46:56.119 --> 00:47:00.000
Earth's natural balance was forever disrupted, resulting in the US

680
00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:05.239
these destructive weather patterns and consistent nights. Hell Weaver and

681
00:47:05.280 --> 00:47:09.159
her greatly vast armies laid waste to Earth and either

682
00:47:09.199 --> 00:47:13.599
destroyed or imprisoned many of its people. From there, Hell

683
00:47:13.639 --> 00:47:19.400
Weaver would repopulate the Earth with her own people of sorts.

684
00:47:20.159 --> 00:47:23.360
I was upon this world during twenty thirty, but was

685
00:47:23.400 --> 00:47:27.440
still imprisoned within my tomb. The more data that I compile,

686
00:47:28.119 --> 00:47:32.639
the more that I what has happened to me? Why

687
00:47:32.639 --> 00:47:35.880
have I changed so drastically between my imprisonment and now

688
00:47:36.440 --> 00:47:39.079
I only remember a former life of being a powerful

689
00:47:39.199 --> 00:47:44.679
vampire and a Trey Launder hybrid. Now I immediately call

690
00:47:44.800 --> 00:47:47.800
for the schematics of my body. And how am I

691
00:47:47.880 --> 00:47:52.079
even capable of doing this? The great energy that I feel,

692
00:47:52.199 --> 00:47:54.800
the data that I see, the calculations that I can

693
00:47:55.039 --> 00:48:04.559
instantly perform according to my schematics, I've become a machine. Truly.

694
00:48:05.079 --> 00:48:08.679
I am no longer organic flesh, bone, blood, muscle and organs.

695
00:48:09.480 --> 00:48:13.760
There is completely nothing left of my original organic body.

696
00:48:14.719 --> 00:48:18.960
Somehow I have been given a new body comprised of

697
00:48:19.000 --> 00:48:24.159
metal circuits, neuro optics, processors, a power core, and a

698
00:48:24.239 --> 00:48:28.000
multitude of software. On the outside, I have a skin

699
00:48:28.079 --> 00:48:32.519
base that greatly resembles flesh, nails, and hair that can

700
00:48:32.559 --> 00:48:37.280
perfectly mimic the organic earth female that I have now become.

701
00:48:38.480 --> 00:48:42.119
My abundant hair and my greatly enlarged breasts mimic those

702
00:48:42.159 --> 00:48:47.320
of the organic Trey launder female and yet yet like

703
00:48:47.480 --> 00:48:53.039
organic beings, I am sentient and can feel emotion. But

704
00:48:53.199 --> 00:48:57.239
how how did I cease being an organic vampire alien

705
00:48:57.320 --> 00:49:04.079
hybrid upon my imprisonment and awaken to become a full machine.

706
00:49:04.320 --> 00:49:07.320
I desire to access this information in my data banks,

707
00:49:07.920 --> 00:49:11.039
but not yet, not until I have come to terms

708
00:49:11.079 --> 00:49:14.920
with my new environment and what I now am. This

709
00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:18.719
post apocalyptic earth is the world I must occupy for now.

710
00:49:19.480 --> 00:49:23.519
In addition, I must call this new mechanical body my own.

711
00:49:23.679 --> 00:49:25.800
At least with my new flesh and hair, I can

712
00:49:25.840 --> 00:49:29.880
pass for an organic earth human, but to live as

713
00:49:29.920 --> 00:49:34.199
a machine in a world of organics. Like organics, I

714
00:49:34.239 --> 00:49:36.440
have a will of my own and am quite capable

715
00:49:36.440 --> 00:49:39.960
of making my own decisions. Well. Now, I wish to

716
00:49:40.039 --> 00:49:43.519
know my new world. So far I only see what

717
00:49:43.599 --> 00:49:48.119
has resulted from hell Weaver's onslaught. After finding nothing of

718
00:49:48.159 --> 00:49:51.800
great importance, I leave the diner and decide to explore

719
00:49:51.920 --> 00:49:57.119
more of the former village of Strickfield. I walk until

720
00:49:57.119 --> 00:50:00.599
I reach what was the heart of the village. There

721
00:50:00.599 --> 00:50:03.719
are only the remains of the many shops that the

722
00:50:03.800 --> 00:50:08.039
inhabitants had once taken For Granted, I call upon more

723
00:50:08.119 --> 00:50:12.119
data in regards to the demise of this once populated area,

724
00:50:12.840 --> 00:50:15.599
and learn that the final battle between hell Weaver and

725
00:50:15.639 --> 00:50:19.159
the Chosen Six known as the Battleguard, had taken place

726
00:50:19.199 --> 00:50:24.039
at my location in what was Guntertown Square, a park.

727
00:50:25.440 --> 00:50:28.760
I gasp when I learned that one among those Chosen

728
00:50:28.840 --> 00:50:33.599
Six had betrayed their allies and joined hell Weaver, leading

729
00:50:33.639 --> 00:50:40.000
to both the downfall of the battle Guard and the multiverse. Unfortunately,

730
00:50:40.079 --> 00:50:44.239
I have no data regarding the betrayer. Feeling anger and

731
00:50:44.280 --> 00:50:48.199
frustration over what I have just learned, I shout, are

732
00:50:48.239 --> 00:50:53.119
there no other life forms upon this world? Faint noises

733
00:50:53.159 --> 00:50:57.199
are swift to answer my question. Soon, I see movements

734
00:50:57.199 --> 00:51:00.679
from some of the shops. It appears as though organic

735
00:51:00.719 --> 00:51:04.079
beings are coming forth. However, they are in states of

736
00:51:04.400 --> 00:51:08.599
advanced decay. I scan one of the beings to determine

737
00:51:09.119 --> 00:51:13.440
that the decomposition has been relatively slow, But these creatures

738
00:51:13.960 --> 00:51:18.840
are indeed in a state of zombification. They all slowly

739
00:51:18.880 --> 00:51:24.320
advance towards me. In my memories, zombies would always ignore vampires,

740
00:51:24.320 --> 00:51:29.119
since they too are undead. Now, upon quick analysis of

741
00:51:29.159 --> 00:51:32.360
my body, it seems as though I am miraculously no

742
00:51:32.400 --> 00:51:37.239
longer undead. Remembering that I can leap far distances, I

743
00:51:37.320 --> 00:51:42.199
do so and escape the undead beings. The zombies mindlessly

744
00:51:42.239 --> 00:51:45.719
and instinctively reach up to grab me. I am with

745
00:51:45.800 --> 00:51:51.599
great sadness and almost feel discouraged. But then I am

746
00:51:51.599 --> 00:51:56.159
with optimism. There must be organic living beings left upon

747
00:51:56.199 --> 00:52:01.000
this world. There must I receive my conformation when I

748
00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:05.119
feel danger coming from behind. Very swiftly, someone attacks me

749
00:52:05.440 --> 00:52:08.719
and takes me down to the crumbled streets. As the

750
00:52:08.800 --> 00:52:13.639
zombified organics gather around us, my attacker turns and shoots

751
00:52:13.639 --> 00:52:17.719
at them with a hand weapon begone empty shells. This

752
00:52:17.880 --> 00:52:23.280
cow now belongs to Sarathos. Angered by his comment, I

753
00:52:23.440 --> 00:52:28.039
rise and strike my attacker. I belong to no one.

754
00:52:28.280 --> 00:52:31.960
This Sarathos flies away from me fast and slides down

755
00:52:32.000 --> 00:52:35.440
the broken street. Upon coming to a stop, he is

756
00:52:35.519 --> 00:52:39.920
swift to return to his feet. You dare strike me, cow,

757
00:52:40.519 --> 00:52:43.440
he points at me. You shall know what it means

758
00:52:43.480 --> 00:52:47.840
to defy Sarathos. You shall know what it means to

759
00:52:47.840 --> 00:52:53.000
defy Sarathos. And then there are more of those werewolf

760
00:52:53.039 --> 00:52:56.159
creatures with scorpion tails, like the one I encountered in

761
00:52:56.199 --> 00:53:00.920
the woods. Shortly upon my awakening, she's your yours, my pets,

762
00:53:01.480 --> 00:53:05.840
sarah Thos tells them make this cow pay for her defiance.

763
00:53:06.960 --> 00:53:10.159
The werewolves give their battle howls before they charge it me.

764
00:53:11.079 --> 00:53:13.880
If they wish to engage me in battle, then so

765
00:53:14.039 --> 00:53:18.000
I shall oblige them. When the first werewolf creature reaches me,

766
00:53:18.559 --> 00:53:20.840
I take hold of it and hurl it far away.

767
00:53:21.679 --> 00:53:24.480
I am easily able to avoid the claws and teeth,

768
00:53:24.920 --> 00:53:28.239
even the tails. As I show these creatures that I

769
00:53:28.239 --> 00:53:31.199
am far superior to them, I am amazed with how

770
00:53:31.320 --> 00:53:34.519
fluid and swift I can move in this new body.

771
00:53:35.320 --> 00:53:38.880
To my memories, no machine has ever moved like this.

772
00:53:39.679 --> 00:53:44.079
But then, my last recalled time was eighteen eighty seven.

773
00:53:44.719 --> 00:53:49.039
It seems much as changed by two thousand and ninety nine. However,

774
00:53:49.079 --> 00:53:51.960
I've seen nothing in the way of advancements for this time.

775
00:53:52.920 --> 00:53:56.079
Given the complexity of my new body, I already know

776
00:53:56.199 --> 00:53:59.239
that it was not constructed in two thousy ninety nine.

777
00:54:00.199 --> 00:54:05.639
My new body is futuristic alien technology. I continue to

778
00:54:05.679 --> 00:54:08.199
do battle with the creatures until I have subdued them all.

779
00:54:08.679 --> 00:54:13.280
It is then that Sarathos decides to finally engage me himself.

780
00:54:13.920 --> 00:54:17.199
Only he attacks me from behind a second time, the

781
00:54:17.239 --> 00:54:21.360
way only a coward would Now, cow you shall learn

782
00:54:21.400 --> 00:54:26.039
your place, he declares. Suddenly he clasps something around my neck,

783
00:54:26.280 --> 00:54:29.679
securing me as if I was his runaway property. When

784
00:54:29.679 --> 00:54:32.119
he starts pulling me to him with his great strength,

785
00:54:32.320 --> 00:54:35.280
I grab hold of the chain and pull against him.

786
00:54:36.159 --> 00:54:40.960
You dare, Sarathos growls, Surprised by my own great strength,

787
00:54:41.679 --> 00:54:45.440
This organic despot succeeds in pulling me to him again

788
00:54:45.760 --> 00:54:50.159
and pummels me with three powerful blows. What is this,

789
00:54:50.719 --> 00:54:54.280
he yells. Seeing that I refuse to stay down, he

790
00:54:54.360 --> 00:54:58.000
growls and pummels me again. Then he holds me down

791
00:54:58.039 --> 00:55:00.480
to allow a few of the werewolves that have covered

792
00:55:00.719 --> 00:55:04.800
to return, and sting me with enough of their toxins

793
00:55:04.800 --> 00:55:14.519
in my system. I am compromised and rendered unconscious. I

794
00:55:14.599 --> 00:55:18.079
awaken to find myself in what appears to be a

795
00:55:18.159 --> 00:55:22.639
medieval throne room. My interface comes back online. Then I

796
00:55:22.679 --> 00:55:26.039
see more of those words in that same alien language

797
00:55:26.079 --> 00:55:29.480
that I should not be able to understand. Translated to

798
00:55:29.519 --> 00:55:35.000
American English, the words would say toxin levels zero percent,

799
00:55:35.760 --> 00:55:41.559
neurotoxins compromised. Yes, it was the werewolve's toxins that had

800
00:55:41.559 --> 00:55:45.239
rendered me unconscious. As of now I am at full

801
00:55:45.280 --> 00:55:48.719
strength once more. I see that I'm shackled by chains

802
00:55:48.760 --> 00:55:52.159
at my wrists, my ankles, my neck, and even at

803
00:55:52.239 --> 00:55:55.320
my waist. I scan the throne room and see other

804
00:55:55.400 --> 00:56:00.519
scantily clad organic females. I feel my emotions rise, knowing

805
00:56:00.719 --> 00:56:05.320
that these other organics yet live. Then my emotions turn

806
00:56:05.400 --> 00:56:09.519
to anger at knowing that Sarathos is keeping these females

807
00:56:09.519 --> 00:56:14.480
here against their will. You've awakened an organic female to

808
00:56:14.519 --> 00:56:17.480
my left, says to me. I turned to look upon

809
00:56:17.559 --> 00:56:20.559
her and see that she is with injuries, causing my

810
00:56:20.679 --> 00:56:24.840
anger to increase. What has become of you? I demand?

811
00:56:25.400 --> 00:56:30.280
Did Sarathos beat you? And why? The female begins to cry.

812
00:56:31.480 --> 00:56:34.239
I was to be married when Sarathos invaded our village

813
00:56:34.239 --> 00:56:37.480
of Pendleton. He burst into the church at our wedding

814
00:56:37.639 --> 00:56:40.480
and viciously murdered the man whom I was to marry.

815
00:56:41.280 --> 00:56:44.920
When my parents tried to stop Sarathos, he killed them

816
00:56:44.960 --> 00:56:48.639
in cold blood. Then he took me, my maid of

817
00:56:48.679 --> 00:56:51.760
honor and two of my bridesmaids and imprisoned us here

818
00:56:52.360 --> 00:56:56.519
in this throne room with these others. I managed to

819
00:56:56.639 --> 00:57:01.239
escape recently, but Sarathos quickly tracked me down and beat

820
00:57:01.320 --> 00:57:05.480
me harshly before securing me here again. As I examine

821
00:57:05.480 --> 00:57:07.880
the chamber more, I can see that we are all

822
00:57:07.960 --> 00:57:12.159
kept five yards apart from one another. Upon further analysis,

823
00:57:12.199 --> 00:57:15.679
it seems as though we are here for decoration, entertainment,

824
00:57:16.719 --> 00:57:20.800
and perhaps for non consensual sex. If I have anything

825
00:57:20.840 --> 00:57:24.519
to say about this, I shall stop Sarathos and free

826
00:57:24.559 --> 00:57:28.239
these organic females. There is a quick silence when we

827
00:57:28.320 --> 00:57:32.199
hear a loud noise moments after Sarathos enters the throne

828
00:57:32.280 --> 00:57:36.760
room and with more organic females secured by chains. As

829
00:57:36.800 --> 00:57:40.719
the women struggle against him, he pulls back hard. Cease

830
00:57:40.760 --> 00:57:44.119
your useless struggling, you stupid cows. From now on you

831
00:57:44.199 --> 00:57:47.519
belong to Sarathos, and soon you shall all serve as

832
00:57:47.519 --> 00:57:52.960
the yearly Halloween's sacrifice to my almighty Goddess herself hell Weaver,

833
00:57:53.559 --> 00:57:56.320
which shall be in remembrance of the anniversary of when

834
00:57:56.320 --> 00:58:01.360
my Goddess would conquer the entire multiverse. Knowing that I

835
00:58:01.440 --> 00:58:04.159
must not delay in freeing myself and the others, I

836
00:58:04.199 --> 00:58:08.480
fight against the chains that bind me, bind me, my

837
00:58:08.559 --> 00:58:12.880
anger escalates into fury against Sarathos for imprisoning me. First,

838
00:58:12.920 --> 00:58:15.559
I would awaken to find myself imprisoned within a crypt.

839
00:58:16.079 --> 00:58:18.519
Now I am bound and chained for the pleasures of

840
00:58:18.559 --> 00:58:22.440
this despot, to serve as a potential offering to the

841
00:58:22.519 --> 00:58:25.840
very Goddess that I shall eventually engage in battle with.

842
00:58:26.599 --> 00:58:31.639
Never I said, there is no use struggling cow, Sarathos

843
00:58:31.679 --> 00:58:36.079
mocks me. These other cows have no chance of breaking free,

844
00:58:36.360 --> 00:58:40.719
and neither will you. I laugh scornfully at him. You've

845
00:58:40.760 --> 00:58:43.679
seen that I am not a normal organic female despot,

846
00:58:44.199 --> 00:58:49.159
and I shall remain free. With one great and powerful pull,

847
00:58:49.360 --> 00:58:52.599
I succeed in breaking the chains from the metallic walls

848
00:58:53.719 --> 00:58:58.920
you dare. Sarathos yells in disbelief. He pushes his newly

849
00:58:59.000 --> 00:59:02.920
captured females aside to grab a very large golden axe

850
00:59:02.960 --> 00:59:06.320
from above his fireplace. He stands ready to face me

851
00:59:06.400 --> 00:59:10.320
in combat. Now I have just finished removing the last

852
00:59:10.360 --> 00:59:13.639
of the shackles from my body and assume a fighting stance.

853
00:59:14.239 --> 00:59:18.360
Sarathos is easily five feet taller than I and appears

854
00:59:18.400 --> 00:59:21.800
to have incredible strength, But I do not fear him

855
00:59:22.159 --> 00:59:27.840
in the least today, you fall, I tell Sarathos. Suddenly,

856
00:59:27.880 --> 00:59:31.760
he lowers his weapon and sneers. I look to see

857
00:59:31.760 --> 00:59:35.199
his pack of werewolves with their scorpion tails, have entered

858
00:59:35.199 --> 00:59:39.800
the throne room. Sarathos wishes for them to engage me again,

859
00:59:40.480 --> 00:59:43.880
believing that I am far too insignificant to do battle

860
00:59:43.880 --> 00:59:48.920
with him myself. Very well, Sarathos, I shall again engage

861
00:59:48.960 --> 00:59:52.920
in battle with your pets. I concede, and after I've

862
00:59:53.000 --> 00:59:57.719
defeated them again, I then shall engage and defeat you.

863
00:59:58.880 --> 01:00:01.880
The five werewolves gather around me like a pack of

864
01:00:01.960 --> 01:00:06.000
wild dogs. I'm ready for them this time. They growl

865
01:00:06.039 --> 01:00:09.639
and waste no time in coming at me. I remain calm,

866
01:00:09.760 --> 01:00:13.760
yet I move swiftly. I utilize my fighting arts that

867
01:00:13.800 --> 01:00:16.800
were learned from long ago in a previous life, and

868
01:00:16.920 --> 01:00:21.079
even fighting arts that I should not know presently. Nonetheless,

869
01:00:21.079 --> 01:00:25.000
I begin dancing with these monstrosities. These creatures are easily

870
01:00:25.039 --> 01:00:28.480
two feet taller than I and have great muscular builds.

871
01:00:29.119 --> 01:00:32.400
Seeing them only reminds me that this body is no

872
01:00:32.440 --> 01:00:37.400
longer organic. I am a machine. I am far superior

873
01:00:37.719 --> 01:00:41.719
to these organic creatures. As I battle the werewolves, I

874
01:00:41.719 --> 01:00:44.480
am quite amazed. At how fluidly I move in my

875
01:00:44.559 --> 01:00:48.679
new body. My fists and feet strike with deadly forces.

876
01:00:48.679 --> 01:00:52.760
I dance gracefully with these beasts. She is but a cow,

877
01:00:52.840 --> 01:00:56.519
you mindless critans. Sarah Thos yells when he sees that

878
01:00:56.599 --> 01:01:00.519
his beasts are truly no match for me, say her,

879
01:01:00.760 --> 01:01:03.079
or I shall offer all of you in the Halloween

880
01:01:03.199 --> 01:01:06.760
sacrifice to hell Weaver. I move into the final act

881
01:01:06.800 --> 01:01:10.039
of my dance and render all of the werewolves unconscious

882
01:01:10.639 --> 01:01:13.800
as they lay before me at my feet. I turn

883
01:01:13.920 --> 01:01:19.360
and gaze upon Sarathos. You must face me yourself now, coward,

884
01:01:19.840 --> 01:01:23.880
unless I raise an eyebrow. Unless you are afraid of

885
01:01:24.880 --> 01:01:29.880
a cow. Sarathos raises his weapon. I shall end you

886
01:01:29.960 --> 01:01:34.800
for mocking me this day. Cow His body now shudders

887
01:01:35.000 --> 01:01:39.559
as Sarathos begins a transformation into a more monstrous werewolf

888
01:01:39.599 --> 01:01:43.440
creature than his minions that I have just defeated. When

889
01:01:43.480 --> 01:01:46.519
he finishes, I witness that he is much stronger than

890
01:01:46.559 --> 01:01:50.239
he was when human. He utters a loud roar before

891
01:01:50.280 --> 01:01:54.480
he engages me. In response, I move and flip towards him,

892
01:01:54.840 --> 01:01:59.400
all too eager to dance again. Upon our reaching one another,

893
01:01:59.679 --> 01:02:03.159
the new Uly transformed. Sarahthos swings his golden axe to

894
01:02:03.199 --> 01:02:06.280
commence our dance. I cross my arms in front of

895
01:02:06.320 --> 01:02:10.880
me and slowly, ever so calmly, arch backward. The axe

896
01:02:10.920 --> 01:02:14.440
blade passes over me as a gentle breeze. I finish

897
01:02:14.480 --> 01:02:17.239
my flip and land gracefully on the heels of my

898
01:02:17.280 --> 01:02:21.480
stiletto boots. It almost seems as if I'm dancing barefoot.

899
01:02:22.159 --> 01:02:26.360
Sarathos growls and swings his axe with much fury. Truly,

900
01:02:26.440 --> 01:02:29.800
I see my dance partner now. He is with great

901
01:02:29.960 --> 01:02:33.039
arrogance and anger at believing that he could easily defeat

902
01:02:33.079 --> 01:02:36.280
one such as I simply because I have the appearance

903
01:02:36.760 --> 01:02:40.480
of an organic Earth female. I captured you once before

904
01:02:40.480 --> 01:02:44.039
myself cow, he roars at me, confirming that he is

905
01:02:44.119 --> 01:02:47.199
capable of speech in his alternate form. Once I have

906
01:02:47.320 --> 01:02:50.159
lain captured to you again, I shall show the others

907
01:02:50.159 --> 01:02:53.239
the error of your ways by ravaging you until you

908
01:02:53.280 --> 01:02:56.679
beg me for your life. Then your meat shall make

909
01:02:56.719 --> 01:03:00.599
a most tasty stew to add to the Halloween offering

910
01:03:01.320 --> 01:03:07.440
for hell Weaver. I laughed softly, foolish despot one, you

911
01:03:07.679 --> 01:03:11.199
did not defeat me yourself. Your lower werewolves did much

912
01:03:11.239 --> 01:03:14.639
of the work for you. Two, I have had sufficient

913
01:03:14.760 --> 01:03:18.039
time to learn and understand more about myself. I am

914
01:03:18.119 --> 01:03:21.320
most ready for you this time. Three. I am not

915
01:03:21.559 --> 01:03:24.679
one of your so called cows. In fact, I am

916
01:03:24.800 --> 01:03:28.519
actually known by two names. In birth, I was Mahari

917
01:03:28.920 --> 01:03:33.079
of the royal House of Rilos, and was Princess of Treylond,

918
01:03:33.480 --> 01:03:36.719
a planet many light years from Earth. Here, on my

919
01:03:36.800 --> 01:03:39.920
adopted world, I was given a new name and re

920
01:03:40.079 --> 01:03:46.199
christened Cassilia Tabon. Sarathos roars again and narrowly misses me

921
01:03:46.239 --> 01:03:49.320
as I gracefully dance a cartwheel to avoid his deadly

922
01:03:49.400 --> 01:03:54.519
axe blow. I continue my introduction to Sarathos. We Tabons

923
01:03:54.639 --> 01:03:58.519
have made it our business to eradicate supernatural evil wherever

924
01:03:58.559 --> 01:04:01.960
we may encounter it, and to protect innocent mortals from

925
01:04:01.960 --> 01:04:05.519
those who would harm or enslave them. For all I know,

926
01:04:06.400 --> 01:04:09.400
I may very well be the last Tabon in existence,

927
01:04:09.880 --> 01:04:13.199
And as long as even one Tabon exists, both the

928
01:04:13.239 --> 01:04:17.280
family business and the mission shall never change. And today

929
01:04:17.880 --> 01:04:20.559
I laugh with the grace of my dancing once more.

930
01:04:21.320 --> 01:04:27.719
Today you shall fall before a Tabon. Sarathos roars with

931
01:04:27.800 --> 01:04:31.320
intense fury, causing his yellow eyes to glow bright and

932
01:04:31.440 --> 01:04:34.960
swings his axe at its hardest once more. He is

933
01:04:35.079 --> 01:04:38.239
unsuccessful in striking me and embeds his weapon into the

934
01:04:38.280 --> 01:04:42.920
floor to render it both stuck and useless. I enter

935
01:04:43.000 --> 01:04:46.000
the next part of my dance and begin showing Sarathos

936
01:04:46.039 --> 01:04:50.199
that he too is but an inferior organic. The longer

937
01:04:50.280 --> 01:04:52.920
Sarathos and I battle, the more he learns that this

938
01:04:53.079 --> 01:04:57.360
cow is not so easily overcome, even in his enhanced

939
01:04:57.400 --> 01:05:00.400
where will form. He continues to throw his power powerful

940
01:05:00.440 --> 01:05:03.960
fists and claws at me, but I continue dancing much

941
01:05:04.000 --> 01:05:06.800
too gracefully to allow him to strike me as he

942
01:05:06.840 --> 01:05:10.719
did during our first encounter. He makes his impending defeat

943
01:05:10.800 --> 01:05:14.199
all the more as he roars with increasing anger and

944
01:05:14.239 --> 01:05:18.320
frustration at me. I continue to perform my dance recital

945
01:05:18.360 --> 01:05:22.519
with Sarathos by attacking him myself and throwing and kicking

946
01:05:22.559 --> 01:05:25.440
him from pillar to post. At one point, I even

947
01:05:25.480 --> 01:05:28.519
lift him with a single hand and hurl him clear

948
01:05:28.559 --> 01:05:31.719
across his throne room. He breaks several of the large

949
01:05:31.760 --> 01:05:35.639
bricks that comprise the wall upon his impact and falls

950
01:05:35.719 --> 01:05:40.039
upon his back. Sarathos stands to his feet again and

951
01:05:40.119 --> 01:05:43.840
shows more signs of anger and frustration. When he begins

952
01:05:43.880 --> 01:05:47.679
to telegraph his blows. He is clearly not thinking straight

953
01:05:47.719 --> 01:05:51.000
any longer. In memories, I can recall how I was

954
01:05:51.079 --> 01:05:55.039
chastised by self entitled males because I love to dance.

955
01:05:55.440 --> 01:05:58.800
I was chastised for my bewitching beauty and my greatly

956
01:05:58.920 --> 01:06:02.719
endowed upper body. The self entitled males of the former

957
01:06:02.840 --> 01:06:06.000
days even chastised me when they discovered that I was

958
01:06:06.039 --> 01:06:10.760
both a tabon and a trained killer. Sarathos chastised me

959
01:06:10.880 --> 01:06:14.280
for having the identity of an organic female. And now

960
01:06:14.320 --> 01:06:17.679
he chastises me again. As I flip over his hulking

961
01:06:17.760 --> 01:06:22.480
form and land with grace like a feline, I believe

962
01:06:22.480 --> 01:06:25.559
it is time to finish this dance. I come into

963
01:06:25.639 --> 01:06:29.360
him and unleash a series of devastating blows in time

964
01:06:29.639 --> 01:06:34.719
ideal Sarathos a most devastating defeat. Now I stand above him,

965
01:06:35.000 --> 01:06:38.440
holding his hulking form down with one hand as I

966
01:06:38.599 --> 01:06:42.519
raised the other for the killing blow. Upon scanning his form,

967
01:06:42.880 --> 01:06:45.280
I only need to sever his brain from the rest

968
01:06:45.280 --> 01:06:49.760
of his body to end him. Your tyranny ends here

969
01:06:49.800 --> 01:06:54.079
and now, despot, I yell hell weaver, shall not receive

970
01:06:54.320 --> 01:06:57.599
your Halloween offering. This day, and on this day, you

971
01:06:57.760 --> 01:07:02.440
fall to both a female and a tabon. As I

972
01:07:02.480 --> 01:07:05.480
hear the cries of the females he's captured to end him,

973
01:07:06.280 --> 01:07:09.400
I have the sudden realization from when I fought that

974
01:07:09.480 --> 01:07:13.400
first werewolf. In a former lifetime, I would have indeed

975
01:07:13.559 --> 01:07:18.280
ended Sarathos and claimed his life. But that former lifetime

976
01:07:18.920 --> 01:07:22.800
are simply memories that I now possess. That past lifetime

977
01:07:22.840 --> 01:07:27.239
does not define my new life. Now, the females protest

978
01:07:27.280 --> 01:07:30.280
and chastise me when I release him and step back

979
01:07:31.440 --> 01:07:35.079
though a machine I may be. In this new life,

980
01:07:35.159 --> 01:07:38.840
I and I alone decide my own fate. While Sarathos

981
01:07:38.880 --> 01:07:42.400
has likely taken many organic lives and has captured many

982
01:07:42.519 --> 01:07:45.840
organic females, while his life is now mine to claim,

983
01:07:46.840 --> 01:07:50.119
I will not destroy him. In a former life, I

984
01:07:50.199 --> 01:07:54.760
was indeed a vicious killer, but today I am no killer.

985
01:07:55.360 --> 01:07:58.639
The Tabon way is to save lives. The only lives

986
01:07:58.639 --> 01:08:01.920
that we claimed in former year were those who had none,

987
01:08:02.559 --> 01:08:06.599
vampires being a prime example. That shall hold true for

988
01:08:06.719 --> 01:08:11.440
me now. Sarathos shudders and then returns to his original form.

989
01:08:12.480 --> 01:08:16.079
You should have ended me, cow, he sneers. Make no

990
01:08:16.199 --> 01:08:19.840
mistake I shall be avenged for your treachery this day.

991
01:08:20.720 --> 01:08:24.119
When hell Weaver does not receive my offering, she will

992
01:08:24.199 --> 01:08:28.560
surely come for you and destroy you. I laugh a little.

993
01:08:29.239 --> 01:08:32.439
And should we ever engage each other in battle again, Sarathos,

994
01:08:32.840 --> 01:08:36.119
I know that you shall time and time again fall

995
01:08:36.159 --> 01:08:40.239
to me. I glare at him. Now you cannot and

996
01:08:40.319 --> 01:08:45.039
will never defeat a machine. Then I strike a blow

997
01:08:45.079 --> 01:08:49.680
between his eyes to render the foolish despot unconscious. As

998
01:08:49.720 --> 01:08:53.560
for hell Weaver, if she should come, I shall stand

999
01:08:53.920 --> 01:08:58.000
ready to engage in battle with her. It is still

1000
01:08:58.039 --> 01:09:00.720
the night of Halloween as I finally take my leave

1001
01:09:00.800 --> 01:09:04.760
of the castle that once belong to Sarathos and venture

1002
01:09:04.880 --> 01:09:08.600
back into the harsh storm. The females have turned the

1003
01:09:08.640 --> 01:09:12.399
despot loose for fear of hell Weaver coming for her offering.

1004
01:09:13.000 --> 01:09:15.600
He could not run away from the castle fast enough.

1005
01:09:16.479 --> 01:09:19.680
As for the organic females that he had captured, they

1006
01:09:19.720 --> 01:09:23.520
have also abandoned the castle and have gone their separate ways.

1007
01:09:23.920 --> 01:09:27.079
Many of them will return to their loved ones. Others

1008
01:09:27.119 --> 01:09:30.800
will find new adventures or homes of their own. As

1009
01:09:30.800 --> 01:09:35.000
for me, I am a tabon, I am an avenger,

1010
01:09:35.319 --> 01:09:39.520
and shall continue in my present course of action. Before

1011
01:09:39.560 --> 01:09:42.640
I can render a map to determine my next destination,

1012
01:09:43.399 --> 01:09:46.840
my interface begins to flash in that alien language again.

1013
01:09:48.359 --> 01:09:52.439
I will the interface to display American English and read

1014
01:09:53.760 --> 01:09:58.520
mission incoming. When the flashing ceases, the files have downloaded

1015
01:09:58.520 --> 01:10:01.840
and are open to me. There are several objectives to

1016
01:10:01.920 --> 01:10:05.399
my new mission. The ultimate objective will be to confront

1017
01:10:05.439 --> 01:10:09.760
hell Weaver myself and save the universe from becoming this hellish,

1018
01:10:10.239 --> 01:10:14.439
post apocalyptic waste land. You would think and feel that

1019
01:10:14.479 --> 01:10:17.720
I would have ultimately awakened in twenty thirty to engage

1020
01:10:17.800 --> 01:10:22.000
hell Weaver in battle. Upon reading the mission files, it's

1021
01:10:22.079 --> 01:10:24.359
quite clear to me now as to why I am

1022
01:10:24.399 --> 01:10:28.079
in twenty ninety nine. I have objectives that I must

1023
01:10:28.079 --> 01:10:32.680
accomplish here. First, do note that Sarathos was not a

1024
01:10:32.720 --> 01:10:35.920
part of my mission. Also note that I have stated

1025
01:10:35.960 --> 01:10:39.840
that I and I alone decide my own destiny. While

1026
01:10:39.840 --> 01:10:41.800
it is true that I have been given a mission,

1027
01:10:42.439 --> 01:10:46.000
I am not bound to comply with it. However, it

1028
01:10:46.079 --> 01:10:49.760
is my emotions and my secondary programming that will guide

1029
01:10:49.840 --> 01:10:54.079
me into accepting the mission. Upon finishing my briefing, an

1030
01:10:54.159 --> 01:10:58.399
updated map of my current location opens. I must ultimately

1031
01:10:58.479 --> 01:11:01.600
reach Shore City, one of the last great cities on

1032
01:11:01.640 --> 01:11:05.079
Earth that survived what is known as the hell Weaver Holocaust.

1033
01:11:06.000 --> 01:11:10.279
I have important side objectives to accomplish prior to reaching

1034
01:11:10.319 --> 01:11:14.159
Shore City. Currently am en route to the Pendleton Way Station.

1035
01:11:14.800 --> 01:11:17.680
I walk along what was once a major highway that

1036
01:11:17.800 --> 01:11:20.880
is broken and cracked from years of weathering and disrepair,

1037
01:11:21.640 --> 01:11:24.000
much like many of the intersecting roads that I have

1038
01:11:24.119 --> 01:11:28.800
encountered in time. I hear howling in the distance, even

1039
01:11:28.880 --> 01:11:32.039
through the harsh winds that continue to accompany this great

1040
01:11:32.079 --> 01:11:34.760
and powerful storm. I look up to the sky and

1041
01:11:34.840 --> 01:11:37.560
am able to use filtering software to witness the full

1042
01:11:37.640 --> 01:11:41.920
moon above the clouds. Truly, I shall not be alone

1043
01:11:41.960 --> 01:11:45.800
for much longer. I am prove incorrect as a pack

1044
01:11:45.840 --> 01:11:50.319
of werewolves reveal themselves to me and converge they do

1045
01:11:50.359 --> 01:11:54.920
not possess scorpion tales, as Sarathos's creatures did just the same.

1046
01:11:55.479 --> 01:11:58.760
They truly mean to either curse me to assimilate me

1047
01:11:58.800 --> 01:12:03.279
into their pack or devour me without fear. I assume

1048
01:12:03.359 --> 01:12:07.600
my fighting stance and give them a curtsy. Shall we dance?

1049
01:12:08.000 --> 01:12:13.039
I murmur? The werewolves growl and advance towards me. Now

1050
01:12:13.880 --> 01:12:30.479
I can begin my dance to be continued Tricks and Treats,

1051
01:12:31.159 --> 01:12:36.720
Volume two, So nice, we had to do it twice.

1052
01:12:36.800 --> 01:12:40.840
A cool breeze blew down the sidewalk, past the swarms

1053
01:12:40.880 --> 01:12:46.039
of costumed merrymakers, stirring up small cyclones of discarded candy

1054
01:12:46.079 --> 01:12:50.640
wrappers and haunted house leaflets. A lone figure stood in

1055
01:12:50.680 --> 01:12:54.359
the center of the chaos, head down, like a stage actor,

1056
01:12:54.760 --> 01:12:59.479
waiting for the curtain to rise. The tall, impossibly thin

1057
01:12:59.600 --> 01:13:02.479
man had on a top hat and wore a bright,

1058
01:13:02.640 --> 01:13:07.039
gaudy suit with tails. With his handlebar mustache and Van

1059
01:13:07.119 --> 01:13:10.600
Dyke beard, he looked like a demonic circus ring master.

1060
01:13:11.319 --> 01:13:14.279
He leaned on a cane, blocking a substantial part of

1061
01:13:14.319 --> 01:13:19.560
the sidewalk, but the revelers unconsciously parted around him like

1062
01:13:19.640 --> 01:13:24.479
he wasn't even there. Suddenly, as if someone flipped a switch,

1063
01:13:25.039 --> 01:13:31.560
the strange man sprung into action. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,

1064
01:13:31.840 --> 01:13:36.720
writers and wrongers, killers and pray, he said, as he

1065
01:13:36.800 --> 01:13:40.119
spun in a circle, his cane whipping through the air,

1066
01:13:40.439 --> 01:13:44.439
barely missing some of the pedestrians. I am the Count

1067
01:13:44.479 --> 01:13:48.159
of Carnage, the Prince of the Perverse, the Phantom of

1068
01:13:48.239 --> 01:13:54.880
the faithless and your humble host, he said, winking Jack Scratch.

1069
01:13:55.600 --> 01:13:59.640
He performed an impossibly low bow, his hat almost touching

1070
01:13:59.680 --> 01:14:04.600
the ground. Standing up straight, Jack began strolling down the sidewalk.

1071
01:14:05.079 --> 01:14:09.880
Tonight is a special night, the unholiest of nights all

1072
01:14:10.000 --> 01:14:15.439
Hallows Eve, or Halloween as you humans call it, Jack spoke,

1073
01:14:16.079 --> 01:14:18.560
this is the one night a year that I can

1074
01:14:18.640 --> 01:14:23.119
leave the infernal flames of Hell and walk among you mortals.

1075
01:14:23.720 --> 01:14:26.600
He paused to light a cigar, the pure joy of

1076
01:14:26.640 --> 01:14:31.000
it registered on his face. As Hell's director of talent acquisition,

1077
01:14:31.520 --> 01:14:34.520
I have been all over your world. I've seen the

1078
01:14:34.560 --> 01:14:38.000
worst you have to offer. However, there is one place

1079
01:14:38.520 --> 01:14:42.640
that never disappoints, one place where killers seem to multiply

1080
01:14:43.399 --> 01:14:49.039
like rabbits and mothers constantly weep. Jack stopped and spread

1081
01:14:49.039 --> 01:14:55.319
his arms Strictfield, Ohio. He took a long, deep breath

1082
01:14:55.680 --> 01:15:00.479
and seemed to shiver with anticipation when he exhaled. You

1083
01:15:00.600 --> 01:15:09.399
can just smell the crazy in the air. Ah, He continued,

1084
01:15:09.479 --> 01:15:15.600
strolling down the sidewalk. Strickfielders love Halloween. Just look at them,

1085
01:15:16.159 --> 01:15:19.840
he said, pointing to the mob of tricker treaters crowding

1086
01:15:19.880 --> 01:15:25.039
the streets. An entire town rays to love the gruesome

1087
01:15:25.079 --> 01:15:29.039
and the macabre, so used to murder in Mayhem that

1088
01:15:29.119 --> 01:15:33.920
they spend an entire month celebrating it. Just thinking about

1089
01:15:33.960 --> 01:15:39.840
it brings a tear to my eye. Jack said, what

1090
01:15:40.119 --> 01:15:44.680
happens when someone doesn't appreciate the darker side of life?

1091
01:15:45.560 --> 01:15:49.960
One who moves into a community but rejects what they

1092
01:15:50.560 --> 01:15:55.039
hold deer. Jack stops and points at a house across

1093
01:15:55.079 --> 01:15:59.640
the street. Well, there's no time like the present, so

1094
01:16:00.840 --> 01:16:06.720
let's find out. This one is called Beggars Can't be

1095
01:16:06.920 --> 01:16:11.680
Choosers by Morgan Moore. Now go away, kid, you bother me.

1096
01:16:16.359 --> 01:16:19.560
The sound of the doorbell ringing brings Melissa White to

1097
01:16:19.600 --> 01:16:22.600
her front door with a sigh. She scoops up the

1098
01:16:22.640 --> 01:16:26.199
bowl set by the door, opens it, and is greeted

1099
01:16:26.239 --> 01:16:28.880
as she had been all night, by a group of

1100
01:16:29.039 --> 01:16:33.720
kids dressed up for Halloween. They all shout at once,

1101
01:16:34.800 --> 01:16:41.079
Oh wow, look at you all, you're so spooky. Melissa

1102
01:16:41.119 --> 01:16:44.159
doesn't even attempt to mask how over the night she was.

1103
01:16:44.800 --> 01:16:47.800
She quickly hands each child a piece of candy with

1104
01:16:47.840 --> 01:16:51.359
the best smile she can muster. All right, then, you

1105
01:16:51.560 --> 01:16:55.399
scary kids, don't eat too much and be safe out there.

1106
01:16:56.239 --> 01:16:59.319
Before a child can even blink at her actions, Melissa

1107
01:16:59.399 --> 01:17:05.199
shuts the door and releases a sigh. God, I hate Halloween.

1108
01:17:06.319 --> 01:17:09.399
The irony was not lost on Melissa that for how

1109
01:17:09.479 --> 01:17:13.479
much she hated the holiday, she moved to Strickfield, a

1110
01:17:13.520 --> 01:17:17.359
town which didn't just celebrate the holiday yearly, but around

1111
01:17:17.439 --> 01:17:20.720
the clock come October. If she would have known about

1112
01:17:20.720 --> 01:17:24.359
the village's infatuation with the damned day, she would have

1113
01:17:24.399 --> 01:17:27.760
never moved there. But it was affordable, and she wasn't

1114
01:17:27.760 --> 01:17:30.399
going to turn down the small house that she had

1115
01:17:30.439 --> 01:17:34.760
inherited from her aunt. What made it seemingly more insufferable

1116
01:17:34.800 --> 01:17:39.239
than any other Halloween was the costumes she saw. It

1117
01:17:39.319 --> 01:17:41.279
was one thing for a kid to dress up like

1118
01:17:41.319 --> 01:17:45.079
a movie monster or a psychopath, but she saw child

1119
01:17:45.119 --> 01:17:53.920
after child dressed like actual killers. Upon announcing her intentions

1120
01:17:53.960 --> 01:17:57.640
to move to Strickfield, and once getting there, Melissa quickly

1121
01:17:57.720 --> 01:18:02.319
learned the village had a history of killings and numerous

1122
01:18:02.319 --> 01:18:06.880
serial killers, some of which taking on near idle status

1123
01:18:07.479 --> 01:18:11.479
in the small community. So since October started, she got

1124
01:18:11.479 --> 01:18:15.720
to learn all about every last one and got to

1125
01:18:15.720 --> 01:18:20.039
see every child up to adults dressed as those lunatics.

1126
01:18:20.720 --> 01:18:25.479
It made her sick. Melissa rolled her eyes and walked

1127
01:18:25.479 --> 01:18:28.239
over to her couch and plopped down on it. She

1128
01:18:28.399 --> 01:18:30.880
looked at her hand, which still had the bowl she

1129
01:18:30.960 --> 01:18:34.720
was using for candy. With a shrug, she reached into

1130
01:18:34.760 --> 01:18:38.359
it with her other hand. Nothing touched her fingers or

1131
01:18:38.479 --> 01:18:43.119
palm as she searched for something to snack on. Melissa

1132
01:18:43.159 --> 01:18:45.880
looked into the bowl and was met with the sight

1133
01:18:45.960 --> 01:18:52.039
of nothing but her hand being inside. Ah shit, she muttered.

1134
01:18:52.760 --> 01:18:55.680
She was screwed. On the one hand, it gave her

1135
01:18:55.720 --> 01:18:58.199
an excuse to just turn off the lights and call

1136
01:18:58.239 --> 01:19:01.800
it a night, but she knew better. She had been

1137
01:19:01.880 --> 01:19:05.239
seen handing out candy, and even with it being nine o'clock,

1138
01:19:05.640 --> 01:19:09.199
there were still people roaming the streets in search of treats.

1139
01:19:10.000 --> 01:19:13.279
Eventually her doorbell would be pushed and then knocked on

1140
01:19:13.399 --> 01:19:16.840
until she would be forced to answer it. Heavens knew

1141
01:19:16.920 --> 01:19:19.760
what would happen if she did and had to announce

1142
01:19:19.800 --> 01:19:22.840
to the beggars that there was no more candy to

1143
01:19:22.920 --> 01:19:28.000
be had. Keep participating in this rotating psycho fashion show

1144
01:19:28.199 --> 01:19:31.079
and get more candy, or call it a night and

1145
01:19:31.119 --> 01:19:34.319
probably have the house and my car messed with Melissa

1146
01:19:34.399 --> 01:19:37.960
contemplated her options. It didn't take her long to reach

1147
01:19:38.000 --> 01:19:41.319
the conclusion to grab her purse and keys and find

1148
01:19:41.359 --> 01:19:49.199
a store that somehow still had candy to buy. Melissa

1149
01:19:49.279 --> 01:19:52.960
slowly drove through Strickfield, her speed due to the number

1150
01:19:52.960 --> 01:19:57.079
of people blindly walking through the streets. She groaned at

1151
01:19:57.079 --> 01:20:00.439
the snail's pace she was going. All would be fine,

1152
01:20:00.479 --> 01:20:03.560
as Melissa had passed a few stores that were clearly

1153
01:20:03.600 --> 01:20:06.880
still open, yet the heavy foot traffic made it next

1154
01:20:06.880 --> 01:20:10.600
to impossible to turn into any of them. As her

1155
01:20:10.680 --> 01:20:14.439
drive progressed, less and less buildings became present as scenery.

1156
01:20:15.119 --> 01:20:17.560
From what little she had traversed the village in her

1157
01:20:17.560 --> 01:20:20.920
short time there, Melissa had never come out this far.

1158
01:20:21.920 --> 01:20:24.520
Most of the activity was in the heart of the village,

1159
01:20:25.039 --> 01:20:28.479
not out in the boonies. On the plus side, being

1160
01:20:28.520 --> 01:20:30.880
this far out meant there was no foot traffic to

1161
01:20:30.960 --> 01:20:34.199
hinder her driving. But being out this far in the

1162
01:20:34.319 --> 01:20:40.000
dark on Halloween definitely sent a shiver down Melissa's spine.

1163
01:20:40.039 --> 01:20:43.279
Melissa continued her drive through what started to look more

1164
01:20:43.359 --> 01:20:48.479
and more like countryside. Her attention suddenly snapped to the left.

1165
01:20:49.479 --> 01:20:53.159
Was that she questioned having driven past whatever it was

1166
01:20:53.640 --> 01:20:57.760
too quickly. Melissa put the car in reverse and slowly

1167
01:20:57.840 --> 01:21:01.159
backed up to what had caught her eye. The sight

1168
01:21:01.239 --> 01:21:04.720
of it brought a smile to her face. In front

1169
01:21:04.800 --> 01:21:08.680
of her was an old general store that was still open.

1170
01:21:11.600 --> 01:21:16.039
Thank God. Melissa maneuvered the car into what could pass

1171
01:21:16.079 --> 01:21:18.600
as a parking lot for the store and turn the

1172
01:21:18.640 --> 01:21:22.960
car off Outside. She shivers as the autumn air brushes

1173
01:21:23.039 --> 01:21:27.399
against her. Crisp and chilly, Melissa made her way toward

1174
01:21:27.439 --> 01:21:30.720
the general store, cautious of the environment and its lack

1175
01:21:30.800 --> 01:21:34.199
of outdoor lighting. Only the faint glow of the light

1176
01:21:34.239 --> 01:21:37.960
from inside the store led her way. As she opened

1177
01:21:37.960 --> 01:21:40.560
the door, a bell chimed and nearly gave her a

1178
01:21:40.600 --> 01:21:45.680
heart attack. God, this place is old, isn't it. Melissa

1179
01:21:45.760 --> 01:21:49.199
walked around the store, the light inside faint as it

1180
01:21:49.319 --> 01:21:52.880
was from the outdoors. The place reminded her of an

1181
01:21:52.920 --> 01:21:56.880
Amish store she visited once in Indiana. Everything on the

1182
01:21:56.920 --> 01:22:01.039
shelves appeared to be homemade, stored in either plastic bags

1183
01:22:01.119 --> 01:22:05.720
or Mason jars. Handwritten labels carefully glued to each item

1184
01:22:05.800 --> 01:22:09.319
with what it was and how much it cost. Melissa

1185
01:22:09.399 --> 01:22:12.399
was certainly impressed by the amount of items the store

1186
01:22:12.439 --> 01:22:17.159
seemed to have and its owners had made. Melissa continued

1187
01:22:17.199 --> 01:22:19.560
to walk through the store in search of any kind

1188
01:22:19.600 --> 01:22:23.920
of candy she could find. Rounding a corner, she found

1189
01:22:23.920 --> 01:22:27.479
what she was looking for, a small wooden shelf against

1190
01:22:27.479 --> 01:22:33.920
the wall filled with bags of homemade candy. Perfect, she exclaimed.

1191
01:22:34.680 --> 01:22:37.079
Melissa plucked a couple of bags from the shelf with

1192
01:22:37.119 --> 01:22:40.319
a smile. She turned around to head back toward the

1193
01:22:40.359 --> 01:22:43.399
front of the store, only to find her path blocked

1194
01:22:43.399 --> 01:22:47.039
by a man. He was only a few hairs taller

1195
01:22:47.079 --> 01:22:51.800
than her, but was very visibly over double her age.

1196
01:22:52.079 --> 01:22:56.159
May I help you, he asked? The old man, while

1197
01:22:56.239 --> 01:22:59.800
taller than Melissa, spoke with a softness that she assumed

1198
01:23:00.279 --> 01:23:04.439
from his old age. His attire, whether a Halloween costume

1199
01:23:04.600 --> 01:23:08.439
or his everyday clothes, reminded her of a pioneer or

1200
01:23:08.479 --> 01:23:13.199
the Amish, only without the beard. It seemed rather fitting

1201
01:23:13.239 --> 01:23:17.439
for him. Oh sorry, I think I was just trying

1202
01:23:17.479 --> 01:23:21.760
to find some candy, Melissa fumbles out. The old man

1203
01:23:21.840 --> 01:23:25.479
looks her up and down and smiles. Well it looks

1204
01:23:25.600 --> 01:23:30.119
like you found some. Is that all you need? I

1205
01:23:30.159 --> 01:23:35.520
would say, yes, Melissa responded, great, Well, then let's get

1206
01:23:35.520 --> 01:23:39.279
you cashed out and on your way. The man smiled

1207
01:23:39.319 --> 01:23:41.479
and turned to head toward the front of the store.

1208
01:23:42.119 --> 01:23:46.279
Melissa raised an eyebrow quizzically, but shrugged and followed after

1209
01:23:46.319 --> 01:23:49.960
the man up front. She tossed the bags onto the counter.

1210
01:23:50.960 --> 01:23:55.520
Run out tonight, did you, he asked, Yeah, didn't expect

1211
01:23:55.520 --> 01:23:58.760
to get as much foot traffic as I did. Must

1212
01:23:58.840 --> 01:24:03.439
be new to the area, aren't bingo? Melissa replied with

1213
01:24:03.479 --> 01:24:08.199
a slight smile. Oh, there's a pretty smile. I'm not

1214
01:24:08.239 --> 01:24:11.560
surprised you weren't more prepared. Then. Halloween is a big

1215
01:24:11.680 --> 01:24:14.119
night and a big deal for those here in Strickfield,

1216
01:24:14.640 --> 01:24:19.079
always has been, the old man explained, so I've heard.

1217
01:24:19.680 --> 01:24:23.199
Melissa answered with a small roll of her eyes. Not

1218
01:24:23.319 --> 01:24:26.840
a fan of Halloween, the man asked, after catching her

1219
01:24:26.920 --> 01:24:31.920
rolling her eyes, Not really. I always found it kind

1220
01:24:31.920 --> 01:24:35.279
of goofy growing up. If anything, living here has made

1221
01:24:35.359 --> 01:24:39.920
me dislike it more. Constantly being surrounded by it does

1222
01:24:40.159 --> 01:24:43.600
no favors for me. Not to mention, it's pretty revolting

1223
01:24:43.680 --> 01:24:48.640
seeing kids dressed up as serial killers. Well, it's up

1224
01:24:48.680 --> 01:24:51.640
to the parents what their children want to do. That's

1225
01:24:51.680 --> 01:24:55.680
part of the problem. It's disgusting, How okay it is

1226
01:24:55.720 --> 01:24:59.800
that this, and forgive me for saying it. Backwoods t

1227
01:25:00.399 --> 01:25:05.079
idolizes mass murderers and a stupid holiday that's only point

1228
01:25:05.119 --> 01:25:09.319
is to drive candy sales and horror movie renolds. Truth

1229
01:25:09.359 --> 01:25:12.000
be told, I wouldn't even be buying this if I

1230
01:25:12.079 --> 01:25:15.119
wasn't afraid of having the little rugrats kick my door down.

1231
01:25:15.800 --> 01:25:18.319
They'd probably try to eat me in place of the candy,

1232
01:25:18.840 --> 01:25:22.239
Melissa ranted to the store owner. She paused after finishing

1233
01:25:22.239 --> 01:25:25.680
her sentence and looked at the old man. His face,

1234
01:25:25.720 --> 01:25:29.520
which minutes ago showed an old warmth and pleasantness, was

1235
01:25:29.560 --> 01:25:33.840
now replaced by cold eyes and a frowned, furrowed brow.

1236
01:25:34.760 --> 01:25:37.920
Something about the old man's face and how he was

1237
01:25:37.960 --> 01:25:41.000
now holding his body made the hairs on Melissa's neck

1238
01:25:41.399 --> 01:25:44.720
stand up and put her on edge. It was as

1239
01:25:44.760 --> 01:25:48.279
if her insulting the holiday had offended the once kind

1240
01:25:48.359 --> 01:25:53.279
sales clerk, having committed immortal sin. Melissa felt her cheeks

1241
01:25:53.319 --> 01:25:58.560
grow hot from embarrassment at the situation. How much do

1242
01:25:58.600 --> 01:26:03.840
I owe you a cautiously well, dear, let's just call

1243
01:26:03.880 --> 01:26:07.840
it paying it forward, he answered, I don't get it,

1244
01:26:08.439 --> 01:26:12.600
She responded in confusion, Well, paying it forward means I

1245
01:26:12.720 --> 01:26:16.680
give you these because of generosity I've received, he explained.

1246
01:26:17.439 --> 01:26:22.239
Oh okay, Melissa carefully reached across the counter and took

1247
01:26:22.279 --> 01:26:25.880
the bags of candy. She went to walk away and

1248
01:26:25.960 --> 01:26:30.000
head back home, but paused. The words the old man

1249
01:26:30.039 --> 01:26:33.119
had just said rewound and then replayed in her head.

1250
01:26:33.800 --> 01:26:38.359
Melissa turned around and looked at the old man. Hey,

1251
01:26:38.760 --> 01:26:43.920
may I ask you something? Course, he replied, you said

1252
01:26:43.920 --> 01:26:47.600
you received a generosity. I'm curious as to what it was.

1253
01:26:48.479 --> 01:26:54.359
Melissa questioned. Ah, well, let's see, you gave me some sourness, which,

1254
01:26:54.680 --> 01:26:57.159
as you could expect, is something we use in many

1255
01:26:57.199 --> 01:27:01.680
of our goods. Besides, you got some chocolate coins, so

1256
01:27:02.279 --> 01:27:04.880
we can just consider those your pay for the ferryman,

1257
01:27:05.720 --> 01:27:08.640
the old man elaborated, before ending with a warm smile.

1258
01:27:09.520 --> 01:27:13.199
Melissa looked in confused terror at the old man. On

1259
01:27:13.199 --> 01:27:15.960
one hand, she didn't understand what any of this had

1260
01:27:15.960 --> 01:27:19.680
to do with generosity, Yet something about how he spoke

1261
01:27:20.239 --> 01:27:22.359
and the way he was smiling made her feel as

1262
01:27:22.399 --> 01:27:28.399
if a terrible event was going to happen. Right. Well,

1263
01:27:28.600 --> 01:27:32.760
I gotta go, Melissa choked out. She turned around to leave,

1264
01:27:32.840 --> 01:27:36.000
only to find herself surrounded by what she assumed was

1265
01:27:36.039 --> 01:27:39.520
the old man's family. Each one was dressed in the

1266
01:27:39.560 --> 01:27:43.600
same amish like attire, the only difference being for the girls,

1267
01:27:43.600 --> 01:27:47.720
who wore dresses of the same fashion. Melissa couldn't believe

1268
01:27:47.760 --> 01:27:50.479
they had appeared as quickly as they did, and found

1269
01:27:50.520 --> 01:27:53.520
herself equally unable to find a way to escape there,

1270
01:27:53.880 --> 01:27:57.680
encircling of her. As they got closer and closer, Melissa

1271
01:27:57.720 --> 01:28:01.800
felt panic overtake her, shutting down all brain function and

1272
01:28:01.920 --> 01:28:05.600
leaving her like a defenseless newborn baby. She dropped the

1273
01:28:05.680 --> 01:28:09.159
candy save for the chocolate coins, remembering what the man

1274
01:28:09.239 --> 01:28:13.399
had said. Yes, yes, I think this might be the

1275
01:28:13.399 --> 01:28:17.319
best treat we could have gotten this year. Now, remember, children,

1276
01:28:17.920 --> 01:28:22.279
we must remember to pay it forward. Strickfield gave us

1277
01:28:22.319 --> 01:28:31.159
this wonderful package of ingredients. Yes, yes, new from crows

1278
01:28:31.239 --> 01:28:34.439
in hand old time general store. Short on candy bars,

1279
01:28:34.479 --> 01:28:37.680
but need something sweet for your tricker treaters. Try our

1280
01:28:37.760 --> 01:28:41.520
new sour nut clusters. All the salty crunchiness of the

1281
01:28:41.600 --> 01:28:44.560
nuts you love with the sourness and coating of your

1282
01:28:44.600 --> 01:28:48.479
favorite candies. They're so crunchy and sour you'd almost think

1283
01:28:48.520 --> 01:28:51.319
we made them from your worst enemies. So come on

1284
01:28:51.479 --> 01:28:54.880
down and get yourself, our new sour nut clusters at

1285
01:28:55.000 --> 01:29:05.119
crows in hand, old time general store, my mind, Jack said,

1286
01:29:05.199 --> 01:29:08.359
popping a piece of candy into his mouth. I'm not

1287
01:29:08.520 --> 01:29:13.079
normally a fan of recycling, but he eats another one.

1288
01:29:13.640 --> 01:29:17.279
You can't argue with the results. Best damn sour nuts

1289
01:29:17.319 --> 01:29:21.600
I've ever tried. Jack began to stroll down the sidewalk,

1290
01:29:21.680 --> 01:29:26.159
his cane twirling in his hands. Strickfield attracts killers and

1291
01:29:26.319 --> 01:29:34.159
fiends of all types, humans, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, Everything and

1292
01:29:34.359 --> 01:29:39.319
anything is possible in Strickfield. It baffles me why any

1293
01:29:39.399 --> 01:29:43.119
good hearted mortal who makes it out would ever come back.

1294
01:29:43.760 --> 01:29:47.319
But if they did, wouldn't it be grand if they

1295
01:29:47.439 --> 01:29:52.199
unintentionally brought death and destruction with them. Not only is

1296
01:29:52.239 --> 01:29:56.279
Strickfield a cruel bitch, it also has a wicked sense

1297
01:29:56.319 --> 01:30:00.000
of humor. He grandly gestured at a pair of women

1298
01:30:00.119 --> 01:30:04.279
across the street. Well, we'll see what happens to these

1299
01:30:04.319 --> 01:30:08.119
two young ladies in just a moment. But first, here's

1300
01:30:08.159 --> 01:30:13.600
something even more terrifying for you. A word from our sponsors.

1301
01:30:14.079 --> 01:30:21.800
What you think hell pays well? Not a chance? Halloween

1302
01:30:21.880 --> 01:30:26.840
Cookies by Keith Tomlin, Children, teenagers and even adults walked

1303
01:30:26.840 --> 01:30:30.640
the streets in costume, their laughter reverberating in the chilly

1304
01:30:30.720 --> 01:30:35.600
October air. Two women, Megan Smith and her aged mother May,

1305
01:30:35.920 --> 01:30:39.079
turned off the sidewalk and headed up a walkway to

1306
01:30:39.119 --> 01:30:42.119
the front door of a modest, yellow, two story home.

1307
01:30:42.960 --> 01:30:45.920
May was all smiles as she looked around the neighborhood

1308
01:30:45.960 --> 01:30:48.680
she lived in for most of her life. When they

1309
01:30:48.720 --> 01:30:53.399
reached the door, Megan rapped sharply and they waited. Within

1310
01:30:53.439 --> 01:30:56.600
a few seconds, the door was opened by a slightly

1311
01:30:56.680 --> 01:31:01.239
overweight man in his early thirties dressed as beetlejuice. Trick

1312
01:31:01.319 --> 01:31:05.600
or Treat. May yelled, trick or treat? The man said

1313
01:31:05.640 --> 01:31:09.119
back to her. Suddenly, his eyes grew wide as he

1314
01:31:09.239 --> 01:31:13.600
realized who was standing at his door. Auntie, May, is

1315
01:31:13.640 --> 01:31:18.399
that you? Daniel. I wouldn't have recognized you if Megan

1316
01:31:18.479 --> 01:31:22.000
hadn't told me that you lived here. Daniel stepped forward

1317
01:31:22.039 --> 01:31:25.239
and gave May a gentle hug, trying not to smash

1318
01:31:25.279 --> 01:31:29.279
the covered tray that she was carrying. I haven't seen

1319
01:31:29.319 --> 01:31:33.800
you in what fifteen years? Let me get Sarah. Daniel

1320
01:31:33.840 --> 01:31:37.279
stepped back inside and yelled for Sarah, his wife. After

1321
01:31:37.359 --> 01:31:40.760
not hearing a response, he apologized. She's giving the baby

1322
01:31:40.760 --> 01:31:43.199
a bath and putting him to bed. Why don't you

1323
01:31:43.239 --> 01:31:46.439
come in and wait? She would love to see you. Sorry,

1324
01:31:46.520 --> 01:31:49.920
dear May said, patting his cheek. I have a lot

1325
01:31:49.920 --> 01:31:54.199
of houses to visit tonight. After all, it's Halloween. Don't worry, though,

1326
01:31:54.640 --> 01:31:57.479
I'm moving back to Strickfield, so you'll see a lot

1327
01:31:57.520 --> 01:31:59.760
more of me. I'm moving in with Megan and her

1328
01:31:59.800 --> 01:32:03.560
boy boyfriend. She lowered her voice. I was living with

1329
01:32:03.600 --> 01:32:06.920
my other daughter in Phoenix, but she's getting divorced and

1330
01:32:06.960 --> 01:32:10.760
had to move into a smaller house. Mother, don't air

1331
01:32:10.840 --> 01:32:15.279
our dirty laundry in public, Megan said, aghast oh, hush

1332
01:32:15.359 --> 01:32:20.399
Daniels family May retorted. When May lived in this neighborhood,

1333
01:32:20.399 --> 01:32:23.279
she considered any kid within eight blocks of her house

1334
01:32:23.600 --> 01:32:27.760
and their parents' family. She would give every kid small

1335
01:32:27.800 --> 01:32:31.880
but thoughtful gifts for birthdays and Christmases. She never said

1336
01:32:31.920 --> 01:32:35.479
no to babysitting, and her house was a wonderful, chaotic

1337
01:32:35.600 --> 01:32:39.640
mess of children. She loved every second of it. Twelve

1338
01:32:39.760 --> 01:32:43.479
years ago, after her husband passed, her health began to fail,

1339
01:32:43.560 --> 01:32:46.119
and her children convinced her to move to the warm

1340
01:32:46.439 --> 01:32:50.479
and dry climate of Arizona. The losses of her beloved

1341
01:32:50.560 --> 01:32:54.119
husband and her adopted family blew out the spark she

1342
01:32:54.199 --> 01:32:57.239
had in her eyes, and her life in Arizona became

1343
01:32:57.319 --> 01:33:01.359
one of mere existence. But now that she was back

1344
01:33:01.399 --> 01:33:04.399
in Strickfield, there was a new bounce in her step.

1345
01:33:05.199 --> 01:33:07.840
May was about to ask about Daniel's parents when she

1346
01:33:07.960 --> 01:33:12.239
noticed a young, green faced child with big eyes peering

1347
01:33:12.279 --> 01:33:18.880
around his legs. My who is this, May exclaimed. Daniel

1348
01:33:18.920 --> 01:33:22.760
gently scooted the child forward. This is Chloe, my daughter,

1349
01:33:23.319 --> 01:33:27.600
he said proudly. I'm a Ninja turtle. Chloe said, shyly,

1350
01:33:27.920 --> 01:33:32.000
pointing at her Leonardo costume. Oh that sounds like fun.

1351
01:33:32.800 --> 01:33:36.439
Do you eat flies, May asked, bending down to look

1352
01:33:36.479 --> 01:33:40.159
the little girl in the face. Chloe laughed, no, silly,

1353
01:33:40.520 --> 01:33:45.720
I eat pizza. Good choice. May said, do you eat cookies?

1354
01:33:46.439 --> 01:33:50.840
Chloe's eyes brightened at that. Yes, Ninja turtles can eat cookies,

1355
01:33:51.319 --> 01:33:56.239
she exclaimed. May looked up at Daniel, who nodded. Let's see,

1356
01:33:56.960 --> 01:34:00.359
she said, as she opened up her tupperware tray. We

1357
01:34:00.439 --> 01:34:04.760
don't have turtles, but we do have bats, spiders, kitty cats,

1358
01:34:05.039 --> 01:34:09.960
and wolves. Oh I'll take a wolf, Chloe said, excitedly,

1359
01:34:10.039 --> 01:34:13.880
reaching out there, You go. Dear May smiled as she

1360
01:34:13.960 --> 01:34:17.000
handed the little one a sugar cookie shaped like a wolf.

1361
01:34:17.680 --> 01:34:20.880
Chloe turned and ran deeper into the house, holding the

1362
01:34:20.920 --> 01:34:23.520
cookie to her chest like she was afraid that someone

1363
01:34:23.560 --> 01:34:27.399
would take it from her. Daniel called after her, Hey,

1364
01:34:27.560 --> 01:34:31.279
come back and thank Auntie May. Sighing, he turned back

1365
01:34:31.319 --> 01:34:35.560
and apologized. May waved the apology off, and after her

1366
01:34:35.680 --> 01:34:38.439
daughter helped her stand back up, she held out the

1367
01:34:38.439 --> 01:34:43.279
tray to Daniel care for a cookie. Daniel's shoulders slumped.

1368
01:34:44.239 --> 01:34:46.800
I wish I could. I always loved your cookies, but

1369
01:34:47.680 --> 01:34:50.560
I'm diabetic and I've already dipped into her candy bag

1370
01:34:50.600 --> 01:34:53.560
more than I should have this evening. They stood there

1371
01:34:53.600 --> 01:34:57.119
for a few minutes more and exchanged their goodbyes, ending

1372
01:34:57.159 --> 01:35:00.359
with May promising to stop by on Saturday to meet

1373
01:35:00.399 --> 01:35:03.039
the rest of the family. As the women turned to

1374
01:35:03.119 --> 01:35:06.439
walk away, Megan realized that she hadn't seen her mother

1375
01:35:06.520 --> 01:35:12.199
this happy since before her father died. Chloe played with

1376
01:35:12.239 --> 01:35:16.159
her teenage mutant Ninja Turtle action figures, acting out scenarios

1377
01:35:16.159 --> 01:35:19.359
where they saved April O'Neill from a rampaging wolf in

1378
01:35:19.399 --> 01:35:23.079
the form of May's sugar cookie. When this became boring.

1379
01:35:23.279 --> 01:35:26.000
She had Leonardo cut the head off the wolf cookie,

1380
01:35:26.479 --> 01:35:31.159
ending the threat. She celebrated by eating the cookie head first,

1381
01:35:31.560 --> 01:35:35.720
savoring each bite. Chloe put her figures away, grabbing her

1382
01:35:35.760 --> 01:35:39.399
coloring books and began to carefully draw within the lines.

1383
01:35:40.000 --> 01:35:43.000
After a few minutes, she started to sweat and a

1384
01:35:43.039 --> 01:35:47.279
feeling of intense fear began washing over her. She started

1385
01:35:47.279 --> 01:35:50.720
to yell out for her father, but something, a feeling

1386
01:35:50.840 --> 01:35:56.319
of apprehension, held her back. A figure passed her open door,

1387
01:35:56.720 --> 01:36:01.199
causing Chloe to shrink back in terror. The creature looked

1388
01:36:01.239 --> 01:36:04.600
like a monster, one of the wolfmen from the scary

1389
01:36:04.680 --> 01:36:07.479
movies that her parents didn't let her watch, but she

1390
01:36:07.600 --> 01:36:11.840
did anyway. She heard the front door open, Snarls and

1391
01:36:11.960 --> 01:36:15.439
howls floated down the hall, ending when the front door

1392
01:36:15.560 --> 01:36:20.239
was shut. She sat there on her bed, paralyzed until

1393
01:36:20.279 --> 01:36:25.079
the creature walked by again, pausing in her doorway, it

1394
01:36:25.159 --> 01:36:29.319
stared at her, its lips curled back in rage, spittle

1395
01:36:29.439 --> 01:36:33.640
spraying from its mouth as it glowered at her. Chloe

1396
01:36:33.680 --> 01:36:36.880
broke her stillness as she screamed and rolled off the bed.

1397
01:36:37.159 --> 01:36:40.640
Grabbing the plastic katana from her costume, she dove under

1398
01:36:40.640 --> 01:36:45.399
the bed. She waited, trembling with fear, until the wolfman

1399
01:36:45.520 --> 01:36:49.520
on his knees, pulled the blanket aside and peered at her,

1400
01:36:49.960 --> 01:36:55.079
his long teeth glinting in the lamplight. Chloe screamed again

1401
01:36:55.279 --> 01:36:59.079
and thrust the sword forward, catching the monster in the face.

1402
01:37:00.039 --> 01:37:02.800
Old back and let out a horrific howl as she

1403
01:37:02.920 --> 01:37:09.439
scuttled out the other side and ran out of the room.

1404
01:37:10.520 --> 01:37:12.920
My god, it's so good to see you, Aunt May,

1405
01:37:13.520 --> 01:37:17.439
Christine said, giving the old woman another hug. Same here,

1406
01:37:17.520 --> 01:37:20.239
my dear, it's so good to be back. I've been

1407
01:37:20.319 --> 01:37:24.880
gone for way too long. May replied. Christine waved her

1408
01:37:24.960 --> 01:37:27.800
daughter over and presented her to May. This is d.

1409
01:37:28.520 --> 01:37:30.760
She would have been two or three the last time

1410
01:37:30.800 --> 01:37:35.279
you saw her. My, she's grown into such a lovely girl,

1411
01:37:35.760 --> 01:37:39.680
May exclaimed. Christine looked down at her daughter and pointed

1412
01:37:39.720 --> 01:37:44.239
at May. D. This is Auntie May. She was everyone's

1413
01:37:44.279 --> 01:37:47.439
favorite neighbor when we were growing up. D looked at

1414
01:37:47.479 --> 01:37:52.000
May and, in a flat, bored tone, said hi. She

1415
01:37:52.119 --> 01:37:54.399
looked back at her mom and asked, can I go

1416
01:37:54.439 --> 01:37:58.680
to my room and listen to music? Christine sighed, fine,

1417
01:37:59.119 --> 01:38:03.720
go D began to walk away. When May spoke, Oh,

1418
01:38:04.239 --> 01:38:08.119
I almost forgot. Do you want a Halloween cookie? She

1419
01:38:08.279 --> 01:38:12.479
held out the tray to the girl. D hesitated and nodded,

1420
01:38:12.840 --> 01:38:16.079
grabbing a cookie shaped like a spider before walking off.

1421
01:38:17.119 --> 01:38:23.279
I'm sorry, you know how teenagers are, Christine said, apologetic. Oh, dear,

1422
01:38:23.439 --> 01:38:28.800
no need to tell me. May responded, pointedly, looking at Megan. Nonsense,

1423
01:38:29.000 --> 01:38:33.079
I was an angel, Megan said, playfully, smacking her mother

1424
01:38:33.159 --> 01:38:38.079
on the shoulder. D flopped on the bed, grabbing her

1425
01:38:38.119 --> 01:38:40.880
phone out of her back pocket and putting in her earbuds.

1426
01:38:41.439 --> 01:38:44.640
She absently ate the cookie as she scrolled through Instagram

1427
01:38:44.680 --> 01:38:48.840
posts and listened to music. After a few minutes, she

1428
01:38:48.880 --> 01:38:54.520
began to feel strange, like someone was watching her. The

1429
01:38:54.640 --> 01:38:56.920
hair on the back of her neck was standing up.

1430
01:38:57.680 --> 01:39:02.039
She removed the earbuds and heard screeching and scratching coming

1431
01:39:02.079 --> 01:39:06.279
from the other room. She slowly rose from the bed

1432
01:39:06.960 --> 01:39:12.920
and made her way into the hall. Scott is working

1433
01:39:13.000 --> 01:39:16.000
second shift at mir and Automotive. He'll be sorry he

1434
01:39:16.039 --> 01:39:18.680
missed you. Let's all get together and have dinner some

1435
01:39:18.800 --> 01:39:22.520
night at Denoyer's grill, Christine said, Noticing the look on

1436
01:39:22.600 --> 01:39:25.600
May's face, she said, sorry, I forgot you have an

1437
01:39:25.600 --> 01:39:28.960
issue with that place. Mom is slowly getting over it

1438
01:39:29.000 --> 01:39:31.000
now that she's not able to cook as much as

1439
01:39:31.000 --> 01:39:35.520
she used to. Megan said, May couldn't contain herself. I

1440
01:39:35.560 --> 01:39:38.439
don't think you can call something homemade if it's being

1441
01:39:38.479 --> 01:39:42.039
cooked in the back of a kitchen of a diner. Besides,

1442
01:39:42.239 --> 01:39:45.000
I still say that they stole my recipe for country

1443
01:39:45.000 --> 01:39:52.840
fried chicken gravy, May huffed. D snuck down the hall,

1444
01:39:53.319 --> 01:39:57.119
the clicking and scraping getting louder with every step. She

1445
01:39:57.279 --> 01:39:59.640
stopped at the doorway to the living room and peered

1446
01:39:59.680 --> 01:40:03.840
around the corner. She quickly pulled back, stifling a scream.

1447
01:40:04.479 --> 01:40:07.800
Fighting the panic that threatened to a mobilizer. She looked

1448
01:40:07.840 --> 01:40:11.399
around the corner again. Standing where her mother had been

1449
01:40:11.560 --> 01:40:15.199
was a humanoid creature with the head of a spider.

1450
01:40:16.079 --> 01:40:18.800
In addition to the two legs the creature was standing on,

1451
01:40:19.680 --> 01:40:23.479
there were six thin spider like legs sticking out of

1452
01:40:23.520 --> 01:40:28.520
its back. The legs absently tapped and scraped along the

1453
01:40:28.600 --> 01:40:32.800
open front door and the walls surrounding it. Two other

1454
01:40:32.880 --> 01:40:36.159
spider creatures stood on the porch, and all three were

1455
01:40:36.199 --> 01:40:41.199
emitting high pitched noises. D slowly backed down the hall,

1456
01:40:41.399 --> 01:40:44.079
her heart racing as she tried to clear her head.

1457
01:40:44.640 --> 01:40:50.399
She thought, what would Dad do? Then she remembered the shotgun.

1458
01:40:50.960 --> 01:40:53.560
Every year on his birthday, he took her to the

1459
01:40:53.600 --> 01:40:56.840
Sportsman Club to shoot skeet. So she knew how to

1460
01:40:56.960 --> 01:40:59.800
use a shotgun and she knew where he kept it.

1461
01:41:00.399 --> 01:41:04.279
Decision made, she turned and ran toward her parents room.

1462
01:41:06.920 --> 01:41:09.560
Daniel looked at his eye in the mirror. It was

1463
01:41:09.640 --> 01:41:12.199
swelling shut and he couldn't see anything out of it.

1464
01:41:12.800 --> 01:41:15.239
His wife, Sarah, walked into the room and put her

1465
01:41:15.319 --> 01:41:20.159
arm around him. How's your eye, she asked, Not good.

1466
01:41:20.880 --> 01:41:23.880
I'll probably have to go to the er. Daniel said,

1467
01:41:24.600 --> 01:41:28.159
Chloe's not in her room, Sarah said, I wonder what

1468
01:41:28.199 --> 01:41:31.920
got into her. I have no idea. I was asking

1469
01:41:31.920 --> 01:41:34.119
her if she liked the cookie when she freaked out

1470
01:41:34.119 --> 01:41:36.720
and hid under the bed. When I checked on her,

1471
01:41:36.800 --> 01:41:40.920
she jabbed me with that damn sword, Daniel said, wincing

1472
01:41:40.960 --> 01:41:44.680
with pain as he dabbed a damp washcloth around his eye,

1473
01:41:44.720 --> 01:41:47.399
cleaning up some of the fresh blood seeping from it.

1474
01:41:48.359 --> 01:41:51.239
I'll keep looking for her. Hopefully she didn't leave the house.

1475
01:41:51.600 --> 01:41:55.560
His wife said she was scared to death, poor thing.

1476
01:41:56.079 --> 01:41:58.119
As soon as we find her and calm her down,

1477
01:41:58.159 --> 01:42:01.560
I'll head to the hospital. Daniel said, No, I don't

1478
01:42:01.560 --> 01:42:05.000
want you driving. We should call an ambulance, Sarah said.

1479
01:42:05.640 --> 01:42:09.600
Daniel was about to protest when he heard light footsteps

1480
01:42:10.000 --> 01:42:14.479
running down the hall. Chloe stormed into the room, wearing

1481
01:42:14.520 --> 01:42:19.039
the full Leonardo costume and brandishing a large butcher's knife.

1482
01:42:19.439 --> 01:42:24.319
She began swinging it wildly with almost superhuman strength, plunging

1483
01:42:24.359 --> 01:42:27.920
it first into her father and then into her mother,

1484
01:42:28.880 --> 01:42:35.680
over and over again. A few minutes later, Chloe stood

1485
01:42:35.760 --> 01:42:39.039
over the remains of the two wolf monsters. She was

1486
01:42:39.079 --> 01:42:41.920
wiping blood from her face when she heard the high

1487
01:42:42.000 --> 01:42:46.079
pitched howling coming from the baby's room. She gripped the

1488
01:42:46.159 --> 01:42:55.399
knife with determination and turned, walking out of the bathroom.

1489
01:42:56.840 --> 01:43:01.560
Christine examined the cookie in her hand, shaped like cat. Wow,

1490
01:43:02.079 --> 01:43:06.520
the details on these cookies are amazing, she exclaimed, I know,

1491
01:43:07.119 --> 01:43:10.319
perfect for Halloween. When I moved in with Megan, she

1492
01:43:10.399 --> 01:43:14.439
gave me an amazing set of horror themed cookie cutters.

1493
01:43:14.479 --> 01:43:17.119
May said, I found them at some hole in the

1494
01:43:17.159 --> 01:43:20.920
wall antique store near the Strickfield Town Center mall called

1495
01:43:21.960 --> 01:43:25.680
Tinkers or something like that. The owner was a bit peculiar,

1496
01:43:25.720 --> 01:43:30.279
but the prices were amazing, Megan interjected. Christine was about

1497
01:43:30.279 --> 01:43:33.560
to take a bite when she heard a yell behind her.

1498
01:43:34.239 --> 01:43:38.359
As she turned, the unmistakable sound of a shotgun being

1499
01:43:38.439 --> 01:43:47.079
racked filled her ears. Jack holds up one finger like

1500
01:43:47.199 --> 01:43:51.079
he's waiting for something. Off in the near distance. You

1501
01:43:51.159 --> 01:43:55.239
can hear gunshots, and Jack swings his hands back and

1502
01:43:55.279 --> 01:43:59.920
forth like he's conducting a symphony. The people milling about

1503
01:44:00.079 --> 01:44:05.199
the street jump startled and look around. Not seeing any

1504
01:44:05.279 --> 01:44:09.720
immediate threat, they hurry on about their business. When the

1505
01:44:09.800 --> 01:44:15.880
last shot ends, he sighs, Oh, well, that was fun

1506
01:44:15.920 --> 01:44:18.680
while it lasted. You have to give it up for

1507
01:44:18.760 --> 01:44:22.439
Isley Tinker. He does good work. I don't know how

1508
01:44:22.479 --> 01:44:25.960
he stays in business selling cursed antiques at such low

1509
01:44:26.079 --> 01:44:32.279
prices artists. Jack rolls his eyes. Jack begins to continue

1510
01:44:32.319 --> 01:44:37.880
strolling down the street when suddenly he stops. Wait. I

1511
01:44:38.039 --> 01:44:44.560
know that smell, the sickly sweet scent of decay, Jack said,

1512
01:44:44.800 --> 01:44:50.439
breathing deeply. I think we're in for a treat, he said,

1513
01:44:50.840 --> 01:44:55.600
almost giddy with anticipation. That's what I love about Strickfield.

1514
01:44:56.000 --> 01:45:00.359
You never know who you'll run into. He turns and

1515
01:45:00.399 --> 01:45:04.239
points at the house up the block. Ah, there we go.

1516
01:45:04.880 --> 01:45:08.560
I wish I had popcorn because I am expecting quite

1517
01:45:08.560 --> 01:45:12.199
a show. Smoke him if you got him, Jack said

1518
01:45:12.680 --> 01:45:18.000
as he lit up another cigar after a quick word

1519
01:45:18.000 --> 01:45:32.000
from our sponsors. Of course, Beggar's Night massacre by Rob Fields.

1520
01:45:34.119 --> 01:45:37.079
As I walked down Park Avenue with my plastic pumpkin

1521
01:45:37.199 --> 01:45:40.279
basket and my drink bottle, I got to thinking more

1522
01:45:40.319 --> 01:45:43.239
about how the village of Strickfield made tricker treating a

1523
01:45:43.319 --> 01:45:47.159
full week instead of just one night. This year, I

1524
01:45:47.199 --> 01:45:51.560
heard people calling the last full week of Halloween Beggar's week.

1525
01:45:52.039 --> 01:45:54.079
I think I can see why the people here call

1526
01:45:54.119 --> 01:45:58.359
it that. By definition, Beggar's night is when tricker treating

1527
01:45:58.439 --> 01:46:02.319
falls on any other night. But but now there are

1528
01:46:02.800 --> 01:46:06.039
six additional nights of trick or treating prior to Halloween

1529
01:46:06.399 --> 01:46:09.720
right here in this village, meaning the first six nights

1530
01:46:09.760 --> 01:46:14.000
are technically Beggar's nights. I take a quick drink of

1531
01:46:14.039 --> 01:46:16.760
the red liquid from my bottle and see the porch

1532
01:46:16.880 --> 01:46:19.600
light of my next house. I walk up to the

1533
01:46:19.640 --> 01:46:23.880
door of nineteen Park Avenue and ring the bell. I

1534
01:46:23.920 --> 01:46:28.880
can hear Bobby Pickett's monster mash playing inside. The door opens,

1535
01:46:29.000 --> 01:46:32.520
making the music louder. And that's when I see her,

1536
01:46:33.640 --> 01:46:38.560
Megan Harris. I ask, Megan's dressed like a sexy vampire.

1537
01:46:39.279 --> 01:46:42.359
I am also dressed as a vampire, only I look

1538
01:46:42.439 --> 01:46:47.520
more like Dracula. Megan opens the screen door. I think

1539
01:46:47.560 --> 01:46:51.039
you're too old to be trick or treating, Richie, she says,

1540
01:46:51.119 --> 01:46:54.680
holding the large bowl of candy in her arm. I smirk.

1541
01:46:55.520 --> 01:46:59.359
Not in Strickfield, anybody can trick or treat here. No

1542
01:46:59.520 --> 01:47:04.680
judgment or age discrimination never has been anyway where you

1543
01:47:04.800 --> 01:47:07.680
been hiding. People at Strickfield High have been saying you

1544
01:47:07.760 --> 01:47:13.079
disappeared two years ago. Megan smiles a little. I'm here now.

1545
01:47:14.199 --> 01:47:17.479
Just then, this beefy guy comes and stands at the

1546
01:47:17.520 --> 01:47:20.720
door with her. I don't care what Strickfield law says

1547
01:47:20.720 --> 01:47:26.319
about trick or treating. You're too old, dweb. Then he grins, Yeah,

1548
01:47:26.560 --> 01:47:31.239
maybe you're in your second childhood. He scowls now get lost,

1549
01:47:31.319 --> 01:47:35.760
fuck stick, But I ignore him. You know I've been

1550
01:47:35.800 --> 01:47:39.319
looking everywhere for you, too, Megan. Then the guy whom

1551
01:47:39.319 --> 01:47:43.000
I recognize as Mike Stanley, opens the door and steps

1552
01:47:43.000 --> 01:47:46.880
out onto the porch. You deaf nerd beat it or

1553
01:47:47.000 --> 01:47:51.680
I am gonna beat your ass. Mike. Just stop. Megan snaps,

1554
01:47:52.119 --> 01:47:56.239
this is my house, just like that. The buffoon listens

1555
01:47:56.279 --> 01:47:59.039
to her and backs off, and I know he'd like

1556
01:47:59.159 --> 01:48:03.439
nothing better than to lay into me. Megan turns back. Hey,

1557
01:48:03.800 --> 01:48:07.560
since you're here, I'm inviting you to my party. Come

1558
01:48:07.600 --> 01:48:13.199
on in, Richie Hawthorne. Are you fucking serious, Megan, Mike protests.

1559
01:48:13.720 --> 01:48:17.960
Megan glares at him again. Last time, shut the fuck up,

1560
01:48:18.199 --> 01:48:20.880
or you can leave right here and now this is

1561
01:48:20.920 --> 01:48:24.239
my house and I'll invite whoever I want. I don't

1562
01:48:24.239 --> 01:48:27.119
give a rats ask what, Ken says. She points to

1563
01:48:27.159 --> 01:48:33.479
him again. Just stop again, Mike obazer. Then Megan steps

1564
01:48:33.479 --> 01:48:36.159
aside to let me come in. There are plenty of

1565
01:48:36.199 --> 01:48:40.239
people from Strickfield High here at Megan's shindig, and in costume.

1566
01:48:40.680 --> 01:48:43.760
People are drinking cups of what looks like red punch.

1567
01:48:44.560 --> 01:48:47.920
The TV's on. A news report about people disappearing from

1568
01:48:48.000 --> 01:48:51.600
area high schools is on. I watch the report attentively

1569
01:48:52.079 --> 01:48:55.159
reading the lips of the people talking over the loud music.

1570
01:48:55.960 --> 01:49:00.760
Then Megan comes up beside me. Listen, I'm glad you're

1571
01:49:00.760 --> 01:49:04.079
here at my party tonight. I let Megan bring me

1572
01:49:04.119 --> 01:49:06.880
into the kitchen. She opens the fridge and gives me

1573
01:49:06.920 --> 01:49:10.079
a can of soda, even though the others are drinking

1574
01:49:10.079 --> 01:49:12.760
out of two big punch bowls on the dining room table.

1575
01:49:13.800 --> 01:49:17.680
Megan just stands there expectedly. I turn and follow her

1576
01:49:17.760 --> 01:49:21.079
through the kitchen and out the back door. As soon

1577
01:49:21.119 --> 01:49:25.319
as we're private enough. She turns and faces me. I've

1578
01:49:25.359 --> 01:49:29.159
been watching the news, I tell Megan, how long did

1579
01:49:29.199 --> 01:49:31.239
you think it would be before your parents ended up

1580
01:49:31.279 --> 01:49:34.319
being featured on it? How long were they out looking

1581
01:49:34.359 --> 01:49:38.199
for you after you disappeared from Strickfield. Megan kind of

1582
01:49:38.199 --> 01:49:41.199
looks desperate. Now I know you haven't lived here in

1583
01:49:41.239 --> 01:49:44.439
Strickfield for long, Richie, You have no idea how my

1584
01:49:44.520 --> 01:49:48.199
parents constantly smothered me with their religion. It was always

1585
01:49:48.239 --> 01:49:50.520
them telling me to read my Bible, or tuck my

1586
01:49:50.600 --> 01:49:53.880
shirt in, or my skirt's too short. I couldn't take

1587
01:49:53.920 --> 01:49:58.720
it anymore. I had to lose them. I raise my finger. Yeah,

1588
01:49:58.960 --> 01:50:02.000
but you just ran away from home. You never showed

1589
01:50:02.079 --> 01:50:05.079
up at school. The police were out looking for you.

1590
01:50:05.840 --> 01:50:08.680
If you were that desperate to leave, you should have

1591
01:50:08.800 --> 01:50:13.079
just left Strickfield. But here you are, out of the blue,

1592
01:50:13.520 --> 01:50:18.119
having a Halloween party and hosting trick or treating? Aren't

1593
01:50:18.159 --> 01:50:21.359
you afraid people might recognize you? Cops are stepping up

1594
01:50:21.399 --> 01:50:25.319
their patrols this week. What if they saw you face

1595
01:50:25.359 --> 01:50:28.159
at Megan? You're not exactly a subtle kind of girl.

1596
01:50:29.159 --> 01:50:30.920
The two of us look at each other for a

1597
01:50:30.920 --> 01:50:34.800
long while, and then things are about to get serious

1598
01:50:34.880 --> 01:50:38.640
when we hear people hooping and hollering nearby. As soon

1599
01:50:38.640 --> 01:50:41.600
as we go back inside, this gang of hoodlums enters

1600
01:50:41.640 --> 01:50:45.159
Megan's house. The others already here don't seem to care.

1601
01:50:45.720 --> 01:50:49.960
They're all drinking their red punch and doing whatever. I

1602
01:50:50.039 --> 01:50:53.840
remember seeing these guys at Strickfield High. The leader is

1603
01:50:53.920 --> 01:50:57.600
Ken Stover. He's probably been in more trouble with Principal

1604
01:50:57.680 --> 01:51:02.479
Van dest than Bella Tabon and Ronnie Brunswick combined. Suddenly,

1605
01:51:02.600 --> 01:51:05.600
Ken pulls Megan to him and locks her in a

1606
01:51:05.720 --> 01:51:09.399
hungry kiss. Megan wraps her leg around him and kisses

1607
01:51:09.479 --> 01:51:13.680
him back. When they finish, he shoves her away. Then

1608
01:51:13.720 --> 01:51:16.760
he goes and smashes the sound system to kill the music.

1609
01:51:17.640 --> 01:51:21.720
Now everyone's looking right at him, Look at you fuckers

1610
01:51:21.920 --> 01:51:26.600
having a Halloween party. Then Ken screams at Megan, you

1611
01:51:26.680 --> 01:51:30.840
didn't invite us, your stupid bitch. He quickly shoves her

1612
01:51:30.840 --> 01:51:33.760
to the floor. Did you forget who's running the show

1613
01:51:33.840 --> 01:51:38.920
around here? Yeah? Not inviting us? Ain't polite. Darren Jeevers adds,

1614
01:51:39.439 --> 01:51:41.680
we ought to just give Megan to the cops and

1615
01:51:41.720 --> 01:51:47.039
tell him she's back. Bart Parker suggests. Then Gerald Atkins

1616
01:51:47.039 --> 01:51:50.479
points right at me. Who's this fuck? He ain't one

1617
01:51:50.479 --> 01:51:54.920
of us? Ken comes right at me. I know nobody

1618
01:51:54.960 --> 01:51:58.479
invited you to our group. Know why because ain't nobody

1619
01:51:58.520 --> 01:52:01.880
part of this group? Without me saying? And so I

1620
01:52:02.039 --> 01:52:06.640
invited him? Megan snaps, standing up. Ken points right behind

1621
01:52:06.680 --> 01:52:10.840
him at her, and I'm uninviting him. He points at me.

1622
01:52:10.960 --> 01:52:14.279
Now get the fuck out of here, you panty waste.

1623
01:52:14.960 --> 01:52:18.760
But Megan isn't done yet. We all know the Master's coming.

1624
01:52:19.159 --> 01:52:21.800
What if he decides Richie might be a worthy offering.

1625
01:52:22.600 --> 01:52:26.560
You never disappoint the Master, I can tell. Ken still

1626
01:52:26.600 --> 01:52:30.279
wants me gone. He backs off, however, and pats my shoulder.

1627
01:52:31.159 --> 01:52:36.640
Enjoy yourself, fuck face. Suddenly the doorbell rings. The gang

1628
01:52:36.720 --> 01:52:39.680
answers the door to see two pizza delivery guys standing

1629
01:52:39.680 --> 01:52:45.039
there with a bunch of pies. Delivery for nineteen Park avenue.

1630
01:52:45.399 --> 01:52:48.560
One of them stammers. Ken opens the screen door and

1631
01:52:48.680 --> 01:52:52.119
yanks them both inside. The pizza boxes spin or drop

1632
01:52:52.199 --> 01:52:55.479
to the floor. Then I see the entire gang shutter

1633
01:52:55.600 --> 01:52:59.800
before they charge. Their hands become claws, their faces get

1634
01:52:59.800 --> 01:53:04.439
ey and uglier than they already were, and then the

1635
01:53:04.479 --> 01:53:09.159
others here are transforming. Ken tells everybody, pizza is here,

1636
01:53:09.560 --> 01:53:13.960
help yourselves. The pizza guys scream in total terror as

1637
01:53:13.960 --> 01:53:16.800
they leap to their feet and try running. But where

1638
01:53:16.840 --> 01:53:20.680
can you run in a house full of bloodthirsty vampires.

1639
01:53:21.239 --> 01:53:25.279
Suddenly Ken shoves me aside out of the fucking way milksop.

1640
01:53:25.920 --> 01:53:29.279
The pizza guys keep running before Mikey Stanley snags one

1641
01:53:29.319 --> 01:53:32.760
of them. Megan snatches the other one. He points to

1642
01:53:32.800 --> 01:53:36.119
the pizza guy. Megan has give me that one, but

1643
01:53:36.199 --> 01:53:40.119
Megan won't give him over. We save them for the Master.

1644
01:53:40.960 --> 01:53:44.600
Ken raises his hand to Striker. You keep forgetting your

1645
01:53:44.600 --> 01:53:48.720
place here, bitch. I'm calling the shots here. Only reason

1646
01:53:48.760 --> 01:53:51.039
I took you with me was because you was running

1647
01:53:51.039 --> 01:53:54.760
from the Master. He made you, but you ran away

1648
01:53:55.680 --> 01:53:58.359
when I found you. You needed blood, he kept saying.

1649
01:53:58.399 --> 01:54:01.720
The Master's coming. Still ain't seen him. If he's so

1650
01:54:01.920 --> 01:54:05.760
fucking badass. How come he ain't never found you? Huh? Also,

1651
01:54:06.079 --> 01:54:09.439
you ain't never seen what he looks like. Megan shakes

1652
01:54:09.479 --> 01:54:13.720
her head. I'm telling you, Ken, you're greatly underestimating him.

1653
01:54:14.159 --> 01:54:17.760
I did escape, but I can feel he's very close.

1654
01:54:18.600 --> 01:54:21.520
I never should have run away. You can't beat him, Ken,

1655
01:54:21.960 --> 01:54:24.880
He'll kill you. She addresses the others at the party.

1656
01:54:24.920 --> 01:54:29.479
Now all of you now. Ken finally strikes her, sending

1657
01:54:29.479 --> 01:54:32.439
her to the floor again. Nobody comes to her aid.

1658
01:54:33.159 --> 01:54:36.760
Ken turns and points at me. Grab him too, There's

1659
01:54:36.800 --> 01:54:40.840
another mortal for us. Megan suddenly jumps on Ken's back.

1660
01:54:41.239 --> 01:54:44.960
Run Ritchie, get off of me, bitch, Ken yells, get

1661
01:54:45.000 --> 01:54:48.920
the milksop guys. I quickly turn and run through Megan's house.

1662
01:54:49.199 --> 01:54:51.720
I grab my pumpkin basket of candy as I reach

1663
01:54:51.800 --> 01:54:54.520
the back door and escape. I don't get far when

1664
01:54:54.560 --> 01:54:57.840
I'm grabbed and pulled back into the house. Now I'm

1665
01:54:57.880 --> 01:55:01.039
thrown to the floor next to the pizza guys. Ken

1666
01:55:01.119 --> 01:55:05.880
rubs his hands together. Boys, we are gonna have a banquet.

1667
01:55:06.319 --> 01:55:09.319
He points to Mike. How about you order us some

1668
01:55:09.359 --> 01:55:13.000
more pizzas Mike pulls his cell phone out and starts

1669
01:55:13.000 --> 01:55:15.800
to punch in a number. Then I hear some of

1670
01:55:15.800 --> 01:55:19.560
the other vampires making noise about something. Now I see

1671
01:55:19.560 --> 01:55:25.399
the house is catching fire, just like that. What the fuck?

1672
01:55:25.720 --> 01:55:29.600
Ken yells. Now the fire starts burning the vampires until

1673
01:55:29.600 --> 01:55:34.079
they're being smothered by it, all except Megan, me and

1674
01:55:34.159 --> 01:55:38.039
the pizza guys. Megan quickly grabs my arm. Let's get

1675
01:55:38.079 --> 01:55:40.840
out of here. The master's here. He's burning everybody in

1676
01:55:40.920 --> 01:55:44.039
here alive. I won't let him take you. Two. The

1677
01:55:44.119 --> 01:55:46.520
four of us make it through the burning vampires and

1678
01:55:46.600 --> 01:55:49.279
to the back door. We're out in the backyard and

1679
01:55:49.359 --> 01:55:52.399
keep moving. As soon as we're far enough, we turn

1680
01:55:52.479 --> 01:55:56.479
to see the houses completely engulfed in flames. We even

1681
01:55:56.520 --> 01:56:00.520
hear the vampires inside screaming as their immortality is ending

1682
01:56:00.880 --> 01:56:04.600
most cruelly. Megan and I keep moving with the pizza

1683
01:56:04.640 --> 01:56:08.880
guys until we're in a small wooded area. We made it, Richie.

1684
01:56:09.119 --> 01:56:13.720
Megan says, we're safe, we're free. Now. She's about to

1685
01:56:13.760 --> 01:56:17.359
take my hand, but suddenly I slap hers away. Did

1686
01:56:17.399 --> 01:56:21.079
you really think I would never find you, Megan? You

1687
01:56:21.119 --> 01:56:23.680
were a fool to think you could truly escape me.

1688
01:56:24.479 --> 01:56:27.359
I use my power to force Megan to fly back

1689
01:56:27.479 --> 01:56:30.479
and hit hard against a big tree and fall forward.

1690
01:56:30.880 --> 01:56:33.239
She lifts her head up and looks at me with

1691
01:56:33.439 --> 01:56:38.520
utter horror. Now you can't be the master. I smile

1692
01:56:39.119 --> 01:56:43.600
cruelly now and lean forward and slash both of the

1693
01:56:43.680 --> 01:56:48.479
delivery guy's throats with my long, sharp claws. Then I

1694
01:56:48.600 --> 01:56:52.199
drink them both up. When I'm finished, I look right

1695
01:56:52.239 --> 01:56:56.399
at her, You, ungrateful cow. I came to you and

1696
01:56:56.520 --> 01:56:59.399
offered you a way out of your miserable, mortal life.

1697
01:57:00.039 --> 01:57:02.800
I gave you immortality, and running away is how you

1698
01:57:02.840 --> 01:57:06.920
repay me. At least now I know and understand where

1699
01:57:06.960 --> 01:57:12.439
your kind come from. You only care about yourselves, truly,

1700
01:57:12.520 --> 01:57:16.680
I was foolish to sire you for your beauty alone.

1701
01:57:16.840 --> 01:57:22.119
No it's not like that, Megan protests, standing up. I

1702
01:57:22.199 --> 01:57:26.520
point to her. Now too late. You've abused the gift

1703
01:57:26.560 --> 01:57:30.960
of immortality, giving it to all those unworthy vermin back there.

1704
01:57:31.600 --> 01:57:35.000
You even killed your own parents in cold blood. When

1705
01:57:35.039 --> 01:57:41.720
will you understand you became mine? When I sired you mine,

1706
01:57:41.880 --> 01:57:44.960
I would have given you your heart's desire. All you

1707
01:57:45.000 --> 01:57:48.039
had to do was stand by me and obey me.

1708
01:57:49.279 --> 01:57:54.680
Now I must destroy you. I reach into my suit

1709
01:57:54.720 --> 01:57:59.600
coat and pull out a very sharp steak. No, ritchie,

1710
01:58:00.119 --> 01:58:04.319
Megan Beggs, Please no. I could have just left you

1711
01:58:04.359 --> 01:58:06.800
to burn in that fire with the others, but that

1712
01:58:06.840 --> 01:58:11.199
would have been showing you mercy. You need to suffer

1713
01:58:11.279 --> 01:58:15.520
for your betrayal and your treachery. I kick Megan to

1714
01:58:15.560 --> 01:58:19.079
the ground and get on top of her. Megan screams

1715
01:58:19.119 --> 01:58:23.199
as I raise the steak and end her. Once she's

1716
01:58:23.279 --> 01:58:27.359
nothing but ash, I stand up and retrieve my plastic

1717
01:58:27.359 --> 01:58:31.800
pumpkin basket. There's still plenty of time to go trick

1718
01:58:31.880 --> 01:58:40.520
or treating while looking for more food. That's the problem

1719
01:58:40.560 --> 01:58:44.039
with kids today, ungrateful for the gifts they are given,

1720
01:58:44.760 --> 01:58:47.640
Jack stated as he shook his head as a fire

1721
01:58:47.680 --> 01:58:51.520
truck pulled up to the burning house, sirens blaring. Jack

1722
01:58:51.600 --> 01:58:55.680
took a peek at his watch. Oh my, it's getting late.

1723
01:58:56.039 --> 01:58:58.960
I have to head down south soon. But I can't

1724
01:58:59.039 --> 01:59:03.039
leave without PARTI in the best sport that Strickfield has

1725
01:59:03.079 --> 01:59:08.720
to offer. H let's see. Jack opened up his jacket

1726
01:59:09.119 --> 01:59:12.399
to show a row of knives attached to the inner lining.

1727
01:59:13.560 --> 01:59:19.960
Decisions decisions. Jack finally selected a long, thin razor sharp

1728
01:59:20.000 --> 01:59:24.640
blade and tested the balance in his hand. I must

1729
01:59:24.720 --> 01:59:30.800
leave you now I prefer to do my wet work alone.

1730
01:59:30.960 --> 01:59:38.279
Goodbye until next year. Toodles my friends, Jack said, waving

1731
01:59:39.199 --> 01:59:51.239
goodbye the portal by Rob Fields. Carter Cross is standing

1732
01:59:51.279 --> 01:59:55.960
outside my bedroom. You ready, Madeline? One sec? I tell him.

1733
01:59:56.479 --> 01:59:59.039
He comes in and watches me finish a really tough

1734
01:59:59.159 --> 02:00:03.279
level on Donkey. It's an old school video game that

1735
02:00:03.399 --> 02:00:07.520
Nintendo released many years ago. I'm playing an actual arcade

1736
02:00:07.560 --> 02:00:09.880
cabinet Dad picked up for me a few years ago.

1737
02:00:10.319 --> 02:00:13.359
It was all beat up and scratched, but I restored

1738
02:00:13.359 --> 02:00:16.840
it and gave it new life. Yes, I cry when

1739
02:00:16.880 --> 02:00:19.479
I finished the level. Since I know Carter and me

1740
02:00:19.600 --> 02:00:22.760
gotta get going. I turn off the cabinet. After putting

1741
02:00:22.760 --> 02:00:25.560
on my ball cap with a familiar horror hockey mask,

1742
02:00:25.960 --> 02:00:29.680
I tell Carter I'm ready. You always get your geek

1743
02:00:29.760 --> 02:00:33.560
on with our horror thons, Madeline. He tells me he's right.

1744
02:00:33.920 --> 02:00:36.239
In addition to my ball cap, I'm also wearing a

1745
02:00:36.279 --> 02:00:39.720
Freddy Krueger T shirt. I finished my outfit with jeans

1746
02:00:39.720 --> 02:00:45.800
and sneakers. Who dresses you anyway? Carter jokes Mom. I say,

1747
02:00:45.840 --> 02:00:49.119
without hesitation, she's picked up a lot of horror clothes

1748
02:00:49.159 --> 02:00:53.159
for me. By the way, nice shirt yourself. Carter's wearing

1749
02:00:53.159 --> 02:00:55.840
a Michael Myers T shirt. Guess I don't want to

1750
02:00:55.880 --> 02:00:59.960
feel left out. Nah, I'd never let you feel left out, buddy.

1751
02:01:00.840 --> 02:01:04.319
Carter and I leave my room and head downstairs. Dad

1752
02:01:04.319 --> 02:01:06.520
ain't home at the moment, but Mom's working on some

1753
02:01:06.640 --> 02:01:09.560
artwork she was commissioned for. She takes the time to

1754
02:01:09.600 --> 02:01:12.399
look up at us. I've heard people say she looks

1755
02:01:12.399 --> 02:01:15.199
a lot like Violet from Friday the Thirteenth, Part five.

1756
02:01:16.359 --> 02:01:20.960
I'm so jealous of you kids, Mom exclaims. Then she groans,

1757
02:01:21.640 --> 02:01:24.560
if I didn't have two projects needing finished by Monday,

1758
02:01:24.800 --> 02:01:29.079
i'd totally go with you both. Yeah, little known fact, Mom,

1759
02:01:29.239 --> 02:01:32.960
Carter and me have done horrorthons together. In fact, she

1760
02:01:33.119 --> 02:01:35.079
took Carter and me to our very first one at

1761
02:01:35.079 --> 02:01:38.399
the Strickfield Drive in Theater a few years ago. You

1762
02:01:38.479 --> 02:01:40.960
went to all that trouble to find out about the lineup,

1763
02:01:41.159 --> 02:01:44.920
and you can't go, Carter asks her, and thank you.

1764
02:01:44.960 --> 02:01:50.159
By the way, I know, Mom groans, Maddie's gonna be

1765
02:01:50.199 --> 02:01:54.159
haunting me in my dreams later tonight. Aw come on, Mom,

1766
02:01:54.680 --> 02:01:59.319
I grown back. Carter and me understand really. Then Mom

1767
02:01:59.359 --> 02:02:03.079
gives me some bring me back a T shirt. You

1768
02:02:03.199 --> 02:02:06.479
got it, I tell her. We say our goodbyes and

1769
02:02:06.560 --> 02:02:10.560
Carter and me leave. We're talking about tonight's lineup. Carter's

1770
02:02:10.640 --> 02:02:13.800
really excited about seeing the director's cut of Veranda, Queen

1771
02:02:13.880 --> 02:02:17.119
of the Night. Know how I'm going to Friday night

1772
02:02:17.159 --> 02:02:21.159
sleepovers at Ariel Miron's house. Carter usually catches Veranda on

1773
02:02:21.199 --> 02:02:24.960
Friday nights on Channel sixty one. Anyway, I think Veranda's

1774
02:02:24.960 --> 02:02:28.720
his favorite movie monster. It ain't long before we're coming

1775
02:02:28.720 --> 02:02:32.399
in to downtown Strickfield. Thanks again for all the tutoring

1776
02:02:32.439 --> 02:02:35.560
you've been giving me for miss Ridolfi's class. Carter says,

1777
02:02:36.199 --> 02:02:38.800
I just aced her test today, so I got no

1778
02:02:38.920 --> 02:02:42.399
worries about doing the horror thon. Glad I could help pal.

1779
02:02:43.000 --> 02:02:46.840
Now we're gonna watch twelve hours of horror movies, scarf

1780
02:02:47.039 --> 02:02:51.840
lots of junk food, and drink lots of caffeine. Believe me,

1781
02:02:52.399 --> 02:02:58.039
I'm ready, Carter promises me too. Then Carter bumps my arm.

1782
02:02:58.960 --> 02:03:03.800
Uh oh, don't look now, Madeline. Of course I end

1783
02:03:03.880 --> 02:03:07.800
up looking. Ariel Miron, Mona Abels and Bailey Downs are

1784
02:03:07.840 --> 02:03:10.600
crossing the street to come and meet us, And you

1785
02:03:10.720 --> 02:03:15.520
know they're gonna be picking on me. Ah Man, Sorry, Princess,

1786
02:03:15.600 --> 02:03:18.640
I don't have any pop for you, Carter tells Ariel.

1787
02:03:19.079 --> 02:03:22.119
Then he points past her. Maybe you can use King

1788
02:03:22.239 --> 02:03:25.039
Daddy's royal credit card to buy a great big one

1789
02:03:25.079 --> 02:03:28.960
at the horror thon. Ariel glares at him. You just

1790
02:03:29.079 --> 02:03:32.640
keep it up, Carter cross. Then she shoves him, and

1791
02:03:32.760 --> 02:03:37.479
you owe me forgetting me detention today. Carter grins at her. Ooh,

1792
02:03:37.800 --> 02:03:42.319
I'm so scared, princess. Then he glances at Mona and Bailey.

1793
02:03:42.920 --> 02:03:46.600
You gonna sick your royal handmaidens there on me. Mona

1794
02:03:46.680 --> 02:03:50.079
gives him a mean look, but Bailey snickers. She don't

1795
02:03:50.079 --> 02:03:52.920
even hide it when Ariel growls at her. Then Ariel

1796
02:03:52.960 --> 02:03:57.520
looks back at Carter and growls at him. Carter shrugs, anyway,

1797
02:03:58.039 --> 02:04:00.880
not my fault, Princess. You you're the one who started

1798
02:04:00.960 --> 02:04:04.479
hitting me when I wouldn't bow down to you. Actually,

1799
02:04:04.680 --> 02:04:07.319
Ariel wanted his bottle of soda and he wouldn't give

1800
02:04:07.319 --> 02:04:11.279
it to her. Naturally, Ariel's gonna make a scene. Principal

1801
02:04:11.279 --> 02:04:14.159
Benjamin van Deist caught her and slapped her with a

1802
02:04:14.159 --> 02:04:18.960
detention boy. If Ariel's looks could kill. Then she points

1803
02:04:19.039 --> 02:04:21.319
right at me, and you are supposed to be coming

1804
02:04:21.359 --> 02:04:23.760
over to my slumber party tonight? Or did you forget

1805
02:04:23.760 --> 02:04:27.880
what day it is? I shake my head quickly. Sorry, Ariel.

1806
02:04:28.239 --> 02:04:30.720
You know Carter and me always go to our horrorthons,

1807
02:04:31.039 --> 02:04:33.560
even if they fall on a Friday night. Any other

1808
02:04:33.640 --> 02:04:37.199
time I'd become into your slumber parties. But tonight ain't happening.

1809
02:04:37.600 --> 02:04:41.800
I smirk. Unless you three want to join us tonight. Yeah,

1810
02:04:42.039 --> 02:04:47.079
Ariel's mad at me too, I hate you mouse, I shrug, Sorry,

1811
02:04:47.920 --> 02:04:52.720
not sorry. Then Mona's given me this weird look. Wait

1812
02:04:52.760 --> 02:04:55.479
a minute here, you too can't go to the horrorthon.

1813
02:04:56.399 --> 02:05:01.039
Oh that's right, Bailey agrees. Last I checked, you two

1814
02:05:01.159 --> 02:05:04.840
ain't eighteen. In fact, none of us are eighteen. We

1815
02:05:04.920 --> 02:05:09.159
ain't even old enough to drive Carter's smirkin'. Now this

1816
02:05:09.359 --> 02:05:14.000
is true. But I raise my finger. But Carter and

1817
02:05:14.039 --> 02:05:17.239
me are allowed in. I explained to the other girls

1818
02:05:17.239 --> 02:05:20.760
how Carter and me were walking around Strickfield University last

1819
02:05:20.760 --> 02:05:24.039
February because Mom sent me there to buy this exotic

1820
02:05:24.079 --> 02:05:27.119
coffee she wanted from the Bitter End in Wilder Hall,

1821
02:05:27.239 --> 02:05:30.560
the student union building. Then we get approached by these

1822
02:05:30.600 --> 02:05:34.760
redheaded twins, the Corgan Twins. They made a lot of

1823
02:05:34.800 --> 02:05:37.880
horror movies around our area. Now they wanted Carter and

1824
02:05:37.920 --> 02:05:39.760
Me to be in one of their latest movies as

1825
02:05:39.760 --> 02:05:42.840
a couple of kids for this mom and dad. While

1826
02:05:42.880 --> 02:05:45.199
we was on set, we got to talking with the

1827
02:05:45.239 --> 02:05:49.279
Corgans about all these different movies, mostly Roger Corman ones.

1828
02:05:49.720 --> 02:05:51.720
I think it was safe to say Carter and Me

1829
02:05:51.840 --> 02:05:54.920
earned their respect. We also found out they're big with

1830
02:05:54.960 --> 02:05:58.159
the university's film society and they put on a lot

1831
02:05:58.199 --> 02:06:00.760
of events in our village. They're the ones who are

1832
02:06:00.800 --> 02:06:04.199
putting on Tonight's Horror Thon. Jesse and Jenny gave Carter

1833
02:06:04.279 --> 02:06:06.239
and Me both passes to be able to get in

1834
02:06:06.560 --> 02:06:09.680
all the events we want. Yeah, they know we're both

1835
02:06:09.760 --> 02:06:12.720
underage technically, but all we gotta do is show our

1836
02:06:12.760 --> 02:06:17.279
passes and we get in, no questions asked. But then

1837
02:06:17.399 --> 02:06:21.439
we get another surprise. These three giving you problems again. Maddie,

1838
02:06:22.079 --> 02:06:25.319
boy do Ariel, Mona and Bailey gasp when they turn

1839
02:06:25.359 --> 02:06:28.840
and see Bella Tabon standing right behind him and next

1840
02:06:28.840 --> 02:06:34.279
to her is Eileen. I shriek with excitement. Maddie, She's

1841
02:06:34.399 --> 02:06:36.880
just as excited to see me. The two of us

1842
02:06:36.920 --> 02:06:39.800
quickly hug. Looking at us, you'd swear we were twin

1843
02:06:39.880 --> 02:06:44.079
sisters instead of cousins. I mean it. We look exactly alike,

1844
02:06:44.399 --> 02:06:48.720
same height, we're very skinny, same brown hair, same mousey voices,

1845
02:06:48.760 --> 02:06:52.560
same faces, same last names, and even the same velma

1846
02:06:52.640 --> 02:06:56.640
dinkly looking glasses. Standing together, there's only one way to

1847
02:06:56.640 --> 02:07:00.000
tell us apart. Aileen's got brown eyes and I got

1848
02:07:00.039 --> 02:07:03.800
blue ones. You and Bell's are doing the horrorthon too.

1849
02:07:04.239 --> 02:07:08.199
I shrieked, iine here practically handcuffed me and dragged me

1850
02:07:08.239 --> 02:07:13.479
along with her Bell's mutters. Then she gets serious. Ainie

1851
02:07:13.479 --> 02:07:15.680
and I wanted to get out and go do something,

1852
02:07:15.760 --> 02:07:19.479
so she suggested the horrorthon, and you two get to

1853
02:07:19.520 --> 02:07:23.600
hang with us tonight. Bell's calls Aileen inine and is

1854
02:07:23.680 --> 02:07:27.239
short for Einstein, a nickname her older brother Martin gave

1855
02:07:27.279 --> 02:07:29.840
her on account of her being gifted with quite a brain.

1856
02:07:30.479 --> 02:07:35.600
In response, Aileen calls bella Bell's, Oh, Ariel's really mad now,

1857
02:07:36.079 --> 02:07:39.399
she ain't got her way all day long. Then she

1858
02:07:39.439 --> 02:07:42.520
looks from me to Aileen and back. Why do there

1859
02:07:42.560 --> 02:07:46.199
have to be two of you? Just? Why are you

1860
02:07:46.199 --> 02:07:50.920
feeling okay Ariel. Aileen asks her, Now, Ariel's wide eyed,

1861
02:07:51.359 --> 02:07:54.119
how do you even know my name? Then she looks

1862
02:07:54.199 --> 02:07:59.039
right at me, Oh you you. Then she belts out

1863
02:07:59.039 --> 02:08:02.640
one of her blood and screams. Aileen and I just

1864
02:08:02.680 --> 02:08:05.399
look at each other. Now Bell's is giving us her

1865
02:08:05.439 --> 02:08:10.319
own funny looks. Carter just shrugs. When Ariel stops screaming,

1866
02:08:10.439 --> 02:08:13.840
Bells starts patting her on her head. They're there, you

1867
02:08:13.920 --> 02:08:17.720
want some cookies? Ariel puts her finger right in Bell's face.

1868
02:08:18.239 --> 02:08:22.159
You listen to me, you augh. Turns out Bells really

1869
02:08:22.199 --> 02:08:25.439
does have Halloween cookies. Guess she brought them to sneak

1870
02:08:25.479 --> 02:08:28.960
into the Horror Thon. Anyway, Bell's ends up giving them

1871
02:08:29.000 --> 02:08:34.479
all to Ariel, Mona, and Bailey. Happy Halloween girls enjoy. Well,

1872
02:08:34.560 --> 02:08:37.520
not quite Halloween yet, but it is the final weekend

1873
02:08:37.560 --> 02:08:41.239
in October. Bell's turns to Carter in me, we better

1874
02:08:41.279 --> 02:08:44.960
get going. Ariel, Mona, and Bailey don't say anything as

1875
02:08:45.000 --> 02:08:48.239
the four of us walk to the theater together. Still,

1876
02:08:48.319 --> 02:08:50.399
I got a feeling Carter and me are gonna hear

1877
02:08:50.439 --> 02:08:53.640
about it on Monday at school. We walk a few

1878
02:08:53.680 --> 02:08:57.479
more blocks before we reach the strickfield Centennial Theater. We

1879
02:08:57.560 --> 02:08:59.600
only got to wait in line for a little while,

1880
02:08:59.680 --> 02:09:02.800
but up near the front. Soon as it's time, the

1881
02:09:02.800 --> 02:09:06.439
theater starts letting people in for the Horrorthon. Carter and

1882
02:09:06.479 --> 02:09:08.960
Me show our passes and Aleen and Bell show their

1883
02:09:09.000 --> 02:09:12.680
printed tickets. Bell sends Aileen on ahead to get us

1884
02:09:12.720 --> 02:09:15.960
good seats. Then Bell's insists on treating us to the

1885
02:09:16.000 --> 02:09:20.159
concession stand. Carter's surprised that Bell's orders a lot of stuff,

1886
02:09:20.439 --> 02:09:24.239
including lots of pizzas. She even ordered one for Aleen.

1887
02:09:25.119 --> 02:09:28.279
Once we're getting everything, we'd take it back into the auditorium,

1888
02:09:28.840 --> 02:09:31.880
Aleen calls out to us she got us great seats.

1889
02:09:32.399 --> 02:09:34.600
Before long, the Corgan twins are up in the front

1890
02:09:34.600 --> 02:09:37.439
of the screen to kick off the Horrorthon. They do

1891
02:09:37.560 --> 02:09:42.680
announce one change to the lineup to the secret midnight screening. Now,

1892
02:09:43.000 --> 02:09:45.800
I told Carter that the director's cut of Veranda Queen

1893
02:09:45.840 --> 02:09:48.039
of the Night was going to be the secret midnight screening.

1894
02:09:48.720 --> 02:09:51.880
Carter's looking kind of bummed out, at least until the

1895
02:09:51.920 --> 02:09:55.000
twins say it's replacing the Spanish version of Dracula because

1896
02:09:55.000 --> 02:09:57.359
they weren't able to get the print in time. The

1897
02:09:57.399 --> 02:10:00.680
biggest thing about the horrorthons, the Corgan Twins present is

1898
02:10:00.720 --> 02:10:05.039
that every single movie is shown on real film. The

1899
02:10:05.119 --> 02:10:07.680
Corgan Twins say that a secret new film will be

1900
02:10:07.680 --> 02:10:11.479
screening at midnight. There would be giveaways during intermissions and

1901
02:10:11.560 --> 02:10:14.960
some short films playing. They thank everybody for being here

1902
02:10:14.960 --> 02:10:18.680
and supporting both horror movies and Halloween. Then they tell

1903
02:10:18.720 --> 02:10:22.439
everybody to have a great time. The lights dim and

1904
02:10:22.520 --> 02:10:26.439
the first feature starts. We're all cheering when Veranda, Queen

1905
02:10:26.479 --> 02:10:29.319
of the Night, kicks off the Horror Thon. Man, you

1906
02:10:29.359 --> 02:10:33.079
should have seen how happy Carter was. Carter even quietly

1907
02:10:33.079 --> 02:10:36.600
tells us what's different about the director's cut scenes. But

1908
02:10:36.680 --> 02:10:39.399
that ain't all Carter's getting. When it comes to Veranda.

1909
02:10:39.920 --> 02:10:44.199
After the movie's over, the Corgan Twins spring a huge surprise.

1910
02:10:45.079 --> 02:10:51.000
Vicky Valentine, who plays Veranda, is here in person. Ah Man.

1911
02:10:51.479 --> 02:10:54.800
Carter practically faints, but we're there with him when he

1912
02:10:54.880 --> 02:10:59.079
finally meets Vicky Valentine in the flesh and gets her autograph.

1913
02:10:59.279 --> 02:11:01.520
He also gets and me to pose for a pick

1914
02:11:01.560 --> 02:11:05.199
with him and Vicki, which Bella takes. Belle's does get

1915
02:11:05.239 --> 02:11:08.800
an autograph but doesn't pose for a pick. Ah that's right,

1916
02:11:08.960 --> 02:11:12.840
she can't. Vampires don't cast a reflection, which means she

1917
02:11:12.880 --> 02:11:16.800
won't show up on picks. You okay, buddy, I ask

1918
02:11:16.920 --> 02:11:20.479
Carter as we're taking our seats again. I can't believe

1919
02:11:20.479 --> 02:11:24.760
I finally met Veranda. Carter gushes, I think I'm in love.

1920
02:11:25.760 --> 02:11:28.520
Don't be letting Ariel here? You say that, I tease.

1921
02:11:28.960 --> 02:11:33.119
Carter suddenly turns to me. Why you little? When I laugh,

1922
02:11:33.199 --> 02:11:35.960
he playfully pulls me into a headlock and rubs his

1923
02:11:36.039 --> 02:11:39.680
knuckles on my noggin. Then he lets me go. Carter

1924
02:11:39.800 --> 02:11:44.039
points at me, Hugh, just keep dreaming, Madeline. But I

1925
02:11:44.159 --> 02:11:47.720
definitely know better. In fact, Carter's checking his phone. Not

1926
02:11:47.760 --> 02:11:50.880
only does he have a wallpaper of Ariel, they even

1927
02:11:50.960 --> 02:11:54.640
have each other's numbers, cause he's texting with her right now.

1928
02:11:54.880 --> 02:11:56.960
And I know for a fact Ariel don't give her

1929
02:11:57.000 --> 02:12:01.439
phone number to just anyone. Speaking of phone, Ariel made

1930
02:12:01.439 --> 02:12:05.119
sure she texted me too, I hate you mouse with

1931
02:12:05.199 --> 02:12:09.000
a little mouse emoji. The second feature is the original

1932
02:12:09.000 --> 02:12:13.000
Halloween A man. Mom's gonna be so bummed when she

1933
02:12:13.039 --> 02:12:17.039
hears this one was playing. This is our movie. In fact,

1934
02:12:17.439 --> 02:12:20.039
it was the first one, and our first Horthon together.

1935
02:12:20.680 --> 02:12:23.520
As we're watching the movie, I can't help noticing Bells

1936
02:12:23.640 --> 02:12:27.079
is in the middle of her fifth hole Pepperoni pizza.

1937
02:12:27.880 --> 02:12:31.520
Bells is a very unique form of master vampire. She

1938
02:12:31.600 --> 02:12:34.319
don't drink blood, so she's got to eat lots and

1939
02:12:34.399 --> 02:12:38.079
lots of food to get her nutritional requirements. No problem

1940
02:12:38.199 --> 02:12:41.880
for Bells since she loves food, especially from Denoyer's grill.

1941
02:12:42.640 --> 02:12:45.479
We're having fun now, but things are about to get

1942
02:12:45.479 --> 02:12:55.640
a lot more interesting real soon another intermission comes. Then

1943
02:12:55.720 --> 02:12:58.600
the Corgan Twins appear and do a couple of giveaways.

1944
02:12:59.119 --> 02:13:02.079
I even remember to buy Mom her Horrorthon T shirt.

1945
02:13:02.600 --> 02:13:05.159
When I get back, they're starting to announce the secret

1946
02:13:05.199 --> 02:13:08.840
midnight screening. It's a new film that's supposed to be

1947
02:13:08.920 --> 02:13:13.159
called The Portal. Ain't none of us ever heard of it?

1948
02:13:13.720 --> 02:13:16.399
The Corgan Twins say they attended a secret screening of

1949
02:13:16.439 --> 02:13:19.399
it and that it was really good, so they had

1950
02:13:19.439 --> 02:13:22.319
to secure it for the Horror Thon. Soon as they

1951
02:13:22.359 --> 02:13:26.640
walk out, the lights dim and the movie starts. The

1952
02:13:26.680 --> 02:13:29.600
Portal ends up being about this group of teenage kids,

1953
02:13:30.399 --> 02:13:33.279
like high schoolers. They end up running from this gang

1954
02:13:33.279 --> 02:13:37.000
who was chasing them down. Before long, they take refuge

1955
02:13:37.000 --> 02:13:39.600
in a cemetery and break into a crypt to hide.

1956
02:13:40.600 --> 02:13:43.920
They lose the gang, but they get real tired and

1957
02:13:44.000 --> 02:13:48.199
fall asleep in the crypt. Next morning, things get weird

1958
02:13:48.239 --> 02:13:50.319
when they walk around in the town they live in.

1959
02:13:51.479 --> 02:13:56.319
Everybody's given the kids weird looks. Turns out everybody in

1960
02:13:56.359 --> 02:14:01.199
the town is all Vampireskids are on the run. Now

1961
02:14:01.840 --> 02:14:04.640
along the way, some of them either fall for the

1962
02:14:04.720 --> 02:14:10.319
vampires or become vampires themselves. Long story short, they learn

1963
02:14:10.359 --> 02:14:13.119
they're in a parallel universe where everybody on this earth

1964
02:14:13.760 --> 02:14:17.039
is a vampire. In the end, the kids never return

1965
02:14:17.119 --> 02:14:19.800
to their universe again, and the last one's got a

1966
02:14:19.840 --> 02:14:24.960
fake being a vampire to hide in plain sight with them. Suddenly,

1967
02:14:25.000 --> 02:14:28.159
I gasp and open my eyes. I look and see Carter,

1968
02:14:28.279 --> 02:14:30.319
Bells and Aileen are still in the theater with me.

1969
02:14:31.600 --> 02:14:34.840
No movies are playing, no lights are on. We can

1970
02:14:34.880 --> 02:14:40.520
see the auditorium's big time trashed. Did we fall asleep

1971
02:14:40.600 --> 02:14:44.880
and miss the rest of the horothon? Aileen asks, I

1972
02:14:45.000 --> 02:14:50.359
don't recall falling asleep. I say, yeah, me either. Carter mutters,

1973
02:14:50.399 --> 02:14:54.319
shaking his head. Aileen looks at Bell's I know you

1974
02:14:54.359 --> 02:14:59.039
couldn't have fallen asleep, you never sleep? Bell stands up. Okay,

1975
02:14:59.520 --> 02:15:01.720
I think it's it's safe to say something ain't right here.

1976
02:15:02.359 --> 02:15:05.800
For one thing, where are all the pizza boxes? What?

1977
02:15:05.960 --> 02:15:10.279
You're still hungry? BELLA Carter asks in surprise. No, don't

1978
02:15:10.319 --> 02:15:13.000
you get it, Carter, we never got up to throw

1979
02:15:13.039 --> 02:15:16.159
anything away. If we did fall asleep, then those boxes

1980
02:15:16.199 --> 02:15:20.399
should still be right here. We're all quiet for a bit.

1981
02:15:21.239 --> 02:15:24.119
Then I say we might as well head outside and

1982
02:15:24.159 --> 02:15:28.800
see what's up. Let's go. Bell's agrees. The four of

1983
02:15:28.880 --> 02:15:32.920
us leave the auditorium. Even the lobby's a mess. Not

1984
02:15:33.039 --> 02:15:37.000
only that, nobody's man in the concession stand. Then we

1985
02:15:37.119 --> 02:15:43.359
walk outside. Where is everybody? Aileen asks Church. I pipe up,

1986
02:15:44.119 --> 02:15:49.760
Bell's looks my way on a Saturday morning. Oopsies. Then

1987
02:15:49.800 --> 02:15:53.920
I sigh, what do we do now? We look around

1988
02:15:53.920 --> 02:15:57.279
for a little bit. Hey, it's still night out here.

1989
02:15:57.560 --> 02:16:01.479
I quickly notice that or there are storm clouds up there,

1990
02:16:01.840 --> 02:16:06.880
Aileen says, I look at my smart watch. Huh, what gives?

1991
02:16:07.560 --> 02:16:10.199
I got blanks where the time ought to be. We

1992
02:16:10.239 --> 02:16:15.000
look at our smartphones and get the same results. Maybe

1993
02:16:15.039 --> 02:16:18.239
something happened and the theater got cleared out, I suggest,

1994
02:16:19.119 --> 02:16:22.359
and they just left us sitting in there. Carter mutters,

1995
02:16:22.760 --> 02:16:25.960
I shrug, just trying to make sense out of all this, buddy.

1996
02:16:27.000 --> 02:16:29.680
Maybe we should see what's going on at home, Aileen

1997
02:16:29.760 --> 02:16:32.760
throws out. We talk about it and decide to do

1998
02:16:32.920 --> 02:16:37.920
just that. The computers should be working, Aileen says, message

1999
02:16:38.000 --> 02:16:40.360
us as soon as you get home, Maddie, you too, Carter.

2000
02:16:41.159 --> 02:16:44.959
Carter nods. Then we split up. Carter and me walk

2001
02:16:45.040 --> 02:16:48.239
until we're back in our neighborhood. So far and nothing

2002
02:16:48.239 --> 02:16:53.319
out of the ordinary. But where is everybody, Madeline? Carter asks,

2003
02:16:53.959 --> 02:16:56.559
We ain't seen a single person since we left the theater.

2004
02:16:57.200 --> 02:17:01.319
Then I tap his shoulder. Looks like familiar faces. We

2005
02:17:01.479 --> 02:17:05.159
both look to see Ariel, Mona and Bailey across the street.

2006
02:17:05.479 --> 02:17:07.959
When I wave at him, they just stop and look

2007
02:17:08.000 --> 02:17:12.399
at us in this weird way. Now, Ariel motions for

2008
02:17:12.479 --> 02:17:15.200
Mona and Bailey to come with her. They cross the

2009
02:17:15.239 --> 02:17:19.000
street and approach us. When they get close enough, they

2010
02:17:19.040 --> 02:17:26.040
all gasp. Ariel Mona cries happily I know. Ariel groans

2011
02:17:26.360 --> 02:17:32.799
seemingly with relief and shows us a huge smile. Food. Huh,

2012
02:17:32.879 --> 02:17:37.479
I utter, what you mean? Food. Before Carter can say anything,

2013
02:17:37.520 --> 02:17:41.200
all three girls open their mouths, Are you seeing this, Madeline?

2014
02:17:41.639 --> 02:17:46.200
Carter stammers, yeah, you know, I'm seeing it. But run.

2015
02:17:46.879 --> 02:17:49.440
Carter and me turn away from him and run fast,

2016
02:17:50.079 --> 02:17:55.479
foolish mortals, Ariel calls out, when will you learn? Suddenly

2017
02:17:55.520 --> 02:17:57.920
Ariel appears right in front of me. She puts her

2018
02:17:57.920 --> 02:18:00.000
hand on my neck and lifts me off the sidewalk.

2019
02:18:00.399 --> 02:18:02.840
I'm trying to get down, but she's got me up

2020
02:18:02.879 --> 02:18:06.760
here good. Ariel's hands are so cold, and how'd she

2021
02:18:06.799 --> 02:18:09.879
gets so strong? Next thing I know, Ariel brings me

2022
02:18:09.959 --> 02:18:12.719
down and pins me up against a tree. I shriek

2023
02:18:12.760 --> 02:18:15.680
when I see how red Ariel's eyes are. Now her

2024
02:18:15.719 --> 02:18:19.159
fangs are glistening and sharp. Then I see how pale

2025
02:18:19.159 --> 02:18:22.600
her skin is. Usually Ariel's got some of her summer

2026
02:18:22.680 --> 02:18:27.680
tan left over during October. Help, Carter, yells. I look

2027
02:18:27.719 --> 02:18:30.280
over Ariel's shoulder and see Bailey and Mona have Carter

2028
02:18:30.399 --> 02:18:34.760
on the ground. You two can have Carter. Ariel tells him,

2029
02:18:35.319 --> 02:18:40.200
I'm going to dine on a delicious little mousey. I'm

2030
02:18:40.280 --> 02:18:44.200
just so glad we have food again. Bailey squeals, shall

2031
02:18:44.239 --> 02:18:49.840
we Mona? We shall Mona murmurs, You're going to taste

2032
02:18:49.879 --> 02:18:55.399
so good. Carter even better than Denoyer's grill's cheeseburgers. Ariel

2033
02:18:55.440 --> 02:18:58.399
glares at me, Now, this is what you get for

2034
02:18:58.479 --> 02:19:05.399
ditching your girls for a horror mouse. No no, I scream.

2035
02:19:05.840 --> 02:19:08.840
Then I suddenly drop out of Ariel's grip and scurry

2036
02:19:08.920 --> 02:19:11.760
right between her legs. I come back up and quickly

2037
02:19:11.799 --> 02:19:15.360
shove Mona. Carter fights back now and shoves Bailey off him.

2038
02:19:15.559 --> 02:19:18.000
When Carter's back up, I quickly grab his arm and

2039
02:19:18.040 --> 02:19:20.799
we run. We see our houses and go right to

2040
02:19:20.879 --> 02:19:24.239
mine since it's there first. We quickly go inside and

2041
02:19:24.280 --> 02:19:27.600
slam the front door shut. Go check the back Carter.

2042
02:19:28.360 --> 02:19:30.959
He didn't need me to tell him twice. He quickly

2043
02:19:31.000 --> 02:19:33.239
locks that door. I do the same with the front

2044
02:19:34.040 --> 02:19:39.879
open up. Ariel screams, I hate you Mouse, oh you

2045
02:19:39.959 --> 02:19:44.360
wicked little rodent. Mona yells, you really think these doors

2046
02:19:44.360 --> 02:19:48.559
are going to keep us out? Bailey teases. Carter points

2047
02:19:48.600 --> 02:19:52.760
to me, listen, vampires can't come in unless you invite them, right,

2048
02:19:53.399 --> 02:19:58.559
I go hard last I checked? Then Carter gulps too.

2049
02:19:59.319 --> 02:20:02.239
How do we know we ain't like those girls outside, Madeline?

2050
02:20:02.920 --> 02:20:07.079
Or what if we're turning? Now? I'm real scared. We

2051
02:20:07.159 --> 02:20:10.959
gotta find a mirror. First we can confirm we got reflections.

2052
02:20:11.200 --> 02:20:13.280
Then I can summon Mary Worth, the spirit of a

2053
02:20:13.280 --> 02:20:15.879
witch who's possessing me. All I gotta do is say

2054
02:20:15.879 --> 02:20:17.840
her name three times in a mirror, and then she

2055
02:20:17.840 --> 02:20:22.120
can take over my body and stop these vampires. Suddenly

2056
02:20:22.159 --> 02:20:25.040
we hear movement on the stairs. Then we see Mom

2057
02:20:25.159 --> 02:20:29.559
coming down. When she sees us, she smiles, Maddie, you're home.

2058
02:20:30.200 --> 02:20:33.120
What's the matter, honey? You two might as well just

2059
02:20:33.239 --> 02:20:36.799
let us in right now. Ariel yells, go back to

2060
02:20:36.840 --> 02:20:40.760
your coffin and get your beauty sleep, princess. Carter yells back,

2061
02:20:41.159 --> 02:20:46.280
not that it'll do you any good. Carter, Oh you you,

2062
02:20:47.200 --> 02:20:49.760
and that sets off another one of Ariel's blood curdle

2063
02:20:49.840 --> 02:20:53.159
In screams. Mom's dressed in her pink clothes like she

2064
02:20:53.239 --> 02:20:57.879
usually is, but something's wrong here. Mom's skin looks just

2065
02:20:57.959 --> 02:21:04.120
as pale as those vampires outside. Come to Mom, Mattie,

2066
02:21:04.399 --> 02:21:08.280
she says, not paying attention to the girls outside. Let

2067
02:21:08.280 --> 02:21:11.639
me sire you so you can keep being my little girl.

2068
02:21:12.000 --> 02:21:17.479
Then we can dine on Carter together. Oh man, Carter chokes,

2069
02:21:17.639 --> 02:21:22.360
shaking his head slowly. Not you too, missus, Donnerly We

2070
02:21:22.479 --> 02:21:26.000
both scream when Mom shows us her fangs. Then she

2071
02:21:26.159 --> 02:21:29.280
raises her hands, which are claws. Now Carter and me

2072
02:21:29.360 --> 02:21:33.040
are backing up when she's moving closer. Ah, why are

2073
02:21:33.079 --> 02:21:37.319
you like this, Mom, I stammer. I'm now seeing things more.

2074
02:21:38.399 --> 02:21:41.959
No mirrors anywhere, and all the windows are painted black.

2075
02:21:43.040 --> 02:21:46.479
You don't get it, Mattie. Mom growls and holds her tummy.

2076
02:21:47.239 --> 02:21:50.440
There's no more food. One day, many of us woke

2077
02:21:50.520 --> 02:21:53.399
up to find we were vampires. We claimed many of

2078
02:21:53.440 --> 02:21:57.040
the mortals that didn't turn. What few were left managed

2079
02:21:57.040 --> 02:22:00.879
to escape and form a resistance. We're so very hungry.

2080
02:22:01.120 --> 02:22:03.680
The only way we could find food quickly was to

2081
02:22:03.719 --> 02:22:06.319
open a portal that would allow us to gather mortals

2082
02:22:06.559 --> 02:22:10.360
from other realities. Carter and Me look at each other.

2083
02:22:11.040 --> 02:22:13.440
Guess that explains how we woke up in the theater

2084
02:22:13.600 --> 02:22:18.639
all by ourselves, Madeline. Carter says. Then I understand something else.

2085
02:22:19.319 --> 02:22:22.200
That means you ain't really my mom, and those girls

2086
02:22:22.200 --> 02:22:26.280
outside ain't really our friends. Suddenly, Ariel bursts right through

2087
02:22:26.280 --> 02:22:29.239
the front door. Mona and Bailey are coming in right

2088
02:22:29.280 --> 02:22:32.799
behind her. We gave you and Carter both a chance

2089
02:22:32.879 --> 02:22:37.600
to be reasonable about this mouse. Bailey says, guess now

2090
02:22:37.639 --> 02:22:42.600
it's survival of the hungriest. Mona ads licking her fangs.

2091
02:22:43.440 --> 02:22:45.719
I know you've always had an eye for me, Carter,

2092
02:22:46.319 --> 02:22:51.879
Ariel laughs. Now you can know the feeling is entirely mutual.

2093
02:22:53.040 --> 02:22:56.399
Then Carter acts. He quickly dives for two pieces of

2094
02:22:56.440 --> 02:22:59.120
wood from the broken door and puts them together into

2095
02:22:59.159 --> 02:23:02.040
a cross. Ariel moves her hands out in front of

2096
02:23:02.040 --> 02:23:05.079
her and hisses. Then Bailey and Mona do the same.

2097
02:23:05.639 --> 02:23:09.760
Mom just gets back. You're a genius, Carter, I cry.

2098
02:23:10.200 --> 02:23:12.360
I quickly pick up two pieces of wood and make

2099
02:23:12.440 --> 02:23:15.280
my own. At first, the vampires don't seem to be

2100
02:23:15.319 --> 02:23:18.280
afraid of me. Then I figure out why they're afraid

2101
02:23:18.319 --> 02:23:22.040
of Carter. When you use a crucifix against a vampire,

2102
02:23:22.639 --> 02:23:25.600
you have to have faith for it to work. Fright, night,

2103
02:23:25.639 --> 02:23:28.600
Sure got that one right. Suddenly we hear the back

2104
02:23:28.639 --> 02:23:33.079
door explode. Ah Man, more vampires breaking in, looking to

2105
02:23:33.120 --> 02:23:35.719
have Carter and me for dinner. Next thing, we know,

2106
02:23:35.840 --> 02:23:40.559
we're both being snatched up. These two are mine. I

2107
02:23:40.600 --> 02:23:43.239
almost cry out Bell's name, but that would have given

2108
02:23:43.280 --> 02:23:46.719
us away fast. Bell's quickly turns and kicks the huge

2109
02:23:46.719 --> 02:23:49.479
front window out. Then she takes us out through it.

2110
02:23:50.040 --> 02:23:54.440
Come back here with our food. Ariel screams. Bell's leaps

2111
02:23:54.440 --> 02:23:57.239
off the porch with both of us good thinking with

2112
02:23:57.319 --> 02:24:01.200
those crosses. She tells us, well, wait a minute, you're

2113
02:24:01.239 --> 02:24:05.799
a vampire. Two. Carter shrieks. It's okay, Carter, Bell's is

2114
02:24:05.799 --> 02:24:08.760
on our side, I tell him. Then I ask her,

2115
02:24:09.200 --> 02:24:11.719
how'd you know to come back for us. We'll talk

2116
02:24:11.760 --> 02:24:13.440
about it as soon as we meet up with Iiny

2117
02:24:14.200 --> 02:24:18.479
they're turning into bats. Carter quickly tells. Bells, yeah, I

2118
02:24:18.559 --> 02:24:22.319
expect it as much. Hang on you two. Bells leaps

2119
02:24:22.360 --> 02:24:25.120
into the air again and eventually ducks into an alley

2120
02:24:25.159 --> 02:24:28.239
with us. When she lands, the bats are soon flying

2121
02:24:28.319 --> 02:24:32.239
right over us. You two, okay, Bell's asks. When she

2122
02:24:32.360 --> 02:24:36.920
knows it's safe. We both nod quickly. Then Bell's nods

2123
02:24:36.959 --> 02:24:40.280
once From there, she grabs hold of us again and

2124
02:24:40.360 --> 02:24:43.719
jumps back up into the air. After a few more jumps,

2125
02:24:44.159 --> 02:24:47.120
we're at a church. We go inside the wrecked church

2126
02:24:47.159 --> 02:24:49.440
and find a leen sitting on top of the altar.

2127
02:24:50.120 --> 02:24:53.440
She's very happy to see Bells brought us. When we

2128
02:24:53.479 --> 02:24:56.719
reach a leen, she quickly holds out across touch it.

2129
02:24:57.399 --> 02:25:08.920
Both of you. I touched the cross without hesitation. When

2130
02:25:09.000 --> 02:25:13.239
I don't burn, then Carter touches it. Aleen sighs with relief.

2131
02:25:14.159 --> 02:25:17.959
I'm so glad you guys are okay, Bell says, as

2132
02:25:17.959 --> 02:25:20.760
soon as me and Iiny got home, Martin was right there.

2133
02:25:21.440 --> 02:25:25.760
Funny thing. He didn't recognize me, but he was oh

2134
02:25:25.840 --> 02:25:30.079
so eager to sink his teeth into Iini. Yeah, Madeline

2135
02:25:30.120 --> 02:25:32.399
and me just found out we're in a different universe.

2136
02:25:32.879 --> 02:25:37.079
Carter says, her mom knew about it. Yeah, it's like

2137
02:25:37.639 --> 02:25:42.879
Marvel Zombies, except everybody's vampires here, I say, Bell's gives

2138
02:25:42.959 --> 02:25:45.760
us funny looks. The three of us quickly explained the

2139
02:25:45.760 --> 02:25:49.200
plot behind that comic book series. You'll have to let

2140
02:25:49.239 --> 02:25:51.079
me read that one if any of you've got it,

2141
02:25:51.159 --> 02:25:54.079
Bell says, Or you guys could have said it was

2142
02:25:54.159 --> 02:25:58.159
like the Last Man on Earth. Sorry, I squeak. Mom

2143
02:25:58.200 --> 02:26:01.159
did say not everybody got turned. She never said what

2144
02:26:01.319 --> 02:26:04.239
caused it either. She just said one day they woke

2145
02:26:04.360 --> 02:26:07.600
up and they were all vampires. But how did they

2146
02:26:07.600 --> 02:26:13.040
get to us? Carter asks, I don't get it. Think Carter,

2147
02:26:13.399 --> 02:26:16.559
what was the one thing that was weird earlier? Aini asks,

2148
02:26:17.319 --> 02:26:20.920
we were at the horror thon. Carter recalls, that's it.

2149
02:26:21.239 --> 02:26:24.760
We were watching that secret movie. That's what Bell's and

2150
02:26:24.799 --> 02:26:28.360
I came up with. Two Inini agrees. We decided that

2151
02:26:28.479 --> 02:26:31.600
the film had opened up some kind of portal to

2152
02:26:31.680 --> 02:26:34.639
let those vampires come into our reality and bring us

2153
02:26:34.719 --> 02:26:38.440
to theirs. Bell says, you think they got everybody else

2154
02:26:38.479 --> 02:26:42.760
in the theater? I ask, hard to say, Maddie, Aini replies,

2155
02:26:43.120 --> 02:26:45.200
if we ended up in the theater by ourselves, I'm

2156
02:26:45.239 --> 02:26:48.719
guessing the other people were either taken by the vampires

2157
02:26:48.879 --> 02:26:52.479
or they escaped, and the ones that were taken probably

2158
02:26:52.520 --> 02:26:56.200
became food for the vampires or they became like them.

2159
02:26:56.239 --> 02:26:59.920
By now, Carter ads, I mean they are starving, right,

2160
02:27:00.799 --> 02:27:04.959
That would make sense. Bell's agrees. So what do we

2161
02:27:05.000 --> 02:27:08.040
do now? I ask? We got to figure out how

2162
02:27:08.040 --> 02:27:11.159
to get back home, Aini says, we can't stay here

2163
02:27:11.239 --> 02:27:13.799
or we're going to end up being food or becoming

2164
02:27:13.879 --> 02:27:18.159
vampires ourselves, well aside for you, bells. Bells sits next

2165
02:27:18.159 --> 02:27:21.239
to Aileen on the altar. No telling how long we're

2166
02:27:21.239 --> 02:27:23.360
going to be safe in here, so we need to

2167
02:27:23.399 --> 02:27:27.120
come up with a plan fast. I quickly raise my finger.

2168
02:27:27.760 --> 02:27:32.639
Hey wouldn't Strickfield Academy have weapons against the vampires. I mean,

2169
02:27:33.239 --> 02:27:37.319
there's supposed to be a parochial institution, right, I was

2170
02:27:37.440 --> 02:27:39.840
just going to say that. Maddie, then Aileen and me

2171
02:27:39.920 --> 02:27:43.639
slap fives. Hugh twins realize that's a long shot, right.

2172
02:27:44.000 --> 02:27:49.000
Bell's asks, Like I said, we can't stay here. There's

2173
02:27:49.000 --> 02:27:52.120
a car out back. Aini says, think you could start

2174
02:27:52.120 --> 02:27:56.040
at Bell's once I hot wire it. Iiny nods and

2175
02:27:56.040 --> 02:27:59.000
then hands Carter and me crosses and some packs she

2176
02:27:59.079 --> 02:28:02.879
made up vampire survival kits. You both know what to

2177
02:28:02.920 --> 02:28:05.440
do with the crosses. There are wafers and a few

2178
02:28:05.440 --> 02:28:08.719
bottles of holy water inside. Use them only if you

2179
02:28:08.879 --> 02:28:12.520
have to, and don't drop the crosses. Above all, make

2180
02:28:12.559 --> 02:28:15.879
sure you have faith. You don't gotta tell me twice.

2181
02:28:16.319 --> 02:28:19.559
Carter says, quickly, we leave the building out the back

2182
02:28:19.600 --> 02:28:23.280
and get into the car. Aileen mentioned after Bell's hot

2183
02:28:23.280 --> 02:28:26.879
wires that she's driving us to Strickfield Academy. I wish

2184
02:28:26.879 --> 02:28:30.159
I knew what time it is, Irony groans. It sure

2185
02:28:30.159 --> 02:28:32.159
would be nice to know when the sun's coming up.

2186
02:28:33.000 --> 02:28:35.079
For all we know, the sun might not be coming up.

2187
02:28:35.319 --> 02:28:38.600
Bell says, I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer here.

2188
02:28:39.239 --> 02:28:43.079
Believe me, the thought crossed my mind too. Iiny admits

2189
02:28:43.840 --> 02:28:46.719
bats in the air. I quickly call out lots of them.

2190
02:28:47.200 --> 02:28:51.000
Hang on Bell's yells. She floors the gas and drives

2191
02:28:51.000 --> 02:28:54.520
across Strickfield University. It ain't long before the bats are

2192
02:28:54.559 --> 02:28:59.319
really flapping their wings. Then I suddenly remember cars have mirrors.

2193
02:28:59.760 --> 02:29:01.799
But I groan when I see the rear view mirror

2194
02:29:01.879 --> 02:29:05.079
and the door mirrors are broken out. Guess these vampires

2195
02:29:05.159 --> 02:29:09.840
didn't want any mirrors period. When we finally reach Strickfield Academy,

2196
02:29:09.879 --> 02:29:12.639
Bells drives right through the main gate and up the driveway.

2197
02:29:13.079 --> 02:29:15.479
When we reach the main building, Bells screeches to a

2198
02:29:15.520 --> 02:29:19.440
halt and we get out. Follow me, Bells tells us.

2199
02:29:19.879 --> 02:29:22.680
Bells pulls one of the main doors open, breaking the

2200
02:29:22.719 --> 02:29:25.159
lock in the process. As soon as we're in, she

2201
02:29:25.239 --> 02:29:28.639
quickly pulls the door shut. That won't keep them out.

2202
02:29:29.000 --> 02:29:32.840
Bells points to another door. Run. We turn and run

2203
02:29:32.879 --> 02:29:36.440
down the hallway. Soon we're running through the cafeteria. It

2204
02:29:36.479 --> 02:29:39.639
ain't long before vampires are showing up. We raise our

2205
02:29:39.680 --> 02:29:42.280
crosses and keep them back. We run out of the

2206
02:29:42.280 --> 02:29:45.200
building and head into another one. Now we're running into

2207
02:29:45.200 --> 02:29:48.600
a gym. Bells points to me, you need to find

2208
02:29:48.639 --> 02:29:54.200
a mirror. I'm trying, I say, mirror. Carter wonders for what.

2209
02:29:55.319 --> 02:29:57.719
Then my tummy drops when I see the windows out

2210
02:29:57.760 --> 02:30:00.799
of the gym doors. Lots of bats out there. We

2211
02:30:00.879 --> 02:30:04.440
can't go back outside again. Then Bell sees something when

2212
02:30:04.440 --> 02:30:07.440
we're leaving the gym. There's a chapel right over there.

2213
02:30:08.040 --> 02:30:10.559
As we run into the chapel, I know right away

2214
02:30:10.600 --> 02:30:14.120
if we end up trapped in here, no, I gotta

2215
02:30:14.159 --> 02:30:17.680
find a mirror. I gotta Madeline. Carter yells when I

2216
02:30:17.680 --> 02:30:21.120
turn and take off running. Just trust me on this, Carter,

2217
02:30:21.559 --> 02:30:24.440
I call back. I got an idea where I might

2218
02:30:24.479 --> 02:30:26.680
find a mirror. As soon as I go back into

2219
02:30:26.760 --> 02:30:29.360
the gym, a vampire tries grabbing me, making me lose

2220
02:30:29.399 --> 02:30:31.920
my cross. I quickly drop to the gym floor and

2221
02:30:31.959 --> 02:30:34.639
crawl between his legs. I spring back up and head

2222
02:30:34.639 --> 02:30:37.280
into a nearby locker room. I run through it looking

2223
02:30:37.360 --> 02:30:39.680
for a mirror. If we're gonna have any hope of

2224
02:30:39.760 --> 02:30:41.319
making it out of here, I gotta be able to

2225
02:30:41.360 --> 02:30:44.959
call Mary Worth. I'm checking all over the place. Come on,

2226
02:30:45.120 --> 02:30:49.159
there's gotta be a mirror. Then I suddenly stop slipping

2227
02:30:49.239 --> 02:30:51.440
and falling on my keyster. When I finally see it,

2228
02:30:52.040 --> 02:30:54.719
I quickly pull myself up and move to the mirror.

2229
02:30:55.719 --> 02:30:58.319
It's right then when the vampire grabs me from behind

2230
02:30:58.479 --> 02:31:02.520
and lifts me off the floor. No. Then I scream

2231
02:31:02.559 --> 02:31:04.559
and struggle with every bit of fight I've got left

2232
02:31:04.600 --> 02:31:07.239
in me. When the vampire's struggling to keep a hold

2233
02:31:07.280 --> 02:31:09.680
of me, I quickly push back and make him fall

2234
02:31:09.680 --> 02:31:12.479
over a bench in a locker area. I fall over

2235
02:31:12.559 --> 02:31:15.760
myself and quickly crawl to the mirror. The Vampire's quickly

2236
02:31:15.799 --> 02:31:18.239
on me again, thanks to that warping thing they do.

2237
02:31:18.799 --> 02:31:23.360
I quickly say Maryworth's name three times. Suddenly, the vampires

2238
02:31:23.399 --> 02:31:25.719
forced off of me. When the energy comes out of

2239
02:31:25.719 --> 02:31:28.479
the mirror and into me, I feel the essence of

2240
02:31:28.520 --> 02:31:31.479
my ghostly friend taking over my body until I'm nothing

2241
02:31:31.520 --> 02:31:35.479
more than a passenger. Now we're in a real bad fix. Mary,

2242
02:31:35.879 --> 02:31:39.239
I tell her, I shall do what must be done, Madeleine.

2243
02:31:39.719 --> 02:31:43.680
In the meantime, you are safe. Now. Mary turns and

2244
02:31:43.760 --> 02:31:47.120
sends the vampire flying away from us. Then she floats

2245
02:31:47.120 --> 02:31:49.360
through the walls until she comes into the chapel, where

2246
02:31:49.360 --> 02:31:52.719
everybody else is Carter gasps when he sees the ghost

2247
02:31:52.799 --> 02:31:56.600
of Maryworth. For the record, only Aileen and Bell's know

2248
02:31:56.719 --> 02:32:00.639
my secret. Bell's looks relieved to see Mary. If you

2249
02:32:00.719 --> 02:32:06.200
know what's going on, I do, Mary chance a witch spell. Suddenly,

2250
02:32:06.239 --> 02:32:08.559
the power of the white light appears at the doors

2251
02:32:08.559 --> 02:32:11.479
and windows. It ain't sunlight, but it sure drives the

2252
02:32:11.559 --> 02:32:15.520
vampires away like it is. Aileen's got an idea. Why

2253
02:32:15.520 --> 02:32:17.559
didn't I think of it before? We need to get

2254
02:32:17.600 --> 02:32:20.799
back to the theater and restart that movie. We listen as

2255
02:32:20.799 --> 02:32:24.319
Aileen explains she believes that the film The Portal brought

2256
02:32:24.399 --> 02:32:28.040
us into this alternate universe where everybody's a vampire. Nobody

2257
02:32:28.120 --> 02:32:31.799
has any objections to going back to the theater. Listen, Aileen,

2258
02:32:32.159 --> 02:32:34.399
if you're wrong about replaying that movie and it don't

2259
02:32:34.399 --> 02:32:38.200
get us back home, we're not only stuck here, we're goners.

2260
02:32:38.559 --> 02:32:45.280
Carter stresses. Then he realizes, Hey, where's Madeleine. Madeleine is safe.

2261
02:32:45.639 --> 02:32:48.159
Mary tells him, I assure you that she shall be

2262
02:32:48.239 --> 02:32:51.920
with you again upon your return home. Carter ain't sure

2263
02:32:51.959 --> 02:32:54.680
if he can trust Mary, but Bells and Aileen both

2264
02:32:54.680 --> 02:32:58.399
assure him everything is gonna be okay. We just have

2265
02:32:58.479 --> 02:33:00.760
to fight our way through those vampi to get back

2266
02:33:00.799 --> 02:33:04.600
to the car. Aileen mutters, leave the fighting to me.

2267
02:33:05.280 --> 02:33:08.159
Belle says, you guys just be ready to roll when

2268
02:33:08.200 --> 02:33:12.479
I open the door. That shall not be necessary. Bell

2269
02:33:12.559 --> 02:33:16.760
a tabon, Mary tells her. Mary conjures up more white

2270
02:33:16.840 --> 02:33:20.000
light to teleport us back to the Strickfield Centennial Theater.

2271
02:33:21.040 --> 02:33:23.920
Just like that. Soon as we're outside the theater, more

2272
02:33:24.000 --> 02:33:29.159
vampires are crawling out of the woodwork inside. Mary instructs everybody.

2273
02:33:29.639 --> 02:33:32.120
As soon as we're in, Bell's holds the doors shut.

2274
02:33:32.639 --> 02:33:35.280
Mary seals them with the white light, and that's when

2275
02:33:35.319 --> 02:33:38.639
I finally solve the mystery about how all this happened,

2276
02:33:38.879 --> 02:33:43.399
and quickly tell Mary be on your guard. Mary warns

2277
02:33:43.440 --> 02:33:47.879
the others we may have unexpected company awaiting us within

2278
02:33:47.959 --> 02:33:52.479
this structure. We move and head back into the auditorium.

2279
02:33:52.920 --> 02:33:56.239
You're much too late, we hear from up in the

2280
02:33:56.280 --> 02:33:59.920
projection booth. Mary floats up at the same time Bell's

2281
02:34:00.079 --> 02:34:04.479
vampire warps into the booth. I was right, Mary, I cry.

2282
02:34:04.680 --> 02:34:07.440
I knew it had to be them. It was the

2283
02:34:07.440 --> 02:34:10.559
Corgan twins. I didn't want to point fingers at him,

2284
02:34:10.719 --> 02:34:13.280
but it was the only thing that made sense. They

2285
02:34:13.280 --> 02:34:15.319
were the ones who put the portal in as the

2286
02:34:15.319 --> 02:34:19.239
new secret midnight screening. Right. I'm pretty sure these a'ight

2287
02:34:19.319 --> 02:34:23.600
are Corgan twins, though these vampire versions were probably sent

2288
02:34:23.680 --> 02:34:27.680
here to bring an unsuspecting crowd to their universe. These

2289
02:34:27.719 --> 02:34:32.200
two redheaded bees destroyed the film. Bell's yells we're stuck here.

2290
02:34:33.079 --> 02:34:36.200
Then Mary floats through the wall and into the projection booth.

2291
02:34:36.639 --> 02:34:39.280
Just as Belle slams the Corgan Twins into a walled

2292
02:34:39.280 --> 02:34:44.319
to daism, all is not lost here, bella tabon. Mary says,

2293
02:34:44.959 --> 02:34:49.239
we shall return home. Shortly, Mary uses her witch magic

2294
02:34:49.280 --> 02:34:53.840
to restore the film. Well, that's great. Unfortunately I don't

2295
02:34:53.840 --> 02:34:56.639
know how to work one of these things. Bell says,

2296
02:34:57.559 --> 02:34:59.719
looks like I'm gonna have to come back out. Mary.

2297
02:35:00.120 --> 02:35:03.600
I tell her that is not possible without a mirror, Madeline.

2298
02:35:04.280 --> 02:35:07.040
Mary thinks back at me, can you make a leen

2299
02:35:07.079 --> 02:35:11.680
appear up here? Then? I ask? Good thinking, Mary magically

2300
02:35:11.680 --> 02:35:15.479
makes a leen appear in the projection booth. AINI you

2301
02:35:15.600 --> 02:35:18.879
gotta mount this film and run the projector yesterday. Bell's

2302
02:35:18.920 --> 02:35:22.479
quickly tells her I got this. Aileen picks up the

2303
02:35:22.520 --> 02:35:26.360
top reel and moves to the projector. Um, we don't

2304
02:35:26.399 --> 02:35:29.399
need the entire film, do we. This is just the

2305
02:35:29.479 --> 02:35:34.559
first part we shall see soon enough, Mary says, proceed.

2306
02:35:35.280 --> 02:35:38.280
Aileen quickly mounts the film, making it look real easy.

2307
02:35:38.760 --> 02:35:42.159
Then she turns the projector on and starts the movie.

2308
02:35:42.280 --> 02:35:44.239
I don't know when the magic is supposed to happen,

2309
02:35:44.280 --> 02:35:48.799
you guys, leave that to me. One final time, Mary

2310
02:35:48.920 --> 02:35:51.479
uses her witch powers on the film to open the

2311
02:35:51.520 --> 02:35:56.159
portal and bring us safely back to our strickfield. Suddenly

2312
02:35:56.159 --> 02:35:58.959
we find ourselves back down on the floor and back

2313
02:35:58.959 --> 02:36:02.399
in our seats where we before everything went crazy on us.

2314
02:36:02.760 --> 02:36:06.479
The theater's still full of people enjoying the horrorthon. I'm

2315
02:36:06.520 --> 02:36:09.319
back to being me again, and quickly check my smartwatch

2316
02:36:09.719 --> 02:36:12.440
to see we're in the middle of the secret midnight screening.

2317
02:36:13.239 --> 02:36:16.159
Believe it or not, The Corgan Twins and Vicki Valentine

2318
02:36:16.239 --> 02:36:19.200
end up presenting the director's cut of Veranda Queen of

2319
02:36:19.200 --> 02:36:23.360
the Night. After all. Funny thing, we all end up

2320
02:36:23.399 --> 02:36:26.319
remembering the first movie being the nineteen ninety version of

2321
02:36:26.440 --> 02:36:29.600
Night the Living Dead. We'd compare notes later to learn

2322
02:36:29.719 --> 02:36:33.840
we remember both realities. We end up making it through

2323
02:36:33.879 --> 02:36:35.719
the rest of the Horrorthon and don't get out of

2324
02:36:35.760 --> 02:36:39.079
there until around nine thirty on Saturday morning, Bells and

2325
02:36:39.159 --> 02:36:41.479
Aileen walk Carter and Me back to our house just

2326
02:36:41.520 --> 02:36:45.440
to make sure everything's okay. In fact, Mom opens up

2327
02:36:45.479 --> 02:36:48.040
glad to see all of us. She invites everybody in

2328
02:36:48.079 --> 02:36:50.280
and we talk about the Horror Thon for a little bit.

2329
02:36:50.840 --> 02:36:55.040
Of course, we leave out our little side adventure. Anyway.

2330
02:36:55.360 --> 02:36:57.399
Mom was real happy to get her T shirt, and

2331
02:36:57.440 --> 02:36:59.920
she never once does anything to say she's a vamp.

2332
02:37:00.920 --> 02:37:03.719
When everybody leaves, Mom offers to make me breakfast, but

2333
02:37:03.760 --> 02:37:07.120
I tell her I'm going to bed. She kisses me

2334
02:37:07.200 --> 02:37:10.360
good night, and I head upstairs. When I'm getting ready

2335
02:37:10.360 --> 02:37:12.760
for bed, I talk to Mary in the bathroom mirror.

2336
02:37:13.319 --> 02:37:15.639
She tells me we should be safe from those vampires

2337
02:37:15.680 --> 02:37:18.799
from that other universe. After she used the white light

2338
02:37:18.879 --> 02:37:22.040
to make the film send us back, she destroyed it again.

2339
02:37:23.040 --> 02:37:25.799
What if they have or make another print of the portal?

2340
02:37:26.159 --> 02:37:29.239
I ask her. We can only hope that they do not.

2341
02:37:29.920 --> 02:37:32.840
She replies, I hate to say it, Mary, but I

2342
02:37:32.920 --> 02:37:35.000
get the feeling we ain't seen or heard the last

2343
02:37:35.000 --> 02:37:37.799
of this. Even Belle said that on the way home,

2344
02:37:38.760 --> 02:37:41.200
all that we may do is deal with it should

2345
02:37:41.239 --> 02:37:45.440
things transpire as such again, But for now, go and

2346
02:37:45.559 --> 02:37:50.920
rest yourself. We shall talk again soon. I say good

2347
02:37:51.000 --> 02:37:53.639
night to Mary and head off to bed. As I'm

2348
02:37:53.639 --> 02:37:56.440
about to fall out, I get a text from Carter

2349
02:37:56.559 --> 02:37:58.559
asking if I want to go trick or treating tonight.

2350
02:37:59.360 --> 02:38:02.200
I tell him I'll gladly go with him when I

2351
02:38:02.239 --> 02:38:07.079
get up. Anyway, I'm really tired, so I'm gonna say

2352
02:38:07.079 --> 02:38:12.079
goodbye to you all until our next adventure. See you soon,

2353
02:38:22.360 --> 02:38:29.879
Caroline Quinn Vampire Hunter by Mike Ashcuy. Halloween always brings

2354
02:38:29.879 --> 02:38:32.799
out the weird ones. Can you remember a time when

2355
02:38:32.840 --> 02:38:36.360
it didn't bring out the weird ones? I can't now,

2356
02:38:36.520 --> 02:38:41.399
tossing all sorts of things people consider fantastic and impossible

2357
02:38:41.760 --> 02:38:46.879
only fifty years ago, and now it's only weirder. It's

2358
02:38:46.920 --> 02:38:51.959
also a lot more dangerous. See fifty years ago, something

2359
02:38:52.040 --> 02:38:55.520
happened and no one can explain it. People just were

2360
02:38:55.879 --> 02:39:02.520
born different, different how well Suddenly people could fly, people

2361
02:39:02.559 --> 02:39:06.799
could turn invisible, and sometimes those special people had bad

2362
02:39:06.879 --> 02:39:11.680
days and people ended up dead. Now tossing the fact

2363
02:39:11.719 --> 02:39:15.760
that some things we considered myth and legend were also real,

2364
02:39:16.280 --> 02:39:20.280
real life monsters, vampires, werewolves, shape shifters, and stuff that

2365
02:39:20.319 --> 02:39:23.920
would make Stephen King say, what in the actual fuck.

2366
02:39:24.639 --> 02:39:28.360
It's a real shit show, but it's home, and frankly,

2367
02:39:29.360 --> 02:39:33.639
it's a living I deal with problems that the usual

2368
02:39:33.680 --> 02:39:38.959
police or even gifted individuals can't. My name is Caroline Quinn,

2369
02:39:39.479 --> 02:39:42.239
and I'm something a little different than what you might expect.

2370
02:39:43.040 --> 02:39:46.079
I'm not a super and I'm not a cop, but

2371
02:39:46.559 --> 02:39:49.879
something in between those things. I don't report to anyone

2372
02:39:49.920 --> 02:39:54.239
per se, but I do draw a paycheck. I'm what's

2373
02:39:54.319 --> 02:39:58.879
known as a troubleshooter. I am contracted by the government

2374
02:39:58.920 --> 02:40:03.680
to deal with quote issues that require discretion and most importantly,

2375
02:40:04.120 --> 02:40:08.399
plausible deniability. See it's okay to have your local neighborhood

2376
02:40:08.399 --> 02:40:11.159
asshole in a cape deal with some lunatic who can

2377
02:40:11.239 --> 02:40:14.520
level a building with a punch, But sometimes you deal

2378
02:40:14.559 --> 02:40:19.040
with something different. Again. You know how I mentioned that

2379
02:40:19.120 --> 02:40:23.319
whole creatures of myth and legend, Well, those same things

2380
02:40:23.440 --> 02:40:26.639
cause trouble, and your average person isn't equipped to deal

2381
02:40:26.680 --> 02:40:31.520
with the truly paranormal. People can accept superpowers, but you

2382
02:40:31.600 --> 02:40:34.200
start bringing in the undead and all that shit, Well,

2383
02:40:34.920 --> 02:40:37.680
let's say they don't deal with it well at all.

2384
02:40:38.440 --> 02:40:40.959
Suddenly what goes bump in the night is real and

2385
02:40:41.000 --> 02:40:45.639
makes Freddy Krueger look tame in comparison. Governments try very

2386
02:40:45.680 --> 02:40:48.440
hard to suppress a lot of the truly scary shit,

2387
02:40:48.959 --> 02:40:53.639
but sometimes it gets out. Thanks to Instagram. I'm sure

2388
02:40:53.680 --> 02:40:56.520
we needed to see one of America's top superheroes get

2389
02:40:56.520 --> 02:40:59.600
torn apart by vampires, or a group of teenagers get

2390
02:40:59.600 --> 02:41:02.000
pulled up under the water by an ancient shark god

2391
02:41:02.079 --> 02:41:05.840
near New Zealand. You might ask, why try to hide

2392
02:41:05.840 --> 02:41:11.719
it we have literal superheroes. Well, something happened, and those

2393
02:41:12.120 --> 02:41:16.399
things are becoming more frequent, almost like a natural response

2394
02:41:16.440 --> 02:41:20.159
to the rise of the gifted. It's almost like undeath

2395
02:41:20.360 --> 02:41:23.719
finds a way. I'm sure there is a philosophical or

2396
02:41:23.760 --> 02:41:28.079
religious explanation, or maybe even scientific reason behind it. But

2397
02:41:28.200 --> 02:41:31.440
if there is, I don't know it, and I don't

2398
02:41:31.479 --> 02:41:34.399
care to know it. I get paid to deal with it.

2399
02:41:35.079 --> 02:41:39.120
How do I deal with it? I'm tough, supernaturally tough,

2400
02:41:39.559 --> 02:41:43.200
even by the standards set by the gifted community. I'm

2401
02:41:43.200 --> 02:41:46.200
an anomaly. There aren't many like me, and that is

2402
02:41:46.280 --> 02:41:49.520
probably a good thing. I've heard more than a few

2403
02:41:49.559 --> 02:41:54.680
whispered conversations, worrying about what she and her kind represent.

2404
02:41:55.760 --> 02:41:59.559
In short, they think I'm a threat. I'm also something

2405
02:41:59.600 --> 02:42:04.159
that's sees seems to be somewhere between them and the gifted.

2406
02:42:04.879 --> 02:42:08.079
They believe. However, better to have that threat under control

2407
02:42:08.159 --> 02:42:12.959
than on your side. A fucking cocktail of supernatural and superpowered?

2408
02:42:13.639 --> 02:42:16.280
Did I mention I get some perks from this gig.

2409
02:42:16.840 --> 02:42:19.440
I get two weeks of paid vacation a year, which

2410
02:42:19.520 --> 02:42:23.079
can be revoked at any time should the situation dictate.

2411
02:42:23.719 --> 02:42:26.760
Isn't that just swell? I got to go to Disney

2412
02:42:26.760 --> 02:42:29.959
World once till some undead goon tried to kill some

2413
02:42:30.159 --> 02:42:33.079
kid in a Mickey Mouse costume. I got a free

2414
02:42:33.079 --> 02:42:36.159
pair of mouse ears for my trouble. So where does

2415
02:42:36.200 --> 02:42:39.360
that bring us now? A few days ago I got

2416
02:42:39.399 --> 02:42:41.959
a tip that led to a small town in rural

2417
02:42:42.040 --> 02:42:45.799
upstate New York. Your quiet, little sleepy town that has

2418
02:42:45.840 --> 02:42:49.520
a Denny's, a big box retailer, and people get excited

2419
02:42:49.559 --> 02:42:53.280
when Starbucks comes to town. The information was compiled by

2420
02:42:53.280 --> 02:42:56.200
a computer forensic person I knew in the FBI who

2421
02:42:56.280 --> 02:42:58.920
had an eye for this sort of thing. Her name

2422
02:42:59.000 --> 02:43:02.520
was Rheann, and she was also my ex girlfriend aren't

2423
02:43:02.520 --> 02:43:07.159
workplace romances complicated. Still, she and I were good till

2424
02:43:07.200 --> 02:43:10.760
we weren't. The information dealt with a very strange set

2425
02:43:10.799 --> 02:43:13.360
of deaths that had occurred over the last few months

2426
02:43:13.719 --> 02:43:16.879
in the local old age communities. A lot of dead

2427
02:43:16.920 --> 02:43:20.479
old timers and not passing away from natural causes either.

2428
02:43:21.120 --> 02:43:23.440
Normally this would have just slid under the radar and

2429
02:43:23.479 --> 02:43:27.239
been filed away under so sad, too bad, But I

2430
02:43:27.280 --> 02:43:29.719
guess some in turn did some blood work up and

2431
02:43:29.959 --> 02:43:32.639
it got sent to the wrong lab, and that got

2432
02:43:32.680 --> 02:43:36.280
Rhianne's attention. Certainly makes my job easier than having to

2433
02:43:36.319 --> 02:43:39.760
rely on AI and search algorithms. I still don't trust

2434
02:43:39.760 --> 02:43:43.360
computers and probably never will. I had to be dragged

2435
02:43:43.360 --> 02:43:46.040
out of using a flip phone in the last ten years.

2436
02:43:46.920 --> 02:43:50.280
I stopped for breakfast before driving into Hope Springs. I

2437
02:43:50.399 --> 02:43:52.959
traveled in a little camper van, and while it wasn't

2438
02:43:52.959 --> 02:43:56.639
the most glamorous, it wasn't a half bad place to sleep,

2439
02:43:56.760 --> 02:44:00.360
and even had a mini refrigerator and solar panels. It

2440
02:44:00.440 --> 02:44:03.239
wasn't Howard Johnson, but it was home for most of

2441
02:44:03.280 --> 02:44:06.799
the year. Sitting down and eating an overpriced plate of

2442
02:44:06.799 --> 02:44:10.319
bacon and eggs. I started to look over the files.

2443
02:44:11.040 --> 02:44:13.879
Rheianne always did me a solid and compiled it into

2444
02:44:13.920 --> 02:44:19.239
easy to understand pieces, and compartmentalization was her specialty. For

2445
02:44:19.280 --> 02:44:23.399
about four months, twenty or so unusual deaths were recorded

2446
02:44:23.440 --> 02:44:26.079
in the city's corner's report, and all of them had

2447
02:44:26.120 --> 02:44:29.040
an unusual marker in the blood work. One of the

2448
02:44:29.079 --> 02:44:31.920
recently deceased had a busy body of a son who

2449
02:44:31.959 --> 02:44:35.319
demanded to know what happened to dear old dad and

2450
02:44:35.399 --> 02:44:38.959
demanded a full autopsy, and evidently had the pull to

2451
02:44:39.040 --> 02:44:41.840
make it happen despite a coroner who could not have

2452
02:44:42.000 --> 02:44:45.399
cared less the sun probably wanted some kind of an

2453
02:44:45.399 --> 02:44:49.799
insurance payout or something equally as heartless. Isn't family great?

2454
02:44:50.680 --> 02:44:56.120
Sipping at my disgusting black liquid allegedly called coffee, something

2455
02:44:56.159 --> 02:44:59.920
stood out to me. That unusual marker in the bla

2456
02:45:00.000 --> 02:45:04.399
bloodwork was some kind of thing I'd seen before. Without

2457
02:45:04.440 --> 02:45:08.000
getting all technical and probably losing your interest. It was

2458
02:45:08.040 --> 02:45:11.079
a foreign element and it didn't belong in the body

2459
02:45:11.120 --> 02:45:14.680
of an eighty nine year old man. It was gifted

2460
02:45:14.760 --> 02:45:18.520
blood and contain trace elements of what has been widely

2461
02:45:18.559 --> 02:45:24.159
identified as vampiric blood, I stopped eating and kept reading

2462
02:45:24.159 --> 02:45:27.719
the files over and over again. Over the course of

2463
02:45:27.760 --> 02:45:31.959
four months and twenty bodies, this particular blood pattern occurred

2464
02:45:32.000 --> 02:45:36.280
over ten times. Someone or something was preying on the

2465
02:45:36.319 --> 02:45:39.920
elderly and was using them to feed, but not turning

2466
02:45:39.959 --> 02:45:44.239
them into more of them. Normally, a vampire would create

2467
02:45:44.280 --> 02:45:47.239
a little army and we'd have a small problem on

2468
02:45:47.280 --> 02:45:51.159
our hands. Some of the more unique gifted heroes like

2469
02:45:51.479 --> 02:45:55.799
Photonic or Ultraviolet would be asked to help. However, recently,

2470
02:45:56.200 --> 02:46:00.200
after almost dying themselves, they were reluctant or flat out

2471
02:46:00.239 --> 02:46:05.479
refused to assist. Usually superior firepower with silver and UV

2472
02:46:05.600 --> 02:46:08.840
grenades would do the job, but you could always count

2473
02:46:08.879 --> 02:46:11.840
on one of the slippery undead fucks getting away, like

2474
02:46:11.920 --> 02:46:16.840
some kind of Houdini and Dracula combined. This one was

2475
02:46:16.879 --> 02:46:19.879
greedy and didn't want to share eating with the old folks.

2476
02:46:20.440 --> 02:46:24.399
This one also was different and maybe was working with

2477
02:46:24.440 --> 02:46:29.280
a gifted person to incapacitate the geezers or something else entirely.

2478
02:46:29.760 --> 02:46:31.840
Maybe they were like me and had a mix of

2479
02:46:31.879 --> 02:46:35.760
both worlds in their blood. Either scenario means I wouldn't

2480
02:46:35.799 --> 02:46:38.840
be out of here by Monday, and with Halloween happening

2481
02:46:38.879 --> 02:46:41.559
in a day. It meant a lot of potential collateral

2482
02:46:41.639 --> 02:46:47.319
damage with civilians nearby. Great, now I have to hunt

2483
02:46:47.360 --> 02:46:51.159
down a potentially superpowered vampire or a regular vampire with

2484
02:46:51.200 --> 02:46:55.760
a super sidekick. You know, working at Applebee's certainly sounds

2485
02:46:55.799 --> 02:46:59.200
a lot less dangerous. Right now, I'd at least make

2486
02:46:59.280 --> 02:47:02.319
tips and not have to worry about half my guts

2487
02:47:02.360 --> 02:47:07.200
decorating the walls or having my soul sucked out. Remember

2488
02:47:07.600 --> 02:47:11.239
two weeks paid vacation plus four oh one K plus

2489
02:47:11.319 --> 02:47:14.559
blah blah, protect your country and save humanity blah blah.

2490
02:47:14.760 --> 02:47:18.879
Right right, I can practically recite the recruiting speech. Just

2491
02:47:18.959 --> 02:47:20.639
have to hold up my end of the bargain and

2492
02:47:20.680 --> 02:47:25.799
make sure super villains or Satan doesn't destroy the planet first. Fuck.

2493
02:47:26.959 --> 02:47:30.719
They could have called people like Megaton or Phase, but no,

2494
02:47:31.760 --> 02:47:35.559
my name comes up first in the rolodex. Do people

2495
02:47:35.639 --> 02:47:40.319
still use those rolodexes. I finish my breakfast and leave

2496
02:47:40.399 --> 02:47:43.040
a few bucks on the table. I throw a rye

2497
02:47:43.200 --> 02:47:46.280
look at my waitress as if saying I'm sorry, I'm

2498
02:47:46.319 --> 02:47:48.280
gonna fuck up your town in a few days, but

2499
02:47:48.360 --> 02:47:52.040
hey have ten bucks. I exit the diner and start

2500
02:47:52.079 --> 02:47:55.719
heading back to my camper van. It's cold in late October,

2501
02:47:55.719 --> 02:47:58.200
and my leather jacket isn't quite as warm as I

2502
02:47:58.200 --> 02:48:01.159
would like. It's at least pretty out here in that

2503
02:48:01.239 --> 02:48:04.760
quaint kind of way. Hope Spring is about another twenty

2504
02:48:04.799 --> 02:48:07.600
miles away, and I have nothing but my thoughts and

2505
02:48:07.680 --> 02:48:11.319
a playlist of Megadeth another eighties hair metal. What can

2506
02:48:11.360 --> 02:48:14.280
I say? It sets the mood for killing vampires and

2507
02:48:14.319 --> 02:48:18.079
probably looking sexy while doing it. I won't look sexy

2508
02:48:18.079 --> 02:48:20.760
while doing it because no one is ever going to

2509
02:48:20.799 --> 02:48:22.879
know I did it, and if it ends up on

2510
02:48:23.000 --> 02:48:25.159
Reddit with my face, then I'll have a lot of

2511
02:48:25.159 --> 02:48:28.000
explaining to do and probably no four o one K

2512
02:48:28.200 --> 02:48:31.600
to look forward to. Maybe I'll write a book after

2513
02:48:31.639 --> 02:48:35.799
I retire. I could do a podcast. Any asshole with

2514
02:48:35.840 --> 02:48:38.360
a microphone has one of those these days. Anyway, right

2515
02:48:39.639 --> 02:48:42.000
hit the road and it's a long twenty miles with

2516
02:48:42.040 --> 02:48:46.639
only trees, farm houses and the occasional cow or horse

2517
02:48:46.680 --> 02:48:50.639
outside grazing. There is boring, and then there is boring.

2518
02:48:51.200 --> 02:48:53.600
It's an easy drive, though, and besides picking up a

2519
02:48:53.680 --> 02:48:57.879
cherry slurpee on the way, it's uneventful too. Entering the

2520
02:48:57.920 --> 02:49:00.559
city limits and I immediately feel like I have entered

2521
02:49:00.559 --> 02:49:04.680
a Charlie Brown Halloween special. This place has gone absolutely

2522
02:49:04.719 --> 02:49:08.559
all out on the season. There are pumpkins and scarecrows

2523
02:49:08.600 --> 02:49:11.760
and all sorts of window displays. I'm pretty sure I

2524
02:49:11.799 --> 02:49:15.280
saw a life size Pennywise, the clown, welcoming me into

2525
02:49:15.319 --> 02:49:19.079
the jewel of upstate New York. Well, I'm sure this

2526
02:49:19.239 --> 02:49:23.239
is tax dollars well spent. Rhianne had arranged a visit

2527
02:49:23.319 --> 02:49:25.879
for me to examine the latest victim before they were

2528
02:49:25.920 --> 02:49:30.159
sent off to the funeral home. Oh joy, cadaver fresh,

2529
02:49:30.360 --> 02:49:32.959
just like Mom used to make. You Know what I

2530
02:49:33.079 --> 02:49:36.239
like about dead people. They're easy to get along with,

2531
02:49:36.719 --> 02:49:41.159
They're quiet, and they always listen. Wait, no, I take

2532
02:49:41.200 --> 02:49:44.040
that back. Most of the dead people I deal with

2533
02:49:44.120 --> 02:49:47.760
are supernaturally strong, fast, and probably have lived a few

2534
02:49:47.799 --> 02:49:52.479
centuries and have razor sharp fangs and claws. I did, however,

2535
02:49:52.600 --> 02:49:55.920
kill one Scottish vampire with an accent so thick I

2536
02:49:55.959 --> 02:49:59.280
couldn't stop laughing when he threatened me. It was like

2537
02:49:59.399 --> 02:50:02.719
killing a black, blood sucking version of Shrek. Wasn't so

2538
02:50:02.840 --> 02:50:05.840
bad once I unloaded one of the vampire killing shotguns

2539
02:50:05.879 --> 02:50:11.079
into him. Still, you haven't lived until you fought Vampire Shrek.

2540
02:50:11.879 --> 02:50:15.079
I still giggle about that one, even though he dislocated

2541
02:50:15.120 --> 02:50:18.760
my shoulder. That's the one thing I didn't expect. I

2542
02:50:18.840 --> 02:50:22.280
thought I was invincible, or at least damned close to it.

2543
02:50:22.879 --> 02:50:26.239
For some strange reason, things like them can hurt me

2544
02:50:27.000 --> 02:50:31.280
anything unnatural not human. I've been put in the hospital

2545
02:50:31.319 --> 02:50:33.559
a few times and even had a few close calls.

2546
02:50:33.600 --> 02:50:36.719
I don't like to remember. It's likely the only thing

2547
02:50:36.719 --> 02:50:39.520
that puts me in the ground. I'd still not want

2548
02:50:39.559 --> 02:50:42.280
to take one of the phase's energy discharges to the face,

2549
02:50:42.440 --> 02:50:45.959
just to be sure. I'm too damn pretty to die

2550
02:50:46.000 --> 02:50:49.639
like that. Driving around town and it's like I was

2551
02:50:49.680 --> 02:50:53.239
in a weird cross between Halloween Town and the wet

2552
02:50:53.319 --> 02:50:56.959
dream of a spirit Halloween executive. I eventually found the

2553
02:50:56.959 --> 02:50:59.959
coroner's office tucked away near a cute little Dutch baker

2554
02:51:00.799 --> 02:51:04.079
and a Mennonite furniture store. Pulled up the van to

2555
02:51:04.159 --> 02:51:06.600
the building's parking lot and grabbed my gear bag and

2556
02:51:06.680 --> 02:51:10.079
my Federal ID and my shoulder holster for my side arm.

2557
02:51:10.799 --> 02:51:13.680
I had the absolute worst hair day when they took

2558
02:51:13.719 --> 02:51:16.920
that photo, too. They didn't seem too thrilled when I

2559
02:51:16.959 --> 02:51:20.280
wanted to give finger guns either. No one has a

2560
02:51:20.319 --> 02:51:29.120
sense of humor these days. Anyway, I made my way

2561
02:51:29.200 --> 02:51:31.920
up to the door and hit the buzzer. A couple

2562
02:51:31.920 --> 02:51:35.239
of minutes passed before a board looking black gentleman approached

2563
02:51:35.280 --> 02:51:38.520
the glass door. I'm assuming this was the coroner for

2564
02:51:38.559 --> 02:51:42.440
Hope Springs, Percy Downer. He kind of looked like the

2565
02:51:42.479 --> 02:51:45.360
guy from the John Wick movies and had this quiet

2566
02:51:45.399 --> 02:51:47.719
confidence about him. But he didn't look too happy to

2567
02:51:47.760 --> 02:51:50.159
see me when he saw the ID badge on my

2568
02:51:50.200 --> 02:51:54.200
breast pocket. Mister Downer, I smiled and said through the

2569
02:51:54.200 --> 02:51:58.879
glass door, yes, and you are. He didn't return my warmth.

2570
02:51:59.479 --> 02:52:01.600
It was gonna be one of those days, wasn't it.

2571
02:52:02.360 --> 02:52:06.959
Special Agent Carolyn Quinn, Federal Bureau of Investigation, my field

2572
02:52:06.959 --> 02:52:10.159
office should have called ahead. They better have called ahead,

2573
02:52:10.319 --> 02:52:12.559
or this was going to be a fun time, fast

2574
02:52:12.559 --> 02:52:17.680
talking mister personality over here they did. Seems like a

2575
02:52:17.799 --> 02:52:20.399
bit unusual to send an FBI agent out here to

2576
02:52:20.440 --> 02:52:24.079
examine what is clearly a heart attack. I smiled back

2577
02:52:24.120 --> 02:52:26.639
at him and even tried to straighten out my breasts

2578
02:52:26.639 --> 02:52:32.200
and try my womanly wiles on him. Please work, I

2579
02:52:32.360 --> 02:52:35.840
just want to examine the body confirm my suspicions and

2580
02:52:35.920 --> 02:52:41.239
actively begin my investigation and get back on the road. Well,

2581
02:52:41.360 --> 02:52:44.120
I just go where Washington tells me to go. I

2582
02:52:44.159 --> 02:52:47.559
don't imagine it'll be anything too involved. I mean, if

2583
02:52:47.559 --> 02:52:50.239
you wanted to take off and grab lunch, I don't

2584
02:52:50.280 --> 02:52:53.639
think I'll be longer than an hour. He frowned when

2585
02:52:53.680 --> 02:52:56.440
I said take off for lunch. This was the kind

2586
02:52:56.440 --> 02:52:59.959
of guy who liked his workspace and didn't appreciate outside

2587
02:53:00.280 --> 02:53:05.040
interfering in his little corner. Look, Agent Quinn, there isn't

2588
02:53:05.079 --> 02:53:08.440
anything to see here. Mister Carey's son has already had

2589
02:53:08.479 --> 02:53:11.639
me do the initial autopsy, and I found nothing out

2590
02:53:11.680 --> 02:53:15.399
of the ordinary. I'm starting to lose my patience and

2591
02:53:15.479 --> 02:53:19.159
any potential head start. I'm relatively sure that the bloodsucker

2592
02:53:19.159 --> 02:53:22.079
doesn't know I'm in town yet. I'm also not wearing

2593
02:53:22.159 --> 02:53:25.799
a giant neon sign that says vampire killer either, so

2594
02:53:26.440 --> 02:53:30.879
I probably have the element of surprise so far. Mister Downer,

2595
02:53:31.120 --> 02:53:32.920
if you want me to call the field office and

2596
02:53:32.959 --> 02:53:35.120
make this a whole thing, I can do that, but

2597
02:53:35.600 --> 02:53:38.200
I'd really rather not. So why don't we just let

2598
02:53:38.280 --> 02:53:40.719
each other get out of each other's way and let

2599
02:53:40.719 --> 02:53:43.399
me do my job. Let me make it interesting to you.

2600
02:53:43.799 --> 02:53:45.840
Why don't you go out to lunch on Uncle Sam's

2601
02:53:45.879 --> 02:53:49.360
tab and invoice the field office on my authorization. Just

2602
02:53:49.399 --> 02:53:53.079
don't break the bank, okay. His demeanor changed when I

2603
02:53:53.159 --> 02:53:56.920
said charge it to the government. I probably won't get

2604
02:53:56.959 --> 02:53:59.440
into too much trouble. I mean, how much could the

2605
02:53:59.479 --> 02:54:02.639
guy realizeistically eat and drink. Why don't you take your

2606
02:54:02.719 --> 02:54:05.680
lab in turn with you. I think your name is Michelle, right,

2607
02:54:06.120 --> 02:54:08.159
go out, have a great lunch and a few drinks,

2608
02:54:08.319 --> 02:54:10.000
and I'll call you when it's time to come back

2609
02:54:10.000 --> 02:54:14.600
and lock up. Fine, I'll get miss Crawford and we'll

2610
02:54:14.639 --> 02:54:18.559
be down at hitch Steakhouse. You have my number, I nodded.

2611
02:54:19.159 --> 02:54:21.040
I think you could tell. I just wanted to get

2612
02:54:21.040 --> 02:54:23.799
this over with as quickly as I could. He opened

2613
02:54:23.840 --> 02:54:26.040
the door and led me to the mortuary and his

2614
02:54:26.120 --> 02:54:30.159
lockers all sealed up tight. Downer gestured toward a series

2615
02:54:30.200 --> 02:54:33.360
of slabs near the middle row and said, I'd find

2616
02:54:33.360 --> 02:54:37.120
my guest and locker three. I noticed there was a

2617
02:54:37.159 --> 02:54:40.360
lot of blood on the examination tables, and some looked

2618
02:54:40.360 --> 02:54:44.000
fairly fresh. The Bureau thanks you for your assistance and

2619
02:54:44.040 --> 02:54:49.959
cooperation in this matter. Agent Quinn, please do not disturb

2620
02:54:50.040 --> 02:54:53.639
the lower row. Those ladies came in this morning, and

2621
02:54:53.680 --> 02:54:56.280
I haven't had a chance to properly do anything with them.

2622
02:54:56.959 --> 02:55:00.840
They didn't come in a very pleasant or complete manner.

2623
02:55:01.760 --> 02:55:05.120
Gross I waited a few minutes while Downer and his

2624
02:55:05.200 --> 02:55:07.360
assistant left the morgue and I was alone with my

2625
02:55:07.479 --> 02:55:11.239
new friends. All right, let's get to work and see

2626
02:55:11.239 --> 02:55:14.280
what we got here. I slide open the drawer where

2627
02:55:14.319 --> 02:55:17.559
my first guest of honor is supposed to be. According

2628
02:55:17.559 --> 02:55:20.440
to what Rhianne sent me, this was Phil Carey, age

2629
02:55:20.479 --> 02:55:24.079
eighty nine. His naked body was stark white, as most

2630
02:55:24.079 --> 02:55:26.559
corpses are, and it would have been nothing out of

2631
02:55:26.600 --> 02:55:29.319
the ordinary, except if you knew what to look for.

2632
02:55:30.159 --> 02:55:33.719
A lot of newer vampires took blood from unusual places,

2633
02:55:34.159 --> 02:55:37.200
and this one was no different. There was a small

2634
02:55:37.239 --> 02:55:41.319
set of puncture wounds behind his right knee. It was

2635
02:55:41.360 --> 02:55:44.120
pretty easy to miss due to the scar tissue back there,

2636
02:55:44.159 --> 02:55:47.719
suggesting he'd probably had knee surgery or some kind of

2637
02:55:47.719 --> 02:55:50.799
an injury when he was younger. I kept looking over

2638
02:55:50.840 --> 02:55:54.120
the body with my examination gloves and gently turning over

2639
02:55:54.159 --> 02:55:57.959
the old man, well as gently as I could. Old

2640
02:55:58.000 --> 02:56:01.120
guy wasn't exactly heavy, but for some reason I was

2641
02:56:01.159 --> 02:56:04.719
having a hard time moving. The body seemed not as

2642
02:56:04.719 --> 02:56:08.559
stiff as I was expecting either, almost like rigor mortis

2643
02:56:08.600 --> 02:56:13.200
hadn't totally set in. What in the fuck? I turned

2644
02:56:13.200 --> 02:56:15.600
away for a second to grab my phone and maybe

2645
02:56:15.600 --> 02:56:17.879
call Rhianne and see what else was pulled up in

2646
02:56:17.920 --> 02:56:21.079
that lab report that I missed. This guy shouldn't be

2647
02:56:21.200 --> 02:56:27.040
this uh fresh, This is so weird. No sooner did

2648
02:56:27.040 --> 02:56:31.200
I think that, than something absolutely unearthly split the room

2649
02:56:31.319 --> 02:56:36.040
with a ear shattering howl. The sound vibrated off of

2650
02:56:36.079 --> 02:56:38.399
every surface and seemed to rattle my ear drums in

2651
02:56:38.440 --> 02:56:41.040
my head, and I couldn't get my bearings for a second,

2652
02:56:41.319 --> 02:56:43.559
as it was like someone set off a flash bang

2653
02:56:43.639 --> 02:56:47.000
right next to my face. The body of Phil Carey

2654
02:56:47.040 --> 02:56:49.440
sat straight up on the slab and looked right at me.

2655
02:56:50.200 --> 02:56:53.000
I froze for a second. I'd never seen a new

2656
02:56:53.079 --> 02:56:57.280
vampire animate before. The old man looked confused as the

2657
02:56:57.319 --> 02:57:01.319
scream emitted from his cracked, cold lips. He looked wildly

2658
02:57:01.360 --> 02:57:04.120
around the room and locked onto me in terror, panic,

2659
02:57:04.280 --> 02:57:09.079
and something else I can't describe. Did he want help?

2660
02:57:09.639 --> 02:57:12.840
What did you do? To me. The man screamed. I

2661
02:57:12.920 --> 02:57:15.680
reached into my jacket and tried unlatching my side arm,

2662
02:57:15.959 --> 02:57:20.840
a specialty nine millimeters pistol with silver bullets. Okay, it's

2663
02:57:20.920 --> 02:57:23.479
game time. The old man looked down at the y

2664
02:57:23.600 --> 02:57:26.840
incision in his chest and he started screaming again, and

2665
02:57:26.920 --> 02:57:31.079
this time there was pain, rage, and sadness. As he

2666
02:57:31.159 --> 02:57:34.120
cried out, I held my ground. His body started to

2667
02:57:34.239 --> 02:57:37.840
change and morph into his new un life. Soon, mister

2668
02:57:37.959 --> 02:57:42.399
Carrey would have enhanced strength, armor like skin, and even

2669
02:57:42.479 --> 02:57:46.879
wings if he wanted. His fingernails grew into nasty looking claws,

2670
02:57:46.959 --> 02:57:49.559
and he started cutting into his own chest and started

2671
02:57:49.559 --> 02:57:52.239
pulling out his own guts through the fresh incision on

2672
02:57:52.280 --> 02:57:55.840
his chest. What the fuck are you doing, I blurted

2673
02:57:55.879 --> 02:57:58.280
out as I leveled my weapon at his head. He

2674
02:57:58.360 --> 02:58:01.680
kept screaming and started pulling his chest open, and eventually

2675
02:58:01.760 --> 02:58:06.319
his entrails were everywhere, but he still was alive. I

2676
02:58:06.399 --> 02:58:10.000
guess blood and viscera and everything that was inside was

2677
02:58:10.040 --> 02:58:13.239
now on the outside. I steeled myself and pulled the

2678
02:58:13.280 --> 02:58:19.159
trigger one, two, three. I put three rounds into his

2679
02:58:19.200 --> 02:58:21.879
head and he stopped screaming after his head exploded like

2680
02:58:21.920 --> 02:58:25.520
a watermelon filled with firecrackers. The body fell off the

2681
02:58:25.559 --> 02:58:28.879
examination table and into a pile of blood, gore, and

2682
02:58:28.959 --> 02:58:31.719
what was left of his head. I put another two

2683
02:58:31.879 --> 02:58:35.719
rounds into his heart, just to be sure. Always double

2684
02:58:35.760 --> 02:58:40.399
tap the heart or completely incinerate the torso usually you

2685
02:58:40.520 --> 02:58:46.000
take out the head and the heart and it'll stop him. Usually, Okay,

2686
02:58:46.440 --> 02:58:50.159
never seen that before. That was new and fucking terrifying.

2687
02:58:51.120 --> 02:58:53.799
I stopped for a second and look around the carnage,

2688
02:58:54.159 --> 02:58:56.319
and it's one of the worst places I've ever been to.

2689
02:58:57.479 --> 02:58:59.760
I was at the vampire Nest in two thousand and

2690
02:58:59.799 --> 02:59:02.639
eight teen in Boston, and that was messed up and

2691
02:59:02.719 --> 02:59:06.200
even the soupers won't talk about it. Blood gore and

2692
02:59:06.319 --> 02:59:10.760
missing limbs, dead agents. That was the day. That Nightshade

2693
02:59:10.799 --> 02:59:14.399
lost her eyes when the vampire Lord stuck his claws

2694
02:59:14.440 --> 02:59:19.319
into her face. That's a sound you never forget. One

2695
02:59:19.319 --> 02:59:21.959
of the worst days we ever suffered as a task force,

2696
02:59:22.479 --> 02:59:26.799
but we won. I guess thirty of us, including a

2697
02:59:26.840 --> 02:59:30.079
few soupers, went in. Only seven of us came back

2698
02:59:30.079 --> 02:59:34.079
out alive or close enough to not be considered a casualty.

2699
02:59:34.639 --> 02:59:36.559
I start to catch my breath and I can hear

2700
02:59:36.680 --> 02:59:41.000
banging and muffled screams coming from inside the freezers. You've

2701
02:59:41.000 --> 02:59:44.600
gotta be fucking shitting me. There's more of these things.

2702
02:59:45.159 --> 02:59:47.559
I'm in a goddamn nest with no backup and not

2703
02:59:47.719 --> 02:59:50.360
nearly enough AMMO on me to do the job. All

2704
02:59:50.399 --> 02:59:52.760
my specialty stuff is in the van and locked up.

2705
02:59:53.399 --> 02:59:56.399
I'm tough, but I'm not invincible, and I'm certainly not

2706
02:59:56.440 --> 02:59:59.719
equipped to deal with this by myself. Time to go

2707
03:00:01.280 --> 03:00:04.600
Downer had said the new bodies didn't come in intact.

2708
03:00:05.159 --> 03:00:08.200
I can use that to my advantage. If they reanimate

2709
03:00:08.239 --> 03:00:10.719
without all their limbs, then maybe I wouldn't be dealing

2710
03:00:10.760 --> 03:00:14.879
with the Golden ghoules at full power. Okay, grannies, I

2711
03:00:14.920 --> 03:00:18.479
have an idea hold that thought. I'll be right back.

2712
03:00:19.399 --> 03:00:22.159
I ran into the morgue and then right outside into

2713
03:00:22.159 --> 03:00:25.959
the now pouring rain, and straight into my van, tossing

2714
03:00:26.000 --> 03:00:28.680
open the doors and into the secured compartment by my

2715
03:00:28.799 --> 03:00:32.479
tiny fridge. They say that happiness is a warm gun,

2716
03:00:33.000 --> 03:00:38.079
and in this particular instance, happiness and security was delivered

2717
03:00:38.120 --> 03:00:41.159
by a top of the line paranormal defense contractor and

2718
03:00:41.280 --> 03:00:45.719
an alleged coven of witches from Salem. All Right, motherfuckers.

2719
03:00:46.360 --> 03:00:49.799
I grab sweet Baby Jane, my custom automatic twelve gage

2720
03:00:49.799 --> 03:00:53.239
shotgun with a carbon fiber finish with pink highlights and

2721
03:00:53.280 --> 03:00:56.760
a laser sight, buckshot with silver and some other stuff

2722
03:00:56.799 --> 03:00:59.680
that I don't totally understand, but all I know it

2723
03:00:59.760 --> 03:01:03.639
turned the undead into Swiss cheese. All I know right

2724
03:01:03.680 --> 03:01:07.600
now is that baby Jane is hungry. The big surprise, though,

2725
03:01:07.639 --> 03:01:11.200
doesn't so much go boom as it goes pop. The

2726
03:01:11.239 --> 03:01:16.239
real piece of hardware I came for ultraviolet grenades. Those

2727
03:01:16.280 --> 03:01:20.159
same DoD eggheads developed a way to deliver a concentrated

2728
03:01:20.200 --> 03:01:24.280
blast of ultraviolet energy in a small package, no bigger

2729
03:01:24.280 --> 03:01:27.479
than a pack of smokes. These things could really fuck

2730
03:01:27.559 --> 03:01:29.920
up a bloodsucker's day if you could get them in

2731
03:01:29.959 --> 03:01:32.879
an enclosed area and you didn't mind risking the chance

2732
03:01:32.920 --> 03:01:37.639
of going blind and maybe contracting cancer. Walk back inside

2733
03:01:37.639 --> 03:01:40.000
the mortuary and I can hear the banging of the

2734
03:01:40.120 --> 03:01:44.319
undead against the steel coolers and the occasional confused yelp.

2735
03:01:44.840 --> 03:01:47.959
I slide around into the shotguns chamber and make my

2736
03:01:48.040 --> 03:01:53.079
way back into the examination room. Move forward slowly, cautiously,

2737
03:01:53.520 --> 03:01:56.440
and be ready to unload hell into whatever face decides

2738
03:01:56.479 --> 03:02:00.239
to come up and say hello. Good news is that

2739
03:02:00.280 --> 03:02:02.799
they don't know how to break the seal on the lockers,

2740
03:02:03.159 --> 03:02:07.040
and for now I have the element of surprise. Creeping

2741
03:02:07.120 --> 03:02:09.920
up the first locker, I can hear whatever is inside

2742
03:02:09.959 --> 03:02:13.879
just absolutely freaking out. As much as a part of

2743
03:02:13.920 --> 03:02:16.440
me is afraid on some level for getting my throat

2744
03:02:16.520 --> 03:02:19.000
ripped out by b Arthur, here there is a bit

2745
03:02:19.079 --> 03:02:22.399
of a sadistic joy crawling through my body. I sling

2746
03:02:22.479 --> 03:02:24.440
the shotgun at my side and grip one of the

2747
03:02:24.440 --> 03:02:28.159
small black UV grenades and inch my way towards the

2748
03:02:28.159 --> 03:02:32.159
cooler trick or treat, I say as I open the

2749
03:02:32.200 --> 03:02:34.959
door and quickly pull the pin and throw the small

2750
03:02:34.959 --> 03:02:39.360
device inside and seal the door once again. An audible

2751
03:02:39.440 --> 03:02:44.120
voice exclaims what. A second later, a brilliant flash and

2752
03:02:44.159 --> 03:02:47.520
the satisfying thump of a contained detonation within a confined

2753
03:02:47.559 --> 03:02:51.680
space are music to my ears. That's two dead vampires

2754
03:02:52.000 --> 03:02:55.239
and it's not even lunchtime yet. You could call this

2755
03:02:55.319 --> 03:02:59.120
a kill streak, couldn't you? Not bad? But no time

2756
03:02:59.159 --> 03:03:02.360
to get sloppy. The screeching sound of steel being torn

2757
03:03:02.440 --> 03:03:05.000
from its moorings fills the room as the second undead

2758
03:03:05.000 --> 03:03:07.799
Grandma makes her way out of her makeshift tomb. The

2759
03:03:07.840 --> 03:03:10.600
steel door flies off across the room and embeds itself

2760
03:03:10.600 --> 03:03:13.440
in the wall by the entrance. Downer isn't going to

2761
03:03:13.479 --> 03:03:16.280
be happy with what I did to his workspace. In

2762
03:03:16.360 --> 03:03:20.319
my defense, they started it. The blood at least adds

2763
03:03:20.360 --> 03:03:24.399
some color, so there's that. The creature started clawing its

2764
03:03:24.440 --> 03:03:27.319
way out of the locker, and its twisted aged face

2765
03:03:27.399 --> 03:03:31.920
emerged with a furious rage, and it locked eyes with me. Normally,

2766
03:03:32.000 --> 03:03:35.040
this would be absolutely terrifying to come face to face

2767
03:03:35.120 --> 03:03:38.399
with an undead vampiric horror, but when it's an undead

2768
03:03:38.479 --> 03:03:41.879
vampiric horror of a bingo lady in her late seventies,

2769
03:03:42.399 --> 03:03:45.440
it loses a little bit of the fear factor. She

2770
03:03:45.600 --> 03:03:47.639
was still a threat to me due to her newly

2771
03:03:47.719 --> 03:03:51.680
unleashed strength and speed and toughness, but if I'm lucky,

2772
03:03:52.040 --> 03:03:54.559
she'd be like a baby elephant learning how to walk

2773
03:03:54.639 --> 03:03:58.680
for the first time and be clumsy. Fortunately, she hadn't

2774
03:03:58.680 --> 03:04:01.159
been undressed yet, so I didn't have to witness something

2775
03:04:01.200 --> 03:04:04.159
that could have seared my eyes out. The creature fell

2776
03:04:04.159 --> 03:04:06.760
out of the locker and onto the cold floor and

2777
03:04:06.879 --> 03:04:10.840
started to transform into her new unlife before my very eyes,

2778
03:04:11.280 --> 03:04:14.799
bones snapped into new places, A pair of thin, bony

2779
03:04:14.840 --> 03:04:17.760
wings started to form and unfurl from her back and

2780
03:04:17.920 --> 03:04:22.040
tear from her little blue nightgown, and finally, her skin

2781
03:04:22.200 --> 03:04:25.159
started to take on an ashen gray shade as it

2782
03:04:25.239 --> 03:04:29.600
solidified into an armor like hide. I've never seen a

2783
03:04:29.639 --> 03:04:32.719
new vampire gain so many of its new abilities so

2784
03:04:32.840 --> 03:04:36.840
quickly after reanimating. This was something new, and this was

2785
03:04:36.920 --> 03:04:40.239
definitely something I wasn't quite expecting so early on a

2786
03:04:40.239 --> 03:04:43.520
Friday morning. The grenades wouldn't do a lot since the

2787
03:04:43.559 --> 03:04:46.479
space was too open unless I landed it right on

2788
03:04:46.559 --> 03:04:50.959
her shoulder, so that was out for the time being. Immediately,

2789
03:04:51.079 --> 03:04:53.840
without really thinking about it, I had Baby Jane back

2790
03:04:53.879 --> 03:04:57.120
in my arms and ready to unleash Hell upon this fiend.

2791
03:04:57.920 --> 03:05:00.920
The old lady unfurled her new wings, stretched them out,

2792
03:05:00.959 --> 03:05:05.079
and knocked over several tables of supplies. She looked amazed

2793
03:05:05.120 --> 03:05:07.879
at her new body and didn't seem too phazed that

2794
03:05:07.959 --> 03:05:12.559
she was now among the planet's paranormal population. I aimed

2795
03:05:12.600 --> 03:05:15.959
the shotgun at her, and immediately its green laser engaged

2796
03:05:16.000 --> 03:05:18.399
and painted a picture on the center of her mass.

2797
03:05:19.079 --> 03:05:21.360
She didn't seem to take notice of the six foot

2798
03:05:21.399 --> 03:05:24.799
blonde federal agent aiming a fully automatic shotgun at her.

2799
03:05:25.200 --> 03:05:27.920
She extended her arms forward and started looking at her

2800
03:05:27.959 --> 03:05:31.840
new hands, which had now formed into wicked, long sickle

2801
03:05:32.000 --> 03:05:35.040
like claws. I racked the slide and made sure that

2802
03:05:35.079 --> 03:05:38.319
it was ready to sing that twelve gage buckshot showtune.

2803
03:05:38.840 --> 03:05:42.360
As soon as the slide clicked, the creature's eyes immediately

2804
03:05:42.440 --> 03:05:47.040
narrowed and focused on me. We both held tents at

2805
03:05:47.040 --> 03:05:49.639
the standoff here in the Hope Springs Morgue, and not

2806
03:05:49.799 --> 03:05:52.840
one made a move or sound. The only sound we

2807
03:05:52.879 --> 03:05:55.760
could both hear was an ancient wall clock that was

2808
03:05:55.760 --> 03:05:59.360
suspended above the lockers, and it was clicking up towards

2809
03:05:59.399 --> 03:06:04.840
noon eleven fifty nine. The second hand was swinging around

2810
03:06:04.879 --> 03:06:07.799
towards the bottom, and the last thirty seconds of the

2811
03:06:07.840 --> 03:06:11.959
morning was counting down. The old lady opened her mouth

2812
03:06:12.000 --> 03:06:14.719
with her new fangs and drooled as she smiled at me.

2813
03:06:15.399 --> 03:06:17.920
I smiled back at her, part of it to relieve

2814
03:06:17.959 --> 03:06:20.079
the tension I was feeling in my own body, and

2815
03:06:20.200 --> 03:06:22.879
part of it was hoping it would unnerve her a

2816
03:06:23.000 --> 03:06:26.159
touch as to why I was being so confident. She

2817
03:06:26.200 --> 03:06:30.639
didn't seem phazed by my bravado or the shotgun. Twenty

2818
03:06:30.680 --> 03:06:34.319
seconds left, she took a step towards me and tore

2819
03:06:34.399 --> 03:06:37.239
off what remained of her blue nightgown and growled at me.

2820
03:06:37.840 --> 03:06:42.079
I stood my ground. Are you prepared to die, young lady?

2821
03:06:42.959 --> 03:06:46.719
I grinned and tightened my grip and slowly prepared to

2822
03:06:46.719 --> 03:06:51.760
squeeze the trigger on my weapon. Not today. Fifteen seconds

2823
03:06:52.120 --> 03:06:55.120
she took another step towards me, and now less than

2824
03:06:55.120 --> 03:06:58.360
ten feet separated us, and I swear she grew another

2825
03:06:58.399 --> 03:07:01.200
two feet in height as she took that single stride.

2826
03:07:01.559 --> 03:07:05.760
Ten seconds Wait for it, I thought, she leaped at

2827
03:07:05.799 --> 03:07:08.799
me with a supernatural speed and swiftness, and threw her

2828
03:07:08.959 --> 03:07:13.639
entire body forward and her claws reaching for me. Showtime

2829
03:07:13.680 --> 03:07:17.520
as the clock struck noon. Part of my abilities, besides

2830
03:07:17.600 --> 03:07:20.319
being tough, is that I'm also as quick as most

2831
03:07:20.360 --> 03:07:23.719
of the night creatures themselves. If I can judge things right.

2832
03:07:25.200 --> 03:07:28.479
This time, my luck paid off as I suspected it would.

2833
03:07:28.920 --> 03:07:31.319
I twisted my body at the last second and let

2834
03:07:31.319 --> 03:07:34.959
her fly right past me and crash into the workstation behind.

2835
03:07:35.600 --> 03:07:38.440
As the old woman flew past and crashed into the

2836
03:07:38.479 --> 03:07:41.600
equipment as well, I fired off a few rounds from

2837
03:07:41.600 --> 03:07:45.600
the shotgun. Two quick succession blasts erupted from the weapon

2838
03:07:45.639 --> 03:07:50.040
and shredded her new wings into confetti. These particular shotgun

2839
03:07:50.120 --> 03:07:54.639
rounds were particularly nasty too, as those said defense contractors

2840
03:07:54.680 --> 03:07:58.319
decided to pack something a little extra besides the magic

2841
03:07:58.360 --> 03:08:03.559
adjacent mojo into them, magnesium pellets and silver and enchanted

2842
03:08:03.600 --> 03:08:08.040
pellet shards dragon's breath shotgun shells with a little bit extra.

2843
03:08:08.520 --> 03:08:10.840
The rounds lit her up and she was doused in

2844
03:08:10.959 --> 03:08:15.200
flames as well. The monster yelped in pain and surprise

2845
03:08:15.840 --> 03:08:18.319
as her armored hide didn't have an answer to that

2846
03:08:18.399 --> 03:08:21.159
little one. It didn't seem to slow her down much,

2847
03:08:21.200 --> 03:08:23.840
as she quickly got to her feet for yet another attack.

2848
03:08:24.319 --> 03:08:26.479
This time, I wasn't so quick, and I got the

2849
03:08:26.520 --> 03:08:29.639
full force of this creature barreling into me with tremendous

2850
03:08:29.799 --> 03:08:33.120
and unexpected force. The blow knocked the wind out of

2851
03:08:33.159 --> 03:08:35.319
me and sent my weapon from my hands across the

2852
03:08:35.399 --> 03:08:38.760
room and under an examination table. I was knocked against

2853
03:08:38.799 --> 03:08:41.920
a steel table and left gasping for air. The old

2854
03:08:41.959 --> 03:08:44.760
woman delivered another sucker punch into my gut, and I

2855
03:08:44.840 --> 03:08:47.520
doubled over in pain and was left gasping for air.

2856
03:08:48.360 --> 03:08:56.159
I'm in trouble here, guys. The monster grabbed a hold

2857
03:08:56.200 --> 03:08:58.520
of my head and started raising it up to her

2858
03:08:58.559 --> 03:09:02.280
face directly. Her grip was powerful and would not be

2859
03:09:02.399 --> 03:09:07.600
easily broken. I said, are you prepared to die? She

2860
03:09:07.799 --> 03:09:11.639
hissed at me through her fangs. She started squeezing my head,

2861
03:09:11.639 --> 03:09:13.760
and I could feel things start to go black and

2862
03:09:13.840 --> 03:09:16.959
my consciousness start to fade. She was gonna knock me

2863
03:09:17.079 --> 03:09:20.600
out before she likely tore me apart limb from limb.

2864
03:09:21.280 --> 03:09:25.280
This old bitch isn't exactly playing fair. Well. I don't

2865
03:09:25.280 --> 03:09:27.840
have to play fair either. I thrust my arms up

2866
03:09:27.879 --> 03:09:30.719
between hers and tried to force them apart from squeezing

2867
03:09:30.799 --> 03:09:33.920
me further. I just got enough force together to loosen

2868
03:09:33.959 --> 03:09:36.319
her grip and knock her hands free from my head.

2869
03:09:36.959 --> 03:09:39.799
I started raining blows upon her face and just let

2870
03:09:39.879 --> 03:09:42.639
fly every bit of anger, rage, and even a bit

2871
03:09:42.680 --> 03:09:44.840
of fear that I'd built up over the course of

2872
03:09:44.879 --> 03:09:49.360
our confrontation. My fist kept connecting against her skull and

2873
03:09:49.440 --> 03:09:52.520
blood kept flying out, And while she kept trying to

2874
03:09:52.639 --> 03:09:56.000
dodge and hold back my assault, she didn't stand a chance.

2875
03:09:57.040 --> 03:09:59.879
I felt my fists crushed the bones in her face

2876
03:10:00.079 --> 03:10:03.280
as her skull began to disintegrate under me. I had

2877
03:10:03.319 --> 03:10:05.959
her pinned against a table and she had nowhere to

2878
03:10:06.079 --> 03:10:10.079
run and couldn't fly. This thing was at my mercy,

2879
03:10:10.159 --> 03:10:13.319
and today was not a day to expect mercy from

2880
03:10:13.360 --> 03:10:16.680
someone you just tried to murder. I hit her until

2881
03:10:16.719 --> 03:10:19.079
there was nothing left of her head and left the

2882
03:10:19.120 --> 03:10:22.000
body to hit the floor in a bloody pile. After

2883
03:10:22.040 --> 03:10:25.440
what seemed like forever, I left the body in a

2884
03:10:25.520 --> 03:10:30.719
disgusting heap of meat in a corner and retrieved my weapons. Wait,

2885
03:10:31.559 --> 03:10:35.639
gotta make sure, and it's probably overkill. I grabbed one

2886
03:10:35.639 --> 03:10:37.920
of the UV grenades I had left and put it

2887
03:10:37.959 --> 03:10:41.159
inside what remained of her torso and pulled the pin

2888
03:10:41.559 --> 03:10:46.799
and quickly left the room. Boom. Cool kids, don't look

2889
03:10:46.840 --> 03:10:49.760
back at explosions. Now. I can add that to my

2890
03:10:49.840 --> 03:10:53.360
list of cool action movie things I've done, and I

2891
03:10:53.399 --> 03:10:58.239
will never tell anyone about because they'll never believe me. Nope,

2892
03:10:58.520 --> 03:11:03.120
keep walking. Merging outside in the cold October rain was refreshing,

2893
03:11:03.159 --> 03:11:06.120
as it not only washed off the blood and gore

2894
03:11:06.239 --> 03:11:10.280
of the last encounter, but was oddly refreshing too. I

2895
03:11:10.360 --> 03:11:13.040
stood outside in the rain and just let the adrenaline

2896
03:11:13.079 --> 03:11:17.159
of the melee wash over me. I needed to relax,

2897
03:11:17.280 --> 03:11:21.600
but too bad, I don't smoke anymore. Finally, the combat

2898
03:11:21.719 --> 03:11:25.440
rush was over and my breathing returned to normal. This

2899
03:11:25.559 --> 03:11:27.920
was gonna be a problem, and probably one that a

2900
03:11:27.959 --> 03:11:31.280
single troubleshooter won't be able to handle on her own.

2901
03:11:31.799 --> 03:11:34.840
I'm gonna need help, and there's probably no way around this.

2902
03:11:35.600 --> 03:11:37.680
You call for help in a situation like this, and

2903
03:11:37.719 --> 03:11:41.079
it's going one of two ways. You're either overreacting and

2904
03:11:41.120 --> 03:11:44.920
it's fine, or end up with a situation like Boston

2905
03:11:45.520 --> 03:11:48.319
and it's one step away from calling in the proverbial

2906
03:11:48.360 --> 03:11:51.719
air strike and a room of old white dudes looking

2907
03:11:51.760 --> 03:11:54.879
for a reason to enact the Cradle of Liberty protocol.

2908
03:11:55.680 --> 03:11:58.840
Cradle of Liberty was basically the nuclear option for all

2909
03:11:58.879 --> 03:12:03.360
threats and paranormal and had only ever been deployed once

2910
03:12:03.440 --> 03:12:06.719
since the seventies. You used it when you had absolutely

2911
03:12:06.840 --> 03:12:11.799
zero choice, and collateral damage wasn't a primary concern. Survival was,

2912
03:12:12.120 --> 03:12:14.360
and the cost would be paid, and it didn't matter

2913
03:12:14.399 --> 03:12:17.559
how it was accomplished. No one alive today would talk

2914
03:12:17.600 --> 03:12:20.799
about what it would entail, but we all knew that

2915
03:12:20.879 --> 03:12:23.959
it was the last possible option, and no one wanted

2916
03:12:23.959 --> 03:12:26.920
to be the one to sanction its use. I thought

2917
03:12:26.920 --> 03:12:28.920
I had it figured out and this was not a

2918
03:12:29.000 --> 03:12:34.799
vampire nest, but instead some new undead douche being greedy.

2919
03:12:34.840 --> 03:12:37.280
It seems that I may be wrong if the last

2920
03:12:37.399 --> 03:12:42.600
encounter was any indication of what's going on. Super vampires

2921
03:12:42.600 --> 03:12:45.000
are on the loose and this town is ground zero,

2922
03:12:45.200 --> 03:12:48.840
or something much much worse is on the horizon. I

2923
03:12:48.879 --> 03:12:51.719
don't like what I'm seeing here, and something is definitely

2924
03:12:51.719 --> 03:12:55.319
not adding up like it should. I'm pretty fucking terrible

2925
03:12:55.319 --> 03:12:57.920
at math, but I sure as shitn't know that two

2926
03:12:57.959 --> 03:13:02.719
plus two ain't ten. I don't like this. Remember why

2927
03:13:02.760 --> 03:13:08.319
you're doing this, Quinn? Two weeks paid vacation. Oh yeah,

2928
03:13:08.360 --> 03:13:12.479
and saving the world or some shit. I made a

2929
03:13:12.520 --> 03:13:15.600
call first to Rheanne and let her know that I

2930
03:13:15.639 --> 03:13:19.159
was probably in over my pretty little head. I wasn't

2931
03:13:19.159 --> 03:13:21.799
too thrilled to call the FEDS, but they'd have a solution,

2932
03:13:21.959 --> 03:13:26.239
and at least Rheanne was a calming influence. She always

2933
03:13:26.319 --> 03:13:28.479
knew what to say to talk me down off the ledge,

2934
03:13:28.520 --> 03:13:30.760
and it didn't hurt that she sounded cute when she

2935
03:13:31.000 --> 03:13:35.840
was concerned about me. I miss her. The second call

2936
03:13:36.000 --> 03:13:39.280
was a little harder to make. I called the Department,

2937
03:13:39.680 --> 03:13:43.840
which is code for the Department of Paranormal Resources, a

2938
03:13:43.920 --> 03:13:47.920
subset of the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. Layers

2939
03:13:48.000 --> 03:13:52.000
upon layers upon layers of bureaucracy, but also they had

2940
03:13:52.120 --> 03:13:57.040
resources and people that your average gifted or troubleshooter didn't

2941
03:13:57.040 --> 03:14:00.200
have access to. I was told to sit tight and

2942
03:14:00.239 --> 03:14:04.680
hold my position while they assessed the situation and confer

2943
03:14:04.840 --> 03:14:10.319
with partners within paranormal research and defense. Great, I get

2944
03:14:10.319 --> 03:14:12.799
to cool my jets in the middle of Vampire City.

2945
03:14:14.040 --> 03:14:16.159
I got lucky and a cleanup crew was at the

2946
03:14:16.159 --> 03:14:19.959
Hope Springs Corner office within an hour, and Percy Downer

2947
03:14:20.120 --> 03:14:24.040
was offered a generous payout for his silence and a

2948
03:14:24.040 --> 03:14:28.920
two week vacation. Must be nice, though odds are he'll

2949
03:14:28.959 --> 03:14:32.639
be sent to Langley for an extensive debrief and probably

2950
03:14:32.719 --> 03:14:35.520
psychic mind probe to see if he knows more than

2951
03:14:35.520 --> 03:14:38.879
what he's letting on. Guy like that is probably next

2952
03:14:39.000 --> 03:14:42.520
level boring. Then again, I didn't expect to fight a

2953
03:14:42.520 --> 03:14:46.600
retirement home in a morgue, so who knows. Enjoy Virginia.

2954
03:14:47.680 --> 03:14:50.159
I drove away from the corner's office and pulled up

2955
03:14:50.200 --> 03:14:53.120
in a nearby hotel and booked a room. It had

2956
03:14:53.159 --> 03:14:56.239
only been a few hours since the confrontation. In my mind,

2957
03:14:56.360 --> 03:14:59.399
wasn't ready to let go of what happened. The thing

2958
03:14:59.440 --> 03:15:02.360
that bothered me the most is how quickly those things

2959
03:15:02.440 --> 03:15:06.280
moved and how quickly they reanimated into their new un life.

2960
03:15:07.000 --> 03:15:10.120
The real question that bothered me is why didn't this

2961
03:15:10.319 --> 03:15:15.159
happen before with the other victims. Why was this happening now?

2962
03:15:16.120 --> 03:15:18.479
There has to be a reason for it. Was there

2963
03:15:18.479 --> 03:15:21.159
a new vampire lord attempting to make a nest in

2964
03:15:21.200 --> 03:15:25.399
this town? How does the superpowered angle figure into it?

2965
03:15:25.520 --> 03:15:29.600
Was someone, or worse something creating a vampire super hybrid?

2966
03:15:30.200 --> 03:15:33.000
What in the hell was happening in Hope Springs, New York.

2967
03:15:34.920 --> 03:15:37.719
I laid down in the hotel's uncomfortable bed and put

2968
03:15:37.719 --> 03:15:40.719
my head down on the pillow and felt every bump

2969
03:15:40.760 --> 03:15:44.840
and bruise from today's encounter. My wounds would heal by mourning,

2970
03:15:44.920 --> 03:15:48.520
but still, that old lady tossed me around pretty good.

2971
03:15:48.559 --> 03:15:51.319
And if I hadn't gotten a lucky break, I'm sure

2972
03:15:51.399 --> 03:15:53.959
she'd be picking me out of her fangs right now.

2973
03:15:55.040 --> 03:15:59.520
I could have died today. I got lucky, or I

2974
03:15:59.600 --> 03:16:04.559
got drifting off to a strange and unusual sleep. I

2975
03:16:04.719 --> 03:16:09.079
passed out and had nightmares all night. The following morning,

2976
03:16:09.639 --> 03:16:12.280
I was awakened by my phone ringing off the hook

2977
03:16:12.559 --> 03:16:15.520
and about thirty missed calls. I tried to get my

2978
03:16:15.600 --> 03:16:18.040
eyes to focus on the tiny screen and see who

2979
03:16:18.040 --> 03:16:22.239
had called. It was Rheanne. I called her back, and

2980
03:16:22.319 --> 03:16:25.200
immediately I knew something was wrong from the second she

2981
03:16:25.280 --> 03:16:28.079
answered the other line. Where the hell have you been?

2982
03:16:28.760 --> 03:16:30.959
I've been trying to call you all night? Are you okay?

2983
03:16:31.120 --> 03:16:33.239
Are you all right? What the hell happened to you?

2984
03:16:34.479 --> 03:16:37.399
I tried to sound cool and brave, but I get

2985
03:16:37.399 --> 03:16:40.120
the feelings she wasn't in the mood for my particular

2986
03:16:40.200 --> 03:16:44.559
brand of humor. Well, I went to the morgue to

2987
03:16:44.600 --> 03:16:47.440
see a corpse and got jumped by three of them. Instead.

2988
03:16:48.239 --> 03:16:51.040
She exhaled loudly. I could tell it was a mix

2989
03:16:51.120 --> 03:16:55.719
between frustration and relief. Are you okay, Quinn? Talk to me.

2990
03:16:56.520 --> 03:16:58.680
Rhianne's voice had this thing in it that made you

2991
03:16:58.760 --> 03:17:02.040
want to confess what you were really feeling, especially when

2992
03:17:02.079 --> 03:17:07.799
you didn't want to honestly, No, I'm not Something is

2993
03:17:07.840 --> 03:17:10.600
pretty fucked up here in upstate New York. One of

2994
03:17:10.600 --> 03:17:13.959
those things almost got the best of me. I've never

2995
03:17:14.000 --> 03:17:20.200
fought anything like them before. Something is very, very wrong here, Caroline.

2996
03:17:20.520 --> 03:17:22.600
If I'd known, I would have never sent you there

2997
03:17:22.639 --> 03:17:25.799
in the first place. She was sorry beyond words, and

2998
03:17:25.920 --> 03:17:27.680
part of me could hear that she was on the

2999
03:17:27.760 --> 03:17:30.959
verge of crying, almost like I could feel her lip

3000
03:17:31.040 --> 03:17:34.159
tremble on the phone. I know you had no clue.

3001
03:17:34.479 --> 03:17:37.280
I'm waiting on the call from the department on what

3002
03:17:37.319 --> 03:17:39.920
we're going to do next. I don't have a good

3003
03:17:39.920 --> 03:17:43.959
feeling about this. I'm legitimately worried what this could all mean.

3004
03:17:44.440 --> 03:17:47.280
On one hand, I had always quietly suspected that the

3005
03:17:47.280 --> 03:17:51.559
paranormal war was escalating on some level. I was living

3006
03:17:51.600 --> 03:17:55.000
proof that hybrids of some type were possible, even if

3007
03:17:55.040 --> 03:17:58.680
we don't know exactly what I was. There were other

3008
03:17:58.799 --> 03:18:02.360
troubleshooters who were a mix of paranormal and superpowered, but

3009
03:18:03.079 --> 03:18:07.680
we're remarkably few in numbers, like less than fifty identified

3010
03:18:07.719 --> 03:18:12.000
across the entirety of North America. I should let you rest,

3011
03:18:12.040 --> 03:18:16.159
but Caroline, you be careful out there. I know you

3012
03:18:16.200 --> 03:18:18.920
think you're invincible, and like nothing can hurt you. But

3013
03:18:19.159 --> 03:18:22.760
you're human like the rest of us, know when to run. Okay,

3014
03:18:24.000 --> 03:18:27.360
she said, I was human. There are days I wish

3015
03:18:27.360 --> 03:18:31.159
I was. I'm not human. I don't know what I

3016
03:18:31.200 --> 03:18:35.520
am honestly. I will look when I get back to

3017
03:18:35.559 --> 03:18:37.719
the city. Why don't we get together and maybe get

3018
03:18:37.719 --> 03:18:41.239
dinner in a movie like old times. I'd like that.

3019
03:18:42.280 --> 03:18:45.680
I'll talk to you soon, Quinn. She paused for a second,

3020
03:18:45.719 --> 03:18:48.360
and I could tell she stopped herself from saying something

3021
03:18:48.399 --> 03:18:52.680
more before she hung up the phone. I love you too.

3022
03:18:53.799 --> 03:18:56.280
I sat in the hotel room and stared at the

3023
03:18:56.319 --> 03:19:00.680
peeling wallpaper and was just alone with my thoughts. What

3024
03:19:00.719 --> 03:19:03.200
am I going to do? How am I going to

3025
03:19:03.239 --> 03:19:06.399
do it? I finally asked myself the hard question of

3026
03:19:06.440 --> 03:19:11.319
the day. How many people are going to die? The

3027
03:19:11.360 --> 03:19:15.280
phone rang again. I wanted it to be Rheianne and

3028
03:19:15.319 --> 03:19:17.479
for her to talk me out of this assignment and

3029
03:19:17.559 --> 03:19:19.559
to come back to New York, and for her to

3030
03:19:19.600 --> 03:19:23.239
convince me to leave this world behind and run. It

3031
03:19:23.319 --> 03:19:26.920
wasn't Rheanne. It was the Department, and it was the

3032
03:19:26.959 --> 03:19:30.120
secured line that you never wanted to call you directly.

3033
03:19:31.000 --> 03:19:35.600
Director James Carlson, Department of Paranormal Resources, the guy whose

3034
03:19:35.639 --> 03:19:38.520
desk issues the orders, and the guy who could sign

3035
03:19:38.600 --> 03:19:42.440
your death warrant should the need arise. This was about

3036
03:19:42.440 --> 03:19:47.200
to turn my Halloween into a fucking horror show. Agent Quinn,

3037
03:19:47.799 --> 03:19:51.120
the situation has changed. We're preparing to activate the Cradle

3038
03:19:51.120 --> 03:19:54.200
of Liberty protocol in the city of Hope Springs. Assets

3039
03:19:54.239 --> 03:19:57.639
will be on the scene within the next hour. My orders, sir,

3040
03:19:58.520 --> 03:20:01.360
Megaton and Phase will be on and the Hammer and

3041
03:20:01.399 --> 03:20:04.520
Carpenter teams will support them. You coordinate with the other

3042
03:20:04.600 --> 03:20:07.920
gifted on scene. I want that nest burned to the ground.

3043
03:20:08.319 --> 03:20:11.639
Burn the city to the ground if you have to, sir,

3044
03:20:12.639 --> 03:20:17.280
what about the civilians? Like I said, the situation has changed,

3045
03:20:17.680 --> 03:20:22.319
consider all civilians as hostile. What in the fuck did

3046
03:20:22.319 --> 03:20:25.719
he just say? Were they really going to activate the

3047
03:20:25.719 --> 03:20:29.079
Cradle of Liberty protocol? What the hell did they even mean?

3048
03:20:30.120 --> 03:20:32.559
The line went dead and a text message appeared with

3049
03:20:32.600 --> 03:20:35.680
a set of coordinates and a timestamp of one hour.

3050
03:20:37.159 --> 03:20:40.639
Oh fuck, this was it, wasn't it. The paranormal war

3051
03:20:41.600 --> 03:20:45.319
just escalated. An hour later, I was at the arranged

3052
03:20:45.360 --> 03:20:48.479
meeting place and the air was grim. It was a

3053
03:20:48.479 --> 03:20:51.879
small farmhouse that had been requisitioned for use as a

3054
03:20:51.920 --> 03:20:57.879
staging area. Soldiers, heavy equipment, and helicopters, and the Supers

3055
03:20:57.920 --> 03:21:02.200
showed up. Before the world changed fifty years ago, superheroes

3056
03:21:02.239 --> 03:21:05.799
wore colorful costumes and capes and were larger than life

3057
03:21:05.799 --> 03:21:10.079
and existed purely as fiction. Now, in the time of kevlar,

3058
03:21:10.360 --> 03:21:13.920
synthetic fabrics and utility ruled the day, and it was

3059
03:21:14.040 --> 03:21:17.280
less tights and spandex and more tactical gear with a

3060
03:21:17.319 --> 03:21:21.920
few colorful adornments. A few of the more outlandish supers

3061
03:21:21.959 --> 03:21:25.680
wore stuff that people only wore at Halloween, but most

3062
03:21:25.760 --> 03:21:29.680
were modest about their abilities. It should be noted that

3063
03:21:29.920 --> 03:21:33.200
very few people can successfully pull off wearing a cape

3064
03:21:33.239 --> 03:21:36.360
and actually have it look cool. A group of about

3065
03:21:36.360 --> 03:21:38.680
twelve of us stood by the barn and watched as

3066
03:21:38.680 --> 03:21:41.719
a man descended from the sky with a purple cape

3067
03:21:41.760 --> 03:21:46.680
billowing behind him very dramatically. Megaton always knew he had

3068
03:21:46.719 --> 03:21:49.319
to make an entrance, and always made sure that you

3069
03:21:49.440 --> 03:21:52.319
knew he was on the scene, and that he was

3070
03:21:52.440 --> 03:21:56.840
the best and brightest of all the gifted world. I

3071
03:21:56.920 --> 03:21:59.719
didn't care for him, but I couldn't deny how powerfull

3072
03:21:59.719 --> 03:22:04.159
he was was strong, tougher than me, and a unique

3073
03:22:04.200 --> 03:22:07.600
ability to repel the force used against him. Oh and

3074
03:22:07.959 --> 03:22:11.959
he could also fly a shimmering red light beside him.

3075
03:22:11.959 --> 03:22:16.639
As Megaton landed and from a glowing red portal stepped Phase,

3076
03:22:17.399 --> 03:22:20.600
the woman known as Phase, whose gifts allowed her limited

3077
03:22:20.639 --> 03:22:26.200
teleportation and energy manipulation. She was a real showstopper, but

3078
03:22:26.440 --> 03:22:30.120
young and often reckless when she was in combat against

3079
03:22:30.120 --> 03:22:34.680
paranormal threats. The Supers were fine fighting against other gifted

3080
03:22:34.760 --> 03:22:39.280
and villains like Hurricane and Dread, but paranormal entities were

3081
03:22:39.280 --> 03:22:43.120
a different breed. The last super to arrive pulled up

3082
03:22:43.120 --> 03:22:46.799
on a tricked out motorcycle. He was a combat expert

3083
03:22:46.920 --> 03:22:50.920
known as Mnemonic. His ability was to learn in a new,

3084
03:22:51.040 --> 03:22:55.040
instantaneous manner, and he used his abilities to learn all

3085
03:22:55.200 --> 03:22:59.000
sorts of martial arts and weaponry. He was a show off,

3086
03:22:59.040 --> 03:23:01.719
but let me tell you he was the best shot

3087
03:23:02.239 --> 03:23:06.559
likely on the entire planet Earth. Well, all of us

3088
03:23:06.600 --> 03:23:09.520
were here now, and it was time to get to work.

3089
03:23:10.120 --> 03:23:13.360
The team leader for Hammer and Carpenter Squad stepped forward,

3090
03:23:14.159 --> 03:23:19.280
typical military bravado and swagger that depended on superior firepower

3091
03:23:19.319 --> 03:23:23.600
and overwhelming numbers trust me. I've seen this movie before

3092
03:23:23.680 --> 03:23:26.719
and it never ends well for the guys with the guns.

3093
03:23:27.120 --> 03:23:30.920
But this is the hand we've been dealt. Captain Tony

3094
03:23:31.040 --> 03:23:35.559
King and Lieutenant Tanya Dante. They nicknamed these two TNT,

3095
03:23:35.879 --> 03:23:38.840
and for good reason, a lot of shit tended to

3096
03:23:38.840 --> 03:23:42.479
blow up in their presence. Okay, we have a good,

3097
03:23:42.559 --> 03:23:45.959
actionable intelligence and we're going to act on it immediately.

3098
03:23:46.079 --> 03:23:49.319
Hope Spring's retirement community is a vampire nest and is

3099
03:23:49.360 --> 03:23:52.079
about to be as infested as a place can get.

3100
03:23:52.760 --> 03:23:55.879
Think of a goddamn cockroach infestation, and you've got a

3101
03:23:55.879 --> 03:23:58.559
pretty good idea of what we're up against. We do

3102
03:23:58.639 --> 03:24:02.319
have an advantage. The amps are new, inexperienced, and still

3103
03:24:02.319 --> 03:24:05.280
not used to their powers. This means the new staff

3104
03:24:05.280 --> 03:24:08.079
from the Pentagon should make short work of them. Our

3105
03:24:08.159 --> 03:24:11.760
significant threat has been identified as a new hybrid type

3106
03:24:11.879 --> 03:24:15.159
vampire lord. We believe it to be an individual named

3107
03:24:15.280 --> 03:24:18.600
Terry Fisher. We know how strong they can be, but

3108
03:24:18.719 --> 03:24:21.399
this new lord seems to only be recruiting from the

3109
03:24:21.399 --> 03:24:24.959
weak and feeble, so not exactly fighting the Russians or

3110
03:24:25.000 --> 03:24:28.600
the North Koreans. Here, Dante said matter of factly as

3111
03:24:28.600 --> 03:24:31.959
she laid out the information for all of us. Captain

3112
03:24:32.040 --> 03:24:34.799
King stepped forward and pointed to the group of about

3113
03:24:35.040 --> 03:24:39.520
twelve soldiers behind him and gestured toward their weapons. We

3114
03:24:39.600 --> 03:24:42.159
have state of the art fire power and enough ammunition

3115
03:24:42.200 --> 03:24:45.120
to shoot at anything that moves. We have enhanced fire

3116
03:24:45.200 --> 03:24:48.600
support in terms of a troubleshooter and their superpowered allies.

3117
03:24:49.079 --> 03:24:51.280
There is no reason we can't wrap this up by

3118
03:24:51.319 --> 03:24:53.920
morning and be home for breakfast. I'd like to go

3119
03:24:53.959 --> 03:24:57.239
get a grand Slam at Denny's afterwards. So who's with me?

3120
03:24:58.600 --> 03:25:03.040
I sighed? Surrounded by overconfidence and itchy trigger fingers and

3121
03:25:03.120 --> 03:25:06.440
show offs with superpowers, is it too late to go

3122
03:25:06.479 --> 03:25:10.600
work at Applebee's. I looked at the assembled superpowered individuals

3123
03:25:10.879 --> 03:25:13.520
and approached them and tried to be as friendly as

3124
03:25:13.559 --> 03:25:17.360
I could. I worked with Megaton and Phays before in Boston,

3125
03:25:17.440 --> 03:25:20.479
but I'd never worked with Mnemonic. I don't like going

3126
03:25:20.479 --> 03:25:23.280
into a combat situation with people I don't trust, and

3127
03:25:23.440 --> 03:25:26.040
especially people who had declined to help when their country

3128
03:25:26.079 --> 03:25:29.280
needed them. I told them what happened this morning at

3129
03:25:29.280 --> 03:25:32.559
the Morgue, and they laughed at me. They wanted to

3130
03:25:32.600 --> 03:25:36.000
know how the great Agent Caroline Quinn could get her

3131
03:25:36.040 --> 03:25:38.280
ass kicked by an old man and a few ladies

3132
03:25:38.319 --> 03:25:42.280
from Bingo. I told them to take this seriously. This

3133
03:25:42.520 --> 03:25:45.879
wasn't your usual bloodsucker. They didn't want to hear it.

3134
03:25:46.399 --> 03:25:48.440
They laughed it off and said it would be easy.

3135
03:25:49.600 --> 03:25:53.120
I remember how Boston happened, and Megaton and Phase should

3136
03:25:53.159 --> 03:25:57.200
have too. King and Dante barked orders across the staging

3137
03:25:57.239 --> 03:25:59.840
area for everyone to get ready. As we were wheels

3138
03:25:59.920 --> 03:26:02.360
up up in five minutes and got on board of

3139
03:26:02.360 --> 03:26:05.479
the choppers. I went and got my gear loaded up

3140
03:26:05.879 --> 03:26:09.959
and enhanced protective vest, my trustee, baby Jane, and a

3141
03:26:09.959 --> 03:26:13.000
few of the UV grenades. I guess we were as

3142
03:26:13.079 --> 03:26:16.360
ready as we were gonna be. This was gonna be bad,

3143
03:26:17.040 --> 03:26:25.280
wasn't it. As the helicopters flew over Hope Springs, it

3144
03:26:25.360 --> 03:26:29.280
was kind of pretty in a sense. It was Halloween

3145
03:26:29.360 --> 03:26:32.000
night and trick or treaters could be seen walking down

3146
03:26:32.000 --> 03:26:35.719
the streets with their parents or friends. This town had

3147
03:26:35.799 --> 03:26:39.120
no idea what was happening in it. You could almost

3148
03:26:39.159 --> 03:26:42.040
feel the sense of fun and joy that people were having.

3149
03:26:42.920 --> 03:26:44.760
I wish I didn't have to bring hell to this

3150
03:26:44.879 --> 03:26:49.719
little place, but it can't be helped. The two aircraft

3151
03:26:49.760 --> 03:26:52.600
cut through the night sky and headed towards the retirement

3152
03:26:52.639 --> 03:26:56.559
home and presumably where this was going to end. I

3153
03:26:56.639 --> 03:26:59.719
glanced out the side door and saw Megaton keeping pace

3154
03:26:59.760 --> 03:27:03.959
with us. Us Megaton still had that stupid, over confident

3155
03:27:04.079 --> 03:27:07.639
smile on his face. One of the things I learned

3156
03:27:07.760 --> 03:27:11.399
very early on in my career was never underestimate your enemy,

3157
03:27:12.040 --> 03:27:15.559
no matter how weak they appear. An enemy is most

3158
03:27:15.639 --> 03:27:18.959
dangerous when they are cornered, and especially when they're on

3159
03:27:19.000 --> 03:27:22.920
their own turf. We started to begin our descent onto

3160
03:27:22.920 --> 03:27:25.600
the lawn of the retirement home, which was a two

3161
03:27:25.639 --> 03:27:28.719
story structure that looked like it was built fairly recently.

3162
03:27:29.600 --> 03:27:32.360
It looked super modern and almost out of place for

3163
03:27:32.440 --> 03:27:34.440
a town that looks like it was taken out of

3164
03:27:34.440 --> 03:27:39.680
a postcard advertising for rural charm. Captain King slid the

3165
03:27:39.719 --> 03:27:42.600
side door open of the helicopter and looked back at

3166
03:27:42.639 --> 03:27:47.319
all of us in his command and patted his weapon. Okay, kids,

3167
03:27:47.639 --> 03:27:51.239
it's time to visit Grandpa, he cheered as he pulled

3168
03:27:51.280 --> 03:27:55.079
down his night vision goggles above his eyes. No sooner

3169
03:27:55.120 --> 03:27:58.719
did the words leave his mouth. Things began to go

3170
03:27:58.920 --> 03:28:02.680
immediately wrong. King was yanked out of the door and

3171
03:28:02.760 --> 03:28:06.959
thrown screaming towards the ground by an unseen assailant. Everyone

3172
03:28:07.000 --> 03:28:10.280
couldn't comprehend what just happened to the Hammer Squad commander,

3173
03:28:10.719 --> 03:28:15.479
and everyone's jaw was just hanging open. Panic was not

3174
03:28:15.639 --> 03:28:20.600
unlike fire. When panic spreads uncontrolled, it spreads fast, just

3175
03:28:20.680 --> 03:28:24.920
like a forest blaze. Suddenly, without warning, the helicopter lurched

3176
03:28:24.920 --> 03:28:27.639
forward and pitched itself towards the ground in an out

3177
03:28:27.639 --> 03:28:30.879
of control spiral. Soldiers fell out of the open hatch

3178
03:28:30.959 --> 03:28:34.360
door and tumbled to their deaths. You are not surviving

3179
03:28:34.399 --> 03:28:36.879
that kind of a fall, with that kind of force.

3180
03:28:37.680 --> 03:28:39.760
I held onto my seat as best I could and

3181
03:28:39.799 --> 03:28:44.000
tried to unlatch my safety harness. I kneeded out fast.

3182
03:28:44.680 --> 03:28:47.600
We smashed into the ground hard and glass and metal

3183
03:28:47.680 --> 03:28:51.040
flew everywhere as the helicopter split apart from the impact,

3184
03:28:51.840 --> 03:28:55.440
Fire and small explosions happened all around us as we

3185
03:28:55.479 --> 03:28:58.399
skidded across the lawn and finally came to a stop

3186
03:28:58.719 --> 03:29:02.280
when we hit the entranceway of the structure. My safety

3187
03:29:02.319 --> 03:29:08.120
harness and enhanced durability probably kept me alive. Probably everyone

3188
03:29:08.200 --> 03:29:10.959
else was not so lucky. The other soldiers who were

3189
03:29:10.959 --> 03:29:14.239
still in their seats did not survive the crash. One

3190
03:29:14.239 --> 03:29:16.360
of them seemed to have caught shrapnel to the face

3191
03:29:16.399 --> 03:29:19.159
and neck, the other had her neck snapped by the

3192
03:29:19.200 --> 03:29:22.239
force of the crash, and another soldier whose face I

3193
03:29:22.280 --> 03:29:26.559
couldn't see, had been messily disemboweled by a piece of debris.

3194
03:29:27.120 --> 03:29:30.040
I could hear the other craft land safely, and then

3195
03:29:30.079 --> 03:29:33.959
I heard the sounds of gunfire outside and people screaming

3196
03:29:35.159 --> 03:29:38.559
time to go. I escaped my harness and the wreckage

3197
03:29:38.559 --> 03:29:40.680
of the crash and pushed my way out of the

3198
03:29:40.680 --> 03:29:44.760
shattered helicopter. The others had landed safely, but it didn't matter,

3199
03:29:44.799 --> 03:29:48.479
as they were completely surrounded by flying creatures, and they

3200
03:29:48.479 --> 03:29:52.639
weren't shooting with any precision. They were shooting wildly and

3201
03:29:52.719 --> 03:29:56.639
without thinking, except to empty their magazines at anything that moved.

3202
03:29:57.159 --> 03:29:59.719
If you can believe it, this is where things went

3203
03:29:59.719 --> 03:30:05.120
from bad to worse. Tanya Dante stood back to back

3204
03:30:05.200 --> 03:30:08.040
with Mnemonic in an attempt to keep some sense of

3205
03:30:08.120 --> 03:30:11.920
combat awareness. The pair at least were shooting with purpose

3206
03:30:11.959 --> 03:30:14.040
and even hitting a few of the creatures in the

3207
03:30:14.079 --> 03:30:17.879
air and potentially even killing a few, but I couldn't

3208
03:30:17.879 --> 03:30:21.760
be sure from all the muzzle flashes fall back fall back.

3209
03:30:21.799 --> 03:30:26.120
Goddamn it, Dante yelled at anyone who would listen. No

3210
03:30:26.319 --> 03:30:28.920
sooner did she yell that something swooped out of the

3211
03:30:28.920 --> 03:30:32.120
sky and picked her up by her shoulders and carried

3212
03:30:32.120 --> 03:30:36.040
her into the air. The lieutenant wasn't going down without

3213
03:30:36.079 --> 03:30:38.760
a fight, though, as she kept firing her weapon. As

3214
03:30:38.760 --> 03:30:42.680
she ascended into the sky with her captor, the monster

3215
03:30:42.879 --> 03:30:45.920
used its tremendous strength to throw her against a second

3216
03:30:45.920 --> 03:30:52.799
story building wall with enough force to shatter concrete. Mnemonic

3217
03:30:52.879 --> 03:30:55.639
looked at me in utter terror and started to run

3218
03:30:55.680 --> 03:30:58.879
away from the fight. He didn't make it fifty feet

3219
03:30:58.879 --> 03:31:02.239
before he was swarmed. The creatures tore the poor hero

3220
03:31:02.360 --> 03:31:06.079
to pieces within seconds, and fountains of blood spewed from

3221
03:31:06.120 --> 03:31:11.600
what remained of his body. That's enough, A powerful voice

3222
03:31:11.639 --> 03:31:15.920
echoed across the battlefield, and for a second, everyone stopped

3223
03:31:15.920 --> 03:31:20.639
fighting and shooting, and all eyes focused in that direction.

3224
03:31:21.479 --> 03:31:24.840
A person in medical scrubs emerged from behind the crashed

3225
03:31:24.840 --> 03:31:28.760
helicopter near the entrance and started walking towards the center

3226
03:31:28.799 --> 03:31:32.879
of all of us. The shimmering light distortion appeared beside

3227
03:31:32.879 --> 03:31:36.200
this new stranger, and FaZe stepped out and started to

3228
03:31:36.239 --> 03:31:39.239
engage in hand to hand combat with his new enemy.

3229
03:31:40.559 --> 03:31:44.159
She started kicking and punching with her attacks enhanced with

3230
03:31:44.200 --> 03:31:49.280
her bioelectric energy, and while spectacular looking, it didn't seem

3231
03:31:49.319 --> 03:31:52.559
to hurt this person at all. They just kept walking

3232
03:31:52.680 --> 03:31:57.639
towards the middle of the battleground. They kept walking towards me.

3233
03:31:58.920 --> 03:32:03.120
Stand still, fucker. Fase yelled as she kept up, but

3234
03:32:03.280 --> 03:32:07.120
none of her attacks seemed to affect them. Finally, enough

3235
03:32:07.239 --> 03:32:09.280
light was present that I could get a good look

3236
03:32:09.319 --> 03:32:12.479
at this person in the scrubs. It was a man

3237
03:32:12.680 --> 03:32:16.440
in his early twenties or maybe mid twenties at most.

3238
03:32:17.000 --> 03:32:20.760
He walked with a stride and purpose that someone who

3239
03:32:20.840 --> 03:32:24.719
knows their untouchable does. Fase stood in front of him

3240
03:32:24.760 --> 03:32:28.600
and cupped her hands together and thrust them forward and

3241
03:32:28.760 --> 03:32:33.079
hurled a huge bolt of blue, crackling lightning. The discharge

3242
03:32:33.120 --> 03:32:35.600
filled the air with so much power that I could

3243
03:32:35.680 --> 03:32:39.280
feel my hair pick up on a static charge. The

3244
03:32:39.360 --> 03:32:44.600
man kept walking past Phase and towards me. I said stop.

3245
03:32:45.239 --> 03:32:48.200
Fase teleported right in front of him and attempted to

3246
03:32:48.239 --> 03:32:52.239
stand in his way, and just as she rematerialized, the

3247
03:32:52.319 --> 03:32:57.000
man grabbed her by the throat. No, the man snapped

3248
03:32:57.000 --> 03:33:00.479
her neck and tossed her lifeless body to the with

3249
03:33:00.520 --> 03:33:04.799
a wet smack. Megaton chose his moment to dive bomb

3250
03:33:04.840 --> 03:33:08.680
the man from somewhere high above and create a huge

3251
03:33:08.719 --> 03:33:13.200
impact crater. The two struggled in exchanged blows while entangled

3252
03:33:13.200 --> 03:33:17.760
in each other's limbs. Okay, maybe this will make a difference,

3253
03:33:17.879 --> 03:33:21.639
Maybe this is the edge we need. Megaton grabbed hold

3254
03:33:21.639 --> 03:33:23.799
of the man and flew straight up into the sky,

3255
03:33:23.920 --> 03:33:28.000
out of sight, and for a moment, everyone stopped again,

3256
03:33:28.879 --> 03:33:34.159
absolutely transfixed by what happened. Vampire and soldier alike just

3257
03:33:34.239 --> 03:33:39.159
stood there and waited. You could hear a thunderous clash

3258
03:33:39.239 --> 03:33:42.440
of blows above us, high in the clouds, and it

3259
03:33:42.520 --> 03:33:46.120
echoed so loudly that the remaining glass near us vibrated

3260
03:33:46.399 --> 03:33:50.200
and threatened to shatter. Megaton had this guy on the

3261
03:33:50.280 --> 03:33:59.680
ropes America. Fuck yeah, take that Dracula. Then silence, thud.

3262
03:34:00.760 --> 03:34:03.520
A body hit the ground with such impact that it

3263
03:34:03.639 --> 03:34:07.200
exploded and coated everything near by in a shower of

3264
03:34:07.280 --> 03:34:11.799
blood and gore. The gentle flapping of leather wings carried

3265
03:34:11.879 --> 03:34:15.159
upon the night wind. The man and the scrubs had

3266
03:34:15.200 --> 03:34:19.760
transformed into his monstrous and vicious vampire lord. Form. In

3267
03:34:19.840 --> 03:34:23.920
his left hand, he held what was left of Megaton's head.

3268
03:34:24.799 --> 03:34:27.280
He smiled as he held it and looked at me

3269
03:34:27.799 --> 03:34:32.000
as he took a bite out of Megaton's face and

3270
03:34:32.200 --> 03:34:37.120
chewed on his flesh. Finish the others off, Leave this

3271
03:34:37.159 --> 03:34:42.120
one to me, he quietly whispered, and no sooner did

3272
03:34:42.120 --> 03:34:45.760
those words leave his ashen gray lips than the other

3273
03:34:45.879 --> 03:34:49.360
soldiers fell silent as they too joined their friends as

3274
03:34:49.520 --> 03:34:54.840
killed in action. This is it, Caroline Quinn. This is

3275
03:34:54.879 --> 03:34:58.959
where you die, Rhianne. I'm I'm sorry I wasn't better

3276
03:34:59.000 --> 03:35:02.920
to you. The menacing vampire lord flew right down in

3277
03:35:02.920 --> 03:35:05.520
front of me and stood up to his full hulking

3278
03:35:05.639 --> 03:35:11.479
height and towered above me. Jesus, this guy was huge.

3279
03:35:11.639 --> 03:35:14.760
We share the same blood, you and I. We're the

3280
03:35:14.799 --> 03:35:19.040
next step in ascending what humanity can be. We are

3281
03:35:19.159 --> 03:35:24.360
better than the cattle around us. Great. Not only am

3282
03:35:24.399 --> 03:35:26.360
I gonna die here, but I have to listen to

3283
03:35:26.440 --> 03:35:31.040
this dickhead monologue before he kills me or something worse.

3284
03:35:32.559 --> 03:35:37.280
Think Okay, okay, maybe that'll work. A piece of the

3285
03:35:37.280 --> 03:35:40.879
shredded helicopter about as long as a baseball bat and

3286
03:35:41.000 --> 03:35:44.719
sharp as hell, I can probably reach it. If I

3287
03:35:44.719 --> 03:35:49.559
can keep this idiot talking and inching me backwards, how

3288
03:35:49.600 --> 03:35:53.799
are we alike exactly? I'm not exactly feeling the whole

3289
03:35:53.920 --> 03:35:57.520
undead vibe or looking like something from a horror movie.

3290
03:35:58.399 --> 03:36:02.399
Keep him talking. I've known about others like you for

3291
03:36:02.440 --> 03:36:06.040
a long time. You aren't as special as you think.

3292
03:36:06.600 --> 03:36:09.639
You're what was created long ago by those who helped

3293
03:36:09.680 --> 03:36:15.079
us escape the confinements of the void. Okay, I have

3294
03:36:15.200 --> 03:36:19.079
no fucking clue what this guy is talking about. I

3295
03:36:19.200 --> 03:36:22.079
know who I am and more or less where I

3296
03:36:22.159 --> 03:36:26.840
came from. Right, I slowly back up and keep my

3297
03:36:26.920 --> 03:36:29.440
eye on a piece of shrapnel I'm hoping to turn

3298
03:36:29.479 --> 03:36:35.520
into a weapon. Void. Huh sounds like a nightclub. Your

3299
03:36:35.600 --> 03:36:39.760
attempts at delaying your fate are amusing, but it stops here.

3300
03:36:40.360 --> 03:36:42.920
Join others like yourself and take your place at the

3301
03:36:43.000 --> 03:36:47.360
unholy throne at the head of humanity. Turn this diseased

3302
03:36:47.479 --> 03:36:51.280
world into a paradise for those wronged by that from above.

3303
03:36:52.840 --> 03:36:55.399
I am not getting into a religious debate with this

3304
03:36:55.520 --> 03:36:59.760
goddamn monster. I stop, and I can feel my hand

3305
03:37:00.239 --> 03:37:04.840
the hot steel of the shrapnel. You know what I'm good.

3306
03:37:05.680 --> 03:37:07.959
I grab the piece of metal like a sword and

3307
03:37:08.120 --> 03:37:11.719
absolutely throw all of my momentum into a forward swing

3308
03:37:11.959 --> 03:37:15.920
at this thing's head. It blocks the strike with its

3309
03:37:15.959 --> 03:37:20.680
clawed hand. Oh shit. It gets a solid grip on

3310
03:37:20.760 --> 03:37:23.479
my left arm and breaks it at the wrist and

3311
03:37:23.600 --> 03:37:27.239
throws me aside roughly. I tumble toward the helicopter near

3312
03:37:27.280 --> 03:37:31.760
the entranceway and skid right into the doorframe. The vampire

3313
03:37:31.840 --> 03:37:38.000
lord continues advancing towards me. Okay, that didn't work. I

3314
03:37:38.120 --> 03:37:42.040
quickly assessed my situation and I got one last hail

3315
03:37:42.079 --> 03:37:45.479
Mary as it were. Just inside the wreckage is one

3316
03:37:45.520 --> 03:37:50.319
of the helicopter mounted weapons, and it looks relatively intact

3317
03:37:50.360 --> 03:37:54.040
despite its crash. The barrel appears to be fine, and

3318
03:37:54.079 --> 03:37:58.280
it seems spolled up to the magazine. I start crawling

3319
03:37:58.319 --> 03:38:01.239
my way inside the crash and try my best not

3320
03:38:01.360 --> 03:38:05.399
to get burned by the dying fires. You chose to

3321
03:38:05.520 --> 03:38:08.600
hide like a coward rather than live as a god

3322
03:38:08.680 --> 03:38:14.079
among mortals. Okay, it's time to shut the fuck up.

3323
03:38:14.600 --> 03:38:17.520
I pull myself forward and aim the mounted minigun out

3324
03:38:17.520 --> 03:38:20.440
the ruined door and squeeze the triggers on both sides

3325
03:38:20.479 --> 03:38:23.360
of the weapon. It hums to life with an electric

3326
03:38:23.440 --> 03:38:27.079
whirl as it begins to spin its rotating barrels. This

3327
03:38:27.239 --> 03:38:31.079
mini gun fires more of the enhanced AMMO except at

3328
03:38:31.200 --> 03:38:34.600
seven point six y two, which means that our vampire

3329
03:38:34.719 --> 03:38:37.840
Lord friend pretty much liquifies when I hit him with

3330
03:38:38.040 --> 03:38:42.479
hundreds of rounds, if not thousands of rounds per minute.

3331
03:38:42.559 --> 03:38:45.200
He doesn't even have a chance to look surprised before

3332
03:38:45.239 --> 03:38:49.840
I completely turn him into paste. There isn't much left

3333
03:38:49.879 --> 03:38:53.559
of him besides a pair of shoes, and I'm totally

3334
03:38:53.600 --> 03:38:57.639
okay with that. Silence fills the air once again as

3335
03:38:57.639 --> 03:39:00.879
soon as I stop firing and the barrel wind down

3336
03:39:00.959 --> 03:39:06.680
as the electric motor disengages, I won. I take myself

3337
03:39:06.719 --> 03:39:09.879
outside of the ruined chopper and back outside into the

3338
03:39:09.959 --> 03:39:13.600
night once again. I stand up and cradle my broken

3339
03:39:13.639 --> 03:39:17.440
wrist and notice a distinct lack of undead in my

3340
03:39:17.559 --> 03:39:21.719
immediate area. I fiddle inside my vest and look for

3341
03:39:21.799 --> 03:39:26.319
my phone and call in to Director Carlson, Agent Quinn. Here.

3342
03:39:26.719 --> 03:39:31.719
Operation to success. Vampire Lord eliminated, the other vampires escaped.

3343
03:39:32.040 --> 03:39:36.959
My team is gone. Everyone is gone, Megaton phase mnemonic,

3344
03:39:37.719 --> 03:39:42.520
everyone except me. This wasn't a success, not by a

3345
03:39:42.559 --> 03:39:47.760
long shot. Understood beginning Cradle of Liberty protocol your country.

3346
03:39:47.760 --> 03:39:51.959
Thanks you for your service, Agent Quinn. Wait what total

3347
03:39:51.959 --> 03:39:56.120
elimination of the target zone in fifteen minutes? Goodbye, Agent Quinn.

3348
03:39:57.239 --> 03:40:00.200
The line went dead, and so did every life in

3349
03:40:00.239 --> 03:40:04.520
the city. And it was darkness and the sound of

3350
03:40:04.559 --> 03:40:09.000
something sinister in the evening air. This was not my

3351
03:40:09.159 --> 03:40:13.920
idea of a Halloween prank. This is definitely not a treat.

3352
03:40:14.920 --> 03:40:20.200
This had to be a trick, right, This was not

3353
03:40:20.360 --> 03:40:32.520
worth two weeks of vacation in between by Shane Migliovokna.

3354
03:40:33.719 --> 03:40:38.520
Ruby Salazar felt herself slipping. She gripped the wood armrests

3355
03:40:38.520 --> 03:40:41.479
of the chair in the waiting room. She jolted awake

3356
03:40:41.559 --> 03:40:44.559
from her quick nap, only to lock her eyes on

3357
03:40:44.639 --> 03:40:49.000
a wildly grinning face painted on a large illuminated plastic

3358
03:40:49.040 --> 03:40:53.319
pumpkin sitting on a nearby desk. You have somebody coming

3359
03:40:53.360 --> 03:40:56.959
for you, hon, the ultrasound tech asked, as she smiled

3360
03:40:57.000 --> 03:41:01.479
gently at Ruby. Now you were my last for the day.

3361
03:41:01.959 --> 03:41:03.879
You can rest here, or I can see if there's

3362
03:41:03.920 --> 03:41:08.440
a room free. The tech smiled again. Ruby smiled weakly.

3363
03:41:09.360 --> 03:41:13.879
Here's good. Thank you. Somebody'll call you tomorrow with the results.

3364
03:41:14.239 --> 03:41:16.959
If you need anything, I'll be at my desk. The

3365
03:41:17.040 --> 03:41:21.600
tech left, leaving Ruby alone alone in a medical nightmare.

3366
03:41:21.639 --> 03:41:25.079
On Halloween of all days. A light in the corner

3367
03:41:25.079 --> 03:41:28.840
of the waiting room flickered and buzzed softly. Crying out

3368
03:41:28.920 --> 03:41:32.200
for a replacement, the tech sat down at her desk,

3369
03:41:32.600 --> 03:41:36.399
the seat creaking under her. Ruby sunk down in her

3370
03:41:36.479 --> 03:41:38.959
chair as she pulled up the hood of her black

3371
03:41:39.000 --> 03:41:43.479
sweatshirt to cover her head. Closing her eyes, she allowed

3372
03:41:43.479 --> 03:41:48.360
herself to drift off. She started to slip again. Her

3373
03:41:48.399 --> 03:41:50.959
head was spinning, her body felt as if it was

3374
03:41:51.040 --> 03:41:55.000
melting into the chair. Ruby's eyes snapped open. She stood

3375
03:41:55.040 --> 03:41:58.600
in a long, featureless hallway bathed in a crimson glow.

3376
03:41:59.040 --> 03:42:01.799
A steady hum reverberated from one end of the hall.

3377
03:42:02.600 --> 03:42:06.239
Walking toward the humming, she realized the floor was made

3378
03:42:06.280 --> 03:42:09.200
of water, which rippled at her feet as she walked.

3379
03:42:10.000 --> 03:42:13.120
As Ruby made her way down the hall, her progress

3380
03:42:13.239 --> 03:42:16.280
was slow. What should have been a short walk felt

3381
03:42:16.319 --> 03:42:19.120
like a ten minute one. As she neared the end

3382
03:42:19.159 --> 03:42:22.319
of the hall, the source of the humming came into view.

3383
03:42:23.000 --> 03:42:27.520
Two large metal forks parallel to one another. The space

3384
03:42:27.600 --> 03:42:31.159
between them shimmered like the sun on an ocean. Wave No,

3385
03:42:32.239 --> 03:42:38.079
A voicelike gravel filled her head. Do not. Ruby fell

3386
03:42:38.120 --> 03:42:40.879
out of the waiting room chair onto the carpeted floor.

3387
03:42:41.600 --> 03:42:45.280
She'd been dreaming. Ruby looked around the waiting room. Her

3388
03:42:45.319 --> 03:42:50.440
face was red with embarrassment. She was all alone. She stood,

3389
03:42:50.600 --> 03:42:53.799
The tech was gone, the light over her desk was off.

3390
03:42:54.200 --> 03:42:58.239
Even the fau jack o lantern was dark. How long

3391
03:42:58.280 --> 03:43:01.399
had she been out? Glancing up at the clock, she

3392
03:43:01.479 --> 03:43:05.440
was astonished to see it appeared stuck. The clock would

3393
03:43:05.479 --> 03:43:09.719
advance a minute and then snap back to the previous minute,

3394
03:43:09.760 --> 03:43:13.879
over and over. Ruby poked her head in a couple

3395
03:43:13.920 --> 03:43:17.559
of the exam rooms. Empty, she went to the door

3396
03:43:17.639 --> 03:43:22.120
leading out of the ultrasound area. Locked. She could see

3397
03:43:22.120 --> 03:43:25.559
the hallway beyond through the glass of the door. It

3398
03:43:25.639 --> 03:43:30.840
was empty as well. Hello, Ruby called out, pulling at

3399
03:43:30.879 --> 03:43:36.120
the door handle. Hello, anybody. She banged on the door

3400
03:43:36.200 --> 03:43:41.840
frantically at first, becoming more angry with each blow. Come on, somebody.

3401
03:43:43.000 --> 03:43:46.239
She went to the phone on the text desk, static.

3402
03:43:46.879 --> 03:43:51.159
She hit buttons trying to get a dial tone. Nothing worked.

3403
03:43:52.000 --> 03:43:54.879
Ruby sat at the desk for some time, her head

3404
03:43:54.920 --> 03:44:00.159
resting on her arms. She was trapped. Feeling desperate, she

3405
03:44:00.239 --> 03:44:03.159
got up and climbed onto the desk. She pushed a

3406
03:44:03.239 --> 03:44:07.479
large ceiling tile out, raining dust down on her. Climbing

3407
03:44:07.559 --> 03:44:10.000
up onto the metal frame that held the ceiling tiles

3408
03:44:10.040 --> 03:44:13.719
in place, Ruby was thankful she was small. She could

3409
03:44:13.799 --> 03:44:17.959
feel the tiles buckle under her weight. Just a little ways,

3410
03:44:18.520 --> 03:44:21.920
she whispered. She made her way past the door frame

3411
03:44:22.000 --> 03:44:26.280
and out over the hallway. Shit, Ruby cried out, cutting

3412
03:44:26.280 --> 03:44:30.280
her hand on an exposed screw. The surprise and pain

3413
03:44:30.440 --> 03:44:33.040
threw off her balance and she fell through a tile.

3414
03:44:33.600 --> 03:44:36.239
Catching herself at the last minute on the metal frame,

3415
03:44:36.879 --> 03:44:41.159
Ruby dangled over the hallway. Dropping down. She landed on

3416
03:44:41.200 --> 03:44:45.760
her feet. Son of a bitch. Her legs stung with pain.

3417
03:44:46.719 --> 03:44:49.399
Ruby rubbed her sore legs as she hunted for a

3418
03:44:49.440 --> 03:44:53.600
bathroom to clean her injured hand. All was silent save

3419
03:44:53.639 --> 03:44:56.239
for the sound of her breathing and the hum of

3420
03:44:56.280 --> 03:45:01.280
the overhead lights. She soon found some antiseptic gauze and bandages,

3421
03:45:01.319 --> 03:45:05.680
which admittedly was not that difficult given her hospital surroundings.

3422
03:45:06.399 --> 03:45:10.360
She sat in an empty examination room. The distinct possibility

3423
03:45:10.399 --> 03:45:13.319
that there wasn't another living soul in the hospital was

3424
03:45:13.360 --> 03:45:17.440
starting to sink in. How could she be all alone.

3425
03:45:17.840 --> 03:45:21.360
What had happened. Maybe there'd been some kind of fire

3426
03:45:21.479 --> 03:45:25.000
drill or bomb scare and she slept right through it.

3427
03:45:25.520 --> 03:45:29.479
From what she'd seen, it was possible. Some of the

3428
03:45:29.559 --> 03:45:33.159
rooms in the hall were a mess. Beds were overturned,

3429
03:45:33.159 --> 03:45:36.040
and all manner of papers and equipment littered the floor,

3430
03:45:36.479 --> 03:45:40.600
as if everybody had rushed out all at once. Yeah,

3431
03:45:40.959 --> 03:45:44.079
that had to be it. Everybody was outside. She was

3432
03:45:44.120 --> 03:45:47.200
the only dumbass in the hospital. She went to the

3433
03:45:47.239 --> 03:45:52.520
nearest window outside. Smoke hung thick in the air, making

3434
03:45:52.559 --> 03:45:56.239
it hard to see very far. A large shadow passed

3435
03:45:56.280 --> 03:46:00.920
over the window, headed towards the roofing up the side

3436
03:46:00.920 --> 03:46:04.879
of the hospital, making sharp clicking sounds as it went.

3437
03:46:09.440 --> 03:46:14.120
Ruby jumped back. She felt her heart race. That hadn't

3438
03:46:14.159 --> 03:46:18.959
been her imagination. There had been something out there. Sitting

3439
03:46:19.000 --> 03:46:22.639
behind the desk at the third floor nurses station, Ruby

3440
03:46:22.680 --> 03:46:26.200
pondered her next move. She picked up the receiver at

3441
03:46:26.239 --> 03:46:30.120
the desk. Instead of a dial tone, there was a

3442
03:46:30.159 --> 03:46:34.920
constant howl of static. Next, she tried the computer, which

3443
03:46:34.959 --> 03:46:38.239
flickered with a blank, bright red screen when Ruby tried

3444
03:46:38.239 --> 03:46:42.440
to log on. No hope there from somewhere on the

3445
03:46:42.479 --> 03:46:45.440
other end of the floor. Something crashed to the ground

3446
03:46:45.479 --> 03:46:53.399
in a loud, metallic bang. Ruby jumped up from her chair,

3447
03:46:53.479 --> 03:46:58.600
knocking it over. That thing had it come looking for her?

3448
03:46:59.520 --> 03:47:03.479
She dropped down, hiding behind the desk. There was a

3449
03:47:03.559 --> 03:47:08.879
sharp clickplack that grew closer and closer. Ruby had to

3450
03:47:08.920 --> 03:47:12.040
calm herself as she felt her heart start to race.

3451
03:47:13.159 --> 03:47:16.680
There was another loud crash as something fell to the floor.

3452
03:47:17.799 --> 03:47:24.040
A stale, rotting smell grew stronger, causing her to involuntarily gag.

3453
03:47:25.840 --> 03:47:31.600
The click clack stopped. Had it heard. Pulling herself under

3454
03:47:31.600 --> 03:47:36.840
the desk, she waited, trying not to breathe. Something knocked

3455
03:47:36.840 --> 03:47:40.079
the phone receiver from its cradle. It swung back and

3456
03:47:40.120 --> 03:47:44.200
forth briefly before the whole thing smashed to the floor.

3457
03:47:45.040 --> 03:47:49.319
The phone was quickly followed by the computer, keyboard and monitor.

3458
03:47:50.680 --> 03:47:54.840
Ruby stifled her urge to cry out. A shadow fell

3459
03:47:54.879 --> 03:47:59.079
over the floor in front of her before retreating. Suddenly,

3460
03:47:59.120 --> 03:48:02.239
there was a deafenite scraping sound as something tried to

3461
03:48:02.239 --> 03:48:05.840
pull the desk apart. She screamed and scrambled away from

3462
03:48:05.840 --> 03:48:09.319
the desk, only to come face to face with the

3463
03:48:09.360 --> 03:48:14.399
beast stalking her. Six red eyes stared back at Ruby

3464
03:48:14.680 --> 03:48:17.600
from a thing that looked like a mad scientist had

3465
03:48:17.639 --> 03:48:22.520
mashed a spider and a crab together. Mandibles clicked excitedly

3466
03:48:22.600 --> 03:48:26.920
in the creature's cavernous mouth. A long, hairy leg poked

3467
03:48:26.920 --> 03:48:31.159
at her just out of reach. Snatching up the desk chair,

3468
03:48:31.360 --> 03:48:33.879
Ruby held it up like a lion tamer from an

3469
03:48:33.879 --> 03:48:39.239
old movie. Back off, she ordered, trying to sound intimidating.

3470
03:48:40.079 --> 03:48:44.360
The spider crab thing hissed at her, fuck you too.

3471
03:48:45.000 --> 03:48:47.360
She hurled the chair at the thing with an angry swing,

3472
03:48:47.879 --> 03:48:50.159
not staying to see if the chair hit the beast.

3473
03:48:50.399 --> 03:48:53.959
Ruby ran down the hall. She skidded to a stop

3474
03:48:54.000 --> 03:48:58.959
at an intersection. Written on the wall in something disgustingly

3475
03:48:59.040 --> 03:49:04.239
brown was a message, this way if you want to

3476
03:49:04.280 --> 03:49:09.360
live under The message was a crudely drawn arrow pointing

3477
03:49:09.479 --> 03:49:14.680
left and left. She went. The spider crab thing screeched

3478
03:49:14.879 --> 03:49:18.799
as it skittered down the hall. In pursuit. Ruby bounded

3479
03:49:18.799 --> 03:49:22.159
down a couple of flights of stairs, following another arrow.

3480
03:49:23.079 --> 03:49:26.840
She stopped to catch her breath. How many levels did

3481
03:49:26.879 --> 03:49:30.680
the damn hospital have? Two more flights and she reached

3482
03:49:30.719 --> 03:49:35.079
the bottom. A single metal door greeted her. A small

3483
03:49:35.120 --> 03:49:38.479
glass window revealed little of what waited on the other side,

3484
03:49:39.079 --> 03:49:43.319
save for darkness. Up above came the sound of something

3485
03:49:43.799 --> 03:49:48.200
pounding against one of the metal doors. Fuck it, She

3486
03:49:48.319 --> 03:49:51.760
pulled the door open, stepping into a dimly lit corridor.

3487
03:49:52.520 --> 03:49:57.639
Broken glass crackled under her feet. Ruby pressed on until

3488
03:49:57.680 --> 03:50:01.399
she came to a door. Opening the the door caused

3489
03:50:01.440 --> 03:50:05.520
something to clang loudly. Looking up, there was an empty

3490
03:50:05.559 --> 03:50:10.559
metal can hanging down. It swung back and forth banging

3491
03:50:10.600 --> 03:50:15.680
on the door. Inside was some kind of storage area.

3492
03:50:16.399 --> 03:50:20.319
Metal chairs and trays were haphazardly jammed into the room.

3493
03:50:21.319 --> 03:50:24.120
The next room had the same kind of can in

3494
03:50:24.159 --> 03:50:29.360
the doorway, rig larger than the previous room. This one

3495
03:50:30.120 --> 03:50:34.200
was a boiler room. Water dripped from pipes and steam

3496
03:50:34.360 --> 03:50:38.520
hissed out of metal floor grates. Ruby shivered. It was

3497
03:50:38.559 --> 03:50:43.440
something from a nightmare. This whole thing was a flicker

3498
03:50:43.479 --> 03:50:45.479
of light from the far end of the room caught

3499
03:50:45.479 --> 03:50:50.319
her eye. In a small area behind the rusty, rumbling

3500
03:50:50.399 --> 03:50:57.000
boiler was some kind of shrine. Trinkets, jewelry, faded photos,

3501
03:50:57.440 --> 03:51:03.040
even bits of hair hung on the steell. What the hell,

3502
03:51:03.680 --> 03:51:08.239
she muttered, What do you have? A man's gruff voice

3503
03:51:08.319 --> 03:51:14.639
asked Ruby spun around. A large, scraggly man stood waiting.

3504
03:51:15.399 --> 03:51:18.920
His long, thinning hair was pulled back into a ponytail,

3505
03:51:19.159 --> 03:51:25.120
and he wore stained and faded janitor's coveralls. You work here,

3506
03:51:25.760 --> 03:51:29.959
Ruby asked, trying not to sound scared forever in a day.

3507
03:51:30.600 --> 03:51:36.479
The man replied, custodial technician. That's their bullshit term for janitor.

3508
03:51:37.000 --> 03:51:39.799
He chuckled, makes him feel better when I have to

3509
03:51:39.840 --> 03:51:44.639
clean the shitter. What's going on? Everybody's gone and there's

3510
03:51:45.440 --> 03:51:49.760
a monster. The man nodded. You fell through a crack.

3511
03:51:50.559 --> 03:51:58.360
You're stuck, stuck, stuck where out of time? Another world? Hell,

3512
03:51:59.040 --> 03:52:03.559
take your pick. Ruby felt weak, leaning against the walls.

3513
03:52:03.639 --> 03:52:07.600
She tried to make sense of what he told her. Well,

3514
03:52:08.479 --> 03:52:11.280
you want to get out of here, the janitor grumbled

3515
03:52:11.319 --> 03:52:14.799
after a few minutes. Yeah, I want to get out

3516
03:52:14.799 --> 03:52:19.000
of here. Good. I don't want a roommate. It's simple.

3517
03:52:19.399 --> 03:52:24.280
You pay me. I show you the way. Hey, she shivered.

3518
03:52:25.479 --> 03:52:29.600
I want food or something important to you, something with meaning,

3519
03:52:30.319 --> 03:52:34.920
a story. I collect him, He pointed to the shrine.

3520
03:52:35.159 --> 03:52:38.600
People that passed through here gives me a bit of

3521
03:52:38.680 --> 03:52:42.159
living again. The only things in this hospital are me

3522
03:52:42.280 --> 03:52:48.440
in those hissing bastards up there, Ruby rummaged through her pockets.

3523
03:52:48.799 --> 03:52:52.399
What if someone doesn't have something to pay you? The

3524
03:52:52.479 --> 03:52:56.399
man licked his lips and flashed her a greasy smile.

3525
03:52:57.920 --> 03:53:00.799
Then I send you on your way, and the way

3526
03:53:00.840 --> 03:53:06.040
you were blundering through here, they'll get you lickety split.

3527
03:53:07.559 --> 03:53:14.079
Or you go and bring me something from up there, shit,

3528
03:53:15.040 --> 03:53:23.239
Ruby whispered. Ruby pushed roughly past the janitor. She hadn't

3529
03:53:23.280 --> 03:53:25.680
eaten in some time, and it was starting to affect

3530
03:53:25.680 --> 03:53:28.920
her mood. Maybe she could mug a trick or treater

3531
03:53:29.040 --> 03:53:32.239
for some candy on her way home, if this nightmare

3532
03:53:32.319 --> 03:53:36.200
ever ends, that is, she thought. She opened the door

3533
03:53:36.200 --> 03:53:39.479
across from the boiler room. If you're looking for the

3534
03:53:39.520 --> 03:53:44.280
way out, won't do no good. It's locked and I

3535
03:53:44.440 --> 03:53:49.000
got the key. The janitor chuckled. If I'm going back

3536
03:53:49.079 --> 03:53:54.280
up there, I'm getting something to defend myself. Wouldn't happen

3537
03:53:54.360 --> 03:53:58.239
to have a rocket launcher, would you? This made the

3538
03:53:58.280 --> 03:54:02.239
man laugh harder. Inside the room there were some old

3539
03:54:02.280 --> 03:54:07.239
folded tables and rusty IV stands. Grabbing one of the stands,

3540
03:54:07.319 --> 03:54:11.360
Ruby swung it, feeling its weight in her hands. It

3541
03:54:11.440 --> 03:54:17.040
could work Ruby could feel the bemused janitor watching her. Next,

3542
03:54:17.120 --> 03:54:21.000
she needed something sharp. In a utility closet, she found

3543
03:54:21.040 --> 03:54:25.920
a broken floor lamp. Ruby carefully unscrewed the long glass

3544
03:54:26.000 --> 03:54:30.040
light bulb tube, Using a thick rag for protection, She

3545
03:54:30.200 --> 03:54:33.280
smashed the tube against a wall to create a jagged

3546
03:54:33.760 --> 03:54:38.200
glass shard. Carrying her fines back to the boiler room,

3547
03:54:38.559 --> 03:54:42.000
Ruby cleared a space on a work table. She removed

3548
03:54:42.000 --> 03:54:45.360
the metal pole from the ivy stand base, laying it

3549
03:54:45.440 --> 03:54:48.760
on the table. Taking the duct tape the janitor had

3550
03:54:48.799 --> 03:54:53.120
grudgingly provided, she firmly wrapped and secured the sharp glass

3551
03:54:53.120 --> 03:54:56.760
spear head to one end. Once the glass shard was

3552
03:54:56.799 --> 03:55:00.360
tightly bound, Ruby tested the balance and gripped of the

3553
03:55:00.399 --> 03:55:04.799
full spear. The janitor watched warily as she took a

3554
03:55:04.840 --> 03:55:13.120
few practice jabs. Okay, she nodded, I'm ready. The janitor smiled,

3555
03:55:14.159 --> 03:55:24.600
we'll see about that. Ruby held her makeshift spear at

3556
03:55:24.600 --> 03:55:28.479
the ready. She stepped out into the corridor, not far

3557
03:55:28.520 --> 03:55:33.479
from the ultrasound unit. Get in, get out, get downstairs,

3558
03:55:34.120 --> 03:55:38.079
she repeated the mantra. Ruby took a deep breath and

3559
03:55:38.159 --> 03:55:42.760
crept down the hallway iv stand, poised to strike the

3560
03:55:42.840 --> 03:55:47.520
hospital was eerily quiet, except for the buzzing of flickering

3561
03:55:47.600 --> 03:55:51.959
fluorescent lights. She paused outside the ultrasound unit where this

3562
03:55:52.120 --> 03:55:58.479
nightmare had started. The door was still closed locked. She'd

3563
03:55:58.479 --> 03:56:01.159
have to get back inside the sane way she'd escaped.

3564
03:56:01.719 --> 03:56:05.159
Dragging a gurney to the spot she dropped down. Ruby

3565
03:56:05.159 --> 03:56:08.600
climbed back up into the ceiling. Before she could pull

3566
03:56:08.639 --> 03:56:12.760
herself up, a bone chilling screech pierced the air. The

3567
03:56:12.799 --> 03:56:17.120
spider crab creature skittered around the corner, beady red eyes

3568
03:56:17.280 --> 03:56:22.120
fixed on Ruby. She swung the ivy stand, slashing at

3569
03:56:22.120 --> 03:56:26.600
its hairy legs. The creature recoiled with an angry hiss,

3570
03:56:28.840 --> 03:56:33.600
back off ugly, Ruby shouted, Brandishing her makeshift spear from

3571
03:56:33.639 --> 03:56:36.959
atop the gurney. She jabbed at the thing's eyes as

3572
03:56:37.000 --> 03:56:40.719
the gurney wobbled under her. It was useless fighting it here.

3573
03:56:41.200 --> 03:56:43.360
She needed to get on the other side of that door.

3574
03:56:44.319 --> 03:56:47.239
Throwing the spear at the thing's eyes, Ruby leaped for

3575
03:56:47.280 --> 03:56:51.200
the opening in the ceiling, jumping up. The creature's armored

3576
03:56:51.280 --> 03:56:54.360
legs smashed at the ceiling as Ruby pulled herself through

3577
03:56:54.399 --> 03:56:57.600
the spider web of metal that held up the ceiling tiles.

3578
03:56:58.319 --> 03:57:00.040
By the time she made it back into the the

3579
03:57:00.159 --> 03:57:04.680
ultrasound waiting room, she felt like passing out. Her lungs

3580
03:57:04.719 --> 03:57:08.479
burned as she gasped for air. Sitting on the edge

3581
03:57:08.479 --> 03:57:12.159
of the receptionist's desk, Ruby tried to catch her breath.

3582
03:57:13.079 --> 03:57:16.079
The door shook as the spider crab thing rammed it,

3583
03:57:16.399 --> 03:57:20.440
hissing angrily on the other side. Ruby slid off the desk.

3584
03:57:20.920 --> 03:57:23.440
She didn't have much time. The door wouldn't hold up

3585
03:57:23.520 --> 03:57:26.760
under that monster's attack. She needed to get what she

3586
03:57:26.879 --> 03:57:30.719
came for and get the hell out. In the doctor's

3587
03:57:30.760 --> 03:57:33.840
office next door to the ultrasound room, there were stacks

3588
03:57:33.840 --> 03:57:38.159
of papers and folders littering a large desk. No time

3589
03:57:38.200 --> 03:57:41.239
to be gentle, Ruby thought, as she rummaged through them,

3590
03:57:41.559 --> 03:57:45.120
dumping searched folders on the ground. It had to be here.

3591
03:57:45.879 --> 03:57:50.079
Out in reception the door began to splinter open. Hurry,

3592
03:57:50.959 --> 03:57:54.559
She threw a stack of papers on the floor. Nothing there.

3593
03:57:55.360 --> 03:57:59.319
Ruby looked up. There it was right where the doctor

3594
03:57:59.319 --> 03:58:03.360
had left it after showing her. Grabbing her prize, Ruby

3595
03:58:03.399 --> 03:58:06.559
stuffed it into her hoodie. The wood door splintered under

3596
03:58:06.559 --> 03:58:10.360
the spider crab's attack. Ruby grabbed a chair, swinging it

3597
03:58:10.399 --> 03:58:14.840
at the twisted monstrosity. She backed towards the ultrasound room.

3598
03:58:15.200 --> 03:58:18.399
The door was thicker. There, come on, you, ugly son

3599
03:58:18.440 --> 03:58:22.079
of a bitch, it hissed at her, its demon eyes

3600
03:58:22.239 --> 03:58:26.040
fixed on their prey. Ruby darted into the ultrasound room.

3601
03:58:26.760 --> 03:58:30.559
The thing closed in, ready for the kill. She'd only

3602
03:58:30.559 --> 03:58:33.680
get one shot at what she had in mind. Circling

3603
03:58:33.680 --> 03:58:35.799
around the large bed at the center of the room,

3604
03:58:36.280 --> 03:58:39.719
she put it between herself and the angry horror. With

3605
03:58:39.879 --> 03:58:42.920
all the strength she could muster, Ruby pushed the large

3606
03:58:43.000 --> 03:58:46.399
bed towards the creature, pinning the spider crab against the wall.

3607
03:58:47.520 --> 03:58:51.719
Ruby ran for the door. Suddenly, a claw lashed out,

3608
03:58:51.920 --> 03:58:54.559
grabbing her by the leg. Ruby let out a cry

3609
03:58:54.600 --> 03:58:58.239
of pain as it dug into her. She furiously kicked

3610
03:58:58.239 --> 03:59:00.920
at the thing's claw with her free legs, and when

3611
03:59:00.920 --> 03:59:03.840
that didn't work, she kicked at the bed, ramming it

3612
03:59:03.920 --> 03:59:07.200
repeatedly into the spider crab until it let her loose.

3613
03:59:08.079 --> 03:59:11.200
As the beast fought to free itself, Ruby scrambled out

3614
03:59:11.200 --> 03:59:15.040
the door, slamming it shut in her wake. Inside, the

3615
03:59:15.079 --> 03:59:22.120
spider crab screeched in protest, limping back Ruby found the

3616
03:59:22.200 --> 03:59:26.280
janitor sitting on the floor of the boiler room. Ruby

3617
03:59:26.319 --> 03:59:29.479
threw down the fruits of her quest, a pair of

3618
03:59:29.680 --> 03:59:35.239
X rays. It's back, she revealed. It was in remission,

3619
03:59:36.319 --> 03:59:42.760
not anymore. There's your story. The man nodded, then stood

3620
03:59:43.760 --> 03:59:47.639
follow me. He led her through a maze of hallways

3621
03:59:47.920 --> 03:59:51.680
through the inner recesses of the basement. After what seemed

3622
03:59:51.719 --> 03:59:55.520
like forever, they arrived at a small flight of concrete steps,

3623
03:59:55.920 --> 04:00:00.159
headed up to a set of double doors. I had

3624
04:00:00.200 --> 04:00:03.000
a deal, the janitor said, as he pulled out a

3625
04:00:03.000 --> 04:00:06.879
gold key on a gold chain from his coveralls, and

3626
04:00:06.959 --> 04:00:11.920
here we are the exit. Ruby started up the steps

3627
04:00:11.959 --> 04:00:15.680
and stopped. What's on the other side of those doors,

3628
04:00:16.840 --> 04:00:22.600
he shrugged. Can't say, Maybe away back, maybe more of

3629
04:00:22.639 --> 04:00:30.399
the same, maybe nothing. Why why do you stay? I've

3630
04:00:30.440 --> 04:00:33.799
been here a long time. It may be shitty here,

3631
04:00:33.840 --> 04:00:37.520
but I know what I got. Besides, there's always another

3632
04:00:37.559 --> 04:00:44.000
asshole coming through without me, he shrugged. The lock loudly

3633
04:00:44.040 --> 04:00:48.600
clicked as he turned the key. So get going, I'm

3634
04:00:48.639 --> 04:00:55.280
already bored of you, Ruby smiled. Thanks, yep. He backed

3635
04:00:55.319 --> 04:01:02.120
down the stairs. Good luck, and then she was alone.

3636
04:01:02.360 --> 04:01:05.840
Ruby put her hand on the door. It was warm

3637
04:01:05.920 --> 04:01:10.799
to the touch. She took a deep breath and pushed

3638
04:01:10.840 --> 04:01:20.440
the doors open. Ruby wandered the streets, ghosts and goblins

3639
04:01:20.479 --> 04:01:27.239
swirling around her, their gyrations fueled by sugar and mischief.

3640
04:01:28.479 --> 04:01:32.479
But all the Halloween haunts couldn't compare to the horror

3641
04:01:32.600 --> 04:01:38.200
she now knew existed in between our world and the

3642
04:01:38.200 --> 04:01:50.200
world beyond. That's all for tonight, my Spookies, seven terrifying

3643
04:01:50.360 --> 04:01:55.559
tales of Halloween horrors. If you're still catching your breath,

3644
04:01:55.639 --> 04:01:59.239
well don't worry. We'll be back next Tuesday with another

3645
04:01:59.360 --> 04:02:03.040
round of horror straight from the vault. But of course

3646
04:02:03.120 --> 04:02:06.200
there's always something scary to listen to here at Weekly

3647
04:02:06.280 --> 04:02:10.159
Spooky in October, so make sure you're subscribed on your

3648
04:02:10.200 --> 04:02:13.879
favorite podcasting app and remember tomorrow there's a brand new

3649
04:02:14.000 --> 04:02:19.000
story never heard before until next time. Keep your jack

3650
04:02:19.040 --> 04:02:24.280
O lanterns lit because they keep the spirits away. Make

3651
04:02:24.319 --> 04:02:29.280
your costumes extra creepy so that you're not discovered. And

3652
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make sure you're candy is stashed somewhere safe because I'll

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tell you right now, we're all looking for it. We'll

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see you next time. Keep the Halloween vibes going and

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going