Aug. 16, 2024

Serial Killers Unleashed - Four Stories of Murderous Mayhem!

Serial Killers Unleashed - Four Stories of Murderous Mayhem!
Apple Podcasts podcast player badge
Spotify podcast player badge
Spreaker podcast player badge
Audible podcast player badge
Castro podcast player badge
RSS Feed podcast player badge
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconSpreaker podcast player iconAudible podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player icon

Four terrifying stories of murderers on the loose! These aren't supernatural killers or monsters lurking int he dark... These are your friends, your neighbors... your spouse...

Support Us and Get Bonus Shows on Patreon!

Contact Us/Submit a Story
twitter.com/WeeklySpooky
facebook.com/WeeklySpooky
WeeklySpooky@gmail.com

Music by Ray Mattis http://raymattispresents.bandcamp.com

Executive Producers
Rob Fields
Mark Shields
Bobbletopia.com

Produced by Daniel Wilder

This episode sponsored by
HenFlix.com

🎧 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

1
00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:05.360
Hello, my spookies, and welcome back to another compilation of

2
00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:09.400
some of the greatest and most terrifying stories ever told

3
00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:12.919
here on Weekly Spooky. I'm, of course your host and

4
00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:16.719
narrator Enrique Kuto, and I love putting these together. I

5
00:00:16.760 --> 00:00:20.839
love the trip down memory lane. And this month's theme

6
00:00:21.480 --> 00:00:26.920
is equally insane. Hey that rhyme, all right? This compilation

7
00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:33.119
is all about killers. That's right. No ghostly apparitions coming

8
00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:37.640
to get you. No monsters crying in the woods at night. No, no.

9
00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:42.039
The killers in these stories might just live next door

10
00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:45.280
to your house. You might just see them as you're

11
00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:48.119
in the produce isle at the grocery store. And if

12
00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:52.520
that's not terrifying, I don't know what is. So get

13
00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:55.560
comfortable as I bring you six tales of terror and

14
00:00:55.640 --> 00:00:58.640
make sure you're subscribed on your favorite podcasting app. As

15
00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:03.640
we start the first story right now, Blood Rage.

16
00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:09.280
By Rob Fields.

17
00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:13.519
It's been seven months since I spoke to you. I

18
00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:16.439
believe it was during the winter when I was sick

19
00:01:16.519 --> 00:01:21.799
with the flu. At the time, I was after Delphine Brewster,

20
00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:25.879
Sloane's daughter Rigby, who had gone on a murder spree

21
00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:31.879
all because of her love for Franklin, Sloane, Delphine's stepson,

22
00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:36.760
turned into an obsession. I had Rigby prepared and was

23
00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:43.120
ready to claim her to satisfy my bloodlust. Unfortunately, my

24
00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:47.799
sickness became my undoing and it nearly killed me. This

25
00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:52.120
allowed Rigby to escape. She's still out there as of now,

26
00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:57.920
which is seven months from that time. Franklin and I

27
00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:01.640
haven't really talked. Delih fiend still calls me to check

28
00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:04.640
up on me and make sure I'm okay. I've been

29
00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.360
doing everything I can to keep my sex drive in control,

30
00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:14.120
but I'm to the point where i must mate. It

31
00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:17.159
has also been some time since I've claimed a victim.

32
00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:22.000
In addition to my sex drive, my bloodlust is also

33
00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:26.680
pushing me. It's late August, the summer semester has ended.

34
00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:30.439
The fall semester won't begin for two more weeks. I

35
00:02:30.479 --> 00:02:34.800
currently work as a college intern for the Strickfield Police Department. However,

36
00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:39.319
I'm also a serial killer. I'm sitting alone in my

37
00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:43.360
dorm room at Strickfield University brushing my shoulder length, dirty

38
00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:47.680
blonde hair. I almost always never have a roommate. For

39
00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:50.879
the record, I have never killed any of my roommates,

40
00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:55.000
not when all of them were innocent. During my time

41
00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:58.039
here at Strickfield, you, I've had a grand total of

42
00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:03.479
three roommates' lunked out, one got pregnant, and one left

43
00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:06.560
to live with her boyfriend. I sigh when I think

44
00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:10.560
about how I've lived in this dorm room alone. It's

45
00:03:10.599 --> 00:03:14.319
good for being a serial killer. However, I'm in desperate

46
00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:18.560
need of a mate. Then I hear a knocking at

47
00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:21.240
my door. I put my brush down and go to

48
00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:24.199
see who it is. I open the door to see

49
00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:31.199
my potential new mate, Detective Drake Casmirak morning rage. I

50
00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:35.039
fake a smile, hey you. When I see he's got

51
00:03:35.039 --> 00:03:37.960
food in his hands, I step aside and invite him in.

52
00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:42.639
We've got a case, Drake says, I brought you breakfast.

53
00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:45.439
Then he hands me the coffee he's picked up from

54
00:03:45.479 --> 00:03:49.360
our campus coffee house, the Bitter End, and breakfast from

55
00:03:49.400 --> 00:03:53.360
Denoyer's Grill. I remember that Drake lives one block from

56
00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:56.919
my dorm. The smell of dark roast coffee and the

57
00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:02.039
pancakes trigger that physical sensation of I want to sit

58
00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:05.120
down to eat, but Drake is quick to tell me

59
00:04:05.719 --> 00:04:08.039
we need to go now. You can eat your breakfast

60
00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:10.759
on the way. Let me put my shoes on and

61
00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:14.120
we'll leave, I say. After I put my sandals on,

62
00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:15.960
Drake and I walked to the other side of the

63
00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:19.720
campus to the fraternity houses. Soon we're at the one

64
00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:22.160
we need to go into. I was able to wolf

65
00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:25.399
down my breakfast, but I still had my coffee in hand,

66
00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:30.560
two physical tastes that I really enjoy in life, coffee

67
00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:34.319
and pancakes. Two officers are in the bedroom when we

68
00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:37.959
come in. They explained that a fraternity brother came back

69
00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:41.399
and found the body. As long as Drake is with me,

70
00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:44.920
I'm free to act as if I'm a full fledged detective.

71
00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:48.600
He lets me walk around and look for clues. The

72
00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:52.120
first thing I check is the body, which I quickly

73
00:04:52.199 --> 00:04:56.199
notice is very pale, and then I see the two

74
00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:59.680
telltale puncture marks on the left side of his neck.

75
00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:03.959
I've seen enough on the body, and look around the bedroom.

76
00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:08.879
I find nothing else of great importance. Find anything, Devereux,

77
00:05:09.319 --> 00:05:15.040
Drake asks me, No, I say. Drake examines the body himself.

78
00:05:15.720 --> 00:05:19.519
Then he looks around the bedroom, but he doesn't find anything.

79
00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:22.839
No doubt he'll want to talk to me when we're alone.

80
00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:26.199
As soon as Drake tells the officers to go and

81
00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:30.399
radio in for the coroner. He does just that. I

82
00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:33.839
know you know something, Rage, I give him a blank look.

83
00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:37.279
There's no point in lying to him. He'll stay on

84
00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:40.040
me until I give him what he wants. You're not

85
00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:44.560
going to believe me. Talk to me, he insists. Did

86
00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:48.279
you see the two marks on the neck? I ask, yeah,

87
00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:51.959
hard to miss. What about him? I just come right

88
00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:55.800
out with it. It's a vampire. Drake gives me a

89
00:05:55.879 --> 00:06:00.160
funny look. What I told you you wouldn't believe me.

90
00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:04.600
I'm dead serious here, Drake, it's a vampire. He gives

91
00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:07.800
me another odd look. I think you're hitting the books

92
00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:11.360
way too hard. Rage. Fine, I'll go look for the

93
00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:15.720
vampire myself, I tell him. He quickly takes gentle hold

94
00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:19.839
of my forearm. No you can't, honey. Remember you are

95
00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:23.040
still my intern until you graduate, which won't be for

96
00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:26.199
another year. Yet. You have to have me with you

97
00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:29.360
in order to conduct an investigation on your own. I

98
00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:34.000
fake a smirk. Okay, then, Detective, come with me. I'll

99
00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:36.720
prove to you that this was indeed a vampire and

100
00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:42.319
that vampires are quite real. Our eyes meet. Then Drake

101
00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:46.759
leans in and kisses me softly on the lips. I've

102
00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:49.959
known for many months that he feels emotions for me.

103
00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:53.199
In fact, I knew that from the first day we

104
00:06:53.279 --> 00:06:58.319
met many months ago, when Chief Kasmirak, Drake's uncle, told

105
00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:00.480
him that he was to be my mentor from that

106
00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:04.120
point on. The Chief also told me that we would

107
00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:07.839
be full partners once I graduated from the university and

108
00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:11.160
come to work for him full time. This isn't the

109
00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:14.360
first time that Drake's kissed me like this. I wrap

110
00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:18.040
my arms around him and kiss him back. I've read

111
00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:21.720
Drake's emotions and know that he's fallen in love with me. Also,

112
00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:25.000
I'm not blind to his true purpose for coming to Strickfield.

113
00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:29.199
He's looking to find the Angel of Death and put

114
00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:32.800
an end to everything. But what he doesn't know is

115
00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:37.439
that he's kissing the Angel of Death, the name the

116
00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:41.759
media has given me as a serial killer. Regardless, I've

117
00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:45.199
decided that this man, who is seventeen years older than me,

118
00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:49.639
will be my new mate. For the record, I'm twenty one.

119
00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:54.639
We stop kissing then I tell him if we're caught

120
00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:56.800
doing this, we could both be in a lot of trouble.

121
00:07:57.240 --> 00:08:00.879
We're supposed to be professional in a student teach your manner.

122
00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:04.480
We've been seeing each other for months, Drake whispers to

123
00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:08.800
my lips. Are you going to tattle? I'm just saying

124
00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:11.839
those two officers could come back at any moment. I

125
00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:15.959
whisper back. Drake can't resist me and kisses me again.

126
00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:20.160
I kiss him back. I need him so badly that

127
00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:24.040
I almost lose control, but I stay focused on just

128
00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:27.600
kissing him. When we stop kissing, I take his hand.

129
00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.480
Let me show you that I'm not making this up.

130
00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:34.480
It is a vampire. How do you know, though, rage

131
00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:38.799
Drake demands, because I've killed three of them before, I

132
00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:43.360
admit without hesitation. Yes, I'm taking a big risk and

133
00:08:43.399 --> 00:08:47.000
telling him this, but he needs to know and understand.

134
00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:51.080
It's also part of my plan, which you'll find out

135
00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:54.399
about later. I raise my hand and show him a

136
00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:58.120
book of matches. I did find another clue on the body.

137
00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:02.840
Drake looks at it. Shakers. You weren't going to tell me,

138
00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:04.080
were you?

139
00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:04.200
No?

140
00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:07.759
But now that you know, you have to come with me.

141
00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:11.559
He's still holding me to him. Damn right, I'm coming

142
00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:15.840
with you. Come on, we'll go investigate Shakers together. We'll

143
00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:18.360
have to wait until they open at four. They're closed

144
00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:21.799
now fine, I'll come by and pick you up at

145
00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:26.200
three thirty. We share one more passionate kiss before he

146
00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:32.799
walks me back to my door. Drake and I walk

147
00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:36.000
into Shakers, a bar on the outskirts of the village

148
00:09:36.039 --> 00:09:40.080
that Strickfield University students tend to frequent. One of the

149
00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:43.200
workers is there when we walk in. We ain't open

150
00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:47.440
for another fifteen minutes, he says. Drake shows him as badge.

151
00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:50.279
That's okay, we just want to talk to you. Were

152
00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:53.360
you here last night? Yeah, I close most every night,

153
00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:56.679
he replies. Drake shows him a picture of the victim.

154
00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:00.720
He looked familiar to you. Yeah. He comes in here

155
00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:04.559
and drinks quite a bit, usually with his fraternity. Don't worry,

156
00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:08.039
he's over twenty one. I know he just graduated. Last

157
00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:10.120
night was goth night. He was in here with some

158
00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:14.679
different people, goth people, shiny leather, dressed in black, look pale.

159
00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:17.120
He's been in here with them a couple of times.

160
00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:20.799
He was sure drunk off his ass last night. Do

161
00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:24.320
you know where the goth people came from? I ask?

162
00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:27.600
I mean, do you think they're from the university or

163
00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:31.320
maybe from somewhere else. He starts to tell us he

164
00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:35.440
doesn't really know, but then he stops himself. Hold it,

165
00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:38.480
let me get into the computer real quick. It's one

166
00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:42.000
of those computers that doubles as a cash register. We

167
00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:44.799
wait for him as he touches the computer screen repeatedly.

168
00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:49.000
Then got the record right here. Everything was paid for

169
00:10:49.080 --> 00:10:52.080
with a credit card. The transactions are still here. The

170
00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:54.360
card the guy used didn't have a signature on the back,

171
00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:56.559
so I had to ask for some ID. It was

172
00:10:56.600 --> 00:11:00.480
a student ID from North Ridgeway University. He hands me

173
00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:03.559
a copy of the ID. We always scan the IDs

174
00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:06.519
in case of card fraud. We ask him a few

175
00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:09.480
more questions before we head out. As soon as we're

176
00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:11.720
back in Drake's car, we both look at the print

177
00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:15.600
out again. Looks like we're heading home. Honey, what you

178
00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:18.480
need to go to class? Drake asks quickly. I thought

179
00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:21.240
you were done. No, I mean we need to head

180
00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:25.039
to North Ridgeway. That's where I'm from. You do realize

181
00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:28.360
we have no jurisdiction in North Ridgeway, right, Drake asks,

182
00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.279
we don't. You're right?

183
00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:31.200
Then?

184
00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:34.879
I fake an apologetic look. Maybe I'd better do this

185
00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:39.360
on my own, Drake shakes his head quickly, not happening rage.

186
00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.120
I told you, I know what you said. I cut in,

187
00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:44.840
But the person I can get to help us is

188
00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:47.639
with the North Ridgeway PD and I'm telling you right

189
00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:52.159
now you do not want to meet her. She's my

190
00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:56.639
mom and she will eat you alive. What because I

191
00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:59.480
may be seeing you, Drake asks, with a wicked smile.

192
00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:04.080
I fake a sneer. You are seeing me, But Mama

193
00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:09.320
may want you all to herself. She's one wickedly wild cougar.

194
00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:13.159
I'll take my chances with your mom. I sigh and

195
00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:21.919
shake my head slowly. Okay, you were warned. Mama answers

196
00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:27.080
the front door and is so delighted, baby, you finally

197
00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:31.120
came home. Then she sees Drake and who is this

198
00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:35.279
yummy guy? She looks at me again, Are you fucking him?

199
00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:39.480
Because if you aren't, I'll gladly take him. Drake is

200
00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:43.080
immediately caught off guard when he sees and hears Mama

201
00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:46.679
and looks mortified. I take his hand and give him

202
00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:50.759
a sympathetic look that says I warned you. Here's the

203
00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:55.039
best way I can describe how Mama differs from me physically.

204
00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:59.120
I've overheard men at the campus describe me as a

205
00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:02.679
really hot chick. They've even commented on how big my

206
00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:07.039
tits are. But Mama, she's fifty but looks like she

207
00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:10.759
could easily pass for around thirty to thirty five. She's

208
00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:14.559
got a very hot body of her own, complete with long,

209
00:13:14.679 --> 00:13:19.679
wavy red hair that practically burns like fire, sparkling green eyes,

210
00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:24.279
six pack abs, and even bigger tits than mine. I'll

211
00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:27.879
let you in on a little secret. Mama's tits are fake.

212
00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:31.840
She got them done when she was actually thirty as

213
00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:36.919
a birthday present to herself. Mine are indeed all natural,

214
00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:40.799
and Mama sometimes looks at me with jealousy because of it.

215
00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:44.679
Mama looks at me with a devilish grin. Baby, did

216
00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:47.000
you come home to tell Mama that you're gonna marry

217
00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:52.720
this man? Drake is mortified again. Oh my god, I

218
00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:55.559
let go of Drake's hand and take Mama's. Drake and

219
00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:58.240
I are on a very important case right now. I'm

220
00:13:58.279 --> 00:14:01.279
still an intern at Strickfield PD, and he's my mentor.

221
00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:06.639
We came here to look for somebody a vampire. Mama

222
00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:10.919
gets real serious now inside. She steps aside and lets

223
00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:14.799
us come in. Mama's got a huge house, enough for

224
00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:17.559
a good ten people to live in. This is the

225
00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:20.200
house I was raised in. Ever since I left for

226
00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:24.480
Strickfield University, she still chooses to live here all by herself.

227
00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:27.759
Since Mama is still the hot cougar, she's out getting

228
00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:31.240
as many young college studs as she can. I catch

229
00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:34.120
her stealing peaks at Drake, and I know I have

230
00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:36.919
to keep him with me. If Mama gets him alone

231
00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:41.559
and works her feminine charms on him, she'll completely devour him.

232
00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:46.320
This woman has both incredible energy and a very high libido.

233
00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:49.720
As ravishing as she still looks at fifty, almost no

234
00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:53.200
man can say no to her. Mama stops checking out

235
00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:55.759
Drake for the moment and motions for us to come

236
00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:59.039
to the den where she keeps her computers. You sure

237
00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:00.000
you're after a vampire?

238
00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:00.600
Baby?

239
00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:03.960
Positive? I tell her about the puncture marks we found

240
00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:07.279
on our victim. Drake hesitates, but he points a shaky

241
00:15:07.320 --> 00:15:12.120
finger at Mama. You you mean you you actually believe

242
00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:15.360
in vampires too. Mama looks him right in the face.

243
00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:18.679
If Baby tells you it's a vampire, then you better

244
00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:21.320
fucking listen to her. I've had plenty of dealings with

245
00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:25.279
those blood sucking motherfuckers myself. I taught baby everything I

246
00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:28.200
know about vampires, among other things.

247
00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:34.919
If you thought that was scary, just you wait, weekly spooky.

248
00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:36.120
We'll be right back.

249
00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:41.320
I hand Mama the picture from Shakers. Have you seen

250
00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:45.600
this guy before? She shakes her head slowly. I don't believe,

251
00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:49.360
so that's why I've got this computer. She puts the

252
00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:52.399
photo into a scanner next to the black computer, her

253
00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:57.080
dark Web computer. About a minute later, a graphic display

254
00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:01.879
appears of the guy. Maximilian thoughts with a name like that,

255
00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:04.679
he's likely to be a vampire. She turns to us,

256
00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:07.240
and you came to me because your lead is here

257
00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:11.240
and you need a cop from North Ridgeway to assist you. Correct,

258
00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:15.960
I reply, but Drake is very observant. Wait a minute,

259
00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:20.320
Assuming vampires are real, aren't they supposed to not cast

260
00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:25.120
a reflection? Mama's quick. Some vampires use old bloodstone to

261
00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:28.240
let them cast a reflection that's old with an E

262
00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:31.399
on the end. Mama turns to me and folds her

263
00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:34.279
arms in front of her. You know, baby, I was

264
00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:37.399
expecting you home for Christmas. If I didn't know better,

265
00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:40.440
i'd swear you were avoiding me. Am I really that

266
00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:43.759
bad of a mama to you? Do I really embarrass

267
00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:47.000
you that much. I tell Mama that I stayed in

268
00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:51.639
Strickfield to help work cases with the police, which is true. Also,

269
00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:54.159
I've had to claim victims from a few of those

270
00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:58.440
same cases. In other words, Mama does not know that

271
00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:03.240
baby is a serial killer. Mama sighs. Unfortunately, that's one

272
00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:06.559
of the many sacrifices that comes with the badge. This

273
00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:08.920
is what you get for wanting to follow in my footsteps.

274
00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:14.039
Baby Drake brightens up. You're a detective two. Mama shows

275
00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:19.480
him her badge, Detective Chantelle Devereux, North Ridgeway, PD, And yes,

276
00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:23.279
I'll help you with your vampire. In fact, I know

277
00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:25.920
where all the vampire hotspots are here in the city.

278
00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:29.000
Later that night, the three of us leave the house.

279
00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:33.000
This time we hop into Mom's fire engine red Corvette.

280
00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:36.519
Believe me, she loves tearing up the streets with her

281
00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:41.759
favorite toy. She speeds down one street, then another. Eventually

282
00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:44.240
she veers right into the parking lot of a nightclub

283
00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:49.240
called After Hours. After going inside and looking around, we

284
00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:53.160
don't find anyone matching the description of the photo. We

285
00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:55.880
get back in the corvette and go to a second club,

286
00:17:56.359 --> 00:18:00.720
Dark Paradise. No luck there. Third time times a charm,

287
00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:05.400
Third times a charm. When we arrive at Noir, as

288
00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:07.759
soon as we show the photograph to a bartender, she

289
00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:12.680
points Maximilian Thorn out. We approach him to talk. As

290
00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:15.880
soon as Mama flashes her badge, he throws his drink

291
00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:18.920
in her face and turns to run. Drake is very

292
00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:21.359
surprised at my agility when I put my hands on

293
00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:24.279
the table and leap right up on top of it.

294
00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:28.000
Then I launch myself and tackle Maximilian to the floor.

295
00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:31.039
He snatches me up and shows me his fangs before

296
00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:33.720
he shoves me away so hard that I fall and

297
00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:37.119
slide almost all the way to the jukebox. Looks like

298
00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:41.759
Maximilian Thorn is our vampire. Drake comes and helps me up.

299
00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:45.079
Your Mom's already after him. Come on, Drake and I

300
00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:48.559
catch up with Mama as she finally tackles the vampire.

301
00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:51.279
He's about to turn and face Mama. When I come

302
00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:55.640
to her side, I remove my necklace, a crucifix and

303
00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:58.759
hold it out to the vampire. When he's clearly not

304
00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:02.160
being affected, Mamma shoves my arm down and produces her

305
00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:05.359
own crucifix. Thorn raises his hands in front of him.

306
00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:09.599
Now I can tell Mama's pissed at me, Reagan. How

307
00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:11.960
many motherfucking times do I have to tell you you

308
00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.920
need to have faith if you want your cross to

309
00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:17.599
work on these fucking things? How many times she only

310
00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:21.440
called me Reagan when she was upset with me? Sorry, Mama,

311
00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:26.559
I say, She sighs and speaks calmly. I'm sorry I

312
00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:29.720
went off on you, but this is very important. She

313
00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:32.720
puts a hand on my forearm. Remember where you came

314
00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:36.319
from and who raised you? Right, baby, Mama still holds

315
00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:39.920
her cross as she grabs Maximilian by his hair. Now,

316
00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:43.279
you motherfucker, you were at a bar called Shakers over

317
00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:46.440
in Strickfield. I suggest you tell my baby girl here

318
00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:50.519
everything that she wants to know. Maximilian seems ready to

319
00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:54.119
argue with Mama, but then he sees me and suddenly

320
00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:59.960
becomes very scared. What the hell are you? No doubt

321
00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.519
out he's seeing what many of my past victims have

322
00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:06.880
called my evil face. They've said that my eyes have

323
00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:11.240
glowed red, and or that I'm pure evil. I've often

324
00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:14.680
wondered how I can be truly evil if I'm protecting

325
00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:18.640
innocence time and time again. For the record, I have

326
00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:22.720
never taken an innocent life, not even when my bloodlust

327
00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:26.119
is nagging me to be satiated. Every serial killer has

328
00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:30.160
a code they follow, and I have mine. Mama raised

329
00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:32.839
me to be a good girl. I truly believe that

330
00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:35.839
it was because of her teachings and values that I

331
00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:39.480
destroy the scum that I find and leave the innocence alone.

332
00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:44.599
Killing innocence is a line I will never cross. Maximilian

333
00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:47.559
spews out everything he knows to Mama just like that.

334
00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:51.359
He reveals that it was his sister, whose name is Sheranda,

335
00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:55.319
that drank the fraternity boy. Apparently he thought she was

336
00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:58.279
going to turn him, but she only intended to feed.

337
00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:02.319
Maximilian tells me, Mama that Sharanda's crypt is in the

338
00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:05.960
big cemetery a few blocks from the university. We listen

339
00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:09.079
as he gives us all the details. Then he points

340
00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:13.119
to me, just keep her away from me. Mama looks

341
00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:16.720
right at me, then she turns back to him. What

342
00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:20.880
is your problem with my daughter? Maximilian points at me again,

343
00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:24.640
Trust me, you do not know what true evil is,

344
00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:30.119
and he just pissed Mama off. She produces a steak

345
00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:34.000
and jams it right into his heart. He dies after

346
00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:38.440
some twitching and shrivels up until he becomes bones. He's

347
00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:41.160
not a master vampire, so we don't also have to

348
00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:45.839
decapitate him. Mama turns to Drake and me, Okay, I've

349
00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:47.880
got weapons in the car. I can tell you right

350
00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:51.000
now that this Saranda is not going to be alone.

351
00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:54.519
She suddenly reaches out and slaps Drake's shoulder. Hey, head

352
00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:58.240
in the game, boy, you just saw one vampire. Shit's

353
00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:01.240
about to get real from here. Now's not the time

354
00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:03.599
to be a fucking pussy, especially when you're fucking my

355
00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:08.319
baby girl. But Drake sputters again, caught off guard by Mama.

356
00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:12.880
Let's get going, Mama says. We enter the North Ridgeway

357
00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:16.559
Memorial Cemetery. It's still summer, but it happens to be

358
00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:20.319
a cool night. Fog is all over the graveyard. I

359
00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:24.519
can read Drake's face and know that he's scared. Personally,

360
00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:28.160
I can't blame him. He's finally learning that vampires are real.

361
00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:32.200
We follow Maximilian's directions until we come to the crypt

362
00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:35.000
he told us about. We have to whisper, to talk

363
00:22:35.039 --> 00:22:38.319
to each other for the moment. There's a vamp outside. Mama,

364
00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:41.359
I tell her, how do you know he's a vampire?

365
00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:45.279
Drake asks, use your mirror. There's enough light by the crypt.

366
00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:49.720
Turn the mirror around and look. Drake gasps and nearly

367
00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:52.720
drops his mirror. I catch it and give it back.

368
00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:57.720
Careful and be quiet. Vampires have very very good hearing.

369
00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:02.359
No telling how many of those fucking bloodsuckers are inside.

370
00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:05.400
Mama tells us we're just going to have to launch

371
00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.359
and all out assault. She glances at Drake as he's

372
00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:13.279
holding a weapon Mama gave him. Remember aim for the heart.

373
00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:17.200
Mama holds up her hand and counts her fingers down

374
00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:21.079
from five to zero. Now we move. Mama takes down

375
00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:23.920
the vampire outside by firing a steak into his heart.

376
00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:27.559
He doesn't even scream as he falls over and dies.

377
00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:31.160
We enter the crypt and find four more vampires, including

378
00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:34.799
a girl. She must be Saranda. The vampires see the

379
00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:37.119
three of us and stand up. They show us their

380
00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:39.799
fangs and produce their claws. Drake and I don't give

381
00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:42.240
them time to think. We both fire our weapons and

382
00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:44.680
catch two of them in the heart with steaks. I

383
00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:49.839
breathe with satisfaction as my bloodlust is finally sated. Ah,

384
00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:54.680
that just leaves the one remaining male vampire and Sharanda,

385
00:23:55.759 --> 00:24:00.680
you won't stop me. Saranda hisses, transforming into a bat.

386
00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:05.079
Then she flies right past us. Baby, I I've got

387
00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:07.400
this Mama. I turn and run out of the crypt

388
00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:11.119
and pursue Saranda. Using the skills I've accumulated, both from

389
00:24:11.160 --> 00:24:14.319
Mama and my many years as a serial killer. I

390
00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:18.119
track Saranda to another part of the cemetery. You should

391
00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:22.160
have never left your pack, Sharanda purrs at me. Someone

392
00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:24.880
has to destroy you. I tell her you killed that

393
00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:28.200
fraternity boy and left him dead in his room. She

394
00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:32.960
laughs coldly. He thought he was so special because he

395
00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:35.839
was in our company. He wanted to become one of us.

396
00:24:36.559 --> 00:24:40.440
He thought we were just glamour and high society. So

397
00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:44.240
I seduced him and finished him off by drinking him dry.

398
00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:48.759
And by your admission, you've just condemned yourself into my hands,

399
00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:53.240
I say. Saranda laughs again and raises her claws. I

400
00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:56.480
produce a crucifix and bring her to her knees. I

401
00:24:56.559 --> 00:25:00.039
already know the real truth about crosses. Faith in a

402
00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:03.720
crucifix doesn't mean belief in God or religion. It means

403
00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:07.880
believing that the crucifix will truly protect you. My lack

404
00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:10.839
of faith earlier was all just an act. And though

405
00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:13.920
I did kill one vampire a little bit ago, which

406
00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:19.319
satiated my bloodlust, I still want to kill Charanda. Saranda

407
00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:21.920
shrieks and launches herself at me to make me drop

408
00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:24.680
my cross. The two of us fight now. Like I

409
00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:29.079
told Drake, I've already bested three, now four other vampires.

410
00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:32.839
Thanks to my photographic memory, I know how they operate

411
00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:36.480
and can anticipate their moves. Saranda makes the big mistake

412
00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:39.759
of trying to warp behind me. I have a bottle

413
00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:41.759
of holy water in my hand and bring it up

414
00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:45.599
fast to splash her right in her face. She screams

415
00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:48.160
and covers her head as she falls to her knees.

416
00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:51.799
Then she finds out I'm much stronger than I look

417
00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:54.640
when I quickly raise my foot to her chin and

418
00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:58.640
connect hard enough to knock her out. Saranda wakes up

419
00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:01.000
to find that she's secure cured to the top of

420
00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:04.359
a burial vault in the middle of another crypt. I've

421
00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:08.079
got her bound with bungee cords and a crucifix just

422
00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:12.799
above her heart. No, you've bound me with your accursed cross,

423
00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:17.680
she growls. You've weakened me. I can't move. Yes, and

424
00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:22.559
now you belong to me. I show her my smartphone.

425
00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:25.880
I don't know every victim you've killed, but I do

426
00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:30.000
have one picture to show you. Remember the fraternity boy

427
00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:34.000
you killed. His name was Sheldon Hayes. He may have

428
00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:36.559
been trying to get in with your group, but he

429
00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:40.680
hadn't taken a life. He was still innocent. You killed

430
00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:45.720
him in cold blood, and now I claim you. Miranda laughs.

431
00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:49.079
You think you're going to end the killing with just me?

432
00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:50.480
Oh?

433
00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:52.480
I know there are many more of you out there,

434
00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:57.319
I assured her, But right now I'm only concerned with you. Tonight.

435
00:26:57.519 --> 00:27:01.119
You're going to be my latest victim. You're bound by

436
00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:04.640
that crucifix, which means you're staying right where you are.

437
00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:08.920
Miranda locks her eyes with mine and tries to glam me,

438
00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:12.640
but she's in for a surprise that one of her

439
00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:17.000
kind would never expect. She winces and finally starts screaming.

440
00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:20.920
Seeing that I'm not like other human beings, She finally

441
00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:24.200
turns her eyes away from mine. Like her dead brother,

442
00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:28.559
she also demands, what the fuck are you? You are?

443
00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:33.839
You're true evil incarnate. Now she's really frightened. Get away

444
00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:37.799
from me. I caress the side of her face. Tonight,

445
00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:41.559
your time as a vampire will end. I produce a

446
00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:46.640
steak and raise it, and now, Miranda Thorn, let the

447
00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:51.319
punishment fit the crime. Miranda screams as I bring the

448
00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:54.160
steak down with both hands and drive it right through

449
00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:58.039
her heart. I moan in great satisfaction as I feel

450
00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:02.359
my bloodlust being satiated for the second time tonight. Yes,

451
00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:07.279
vampires are undead creatures, but my bloodlust doesn't care about that.

452
00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:12.000
It's still a kill. And now she joins my hundreds

453
00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:15.200
upon hundreds of kills that are neatly logged in my

454
00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:19.920
photographic memory. I watched Sheranda shrivel up until she's nothing

455
00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:26.319
more than bones, not a master vampire rage. I turn

456
00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:29.680
around to see Drake standing there. What did you see?

457
00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:33.599
I ask him. He raises his hands. Okay, I'm a

458
00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:36.119
believer now, and I know I definitely don't want to

459
00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:39.680
make you mad. If I could feel humor, i'd probably

460
00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:43.440
find the statement funny. Perhaps one day I'll finally come

461
00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:47.839
to know emotions and feel humor. Drake had seen everything.

462
00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:51.480
This is the first time that anyone has seen me

463
00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:55.119
perform a kill in this case that works in my

464
00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:59.160
favor and was all part of my plan. If Drake

465
00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:03.359
ever suspet being the angel of death, this should throw

466
00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:06.559
him off my trail. Mama finds me and congratulates me

467
00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:09.759
on my kill. The three of us talk about how

468
00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:13.039
we're going to close the case of Sheldon Hayes since

469
00:29:13.079 --> 00:29:16.880
we destroyed all the vampires responsible for his murder. Mama

470
00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:20.799
suggests just letting the case be cold. Drake is quick

471
00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:23.559
to agree with her. We head back to Mama's house

472
00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:25.359
so that Drake and I can get in his car

473
00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:29.519
and head back to Strickfield. Of course, Mama tells me

474
00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:32.119
not to be a stranger and to come home more often.

475
00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:34.759
She also tells Drake that if he hurts me in

476
00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:39.039
any way, then he's going to answer to her. If

477
00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:43.720
you only knew, Mamma, if you only knew. When we

478
00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:46.759
return to Strickfield University, I let Drake walk me back

479
00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:49.440
to my dorm. He tells me to let him do

480
00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:52.759
all the talking to his uncle about our case. He

481
00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:55.960
assures me everything will be all right. When we reach

482
00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:00.240
my dorm, I unlock and open my door. Well, I

483
00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:03.000
guess i'll see you at the station tomorrow, Drake says.

484
00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:07.200
I sense he really doesn't want to leave me, and

485
00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:10.440
I know I can't let him go. I take his hand,

486
00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:14.240
stay here with me. It's just me here. I don't

487
00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:19.279
have any roommates. Drake seems uncertain. Should we be doing this?

488
00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:23.000
Like you said earlier, I'm your mentor and you're my intern.

489
00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:26.599
Our eyes meet. We've kept our dating a secret all

490
00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:30.519
this time, I remind him. Drake and I quickly move

491
00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:33.079
into the dorm. He kicks the door shut as we

492
00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:36.680
share a deep, passionate kiss. When we come apart, I

493
00:30:36.759 --> 00:30:39.279
take his hand again and lead him to my bed.

494
00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:42.839
My sex drive is literally screaming at me as we

495
00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:48.880
undress each other. I finally have a mate again. The

496
00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:52.079
next morning, Drake and I enter the Strickfield PD with

497
00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:55.920
bags of Denoyer's grill in our hands. We exchange mourning

498
00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:58.960
pleasantries with Drake's uncle before we head to the breakroom.

499
00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:02.200
Since alone, we put our food down so Drake can

500
00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:05.640
pull me to him and kiss me. You think your

501
00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:09.160
uncle knows, I ask, I really don't care if Uncle

502
00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:12.519
Jeffrey knows. Drake replies, I'm not going to kick you

503
00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:15.400
to the curb. If he does, you do, and Mama

504
00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:19.359
will be after you. Literally, I remind him. I can

505
00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:22.960
tell Drake's still intimidated by Mama. I put his mind

506
00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:26.039
at ease when I kiss him. Then he looks into

507
00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:31.920
my eyes. I love you, he says. I just return

508
00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:35.839
his look and caress the side of his face. After that,

509
00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:39.799
we sit down and have breakfast. He tells me he's

510
00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:42.200
frustrated that he hasn't been able to catch the Angel

511
00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:46.000
of Death yet. I know I'm in a very dangerous

512
00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:50.759
situation now and must always stay many steps ahead of him.

513
00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:56.559
Oh yes, Drake, you truly have captured the Angel of Death,

514
00:31:57.799 --> 00:32:00.359
more than you realize.

515
00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:14.000
Beard The Dinner Guests by Shane Migliavoka.

516
00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:17.599
Orville trench admired his reflection in the car window. He

517
00:32:17.640 --> 00:32:20.799
missed his long black ponytail and beard. His hair was

518
00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:24.480
cut short now. He ran a hand over his smooth chin.

519
00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:27.559
He'd had that beard so long it was like cutting

520
00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:30.759
off a limb. But it had to go. It was

521
00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:33.279
time to get a new car too. The old one

522
00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:37.880
would be drawing too much attention. Soon, Cherry Kowalski, the

523
00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:41.400
love of his life, appeared in the reflection. Her eyes

524
00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:45.480
were large, piercing and dark dark to match her long,

525
00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:49.680
wild black hair streaked with purple and green that hung

526
00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:53.079
to her shoulders. She twirled one of the long strands

527
00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:56.000
of hair around her index finger. Hanging around her neck

528
00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:59.440
was a simple silver necklace. A small plastic baby arm

529
00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:03.359
dangled from from it. You look good, she said, I

530
00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:07.440
didn't ask. Fuck you, she laughed, loudly, giving her lover

531
00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:12.039
double middle fingers. Orville spun around, grabbing her by the shoulders.

532
00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:19.079
His eyes narrowed. Oh, yes, yes, indeed. He scanned the

533
00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:21.960
parking lot of the convenience store. There were only three

534
00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:26.720
cars here, an old pickup truck, a rusting black Camaro,

535
00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:30.440
and a fairly new suv. Not much to pick from.

536
00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:34.359
Shouldn't be that many people inside. He looked at the

537
00:33:34.359 --> 00:33:38.559
sign over the door. It read quick save mart. It

538
00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:41.039
would be quick, all right. He couldn't wait to get

539
00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:44.559
out of East fuck Witt, New York. Orville touched the

540
00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:49.079
cold steel under his jacket, a Colt Trooper MK three,

541
00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:52.960
like the sheriff carried in walking tall, the seventies one.

542
00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:56.759
He loved that film, not that shit remake with that

543
00:33:56.920 --> 00:34:00.640
Nancy Boy wrestler. It hung from a shoulder holster under

544
00:34:00.680 --> 00:34:04.279
his jacket. A flaming devil face was emblazoned to cross

545
00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:08.360
the jacket's back, just as he expected. The door had

546
00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:11.800
a little bell that chimed when it opened. He sized

547
00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:14.800
up the store. Orville liked to think of himself as

548
00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:18.599
a hunter, though what he hunted you didn't buy a

549
00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:23.280
license for. The store was typical. Five asles of various

550
00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:27.119
overpriced crap, cold drinks in the back, and some not

551
00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:30.960
so fresh looking coffee. The kid behind the counter, who

552
00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:33.760
couldn't be older than twenty, didn't even look up from

553
00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:36.280
his cell phone when they entered. He was dressed to

554
00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:41.039
the nines and eminem cast offs. Another white boy wanna

555
00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:45.519
be He'd be easy enough. Picking through the beer was

556
00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:49.400
a bear of a man, dirty coveralls, baseball cap and

557
00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:52.599
a long, graying beard. Had to be the pickup driver.

558
00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:58.000
This one could be trouble. He'd be the first. The

559
00:34:58.079 --> 00:35:02.320
last customer was a young woman mid twenties. Two in

560
00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:06.599
the afternoon, and she's wearing fucking pajamas. Orville shakes his

561
00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:10.880
head too bad for her. She wasn't his type? Anything

562
00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:16.360
good for you, hun, he asks Cherry slim pickens. The

563
00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:20.079
big man came up to the counter carrying two six packs.

564
00:35:20.519 --> 00:35:22.760
He set them on the counter. It took a couple

565
00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:26.079
seconds before the kid looked up from his phone. That all,

566
00:35:26.199 --> 00:35:29.840
mister Scott, the kid asked for now, you know that

567
00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:33.400
damned phone gonna turn you into a zombie. Jimmy, all

568
00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:36.320
you kids just stare at them all the time, sucking

569
00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:40.960
your minds out. Not just kids doing it, seen plenty

570
00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:45.599
of adults too. Scott opens his wallet. Goddamn right about that.

571
00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:49.360
The wife is always doing that Facebook shit. Why you

572
00:35:49.400 --> 00:35:52.480
think I got these for tonight? The two have a laugh.

573
00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:57.079
Cherry makes a mock vomiting face to Orville. Orville mouths

574
00:35:57.360 --> 00:36:03.159
which one. Cherry nods towards large. Mister Scott, gonna start

575
00:36:03.159 --> 00:36:07.000
off Friday night, right, Scott says. Cherry slides up next

576
00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:10.360
to him. She leans against the counter, showing Jimmy her cleavage.

577
00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:14.440
His eyes go right to it. How's about speeding up

578
00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:19.159
all the talkie talkie, she says, Excuse me, young lady.

579
00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:24.119
Scott says, no need to be fucking rude. Orville stood

580
00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:26.880
next to the coffee pot, watching Cherry do her thing.

581
00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:30.360
He poured himself a cup, dropping in a ton of

582
00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:33.679
creamer and sugar, gulping down the cup in one go.

583
00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:36.719
I just want to make a purchase and go. Not

584
00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:40.519
listen to your fucking life story, she says, noticing she's

585
00:36:40.559 --> 00:36:43.920
not even holding anything. Cherry quickly grabs a handful of

586
00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:49.079
slim gems. These delicious treats. Yum, yum. Scott shakes his

587
00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:51.920
head and turns back to Jimmy. What do I owe you?

588
00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:56.400
Orville lets his eye flicker over the female shopper. She'd

589
00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:58.639
selected some chips and now stood in front of the

590
00:36:58.639 --> 00:37:03.320
soda cooler to the fun up front. Scott paid Jimmy

591
00:37:03.320 --> 00:37:06.760
and turned to leave, picking up his beer. Cherry blocked

592
00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:11.400
his way. Excuse me, miss, No, no, you don't get

593
00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:15.159
to leave until you apologize. Cherry stomped her booted foot

594
00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:18.599
hard on the floor. Just get out of my way,

595
00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:22.880
crazy bitch. He tried to push past her. Angry Cherry

596
00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:25.760
clawed him, opening red trenches on the left side of

597
00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:29.840
his face. Bitch. Scott dropped both of his six packs

598
00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:31.920
to the floor with a crash. Some of the cans

599
00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:35.719
exploded in a foamy blast. He made an unsuccessful grab

600
00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:40.480
at Cherry. Too slow, she laughed. Scott lunged at Cherry,

601
00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:43.480
only to come face to face with Orville's cult trooper.

602
00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:48.159
Orville smiled a wicked smile as he pulled the hammer back.

603
00:37:49.159 --> 00:37:52.880
Hands off, my girl. He pulled the trigger, sending Scott's

604
00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:57.239
brains all over the newspaper rack. Scott fell to the ground, twitching,

605
00:37:57.639 --> 00:38:00.440
lying on his back. Orville fired a couple more shots

606
00:38:00.480 --> 00:38:04.679
into the dying man's chest. He saw Jimmy behind the counter,

607
00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:08.920
his face slack with dull horror. Orville pointed the cold

608
00:38:08.960 --> 00:38:13.039
at him. Stay planted right there, ZiT, boy, You move,

609
00:38:13.480 --> 00:38:18.119
you die. The boy nodded, Shit, Ory, he was mine.

610
00:38:18.440 --> 00:38:22.400
Cherry pouts, and you took too long. The female shopper

611
00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:25.559
screamed at the top of her lungs and bolted. Orville

612
00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:30.920
sighs get her. Cherry let out a blood curdling scream

613
00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:34.039
and pursued her prey. Cherry grabbed hands from one of

614
00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:36.400
the shelves and hurled them at the woman. Where are

615
00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:39.800
you going? Baby? A can hit one of the glass coolers,

616
00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:43.280
cracking it. Another one hit the woman's leg. She fell

617
00:38:43.320 --> 00:38:46.000
against a display of dog biscuits, knocking it over with

618
00:38:46.039 --> 00:38:49.039
a loud crash. Cherry picked up a loaf of bread

619
00:38:49.239 --> 00:38:52.400
and beat the woman with it. Give up, she laughed,

620
00:38:52.639 --> 00:38:55.840
pulling the woman up by her hair. Orville watches the

621
00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:59.360
sad spectacle, laughing out of the corner of his eye.

622
00:38:59.639 --> 00:39:03.519
Jimmy inches towards his phone on the back counter. Don't

623
00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:07.559
even think about it, white chocolate. Cherry marched the pajama

624
00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:10.920
clad shopper up to the counter. Upon seeing Scott lying

625
00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:13.480
on the ground in a pool of blood, the captives

626
00:39:13.480 --> 00:39:17.960
started to sob. Oh, God, don't hurt me. Orville looked

627
00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:21.559
at the woman. Don't worry. Nobody's getting hurt as long

628
00:39:21.599 --> 00:39:24.920
as you give us a little ride. A glint of

629
00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:28.559
metal caught his eye too late. He saw Jimmy aiming

630
00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:31.719
a cheap pistol at him. The nervous boy squeezed the trigger,

631
00:39:31.800 --> 00:39:35.159
trying to fire one handed. The pistol fired wild. The

632
00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:38.079
bullet whizzed past Orville and hit the female shopper in

633
00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:41.159
the throat. Orville took aim with the colt and blasted

634
00:39:41.239 --> 00:39:44.199
Jimmy between the eyes. The boy slumped dead against a

635
00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:49.519
display of lotto tickets. Damn, Orville says, that was something.

636
00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:52.880
Orville looked over at the side of the counter at Jimmy.

637
00:39:53.320 --> 00:39:55.599
What brains he had leaking out of the wound above

638
00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:59.880
his eyes. Orville shot him again, you get to have

639
00:40:00.119 --> 00:40:05.440
all the fun, Cherry pouts. He holsters the colt. Get

640
00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:08.760
some supplies for the road. Orville walked over to the

641
00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:11.360
body of the woman. He crouched down and turned her

642
00:40:11.400 --> 00:40:15.000
on her back. She stares up at him with lifeless eyes.

643
00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:19.000
He rummages through her pajama pockets and pulls out a

644
00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:21.920
pair of keys. He was about to stand when a

645
00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:24.519
bell dinged as a car pulled up to one of

646
00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:27.199
the pumps. He looked back at Cherry filling up a

647
00:40:27.239 --> 00:40:32.159
plastic bag with groceries. Get down, he hissed, We've got company.

648
00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:35.880
Orvill peeked around an end cap of beef jerky. It

649
00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:37.840
was hard to make out the car or the driver

650
00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:40.159
since they were on the other side of the gas pumps,

651
00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:43.880
but he thought he saw a glimpse of long blonde hair.

652
00:40:45.119 --> 00:40:47.679
All the while, Orville kept his eyes on the new arrival.

653
00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:51.039
They stepped from behind the pump. He was right. It

654
00:40:51.119 --> 00:40:57.079
was a girl about eighteen long blonde hair, longer legs. Instantly,

655
00:40:57.199 --> 00:41:00.719
Orville felt his crotch come alive. God, he wanted to

656
00:41:00.760 --> 00:41:03.719
fuck her on the spot. This called for a change

657
00:41:03.719 --> 00:41:07.559
of plans. He'd planned on taking the woman in Pajama's hostage,

658
00:41:07.920 --> 00:41:11.599
having her drive them somewhere secluded and lie low, but

659
00:41:11.679 --> 00:41:15.159
White Chocolate got trigger happy and fucked that up, so

660
00:41:15.239 --> 00:41:17.920
we'd settle for just taking her car and some supplies

661
00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:21.519
and high tailing it. But now Blondie had dropped into

662
00:41:21.559 --> 00:41:24.679
their laps, and if he was lucky, she'd be riding

663
00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:27.800
it later tonight after he was done, Cherry could have

664
00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:31.639
a go. She'd like that. Orville licked his lips at

665
00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:35.639
the thought. From behind the counter. Another urgent beep as

666
00:41:35.679 --> 00:41:39.119
the blonde pressed a button on the pump. Finally giving up,

667
00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:44.440
she walked, frustrated towards the store. Here we go, Orville whispered.

668
00:41:45.199 --> 00:41:48.039
The blonde pulled the door open, making the bell chime

669
00:41:48.119 --> 00:41:53.519
as she unknowingly stepped into hell. Jimmy, you awaken here,

670
00:41:53.840 --> 00:41:58.480
she asked, a second before seeing the blood. Jimmy, nope,

671
00:41:59.000 --> 00:42:04.599
Orville stood. Colt pointed at her. Jimmy's on break blood,

672
00:42:04.920 --> 00:42:08.840
the girl said, biting her lip. Did you? Sure did,

673
00:42:09.199 --> 00:42:12.559
Cherry said, as she walked towards them, carrying an overstuffed

674
00:42:12.559 --> 00:42:18.280
bag of groceries. How sweet fresh meat. She's also going

675
00:42:18.280 --> 00:42:20.039
to be all right out of here, ain't you?

676
00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:20.480
Baby?

677
00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:23.280
The girl looked down at the bodies, then up at

678
00:42:23.400 --> 00:42:28.719
Orville and Cherry dumbstruck, right, Orville said, a bit annoyed.

679
00:42:29.159 --> 00:42:31.440
He took the blonde's chin with his hand and forced

680
00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:35.719
the girl to nod an agreement. Right. He took his

681
00:42:35.800 --> 00:42:40.480
hand away, leaving bloody fingerprints. Who are you, the girl asked,

682
00:42:40.480 --> 00:42:45.360
her voice quivering. I'm a demon? Orville answered, straight from Hell.

683
00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:51.840
I eat up little girls like you. You're gonna kill me, depends.

684
00:42:52.559 --> 00:42:59.239
What's your name, sweetness? Lauren? Lauren Doler? Well, Lauren? Where

685
00:42:59.239 --> 00:43:03.000
were you headed this fine afternoon? The girl took a

686
00:43:03.039 --> 00:43:08.239
deep breath. To my parents for dinner, To her parents

687
00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:13.119
for dinner? Cherry mocked, And where do said parents live?

688
00:43:14.840 --> 00:43:17.159
You don't want to go there, please, I'll take you

689
00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:22.599
anywhere else. Orville snapped his fingers. Where do they live?

690
00:43:23.800 --> 00:43:26.360
I don't want anybody to get hurt, she offered up.

691
00:43:26.880 --> 00:43:33.480
Orville snapped his fingers again. Where defeated? She sighed outside

692
00:43:33.559 --> 00:43:38.880
Hillbury on Old Gorge Road. Sounds homie, just the folks there,

693
00:43:38.920 --> 00:43:45.400
sweet pea. Yes, only child. He grabbed her ass. Great,

694
00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:50.119
let's mount up, road trip, Cherry said, doing a little dance.

695
00:43:50.760 --> 00:43:54.199
Lauren looked down at the dead bodies. You're just gonna

696
00:43:55.079 --> 00:44:00.119
leave them there like that. Cherry looked down at the bodies.

697
00:44:00.639 --> 00:44:03.719
They're dead, honey, they ain't got anything to worry about.

698
00:44:04.239 --> 00:44:07.440
Now move your ass. They filled up the gas tank

699
00:44:07.480 --> 00:44:10.639
of Lauren's Chevrolet hatchback and loaded up the back with

700
00:44:10.760 --> 00:44:14.559
several bags of groceries. Orville had formulated a new plan.

701
00:44:15.119 --> 00:44:17.719
They'd go to the parents' house, maybe spend a day

702
00:44:17.800 --> 00:44:21.760
or two laying low. This massacre would be all over

703
00:44:21.800 --> 00:44:24.360
the news. He could take the time to have some

704
00:44:24.480 --> 00:44:29.000
fun with Lauren. Orville looked over the car. We're all set,

705
00:44:29.039 --> 00:44:35.280
sweet pea. You know the way you drive. Shotgun, Cherry shouted, Sorry, honey,

706
00:44:35.559 --> 00:44:38.119
I gotta keep an eye on our driver. You'll have

707
00:44:38.159 --> 00:44:41.360
to ride in the back seat. Oh fuck, Cherry kicked

708
00:44:41.360 --> 00:44:45.400
the car tire. I never get Shotgun. Orville slid into

709
00:44:45.400 --> 00:44:48.599
the passenger's side and glanced at the blonde. She had

710
00:44:48.639 --> 00:44:52.840
her bloodstained fingers near her mouth. Did she just lick

711
00:44:52.920 --> 00:44:56.679
the blood. No, no, couldn't be just a trick. His

712
00:44:56.719 --> 00:44:59.840
eyes played on him. Orville watched the trees on b

713
00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:03.079
both sides of the road passed by, their branches stretched

714
00:45:03.079 --> 00:45:06.719
out towards him like skeletal arms. It wasn't fall yet,

715
00:45:06.920 --> 00:45:10.159
but all the trees had lost their leaves. What's with

716
00:45:10.280 --> 00:45:14.639
the trees, he asked out loud to nobody in particular. Lauren,

717
00:45:14.760 --> 00:45:18.400
who was focused on the road, answered him that's because

718
00:45:18.440 --> 00:45:21.760
of the original Hillbury. There was a chemical spill back

719
00:45:21.800 --> 00:45:26.159
in the eighties. Shit really, Cherry said, poking her head

720
00:45:26.159 --> 00:45:29.159
in from the back seat. This spooked Lauren, whose hand

721
00:45:29.239 --> 00:45:32.960
slipped on the wheel. Easy there, girl, Orville said. He

722
00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:36.239
slipped his hand to Lauren's bare leg, running his hand

723
00:45:36.320 --> 00:45:40.760
up under her skirt. Can't have you crashing, Cherry slapped

724
00:45:40.840 --> 00:45:44.000
Orville on the shoulder. Lay off, Let her tell the story.

725
00:45:45.159 --> 00:45:49.079
Orville's hand moved away. There came from the cooler skirt

726
00:45:49.079 --> 00:45:53.199
back then. Spooky will be right this story. Just some

727
00:45:53.280 --> 00:45:56.559
company spilled a bunch of chemicals near the town, killed

728
00:45:56.559 --> 00:45:59.960
all the trees and grass, poisoned the water. A few

729
00:46:00.079 --> 00:46:03.639
people got sick. All the townsfolks moved to New Hillbury.

730
00:46:04.039 --> 00:46:06.760
She pointed past Orville. You can see part of the

731
00:46:06.760 --> 00:46:11.239
old town there through the trees there. Orville and Cherry turned.

732
00:46:12.039 --> 00:46:15.400
As the dead trees flew by, a few dilapidated houses

733
00:46:15.440 --> 00:46:20.679
could be seen, weathered, abandoned and forgotten to time. Your

734
00:46:20.679 --> 00:46:23.400
parents live all the way out here. It'll be much

735
00:46:23.440 --> 00:46:27.960
easier that way, away from prying eyes. Orville smiled at

736
00:46:27.960 --> 00:46:31.400
this thought. No need to worry about all the screaming.

737
00:46:32.880 --> 00:46:34.880
My parents like it out in the country, away from

738
00:46:34.920 --> 00:46:39.480
the hustle and bustle. They're a little old fashioned. Orville

739
00:46:39.519 --> 00:46:42.639
let his eyes wander to the girl's chest. Her tits

740
00:46:42.639 --> 00:46:46.400
were nicely sized. He got hard as thoughts of burying

741
00:46:46.400 --> 00:46:50.280
his face and them ran through his mind. Not you, though, huh.

742
00:46:50.719 --> 00:46:55.800
You like the tight, tight, cramped modern world. That's a

743
00:46:55.840 --> 00:46:59.400
hell of a commute for daddy, Cherry piped in. Cherry

744
00:46:59.480 --> 00:47:01.840
knew what he would thinking, and it pissed her off.

745
00:47:02.360 --> 00:47:07.360
He could tell dead kind of works from home. Lucky him,

746
00:47:07.599 --> 00:47:10.719
Orville said. He looked at the sky growing dark as

747
00:47:10.760 --> 00:47:14.239
the evening crept in. The car sank into quiet. As

748
00:47:14.360 --> 00:47:16.480
Orville turned his thoughts to what had to be done,

749
00:47:17.000 --> 00:47:20.559
The parents shouldn't be too hard to control, especially since

750
00:47:20.559 --> 00:47:24.440
he had the girl and the gun. Besides, in a

751
00:47:24.480 --> 00:47:26.760
day or two, the happy family would be dead as

752
00:47:26.840 --> 00:47:31.039
dog shit. Orville looked at the girl, seeing her as

753
00:47:31.119 --> 00:47:37.760
yet another decayed corpse left in his wake. Too much quiet,

754
00:47:38.119 --> 00:47:41.599
Cherry barked from the back seat. Turn on some tunes. Ori,

755
00:47:42.840 --> 00:47:46.639
good idea, he said. He turned on the radio, cycling

756
00:47:46.679 --> 00:47:50.559
through the channels, Most of it was static. The first

757
00:47:50.599 --> 00:47:54.519
actual station he got was a religious one. A woman

758
00:47:54.679 --> 00:47:58.280
was preaching, screaming the words in a frenzy Exodus four

759
00:47:58.440 --> 00:48:02.360
twenty five. You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.

760
00:48:03.079 --> 00:48:06.159
The woman's voice was raw, like her throat was bloody.

761
00:48:07.280 --> 00:48:11.239
Ah nope, Cherry interjected from the back seat. The next

762
00:48:11.239 --> 00:48:14.760
station he found was a pop station. Dubsteps strained the

763
00:48:14.800 --> 00:48:19.400
car speakers. Hell fucking no. The next station, Kenny G

764
00:48:19.760 --> 00:48:24.639
was playing his heart out crap. Next, Orville switched it again.

765
00:48:25.199 --> 00:48:30.320
Black sabbaths paranoid assaulted their ear drums. Hell yeah, Cherry squealed.

766
00:48:31.000 --> 00:48:33.639
It was dark before they got to the house. Lauren

767
00:48:33.719 --> 00:48:36.920
drove without the headlights on until Orville said something. She

768
00:48:37.079 --> 00:48:39.119
was so nervous, she must have forgot to turn them on.

769
00:48:40.639 --> 00:48:44.440
I can take you anywhere, she pleaded, Please just don't

770
00:48:44.480 --> 00:48:50.480
involve my parents. Really, I'm sorry, sweetness, but no, even

771
00:48:50.519 --> 00:48:52.840
if he somehow took pity on her and it was

772
00:48:52.880 --> 00:48:55.679
too late now anyway, on the left side of the road,

773
00:48:55.719 --> 00:48:59.599
a large house loomed, lights burning quaintly in the windows.

774
00:49:00.239 --> 00:49:02.400
This had to be the place. It was the first

775
00:49:02.400 --> 00:49:06.000
man made structure they'd seen in miles. Lauren pulled off

776
00:49:06.039 --> 00:49:09.159
the road down on a long dirt driveway. Off to

777
00:49:09.239 --> 00:49:12.960
the house's right, a large walled in cemetery loomed, its

778
00:49:13.000 --> 00:49:19.920
stone walls ancient and crumbling. Whoa creepy, Cherry said, pressing

779
00:49:19.960 --> 00:49:24.119
her face to the window. A graveyard. Your parents live

780
00:49:24.199 --> 00:49:28.760
next to a fucking graveyard, Orville asked, Dad's the caretaker,

781
00:49:29.079 --> 00:49:32.480
Lauren answered, as she pulled up to the house. When

782
00:49:32.480 --> 00:49:36.360
the town moved, the cemetery stayed. They still bury people

783
00:49:36.360 --> 00:49:39.599
from the new town here. They got out of the car.

784
00:49:40.119 --> 00:49:42.800
Orville glanced up at the house. It looked old, but

785
00:49:43.280 --> 00:49:46.320
in pretty good condition. Daddy probably had a lot of

786
00:49:46.320 --> 00:49:49.760
time on his hands to keep the place nice. Won't

787
00:49:49.800 --> 00:49:53.320
Mom and Dad be surprised, Cherry said, doing a little

788
00:49:53.320 --> 00:49:57.400
skip lead the way, Princess. Orville reached into his jacket

789
00:49:57.400 --> 00:50:00.000
and pulled out an old switchblade. He held the blaze

790
00:50:00.119 --> 00:50:03.880
to Lauren's side. Don't think of being a hero. This

791
00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:07.000
old girl is Sally killed my first dog with her.

792
00:50:07.400 --> 00:50:14.039
She'll gut you all the same. Understand, Yes, good, let's

793
00:50:14.079 --> 00:50:18.239
go meet the folks. Lauren pushed open the door, Orville

794
00:50:18.320 --> 00:50:21.719
right behind her. The house looked homey, he thought, would

795
00:50:21.719 --> 00:50:26.280
be ashamed to make a mess of it. Mom, Dad,

796
00:50:26.800 --> 00:50:30.280
I'm here. Orville could hear a TV playing in one

797
00:50:30.320 --> 00:50:33.400
of the rooms. The smell of something good cooking hung

798
00:50:33.440 --> 00:50:36.559
in the air. A middle aged couple stepped into the room.

799
00:50:36.920 --> 00:50:40.119
Their looks of joy turned to questioning looks upon seeing

800
00:50:40.159 --> 00:50:45.360
their guests. Honey, who are these people? The mother asked.

801
00:50:45.880 --> 00:50:49.639
The father looked at Orville, the recognition visible on his face.

802
00:50:50.840 --> 00:50:55.320
Look who's come to dinner? Daddy, dear, Orville says, behave.

803
00:50:56.320 --> 00:51:01.599
He flashes the colt in its holster. Oh god, Mom stammered,

804
00:51:02.320 --> 00:51:06.239
what do you want? Some grub would be cool. They're

805
00:51:06.239 --> 00:51:10.519
the ones on the news serial killers, Lauren's father said,

806
00:51:11.000 --> 00:51:14.679
Has our little rest stop made us splash already? Orville said,

807
00:51:14.920 --> 00:51:17.800
putting his arm around Lauren. He could see the father's

808
00:51:17.840 --> 00:51:22.320
face light up with anger and then helplessness. This thrilled

809
00:51:22.440 --> 00:51:25.960
Orville to no end. Orville might have to make Daddy

810
00:51:26.039 --> 00:51:29.880
watch as he fucked the girl's brains out. Why don't

811
00:51:29.920 --> 00:51:33.360
we mosey into the dining room and eat? Mom and

812
00:51:33.440 --> 00:51:36.960
Dad led the way as Orville walked, with Lauren Cherry

813
00:51:37.039 --> 00:51:42.400
following behind. What do we have in mom? Orville asked, roast?

814
00:51:42.920 --> 00:51:46.119
But it's still in the oven, she answered, looking nervously

815
00:51:46.159 --> 00:51:49.960
at her husband. I should get it, Cherry. Why don't

816
00:51:49.960 --> 00:51:52.880
you help mom get the food? Orville winked at the mother.

817
00:51:53.519 --> 00:51:58.519
I'll entertain pops. Cherry frowned, Come on, you, old bat.

818
00:51:58.840 --> 00:52:01.760
She took the woman roughly by the arm. Where's the kitchen?

819
00:52:02.599 --> 00:52:05.280
Orville pulled Lauren tight to him. He took a whiff

820
00:52:05.320 --> 00:52:09.920
of her hair and skin. Your daughter smells great, Daddy,

821
00:52:10.519 --> 00:52:13.960
ever have a piece? He could see the hate burning

822
00:52:14.280 --> 00:52:17.920
in the man's eyes. Orville half wanted him to try something.

823
00:52:18.519 --> 00:52:22.119
He ran his hand roughly over Lauren's chest that she

824
00:52:22.280 --> 00:52:26.199
tastes great too. As he hoped this was too much

825
00:52:26.239 --> 00:52:28.519
for Dad. Orville pushed Lauren out of the way and

826
00:52:28.599 --> 00:52:31.239
sent the girl sailing into a small stand. The father

827
00:52:31.400 --> 00:52:34.280
charged at Orville, swinging at him with his huge fist.

828
00:52:34.639 --> 00:52:37.360
Orville sidestepped the swing and grabbed the man by the throat.

829
00:52:37.480 --> 00:52:40.599
He slammed him down hard against a nearby table. The

830
00:52:40.679 --> 00:52:44.440
mother appeared in the doorway, Cherry right behind her. Get

831
00:52:44.480 --> 00:52:47.480
the fuck back in the kitchen, Cherry. Cherry did as

832
00:52:47.519 --> 00:52:49.960
she was told, pulling the woman back to the kitchen.

833
00:52:50.559 --> 00:52:54.440
Orville pulled out sally and sliced a large gash across

834
00:52:54.440 --> 00:52:59.400
the man's right cheek. Bad dad. He took a quick

835
00:52:59.440 --> 00:53:04.679
glance at Lowdlauren. Hey, princess, where's the basement? Lauren stood,

836
00:53:05.079 --> 00:53:09.280
unsure on her feet. Please don't hurt them, Just go

837
00:53:10.440 --> 00:53:14.360
not gonna happen basement now, or Daddy loses an eye.

838
00:53:15.320 --> 00:53:18.760
Lauren led them to the basement door and nervously opened it.

839
00:53:19.960 --> 00:53:23.960
What are you gonna do? Lauren pleaded. Orville dragged her

840
00:53:23.960 --> 00:53:26.960
old man to the stairs. All Orville could see were

841
00:53:27.000 --> 00:53:32.239
some old woodstairs descending into darkness. Can you fly, daddy?

842
00:53:32.960 --> 00:53:35.480
Orville took the man by the collar and threw him

843
00:53:35.519 --> 00:53:38.320
down the stairs. Lauren screamed her guts out as her

844
00:53:38.320 --> 00:53:41.639
father was swallowed up by the darkness. Orville thought he

845
00:53:41.639 --> 00:53:45.199
heard the sound of bones breaking as the man hit bottom.

846
00:53:45.599 --> 00:53:49.679
He looked at Lauren. Tears streamed down her cheeks. It's

847
00:53:49.760 --> 00:53:53.559
possibly survived, maybe she sobbed.

848
00:53:54.719 --> 00:53:55.000
Why?

849
00:53:56.280 --> 00:54:00.280
Orville licked his lips. You don't want mom to get

850
00:54:00.280 --> 00:54:06.400
the treatment? Do you no good? You'll do what I say?

851
00:54:06.440 --> 00:54:11.880
Then she nodded, here's what I want. He knew she'd

852
00:54:11.880 --> 00:54:14.440
still have a room here. The kid moves out, but

853
00:54:14.480 --> 00:54:17.960
the folks always keep the room untouched. Stuffed animals sat

854
00:54:18.000 --> 00:54:22.199
on the bed, silent judgment on their furry faces. Orville

855
00:54:22.199 --> 00:54:25.519
turned on the radio on the girl's dresser. Stevie B's

856
00:54:25.519 --> 00:54:29.639
Postman song was on. Not sexy. But Orville didn't want

857
00:54:29.639 --> 00:54:32.960
to wait anymore. He pushed the stuffed animals off the bed,

858
00:54:33.159 --> 00:54:36.280
scattering them to the floor. He hopped on the old bed,

859
00:54:36.599 --> 00:54:43.599
its springs creaking and protest. Okay, sweet pea, showtime strip.

860
00:54:44.639 --> 00:54:48.679
Lauren gulped. Cherry watched the mom trying to prepare dinner.

861
00:54:48.760 --> 00:54:51.119
Like all hell hadn't just broke loose in the other

862
00:54:51.199 --> 00:54:53.760
room a few minutes ago. She had to hand it

863
00:54:53.760 --> 00:54:56.360
to the old bat. She could keep it under control.

864
00:54:56.679 --> 00:54:59.719
It had grown quiet. Now what could be going on?

865
00:55:00.320 --> 00:55:04.119
Cherry thought, Before she investigated that the smell of the

866
00:55:04.199 --> 00:55:08.440
roast caught her limited attention span. Fully, Cherry stabbed a

867
00:55:08.440 --> 00:55:10.679
big slice of it with her knife and took a

868
00:55:10.760 --> 00:55:16.079
large bite, sending juices dribbling down her chin. So good, mommy,

869
00:55:16.480 --> 00:55:19.519
she said, I think I just came in my panties.

870
00:55:20.400 --> 00:55:23.280
The woman didn't answer. She cut off a slice to

871
00:55:23.320 --> 00:55:28.239
replace the one Cherry took. Bee for pork, Cherry asks,

872
00:55:28.960 --> 00:55:32.639
I can't nail the taste. Putting down the carving knife,

873
00:55:33.119 --> 00:55:37.559
mother cleaned off her hands with a towel. Pork. It's

874
00:55:37.679 --> 00:55:42.760
damn good, mom, Why do you do it hurt people?

875
00:55:43.760 --> 00:55:47.280
Cherry thought for a moment, because it's something to do.

876
00:55:48.239 --> 00:55:51.880
Lauren stood in her bron panties nervously trying to emulate

877
00:55:51.920 --> 00:55:56.199
a sexy dance. Orville watched. It was time. He could

878
00:55:56.239 --> 00:56:00.800
wait no longer. Come here. She walked toward him, her

879
00:56:00.840 --> 00:56:04.199
face pale white. Orville was a little bit disappointed in

880
00:56:04.239 --> 00:56:07.559
her choice of plain pink panties and bra He'd hope

881
00:56:07.559 --> 00:56:10.760
they'd be something a little more exciting or at least funny.

882
00:56:11.599 --> 00:56:16.280
Lauren sat down next to him, her body shaking, undo

883
00:56:16.360 --> 00:56:20.880
my pants. Cherry was getting a little nervous. Where was

884
00:56:21.039 --> 00:56:23.679
or She didn't hear anything out in the dining room.

885
00:56:24.199 --> 00:56:27.039
Maybe Orville was getting rid of the dad. She watched

886
00:56:27.039 --> 00:56:29.960
mother as she washed the carving knife. When can we

887
00:56:30.039 --> 00:56:33.880
go out there? She asked? The food'll get cold, Just

888
00:56:33.960 --> 00:56:36.519
hold your horses. Don't you have any other food to

889
00:56:36.559 --> 00:56:40.000
get ready? It was weird the whole time they were

890
00:56:40.039 --> 00:56:43.480
in the kitchen. She didn't see the woman prepare anything else.

891
00:56:44.079 --> 00:56:49.440
No vegetables, no potatoes, no stuffing, nothing. Did they only

892
00:56:49.480 --> 00:56:53.800
eat meat? The meat had made her thirsty. Cherry walked

893
00:56:53.800 --> 00:56:56.760
over to the fridge. She could go for something cold.

894
00:56:56.960 --> 00:56:59.000
It was too much to hope these fucks had beer

895
00:57:00.480 --> 00:57:05.440
the fridge door. Sitting there on a large plate was

896
00:57:05.480 --> 00:57:08.840
a severed human arm with a rather large chunk cut

897
00:57:08.880 --> 00:57:14.480
out from it. Cherry suddenly felt very weak. Behind her

898
00:57:14.519 --> 00:57:18.360
came noises. No human ears should ever hear the sound

899
00:57:18.440 --> 00:57:23.440
of flesh and bone stretching moving. She spun around. The

900
00:57:23.480 --> 00:57:28.239
woman looked different now, her skin grayish, her eyes black,

901
00:57:28.559 --> 00:57:31.760
Long teeth protruded from her mouth, and her hands had

902
00:57:31.800 --> 00:57:36.400
become claws. We can't eat just any flesh, she growled.

903
00:57:37.039 --> 00:57:40.400
It has to be dead first, the father said. Standing

904
00:57:40.440 --> 00:57:43.519
in the door. He was a little bloodied, but looking

905
00:57:43.679 --> 00:57:44.920
very much like his wife did.

906
00:57:45.039 --> 00:57:45.320
Now.

907
00:57:46.159 --> 00:57:49.239
The only thing between Orville and Lauren was his boxers

908
00:57:49.239 --> 00:57:52.599
and her underwear. He felt like a boy on Christmas morning.

909
00:57:53.079 --> 00:57:56.119
He told Lauren to pull down his boxers. They fell

910
00:57:56.159 --> 00:57:59.679
to the floor. Here he took her head, lowering it

911
00:57:59.719 --> 00:58:03.400
towards his excited dick. He leaned his head back, looking

912
00:58:03.440 --> 00:58:06.519
up at the ceiling. The girl was pretty good at this.

913
00:58:07.719 --> 00:58:11.760
There was a gunshot somewhere downstairs, followed by Cherry screaming

914
00:58:11.800 --> 00:58:15.920
in horror. What the fuck? But it was already too late.

915
00:58:16.559 --> 00:58:20.159
In the next instant, pain sliced through him. He felt

916
00:58:20.199 --> 00:58:23.679
something warm splash his chest. He was almost too terrified

917
00:58:23.719 --> 00:58:27.320
to look down. His crutch was covered in warm, red blood.

918
00:58:27.559 --> 00:58:30.360
The small stump where his dick had been was busy

919
00:58:30.400 --> 00:58:33.679
pumping more out. As he started to slip into shock,

920
00:58:33.960 --> 00:58:38.320
he looked at Lauren, whose body was undergoing a horrible change.

921
00:58:38.360 --> 00:58:41.440
She spat blood from her mouth, along with his severed manhood.

922
00:58:42.239 --> 00:58:44.880
I told you to leave us alone.

923
00:58:45.760 --> 00:58:49.639
Orville could hear the heavenly chorus calling him? They sounded

924
00:58:50.280 --> 00:58:51.440
like Howling.

925
00:58:51.039 --> 00:59:15.519
Wolves, Howling Wolves, The Fall of Man by David O'Hanlon.

926
00:59:18.559 --> 00:59:21.199
I slid down the door and let my head fall

927
00:59:21.239 --> 00:59:24.519
against the pressed wood with a thump. It was a

928
00:59:24.559 --> 00:59:28.039
disappointing sound, and I banged my head against it again

929
00:59:28.199 --> 00:59:32.320
for the same dissatisfying result. It was supposed to sound

930
00:59:32.400 --> 00:59:36.159
like I felt. I didn't know exactly what that sound was,

931
00:59:36.280 --> 00:59:40.840
but it wasn't a muffled thud. Everything was falling apart,

932
00:59:40.960 --> 00:59:44.119
and I couldn't even bang my head against the door correctly.

933
00:59:45.239 --> 00:59:48.320
Emotions cascaded from head to heart in ways I could

934
00:59:48.400 --> 00:59:51.880
actually feel, and it made my skin prickle until I

935
00:59:51.960 --> 00:59:56.360
started shaking. Bile hit the back of my throat, but

936
00:59:56.760 --> 01:00:00.760
I was too distraught to move. Not a weak man,

937
01:00:00.920 --> 01:00:04.079
at least not as far as I was concerned. I

938
01:00:04.119 --> 01:00:08.320
didn't feel things. Feelings come with a vagina to keep

939
01:00:08.360 --> 01:00:11.960
them in. My father always told me. Dad was sure

940
01:00:12.000 --> 01:00:16.559
to punctuate those life lessons with punches. The knuckles made

941
01:00:16.599 --> 01:00:20.480
grooves for the messages to really sink in. Maybe that

942
01:00:20.639 --> 01:00:23.159
wasn't the best way to raise a child, or maybe

943
01:00:23.199 --> 01:00:26.320
it was. It had worked out well to a point.

944
01:00:27.199 --> 01:00:29.719
I had been a stock boy at Brown's General market

945
01:00:29.760 --> 01:00:33.360
for less than three months before making it to assistant manager.

946
01:00:34.280 --> 01:00:37.079
In two years, the owners promoted me to store manager

947
01:00:37.480 --> 01:00:42.159
when the old one died in some bizarre fishing accident. Cohler,

948
01:00:42.400 --> 01:00:47.480
Arkansas had a very high rate of accidents. The Browns

949
01:00:47.480 --> 01:00:50.320
were good people, and I loved them as best I knew.

950
01:00:50.320 --> 01:00:55.000
How they doated on me like their own son, or

951
01:00:55.159 --> 01:00:58.280
like they would have if the whelp had ever accomplished anything.

952
01:00:59.400 --> 01:01:02.039
It was for the Browns when the boy died in

953
01:01:02.079 --> 01:01:05.559
a fire. But it worked out well in the end.

954
01:01:06.239 --> 01:01:08.639
I hadn't been at Brown's a full six years and

955
01:01:08.679 --> 01:01:13.119
their store was more than competing with established franchises like Pigley,

956
01:01:13.159 --> 01:01:17.000
Wiggly and Kroger. Once they died the following year of

957
01:01:17.400 --> 01:01:21.440
age related conditions, the Browns passed the store over to me.

958
01:01:22.559 --> 01:01:26.639
It all worked out perfectly. I loved the store, truly.

959
01:01:27.119 --> 01:01:29.880
It was the only thing I loved. If we're being honest,

960
01:01:30.800 --> 01:01:34.880
my romantic life consisted of a platinum membership at the Inpornium.

961
01:01:35.760 --> 01:01:38.159
I was a three time customer of the month. As

962
01:01:38.199 --> 01:01:40.960
the owner pointed out that morning when I returned my

963
01:01:41.079 --> 01:01:45.559
rented smut. It worked out better for me and everyone else.

964
01:01:46.039 --> 01:01:48.440
If I stuck to the curtained room reserved for the

965
01:01:48.440 --> 01:01:53.440
more extreme tastes, and my tastes have always been very extreme.

966
01:01:54.800 --> 01:01:57.679
I never related to people well enough to date them anyway.

967
01:01:58.079 --> 01:02:00.960
There had been a few attempts over the year. The

968
01:02:01.039 --> 01:02:04.159
most recent was two years prior with one of my stokers,

969
01:02:04.639 --> 01:02:08.679
a curvy country girl named Autumn. Aside from her bubbly

970
01:02:08.760 --> 01:02:12.960
personality and constant need for attention, sleeping with an employee

971
01:02:13.039 --> 01:02:16.840
was a boring cliche. I ended it after twenty seven

972
01:02:16.920 --> 01:02:19.800
days and patted myself on the back because it was

973
01:02:19.840 --> 01:02:24.400
two days longer than my last relationship. I was practically

974
01:02:24.480 --> 01:02:29.960
a social butterfly flap flap. Most people that claim to

975
01:02:30.000 --> 01:02:34.079
dislike other people at least have pets. I don't really

976
01:02:34.199 --> 01:02:39.000
understand that either. It's not that I hate animals. In fact,

977
01:02:39.119 --> 01:02:41.199
I leave out scraps for one of the strays at

978
01:02:41.199 --> 01:02:44.599
my apartment. On Tuesdays, I tossed some of the stale

979
01:02:44.639 --> 01:02:47.960
bread to the ducks that congregated in the little retention

980
01:02:48.119 --> 01:02:52.360
pond behind the store. I just don't get it. Why

981
01:02:52.440 --> 01:02:56.119
keep a pet, We don't have anything in common, and

982
01:02:56.280 --> 01:02:59.760
time away from the store could be spent bettering myself

983
01:03:00.840 --> 01:03:04.760
playing with an animal didn't have any intrinsic value. I

984
01:03:04.880 --> 01:03:07.840
tried a bita fish once, but flushed it down the

985
01:03:07.840 --> 01:03:11.039
toilet after only a week. I guess I'm just not

986
01:03:11.199 --> 01:03:15.360
capable of that much commitment. A tear splashed on the

987
01:03:15.360 --> 01:03:17.280
back of my hand, and all I could do was

988
01:03:17.320 --> 01:03:22.280
stare at it curiously. The crystalline drop seemed to shimmer

989
01:03:22.320 --> 01:03:25.800
in the blue lights dancing through the blinds. I probed

990
01:03:25.840 --> 01:03:29.320
my eyes and felt their dampness. Before the dam broke,

991
01:03:30.119 --> 01:03:33.880
and three decades of emotions poured down the spillways of

992
01:03:33.920 --> 01:03:37.960
my cheeks. The fists battering the front door made my

993
01:03:38.039 --> 01:03:41.679
heart pound. That's the sound I was trying to make.

994
01:03:42.480 --> 01:03:45.639
It was the sound of fury and loss and everything

995
01:03:45.639 --> 01:03:49.880
else I was feeling. The banging intensified, and I rocked

996
01:03:49.960 --> 01:03:54.639
my head against the bedroom door in rhythm. I found

997
01:03:54.639 --> 01:04:05.519
my voice and cried until it became laughter. I could

998
01:04:05.519 --> 01:04:09.079
practically feel the browns padding me on the back as

999
01:04:09.119 --> 01:04:12.000
I noted a four percent increase over the past quarter.

1000
01:04:13.039 --> 01:04:15.320
It was twenty till one and I was ready to

1001
01:04:15.360 --> 01:04:18.280
call it a night. I emailed the numbers to my

1002
01:04:18.320 --> 01:04:21.480
accountant and then read the message from my attorney for

1003
01:04:21.519 --> 01:04:26.480
the sixth time. The local Pigley Wiggly, Still six miles away,

1004
01:04:27.000 --> 01:04:33.079
was going under. Thanks entirely to my efforts, we negotiated

1005
01:04:33.119 --> 01:04:36.440
the sale of their building and store fixtures at thirty

1006
01:04:36.480 --> 01:04:41.280
grand less than expected. The contracts would be ready by noon.

1007
01:04:42.519 --> 01:04:46.079
I laced my fingers behind my head and smiled at

1008
01:04:46.079 --> 01:04:50.400
the ceiling. Expanding the Brown's General Market brand was the

1009
01:04:50.400 --> 01:04:56.480
next step. Stores in Fort Smith, Springdale, Huntsville, and Almah

1010
01:04:56.840 --> 01:05:00.320
were already lined up. Over the next two years, I

1011
01:05:00.320 --> 01:05:03.400
had photoshopped pictures of each store done up with the

1012
01:05:03.480 --> 01:05:07.079
new Brown's logo hanging on a wall around a motivational

1013
01:05:07.199 --> 01:05:12.639
cat poster. I'd just turned thirty seven. By forty seven,

1014
01:05:13.000 --> 01:05:16.639
I'd have sold the franchise to Walmart and retired to Ecuador.

1015
01:05:17.480 --> 01:05:20.440
Like the cat on the wall said, good things come

1016
01:05:20.480 --> 01:05:24.679
to those who act meal. A crash on the sales

1017
01:05:24.679 --> 01:05:26.960
floor made me jump, and I rushed to the two

1018
01:05:27.000 --> 01:05:31.000
way mirror. The last of the stalkers went home at midnight.

1019
01:05:31.760 --> 01:05:34.400
No one ever wanted overtime, especially when I worked the

1020
01:05:34.480 --> 01:05:38.239
night shift. I glanced at the safe and scrunched my nose.

1021
01:05:39.079 --> 01:05:43.119
Mister Brown insisted on keeping a revolver inside it, just

1022
01:05:43.199 --> 01:05:47.719
in case shooting myself by mistake or worse, Putting a

1023
01:05:47.760 --> 01:05:50.559
hole in the store would be ridiculous if it was

1024
01:05:50.719 --> 01:05:54.280
just a collapsed shelf. Some of the fixtures were purchased

1025
01:05:54.280 --> 01:05:56.719
in the nineties, and the new shelves didn't clip in

1026
01:05:56.800 --> 01:05:59.719
as well as they should. From time to time one

1027
01:05:59.719 --> 01:06:03.159
would slip out. I opted for a pair of scissors

1028
01:06:03.199 --> 01:06:08.760
as my personal protection, just in case. However, Aisle seven

1029
01:06:09.039 --> 01:06:15.360
Condiments salad dressing, pickles, peppers, and salsa. The smell of

1030
01:06:15.400 --> 01:06:18.960
pickle juice hit my nose from ten feet away. I'd

1031
01:06:18.960 --> 01:06:23.599
never liked pickles. They were demonic appendages, severed from the

1032
01:06:23.679 --> 01:06:27.880
cruel hands of catonic terrors that scared the shit out

1033
01:06:27.880 --> 01:06:32.119
of me as a child. Don't judge me. Unlike the

1034
01:06:32.159 --> 01:06:36.880
monster under your bed, pickles are real. At least shards

1035
01:06:36.880 --> 01:06:40.960
of glass spread like shrapnel across the floor. I hated

1036
01:06:41.000 --> 01:06:43.320
that floor, but didn't want to have to close the

1037
01:06:43.320 --> 01:06:47.280
place to replace it. The deep russet tiles had faded

1038
01:06:47.320 --> 01:06:50.800
to something closer to tawny, while the white tiles were

1039
01:06:50.840 --> 01:06:55.199
now darker, stained over the years to a champagne like yellow,

1040
01:06:56.000 --> 01:07:01.360
brown and yellow like used underwear. The red was a

1041
01:07:01.400 --> 01:07:08.599
new touch. So was the dead body. I gawked stupidly

1042
01:07:08.639 --> 01:07:12.320
at the corpse, sprawled between spilled pickles and broken glass.

1043
01:07:13.199 --> 01:07:15.960
The head was missing, but the victim was wearing a

1044
01:07:16.000 --> 01:07:20.599
brown's vest atop bejeweled jeans. The curves of the diminutive

1045
01:07:20.599 --> 01:07:26.039
figure were unmistakably female and familiar. I tried to picture

1046
01:07:26.119 --> 01:07:30.000
the body bent over my desk. I said, sleeping with

1047
01:07:30.079 --> 01:07:35.559
employees was cliche, not that I didn't still do it, Bianca.

1048
01:07:36.440 --> 01:07:40.880
I stepped closer and inspected the area. Her head wasn't missing,

1049
01:07:40.960 --> 01:07:45.199
after all, it was sitting right there between two jars

1050
01:07:45.239 --> 01:07:46.920
of lacic spears.

1051
01:07:47.519 --> 01:07:49.199
Clean up on Aisle seven.

1052
01:07:49.599 --> 01:07:52.079
A distorted voice said over the PA system.

1053
01:07:52.920 --> 01:07:55.679
Just a simple murder, no big deal.

1054
01:07:56.639 --> 01:08:00.920
There were four phones on the sales floor, the meat department,

1055
01:08:01.320 --> 01:08:05.159
one in my office, seven at the registers, and another

1056
01:08:05.239 --> 01:08:08.559
at the service desk, and they could all dial into

1057
01:08:08.559 --> 01:08:13.280
the PA. The killer could have been anywhere. I went

1058
01:08:13.360 --> 01:08:16.319
back to main Street, the path between the registers and

1059
01:08:16.359 --> 01:08:20.239
the grocery aisles, and looked for any sign of the intruder.

1060
01:08:21.279 --> 01:08:24.199
The coast was clear, so I bolted for the front doors.

1061
01:08:24.840 --> 01:08:28.720
I hit the crash bar and bounced off. I tried again,

1062
01:08:29.039 --> 01:08:32.920
twisting the lock back and forth, but the doors refused

1063
01:08:32.920 --> 01:08:37.760
to budge. The voice said, you can't leave without pay.

1064
01:08:38.479 --> 01:08:44.760
I wasn't scared. Hatred, anger, those are functional emotions. Dad

1065
01:08:44.840 --> 01:08:49.439
was okay with me feeling them. Fear that was a weakness,

1066
01:08:49.479 --> 01:08:53.640
almost as pathetic as love. My father taught me that

1067
01:08:53.720 --> 01:08:56.399
you were only worth as much as you do. You

1068
01:08:56.439 --> 01:09:00.399
can't do anything if you're dead. Survival was the name

1069
01:09:00.439 --> 01:09:03.359
of the game, and you win by putting your functional

1070
01:09:03.359 --> 01:09:07.720
emotions to use. I pushed the door again and heard

1071
01:09:07.720 --> 01:09:12.359
the chains rattling on the other side. The person knew

1072
01:09:12.359 --> 01:09:18.840
my routines. They had planned it out. Hatred, anger, yeah,

1073
01:09:19.119 --> 01:09:21.800
I was feeling those. I was feeling the fuck out

1074
01:09:21.840 --> 01:09:22.279
of those.

1075
01:09:22.720 --> 01:09:24.800
Please return to your shopping.

1076
01:09:24.640 --> 01:09:27.319
The voice growled, Have you considered.

1077
01:09:26.840 --> 01:09:29.800
A seafood option to pair with your pickles?

1078
01:09:30.359 --> 01:09:33.920
The bastard was trying to suggestive sell me in my

1079
01:09:34.039 --> 01:09:37.720
own store. I adjusted my grip on the scissors and

1080
01:09:37.880 --> 01:09:41.600
ran to the service desk. No one was there. I

1081
01:09:41.680 --> 01:09:44.840
went to the paper goods asle next and checked that phone.

1082
01:09:44.960 --> 01:09:46.159
It was still on the hook.

1083
01:09:46.800 --> 01:09:50.920
Good customer service is reserved for good customers.

1084
01:09:51.319 --> 01:09:52.600
My stalker told.

1085
01:09:52.399 --> 01:09:55.000
Me follow directions, Terence.

1086
01:09:56.000 --> 01:09:59.479
I stalked along the aisle, hunkered down and keeping my

1087
01:09:59.560 --> 01:10:03.079
body close to the shelves. I stopped short of a

1088
01:10:03.119 --> 01:10:06.479
back road, what we called the lane that ran parallel

1089
01:10:06.520 --> 01:10:09.560
to Main Street and separated the aisles from the meat,

1090
01:10:09.640 --> 01:10:14.319
seafood and dairy departments. I took a deep breath and

1091
01:10:14.479 --> 01:10:18.079
sprang from the aisle with the scissors raised over my head.

1092
01:10:19.239 --> 01:10:22.920
No one was there. I walked past the last dairy

1093
01:10:22.960 --> 01:10:26.199
bunker where we kept the riccatta cottage cheese and all that.

1094
01:10:26.920 --> 01:10:30.439
I sprinted past the stock room doors, but no one

1095
01:10:30.560 --> 01:10:33.720
lunged out for me. I was almost to the meat

1096
01:10:33.720 --> 01:10:37.560
department entrance when I paused at the seafood counter. The

1097
01:10:37.600 --> 01:10:40.840
team emptied the case before going home every night and

1098
01:10:40.960 --> 01:10:44.399
sprayed it out to keep the smell down. But there

1099
01:10:44.439 --> 01:10:48.520
it was a whole red snapper lying on a sheet

1100
01:10:48.560 --> 01:10:53.560
of ice, staring at me with a single dead eye.

1101
01:10:53.960 --> 01:10:56.640
A Brown's name tag was pinned to its body with

1102
01:10:56.720 --> 01:11:00.920
the filet knife. I swallowed hard. The tag had a

1103
01:11:00.960 --> 01:11:04.600
gold border denoting a member of the management team, and

1104
01:11:04.640 --> 01:11:09.239
the name Barry emblazoned across it. Barry Glover was the

1105
01:11:09.279 --> 01:11:13.880
store manager that died in that fishing accident. He slipped

1106
01:11:13.920 --> 01:11:16.359
and stuck himself in the chest with a filet blade,

1107
01:11:16.720 --> 01:11:21.479
severing his aorda. The coroner spent three days examining every

1108
01:11:21.560 --> 01:11:25.640
tiny detail to prove it really was a bizarre accident.

1109
01:11:26.800 --> 01:11:30.520
I spent six months practicing with dummies and pork shoulders

1110
01:11:31.159 --> 01:11:34.119
to make sure I could get those tiny details right.

1111
01:11:35.279 --> 01:11:40.479
And I had no one knew anything. So how could

1112
01:11:40.520 --> 01:11:41.479
this person.

1113
01:11:41.560 --> 01:11:42.720
See anything you like?

1114
01:11:43.239 --> 01:11:45.199
They asked from the overhead speakers.

1115
01:11:45.680 --> 01:11:49.560
If our seafood isn't to die for, maybe try or

1116
01:11:50.239 --> 01:11:51.800
fresh cut meats.

1117
01:11:52.199 --> 01:11:55.159
That sealed it. They were dialing in from the prep

1118
01:11:55.279 --> 01:11:57.800
room and wanted me to come running into their ambush.

1119
01:11:58.520 --> 01:12:01.520
It wouldn't work. They were trying to play my game.

1120
01:12:02.199 --> 01:12:06.199
But I've been playing on pro courts for years. I

1121
01:12:06.359 --> 01:12:09.319
was thirty when I started at Brown's, looking for a

1122
01:12:09.359 --> 01:12:13.640
new career. The old one wasn't panning out. I started

1123
01:12:13.680 --> 01:12:16.319
in the mail room there. I worked my way up

1124
01:12:16.359 --> 01:12:20.479
to a sales lead position. Then people started looking at

1125
01:12:20.520 --> 01:12:24.079
me funny around the office. That town had a problem

1126
01:12:24.119 --> 01:12:30.199
with accidents too, and relocations seemed prudent. Terence Horowitz wasn't

1127
01:12:30.279 --> 01:12:34.079
using his identity anymore, not after I buried him in

1128
01:12:34.119 --> 01:12:39.079
that crawl space. They say people like me have rituals.

1129
01:12:39.439 --> 01:12:43.039
Mine is the planning. No one could know about Barry,

1130
01:12:43.640 --> 01:12:47.359
just like they couldn't know about the real Terence or

1131
01:12:47.399 --> 01:12:51.680
the others. Whoever this was. I got them like that

1132
01:12:51.840 --> 01:12:55.880
snapper and come away looking like a hero. I went

1133
01:12:55.920 --> 01:12:59.520
into the prep room and found it dark and deserted.

1134
01:13:00.199 --> 01:13:04.640
A twelve inch butcher's cimeter sat on the polypropylene surface

1135
01:13:04.680 --> 01:13:08.439
of the cutting table. I traded my scissors for it

1136
01:13:09.000 --> 01:13:12.960
and opened the cooler, expecting to meet my tormentor in

1137
01:13:13.000 --> 01:13:18.960
a violent final clash. The motion activated light switch engaged

1138
01:13:19.359 --> 01:13:23.760
and revealed excessive amounts of meat for the upcoming Independence

1139
01:13:23.840 --> 01:13:31.000
Day sails. Still no vindictive maniac minus myself. I guess

1140
01:13:31.760 --> 01:13:34.399
you two's I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

1141
01:13:34.520 --> 01:13:40.279
Started playing hardy fucking har harr. I stormed back onto

1142
01:13:40.319 --> 01:13:44.800
the sales floor. The CD player was kept at customer service.

1143
01:13:45.680 --> 01:13:48.840
I ran down aisle ten breads and snack cakes and

1144
01:13:48.960 --> 01:13:52.159
slid onto main street. I hopped the service counter and

1145
01:13:52.199 --> 01:13:56.239
went around the partition to the employee area. The monofilament

1146
01:13:56.279 --> 01:13:59.880
line snapped as I rounded the corner. The thin plaster

1147
01:14:00.039 --> 01:14:05.039
extrand melts and becomes indistinguishable from carpet fibers in a

1148
01:14:05.079 --> 01:14:09.880
house fire. Just ask Doug Brown. I used the same

1149
01:14:09.960 --> 01:14:12.960
trip wire in his kitchen to cause the electrical fire

1150
01:14:13.079 --> 01:14:17.199
that night. The wall burst with a spray of sparks.

1151
01:14:17.600 --> 01:14:21.720
Wires crackled and popped as their exposed copper cores bumped

1152
01:14:21.760 --> 01:14:26.119
into one another. The overhead lights shattered and covered me

1153
01:14:26.199 --> 01:14:29.600
in glass. The music shut off, and the wall ignited

1154
01:14:29.640 --> 01:14:33.680
beside me. It was just like I'd done. If they

1155
01:14:33.720 --> 01:14:38.159
knew that, then they knew. Oh shit. I leapt away

1156
01:14:38.159 --> 01:14:40.960
from the flames and stumbled backwards out of the service area.

1157
01:14:41.640 --> 01:14:43.399
I needed to get to my apartment.

1158
01:14:44.039 --> 01:14:49.039
Attention shoppers, the store is now closing. Please make your

1159
01:14:49.079 --> 01:14:50.239
way to the front of the.

1160
01:14:50.199 --> 01:14:55.199
Store, the voice said. I turned, and there was the intruder,

1161
01:14:55.600 --> 01:14:58.880
dressed in a black ski mask and billowing parka that

1162
01:14:58.960 --> 01:15:03.600
hid any clue of their real identity. They raised the

1163
01:15:03.680 --> 01:15:05.239
voice changer to their lips.

1164
01:15:06.159 --> 01:15:08.159
This concludes our business.

1165
01:15:07.800 --> 01:15:11.760
Day, they said, and threw the device to the side.

1166
01:15:11.800 --> 01:15:15.560
I charged with a furious roar, leaping onto the conveyor

1167
01:15:15.600 --> 01:15:18.319
of the nearest checkout lane and jumping to the next,

1168
01:15:19.079 --> 01:15:23.439
then the next, the third. The intruder waved for me

1169
01:15:23.520 --> 01:15:26.359
to come on, and I did, with the butcher knife

1170
01:15:26.399 --> 01:15:29.840
cocked back and ready to split their fucking head in two.

1171
01:15:30.720 --> 01:15:33.840
I got the fifth lane, and it turns out I

1172
01:15:33.960 --> 01:15:38.159
wasn't the only one that liked planning things. The vegetable

1173
01:15:38.159 --> 01:15:42.439
oil was nearly invisible on that black rubber belt. My

1174
01:15:42.560 --> 01:15:45.840
shoes slipped across it, and I came down hard enough

1175
01:15:45.880 --> 01:15:49.399
to bend the aluminum frame of the checkout. I laid

1176
01:15:49.439 --> 01:15:52.439
on the floor, watching the black hiking boots with the

1177
01:15:52.479 --> 01:15:56.760
extra thick soles clopping toward the front door. You shouldn't

1178
01:15:56.800 --> 01:15:59.680
play with a girl's heart, the intruder said, with the

1179
01:15:59.760 --> 01:16:04.239
delicate twang of a true Southern bell, especially not one

1180
01:16:04.239 --> 01:16:08.279
that likes true crime shows. I know what you've done.

1181
01:16:08.520 --> 01:16:11.439
All the way back to Maryland, I got lots more

1182
01:16:11.479 --> 01:16:15.720
ideas for our next date night, Terry. She was gone

1183
01:16:15.800 --> 01:16:18.479
before I could get back to my feet. I ran

1184
01:16:18.600 --> 01:16:21.279
to my car and drove straight to the apartment. I'd

1185
01:16:21.359 --> 01:16:24.039
dropped the knife back at the store. I had no

1186
01:16:24.159 --> 01:16:27.880
doubt it was the one used to kill Bianca. They'd

1187
01:16:27.880 --> 01:16:31.000
write me off as a jealous pig boss that murdered

1188
01:16:31.039 --> 01:16:34.119
an employee for not putting out, and then torched the

1189
01:16:34.199 --> 01:16:37.920
scene in a panic. I'd never panic after a kill,

1190
01:16:38.239 --> 01:16:41.319
and I'd never burn the store. I loved that store.

1191
01:16:42.039 --> 01:16:45.680
Autumn had taken it from me, taken it using the

1192
01:16:45.720 --> 01:16:49.680
same methods I'd employed to get it. God damn it.

1193
01:16:50.079 --> 01:16:53.399
I beat my fist on the steering wheel. Autumn the

1194
01:16:53.520 --> 01:16:58.399
Season of dying. What an appropriate name? How much else

1195
01:16:58.439 --> 01:17:02.319
did she really know? I jumped the sidewalk and left

1196
01:17:02.319 --> 01:17:05.680
my car running in the lawn. I knew what was

1197
01:17:05.720 --> 01:17:10.000
waiting inside. I ran straight to the bedroom and found

1198
01:17:10.039 --> 01:17:13.000
them there. I shut the door behind me and slid

1199
01:17:13.039 --> 01:17:16.800
down the cheap wood finish. Mister and Missus Brown were

1200
01:17:16.920 --> 01:17:20.720
lying on top of the bed spread, stark naked, just

1201
01:17:20.800 --> 01:17:23.000
as they'd been before. I put them back in the

1202
01:17:23.039 --> 01:17:27.159
freezer for safe keeping. I told you I loved them,

1203
01:17:27.199 --> 01:17:30.479
and the only way I knew how I heard the

1204
01:17:30.560 --> 01:17:34.399
sirens coming down the street. Even if any one believed me,

1205
01:17:35.239 --> 01:17:38.479
would it matter. I banged my head against the door.

1206
01:17:39.319 --> 01:17:43.079
It was a disappointing sound. The copse broke in, and

1207
01:17:43.159 --> 01:17:47.920
I stood slowly, preparing to turn myself in. There was

1208
01:17:47.960 --> 01:17:52.600
no point in resisting I'd lost the love of my life.

1209
01:17:52.800 --> 01:17:55.880
What was left to fight for? I stepped out of

1210
01:17:55.920 --> 01:17:59.239
the bedroom, still laughing at the insanity of it all,

1211
01:18:00.079 --> 01:18:03.640
and laid down on the floor. The cuffs went on tight.

1212
01:18:04.439 --> 01:18:07.079
They'd probably been coming to tell me about the fire

1213
01:18:07.159 --> 01:18:10.680
when they got the call about Bianca. As they escorted

1214
01:18:10.680 --> 01:18:13.760
me to a police car, I stepped on a discarded

1215
01:18:13.800 --> 01:18:18.840
ski mask, A strange sight in July, but the officers

1216
01:18:18.880 --> 01:18:23.560
didn't seem to notice. I smiled and looked around the

1217
01:18:23.600 --> 01:18:30.279
gathered crowd. There she was My season of.

1218
01:18:30.279 --> 01:18:43.199
Dying deb Debbie Deborah by Shane Wigley.

1219
01:18:43.239 --> 01:18:50.800
About that, the cat thinks I'm fucking nuts. She may

1220
01:18:50.800 --> 01:18:55.359
be right. I'm wearing my nicest dress. Dean Martin is

1221
01:18:55.359 --> 01:18:58.640
on the stereo, and I have a gun to my head.

1222
01:18:59.720 --> 01:19:05.479
I'm dancing with my dead husband on Valentine's Day. Angel,

1223
01:19:06.239 --> 01:19:10.279
our cat, died three days ago. Her ashes sit on

1224
01:19:10.279 --> 01:19:13.520
the mantle in an urn next to my husband's. I

1225
01:19:13.600 --> 01:19:17.039
see her on her favorite spot on the couch, watching me.

1226
01:19:18.359 --> 01:19:22.199
She really is an angel. Now I pull the hammer

1227
01:19:22.239 --> 01:19:26.960
of the revolver back. I'm ready to join them. Click,

1228
01:19:28.079 --> 01:19:35.319
son of a bitch. Empty, Good job, Deborah. I forgot

1229
01:19:35.640 --> 01:19:40.039
the fucking bullets. I dropped the snub nose on the

1230
01:19:40.039 --> 01:19:43.720
coffee table. I haven't found where Johnny hid the bullets.

1231
01:19:44.560 --> 01:19:47.600
He bought the gun for me, worried about us being

1232
01:19:47.640 --> 01:19:50.880
all alone out here in the boondocks. What good is

1233
01:19:50.920 --> 01:19:55.359
a gun if the bullets are hidden. Excuse me, mister rapist,

1234
01:19:55.800 --> 01:19:59.079
while I find the bullets to shoot you. Maybe Johnny

1235
01:19:59.119 --> 01:20:02.159
never got around a b any. Ain't that a kick

1236
01:20:02.159 --> 01:20:06.239
in the head, Dean. I dropped to the couch, defeated.

1237
01:20:06.680 --> 01:20:09.920
My mind isn't what it used to be. Grief and

1238
01:20:09.960 --> 01:20:13.199
despair have pushed everything out to the point that I

1239
01:20:13.239 --> 01:20:16.680
have trouble dealing with the day to day shit. It's

1240
01:20:16.720 --> 01:20:20.359
for the best, I suppose. I'm not a religious woman,

1241
01:20:20.439 --> 01:20:24.000
but I'd like to think there was something waiting, you know,

1242
01:20:24.680 --> 01:20:28.079
after that I could be with them in some kind

1243
01:20:28.119 --> 01:20:31.560
of way. If there is a God and suicide is

1244
01:20:31.560 --> 01:20:35.800
a sin, I better not risk it being sent to hell.

1245
01:20:36.680 --> 01:20:41.039
I'd never see them again. If you ask me, this

1246
01:20:41.239 --> 01:20:48.920
is hell, this world, Johnny, My Johnny, I missed that

1247
01:20:49.000 --> 01:20:52.720
lopsided grin of yours, The way your stubble felt when

1248
01:20:52.720 --> 01:20:56.319
you kissed me, how your hair fell across your eyes

1249
01:20:56.359 --> 01:20:59.920
when you woke up. The touch of your coarse hand

1250
01:21:00.119 --> 01:21:06.880
on my shoulders gone all gone. Five and a half

1251
01:21:07.000 --> 01:21:11.920
years ago, a drunk driver named Dave Robins. Johnny had

1252
01:21:11.920 --> 01:21:14.239
been on his way home from work when the bastard

1253
01:21:14.359 --> 01:21:18.680
ran a red light and struck Johnny's car. I still

1254
01:21:18.720 --> 01:21:22.520
remember the trooper showing up at work. He stood there

1255
01:21:22.560 --> 01:21:27.319
in his uniform, looking so out of place. His words

1256
01:21:27.319 --> 01:21:32.039
were unintelligible as my heart pounded in my ears. They

1257
01:21:32.079 --> 01:21:36.600
gave that man ten years in prison, ten fucking years.

1258
01:21:37.319 --> 01:21:40.640
He took away our future, and they gave him ten years.

1259
01:21:41.000 --> 01:21:45.560
He got out in four for good behavior, Good fucking behavior.

1260
01:21:46.199 --> 01:21:50.399
I dreamed about killing him for so long. How I'd

1261
01:21:50.479 --> 01:21:53.640
do it, how I'd drag it out, make him suffer.

1262
01:21:54.039 --> 01:21:56.479
I'd even toyed with the idea of killing his family

1263
01:21:56.520 --> 01:22:01.199
in front of him. But no, there was angel to

1264
01:22:01.239 --> 01:22:06.960
think of. The cat, a housewarming present from Johnny, got

1265
01:22:06.960 --> 01:22:10.760
me through that first grim year. She was there for

1266
01:22:10.840 --> 01:22:13.439
me when I got home from another dreary day at work,

1267
01:22:14.039 --> 01:22:17.600
happy to see me, purring her feline heart out. She

1268
01:22:17.800 --> 01:22:20.720
was such a tiny little thing. Then he surprised me

1269
01:22:20.760 --> 01:22:23.640
with her. She hid under the couch for the first

1270
01:22:23.640 --> 01:22:25.720
couple of days, until one night I sat on the

1271
01:22:25.760 --> 01:22:29.000
couch watching the evening news, waiting for Johnny to come

1272
01:22:29.000 --> 01:22:32.199
home from work. I felt something small and warm curl

1273
01:22:32.279 --> 01:22:36.399
up next to me. Now she's gone too, I'm left

1274
01:22:36.439 --> 01:22:38.920
all alone in this house that used to represent our

1275
01:22:38.960 --> 01:22:44.079
future together, a house that's become a tomb. The house

1276
01:22:44.199 --> 01:22:47.000
was so empty and vast when I'd come home from

1277
01:22:47.000 --> 01:22:50.479
the vet carrying little angels, ashes and a small container,

1278
01:22:51.439 --> 01:22:54.520
nobody there to greet me at the door. I dread

1279
01:22:54.560 --> 01:22:56.319
the thought of coming home after a day at work

1280
01:22:56.359 --> 01:23:02.239
to this empty, god forsaken place. But I'll have to.

1281
01:23:03.560 --> 01:23:06.039
I took a couple sick days, told Emily I had

1282
01:23:06.079 --> 01:23:08.720
a bug. They don't need to know the real reason.

1283
01:23:09.279 --> 01:23:11.960
Most of them look at me with some sort of pity,

1284
01:23:12.600 --> 01:23:15.840
walking on eggshells around me. The others treat me as

1285
01:23:15.840 --> 01:23:20.039
if this sickness in my heart can simply be sent away,

1286
01:23:20.159 --> 01:23:25.000
that I should get over it and move on. There

1287
01:23:25.039 --> 01:23:29.279
is no moving on. I could take some medication, I guess,

1288
01:23:29.319 --> 01:23:32.960
something to help me at the cost of this hornet's

1289
01:23:33.000 --> 01:23:36.239
nest of pain in my stomach, the pain that helps

1290
01:23:36.279 --> 01:23:41.239
me remember them, that keeps them in my thoughts, would

1291
01:23:41.279 --> 01:23:45.239
I lose their memory in a haze of medication. The

1292
01:23:45.319 --> 01:23:49.039
record ends. I stare at the snub nose. I should

1293
01:23:49.079 --> 01:23:55.039
really find those bullets. There's other ways I could do it, pills, sure,

1294
01:23:55.279 --> 01:23:59.399
or that old razor blade in the bathtub. Bit, those

1295
01:23:59.399 --> 01:24:03.720
are easy. I suppose hanging myself is off the table.

1296
01:24:04.399 --> 01:24:07.560
I can't tie knots for shit. Besides, some idiot might

1297
01:24:07.600 --> 01:24:11.239
think I was trying to get off and died by accident. Shit,

1298
01:24:12.119 --> 01:24:15.399
fuck it. The phone rings. I pick it up, looking

1299
01:24:15.399 --> 01:24:19.439
at the number. It's Catherine Wade from work, probably checking

1300
01:24:19.479 --> 01:24:23.560
up on me. Hello, Kat, how are you feeling, trooper?

1301
01:24:24.039 --> 01:24:29.359
She answers in her unbearably cheery voice. I lie, Oh okay,

1302
01:24:29.640 --> 01:24:33.079
just a bit of a bug. You need anything? No,

1303
01:24:33.319 --> 01:24:36.640
I'm fine. Thanks. I want to hate her for caring.

1304
01:24:37.520 --> 01:24:41.079
Damn it, I just can't. The phone crackles with static.

1305
01:24:41.600 --> 01:24:47.239
Aren't you forgetting something? Deb Another voice asks Kat you there?

1306
01:24:48.199 --> 01:24:51.199
I can hear something metallic on the other end. Have

1307
01:24:51.319 --> 01:24:55.439
you checked the basement? Who is this? I ask, my

1308
01:24:55.520 --> 01:25:01.079
voice trembling, but no answer. God, damn it, who is this?

1309
01:25:02.079 --> 01:25:08.199
Are you? Okaydab Cat asks, sounding a bit shaken. Yeah, yeah,

1310
01:25:08.279 --> 01:25:12.439
just this bug. I think I need a nap before

1311
01:25:12.479 --> 01:25:16.399
she can finish saying goodbye. I hang up. What just happened?

1312
01:25:16.920 --> 01:25:20.199
I'm not even sure. I take a deep breath, I

1313
01:25:20.279 --> 01:25:23.039
get off the couch. Maybe I should just go buy

1314
01:25:23.119 --> 01:25:28.079
some fucking bullets. Looking out the window, I see I'm

1315
01:25:28.079 --> 01:25:31.199
not going out anywhere today. The snow is coming down

1316
01:25:31.239 --> 01:25:35.159
in a heavy white blanket. Frustrated, I turned the TV on.

1317
01:25:35.640 --> 01:25:39.800
They're calling it the Valentine's Day blizzard, the weather man proclaimed,

1318
01:25:40.079 --> 01:25:43.720
as if he was a proud father praising his golden child.

1319
01:25:43.760 --> 01:25:47.039
These cocksuckers really piss me off. And how much they

1320
01:25:47.119 --> 01:25:49.960
get off on bad weather. I think they get hard

1321
01:25:50.000 --> 01:25:55.079
over delivering bad news. Expect record snowfalls, Expect me not

1322
01:25:55.199 --> 01:25:58.239
to give a fuck, I say, wishing about now. The

1323
01:25:58.279 --> 01:26:01.720
gun was loaded so I could shoot the TV. I

1324
01:26:01.800 --> 01:26:06.399
never hated anybody till Johnny died. Now I can't stand anyone,

1325
01:26:06.680 --> 01:26:10.840
most of all myself. The smiling weatherman is replaced by

1326
01:26:10.880 --> 01:26:14.119
a nicely dressed Chinese woman. The day's other big story,

1327
01:26:14.399 --> 01:26:17.119
all but one of the escaped convicts have been captured.

1328
01:26:17.880 --> 01:26:20.880
Police gather round an overturned prison bus and a ditch

1329
01:26:20.920 --> 01:26:23.960
as the anchor woman goes over the details. Police are

1330
01:26:24.000 --> 01:26:28.560
still searching for Charles Lee Andrew, convicted serial killer and rapist.

1331
01:26:28.840 --> 01:26:32.399
He's considered highly dangerous. Should you spot him? Why do

1332
01:26:32.479 --> 01:26:35.800
these assholes always have three names? Is it a serial

1333
01:26:35.880 --> 01:26:39.920
killer thing? They linger on his face? He's handsome enough

1334
01:26:39.960 --> 01:26:43.319
except for the scar over his left eye. Crazy burns

1335
01:26:43.359 --> 01:26:46.039
hot in those eyes. Even in a photograph, you can

1336
01:26:46.079 --> 01:26:51.399
feel his stare just penetrating your soul. Bored, I walk

1337
01:26:51.439 --> 01:26:55.319
out to the kitchen a drink maybe, and a sandwich.

1338
01:26:56.000 --> 01:26:59.560
Dirty dishes clog one of the two sinks. I've let

1339
01:26:59.560 --> 01:27:02.720
the house go to shit. Haven't felt like cleaning since

1340
01:27:02.720 --> 01:27:06.119
the cat died. I pour myself a glass of brandy

1341
01:27:06.119 --> 01:27:08.880
and make a roast beef sandwich. I hold a stainless

1342
01:27:08.880 --> 01:27:13.000
steel knife in my hands, catching my reflection on the blade.

1343
01:27:13.119 --> 01:27:15.279
The house isn't the only thing that's gone to shit.

1344
01:27:16.039 --> 01:27:19.560
I look terrible. My hair's a mess, there's bags under

1345
01:27:19.560 --> 01:27:22.600
my eyes. Fuck it all? Why should I care how

1346
01:27:22.600 --> 01:27:25.840
I look? It's all a sick joke. The blade quivers

1347
01:27:25.840 --> 01:27:29.520
in my hand so sharp, one of those as seen

1348
01:27:29.560 --> 01:27:32.479
on TV jobs. You get it A save mart? Why

1349
01:27:33.000 --> 01:27:37.039
I bet if I just took the knife and sliced Debbie.

1350
01:27:38.279 --> 01:27:41.319
A sweet sing song voice echoes out from the living room.

1351
01:27:42.159 --> 01:27:49.640
The TV has to be a coincidence, deab the voice giggles,

1352
01:27:50.199 --> 01:27:54.319
who's there? I call out, feeling a bit embarrassed, because

1353
01:27:54.319 --> 01:27:58.159
it's most likely the TV. I griped the knife. Stepping

1354
01:27:58.159 --> 01:28:01.920
into the short hallway towards the living room, I can

1355
01:28:01.960 --> 01:28:04.960
hear a soap opera on the TV. I stop and

1356
01:28:05.079 --> 01:28:09.560
listen under the din of dialogue from the TV. I

1357
01:28:09.640 --> 01:28:14.279
hear the wind outside, the tick tick sound of snow

1358
01:28:14.760 --> 01:28:21.319
and freezing rain against the windows, and then floorboards creaking

1359
01:28:21.399 --> 01:28:27.600
with the unmistakable sound of someone walking over them. Debby,

1360
01:28:28.319 --> 01:28:32.479
the voice giggles again, come and find me. I storm

1361
01:28:32.520 --> 01:28:35.239
into the living room, ready to confront the weirdo intruder.

1362
01:28:35.600 --> 01:28:42.279
You picked the wrong fucking time empty. I switched the

1363
01:28:42.319 --> 01:28:46.439
TV off and I listen again. Maybe my mind finally

1364
01:28:46.479 --> 01:28:49.600
has hitched a ride to crazy town. The house is

1365
01:28:49.680 --> 01:28:55.079
still silent save for the wind and snow outside. The

1366
01:28:55.079 --> 01:28:58.520
furnace in the basement rumbles on, making me flinch. I

1367
01:28:58.600 --> 01:29:02.920
laugh like a maniac, sting my eyes as laughter gives

1368
01:29:02.960 --> 01:29:08.640
way to crying. I really have fucking flipped out, wiping

1369
01:29:08.680 --> 01:29:11.600
them away. I see them there, reflected in the black

1370
01:29:11.640 --> 01:29:16.479
of the TV screen, watching me from the hall, darting

1371
01:29:16.479 --> 01:29:19.319
away before I can turn. Scrambling to my feet, I

1372
01:29:19.319 --> 01:29:21.560
grabbed the empty gun and give chase. I can hear

1373
01:29:21.600 --> 01:29:25.399
them upstairs. Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man

1374
01:29:25.439 --> 01:29:28.560
who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today, Oh how

1375
01:29:28.600 --> 01:29:31.479
I wish he'd go away. The voice sang out from

1376
01:29:31.479 --> 01:29:37.359
somewhere upstairs. I know that poem from a long time ago,

1377
01:29:37.439 --> 01:29:41.000
when I was a little girl. I creep up the stairs,

1378
01:29:41.680 --> 01:29:44.920
no easy feet, since they're creaky as how A door

1379
01:29:44.960 --> 01:29:48.600
slams shut somewhere upstairs. How the hell did they get in?

1380
01:29:49.520 --> 01:29:53.079
I didn't hear anything. Everything is locked. I didn't forget something. Right,

1381
01:29:54.000 --> 01:29:56.000
With a knife in one hand and an empty gun

1382
01:29:56.039 --> 01:29:58.880
in the other, maybe I can scare the living crap

1383
01:29:58.920 --> 01:30:03.000
out of them. Yeah right, Why am I scared? I

1384
01:30:03.079 --> 01:30:06.359
was thinking about ending my life moments ago. No, it's

1385
01:30:06.399 --> 01:30:09.439
not death that frightens me. It's what could happen in

1386
01:30:09.479 --> 01:30:14.840
place of that. Rape, being maimed, being paralyzed, a coma.

1387
01:30:15.399 --> 01:30:18.520
Those things frighten me A living hell. I can't escape.

1388
01:30:19.199 --> 01:30:21.800
I search the upstairs, trying to look as bad ass

1389
01:30:21.840 --> 01:30:25.800
as possible with an empty gun. That's when it hits me.

1390
01:30:26.760 --> 01:30:30.680
I am fucking nuts. There's not a living soul up here.

1391
01:30:30.960 --> 01:30:33.960
I search every room, every nook, every cranny under the

1392
01:30:34.000 --> 01:30:37.159
beds in the Closet's not a sign of anybody being

1393
01:30:37.279 --> 01:30:41.359
here other than me. Nothing out of place, nothing touched.

1394
01:30:42.439 --> 01:30:45.720
Feeling tired, I walk into the bathroom connected to the bedroom.

1395
01:30:46.000 --> 01:30:48.439
I run cold water over my face and stare at

1396
01:30:48.439 --> 01:30:52.960
my haggard reflection in the mirror. Through the open door,

1397
01:30:53.000 --> 01:30:57.520
I see the bed sitting there, legs hanging over the side,

1398
01:30:57.560 --> 01:31:02.399
A dark figure watching me. I spin around, nearly slipping

1399
01:31:02.439 --> 01:31:05.680
on the tiled floor. Who the fuck, I blurt out.

1400
01:31:06.399 --> 01:31:10.279
The dark, featureless figure, almost an outline of a young woman.

1401
01:31:10.800 --> 01:31:14.680
Its long hair and pigtails hang down on black shoulders.

1402
01:31:15.720 --> 01:31:19.760
It tilts its head and waves, hey, Debbie, long time

1403
01:31:19.840 --> 01:31:25.199
no see. I gawk at it for a few minutes, speechless.

1404
01:31:25.960 --> 01:31:32.119
There's something about this thing, this girl, that seems familiar.

1405
01:31:32.960 --> 01:31:35.760
Something's been buzzing around the back of my head all day,

1406
01:31:35.840 --> 01:31:40.520
wanting to get out. Is this it? I should feel scared,

1407
01:31:40.600 --> 01:31:46.319
yet I don't. I feel oddly reassured. What's wrong, Sunshine?

1408
01:31:46.760 --> 01:31:52.039
No hello for good old Maddie. Maddie. I stammer, my

1409
01:31:52.119 --> 01:31:56.399
mouth suddenly dry. Was that you running around the house?

1410
01:31:57.119 --> 01:32:00.119
None other? Don't you remember, Deb, how we used too?

1411
01:32:01.239 --> 01:32:05.600
I rubbed my head. There's a stabbing pain. Something wants out.

1412
01:32:06.319 --> 01:32:10.039
Poor old Deb went and grew up. It's a delusion,

1413
01:32:10.159 --> 01:32:12.640
that's all. I walk out of the bathroom, waving my

1414
01:32:12.800 --> 01:32:16.319
arms about go away. You're a figment of my deteriorating

1415
01:32:16.359 --> 01:32:20.479
mental state. You're not real, Good old Maddie slides off

1416
01:32:20.520 --> 01:32:24.800
the bed, sauntering towards me. Not real. She pokes me

1417
01:32:24.840 --> 01:32:28.880
with an ebony finger. That real enough for you. I

1418
01:32:29.000 --> 01:32:34.039
flinch as I involuntarily back up. You made me, poor

1419
01:32:34.119 --> 01:32:38.359
little Deb, her parents always fighting, Nobody at school likes her.

1420
01:32:38.680 --> 01:32:41.279
She reads too much, She's too much of a tomboy.

1421
01:32:41.359 --> 01:32:46.800
Boo hoo. Maddie mocks me, making a tearful face. Somebody

1422
01:32:46.840 --> 01:32:49.880
needed a friend, and Maddie got the call. Her voice

1423
01:32:49.920 --> 01:32:56.720
suddenly changes, becoming cold, until somebody tossed me aside. Maddie

1424
01:32:56.800 --> 01:33:00.720
backs away from me, her gaze locked on me. But

1425
01:33:00.840 --> 01:33:04.079
I didn't go away. Couldn't that figure in the corner

1426
01:33:04.079 --> 01:33:06.600
of your eye. That shadow in the dark room, that

1427
01:33:06.840 --> 01:33:10.720
was me. She does a little jig. You can't kill yourself, deb,

1428
01:33:11.039 --> 01:33:14.399
I won't let you. If I made you, I can

1429
01:33:14.520 --> 01:33:17.279
unmake you. I grab a small ceramic statue on the

1430
01:33:17.359 --> 01:33:20.359
dresser and throw it at this Mattie. It bounces off

1431
01:33:20.359 --> 01:33:23.800
her head when I expected it to pass right through ow.

1432
01:33:24.439 --> 01:33:27.199
She hollers, the manic joyfulness gone from her voice.

1433
01:33:27.720 --> 01:33:28.159
Bitch.

1434
01:33:28.920 --> 01:33:31.159
She runs out of the bedroom, holding her head. I

1435
01:33:31.199 --> 01:33:33.760
can hear her feet on the stairs as she goes down.

1436
01:33:34.640 --> 01:33:38.079
Looking down at the plush royal blue carpet, I see

1437
01:33:38.079 --> 01:33:43.880
a trail of crimson blood. I follow Mattie's blood downstairs

1438
01:33:43.880 --> 01:33:47.319
to the kitchen. Bloody handprints on the door frame welcome me.

1439
01:33:47.359 --> 01:33:50.600
As I enter, Mattie has bent over the sink, washing

1440
01:33:50.640 --> 01:33:52.760
the blood off of her forehead with a wet towel.

1441
01:33:53.399 --> 01:33:56.920
Fuck you, Deb, you always did have a temper. She

1442
01:33:57.039 --> 01:33:59.960
turned to glare at me, a gash of bright crimson

1443
01:34:00.079 --> 01:34:03.920
and her black forehead. She holds the wet towel to

1444
01:34:04.000 --> 01:34:06.960
it as she finishes off my glass of brandy, leaving

1445
01:34:07.000 --> 01:34:12.560
behind bloody fingerprints on the glass. I'm sorry. I think

1446
01:34:13.439 --> 01:34:17.199
you can feel pain well. No, duh, of course I

1447
01:34:17.199 --> 01:34:20.680
can feel pain. She pours herself more brandy, gulping it

1448
01:34:20.760 --> 01:34:23.359
down in one go. This is some good shit. By

1449
01:34:23.399 --> 01:34:27.600
the way, got any bandages. I go to the downstairs bathroom,

1450
01:34:27.640 --> 01:34:30.880
grabbing some bandages from the medicine cabinet. When I come back,

1451
01:34:30.960 --> 01:34:36.119
Maddie and her bloodstains are gone. Suddenly I feel light headed.

1452
01:34:36.159 --> 01:34:40.199
My head is buzzing. Uh. I take more aspiren than

1453
01:34:40.239 --> 01:34:43.640
the recommended dosage. Lying down on the couch, I feel

1454
01:34:43.640 --> 01:34:47.359
as if I'm melting into it, becoming one with the upholstery.

1455
01:34:48.880 --> 01:34:51.399
I wake up some time later. The sun is low

1456
01:34:51.399 --> 01:34:54.479
in the sky, Snow still falling, but not as heavy

1457
01:34:54.479 --> 01:34:58.640
as before. My head feels better now. Maybe that was

1458
01:34:58.680 --> 01:35:02.119
all a dream. The snubnose sits on the coffee table,

1459
01:35:02.199 --> 01:35:07.199
next to the knife. I'd left those upstairs. Yes, yes,

1460
01:35:07.399 --> 01:35:09.600
it was all a dream. I'd just fallen asleep on

1461
01:35:09.640 --> 01:35:12.960
the couch and dreamed the whole damn thing a fever dream.

1462
01:35:13.760 --> 01:35:16.800
The floorboards upstairs creak and my heart skips a beat.

1463
01:35:18.720 --> 01:35:22.640
You're not safe yet, weekly Spooky will be right back.

1464
01:35:29.000 --> 01:35:31.359
This is an old house. It's just settling, that's all.

1465
01:35:31.840 --> 01:35:35.159
I pick up the gun still no bullets. That hasn't changed.

1466
01:35:35.439 --> 01:35:39.600
What also hasn't changed is it's still fucking Valentine's Day.

1467
01:35:39.920 --> 01:35:41.720
Why couldn't I have just slept through the rest of

1468
01:35:41.760 --> 01:35:45.119
it instead of the day that won't end, dragging on,

1469
01:35:45.399 --> 01:35:49.119
not letting me forget what I've lost. I remember one

1470
01:35:49.199 --> 01:35:54.279
Valentine's Day, Johnny made this specialty for dinner, spaghetti and salad.

1471
01:35:55.079 --> 01:35:58.359
We watched an old western on the TV, something starring

1472
01:35:58.399 --> 01:36:01.359
the guy that played Superman's dad. It had been an

1473
01:36:01.359 --> 01:36:03.439
exhausting week for both of us, and we fell asleep

1474
01:36:03.479 --> 01:36:06.000
on the couch halfway through the film, my head on

1475
01:36:06.039 --> 01:36:09.319
his shoulder. The holiday didn't end up in a moment

1476
01:36:09.399 --> 01:36:13.960
of passion and ended in a moment of mundane tenderness,

1477
01:36:15.760 --> 01:36:18.720
and I wouldn't trade it for anything. A knock at

1478
01:36:18.720 --> 01:36:20.760
the front door startles me out of my fond memory.

1479
01:36:21.359 --> 01:36:24.479
I wait, holding my breath. Perhaps it was just a

1480
01:36:24.520 --> 01:36:28.159
noise and not somebody at the door, some snow falling

1481
01:36:28.199 --> 01:36:31.800
off the roof for the like. Then another knock comes,

1482
01:36:32.039 --> 01:36:37.640
ruining my fabrication, followed rapidly by a third Hello. A

1483
01:36:37.680 --> 01:36:39.920
man asks from the other side of the door, is

1484
01:36:39.960 --> 01:36:43.600
anybody there? Don't answer it, Mattie says, dropping into the

1485
01:36:43.640 --> 01:36:46.840
recliner in the corner. The chairs old springs straining from

1486
01:36:46.840 --> 01:36:50.000
the sudden weight. Fuck me, I blurted out in surprise.

1487
01:36:50.119 --> 01:36:52.800
Where did you come from? I notice her features have

1488
01:36:52.840 --> 01:36:56.680
become more defined now, the darkness lessening somewhat. Her head

1489
01:36:56.760 --> 01:36:59.720
no longer has a bandage, nor a bloody gash. I've

1490
01:36:59.720 --> 01:37:03.520
been about sleepy head. She tilts the recliner back. You

1491
01:37:03.600 --> 01:37:05.960
know you talk in your sleep. Mattie looks up at

1492
01:37:05.960 --> 01:37:09.680
the ceiling. Who's Rex? Johnny used to kid me about

1493
01:37:09.720 --> 01:37:14.880
talking in my sleep? Rex? Why does that name seem familiar? Hello?

1494
01:37:15.319 --> 01:37:18.319
The knocking at the door becomes more aggressive. I can

1495
01:37:18.359 --> 01:37:20.520
hear you in there? Please come to the door. The

1496
01:37:20.520 --> 01:37:24.920
man pauses, His voice sounds strained. I need help. I

1497
01:37:24.960 --> 01:37:27.800
pick up the empty gun, holding it like a magical

1498
01:37:27.880 --> 01:37:30.239
charm capable of warding off evil. As I approach the

1499
01:37:30.279 --> 01:37:33.640
front door, I look through the people at the man outside.

1500
01:37:34.119 --> 01:37:36.920
He stands on the porch, a desperate look etched on

1501
01:37:36.960 --> 01:37:40.720
his face. His hair looks recently shaved off, and he's

1502
01:37:40.760 --> 01:37:43.079
wearing snow covered clothes and a band aid on his

1503
01:37:43.119 --> 01:37:45.920
forehead over his left eye. The man looked over his

1504
01:37:45.960 --> 01:37:49.560
shoulder anxiously before turning back to the door. Please you

1505
01:37:49.640 --> 01:37:52.239
have to hurry, the man pleads, as he knocks again.

1506
01:37:52.600 --> 01:37:55.119
I reach for the dead bolt. I wouldn't do it,

1507
01:37:55.279 --> 01:37:59.199
Maddie warns me. Shush. I turn the lock on the door,

1508
01:37:59.399 --> 01:38:02.399
only partly convinced there's really someone out there and it's

1509
01:38:02.439 --> 01:38:05.239
not another delusion. I pull open the door a little,

1510
01:38:05.560 --> 01:38:08.960
peeking through the crack at this unwelcome stranger. His clothes

1511
01:38:09.000 --> 01:38:11.560
look ill, fitting a size or two too big for

1512
01:38:11.600 --> 01:38:14.319
his frame. Behind him, I noticed his tracks through the

1513
01:38:14.359 --> 01:38:19.680
ankle deep snow. Yes, you took long enough, the man grumbles.

1514
01:38:20.279 --> 01:38:24.479
Excuse me, The man shivers, looking around. I'm freezing out here.

1515
01:38:24.520 --> 01:38:27.720
Can I come in? Can I trust him? Should I?

1516
01:38:28.640 --> 01:38:32.640
What are you doing way out here in a storm? Suddenly, violently,

1517
01:38:32.840 --> 01:38:35.119
he pushes the door open, knocking me to the floor.

1518
01:38:35.319 --> 01:38:37.479
I land hard on my back. The air pushes out

1519
01:38:37.520 --> 01:38:40.319
of my lungs, the empty gun sliding across the floor.

1520
01:38:40.760 --> 01:38:43.479
I don't have time for your shit, he angrily screams

1521
01:38:43.520 --> 01:38:45.960
as he slams the door shut. Gasping for air. I

1522
01:38:45.960 --> 01:38:48.279
tried to get to my feet, get a weapon. It's

1523
01:38:48.319 --> 01:38:50.399
no use. The man pushes me to the floor with

1524
01:38:50.439 --> 01:38:53.800
a snow covered boot. Is there anyone here? Are you alone?

1525
01:38:54.439 --> 01:38:56.520
His head darts back and forth as he takes in

1526
01:38:56.600 --> 01:38:58.920
the room. He gives me another love tap from his

1527
01:38:59.000 --> 01:39:02.359
booted foot before retrieving the gun from the floor. He

1528
01:39:02.479 --> 01:39:06.279
checks the cylinder, laughing, what were you gonna do? Wave

1529
01:39:06.359 --> 01:39:10.159
this around and use harsh language to scare me? Mattie

1530
01:39:10.159 --> 01:39:12.680
slides up behind him. Told you not to let him in.

1531
01:39:13.479 --> 01:39:16.479
I didn't let him in. I managed able to breathe again.

1532
01:39:16.760 --> 01:39:20.560
The man looks around, perplexed. The fuck you talking about?

1533
01:39:20.640 --> 01:39:21.000
Lady?

1534
01:39:22.079 --> 01:39:25.079
What do you want? I ask? I don't have any money. Oh,

1535
01:39:25.119 --> 01:39:28.000
we'll see about that. He pulls me up, dragging me

1536
01:39:28.079 --> 01:39:30.159
to the couch. Both our eyes go to the knife

1537
01:39:30.159 --> 01:39:32.880
on the coffee table before meeting again. He hurls me

1538
01:39:32.920 --> 01:39:34.960
into the couch. When I managed to sit up, he

1539
01:39:35.039 --> 01:39:38.479
hits me in the face hard, hard enough that the

1540
01:39:38.520 --> 01:39:42.239
world goes black. When my eyes open again, the man

1541
01:39:42.319 --> 01:39:45.960
stands over me, the knife in his hand. Just what

1542
01:39:46.039 --> 01:39:48.760
the hell were you up to here? He leans forward,

1543
01:39:48.760 --> 01:39:51.479
giving me a good view of the knife. I'll ask

1544
01:39:51.560 --> 01:39:56.560
you again, is there anybody else here? I shake my head,

1545
01:39:56.960 --> 01:39:59.039
noticing I've been tied to a dining room chair in

1546
01:39:59.039 --> 01:40:01.640
the living room, I can taste blood on my lips.

1547
01:40:02.439 --> 01:40:05.760
If you're lying, I can make it very unpleasant for you.

1548
01:40:06.159 --> 01:40:09.079
I glare at him, more angry at myself than him.

1549
01:40:09.840 --> 01:40:12.359
For once, I should have listened to the delusion prancing

1550
01:40:12.359 --> 01:40:16.800
around my house. As he looks down at me, I

1551
01:40:16.840 --> 01:40:22.479
recognize who's invaded my home, Charles Lee Andrew, serial killer

1552
01:40:23.199 --> 01:40:27.239
and rapist. With this revelation, a stark fear creeps into

1553
01:40:27.239 --> 01:40:31.319
my belly. Yes, I want to die, but not like this,

1554
01:40:32.119 --> 01:40:36.119
and not by his hand. I'm gonna go poke around. Uh,

1555
01:40:36.239 --> 01:40:40.439
you sit tight. He goes to leave and stops. Last chance.

1556
01:40:40.880 --> 01:40:44.840
There's nobody here, right, because if there is, they're fucked.

1557
01:40:45.920 --> 01:40:49.119
I shake my head again, satisfied. He leaves me alone

1558
01:40:49.119 --> 01:40:53.079
as he searches the house, our house, Johnny and me

1559
01:40:53.199 --> 01:40:56.840
and little Angel. He has no right to be here.

1560
01:40:57.600 --> 01:41:00.479
Fear begins to give way to anger, this time directed

1561
01:41:00.520 --> 01:41:03.439
towards this interloper. I can hear him in the kitchen,

1562
01:41:03.880 --> 01:41:07.039
opening and closing the fridge. He walks back into the room,

1563
01:41:07.079 --> 01:41:11.279
eating a leftover chicken leg good chicken, you make it,

1564
01:41:11.720 --> 01:41:16.279
He smirks, a greasy chicken smile. I stare holes through him,

1565
01:41:16.439 --> 01:41:20.039
imagining his body being riddled with bullets, jerking around in

1566
01:41:20.119 --> 01:41:23.000
a death dance as flesh and boner shredded in a

1567
01:41:23.039 --> 01:41:25.800
hail of lead. Of course, that would leave a hell

1568
01:41:25.840 --> 01:41:28.960
of a mess when I really wouldn't want to clean up.

1569
01:41:29.680 --> 01:41:32.199
You know, you look like shit, he remarks, setting a

1570
01:41:32.199 --> 01:41:34.319
plate with the half finished chicken leg down at the

1571
01:41:34.319 --> 01:41:37.319
coffee table. I mean, other than where I socked you

1572
01:41:37.399 --> 01:41:40.399
in the kisser, I watched as he looks out the window.

1573
01:41:41.319 --> 01:41:44.279
This is perfect, with the storm and this place being

1574
01:41:44.319 --> 01:41:47.560
in the middle of nowhere in East Jesus, the cops

1575
01:41:47.560 --> 01:41:50.520
won't be around. I can definitely lie low and catch

1576
01:41:50.560 --> 01:41:53.279
a breath. He bends down close to me and locks

1577
01:41:53.319 --> 01:41:57.039
me in his gaze, and I definitely plan on having

1578
01:41:57.119 --> 01:42:00.439
some fun before I go. He tries kicking me on

1579
01:42:00.479 --> 01:42:02.960
the lips. I managed to pull away, and he kisses

1580
01:42:03.000 --> 01:42:06.720
my cheek. I turn my head in disgust. Seeing Johnny's

1581
01:42:06.800 --> 01:42:10.359
urn on the mantle, I start to cry. I don't

1582
01:42:10.359 --> 01:42:14.840
want him to see this, not my Johnny. The bastard

1583
01:42:14.920 --> 01:42:17.439
notices my tears, sees the urn and the picture of

1584
01:42:17.479 --> 01:42:21.479
Johnny next to it. Aw, what are you crying about,

1585
01:42:21.479 --> 01:42:24.479
sweet cheeks? He picks up the picture, gawking at it

1586
01:42:24.520 --> 01:42:27.880
with those soulless eyes, before turning his attention to the urn.

1587
01:42:28.720 --> 01:42:32.680
This your your dead, hubby, Fuck you, I spit out

1588
01:42:32.680 --> 01:42:37.399
between sobs. You will, don't worry, you will. He drops

1589
01:42:37.439 --> 01:42:41.000
the picture to the floor, shattering the glass. First, I

1590
01:42:41.039 --> 01:42:44.079
think I'll look around and then freshen up, maybe take

1591
01:42:44.119 --> 01:42:45.840
a nice shit and see if you still have some

1592
01:42:45.920 --> 01:42:49.359
of your old man's duds. Seeing your little shrine here,

1593
01:42:49.399 --> 01:42:53.079
I'm willing to bet that's a yes. And then I'm

1594
01:42:53.159 --> 01:42:56.520
left alone, left alone to think about this mess. I'm

1595
01:42:56.520 --> 01:43:01.359
in mess. It's a fucking nightmare. I can hear him

1596
01:43:01.399 --> 01:43:05.720
moving about the first floor, ransacking the place and making comments,

1597
01:43:05.760 --> 01:43:09.840
stoking the boiling anger inside me. I struggle against the

1598
01:43:09.920 --> 01:43:12.560
ropes holding me to this chair. I flex my muscles,

1599
01:43:12.560 --> 01:43:16.000
imagining myself bursting through the ropes with sheer force of will.

1600
01:43:16.359 --> 01:43:19.720
When this fails, I slump in the chair, tired and defeated.

1601
01:43:20.920 --> 01:43:24.560
Maybe I will die this day, just not how I envisioned.

1602
01:43:25.119 --> 01:43:28.279
Come on, you can do it, kiddo. Mattie sits down

1603
01:43:28.279 --> 01:43:30.560
on the floor in front of me. Easy, for you

1604
01:43:30.640 --> 01:43:33.520
to fucking say, I grumble. Why don't you help me?

1605
01:43:34.079 --> 01:43:36.520
She lies down on her side, propped up on one elbow.

1606
01:43:37.439 --> 01:43:41.399
It don't work like that. Gotta do it yourself. That

1607
01:43:41.560 --> 01:43:45.920
fucking figures cheese it, Maddie warns me. I could hear

1608
01:43:46.000 --> 01:43:48.680
him coming back down the hall. After a tense couple

1609
01:43:48.680 --> 01:43:52.039
of minutes waiting, he appears in the doorway. Not much

1610
01:43:52.079 --> 01:43:55.199
down here. Got a question, though, what's with the lock

1611
01:43:55.239 --> 01:43:59.560
on the basement door? I shrug. I don't know. Doesn't

1612
01:43:59.560 --> 01:44:03.560
everybody have that? Sure I'll deal with that later. For now,

1613
01:44:03.840 --> 01:44:06.800
I'm headed upstairs. Hope this shithole gets better on the

1614
01:44:06.840 --> 01:44:10.279
second floor. Maddie sticks her tongue out as he walks away.

1615
01:44:10.680 --> 01:44:13.399
What a dick, She turns back to me. Come on,

1616
01:44:13.760 --> 01:44:17.239
now's your chance. While he's screwing around upstairs, I'm thinking,

1617
01:44:17.279 --> 01:44:20.000
I'm thinking, I say, before letting out a loud fart.

1618
01:44:21.079 --> 01:44:25.399
Maddie backs away, waving at the air. Oh fuck, really, sorry,

1619
01:44:25.680 --> 01:44:30.720
just the stress. I think something died. Maddie coughs. You

1620
01:44:30.720 --> 01:44:34.319
could kill him with that reek. Sure you can smell that.

1621
01:44:34.439 --> 01:44:37.880
Yet you can't help me. Hey, I don't make the rules.

1622
01:44:38.119 --> 01:44:41.319
She stands, holding her nose. I'm gonna sit this one out.

1623
01:44:41.960 --> 01:44:45.279
Maddie leaves, finally a chance to think. I can hear

1624
01:44:45.319 --> 01:44:49.159
him upstairs doing God knows what. Maddie's right. I have

1625
01:44:49.199 --> 01:44:52.359
to get free, Unable to do anything but look around

1626
01:44:52.359 --> 01:44:55.720
the room and think. I start to form a desperate plan.

1627
01:44:56.439 --> 01:44:58.840
By the time he comes back downstairs, dressed in some

1628
01:44:58.880 --> 01:45:02.439
of Johnny's clothes, night had fallen outside, and I had

1629
01:45:02.439 --> 01:45:04.840
a plan. He now has a piece of paper in

1630
01:45:04.880 --> 01:45:07.600
his hand. He holds it out, showing me a newspaper

1631
01:45:07.600 --> 01:45:11.399
clipping about a missing man. Who's this? You got all

1632
01:45:11.439 --> 01:45:14.399
these clippings about the search for this guy? He picks

1633
01:45:14.479 --> 01:45:17.760
up Johnny's picture from the floor, shattered glass falling off.

1634
01:45:18.640 --> 01:45:21.479
Don't look like your husband, he grins. Did you have

1635
01:45:21.600 --> 01:45:25.199
something on the side? My heart races somewhere deep in

1636
01:45:25.239 --> 01:45:28.560
my mind. A loud banging starts. A door that desperately

1637
01:45:28.600 --> 01:45:31.800
wants to open begins to crack. I know who you are,

1638
01:45:32.439 --> 01:45:36.439
Charles Lee Andrew. You're on the run, he grins, a

1639
01:45:36.600 --> 01:45:40.680
devil's grin. My reputation precedes me. Then you know how

1640
01:45:40.800 --> 01:45:44.760
dangerous I am. I know you're just a sad, sick

1641
01:45:44.960 --> 01:45:48.760
shit who gets off hurting women, then you should be

1642
01:45:48.840 --> 01:45:52.479
nice to me. I ignore his words, watching how my

1643
01:45:52.560 --> 01:45:56.920
words hit him. What's wrong? Daddy beats you. Mommy didn't

1644
01:45:56.960 --> 01:46:01.600
love you enough. Boo fucking who Charlie. I fake cry.

1645
01:46:02.000 --> 01:46:04.600
This was too much for him. He storms over to

1646
01:46:04.600 --> 01:46:08.840
the mantle, grabbing Johnny's urn. Shut your fucking mouth, or

1647
01:46:09.479 --> 01:46:12.479
he opens the urn, forcing my husband's remains into my mouth.

1648
01:46:13.159 --> 01:46:16.359
I choke on the ashes, my eyes burning finished. He

1649
01:46:16.439 --> 01:46:19.079
throws the urn down across the room. That's one way

1650
01:46:19.079 --> 01:46:21.600
to suck your husband. The son of a bitch laughs.

1651
01:46:22.479 --> 01:46:27.159
I stained for air, coughing out clouds of black. That's

1652
01:46:27.199 --> 01:46:30.880
all you got, pussy boy, I say, hoping to push

1653
01:46:30.920 --> 01:46:33.520
him further. I bet Mommy used to touch you and

1654
01:46:33.640 --> 01:46:36.239
call you her special little boy, and you liked it.

1655
01:46:36.319 --> 01:46:38.840
Give you a nice hard one, did it, I smile

1656
01:46:38.880 --> 01:46:42.560
with ash covered lips. No, maybe it was Daddy who

1657
01:46:42.560 --> 01:46:47.359
did the touching, cunt. He screams, every letter filled with venom.

1658
01:46:47.640 --> 01:46:50.119
Lifting me in the chair off the ground, he slams

1659
01:46:50.159 --> 01:46:52.439
me down on the floor. I scream out in pain

1660
01:46:52.479 --> 01:46:54.279
as my arms are pinned to the floor by my

1661
01:46:54.319 --> 01:46:57.279
own weight, not wasting any time, My now numb hand

1662
01:46:57.359 --> 01:47:00.920
gropes around on the carpet. Come on, come on, they

1663
01:47:00.960 --> 01:47:03.520
have to be here, somewhere. Those shards of glass from

1664
01:47:03.600 --> 01:47:05.880
Johnny's picture. If I can just grab one and get

1665
01:47:06.000 --> 01:47:09.399
enough time to use it. But this enraged asshole isn't

1666
01:47:09.439 --> 01:47:11.560
giving me much of a chance. He looms over me,

1667
01:47:11.920 --> 01:47:14.439
kicking at my down body. I need to get a

1668
01:47:14.439 --> 01:47:17.680
look at the floor. Thankfully, this douchebag didn't see fit

1669
01:47:17.720 --> 01:47:20.039
to tie my legs to the chair. I kick out.

1670
01:47:20.199 --> 01:47:22.680
After a couple of tries, I score a direct hit,

1671
01:47:23.079 --> 01:47:26.079
hitting him in the balls, doubling the bastard over and

1672
01:47:26.159 --> 01:47:28.960
buying me some time. I roll over onto my knees,

1673
01:47:29.000 --> 01:47:32.640
my eyes searching the carpet. There a couple of big

1674
01:47:32.680 --> 01:47:35.560
shards of glass. I roll over onto my back, trying

1675
01:47:35.560 --> 01:47:37.720
to keep the gap of the chairs back even with

1676
01:47:37.800 --> 01:47:40.560
the glass. I keep my eyes glued to the bastard

1677
01:47:40.600 --> 01:47:43.079
as my fingers run over the floor, feeling for more.

1678
01:47:43.520 --> 01:47:45.960
Charlie glares at me as he clutches himself in pain.

1679
01:47:46.239 --> 01:47:48.840
The jagged glass cuts into my fingers when I find it,

1680
01:47:49.000 --> 01:47:50.920
I poke my arms a couple of times as I

1681
01:47:51.039 --> 01:47:53.840
line the glass up with my bonds, the glass slicing

1682
01:47:53.880 --> 01:47:56.000
into my hands as easy as it does. The ropeer

1683
01:47:56.039 --> 01:47:59.000
straining me. I feel my hands come free as Charlie

1684
01:47:59.039 --> 01:48:02.239
limps toward me, anger so intense, I can feel its

1685
01:48:02.279 --> 01:48:06.359
heat boils out of his very Being freed of the chair,

1686
01:48:06.399 --> 01:48:09.319
I push away from it, kicking it into his path. Pained,

1687
01:48:09.359 --> 01:48:12.600
he barely dodges it, his face red with rage. Charlie

1688
01:48:12.640 --> 01:48:15.279
lunges at me, his hands at my throat. I strike

1689
01:48:15.319 --> 01:48:20.960
out with a shard of glass. Thank you, officer, I

1690
01:48:21.000 --> 01:48:23.880
appreciate it. I smiled at the trooper on my porch,

1691
01:48:24.840 --> 01:48:27.760
just doing our job, ma'am. The storm really hindered our

1692
01:48:27.800 --> 01:48:31.039
search well, as you can see. I really got snowed

1693
01:48:31.039 --> 01:48:34.239
in here. Not that it matters. You're the first visitor

1694
01:48:34.279 --> 01:48:37.479
I've had in ages. After a little small talk, the

1695
01:48:37.520 --> 01:48:40.960
trooper leaves. I watch him leave, locking the door as

1696
01:48:40.960 --> 01:48:44.840
he drives off. I lucked out. I was shoveling off

1697
01:48:44.880 --> 01:48:47.560
the porch when the trooper showed up. My cut hands

1698
01:48:47.560 --> 01:48:50.399
were covered up by black and purple gloves. If he'd

1699
01:48:50.399 --> 01:48:54.760
seen them, would he have known, would he have probed further?

1700
01:48:56.000 --> 01:48:58.319
I don't know. I pick up a set of keys

1701
01:48:58.359 --> 01:49:01.079
from the stand by the front door, and still sensitive

1702
01:49:01.119 --> 01:49:04.079
as they begin to heal. I walk to the basement door,

1703
01:49:04.560 --> 01:49:07.920
unlocking the silver padlock and stepping down into the darkness.

1704
01:49:08.319 --> 01:49:11.439
The nauseating smell of feces and pists burned my eyes

1705
01:49:11.479 --> 01:49:14.159
and nose. I need to buy a couple dozen air

1706
01:49:14.199 --> 01:49:17.560
fresheners for down here. My hand runs over the walls,

1707
01:49:17.680 --> 01:49:21.000
stopping at the light switch. The basement lights hissed life

1708
01:49:21.039 --> 01:49:23.880
below me. I feel as if a great milestone has

1709
01:49:23.920 --> 01:49:27.439
been taken off my shoulders during that fight with Charles

1710
01:49:27.520 --> 01:49:31.119
Lee Andrew. The door buried deep in the back of

1711
01:49:31.159 --> 01:49:36.000
my mind finally flew open, just in time too. I

1712
01:49:36.039 --> 01:49:38.960
step onto the cold cement floor, and I'm greeted by

1713
01:49:39.000 --> 01:49:44.720
a pitiful, sobbing grunt. Music to my ears. How are

1714
01:49:44.760 --> 01:49:47.960
we doing today? Charlie chained to a wall in a

1715
01:49:48.000 --> 01:49:51.720
pair of stained briefs. My new pet groans into his cloth,

1716
01:49:51.800 --> 01:49:55.199
gag his bare chest and back a map of scars

1717
01:49:55.239 --> 01:49:59.319
and bruises. I wheel out my tray of toys, selecting

1718
01:49:59.359 --> 01:50:03.720
a nat looking box cutter. Are we ready for playtime?

1719
01:50:04.319 --> 01:50:08.760
Charles Lee Andrew, once a feared killer, tries to plead

1720
01:50:09.000 --> 01:50:12.600
through his cloth gag, no doubt, begging me to let

1721
01:50:12.640 --> 01:50:16.399
him go. Don't worry, Love, the cops don't even think

1722
01:50:16.439 --> 01:50:19.159
you're in this county anymore. From the other side of

1723
01:50:19.159 --> 01:50:23.239
the basement, chains rattled as he stirred. A thin, filthy

1724
01:50:23.319 --> 01:50:27.399
man emerged from the shadows, crawling on all fours. His

1725
01:50:27.520 --> 01:50:31.920
knees bore the scars of two bullet wounds. Don't worry, Rex,

1726
01:50:32.359 --> 01:50:36.359
Mommy won't forget you again, I coo, I turned back

1727
01:50:36.399 --> 01:50:40.399
to Charlie. I think Rex is a little jealous of you.

1728
01:50:41.319 --> 01:50:44.000
Don't worry you two will have plenty of time to

1729
01:50:44.039 --> 01:50:47.640
get to know each other. Perched on the stairs, Maddie

1730
01:50:47.680 --> 01:50:58.479
watches with delight as I begin to slice. Well, my spookies,

1731
01:50:58.520 --> 01:51:04.239
you've survived yet another terrifying compilation of frightful featurettes. So

1732
01:51:05.359 --> 01:51:09.720
I guess it's time to relax. Things are going to

1733
01:51:09.760 --> 01:51:11.239
be safer from here on out.

1734
01:51:12.000 --> 01:51:12.239
Right.

1735
01:51:13.000 --> 01:51:17.640
Well, I can't guarantee anything, but I guess only time

1736
01:51:17.720 --> 01:51:21.079
will tell. So thank you for listening, And if you

1737
01:51:21.119 --> 01:51:24.000
want to hang out with other spookies like yourself, head

1738
01:51:24.000 --> 01:51:27.640
over to Facebook and type in weekly Spooky's Tomb of Terror.

1739
01:51:28.119 --> 01:51:30.880
It doesn't cost anything, and it's a great way to

1740
01:51:31.000 --> 01:51:33.720
hang out with me and the other authors and share

1741
01:51:33.800 --> 01:51:38.960
your favorite spooky tidbits. But now I'm gonna head back

1742
01:51:39.000 --> 01:51:40.960
into the crypt and get back to work on even

1743
01:51:41.039 --> 01:51:45.680
more terrifying bits of horror goodness for you to enjoy.

1744
01:51:45.960 --> 01:52:02.000
So stay scared, stay spooky, and thank you again for listening.