Sept. 25, 2024

The Monster's Not Real - Survival and Horror in the African Wilderness

The Monster's Not Real - Survival and Horror in the African Wilderness
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Two researchers face a terrifying mystery in the African wilderness after discovering strange red puddles and mutilated animals. As an unseen force stalks them, Gwen and Sarah must confront their fears and survive the horrors that await.

The Monster's Not Real by Charles Campbell

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

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Two young women have decided to go to Africa to

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make a name for themselves in the world of nature documentaries.

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And while that may sound like a relatively mundane line

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of work, these two are about to make a discovery

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far beyond flora and fauna. They're about to discover something

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truly deadly.

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

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You will experience tales over opera, ghosts and death. It

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is not recommended for the week at art.

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Listeners in the dark.

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It's more fun that way way.

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

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

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

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and we have quite the terror tale for you this week.

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In fact, I picked something a little extra special as

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next week is the beginning of October and our thirty

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one shows in thirty one days, so tonight's story is

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a little extra just for you to enjoy from our

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good buddy Charles Campbell over at the Horror for twenty

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one podcast. Make sure to check him out wherever you

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get your podcasts. But before we get to the story,

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I just want to say thank you so much for

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joining us. I know many of you just discovered us

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as you're looking for something fun to listen to for

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your spooky season. But we do this all year long,

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and of course in October, as I mentioned, thirty one

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shows in thirty one days to make sure there's always

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something to enjoy about the spookier side of life. So

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if you're enjoying what we do here and you want

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to support us in a direct way, we have brand

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new merchandise at store dot Weeklyspooky dot com. We have

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hats and t shirts and a few other things you

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might enjoy. And if you want to support us in

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Dot Weeklyspooky dot com and become a patron for as

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shows every single month, and of course my undying gratitude.

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So head to join Dot Weeklyspooky dot com and join

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over one hundred and five other spookies and support the show.

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But now, my friends, it's about time we start the story.

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But before we do, make sure you're subscribed. And if

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you want to help us out in a way that

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costs you absolutely nothing, leave us a five star rating

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on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. But now as fall is approaching,

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let's hop on an airplane and head to the wilds

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of Africa where something terrifying is going down. After this,

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the monsters not Reel by Charles Campbell. The teeth flashed

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white just before the canines sank deep into the flesh,

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releasing a spray of red from the jugular. There was

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little resistance as meat was ripped from the bone. The

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beautiful creature was too tired to fight. It was certainly violent,

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but somehow peaceful at the same time. The lifeblood flowed

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from the gazelle as the cheetah opened the gash wider

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for her cubs. The reluctant cubs stuck their snouts inside

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of the freshly opened gut. The mother circle the kill,

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guarding against any intruding carrion or hyenas, or ready to

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grab her cubs and haul ass at the sign of

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an approaching lioness pride As she watched them take small

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bites of flesh from the still breathing gazelle. There was

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one final twitch of the back legs as life mercifully

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escaped the majestic animal. The cubs peered over the belly

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of the fallen beast with bright red circles around their

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grinning mouths. Their mother guarded them until they had their

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fill and took her turn at the buffet. Gwen stopped

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recording and gave a thumbs up to Sarah. This was

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the first month of tracking this adult female and her

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two cubs. Gwen Faulkner and Sarah Mathis were in South

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Africa to study big cats and became attached to this

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family in their first week of filming. Clementine was the

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name they gave the mother cat. Itchy and Scratchy were

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the cubs. Sarah was a big fan of The Simpsons.

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The names were appropriate because those cubs scratched and clawed

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at each other constantly, as if they could never quite

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quell an itch. Time to go, Gwen said, as she

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placed the Canon Vixia digital recorder in a sturdy, pea

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green canvas knapsack. What time is it, Sarah asked, as

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she placed a hand flat over the front of her

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eyes to shield the sun. It's about three o'clock, Gwen started.

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Let's leave them to their meal. I need to clean up.

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I'm sweating bullets over here. Why don't you ever wear

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those sunglasses I bought you in Atlanta. I think I

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might miss something out here if I put them on,

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and you wouldn't be able to stare into my blue eyes,

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Sarah responded as she removed the white ponytail holder from

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her long black hair, winding it around and around tightly

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before resetting the holder in place, tripling it up to

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make it super tight on the verge of painful. And

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why do you insist on having that long ass hair

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out here in the jungle, Gwen grinned at her companion

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as she ran her fingers through her own short cropped

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brown mop. Well, this is more flat land than jungle,

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and I feel like an African queen with my hair

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flowing behind me as I run through the wild terrain,

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Sarah said, as she placed the Cardinal's baseball cap back

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on top of her head and guided the ponytail out

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the hole in the back. Oh really, just wait till

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one of them fucking cats gets their paws on those locks.

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My dear, you'll wish you would clip that shit down

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when he's eating your face off. Gwen was smiling when

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she said it, but she wasn't joking. She was so serious,

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in fact, that she contemplated pulling out the scissors while

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Sarah slept to make one clip at the bait of

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the ponytail holder. Ooh, I really wish she would try that, Gwendolen,

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Sarah said as she leaned in close, the brim of

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her cardinal's cap sliding up the front of her forehead,

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and planted a wet kiss on Gwen's chapped lips. Gwen

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pushed her back lightly with the palms of both hands.

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Let's get back to camp, you cheeky monkey. Oh behave,

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Sarah laughed as she started up the old jeep wrangler

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and put it in first hold on Gwen. It's gonna

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be a bumpy ride. Camp was a few miles back

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to the east of where the women set up to

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watch Clementine and her babies. It was a wooden shack

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that was equipped with electricity via a gasoline power generator.

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Inside the shack there was a hot plate and a

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couple of outlets that they could use to power their computers,

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as well as charge their phones and other equipment. On

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the outskirts of the flatland, just on the edge of civilization,

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they filled up the jeep with petrol and did the

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same with seven ten gallon gas cans they had brought

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along for the adventure. The wooden shack had been sheltered

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to a few documentarians before them, and the first thing

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Gwen saw when she opened the door for the very

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first time was a stuffed hyena with a wild grin

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sitting atop a note. The note said, move fassa, enjoy

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the show, to which Sarah said, say it again, and

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Gwen played along, Move fassa. A portable shower station was

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located directly behind the shack, and an old fashioned moon

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door outhouse was about thirty yards west of the shower station.

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The women had to procure and boil their own drinking water.

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Sarah had brought a couple of cases of aquafina with them,

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but they disappeared quickly in the African heat. There was

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only so much they could stuff into that old brown jeep.

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They did have chicken, beef and shrimp ramen out the

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yin yang. Anything else they ate they killed and cooked.

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Survival of the Fittest. Gwen was the first one out

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of the No Door's jeep when it came to a

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bumpy stop a few feet from the shack's front door

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divs on first shower. The hell you say, Sarah yelled back,

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as Gwen turned the corner around the back of the shack. Sarah,

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get back here, hurry the fuck up. Sarah rounded the

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corner of the wood shack and grabbed the edge of

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the weathered corner, catching a nasty splinter in the palm

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of her hand in the process. She barely noticed as

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her orange rebox skidded to a sudden stop. What the

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hell is that? Sarah's mouth was agape and trickles of

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sweat dripped from both sides of her face, rolling down

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her sun reddened cheeks. Gwen was kneeling down on both

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knees when she looked up. I have no fucking idea

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what this is. Sarah knelt beside her companion to inspect

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the dark red, syrupy puddle that filled a hole that

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was about three feet deep and the same across. It

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was located directly in front of the entrance to the

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portable shower. The women stood together and started following a

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trail of the dark syrup that led away from the

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hole towards the tall grass. Gwen, oh my god, this

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smells horrible. It smells like vomit and shit, got married

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and had a baby. Gwen scratched the top of her

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head as they walked and said, there were no dig marks,

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at least none that I could recognize, and there's no

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trail here besides this line of stinky shit. You sure

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about that, Gwendolen Sarah didn't take another step and pointed

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at a line on two sides of the grass with

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both hands. She looked for a moment like she was

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direct acting traffic. It took a few seconds, but Gwen

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registered what her lover girl was pointing at. Every four

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or five feet, the grass looked as if it were

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smashed to the left and right in an even symmetrical pattern,

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pushed to the side, and flattened like a Missus Butterworth flapjack. Sarah,

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what kind of animal does that? Gwen pulled on the

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front of her sweat soaked camouflage tea and rubbed at

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her forehead with the back of her hand. Nothing I've

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seen or want to see the trails fading anyway, Let's

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get back. We left the rifle in the jeep. They

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both turned to walk back to camp when a low

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growl emerged from the high grass. Is that, Gwen started, Yes,

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it is. Do not run, you run, you're dead, Sarah

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said calmly. She was thinking about that long hair of

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hers now and what Gwen told her when they were

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spying on Clementine and company. Sarah took careful step after

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careful step and just stared at her feet as she walked,

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just waiting for the cat to erupt from the tall

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grass and tear her to shreds. She had walked a

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few feet and the sounds of the male lion weren't

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getting any closer. The sound was actually emanating from further away.

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Sarah didn't about face and saw Gwen waving her over.

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She was wise not to scream as to not draw

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unnecessary attention. What is it, Sarah yelled back to the

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waving Gwen. Gwen put her left index finger to her

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lips as if to say, why the fuck do you

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think I'm not yelling, dumbass. Gwen kept waving her over

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with her right hand. That's far enough, Gwen whispered, when

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Sarah was a couple of yards behind. Go around that way.

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Gwen pointed directly out in front of herself and motioned

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her hand in a semicircle. Sarah followed her direction and

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came around the other side. Now look there, Gwen pointed

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straight down. Sarah had two words. Oh fuck, oh fuck's right.

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Gwen returned. The old male lion lay in a flattened

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patch of grass with an equally flattened patch of grass

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a few feet out, directly to the right of the

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fallen cat. His golden brown mane was matted against the

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back of his head and neck. Both of his back

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legs were crushed beyond recognition, with meat hanging from a

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flattened mound of bone and fur. The ground directly in

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front of the cat was dug all to hell from

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where he tried to pull himself through the grass with

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his two serviceable limbs. Go get the right face. I'll

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stay here and wait for you. Gwen whispered, fuck that.

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Let's both go get the rifle. Something did that to

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buddy boy here, and I'd feel much better with that

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Remington wood master than you standing here with a pig sticker. Okay,

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I just didn't want to leave him like this, you know,

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look at him. The labored growl continued, and circling shadows

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started to appear on the ground in front of them.

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The women started back to the jeep and the carrion

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began their attack pattern. Hurry up, Sarah yelled as Gwen

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fell further behind. She had already grabbed the wood master

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and started her jog back when Gwen caught up to her.

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Look up there. Gwen pointed to the vulture filled sky,

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and they both heard the lion roaring in defiance. Sarah

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bolted rifle in hand, and this time Gwen kept pace.

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The nasty, bald headed death chaser found it its own

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demise in Sarah's rifle shot. The bird was digging into

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the lion's crushed lower legs, with flesh hanging from its beak,

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as the lion howled and pawed, trying to swipe at

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its tormentor, when Sarah caved in the side of its

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head with a clean shot right through the eye. This

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sent the others scattering a few yards back, but it

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wasn't enough to make them all take flight. Gwen ran

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out in front of the lion, making noise and screaming

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for the irreverent carrion to go away. King of the jungle,

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not from where they were sitting, No fucking way, just

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some more dead meat. For them to devour. The exhausted

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lion looked at Sarah with his light tan pools. They

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were filled with excruciating pain. She made eye contact and

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they disconnected. Sarah nodded her head in the affirmative and said,

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it's over now, buddy boy, the pain is done.

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Don't go away weekly Spooky. We'll be right.

240
00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:15.440
Back nine o'clock PM. Did you remember to cover the jeep,

241
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Gwen asked, as the sound of heavy rain pelted the

242
00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:22.679
roof of the shack. Yeah, I got the green tarp

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00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:26.159
over it about an hour ago, Sarah replied. She was

244
00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:29.039
lying flat on her back in her service cot, wearing

245
00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:31.960
a pair of men's small gray boxers and a black

246
00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:35.600
T shirt with the words Kung Fu displayed across the

247
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front in bright red letters, twirling her long black hair

248
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in her right hand. I know you're still thinking about it.

249
00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:46.480
Gwen stood over the hot plate, stirring a newly made

250
00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:50.200
bowl of shrimp ramen shrimp that reminded Gwen of the

251
00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.639
sea monkey family she had seen in novelty stores as

252
00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:57.200
a kid. What could do that to that big ass lion?

253
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And where is it now? What was that in the

254
00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:03.720
hole out back? Sarah shook her head from side to

255
00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:07.599
side as she asked these two questions aloud. You think

256
00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:09.720
he pissed off the wrong elephant and got his ass

257
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literally stomped, Gwen asked, and then puckered her lips to

258
00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:17.799
cool her freshly boiled soup. I don't know. I mean,

259
00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:20.839
I guess that could be it, But the way his

260
00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:24.759
hind end was smashed, it looked like something heavy and

261
00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:29.000
solid just dropped on him. And we certainly didn't see

262
00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:31.680
any elephant tracks coming back from our red trail or

263
00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:36.440
whatever the hell that was. You want some, Gwen asked,

264
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as she held the bowl of ramen out in Sarah's direction. No,

265
00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:43.039
I don't want any soup right now. I'm not hungry.

266
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Gwen sat Indian style with legs crisscrossed in the middle

267
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of her cot, wearing fluffy, pink bedroom slippers and an

268
00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:55.559
oversized night shirt with Gumby's face on the front. Well, Sarah,

269
00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:58.240
what do you want to do? You want to put

270
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it on hiatus and call in some big guns tomorrow.

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I don't think so. We didn't see it, so we

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00:18:05.400 --> 00:18:08.480
don't know what it was, and I didn't hear anything

273
00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:12.480
outside of the lion howling and those damn birds yapping.

274
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I think we need to hold off until we kind

275
00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.359
of know what we might be dealing with. We don't

276
00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:21.839
need folks thinking us two girls get spooked so easily.

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00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:26.119
You agree, yep, I just wanted to hear you say it.

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00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:29.799
Gwen bounced up off her cot and set the aluminum

279
00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:34.880
bowl on the makeshift counter. Now do you want some dessert?

280
00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:38.880
Gwen smiled at Sarah as she lifted the night shirt

281
00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:43.359
up over her head. Now I will have some of that,

282
00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:54.119
Sarah replied, kicking her boxers to the floor. Eight twenty am.

283
00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:57.640
Sarah and Gwen huddled under the blind. They set up

284
00:18:57.640 --> 00:19:00.839
in front of the jeep and watched a herd of

285
00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:04.319
gazelle just breezed through, and a couple of hungry hyenas

286
00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:07.599
followed behind until they were all out of the blind's

287
00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:12.599
line of sight. Getting worried, Gwen said, and then stepped

288
00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:16.319
out of the shield of the camouflaged blind. We usually

289
00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:21.039
see them by now. I know I'm worried too, but

290
00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:23.119
we have to let them come to us. We can't

291
00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:26.960
go trapesing through the tall grass looking for them. Let's

292
00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:29.480
just wait here for a little while. If we don't

293
00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:33.000
see them by let's say nine, then we'll move the

294
00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:38.480
jeep in the direction the herd went. Kay k. Gwen

295
00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:41.319
remained outside of the blind and paced to the front

296
00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:44.319
of the jeep, then back, over and over again. With

297
00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:48.680
her eyes trained on her surroundings. She was one with

298
00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:52.240
the force. Her ray bands kept the early glare out

299
00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:55.079
of her vision, and Sarah even brought the ray band

300
00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:57.920
fakes that Gwen picked up in the Atlanta airport. At

301
00:19:57.920 --> 00:20:01.559
the start of their journey to Africa the Cradle of

302
00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:08.799
Civilization nine o two a m. The women were breaking

303
00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:11.839
down the blind when Gwen stood up and put her

304
00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:16.960
finger to her lips and gave a sh be quiet, Sarah,

305
00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:23.799
shush it, Sarah, just listen. It was quiet, but Sarah

306
00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:29.440
could hear the faintest noise that sounded like Scratchy. His

307
00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:33.759
little whine was distinctly higher in pitch than his sister Itchy,

308
00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:37.160
and even though it was barely with an earshot, both

309
00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:41.559
women recognized it as belonging to the male cub. It's

310
00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:45.279
coming from that direction. Sarah pointed to her left, toward

311
00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:49.640
the watering hole. Two days after they arrived, the women

312
00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:54.160
captured video of hyenas gazelle's cheetah and more than a

313
00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:58.119
few lions all together in what they thought were precarious harmony.

314
00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:02.519
Drinking at the watering hole, Gwen remembered it brought to

315
00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:05.759
mind the sheep dog and the coyote clocking out for

316
00:21:05.880 --> 00:21:09.720
lunch in the old bugs Bunny cartoons calling a ceasefire

317
00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:13.480
while they enjoyed their break. This was the same kind

318
00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:16.480
of thing, and it was the damnedest thing either one

319
00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:19.240
of them had ever seen until they saw a cast

320
00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:22.079
out alpha male lion with a crushed hind end as

321
00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:26.440
stones throw away from their camp. Yep that trump the

322
00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:30.240
watering hole and the red syrup vomit smelling shit trumped

323
00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:33.559
them both. They made their way through the tall grass

324
00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:38.119
until the watering hole was in sight. There he is,

325
00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:42.880
Sarah whispered as she pointed to the housecat sized cubs

326
00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:46.720
striding in wide circles, crying for his mother and sister.

327
00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:54.440
Where's Clementine and Itchy Dno, I don't see them, Sarah said,

328
00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:56.960
as she knelt lower with both of her knees popping.

329
00:21:58.759 --> 00:22:02.759
I'm scared, Sarah, scratch. He's not gonna make it without Clementine,

330
00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:08.759
should we? Gwen began apps, so fucking lutely not, Gwendolen.

331
00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:13.960
We're here to film and document what happens, just happens,

332
00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:18.200
That was the deal. But look at him. That thing

333
00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:21.680
might have gotten his mother. Just what thing are you

334
00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:25.920
talking about, Gwen? There is no thing. It was getting

335
00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:28.039
to me too. I get it, I do. But the

336
00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:31.599
monster we made up is not real. There are plenty

337
00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:34.559
of other real monsters out here that can kill either

338
00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:38.960
one of us just like that. Sarah snapped her fingers.

339
00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:42.960
I still think that we should, Gwen started and shut up.

340
00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:46.640
There was the sound of something approaching them from the

341
00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:49.559
south at a high clip. It was the sound of

342
00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:55.319
pause tapping earth with uncanny speed. Oh shit, oh shit,

343
00:22:56.000 --> 00:23:01.279
something's coming fucking fast. It's over there, Arrow whispered and

344
00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:05.160
motion toward the parting grass about twenty yards behind them.

345
00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:10.000
Scratchy continued to walk in circles and whine. The women

346
00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:12.960
had to fight off every instinct in their bodies to

347
00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:16.079
keep from standing up and yelling at the cub to vamoose,

348
00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:21.599
scram get the fuck out. An orange, brown, spotted blur

349
00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:24.920
flashed by the women no more than four or five

350
00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:28.720
feet away at its closest and cleared the tall grass.

351
00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:33.480
It was Clementine running for all she was worth. Scratchy

352
00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:36.119
peered up at his mother, and without missing a beat

353
00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:39.200
or slowing down, she grabbed her baby around the neck

354
00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:42.000
and kept trucking to the other side, back into the

355
00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:46.279
tall grass. A cheetah's sprint is something to behold, and

356
00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:50.960
it's normally brief. Not this one. Clementine gained an energizer

357
00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:55.079
bunny boost from somewhere because she never slowed down, not

358
00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:58.880
for a second. Did you fucking see that? What the

359
00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:03.160
fuck was that? Gwen's hands were both trembling violently, and

360
00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:05.160
she had to plant both of her knees into the

361
00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:08.920
soil to keep them from knocking together. I hope she

362
00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:11.160
didn't break the cub's neck when she picked him up

363
00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:14.240
that way. I hope he's not dangling lifeless from her

364
00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:18.680
mouth right now. I've never seen anything like that, not

365
00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:22.240
on Animal Planet, Mutual of Omaha, or any tape I've

366
00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:26.039
ever seen. The women stood in unison to walk back

367
00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:29.559
to the jeep. They had taken a few steps when

368
00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:37.160
Gwen stopped suddenly and pointed, Sarah, there's another one. Fuck.

369
00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:45.519
I left the rifle in the jeep. The dark red

370
00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:50.079
syrup sloshed ever so slightly. An orange and black beetle

371
00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:52.200
of some type was stuck in the middle of the

372
00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:56.559
thick liquid. It kicked violently with its front legs, which

373
00:24:56.599 --> 00:25:02.400
looked like it had many baby bottle brushes affixed as feet. Sarah,

374
00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:06.400
I'm scared shitless. Gwen was spinning in a three sixty

375
00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:10.759
as she spoke. Yeah, I don't feel so safe myself.

376
00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:13.920
The hole's about the same width, and if you look

377
00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:17.119
that way, Sarah pointed to her left with her eyes

378
00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:22.519
intently trained on something just ahead in the distance, you'll

379
00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:25.359
see where the grass isn't quite as tall, and then

380
00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:31.359
disappears on each side, same pattern, Gwen, it's been smashed

381
00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:35.559
into the ground, and the trail is here. This stinky

382
00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:39.440
goo heads that way. Let's go back to camp and

383
00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:41.799
use the satellite phone. I don't care if they think

384
00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:44.240
we're a couple of scared little girls that got spooked.

385
00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:49.000
Gwen reached for Sarah's hand to gain acknowledgment and understanding

386
00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:54.240
of the situation. Sarah understood and acknowledged, but she said,

387
00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:57.599
I'm not calling anybody until we see it. If we

388
00:25:57.759 --> 00:26:00.200
see it, I'll put a bullet in its head and

389
00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:02.359
then we can take a picture of the carcass and

390
00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:05.599
post it on the website. Now, let's get back to

391
00:26:05.640 --> 00:26:09.440
the jeep, because my dumb ass left the rifle. Sarah

392
00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:11.920
and Gwen whispered their argument all the way back to

393
00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:15.480
the jeep and the spot Sarah pointed out. About ten

394
00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:18.880
yards away from the new goo puddle was an orange

395
00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:22.240
and black splat. Itchi was in the center of the

396
00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:25.200
flattened out grass, and all that was left of her

397
00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:29.839
was her coat and crushed skull. The guts had splayed

398
00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:33.799
out and had been pushed into the ground. Itchi's death

399
00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:38.039
was quick, and poor Clementine witnessed it. She knew there

400
00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:40.440
was nothing she could do for that baby, and she

401
00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:43.519
bee lined it to a remaining cub faster than any

402
00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:46.799
gazelle she had ever chased down. The clouds in the

403
00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:50.359
west started to bunch up, and darkness was coming to

404
00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:57.039
the flatland at the jeep, Storm's coming. You can smell it.

405
00:26:57.640 --> 00:27:01.200
Gwen looked to the quickly darkening sky. The clouds were

406
00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:04.480
pushing together from opposite directions as if they were the

407
00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:06.880
Bloods and the Crips back in the day, ready to

408
00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:11.400
rumble pre drive by shooting days I'd like to take

409
00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:14.559
this rifle and follow the trail. Maybe we can figure

410
00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:18.720
out what's causing those weird square puddles. You remember what

411
00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:23.119
I said about this monster not being real? Yeah, I remember,

412
00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:27.920
Gwen replied. Sarah removed her fake ray bands and trained

413
00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:31.119
her eyes on Gwen. I didn't believe it when I

414
00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:35.200
saw it, I know no. Sooner did Gwen get the

415
00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:38.720
words out than the heavy drops of rain came, and

416
00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:42.200
once they started, the faucet was turned wide open. The

417
00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:45.839
companions jumped into the jeep and Sarah pealed out back

418
00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:49.640
towards the camp. The rain was relentless, and Sarah was

419
00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:52.759
driving on instinct more than vision, going in the general

420
00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:56.839
direction of camp. Gwen was pushed up against the dashboard,

421
00:27:57.079 --> 00:28:00.839
trying to help guide her friend. Sit back. I got this,

422
00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:05.359
Sarah screamed. You can't see, Sarah, I can't see. Just

423
00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:09.359
stop the fucking jeep. I know where we are. Stop

424
00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:14.400
the jeep. We're almost back. Stop the mother fucking In

425
00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:17.359
the matter of a couple of seconds, down was up

426
00:28:17.640 --> 00:28:20.519
and up was down. The front right tire of the

427
00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:24.400
jeep dropped into a three x three hole of stinky vomit, shit,

428
00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:29.359
red syrup, the jeep flipped front first, sending Gwen flying

429
00:28:29.359 --> 00:28:31.960
out of the passenger side, through the top and out

430
00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:35.160
in front of the jeep. It was slow motion for her.

431
00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:38.920
Gwen felt like she could see each rain drop hit

432
00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:42.880
and slightly sting her face as she sailed into the darkness,

433
00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:46.319
before landing with a sickening thud on her left side.

434
00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:49.480
She heard, but didn't yet feel, the crunch of two

435
00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:54.240
ribs giving in. Gwen blinked furiously, trying to get her

436
00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:57.359
eyes to adjust. It was like someone caught her off

437
00:28:57.400 --> 00:29:02.839
guard with a sudden camera flash. Sarah then Gwen rolled

438
00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:05.200
onto her back and was out.

439
00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:11.599
Did you hear that? Better check the locks on your doors, weekly, spooky,

440
00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.880
We'll be right back.

441
00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:19.160
The Cardinal's cap was laying in the mud just in

442
00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:22.759
front of the jeeps, still blaring but upside down headlights.

443
00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:28.839
Sarah strapped in her seatbelt. Gwen had not. Sarah was

444
00:29:28.920 --> 00:29:31.960
still secured in her seat with the blood rushing to

445
00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:35.480
her head. She had sustained a nasty whack on the

446
00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:38.559
same dashboard that she had screamed at Gwen about nudging

447
00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:42.160
up too close. The engine was still running and the

448
00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:46.480
wrong side up tires spun furiously, because Sarah's foot was

449
00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:50.319
still pressed down hard on the gas pedal, like it

450
00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:58.160
was shocked into place. Uh, Gwen, Gwen. Sarah was coming

451
00:29:58.200 --> 00:30:01.680
around and lifted her foot from the gas pedal. Her

452
00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:04.160
head felt like it had taken a direct shot from

453
00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:07.519
iron Mike and pulsed worse than any headache she had

454
00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:11.279
ever experienced. There was a trickle of blood dripping onto

455
00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:14.720
the ground from her scalp up her forehead. The rain

456
00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:18.319
was still furious, and Sarah blinked feverishly, as Gwen had

457
00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:24.039
done after her fall, but Sarah stayed awake. What the fuck,

458
00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:31.160
ow ow Gwen? You there? The cobwebs began to clear,

459
00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:34.960
and Sarah realized that she was upside down, still strapped

460
00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:38.279
into the jeep. She remembered them getting into the jeep

461
00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:42.640
after seeing puddle number two, and didn't remember slamming into

462
00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:47.799
puddle number three. Now her focus was on Gwen. She

463
00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:50.920
leaned forward with her left arm to brace herself and

464
00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:54.440
unlatched the seat belt with her right hand. Gravity did

465
00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:57.279
the rest, and she rolled out onto the wet ground.

466
00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:01.799
Besides suffering a concussion, she had broken no bones, and

467
00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:04.799
outside of a growing goose egg on her forehead. She

468
00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:11.000
was fine physically, Gwen. Sarah staggered through the sheets, pausing

469
00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:14.119
only to retrieve her prized hat from the mud. To

470
00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:19.359
her fallen partner, Gwen, stay with me, don't you do this?

471
00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:23.400
Sarah grabbed her by the right wrist and quickly found

472
00:31:23.440 --> 00:31:28.839
a strong pulse. Oh thank god. A rumble of thunder

473
00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:32.079
filled the flat land, followed by a flash of blue

474
00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:36.400
lightning that cracked like a whip. The smell of ozone

475
00:31:36.519 --> 00:31:39.880
was thick. The lightning had splintered something in the earth

476
00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:43.160
about fifty yards from where Sarah was kneeling over Gwen.

477
00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:47.839
After the strike, Sarah stood up, pressed one palm to

478
00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:50.720
her left ear, and opened her mouth as wide as

479
00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:54.839
she could to loosen up her tightening jaw, another effect

480
00:31:54.960 --> 00:32:04.119
from the jeep flip. Ah fucking ow, Sarah, it fucking hurts.

481
00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:09.079
I'm here, Gwen, I'm right here. I told you to

482
00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:14.759
stop the fucking jeep, Gwen said, as she grimaced. I

483
00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:17.839
know you did, but there's nothing we can do about that. Now,

484
00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:22.440
can you stand? Sarah reached down with both arms straight away.

485
00:32:23.079 --> 00:32:26.119
Gwen held out her right hand. Her left arm was

486
00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:29.079
pressed against her left side with her hand firm on

487
00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:34.759
her abdomen. Sarah pulled Gwen's right arm with both of hers. Ah, God,

488
00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:38.400
that hurts, like a son of a bitch, Gwen screamed

489
00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:41.200
as she made it to her feet, hunched to her left,

490
00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:46.359
favoring her broken ribs. What hurts, Sarah asked, not knowing

491
00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:51.319
the extent of Gwen's injuries. My left side. I heard

492
00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:55.160
a couple of them give before I blacked out anything else,

493
00:32:55.640 --> 00:32:59.880
asked Sarah. No, your head has a huge fucking nod

494
00:32:59.880 --> 00:33:04.000
of it. He looked like a unicorn. Gwen started to chuckle,

495
00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:09.839
and the additional pain from the effort nixed that real quick. Ah.

496
00:33:10.079 --> 00:33:14.319
I want to get out of here, me too, Sarah replied,

497
00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:19.359
and continued, I don't know what. We hit another hole

498
00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:24.440
made by our fake monster, Gwen replied. She stepped toward

499
00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:28.279
the overturned jeep, looking a lot like a pretty Quasi moto,

500
00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:31.920
all hunched over. The rain was down to a drizzle,

501
00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:35.759
but the sky remained dark, threatening to drop another bucket

502
00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:40.279
whenever it felt the need. Right there, See you can

503
00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:43.880
still see some of that red shit. Yeah, I see it.

504
00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:46.880
Let's get back to camp and call for help like

505
00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:51.759
I should have done yesterday, Like we should have done yesterday,

506
00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:56.119
Gwen corrected. Sarah put her arm around Gwen. With Gwen's

507
00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:59.240
right arm draped around her neck, they began a slow

508
00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:02.839
trek back to where Sarah believed their shack was, which

509
00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:05.759
was a couple of miles east. The just out of

510
00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:08.880
sight watering hole was the point of reference, and she

511
00:34:09.079 --> 00:34:12.599
was ninety percent confident in her direction, even with a

512
00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:16.719
concussion and a nice sized bump on her forehead. They

513
00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:20.079
were about half a mile into their return when they

514
00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:27.400
encountered it for the first time. There was a flicker

515
00:34:27.440 --> 00:34:30.400
of neon green in the sky against the darkness of

516
00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:34.119
the mid morning clouds, two sets of flashes that seemed

517
00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:37.599
to form a dazzling square pattern, set apart by a

518
00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:41.719
few yards. In between the two pulsating lights, there was

519
00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:49.320
a dark outline of something solid, something unforgiving, something deadly.

520
00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:53.360
Gwen seemed to forget about her cracked ribs as she

521
00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:56.559
was trying to reconcile in her brain what her eyes

522
00:34:56.599 --> 00:35:00.440
were witnessing. Sarah was right there with her. There was

523
00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:04.480
the lightest hum coming from the pulsing lights, and something

524
00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:07.599
that sounded a little like the pull and start from

525
00:35:07.639 --> 00:35:11.280
a crank mower. Coming from the solid structure in the center.

526
00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:16.840
Gwen was the first to break their stunned silence. Sarah,

527
00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:22.400
what the fuck is that? The hum became louder as

528
00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:25.199
the floating structure started to close in on the women.

529
00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:30.480
Let's go. Sarah squeezed Gwen's hand and pulled her behind

530
00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:33.000
as her orange nikes found their get up and go.

531
00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:37.639
Pain was replaced by adrenaline, and Gwen followed just behind

532
00:35:37.719 --> 00:35:42.079
in a full stride, Confident in her partner's gait. Sarah

533
00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:45.039
released her hand. The hum was getting closer, and it

534
00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:47.559
sounded like the mower was about to run them down.

535
00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:51.599
All of a sudden, the earth underneath them rattled and

536
00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:54.480
Gwen tripped, letting out a yelp as the impact of

537
00:35:54.519 --> 00:35:57.480
the ground sucked out the adrenaline and put the pain

538
00:35:57.679 --> 00:36:02.480
back in its proper place. Get up, Gwen, get up,

539
00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:06.079
or you're going to fucking die, Sarah screamed as she

540
00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:09.960
sprinted back towards her. Gwen clawed into the wet grass

541
00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:14.800
and gained purchase with her Safari boots as she bolted up. However,

542
00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:18.679
all of the pain was there front and center, stopping

543
00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:24.519
her cold. It hurts so so fucking bad. Sarah, just go, go,

544
00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:29.360
get the phone. I can't run, I can't. The lawnmower

545
00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:33.440
sound was closing in rapidly and it was magnified times ten.

546
00:36:34.119 --> 00:36:38.119
Sarah placed both hands against her ears. The noise was maddening,

547
00:36:38.519 --> 00:36:42.000
but nothing was coming to get them. The solid cube

548
00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:45.679
structure that had the sheen of smooth black marble had

549
00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:49.920
planted itself into the earth just behind Gwen. She could

550
00:36:49.920 --> 00:36:52.440
feel the vibration through the backs of her knees and

551
00:36:52.519 --> 00:36:56.559
upper thighs. The mower sound was in full throat, and

552
00:36:56.679 --> 00:37:00.280
Sarah pulled Gwen away. It let them get back to

553
00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:08.599
the shack. There was the turn of a knob, and

554
00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:11.800
then the shack door exploded open with a well placed

555
00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:16.360
toe kick by a size seven Nike. Okay, Gwen, let's

556
00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:19.159
get you down. Sarah led her to the cot with

557
00:37:19.239 --> 00:37:22.280
her left arm around Gwen's waist while her right hand

558
00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:26.159
held Gwen's around the back of her neck. Tears were

559
00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:31.239
streaming down Gwen's face, but she remained surprisingly composed. Just

560
00:37:31.320 --> 00:37:37.400
ease me down, easy. Oh fucking hurts, Gwen mumbled as

561
00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:43.039
Sarah gently rolled her down on top of the cot. Sarah, yes, Gwen,

562
00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:47.559
go get the fucking phone. Sarah removed the black phone

563
00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:51.159
from the charging station and held the power button. The

564
00:37:51.239 --> 00:37:54.639
green backlight came to life, and Sarah dialed the emergency

565
00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:58.440
number one zero one one one and pressed the call

566
00:37:58.440 --> 00:38:04.679
button click click, then static. Sarah pressed the end button

567
00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:11.199
and started again, click click static. With the static, Sarah

568
00:38:11.239 --> 00:38:13.760
thought about a quote from an old horror movie she

569
00:38:13.800 --> 00:38:20.360
had seen as a kid. There here, that they are,

570
00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:23.199
she said, as she set the phone back into the

571
00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:28.480
charging station. There what Sarah, Gwen asked, trying not to

572
00:38:28.519 --> 00:38:32.480
breathe too deeply. Good news is the phone is working.

573
00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:39.199
The bad news is there's no signal. Maybe it's the storm. No, Sarah, No,

574
00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:44.800
the phone has to work. Gwen started sobbing. The fucking

575
00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:49.360
phone has to work. The rain was back, just as

576
00:38:49.400 --> 00:38:52.679
heavy as before. I need to get that shirt off

577
00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:55.519
and clean you up. Sarah opened the door to the

578
00:38:55.559 --> 00:38:59.079
shack and retrieved a five gallon bucket from just outside

579
00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:03.199
used to elect rainwater. Come on, now, let me help you.

580
00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:06.760
Gwen lay flat on her back and raised her arm

581
00:39:06.840 --> 00:39:11.159
above her head. Her left arm wouldn't cooperate. Sarah pulled

582
00:39:11.239 --> 00:39:13.840
up the right side of the camo te first and

583
00:39:13.960 --> 00:39:17.599
Gwen pulled her right arm through and out. Sarah carefully

584
00:39:17.679 --> 00:39:20.440
moved the shirt down her left side and pulled it

585
00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:23.559
free from her left arm that Gwen still had pretty

586
00:39:23.599 --> 00:39:28.360
much pressed against her side. Oh, Gwen, Sarah said, as

587
00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:31.760
she was taken aback by the approximately five inch by

588
00:39:31.840 --> 00:39:36.159
three inch dark blue bruise on Gwen's left side. Sarah

589
00:39:36.159 --> 00:39:39.880
dipped the white washcloth deep into the black bucket. At

590
00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:42.280
first glance, it looked as though she was dipping it

591
00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:45.960
into a pool of crude oil. Sarah pulled the washcloth

592
00:39:46.000 --> 00:39:49.039
out quickly because of the mine trick and found clear

593
00:39:49.079 --> 00:39:52.960
water running down her forearm from the soaked cloth. She

594
00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:58.039
began to gently clense Gwen, starting with her injured side.

595
00:39:58.079 --> 00:40:01.199
Gwen winced a little and said, what if it comes

596
00:40:01.239 --> 00:40:05.119
here again? What if it smashes the fucking roof in? Sarah,

597
00:40:05.760 --> 00:40:08.719
what are we going to do. We're just going to

598
00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:11.400
stay in here until the storm clears and I'm going

599
00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:14.800
to try the phone again. Then we're going to get

600
00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:18.880
the fuck out of here. What was it, Sarah, I've

601
00:40:18.920 --> 00:40:23.079
never seen anything like it in my life. Me neither.

602
00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:26.400
I don't know what it was, and I hope we

603
00:40:26.519 --> 00:40:30.719
don't have to find out. Unfortunately for both of them,

604
00:40:31.360 --> 00:40:35.800
they would find out before the dawn of the next day.

605
00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:41.440
You're not safe yet, weekly Spooky will be right back.

606
00:40:46.840 --> 00:40:51.920
Eleven forty five pm. Sarah lay with her eyes closed,

607
00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:56.639
but her mind was on the highest alert, code fucking red.

608
00:40:57.599 --> 00:41:00.960
There would be no sleep that night. Gwen moaned in

609
00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:04.559
the darkness with each breath she took. Sarah had cleaned

610
00:41:04.559 --> 00:41:08.559
and bandaged Gwen's wounded left side. The generator had run

611
00:41:08.599 --> 00:41:11.639
out of fuel an hour earlier, and the storm outside

612
00:41:11.719 --> 00:41:15.400
kept Sarah in her cot listening to Gwen's struggle with

613
00:41:15.519 --> 00:41:18.880
the pain of sucking in air. She had tried the

614
00:41:18.920 --> 00:41:23.800
phone more than ten times since she first got the click, click,

615
00:41:24.280 --> 00:41:32.360
static there here, Remember that, Sarah, she thought to herself. Midnight,

616
00:41:33.960 --> 00:41:38.639
the thunder continued to growl like another big, hungry African cat.

617
00:41:39.239 --> 00:41:42.559
The noises of popping and clicking from something not so

618
00:41:42.800 --> 00:41:47.280
far away followed. The strike that came after shook the

619
00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:51.239
shack to its foundation, sending a few dishes collapsing from

620
00:41:51.239 --> 00:41:54.320
the counter. It was strong enough to knock the satellite

621
00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:57.679
phone from its cradle. It crashed down on the wood floor,

622
00:41:57.920 --> 00:42:01.519
and the green backlet display suffered crack right down the center.

623
00:42:02.360 --> 00:42:06.480
Gwen grimaced as she sat up in the darkness. Sarah,

624
00:42:07.320 --> 00:42:12.119
that was close, Gwen started, What time is it? Not

625
00:42:12.239 --> 00:42:16.880
quite sure? I think it's a little past midnight. You okay, sweetie,

626
00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:21.000
Sarah asked, not really. I just want to pack up

627
00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:23.559
our shit and get the fuck out of here. My

628
00:42:23.719 --> 00:42:27.719
side is killing me. I can't breathe right. As soon

629
00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:30.199
as the storm passes, we'll get somebody on the phone

630
00:42:30.519 --> 00:42:33.679
and get out of here, Sarah replied as she switched

631
00:42:33.719 --> 00:42:40.920
on the Coleman lamp. Sarah, yes, did you get the camera? No,

632
00:42:41.119 --> 00:42:44.119
it's still in the jeep. If it's still in one piece,

633
00:42:44.199 --> 00:42:50.880
that is rifle, Gwen asked. Jeep replied Sarah. Can we

634
00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:54.360
go get them when the rain stops, I'll go get it. Gwen.

635
00:42:54.920 --> 00:42:59.480
You'll stay right here until we get some help. Sarah, yes,

636
00:43:01.079 --> 00:43:06.159
I love you. I love you too. Now try to rest.

637
00:43:08.119 --> 00:43:14.119
One twenty two a m. Gwen, wake up. That's outside

638
00:43:14.159 --> 00:43:17.519
the door. Sarah bolted off the cot and knelt down

639
00:43:17.559 --> 00:43:21.800
in front of the old shack door. Sarah, we know

640
00:43:21.960 --> 00:43:26.559
that sound. The women could hear the unmistakable whine of scratchy,

641
00:43:27.159 --> 00:43:30.679
followed by the sound of sharpened claws scraping against the door.

642
00:43:31.559 --> 00:43:34.599
The thunder still rumbled and the rain still pounded, but

643
00:43:34.760 --> 00:43:39.559
something inside of Sarah made her open the door. Scratchy

644
00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:43.199
slowly limped through the door, with his body trembling terribly.

645
00:43:44.039 --> 00:43:47.159
He continued to talk in his kiddy language as he

646
00:43:47.199 --> 00:43:52.079
stepped gingerly. His orange and black coat was covered with red, sticky,

647
00:43:52.159 --> 00:43:56.320
syrupy shit, and his back left paw was smashed flat.

648
00:43:56.880 --> 00:44:01.480
Just a flap of crushed bone and fur remained. He

649
00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:04.480
collapsed in the center of the floor and turned his

650
00:44:04.559 --> 00:44:09.880
head up towards Sarah. I think Clementine's dead. I think

651
00:44:09.920 --> 00:44:13.920
she died protecting her baby, Sarah said, as tears flowed

652
00:44:13.960 --> 00:44:16.719
down the sides of her face while she gazed upon

653
00:44:16.800 --> 00:44:20.559
the wounded cub. He looked back at her with frightened eyes,

654
00:44:21.400 --> 00:44:26.760
eyes that asked, where's my mommy. We gotta get out

655
00:44:26.760 --> 00:44:30.000
of here, and we have to leave right now. The

656
00:44:30.079 --> 00:44:33.239
humming noise was back, along with what sounded like a

657
00:44:33.360 --> 00:44:38.280
brig's in Stratton lawnmower falling rapidly from the sky. Sarah

658
00:44:38.280 --> 00:44:41.079
backed up against the front door, and the adrenaline kicked

659
00:44:41.079 --> 00:44:43.320
back into Gwen as she stepped into her pull up

660
00:44:43.320 --> 00:44:47.440
shorts and moved close to Sarah. Scratchy looked at them both,

661
00:44:47.760 --> 00:44:51.559
and he looked too human. In that moment, they could

662
00:44:51.599 --> 00:44:54.920
both read the pain and fear in his face. Gwen

663
00:44:55.079 --> 00:44:57.400
had to put her right hand on the floor, and

664
00:44:57.480 --> 00:45:01.719
Sarah steadied herself as if she caught massive wave while surfing.

665
00:45:02.039 --> 00:45:07.519
When the shack wobbled back and forth violently, the sound

666
00:45:07.519 --> 00:45:10.159
of the mower was right on top of them. Sarah

667
00:45:10.199 --> 00:45:13.880
and the adrenaline infused Gwen scrambled to their feet. As

668
00:45:13.920 --> 00:45:16.760
Sarah turned the knob on the door, the solid black

669
00:45:16.800 --> 00:45:20.840
structure caved in and splintered the roof. Scratchy didn't even

670
00:45:20.880 --> 00:45:23.880
see it coming. His gaze was still fixed on Sarah

671
00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:27.639
and Gwen when the solid black marble sque cube crushed

672
00:45:27.639 --> 00:45:31.440
his entire body, pushing him through the wood floor back

673
00:45:31.760 --> 00:45:35.480
into the earth below. The women ran back into the

674
00:45:35.599 --> 00:45:38.960
rain in the darkness. Sarah held the Coleman lantern in

675
00:45:39.000 --> 00:45:43.400
her right hand and Gwen's hand in the other. Ah

676
00:45:44.119 --> 00:45:48.199
Sarah screamed in agony as something jerked her from Gwen's grip,

677
00:45:48.920 --> 00:45:51.880
tossing her to the ground with devastating force by the

678
00:45:51.920 --> 00:45:55.119
back of her long hair sending her sprawling flat on

679
00:45:55.159 --> 00:45:59.119
her back into the wet grass and dirt. It was

680
00:45:59.199 --> 00:46:02.760
dragging Sarah over the terrain as she clutched and clawed

681
00:46:02.800 --> 00:46:07.039
at the moving ground, trying in vain to stop. Let

682
00:46:07.079 --> 00:46:11.639
her go. What the fuck are you? Gwen was temporarily

683
00:46:11.679 --> 00:46:14.599
frozen in place as her mind tried to tell her

684
00:46:15.239 --> 00:46:18.880
the monster's not real. Nope, you're not seeing it right

685
00:46:18.880 --> 00:46:21.239
there in front of you, pulling your lover girl's hair

686
00:46:21.280 --> 00:46:25.480
from its roots. It's not really happening because the monster's

687
00:46:25.719 --> 00:46:35.639
not real. Gwen, run, just go, Sarah yelled into the night.

688
00:46:35.920 --> 00:46:39.960
As she was being pulled toward the smooth black center cube.

689
00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:43.079
Gwen couldn't move except for the trembling of both hands

690
00:46:43.119 --> 00:46:46.440
and the knocking of her knees. The broken ribs weren't

691
00:46:46.440 --> 00:46:49.639
even an afterthought. She could have taken a direct shot

692
00:46:49.679 --> 00:46:52.480
to them with a baseball bat, and in this moment,

693
00:46:52.559 --> 00:46:56.119
she wouldn't have felt a thing. Sticking out symmetrically from

694
00:46:56.119 --> 00:46:58.840
the right and left side of the smooth black cube

695
00:46:59.239 --> 00:47:03.280
was an equally smooth black cable. Attached to each end

696
00:47:03.320 --> 00:47:06.519
of the cable was a flat metallic panel that was

697
00:47:06.559 --> 00:47:10.719
approximately three by three, and they were stuck firmly into

698
00:47:10.760 --> 00:47:15.880
the earth, flattening out anything underneath. There were flashing green

699
00:47:15.960 --> 00:47:18.519
lights that lined the outer edges of both sides of

700
00:47:18.559 --> 00:47:22.440
these panels. The coiled mechanical claws wrapped around the base

701
00:47:22.480 --> 00:47:28.039
of Sarah's ponytail and gave another vicious tug. Gwen watched

702
00:47:28.039 --> 00:47:30.960
in horror as she heard the sounds of skin and

703
00:47:31.119 --> 00:47:35.639
hair being forcibly ripped from underneath the cardinal's cap. The

704
00:47:35.679 --> 00:47:39.360
ponytail attached to a jagged and bloody piece of Sarah's

705
00:47:39.440 --> 00:47:43.239
scalp pulled through the back hole of the hat. A

706
00:47:44.639 --> 00:47:48.280
Sarah unleashed a scream that wasn't human. It wasn't the

707
00:47:48.320 --> 00:47:51.039
scream of a late night bee horror flick or the

708
00:47:51.039 --> 00:47:54.679
scream of a woman being assaulted. Sarah's scream was unlike

709
00:47:54.760 --> 00:47:57.480
any other that Gwen could ever recall, even in her

710
00:47:57.559 --> 00:48:01.719
darkest dreams. For just a moment, it looked as if

711
00:48:01.760 --> 00:48:09.960
Sarah might get away, and Gwen found her voice again. Here, hurry, hurry, Sarah, please, baby.

712
00:48:10.719 --> 00:48:13.719
Gwen stretched out her hand to her partner. She held

713
00:48:13.760 --> 00:48:16.199
it out like she was awaiting a baton, and she

714
00:48:16.440 --> 00:48:21.239
was the last relay runner. Gwen. Gwen Thank God, Sarah's

715
00:48:21.320 --> 00:48:25.519
fingers barely grazed Gwen's fingertips when she was suddenly yanked

716
00:48:25.599 --> 00:48:32.280
back into the darkness. No. Gwen scrambled towards Sarah when

717
00:48:32.280 --> 00:48:35.800
a solid but flexible black coil lashed out and hit

718
00:48:35.840 --> 00:48:40.159
her across her midsection, sending her airborne. She landed in

719
00:48:40.159 --> 00:48:43.880
a heap very hard on her injured side, and there

720
00:48:43.920 --> 00:48:48.400
was another gut wrenching crack. The wind left her body immediately,

721
00:48:48.880 --> 00:48:52.039
and she blinked her eyes rapidly, as she had when

722
00:48:52.039 --> 00:48:56.519
the jeep overturned. This time she saw a pair of large,

723
00:48:56.960 --> 00:49:01.159
oval neon green eyes blinking back at her from a distance.

724
00:49:02.079 --> 00:49:05.239
As she was losing her grip on consciousness, she saw

725
00:49:05.320 --> 00:49:09.039
the dark, hulking figure toss Sarah into an opening on

726
00:49:09.079 --> 00:49:12.519
the back side of the black cube. The last thing

727
00:49:12.639 --> 00:49:16.599
she heard before the lights went out was Sarah screaming

728
00:49:16.719 --> 00:49:21.840
for just an instant and the sound of a lawnmower engine. No,

729
00:49:23.159 --> 00:49:26.960
it was more like the sound of an oversized blender

730
00:49:27.760 --> 00:49:31.440
chopping into flesh and bone. It was sure to leave

731
00:49:31.480 --> 00:49:35.559
behind a concoction of red syrupe shit in a three

732
00:49:35.760 --> 00:49:41.920
x three puddle. Gwen was out and Sarah was dead

733
00:49:46.920 --> 00:49:52.719
one month later. Jason, it's over here, Roger that Brian.

734
00:49:53.639 --> 00:49:58.280
Jason was approximately ten yards behind Gwen's brother. Gwen's gonna

735
00:49:58.280 --> 00:50:00.920
get it when I get my hands on her, Brian

736
00:50:01.079 --> 00:50:04.679
continued as he parted the tall grass with both hands,

737
00:50:04.719 --> 00:50:07.559
sort of like performing a breaststroke in a swimming pool.

738
00:50:08.639 --> 00:50:11.679
I see it now, Jason said, as he jogged ahead.

739
00:50:12.199 --> 00:50:15.639
The wood shack was there, all in one piece, nary

740
00:50:15.679 --> 00:50:21.360
a scratch, Gwen Sarah, Jason shouted toward the front door.

741
00:50:22.119 --> 00:50:25.519
Jason gave two quick knocks before he turned the knob.

742
00:50:26.199 --> 00:50:30.159
He stepped in, with Brian just behind. Sitting right atop

743
00:50:30.199 --> 00:50:34.760
the makeshift counter was a stuffed hyena with a wild grin.

744
00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:39.280
Tucked neatly in between its front paws was a note.

745
00:50:40.320 --> 00:50:47.639
The note said, move fassa, enjoy the show. Brian, Sarah

746
00:50:47.639 --> 00:50:50.480
and I packed up on September eighth. There's gas in

747
00:50:50.559 --> 00:50:54.280
the generator out back. The phone's broken. That's why no call.

748
00:50:54.719 --> 00:50:59.239
Love you, Gwen. Ps. I left something for you about

749
00:50:59.280 --> 00:51:01.199
thirty yards in front of the door, in the tall

750
00:51:01.239 --> 00:51:06.239
grass to the left. That fucking Gwen. Brian grinned as

751
00:51:06.239 --> 00:51:09.519
he passed the note to Jason. Jason returned the smile

752
00:51:09.599 --> 00:51:12.639
and said, let's go see what she left for us.

753
00:51:13.239 --> 00:51:16.679
Jason led the way. As they walked outside, it was

754
00:51:16.760 --> 00:51:21.440
mid morning and the dark clouds were quickly tumbling together. Okay,

755
00:51:21.519 --> 00:51:25.760
we're about thirty yards out. Look around. Brian ran his

756
00:51:25.880 --> 00:51:29.000
hand through his short, cropped brown hair, just like his

757
00:51:29.039 --> 00:51:33.840
sister had done not all that long ago. Hey, over there,

758
00:51:34.960 --> 00:51:37.440
Jason pointed his left hand toward the top of the

759
00:51:37.480 --> 00:51:43.199
grass line. You see it. See what over there? Jason

760
00:51:43.239 --> 00:51:46.320
shook his finger to his left with more urgency. The

761
00:51:46.400 --> 00:51:50.320
grass goes flat over there, got it? Brian followed his

762
00:51:50.400 --> 00:51:57.039
buddy through the grass. What the fuck, Brian stopped cold. Brian,

763
00:51:57.320 --> 00:52:01.039
you gotta see this over here, yelled from a few

764
00:52:01.119 --> 00:52:05.079
yards to the right of where Brian was transfixed. No, Jason,

765
00:52:05.320 --> 00:52:09.920
you need to get the fuck over here first, right now, Brian,

766
00:52:10.039 --> 00:52:13.320
there's some red, stinky shit over here in a square hole.

767
00:52:14.239 --> 00:52:18.559
Fuck that. Get the fuck over here, Brian screamed in panic.

768
00:52:19.280 --> 00:52:23.079
The clouds converged and the first heavy drops began to fall.

769
00:52:23.800 --> 00:52:27.480
There was a blood stained cardinal's cap turned upside down

770
00:52:27.519 --> 00:52:31.679
on the ground, a long black trail of hair, still

771
00:52:31.719 --> 00:52:35.679
held together by a white ponytail holder lay beside the hat.

772
00:52:36.519 --> 00:52:40.440
The faucet was then turned completely on. Brian grabbed the

773
00:52:40.480 --> 00:52:44.639
hat and hair, and the men ran back towards the shack. Jason,

774
00:52:44.719 --> 00:52:47.559
who is that? Brian yelled into the rain as the

775
00:52:47.559 --> 00:52:54.119
door of the shack came into view. Is that Gwen? Gwen?

776
00:52:54.239 --> 00:52:58.480
Is that you? Jason yelled behind the figure moved backwards

777
00:52:58.480 --> 00:53:02.039
into the shack. Brian was the first to come, bursting

778
00:53:02.079 --> 00:53:07.679
through the door. Gwen, Oh my god, Gwen, what happened here?

779
00:53:08.400 --> 00:53:10.920
Gwen was lying, naked as the day she was born,

780
00:53:11.480 --> 00:53:14.360
flat on the cot, staring up at the shack ceiling,

781
00:53:14.960 --> 00:53:20.239
mumbling quietly to herself. What's wrong with her? Jason asked. No.

782
00:53:20.400 --> 00:53:23.400
Sooner did Jason speak than Gwen sat straight up in

783
00:53:23.480 --> 00:53:29.159
the cot, chanting, the monster's not real. The monster's not real,

784
00:53:30.079 --> 00:53:35.920
The monster's not real. The sound of thunder boom, and

785
00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:39.400
there was a hissing and popping in the distance. What

786
00:53:39.480 --> 00:53:46.440
the hell, Brian started? Is that a fucking lawnmower? I

787
00:53:46.559 --> 00:53:51.880
told you they'd come, said Gwen. Who'd come? Brian asked?

788
00:53:51.920 --> 00:53:55.320
While Jason tried to make sense of it all, I

789
00:53:55.440 --> 00:53:59.760
wasn't talking to you Gwen's lips parted in a wide grin.

790
00:54:00.159 --> 00:54:04.719
When the shack began to rattle violently, the trap was sprung.

791
00:54:05.320 --> 00:54:09.400
They were the Beatles trying to swim in red, syrupy shit.

792
00:54:10.320 --> 00:54:15.519
Gwen's last thought was a monster's lie. I can't wait

793
00:54:15.559 --> 00:54:28.079
to see Sarah again. The boys never knew what hit them. Well,

794
00:54:28.119 --> 00:54:32.679
my spookies, I suppose nothing beats a love story as

795
00:54:32.840 --> 00:54:35.760
bent and twisted as it may end up. I hope

796
00:54:35.760 --> 00:54:38.440
you enjoyed this week's story as much as I did

797
00:54:38.480 --> 00:54:42.119
reading it, and I want to remind you again October

798
00:54:42.440 --> 00:54:45.280
is thirty one shows in thirty one days, So make

799
00:54:45.320 --> 00:54:49.360
sure you're subscribed on your favorite podcasting app, because we

800
00:54:49.480 --> 00:54:52.199
have so much more to share with you, not only

801
00:54:52.280 --> 00:54:56.840
scary stories and exclusive novellas, but also some content about

802
00:54:56.880 --> 00:55:01.119
horror films, scary literature, and so much much more. So

803
00:55:01.679 --> 00:55:04.639
make sure you're subscribed. I also want to mention this

804
00:55:04.840 --> 00:55:08.639
Friday as a special treat to ring in October, I'll

805
00:55:08.639 --> 00:55:11.760
be releasing a recording of the Edgar Allan Poe classic

806
00:55:12.400 --> 00:55:15.920
The Pit and the Pendulum, one of my all time favorites,

807
00:55:15.920 --> 00:55:18.480
and it was a lot of fun to perform, so

808
00:55:18.599 --> 00:55:21.039
make sure to check that out this Friday, and don't

809
00:55:21.079 --> 00:55:25.039
forget Monday, the last day of September is Monthly Spooky,

810
00:55:25.239 --> 00:55:27.440
a fun way to wrap up the month talking about

811
00:55:27.519 --> 00:55:31.400
spooky news and all kinds of strange and eerie topics

812
00:55:31.400 --> 00:55:34.639
with my good buddy Michelle. And speaking of good buddies,

813
00:55:34.679 --> 00:55:36.800
I want to say an extra special thank you to

814
00:55:36.880 --> 00:55:40.440
our Patreon podcast boosters, folks who pay just a little

815
00:55:40.440 --> 00:55:42.679
bit more to hear their names at the end of

816
00:55:42.679 --> 00:55:46.519
the show, and they are Johnny Nick's, Jenny Green, Amber Hansford,

817
00:55:46.559 --> 00:55:50.239
Brent McCullough, Karen Wee, met Jack Kerr, and Craig Cohen.

818
00:55:50.280 --> 00:55:52.559
Thank you all so much for your support. And if

819
00:55:52.599 --> 00:55:54.440
you want to hear your name at the end of

820
00:55:54.480 --> 00:55:58.360
every episode of Weekly Spooky, just go to join dot

821
00:55:58.400 --> 00:56:02.119
Weeklyspooky dot com and choose a tear at fifteen dollars

822
00:56:02.159 --> 00:56:04.280
a month or higher. Not only will you hear your

823
00:56:04.360 --> 00:56:07.400
name through my silky smooth voice, but you'll have my

824
00:56:07.639 --> 00:56:12.639
undying gratitude and all the other bonuses that Patreon provides.

825
00:56:13.079 --> 00:56:14.800
But now, my friends, it's time for me to get

826
00:56:14.800 --> 00:56:17.679
back to work. I wasn't kidding. We have five novella's

827
00:56:17.840 --> 00:56:20.360
just for you this October, and so much more so

828
00:56:20.719 --> 00:56:24.320
for myself, for my executive producers Mark Shields, Robfields and

829
00:56:24.440 --> 00:56:28.519
Bobbletopia dot Com, my producer Dan Wilder, and our composer A. Mattis.

830
00:56:28.880 --> 00:56:32.719
I will talk at you very very soon. Thank you

831
00:56:32.800 --> 00:56:33.760
for listening.

832
00:56:34.480 --> 00:56:38.199
Make sure to find your way back next week, but

833
00:56:38.360 --> 00:56:40.960
for now you are safe.

834
00:56:42.360 --> 00:56:43.119
Trust me,