April 4, 2025

The Not So Great Outdoors - Chilling Tales of Survival, Secrets, and the Supernatural

The Not So Great Outdoors - Chilling Tales of Survival, Secrets, and the Supernatural
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Tonight, we delve into the shadowy depths of nature’s secrets in a spine-tingling episode of Weekly Spooky, as we unwrap a monstrous compilation of eerie tales designed to keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s the first Friday in April, and as the chilling whispers of the wind beckon, we prepare to embark on a haunting journey through the unexplored and often sinister realms of the outdoors. So, grab your favorite blanket, dim those lights, and let’s venture into the terrifying unknown where nightmares come alive under the canopy of stars.

Our chilling adventure kicks off in the frostbitten landscapes of the Great White North, introducing us to Joshua Fox, a college student grappling with loneliness as he returns to his hometown of Owen Sound. Through his relatable and youthful voice, we traverse the familiar corridors of college life—filled with nostalgia, Dungeons & Dragons, and the warm camaraderie of shared memories. However, as Joshua seeks to spark new connections after a week of isolation, he discovers an old flame, Tracy Kidd, reigniting a flicker of hope. Yet, in a delicious twist of horror, Joshua finds that his eagerly anticipated reunion spirals into a night of unimaginable terror. As darkness descends, Tracy transforms from a beacon of connection into a nightmarish figure, culminating in a gut-wrenching chase where survival instincts kick in, reminding us that the forest may hide more than just creatures of the night.

As we shift gears, the narrative expands to encompass the gripping tale of a beleaguered park ranger on night watch in a seemingly innocuous warehouse, where the silence becomes suffocating and the shadows teasingly morph into lurking horrors. Our ranger's mundanity unravels as strange occurrences envelop him, signaling that something sinister stirs behind the facade of safety. The terror escalates as he encounters grotesque creatures, not just threats to his physical safety but manifestations of his deepest insecurities, painting nature and isolation as both a refuge and a tormentor—a theme that threads itself throughout the episode, capturing the uneasy balance between tranquility and terror.

Fate intertwines as we plunge deeper into the narrative, surfing the crest of adrenaline-fueled frights. In the backyard of a dense, dark forest, chaos brews as the story takes a visceral turn. Here, we accompany Lila and Rocco—two individuals entrenched in a complicated relationship—on what is intended to be a romantic retreat, but soon morphs into a chilling fight for survival. Their camping trip spirals into chaos as they face the relentless menace of mutated fleas, pushing their bonds to the limit. Amid terror and bloodshed, friendships are tested in a visceral showing of human emotions—fear and desperation loom large as bonds of loyalty struggle against primal instincts to survive.

Eagerly exploring these tales, we draw parallels between the chaotic horrors of a dysfunctional camping trip and the unseen perils lurking within dark hallways of the warehouse, showcasing how fear can manifest in myriad forms. The creatures may change, but the essence of horror remains etched in the hearts of our protagonists, forcing them to confront the darkness—both external and internal—that resides within. It’s in these haunting moments, where survival is paramount, that we witness not just physical confrontations but an exploration of human fragility in the face of the unspeakable: a palpable reminder that sometimes, the monsters we face are reflections of our own fears and insecurities.

As the chilling climax approaches, we unveil not just the creatures that lurk in the shadows but the very fabric of human emotion that binds us in fear and hope. Each story resonates with eerie truths, leading us through the beautifully terrifying dualities inherent in our existence—where nature’s beauty often cloaks an unseen menace. I invite you, dear listeners, to join me on this captivating exploration of fear and survival as we dissect the unseen horrors that dwell both within the haunted whispers of nature and beneath the surface of our own hearts.

If the night we just shared has captured your imagination, I encourage you to keep the spine-tingling tales alive by visiting weeklyspooky.com, where you can support us and discover more thrilling merchandise. Until next time, may your nights be serene, but remain ever vigilant of what lurks just beyond the safety of light.

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🎵 Music by Ray Mattis
Check out Ray’s work here!

👨‍💼 Executive Producers: Rob Fields, Mark Shields, Bobbletopia.com

🎥 Produced by: Daniel Wilder

For everything else check out WeeklySpooky.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

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Well, hello, my spookys. I hope you're doing well on

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this first Friday in April, and I hope you're ready

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to enjoy quite the monstrous compilation, both figuratively and very literally.

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We've gathered some of the finest examples of Weekly Spooky stories,

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all about the well not so great outdoors, those things

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that lurk in the woods, or maybe it's just in

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your mind. Well, the only way to find out is

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to give it a listen. So get yourself cozy because

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this is a full blown height through the terror of nature.

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And remember, if you love what we're doing here at

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Weekly Spooky and want to support us, head to Weeklyspooky

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dot com, where there's merchandise, a Patreon, and so much more.

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But now, my friends, it's time to kick it all

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off by heading to the Great White North Stalk by

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Mike Eshkewey. I'm bored, lonely, and horny. This is not

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exactly a great combination for an exciting reading week. The

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exceptional and brilliant life of me Joshua Fox or Foxy

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to most of my friends. I wish the nickname suggested

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more success with the ladies, but well, let's say it's

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been a long, dry summer, and fuck if I'm not thirsty.

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Canadian Thanksgiving, the less cool cousin of American Thanksgiving, happens

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in October. But hey, it's reading week, so it kind

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of works out. I'm coming home to my old stomping

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grounds from being away in the big city of Toronto.

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It'll be a week of getting together with some friends,

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playing some dungeons and drag biggins, and maybe putting on

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the skates for a few games of Beer League hockey

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with the boys. Maybe I was expecting college to be

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like in the movies, and ladies would be throwing themselves

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at me. I am somehow getting the idea that the

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sexy comedies of the eighties might have lied to me.

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There was a distinct lack of pante raids, and it

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was more study your ass off and get your homework

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done than endless fun. I'm lucky that I got my

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college education paid for courtesy of the Ontario government and

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a summer of manning a hot dog cart at the

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Blue Jays games. The drive home up Highway six was

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as always long, boring, and well, if you've never seen

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a cow, then hold onto your butts, because you are

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in for a treat. I parked my ass at my

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parents' house in Owen Sound and hoped that this week

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doesn't suck. My mom and dad have taken off to

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somewhere warm, sunny and probably filled with conservative nut jobs

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like Florida. Come to think of it, maybe Owen Sound

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and Florida have a lot in common, just with less

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alligators on meth. Then again, I laughed at my own

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stupid thoughts and continued driving. Fortunately, Foxy wasn't totally without

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a clue or a plan for the week ahead. In

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some ways, there is this cool thing called the Internet.

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Heard of it? Of course, you have all the debauchery

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and raunchy shit you can imagine, and all available at

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the click of a mouse. Kind of figured the boys

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might blow me off for the week with work, girlfriends,

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and kids. So I had to come up with a

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plan B. What's plan B? You ask, Internet hookups? Yeah,

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I know, fuck sexy MILFs in your area right now.

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Just pay nine to ninety nine and enter your major

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credit card. Nah fuck that. I tried the sensitive approach

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and cast a wide net and tried the college dating

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website scene. And I'll see what happens when I cast

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a line. Before leaving my dorm, I fired up the

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old laptop and sent off a few messages to some

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girls up in the area. I knew a few of

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them from going to high school, and some I knew

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by reputation alone. I kind of had a feeling that

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my odds of success weren't great. But hey, as a

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great wise man once said, you can't score if you

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don't take a shot right now. Wait, you're thinking, am

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I really this lonely and desperate? Yes?

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And no.

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Before I left for school, I did have a girl

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I was going steady with, but well it didn't work out.

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Maybe it was her, Maybe it was me. Maybe I

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shouldn't have tried to fuck her best friend Courtney. Maybe TLDR.

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I'm an idiot and got what I deserved. However, who

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says that good guys don't get a second chance? Am

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I a good guy?

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Well?

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I'm not hitler. That has to count for something. Coming

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into Owen Sound was something that I always looked forward to.

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The lovely fall colors of the trees and the big

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hill coming into the downtown. Sure this place sucked to

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grow up, but I'll be damned if it wasn't a

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gorgeous place to look at for a little while. I

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drove up to my parents' house on the west side

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of town by the old Blockbuster and unloaded my backpack

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in hockey bags. Walked into the old house that was

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clearly built before people knew what HVAC was and half

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decent wiring. It's quiet here, even the dog is gone.

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They almost never take that yappy thing with them on vacation.

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That's pretty weird. Guess the neighbors finally said, fuck you,

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your dog will stop shitting on our lawn. So no,

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Bob and Linda, I won't look after your mut My

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room was just as I left it. It looked like

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a bomb went off in it. Dirty clothes, fast food wrappers,

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and I'm pretty sure a half empty can of Red

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Bull stuffed up under my computer desk. Speaking of my computer,

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I fired up the old desktop that I didn't take

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with me to school. I logged onto a few of

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the college dating sites that I was on before I

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left and kind of hoped that i'd find someone to

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help take my mind off things for a while. Seems

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like more than a few swiped away from yours, truly,

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but hey, this is just separating the wheat from the chaff.

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The strong survive. Right after sorting through like twenty messages

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and getting shot down almost consistently a hit, I've never

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been so happy to see a blinking notification on a

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website that wasn't only fans click that so fast that

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I think I thought the mouse would disintegrate in my hands.

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It was from Tracy Kidd, totally out of my league,

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totally not into me yet. Hey Josh, glad to hear

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your coming back to town for a week. When was

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the last time I saw you? Was it the baseball

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attorney in Sawble Beach or at jeans party in Chesley?

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It's been way too long. I was totally surprised to

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hear from you, though, such a pleasant surprise. Sorry to

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hear that your friends ditched you for the week or

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likely will that totally sucks blah blah, get on with it.

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But I kept reading with anticipation, as this could go

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my way or I'm spending my week with a jar

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of vasileene and pornhub So I'm stuck this week by

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myself too, and I was wondering if you'd like to

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get together, no pressure or anything. I have to close

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my parents' cottage for the winter, and I could totally

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use a big strong man to help me out. Well,

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more like, I'd rather not be alone in a giant

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house by myself for a week. So tell you what,

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why don't you come up when you're here and we'll

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get together, have a few laughs, go in the hot

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tub and drink what's left in the liquor cabinet. Now,

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this is what I am talking about. I texted her

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so fast, and after literally a few seconds, she replied back,

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Holy shit. She gave me a winkie face emoji and

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said she'd be available later tonight. I texted back and

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asked for the address, but tried to play it cool.

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Pretty sure I looked dumb as hell, But it's a

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bold move, Cotton. Let's see how it plays out. Got

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the address. I had a vague idea on where it

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was Sawable Beach. It sounded like it was close to

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Soggin First Nation Territory, the Indian Reservation. I'd been there

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a few times for hockey and had a few friends

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from there. Good guys, deaf, the kind of people you

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want backing you in a fight. You don't fuck with

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res kids. Had an idea that kid was Ojibway, but

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didn't want to ask. It's cool though. Native girls have

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the most intense dark eyes and that amazing black hair.

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I knew Tracy had a rep, but it was well earned.

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She didn't take any crap from any of her boyfriends,

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so she had that tough girl air about her. She

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was confident, undeniably sexy, but so far out of my league.

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It was like a ten year old kid playing in

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the NHL with a broken arm. I can't deny that

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I'd love to have a face off with her and

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jersey her if you catch my drift still, she responded

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to me. So if I didn't have a shot, then

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she wouldn't have answered me. Maybe this reading week is

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gonna work out after all. Get together with a pretty girl,

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fuck her brains out, and return back to the dorms

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with an awesome story. I could also totally brag to

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my buddies Ryan and Dylan how I got laid and

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they just I had to ditch me for things like

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jobs and beerly losers. I texted her back and said

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I'd take a quick shower and grab some supplies and

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head up her way within the hour. It was late afternoon,

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but I'd still make it up there before it got

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too dark, and then the real fun began. I got

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in the shower and tried to imagine all the ways

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that i'd be all mister super sexy and smooth oper Radar.

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Something felt kind of off as I got out of

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the bathroom, though it kind of felt like someone was

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watching me. It only happened for a few seconds, but

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for a moment or two, I swear I saw a

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pair of eyes dart by my bedroom window. That would

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be crazy because I was up on the third floor.

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Maybe cut back on the red bulls before I leave

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for her place, got my luggage together, some condoms I

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had stashed for just such an occasion, and a six

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pack of Canadian from the fridge. I'm sure Dad won't

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mind if I take a few beers to entertain a

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lady again. Something seemed weird as I was just getting

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my keys off the kitchen table and they looked out

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towards the back door. I swear I saw the biggest

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damn dog I'd ever seen, just peering in at me

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and looking at me. Now, who the hell let that

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monster off the leash? Should I call the cops or

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help someone find their dog. Well, if it's important enough,

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then someone will come looking, and I'm sure that Kujo

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the giant dog will find his way home. My car

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felt like something out of Fast and the Furious as

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I hit the gas and hit every single light out

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of town and up Highway six towards Soawble Beach. I

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cranked up the radio and started singing along badly to

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whatever was on it. Frankly didn't matter. Tonight was gonna

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be great and I wasn't gonna let anything spoil it.

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This fox was on the prowl Baby, passed by a

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few small towns along the way to Soble Beach. This

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place was world renowned as a tourist destination, huge white

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sand beach, thriving beach community, and of course racial tensions

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because you know, northern Ontario. I mean, why do people

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gotta be shitheads? Everyone shit stinks, so why can't we

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00:12:23.159 --> 00:12:27.600
all just get along? Right right? Leave it to me.

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00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:32.039
I'll solve all the world's problems, like the fucking United Nations.

203
00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:34.559
The only part of the ride that wasn't full of

204
00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:39.799
fun and fantasy was still shaking that weird feeling of

205
00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:45.279
those eyes watching me. The main road in disable was quiet,

206
00:12:45.879 --> 00:12:49.039
like so quiet you could hear a mouse fart for miles.

207
00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:53.120
This place rolled up the sidewalks after Labor Day weekend

208
00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:56.080
and it was just the locals left here till the

209
00:12:56.120 --> 00:13:00.240
winter comes for the snowmobile crowd. Everything was closed or

210
00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:03.240
being closed up, and the only thing open was a

211
00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:07.200
convenience store that sold stuff to tourists at inflated prices,

212
00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:10.440
and the locals knew better than to drive to Owen Sound.

213
00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:13.399
I used to spend a lot of summers here with

214
00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:17.240
the boys and even my on and off girlfriends. We'd

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00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:19.639
hang out by the giant sign at the beach entrance

216
00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:22.840
and walk downtown and not have a care in the world.

217
00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:27.559
Those summers were amazing and I never wanted them to end.

218
00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:30.960
We'd usually rent a cottage a few times a summer

219
00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:35.600
along the beach, and it was nothing but parties, loud music, weed,

220
00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:38.480
and staying up all night playing poker or an old

221
00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:43.000
Nintendo till we passed out. My GPS started droning on

222
00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:46.120
its directions to get to Tracy's place. Where in the

223
00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:50.799
hell was it? Back roads, twists and turns, and I

224
00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:53.559
don't even think I was anywhere near people at this point.

225
00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:56.919
If you lived back here, you either valued your privacy

226
00:13:57.480 --> 00:14:00.279
or had more money than sense to build this far back.

227
00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:04.600
It was dirt roads, trees, dense bush, and even an

228
00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:10.720
occasional swamp. Truly paradise, come to think of it. The

229
00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:14.639
GPS lady sounded kind of hot. Wait, we are not

230
00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:19.759
fantasizing about fucking Skynet before Tracy, are we? We are.

231
00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:25.159
It's a new level of sadness, but that's okay. It'll

232
00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:30.039
be prime time soon enough. Finally I found the address,

233
00:14:30.440 --> 00:14:32.720
and it was tucked back about as far as one

234
00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:36.360
could go without being totally off grid. I think her

235
00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:39.960
neighbors must be easily fifteen or twenty minutes away, and

236
00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.200
I haven't seen any cars pass me, and at least

237
00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:45.720
that long. On the plus side, no one will hear

238
00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:48.399
her scream my name when we get down to it.

239
00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:53.039
I drove carefully along the dirt road, trying not to

240
00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:56.240
bottom out my car. I'm still paying this thing off,

241
00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:57.919
and the last thing I need is to take it

242
00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:02.039
in because I knocked off my muff. Her cottage comes

243
00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:06.240
into view and it's way bigger than I expected. Looks

244
00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:08.519
like someone built this place by hand, and they had

245
00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:13.799
amazing taste as well, two stories, big glorious windows, and

246
00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:18.039
a gorgeous wrap around deck and even a little swing set.

247
00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:20.799
This place was like something out of a TV show

248
00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:24.120
or a movie. I pulled up beside her pickup truck

249
00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:26.679
and started to get out when I noticed something as

250
00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:31.360
I opened the car door. What in the hell was

251
00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:35.360
that smell? It smelled like a wet dog mixed with

252
00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:39.879
something else. It almost smelled like rotten meat that had

253
00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:42.039
been left out in the sun for a few hours.

254
00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:44.480
You spend enough time in the woods and you know

255
00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:49.200
what trouble smells like. And this did not exactly scream friendly.

256
00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:54.240
Must be roadkillers. Something died in the woods nearby. I

257
00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:59.279
mean there were bears, coyotes, and foxes around here. Probably

258
00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:03.720
safe to assume that I should get inside quickly. I'd

259
00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:07.799
rather not end up as something's dinner tonight. I probably

260
00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:12.519
taste great. One last thing to prepare, I sprayed a

261
00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:15.480
little bottle of axe body spray on myself before I

262
00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:18.320
went up to the door. Might as well smell like

263
00:16:18.440 --> 00:16:21.679
desperation and a little bit of horniness in a can, right.

264
00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:25.039
I headed up the deck stairs and knocked on the

265
00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:28.200
big wooden door. I waited a moment or two, and

266
00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:34.679
then knocked again and nothing. Did I get the wrong house.

267
00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:37.840
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone

268
00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:41.559
to text her, but of course, no cell service. I'm

269
00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:43.759
pretty sure even if I got a bar of service

270
00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:48.440
out here, it would be a minor technological miracle. Maybe

271
00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:52.480
she was fucking with me. I mean, it's entirely possible.

272
00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:56.159
I started to walk back towards my car and defeat

273
00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:58.960
and shame when I heard a voice call out from

274
00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:03.080
an upstairs window. Josh, hold on a few, I'm just

275
00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:06.480
getting out of the shower doors unlocked. Head into the

276
00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:10.920
living room. I'll be down in a few. That was Tracy.

277
00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:14.480
I opened the door and walked into the cottage, and man,

278
00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:18.359
what a trip. This place was decked out in all

279
00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:21.440
sorts of things. On the walls. There was a gigantic

280
00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:24.519
painting of a pack of wolves above a fireplace, and

281
00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:28.039
pictures of what I presumed were her family. They also

282
00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:31.319
had tons of handmade things that looked like they must

283
00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:34.319
have come from the reservation. I think I had heard

284
00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:37.240
that her brother John was a big shot dancer in

285
00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:41.079
the powwow circuit. It's pretty badass looking, to be honest,

286
00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:45.039
I mean I somehow managed to fuck up coloring books,

287
00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:49.160
so this was way beyond my skill level. I sat

288
00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:52.279
down on her sofa and just kept looking around the place,

289
00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:55.799
half being amazed by all the stuff and the other

290
00:17:55.880 --> 00:18:00.559
time being kind of snoopy and way too curious. After

291
00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:04.400
about ten minutes, I hear footsteps coming down the staircase

292
00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:08.119
behind me. I can't contain my excitement, and I spin

293
00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:11.160
around on the couch and try to look cool. It

294
00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:14.039
didn't work, as I turned around so fast that I

295
00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:17.559
almost fell off the couch. I looked up and saw

296
00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:21.720
Tracy Kidd for the first time since last summer. She

297
00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:26.319
looked gorgeous, long black hair. Her makeup was done just

298
00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:29.039
right to make her eyes pop, and she wore a

299
00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:31.960
pair of gray sweatpants and a crop top black hoodie.

300
00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:37.880
She was beautiful. Hey Foxy, long time, no see have

301
00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:42.480
any trouble finding the place, she said in a playful tone. Yeah,

302
00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:45.039
my GPS tried to take me into Lake Huron, but

303
00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:49.599
I got here all right. Man. Her folks certainly made

304
00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:51.400
sure this place would be the biggest pain in the

305
00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:55.079
ass for a pizza guy or Amazon to find. You'd

306
00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:57.640
be surprised how easily all the cousins find it after

307
00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:00.599
pow Wow and John comes home for a few weeks.

308
00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:03.960
She laughed. I'm glad I was able to come up.

309
00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:09.039
By the way, thanks for messaging me back Trace. I

310
00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:11.519
needed a friendly face or two while I was home.

311
00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:14.440
I'm more than happy to help. I even brought up

312
00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:18.640
a few beers as well. Well, aren't you a fucking gentleman,

313
00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:22.680
she laughed. Don't worry. I'm fully stocked out here as

314
00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.559
I got to close this place up for the winter,

315
00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:28.319
and I'm not supposed to leave anything behind. My parents said,

316
00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:31.119
do what you want, but make sure the locks are tight,

317
00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:34.839
the windows closed, and the power is off before Thanksgiving Monday.

318
00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:37.400
I'm just glad to be out of the city for

319
00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:41.279
a few days, so anything you need I got. I'll

320
00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:43.799
admit it took a lot of restraint to not say

321
00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:47.200
anything stupid or push my luck too far before we

322
00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:53.519
even had a chance to get comfortable together. Anything huh, Well,

323
00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:58.480
that remains to be seen. Her voice and demeanor changed

324
00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:01.559
for just a second. And I think if I played

325
00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:05.680
my cards right then I likely would not be sleeping

326
00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:09.319
on the sofa. I'm pretty handy and I can count

327
00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:12.200
to ten without using my fingers, so that asked to

328
00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:14.920
count for something. I joked back with her to see

329
00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:18.359
if I was gauging the room right. She smiled back

330
00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:20.720
at me, and it was the kind of look that

331
00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:23.960
suggested I could lower my defenses and see where things led,

332
00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:28.000
but slowly, and try to play three D chess as

333
00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:31.319
it were. Tracy sat down on the couch next to

334
00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:34.799
me and we just caught up on old times and

335
00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:37.960
what we've been up to since last summer. She was

336
00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:41.039
working for the conservation Authority and doing some stuff for

337
00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:44.640
her brother, like helping him book gigs, so kind of

338
00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:48.759
like Showbiz meets Captain Planet. It did sound pretty cool,

339
00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:52.240
if very busy and time consuming. I told her that

340
00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:55.640
I was at Humber College for photography. I wanted to

341
00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:59.359
live my dream of being a sports photographer, maybe someday

342
00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:03.039
work for the NA or the Canadian Hockey League. As

343
00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:06.720
the night passed, we started developing into deeper topics and

344
00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:10.079
it was actually pretty pleasant. She asked me why we

345
00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:13.640
never hung out more in high school. I always thought

346
00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:17.920
you were too cool for me. You always had a boyfriend,

347
00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:21.400
and let's be real, most of these guys make UFC

348
00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:26.440
fighters seem like cuddly little kittens in comparison, you could

349
00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:30.279
have just asked Fox. You were a good guy, kind

350
00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:33.960
and not too much of an asshole. I didn't care

351
00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:36.599
much for that Dylan friend of yours, but always thought

352
00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:39.640
you were all right. I remember the first time I

353
00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:43.119
saw you and your boyfriend fight at school. You punched

354
00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:45.240
him so hard when he laid his hands on you.

355
00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:49.039
It was like watching wonder Woman come to life. It

356
00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:53.000
was pretty fucking awesome. Funnier when he begged you not

357
00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:55.839
to do it in front of his friends. Yeah, he

358
00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:59.279
had it coming. I dated a lot of jerks back then.

359
00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:03.000
I could handle myself though. My grandmother taught me a

360
00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:05.960
lot of things. She taught me mostly to take shit

361
00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:09.880
from no man and to end it decisively. She looked

362
00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:13.079
at me differently when she said that. To me. The

363
00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:16.000
air in the room seemed to shift, and it wasn't

364
00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:21.160
just idle chit chat anymore. It was something more real.

365
00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:24.839
I'm sorry that you had to go through that trace.

366
00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:30.759
You deserve better, a lot better. Tracy inched closer to

367
00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:34.119
me on the couch and actually started to cuddle into me.

368
00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:37.519
I actually felt all my bravado and all my intent

369
00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:42.519
ooze away as she did I was vulnerable, and so

370
00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:46.200
was she. This was the make it or break it moment.

371
00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:49.680
This is where I either have an amazing night or

372
00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:55.119
I fuck it up completely. I've been lonely for a while, Josh.

373
00:22:55.720 --> 00:23:00.359
Things got different after you left. She almost whispered like

374
00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:04.039
it was a secret she wasn't supposed to tell anyone.

375
00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:08.359
What do you mean, what's wrong? I asked, and genuinely

376
00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:11.559
meant it. The idea of getting laid kind of became

377
00:23:11.680 --> 00:23:15.880
secondary now. I mean, what if this was something else?

378
00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:19.119
What if this was one of those moments where something

379
00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:25.279
becomes really real. I know why you came here, but

380
00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:30.359
I'm not mad. Oh fuck no, No, It's fine. I

381
00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:34.319
wanted you to come. It's more than just a hookup, right.

382
00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:41.480
How do I answer this? Maybe I'll play honestly because

383
00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:44.160
I don't know. She can lay me out cold and

384
00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:48.559
leave me for the bears outside to eat. I'll admit it,

385
00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:51.559
A lot has changed since I came here and actually

386
00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:54.559
started talking with you. It's one thing to have a

387
00:23:54.599 --> 00:23:57.759
hot girl answer you on a dating site, and another

388
00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:00.160
thing to have said hot girl invite you up to

389
00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:03.240
a cottage for a few days. I get the feeling

390
00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:06.680
that you've been really real with me, and I haven't

391
00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:11.279
had that since Melissa, my ex, the one you tried

392
00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:16.039
to cheat on. Yeah, I own that fuck up. I

393
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:19.160
didn't expect to say that out loud, but it came

394
00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:22.240
so naturally. If I'm going to be present and here

395
00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:24.440
in the moment, then I had better be on my

396
00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:28.799
best behavior. You're not a bad guy, Josh. I can

397
00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:34.079
smell it on you. Okay, that's a weird thing to say,

398
00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:40.359
but sure, that's just the body spray. I nervously laughed.

399
00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:44.480
She sat up and sat on my lap and looked

400
00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:47.720
deep into my eyes. She was a lot heavier than

401
00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:51.279
I expected to be. Honestly, she was built like a tank.

402
00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:56.000
She didn't look this strong, but looks are deceiving. I'm

403
00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:58.240
pretty sure she could bench press me and not even

404
00:24:58.279 --> 00:25:03.799
break a sweat. No, Josh, it's perfectly fine. We all

405
00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:07.319
have needs, and so do I. It's nothing to be

406
00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:10.960
ashamed of. She touched the side of my face and

407
00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:13.880
traced a line from my hairline to my cheek and

408
00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:17.559
cupped my chin in her hand. Normally this is where

409
00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:20.319
I'd get down to business and go to town, but

410
00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:25.000
here I was absolutely in her hands. I was her plaything,

411
00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:29.039
and she knew it. She had this animalistic power over me.

412
00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:32.480
And on one hand, it was kind of scary how

413
00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:36.440
much I knew she could overpower me, but I kinda

414
00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:40.559
wanted it that way. I looked back into her eyes

415
00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:44.640
and there was something in there I didn't expect to see.

416
00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:49.160
I could see this primal hunger and this ferocity you

417
00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:51.839
see in a wild predator like a wolf for a lynx.

418
00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:57.039
This is a weird line between sexy as fuck and scary.

419
00:25:58.279 --> 00:26:02.279
I think I'm turned on, but also so kinda terrified.

420
00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:06.839
What would you say to a little game? You win,

421
00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:10.240
you can have your way with me, and if I win,

422
00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:15.680
then I can do whatever I want to you. Okay,

423
00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:22.000
what do I have to do? Answer me honestly, and

424
00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:25.440
I'll know if you're lying, she said in a flirty

425
00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:29.519
but also serious tone. She pulled her hair back into

426
00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:32.880
a ponytail and didn't take her deep brown eyes off me.

427
00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:35.440
She was sizing me up in a way that I

428
00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:40.519
can't say I've ever seen outside of a nature documentary.

429
00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:43.480
Suddenly I felt like a kitten trapped in a cage

430
00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:48.119
with a lioness. This is either gonna get kinky or weird.

431
00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:53.599
Probably both relax your body and let me guide you.

432
00:26:54.559 --> 00:26:57.680
I need you to trust me, Josh. She took my

433
00:26:57.799 --> 00:27:00.839
hands and placed them on her sides, and she kept

434
00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:04.720
eye contact with me. I relaxed as much as I could.

435
00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:08.640
I was a little hard, because well, I'm a guy.

436
00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:13.799
She smiled at me and winked, and then got serious again.

437
00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:18.240
Do you trust me, Josh? She took my hands and

438
00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:21.400
put them on her breasts and kept her body taut

439
00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:28.200
against mine. Okay, this is going places. I do, I

440
00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:34.039
stammered out. Do you want me, Josh? I do? This

441
00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:37.680
is happening? Would you still want me if I told

442
00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:44.079
you a secret? Sure? I mean it's not like you

443
00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:48.279
killed anybody, right. I could feel her body tense up

444
00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:53.640
as soon as I said that, And what if I did? Okay,

445
00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:57.160
not sure. I like where this is going. I don't

446
00:27:57.400 --> 00:28:01.119
think you're a murderer. Kid, tough as but you're not

447
00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:04.759
a killer. Tracy took my hands and guided them to

448
00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:07.880
her face and held them against the side of her head,

449
00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:11.240
and we just held hands like that for a moment.

450
00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:14.960
There was a tenderness and a longing in this moment.

451
00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:18.799
I could feel my cheeks flush and my heart beating

452
00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:22.559
out of my chest like a jackhammer. What if you're

453
00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:27.160
wrong about me? Would you still want me? She relaxed

454
00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:31.000
our hands and leaned in to kiss me. I could

455
00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:33.759
feel her breath just as our lips were about to touch,

456
00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:37.519
and for a moment, it was like the first time

457
00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:40.640
I was with someone and I totally forgot the peril

458
00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:48.519
I was likely in. Yes, good, she whispered as she

459
00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:53.920
kissed me, long and deep, passionately. This wasn't an I

460
00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:57.920
want to fuck you kiss. This was an I want

461
00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:02.400
you forever kind of kiss. Now you only have to

462
00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:08.160
do one more thing, and it's simple. I want you too,

463
00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:11.720
but you have to prove how strong and clever you are.

464
00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:16.519
Can you do that? At this moment, I'm pretty sure

465
00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:20.119
I would have sold meth to nuns. I can do that.

466
00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:23.319
I want you to play hide and seek with me

467
00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:28.519
for ten minutes, and I'll give you a head start. Seriously,

468
00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:32.960
all I gotta do to sleep with this amazing, enchanting

469
00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:36.440
sexual goddess is play hide and seek for ten minutes.

470
00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:43.480
This is gonna be so awesome. Okay, that's it, I laughed.

471
00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:48.680
That's it. I might suggest you start running now, though,

472
00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:57.119
what run? Why? This seems a little hardcore for for play,

473
00:29:57.160 --> 00:30:01.079
don't you think, I thought to myself. Tracy leaned in

474
00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:05.880
and kissed me again, and this time it almost felt sad,

475
00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:10.240
like a goodbye in a sense. She took herself off,

476
00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:14.519
my body off the couch and stood up to her

477
00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:17.559
full height. If you're going to mate with me, then

478
00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:20.839
I need to know how strong and clever my pupps

479
00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:24.880
will be. As soon as she said that, I thought

480
00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:28.119
I was going to shit my pants. This little five

481
00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:30.880
foot eight, dark skinned girl started to grow in front

482
00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:34.039
of me like something out of a nightmare. Her skin

483
00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:37.680
started to ripple, and a rough, dark brown furry merged

484
00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:42.000
like a wave. Her features twisted and snapped, like muscles

485
00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:45.960
and bone snapping into new shapes. The face of Tracy

486
00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:49.920
Kidd was replaced by a long, wolf like snout filled

487
00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:55.119
with sharp, unforgiving teeth. Those once kind hands shaped into

488
00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:59.680
impossibly long claws that scraped the hardwood floor beneath her.

489
00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:05.519
She towered over me at easily nine feet tall. A rough,

490
00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:11.720
almost unrecognizable voice growled out of her horrifying visage. I'm

491
00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:15.319
going to count to thirty and then if you can

492
00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:21.200
survive for ten minutes, I'm all yours. I screamed and

493
00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:24.559
screamed till my voice was hoarse, and I started to

494
00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:29.720
run in any direction. But where I was, Tracy Kidd

495
00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:33.759
was a fucking werewolf. Fuck, I gotta run, gotta run,

496
00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:37.559
gotta run. I threw open the front door and tripped

497
00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:40.240
down the stairs as I went and landed hard on

498
00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:43.359
the grass out front and felt the wind to get

499
00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:46.640
knocked out of me. I felt my car keys jab

500
00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:50.000
into my leg, and Jesus Christ did that hurt. I

501
00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:53.200
started stumbling towards my car and thought about how the

502
00:31:53.240 --> 00:31:55.079
hell I was going to get out of here when

503
00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:57.519
I didn't even know where here was? In this dark

504
00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:01.680
it was so pitch black, and her porch lights were off.

505
00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:04.279
I struggled to get my car keys in the lock.

506
00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:07.759
They wouldn't turn. I kept turning the keys, but the

507
00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:11.119
door wouldn't open. Shit, I must have bent the key

508
00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:16.359
when I fell. Fuck, I'm gonna die here, aren't I?

509
00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:19.359
I felt beads of sweat run down my face and

510
00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:23.240
start to sting my eyes. Panic had gripped my entire body.

511
00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:27.279
This was it, wasn't it? This is where it all

512
00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:31.200
ends for me? I started running down the dirt laneway

513
00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:33.680
towards what I assumed was the main road that I

514
00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:36.759
had came in on. I didn't even look back, as

515
00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:39.359
I kept focusing on putting one foot in front of

516
00:32:39.400 --> 00:32:41.480
the other and doing my best to keep my forward

517
00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:45.039
momentum going. I just wanted to get with a girl

518
00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:49.559
this week. I just wanted to get laid right now.

519
00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:54.240
I just want to live to see tomorrow. Fuck. I'll

520
00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:56.759
take surviving the next hour if it means I can

521
00:32:56.839 --> 00:33:01.319
keep breathing. I kept running further and further into the darkness,

522
00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:04.680
and eventually the lights from Tracy's cottage could barely be

523
00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:09.000
seen because of the thick mess of pine trees. Looking

524
00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:11.839
around for anywhere to hide, or at least a place

525
00:33:11.880 --> 00:33:14.839
to gather myself for a second and to catch my breath.

526
00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:17.839
I'm not exactly in the worst of shape, but I

527
00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:20.160
could feel my legs start to turn to jelly and

528
00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:22.880
each breath start to burn as I gasped for air.

529
00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:26.839
Peeking off the lane way, I started dashing into the woods,

530
00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:29.519
and when I finally got into an area too dense

531
00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:33.160
to run, I started to slow down and carefully walk

532
00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:37.279
so as not to make too much noise. I couldn't

533
00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:40.119
hear anything except the faint sounds of a distant owl

534
00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:44.279
and the lapping of some nearby body of water. It's

535
00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:47.480
too quiet out here, and all I can truly hear

536
00:33:47.559 --> 00:33:50.720
is the blood pumping in my ears. I have a

537
00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:52.799
lot to be sorry for if this is where it

538
00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:56.960
all ends tonight. I'm sorry Mom and Dad. I know

539
00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:58.759
you wanted me to go off to school like my

540
00:33:58.880 --> 00:34:03.200
sister and because I'm a doctor, but I wasn't smart enough.

541
00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:08.840
I'm mostly sorry to my ex girlfriend Melissa. Hugh didn't

542
00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:11.760
deserve what I tried to do to you. I thought

543
00:34:11.800 --> 00:34:15.079
I was something special because someone else besides you took

544
00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:17.719
a liking to me, and I let it go to

545
00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:21.960
my head. I fucked up, and I made a lot

546
00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:26.199
of people unhappy in my life. Maybe I deserve to

547
00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:30.440
be torn apart by this creature or turned into a

548
00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:36.519
weird breeding thing for her. I probably deserved this. I

549
00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:39.400
leaned back against a tree and let out a sigh

550
00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:41.840
and just looked up at the sky for a second.

551
00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:45.039
I don't know how long it's been since I ran

552
00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:51.079
from the house, maybe five minutes, and that's probably being generous.

553
00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:57.760
I could smell that rotting flesh again. Shit, Suddenly, something

554
00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:00.840
wet and heavy, slammed into my chest and knocked me

555
00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:03.960
hard against the tree. Felt like it cracked a rib

556
00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:07.119
or ten. I crumbled into a heap at the base

557
00:35:07.159 --> 00:35:11.039
of the tree and was instantly dazed. I tried to

558
00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:13.960
keep from passing out from the pane and keep focused

559
00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:17.239
enough to get my wits about me. I opened my eyes,

560
00:35:18.119 --> 00:35:22.519
and I instantly regretted that decision. Once again, I found

561
00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:26.639
myself face to face with something that shouldn't exist yet

562
00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:30.800
here it was, right here in front of me. There

563
00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:33.760
was enough pale light cast from the overhead moon that

564
00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:36.440
I could see the face of the creature looking right

565
00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:41.679
into my soul. Tracy or whatever she was, kept inching

566
00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:46.719
closer to me with her gigantic mouth drooling. Her spit

567
00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:55.920
glistened in the moonlight like dew. Okay, this was really it, Tracy.

568
00:35:56.519 --> 00:36:00.280
If you're gonna kill me, make it quick, and please

569
00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:02.119
don't make my mom and dad have to worry that

570
00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:07.079
I disappeared. Give them something to bury, I croaked out

571
00:36:07.079 --> 00:36:10.679
in a weak voice. The werewolf stood up to its

572
00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:14.280
full height and cocked its head and looked at me.

573
00:36:15.559 --> 00:36:18.519
I looked up into the eyes of the creature and

574
00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:23.840
suddenly They weren't the eyes of a monster. They were

575
00:36:23.880 --> 00:36:29.840
Tracy Kid's eyes. Tracy's lupine form leaned down and moved

576
00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:33.039
closer to my body and nuzzled it like a dog

577
00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:37.639
would to an injured friend or owner. Her big wolf

578
00:36:37.800 --> 00:36:41.320
like head nuzzled up against mine and touched the side

579
00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:45.719
of my face gently. This is not what I expected.

580
00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:49.639
Her form began to shift back into the nineteen year

581
00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:53.320
old Native girl I had a crush on once she

582
00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:58.920
was naked, but at that moment it didn't matter. Josh

583
00:36:59.280 --> 00:37:04.800
are you afraid to die? Yeah? I am. I don't

584
00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:09.960
want my parents to worry or my sister. I'm sorry

585
00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:13.079
for a lot of things in my life. I'm sorry

586
00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:15.480
that I came up here looking to take advantage of you.

587
00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:23.599
I'm sorry for everything. I whispered quietly. I know you are.

588
00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:27.440
I can smell it on you. You're a lot of things,

589
00:37:27.559 --> 00:37:32.639
Joshua Fox. But you're not a bad guy. She reached

590
00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:35.760
out again with her hands and cupped mine in hers

591
00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:42.400
and touched my face. I'm sorry, Tracy. What would you

592
00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:48.280
say if I said I was still interested in you? Okay?

593
00:37:49.159 --> 00:37:53.880
I went from preparing to meet the almighty to whatever

594
00:37:54.039 --> 00:38:00.320
this is I'm confused. What do you mean. I didn't

595
00:38:00.320 --> 00:38:03.400
know how to process what exactly was happening at that moment.

596
00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:08.039
I'm lonely, Josh. I want to be with someone who

597
00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:11.440
can be honest like you are right now. What if

598
00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:15.960
I offered you a chance to be like me, strong, powerful,

599
00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:22.119
and to be a part of something different? What exactly

600
00:38:22.280 --> 00:38:26.480
was Tracy asking me. She took back her left hand

601
00:38:26.519 --> 00:38:29.639
and extended one of her fingernails to an unnatural length

602
00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:34.960
and pointed it at me. Be with me, Josh. When

603
00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:38.679
we mate with another we take on strong spiritual and

604
00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:42.519
personality traits from the partner. I want my pupps to

605
00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:47.119
have that honesty and that vulnerability you showed tonight. You

606
00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:49.159
could have tried to fuck me and then left in

607
00:38:49.199 --> 00:38:53.119
the morning, but instead you chose to talk and open up.

608
00:38:54.320 --> 00:38:57.039
You went with plan B, even though you didn't immediately

609
00:38:57.119 --> 00:39:04.239
mean to. Will I be just like you like a monster?

610
00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:08.760
Yes and no. I'll have to show you how to

611
00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:12.239
control your new life, and you'll be different from everyone else,

612
00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:16.320
but you'll meet others like me. It's not as scary

613
00:39:16.320 --> 00:39:19.440
as it sounds. Trust me. I found out from my

614
00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:22.800
grandmother in high school. How did you think I got

615
00:39:22.800 --> 00:39:29.440
so strong, will it hurt just for a minute. Tracy

616
00:39:29.559 --> 00:39:33.639
leaned in and pressed her naked body against mine, and

617
00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:39.000
I felt her fingernail cut deep across my back. Pain

618
00:39:39.199 --> 00:39:42.840
and fire seared across the wound, and I wanted to

619
00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:56.360
throw up but couldn't. I immediately passed out. The next day,

620
00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:59.599
I woke up next to Tracy in an unfamiliar bed,

621
00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:04.800
and all my wounds had healed. I felt weird, like

622
00:40:04.920 --> 00:40:08.280
everything was moving in slow motion, but I was hyper

623
00:40:08.360 --> 00:40:13.440
aware of everything. I could hear birds and things that

624
00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:17.519
seemed miles away. I felt like I was stronger than

625
00:40:17.559 --> 00:40:21.760
I'd ever been in my life. I got up out

626
00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:29.239
of bed and noticed I was also naked. Oh that's unexpected. Well,

627
00:40:29.800 --> 00:40:33.280
if I had any fun last night, it seems like

628
00:40:33.400 --> 00:40:39.320
I wasn't totally present for that little escapade. I passed

629
00:40:39.320 --> 00:40:45.960
by a mirror and noticed something different about myself. I

630
00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:49.440
had the same animalistic look in my own brown eyes

631
00:40:49.960 --> 00:40:54.880
that Tracy did when we were on the couch last night. Well.

632
00:40:55.760 --> 00:41:00.079
This is going to take some getting used to, isn't it.

633
00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:09.840
I used to work in a fire tower with a

634
00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:16.000
strange set of rules by Michael Kelso it wasn't all

635
00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:18.599
that long ago. When I worked as a park ranger

636
00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:21.360
in a fire tower. You'd think it would be an

637
00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:22.199
easy job.

638
00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:23.719
You'd be wrong.

639
00:41:24.840 --> 00:41:27.519
Once I found a strange list of rules, it was

640
00:41:27.559 --> 00:41:32.159
all downhill from there. Suffice it to say I was

641
00:41:32.239 --> 00:41:35.920
lucky to get out with my life while still being

642
00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:39.840
a free man. There was an investigation into the matter,

643
00:41:39.880 --> 00:41:43.199
and I was questioned several times by the police, but

644
00:41:43.559 --> 00:41:45.920
they didn't want to hear the truth of the story

645
00:41:46.760 --> 00:41:52.119
that something strange and supernatural happened that night in that

646
00:41:52.199 --> 00:41:58.159
fire tower. Unfortunately, one of my fellow rangers wasn't so lucky,

647
00:41:58.920 --> 00:42:04.239
but that is another story. I never went back to

648
00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:08.400
that tower ever. I searched for a few weeks before

649
00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:11.320
finding a new job. It was just in the nick

650
00:42:11.360 --> 00:42:13.800
of time because I hadn't worked as a park ranger

651
00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:16.679
long enough to make much money at all, and switching

652
00:42:16.719 --> 00:42:20.000
back and forth between peanut butter sandwiches and mac and

653
00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:23.800
cheese wasn't the best way to stave off starvation. But

654
00:42:25.159 --> 00:42:29.760
beggars can't be choosers, so I applied for this job

655
00:42:29.800 --> 00:42:32.440
and went into the office building in town for the interview.

656
00:42:33.360 --> 00:42:36.880
The first question I asked was does it have any

657
00:42:37.559 --> 00:42:41.440
strange rules. The interviewer looked at me like I had

658
00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:45.920
just sprouted a second head. Like what kinds of rules?

659
00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:50.519
She said, I don't know, like don't answer the phone

660
00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:53.159
at a certain time of night, or if you see

661
00:42:53.159 --> 00:42:57.239
a glowing orb, look away for thirty seconds. Are you

662
00:42:57.440 --> 00:43:01.239
planning on seeing any glowing orbs inside our warehouse? She

663
00:43:01.400 --> 00:43:05.599
said hesitantly, I hope not. She held my gaze for

664
00:43:05.639 --> 00:43:09.599
a long moment before answering my question. I started to

665
00:43:09.639 --> 00:43:11.440
wonder if she was going to kick me out of

666
00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:16.360
her office to answer your original question. She said, I

667
00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:19.639
don't know of any strange rules for the warehouse. To

668
00:43:19.719 --> 00:43:23.480
my knowledge, it's a standard night watchman job. You go there,

669
00:43:23.559 --> 00:43:25.880
you make sure no one breaks in and takes anything,

670
00:43:25.920 --> 00:43:30.320
and then you go home. That's a relief, just out

671
00:43:30.360 --> 00:43:36.719
of curiosity. Why did you ask about strange rules. My

672
00:43:36.840 --> 00:43:40.760
last job had some strange rules, and let's just say

673
00:43:40.800 --> 00:43:46.480
it didn't end well. Oh, all right, she said, I

674
00:43:46.519 --> 00:43:49.159
suppose that would be a good question for you to ask.

675
00:43:49.239 --> 00:43:54.360
Then the rest of the interview was standard stuff. Thankfully

676
00:43:54.400 --> 00:43:57.599
I hadn't blown it and got the job. She gave

677
00:43:57.639 --> 00:44:00.559
me my employee packet and the address of the warehouse.

678
00:44:01.199 --> 00:44:03.320
She told me I would be trained on the job,

679
00:44:03.880 --> 00:44:05.840
when to be there for my first shift, and the

680
00:44:05.920 --> 00:44:09.760
name of my supervisor, mister Larson. I thanked her and

681
00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:12.440
went on my merry way, happy to have a job

682
00:44:12.519 --> 00:44:16.000
that was easy and paid decently. The next couple of

683
00:44:16.079 --> 00:44:19.920
days went by slowly as anticipation built for my first shift.

684
00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:22.800
When I got in my car, the gas gage told

685
00:44:22.840 --> 00:44:25.199
me I would be pushing it to make it back

686
00:44:25.239 --> 00:44:27.719
and forth to work before I got my first paycheck.

687
00:44:28.360 --> 00:44:30.519
I drove to the address and found it in what

688
00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:35.079
looked like an abandoned business park. There were other warehouses

689
00:44:35.119 --> 00:44:37.719
along the drive, with weeds growing through the cracks and

690
00:44:37.800 --> 00:44:40.960
the pavement and up the sides of the buildings. There

691
00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:44.400
were street lights, but they looked old and decrepit. Only

692
00:44:44.440 --> 00:44:47.239
two of them were still emanating their putrid yellow light,

693
00:44:47.800 --> 00:44:51.599
fighting a losing battle against the darkness. I came to

694
00:44:51.639 --> 00:44:53.800
the end of the road and looming in front of

695
00:44:53.840 --> 00:44:57.559
me was a massive warehouse. The GPS on my phone

696
00:44:57.599 --> 00:45:00.599
told me I had arrived, but I was isn't sure

697
00:45:00.639 --> 00:45:05.000
I wanted to. It was all by itself, surrounded by

698
00:45:05.039 --> 00:45:07.960
woods on all sides except for the notch that had

699
00:45:07.960 --> 00:45:11.159
been cut out to make the road. I pulled around

700
00:45:11.159 --> 00:45:13.320
to the side where the main door was and was

701
00:45:13.360 --> 00:45:16.199
slightly comforted by the car that was parked in front.

702
00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:19.559
At least there was some other living soul out here.

703
00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:23.360
I got out, taking my bag of supplies with me.

704
00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:26.320
I started toward the door and hit the remote button

705
00:45:26.320 --> 00:45:29.360
to lock the car out of habit. The horns chirp

706
00:45:29.440 --> 00:45:32.599
echoed through the trees, making me even more aware of

707
00:45:32.639 --> 00:45:36.760
their presence. I wasn't looking forward to doing security checks

708
00:45:36.760 --> 00:45:39.960
around the perimeter. There was only one security light that

709
00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:42.360
I had seen when I drove up, and it was

710
00:45:42.400 --> 00:45:46.119
near the entrance. I approached the door and tried to

711
00:45:46.159 --> 00:45:49.360
open it, but it was locked. I looked around for

712
00:45:49.440 --> 00:45:53.760
anything and found a keypad. I opened up my email

713
00:45:53.800 --> 00:45:56.079
on my phone and read the instructions i'd been sent.

714
00:45:57.159 --> 00:46:00.480
Your shift is from nine pm to nine am, it read,

715
00:46:01.000 --> 00:46:04.000
you cannot leave between those hours. The code for the

716
00:46:04.079 --> 00:46:07.320
keypad is your employee code. That way we know it's

717
00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:11.679
you inside. I paused. There was something about that last

718
00:46:11.719 --> 00:46:16.360
sentence that gave me chills. I reread it and decided

719
00:46:16.400 --> 00:46:20.239
it was just a security thing. Your employee code is

720
00:46:20.280 --> 00:46:23.480
two zero, five nine. It should open any doors you

721
00:46:23.519 --> 00:46:26.800
need to access inside. If you have any problems, call

722
00:46:26.920 --> 00:46:31.119
or text the number included in your packet. I didn't

723
00:46:31.199 --> 00:46:34.719
remember getting any number in my packet, but maybe I'd

724
00:46:34.880 --> 00:46:38.239
just skimmed over it. I entered my code on the keypad.

725
00:46:38.760 --> 00:46:41.639
The light above the numbers turned green, and I heard

726
00:46:41.679 --> 00:46:46.559
the lock click. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

727
00:46:46.719 --> 00:46:49.000
When the door shut, I heard the lock click again.

728
00:46:49.920 --> 00:46:51.920
I stared at it as if the sound had some

729
00:46:52.719 --> 00:46:56.519
finality to it, Just out of curiosity. I typed in

730
00:46:56.599 --> 00:47:00.599
my code on the inside keypad, but the light stayed

731
00:47:00.639 --> 00:47:06.199
red and the door stayed locked. I tried to shrug

732
00:47:06.239 --> 00:47:08.840
it off, thinking it was like a time card thing

733
00:47:09.280 --> 00:47:12.639
that it wouldn't open again until nine am. I looked

734
00:47:12.639 --> 00:47:16.760
at my watch and it read nine oh two pm.

735
00:47:17.039 --> 00:47:19.639
I turned toward the inside set of doors and punched

736
00:47:19.679 --> 00:47:23.360
in my code. The green light and click granted me entry.

737
00:47:24.599 --> 00:47:26.320
If I'm going to have to type in my coat

738
00:47:26.360 --> 00:47:28.360
at every door, it's going to be a long night,

739
00:47:28.599 --> 00:47:31.639
I thought. I stepped into what looked like a small

740
00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:34.480
reception area. There was a desk and a couple of

741
00:47:34.559 --> 00:47:38.199
vinyl couches along the wall. It was sparsely decorated and

742
00:47:38.280 --> 00:47:41.559
dimly lit. The only painting I saw on the wall

743
00:47:41.679 --> 00:47:44.440
had a picture of a large gait that was dark

744
00:47:44.519 --> 00:47:48.760
red with words in some other language. I walked through

745
00:47:48.800 --> 00:47:51.840
the first set of doors after inputting my code. They

746
00:47:51.880 --> 00:47:54.960
opened up into a long, dimly lit hallway with doors

747
00:47:55.000 --> 00:47:59.039
on both sides. The first one I came to said security.

748
00:47:59.760 --> 00:48:02.239
It was no surprise when I saw a keypad on

749
00:48:02.280 --> 00:48:05.159
the door lock. I typed in my code and opened

750
00:48:05.199 --> 00:48:08.679
the door. Inside there was a desk with monitors and

751
00:48:08.719 --> 00:48:12.199
a computer. There was also a table with two chairs,

752
00:48:12.480 --> 00:48:16.519
another vinyl couch, a mini fridge, and a small bathroom.

753
00:48:16.800 --> 00:48:18.920
I set my bag down on the couch and got

754
00:48:18.960 --> 00:48:21.760
my water bottle out. I opened the fridge and found

755
00:48:21.800 --> 00:48:24.760
a lunch box with a bottle on the door. I

756
00:48:24.800 --> 00:48:27.159
guess it belongs to the guard I'm supposed to relieve,

757
00:48:27.559 --> 00:48:31.480
I thought, where is he anyway? I put my bottle

758
00:48:31.519 --> 00:48:34.000
in and closed the fridge, then looked around the room

759
00:48:34.079 --> 00:48:38.039
more closely. There were three doors on the far wall

760
00:48:38.079 --> 00:48:40.960
that I hadn't noticed. I opened the first one and

761
00:48:41.039 --> 00:48:44.239
found it was a closet. A light jacket hung there,

762
00:48:44.519 --> 00:48:47.280
and a small duffel bag sat on the shelf. I

763
00:48:47.320 --> 00:48:50.360
sat my bag beside it and closed the door. I

764
00:48:50.440 --> 00:48:53.559
opened the second one to find a weapons locker. Two

765
00:48:53.639 --> 00:48:57.320
handguns and two shotguns, along with tasers and pepper spray

766
00:48:57.360 --> 00:49:00.599
were locked behind a metal mesh door. I tried the

767
00:49:00.599 --> 00:49:05.119
door out of curiosity, but it refused to budge. Surprisingly,

768
00:49:05.199 --> 00:49:08.119
there wasn't a keypad to punch in numbers. It was

769
00:49:08.159 --> 00:49:11.519
an actual lock. I looked around for the keys but

770
00:49:11.599 --> 00:49:15.559
didn't find them. Maybe the other guard had them. I

771
00:49:15.639 --> 00:49:18.039
closed the door and tried to open the third one.

772
00:49:18.599 --> 00:49:22.719
It remained locked. Maybe it's a maintenance closet or something.

773
00:49:23.599 --> 00:49:25.599
I sat at the desk and looked at the computer.

774
00:49:26.039 --> 00:49:29.320
The monitor showed a login screen. I typed in my

775
00:49:29.440 --> 00:49:32.000
code and it came up to an email. I had

776
00:49:32.039 --> 00:49:35.679
three messages. I clicked on the first that read first

777
00:49:35.760 --> 00:49:39.719
log in. I opened it and read welcome to your

778
00:49:39.760 --> 00:49:43.159
first shift. I'm sure by now you have some questions.

779
00:49:43.679 --> 00:49:46.119
First off, you need to log into our Wi Fi.

780
00:49:46.840 --> 00:49:48.679
If you look at your phone, you'll see there's no

781
00:49:48.800 --> 00:49:52.760
cell service inside the building. I looked, and sure enough,

782
00:49:53.199 --> 00:49:56.519
my phone had no service. I followed the directions to

783
00:49:56.559 --> 00:49:59.280
hook up to their Wi Fi. Once I logged in,

784
00:49:59.320 --> 00:50:02.760
a strange symbol flashed on my phone. Then it went

785
00:50:02.800 --> 00:50:05.760
blank for a whole minute. I tried to go back

786
00:50:05.880 --> 00:50:08.920
or go to the home screen, but nothing happened. I

787
00:50:09.000 --> 00:50:12.039
was about to power off when suddenly the screen came back.

788
00:50:12.920 --> 00:50:15.559
Everything seemed normal and I was able to do everything

789
00:50:16.119 --> 00:50:19.639
but make calls. My phone dinged as I received a text,

790
00:50:20.440 --> 00:50:23.400
congratulations on setting up your phone on our corporate WiFi.

791
00:50:24.039 --> 00:50:26.760
Calling will be disabled while you're on shift. If you

792
00:50:26.800 --> 00:50:29.920
have any needs, text this number someone is monitoring twenty

793
00:50:29.960 --> 00:50:32.760
four to seven. I saw the number they sent and

794
00:50:32.800 --> 00:50:36.480
saved it as corporate. I opened the second email and

795
00:50:36.519 --> 00:50:41.400
read the message your duties monitor for any unusual activity.

796
00:50:41.800 --> 00:50:46.159
If there is unusual activity, text corporate immediately check to

797
00:50:46.199 --> 00:50:50.039
make sure all doors are secure. Do green patrols twice

798
00:50:50.079 --> 00:50:53.880
per shift, Do a red patrol once per shift. Do

799
00:50:54.079 --> 00:50:58.079
yellow patrols four times per shift. I was wondering what

800
00:50:58.119 --> 00:51:01.199
that meant when a video started showing the hallway floors

801
00:51:01.639 --> 00:51:05.320
that had different color stripes of paint. There was green, yellow,

802
00:51:05.360 --> 00:51:08.320
and red, and then there seemed to be another color

803
00:51:08.400 --> 00:51:11.800
beside them. Before I could make it out, the video ended,

804
00:51:12.639 --> 00:51:16.840
Take your breaks only in the security room. The email ended.

805
00:51:17.360 --> 00:51:19.079
I looked at the subject for the third one, and

806
00:51:19.119 --> 00:51:23.559
it read open only after the first patrol. I hovered

807
00:51:23.599 --> 00:51:26.480
the arrow over the subject and was tempted to click,

808
00:51:26.960 --> 00:51:30.599
but just then I got a text. Have you done

809
00:51:30.639 --> 00:51:35.199
your first patrol yet? It read great? I thought, just

810
00:51:35.280 --> 00:51:38.440
what I need is to be nagged at work. Not yet,

811
00:51:38.719 --> 00:51:42.679
I texted back, better get to it. I sighed and

812
00:51:42.760 --> 00:51:45.840
stepped to the door when my phone dinged don't forget

813
00:51:45.880 --> 00:51:49.159
your flashlight. I read it and looked at the closet,

814
00:51:49.239 --> 00:51:53.039
realizing I had done just that. I slowly looked back

815
00:51:53.079 --> 00:51:55.960
at the phone, thinking many things I'd like to respond,

816
00:51:56.519 --> 00:52:00.320
but texted thanks. I went to the closet and my

817
00:52:00.320 --> 00:52:03.159
flashlight out of my bag. I looked at my phone

818
00:52:03.159 --> 00:52:08.159
and thought anything else, wondering if it would respond. Thankfully

819
00:52:08.199 --> 00:52:11.480
it didn't. My phone literally reading my thoughts would be

820
00:52:11.559 --> 00:52:15.239
disturbing beyond belief. I opened the door and glanced at

821
00:52:15.239 --> 00:52:17.480
my phone to see if I'd done anything else wrong.

822
00:52:18.039 --> 00:52:22.199
It remained, thankfully silent. I stepped back into the hallway,

823
00:52:22.199 --> 00:52:25.159
where every third light was lit. I assumed it was

824
00:52:25.199 --> 00:52:28.559
the nighttime lighting and started down the hall, looking at

825
00:52:28.599 --> 00:52:31.679
the floor. The lines were just like in the video.

826
00:52:32.119 --> 00:52:36.079
The fourth line was black. I paused at the ramifications

827
00:52:36.119 --> 00:52:38.679
of being guided towards something they didn't want me to

828
00:52:38.760 --> 00:52:41.960
check on. That either meant they didn't care about it

829
00:52:42.119 --> 00:52:46.239
or didn't trust me to check it out. Either one

830
00:52:46.320 --> 00:52:49.880
was disconcerting. I decided to get a yellow patrol out

831
00:52:49.920 --> 00:52:52.800
of the way. I followed the line down the hall,

832
00:52:52.880 --> 00:52:55.280
glancing at each door that was marked with a letter

833
00:52:55.320 --> 00:52:59.920
and a number. The first one said A one, the

834
00:53:00.199 --> 00:53:04.719
next said A two. As I continued, the letter remained

835
00:53:04.719 --> 00:53:08.119
the same as the numbers increased, odd numbers on the

836
00:53:08.199 --> 00:53:11.800
right side doors even on the left. I reached the

837
00:53:11.920 --> 00:53:14.440
end of the hall and the yellow and green lines

838
00:53:14.480 --> 00:53:18.320
turned right down another hallway. The red and black went left.

839
00:53:19.079 --> 00:53:23.440
I glanced left, but stayed right. My curiosity would have

840
00:53:23.519 --> 00:53:27.880
to wait until later. I followed the lines down the

841
00:53:27.920 --> 00:53:31.440
next hall and read the first door. It said B one.

842
00:53:32.519 --> 00:53:35.880
This continued down the entire hall, just like the first.

843
00:53:36.440 --> 00:53:38.880
At the end, the green line turned left, while the

844
00:53:39.000 --> 00:53:43.800
yellow went right. This hall started with C one. The

845
00:53:43.960 --> 00:53:47.719
entire time I'd been walking there was total silence. There

846
00:53:47.800 --> 00:53:51.079
wasn't even the sound of air conditioners or anything It

847
00:53:51.199 --> 00:53:55.840
was eerie. I stopped and looked around the hallway, and

848
00:53:55.920 --> 00:53:59.079
all the doors were pristine. There wasn't a bit of

849
00:53:59.119 --> 00:54:03.039
dirt or dust. It didn't look like a warehouse, at

850
00:54:03.119 --> 00:54:05.320
least not like I thought the inside of a warehouse

851
00:54:05.320 --> 00:54:09.320
would look. This was something else I would have to

852
00:54:09.320 --> 00:54:11.559
make a list of questions to ask when I got

853
00:54:11.599 --> 00:54:15.280
back to the security room. I continued my round and

854
00:54:15.360 --> 00:54:17.880
followed the yellow line as it turned right yet again.

855
00:54:18.719 --> 00:54:22.320
This hall started with D one. When I reached the

856
00:54:22.400 --> 00:54:24.719
end of the hall, the line dead ended at a door.

857
00:54:25.440 --> 00:54:28.880
I hesitated for a moment before opening it into another hall.

858
00:54:29.639 --> 00:54:31.880
I turned and looked at the other side of the door.

859
00:54:32.519 --> 00:54:36.079
It said A one. I looked to the left and

860
00:54:36.119 --> 00:54:39.400
saw the security room. The yellow line had taken me

861
00:54:39.440 --> 00:54:42.559
in a circle, or I suppose it would have been

862
00:54:42.599 --> 00:54:46.400
a square. I shook my head, stepped into the security

863
00:54:46.480 --> 00:54:49.440
room and sat down at the computer. The e mail

864
00:54:49.559 --> 00:54:54.440
sat waiting. I clicked it. Congratulations on your first patrol.

865
00:54:55.159 --> 00:54:59.519
I read the sentence and felt uneasy at the word successful.

866
00:55:00.400 --> 00:55:03.920
Why wouldn't it be successful? I thought, by now you

867
00:55:04.039 --> 00:55:07.480
probably have some questions. Perhaps we can answer them before

868
00:55:07.519 --> 00:55:11.840
you ask. First, the black line do not follow it

869
00:55:12.000 --> 00:55:16.559
under any circumstances. Second, as I'm sure you've already noticed,

870
00:55:16.800 --> 00:55:20.559
you cannot leave until your shift is over. Third, make

871
00:55:20.639 --> 00:55:23.840
sure you close any door you open. These are some

872
00:55:24.000 --> 00:55:28.559
basic rules. There'll be more as your shift commences. I

873
00:55:28.639 --> 00:55:32.559
looked for any more emails, but there were none. Great,

874
00:55:33.079 --> 00:55:37.400
I thought, more rules. At least these ones aren't all

875
00:55:38.119 --> 00:55:41.719
weird and creepy. I opened the mini fridge and took

876
00:55:41.719 --> 00:55:44.800
a drink from my water bottle. As I put it back,

877
00:55:44.840 --> 00:55:47.239
I glanced at the lunch box and wondered where the

878
00:55:47.280 --> 00:55:50.400
other guard was. I checked my watch and it was

879
00:55:50.440 --> 00:55:53.800
almost ten. I figured I should do my first green

880
00:55:53.840 --> 00:55:57.039
line patrol. I went back out into the hallway and

881
00:55:57.119 --> 00:55:59.400
followed the green line to the point where it veered

882
00:55:59.400 --> 00:56:02.760
away from the yellow The silence in the hall was

883
00:56:02.840 --> 00:56:07.400
starting to bother me. Listening to my own footsteps was unnerving.

884
00:56:08.000 --> 00:56:11.800
The green line led to another similar corridor. This one

885
00:56:12.000 --> 00:56:15.039
was e hall. I was starting to wonder just how

886
00:56:15.079 --> 00:56:17.320
big this place was when I heard a sound I

887
00:56:17.400 --> 00:56:21.440
didn't make. I slowly turned and looked back to find

888
00:56:21.880 --> 00:56:25.119
an open door. I knew, beyond a shadow of a

889
00:56:25.159 --> 00:56:27.880
doubt it wasn't open. When I went past it. I

890
00:56:28.000 --> 00:56:32.320
showed my flashlight around, looking for anything and anyone, but

891
00:56:32.440 --> 00:56:35.880
nothing was there. I approached the door and was about

892
00:56:35.880 --> 00:56:38.480
to close it and resume my patrol when I heard

893
00:56:38.480 --> 00:56:42.599
the sound again. My hand hovered over the knob as

894
00:56:42.639 --> 00:56:48.039
my curiosity overwhelmed my fear and common sense. Instead of

895
00:56:48.079 --> 00:56:51.519
shutting the door and moving on, I opened it enough

896
00:56:51.559 --> 00:56:56.360
to look inside. The room was dark. I considered turning

897
00:56:56.440 --> 00:56:59.239
on the light, but instead opted to use my flashlight.

898
00:56:59.840 --> 00:57:01.800
I shown it around the room that looked like a

899
00:57:01.920 --> 00:57:06.239
lab with plenty of workstations. I did a slow lap

900
00:57:06.280 --> 00:57:09.039
around the room, looking for anything out of the ordinary,

901
00:57:09.760 --> 00:57:13.559
which was laughable because I had no idea what went

902
00:57:13.639 --> 00:57:16.159
on in this room or this building on a day

903
00:57:16.199 --> 00:57:19.199
to day basis, so how would I know what was

904
00:57:19.280 --> 00:57:22.719
normal for this place. In the middle of my lap,

905
00:57:23.039 --> 00:57:25.440
I noticed a dim light underneath a door at the

906
00:57:25.440 --> 00:57:29.559
far end of the room. I slowly approached it, turned

907
00:57:29.599 --> 00:57:35.960
the knob, and peeked inside. I wish I hadn't. There

908
00:57:36.000 --> 00:57:40.639
was a large glowing glass container that held an entity.

909
00:57:41.039 --> 00:57:42.960
Is the only thing I can think to call it.

910
00:57:43.559 --> 00:57:45.239
I know if I call it what I think it

911
00:57:45.239 --> 00:57:47.679
should be called, I'll go insane. Right on the spot,

912
00:57:48.840 --> 00:57:51.280
it was easily the size of a large human and

913
00:57:51.320 --> 00:57:54.199
then some It was black and covered with what I

914
00:57:54.199 --> 00:57:58.920
could only describe as scales. There were sharp points sticking

915
00:57:58.960 --> 00:58:02.599
out of its elbows and seemingly random spots along its

916
00:58:02.679 --> 00:58:07.559
head and torso. Its face was a nightmare, with horns

917
00:58:07.559 --> 00:58:10.280
sticking out of its forehead and curling up like a rams.

918
00:58:11.039 --> 00:58:14.159
It was hovering inside the container somehow, even though there

919
00:58:14.199 --> 00:58:17.360
was no liquid inside it, and holding its legs, making

920
00:58:17.400 --> 00:58:19.800
it look like it was curled up in the fetal position.

921
00:58:20.880 --> 00:58:23.159
I kept the flashlight down so as not to risk

922
00:58:23.239 --> 00:58:28.880
disturbing this thing. I panned around the room. There seemed

923
00:58:28.880 --> 00:58:31.880
to be controls of some sort near the container that

924
00:58:31.920 --> 00:58:35.719
were making occasional hissing sounds. It was as if the

925
00:58:35.760 --> 00:58:40.239
machine was breathing for it. How I kept from screaming

926
00:58:40.280 --> 00:58:42.960
and running out of the room, I don't know. Through

927
00:58:43.000 --> 00:58:46.079
some miracle, I kept it together and slowly backed away.

928
00:58:46.960 --> 00:58:51.639
I held the doorknob turned, then slowly released it. Once

929
00:58:51.719 --> 00:58:55.679
the door was closed, I breathed a sigh of relief

930
00:58:56.000 --> 00:58:58.559
and started toward the door that led to the hallway.

931
00:58:59.400 --> 00:59:02.079
I was almost there when I heard the soft scuffle

932
00:59:02.880 --> 00:59:06.840
of a foot on the floor. I froze and turned

933
00:59:06.920 --> 00:59:10.199
back to the room, panning slowly with my light. At

934
00:59:10.239 --> 00:59:14.440
first I didn't see anything, and then a tiny, pale

935
00:59:14.559 --> 00:59:17.440
hand reached up and turned the knob that led into

936
00:59:17.440 --> 00:59:20.679
the monster's room. I didn't want to know what was

937
00:59:20.719 --> 00:59:24.360
doing it. I just wanted it to stop. After a

938
00:59:24.440 --> 00:59:27.639
quick rundown of potential outcomes, I settled on getting out

939
00:59:27.679 --> 00:59:31.440
of that room as quietly as possible. I stepped toward

940
00:59:31.519 --> 00:59:34.679
the hallway door, while shooting furtive glances back at the

941
00:59:34.719 --> 00:59:38.039
other door that was slowly opening. I could see the

942
00:59:38.079 --> 00:59:41.199
creature in its container and the thing that had opened

943
00:59:41.239 --> 00:59:45.639
the door. It was small, only a few feet tall,

944
00:59:45.719 --> 00:59:49.880
with gangly legs and arms. But what froze my blood

945
00:59:50.840 --> 00:59:54.599
was seeing its face. It was embedded in its torso.

946
00:59:55.400 --> 00:59:59.599
Two eyes and a mouth full of sharp, grinning teeth

947
00:59:59.760 --> 01:00:03.360
were right there where its belly should have been. It

948
01:00:03.440 --> 01:00:06.679
had no head. It was like someone had smashed all

949
01:00:06.719 --> 01:00:09.559
but a few inches of this creature's torso and left

950
01:00:09.599 --> 01:00:13.480
the face right there. It looked at me, and its

951
01:00:13.519 --> 01:00:17.599
horrific smile grew as it reached the controls in the room.

952
01:00:19.039 --> 01:00:22.599
I backed out into the hallway and closed the door quietly,

953
01:00:23.400 --> 01:00:26.360
then ran as I followed the green line to its

954
01:00:26.480 --> 01:00:30.440
ending underneath a door. I hesitated to open that door,

955
01:00:30.480 --> 01:00:34.199
with my new knowledge that there were potentially dangerous creatures

956
01:00:34.280 --> 01:00:39.480
lurking behind every opening. Finally I turned the knob and

957
01:00:39.559 --> 01:00:43.480
peeked out into a hallway. The first thing I saw

958
01:00:43.559 --> 01:00:46.480
was four lines on the floor, which told me I

959
01:00:46.559 --> 01:00:50.599
was once again in the first hall. I looked at

960
01:00:50.639 --> 01:00:55.559
the number on the door. It read a two. I

961
01:00:55.679 --> 01:00:58.400
jumped out and slammed the door shut, diving into the

962
01:00:58.400 --> 01:01:01.639
security room and shutting that door as well. I leaned

963
01:01:01.639 --> 01:01:04.440
against it for a long moment, wondering how I was

964
01:01:04.480 --> 01:01:07.639
going to do another patrol, knowing that either or both

965
01:01:07.679 --> 01:01:12.119
of those creatures would be stalking the hallways. My attention

966
01:01:12.320 --> 01:01:15.159
was grabbed by one of the monitors. There were over

967
01:01:15.199 --> 01:01:18.280
a dozen images being transmitted onto different sections of a

968
01:01:18.519 --> 01:01:21.719
large TV. I looked at the videos for the first

969
01:01:21.719 --> 01:01:25.320
time and noticed there wasn't a single camera aimed at

970
01:01:25.360 --> 01:01:30.320
the outside of the building. They were all inside. My

971
01:01:30.440 --> 01:01:34.360
breath caught in my throat. That means they aren't afraid

972
01:01:34.360 --> 01:01:40.599
of what's outside, but what's inside. I watched the monitors

973
01:01:41.000 --> 01:01:44.960
fortunately they were in color. I focused on the cameras

974
01:01:45.000 --> 01:01:47.559
that showed green lines on the floor and waited to

975
01:01:47.599 --> 01:01:50.960
see if any of the doors opened. After thirty minutes,

976
01:01:51.000 --> 01:01:54.000
I hadn't seen any movement. I sat back in my chair,

977
01:01:54.079 --> 01:01:58.679
Feeling a little better. I decided to do another yellow patrol.

978
01:01:59.320 --> 01:02:01.480
I didn't want to. I would have rather stayed in

979
01:02:01.519 --> 01:02:03.400
the security room for the rest of my shift, but

980
01:02:04.280 --> 01:02:07.719
that wasn't an option. I comforted myself with the thought

981
01:02:07.800 --> 01:02:10.679
that I had been watching the cameras and nothing had moved.

982
01:02:11.800 --> 01:02:15.480
It wasn't much comfort. I picked up my flashlight, trying

983
01:02:15.519 --> 01:02:18.920
to keep it steady as my shaking hands showed my hesitation.

984
01:02:19.760 --> 01:02:22.280
I stepped through the security room door and out into

985
01:02:22.320 --> 01:02:27.079
the hallway. Somehow it looked different now. Before when I

986
01:02:27.159 --> 01:02:30.000
was just checking a bunch of doors, I convinced myself

987
01:02:30.039 --> 01:02:32.679
that nothing of interest was in any of the rooms.

988
01:02:33.159 --> 01:02:36.400
Now I knew better. Now I looked at each room

989
01:02:36.440 --> 01:02:39.320
as if it were about to spring open, and I

990
01:02:39.360 --> 01:02:42.199
shook the thoughts away. I had to or I wouldn't

991
01:02:42.239 --> 01:02:46.039
take another step. I walked down the first hall ears

992
01:02:46.079 --> 01:02:49.519
a tuned to any sound. At my first turn, all

993
01:02:49.559 --> 01:02:52.960
I heard were my own footsteps. Even they gave me

994
01:02:53.039 --> 01:02:55.840
pause and had me whipping around to look behind me

995
01:02:56.239 --> 01:02:59.719
from time to time. By the second turn, I was

996
01:02:59.719 --> 01:03:03.400
beginning to feel a little less nervous. By the third turn,

997
01:03:03.679 --> 01:03:06.800
I was almost calm until I saw where the green

998
01:03:06.880 --> 01:03:10.920
line split off from the yellow. I stopped and stared

999
01:03:11.000 --> 01:03:15.280
down the green hall wondering if that thing had slipped out.

1000
01:03:16.280 --> 01:03:19.239
For an instant I thought I saw a movement. I

1001
01:03:19.320 --> 01:03:22.800
shone my light all around, but saw nothing. Even so

1002
01:03:23.280 --> 01:03:25.800
I picked up the pace for my last hallway and

1003
01:03:25.920 --> 01:03:29.559
quickly opened the security room door, then closed it. Feeling

1004
01:03:29.599 --> 01:03:32.519
my heart racing, I looked at my watch and it

1005
01:03:32.559 --> 01:03:36.239
was nearly midnight. I'd done three of my seven patrols.

1006
01:03:37.000 --> 01:03:41.800
My phone dinged. There was a text, it's nearly midnight,

1007
01:03:42.159 --> 01:03:46.760
it said. I wanted to reply sarcastically, but thought better

1008
01:03:46.800 --> 01:03:51.960
of it. What's special about midnight? Didn't they tell you?

1009
01:03:53.039 --> 01:04:01.079
Tell me what the rules? My heart in my chest?

1010
01:04:01.800 --> 01:04:05.559
Not again. They told me I couldn't leave before my

1011
01:04:05.599 --> 01:04:09.880
shift was over, and to do different color patrols. That's

1012
01:04:09.920 --> 01:04:13.400
not the rules I'm talking about. I knew it before

1013
01:04:13.440 --> 01:04:17.039
the text came. Do I want to know what they are?

1014
01:04:17.519 --> 01:04:22.199
I texted, you need to what if I just sit

1015
01:04:22.239 --> 01:04:26.320
in the security room. There wasn't an immediate text back.

1016
01:04:27.760 --> 01:04:34.679
There are things that would happen like what like things

1017
01:04:34.679 --> 01:04:39.519
that would destroy you or at least your mind, I sighed,

1018
01:04:40.639 --> 01:04:44.880
So send me the list of rules. I shook my

1019
01:04:44.960 --> 01:04:47.679
head in disbelief that I was doing this crap again.

1020
01:04:48.519 --> 01:04:52.079
One at midnight, you must be in the security office

1021
01:04:52.480 --> 01:04:56.400
and stay there until twelve thirty am. No matter what

1022
01:04:56.519 --> 01:04:59.519
you see or hear, you must stay in the office.

1023
01:04:59.719 --> 01:05:04.039
And I don't open the door for any reason. That

1024
01:05:04.079 --> 01:05:09.320
doesn't sound ominous at all, I texted. Two. When doing

1025
01:05:09.360 --> 01:05:12.519
a patrol, if you hear someone calling to you or screaming,

1026
01:05:13.320 --> 01:05:16.239
ignore it. Do not attempt to find the source of

1027
01:05:16.280 --> 01:05:22.039
the sound. Three, if the doors start changing, follow the

1028
01:05:22.079 --> 01:05:26.719
lines back to the security room. That should actually take

1029
01:05:26.760 --> 01:05:30.079
care of you for now. Just remember, do not follow

1030
01:05:30.119 --> 01:05:34.400
the black line and don't go into any rooms. Are

1031
01:05:34.440 --> 01:05:37.519
you kidding me with this? I texted, I don't want

1032
01:05:37.519 --> 01:05:40.960
to do this again. Let me out. Sorry, not possible.

1033
01:05:41.559 --> 01:05:44.119
Nothing can open those doors until your shift is over.

1034
01:05:45.000 --> 01:05:48.880
And what did you mean again? I worked in a

1035
01:05:48.920 --> 01:05:53.559
fire tower with weird rules. Interesting, I'd like to hear

1036
01:05:53.599 --> 01:05:59.239
that story someday. Good luck, thanks a lot. By the way,

1037
01:05:59.280 --> 01:06:03.840
where's the key the weapons locker? Just in case? Didn't

1038
01:06:03.840 --> 01:06:06.679
the guard you relieved give it to you. I haven't

1039
01:06:06.719 --> 01:06:11.840
seen him. That's not good news. Is there a spare

1040
01:06:11.920 --> 01:06:17.920
key somewhere? No return? Text came, Hello, is there a

1041
01:06:17.960 --> 01:06:23.880
spare key? No response. I checked my watch and it

1042
01:06:23.960 --> 01:06:28.239
was twelve oh one. As if on cue, there was

1043
01:06:28.280 --> 01:06:31.000
a knock at the door. I took a step toward

1044
01:06:31.039 --> 01:06:34.719
it before I remembered the rules I'd been texted. The

1045
01:06:34.800 --> 01:06:40.079
knocking became more insistent. Next, the doorknomb began rattling, as

1046
01:06:40.119 --> 01:06:42.320
if someone was trying to tear it out of the door.

1047
01:06:43.840 --> 01:06:48.039
Who's there, I said, cringing at my own words. The

1048
01:06:48.079 --> 01:06:52.239
doorknob stopped rattling. There was a silence that was only

1049
01:06:52.280 --> 01:06:57.599
broken by the pounding of my own heartbeat. It's mister Larson,

1050
01:06:57.920 --> 01:07:01.599
A voice said, I've missplayed my key. Could you please

1051
01:07:01.679 --> 01:07:04.719
let me in. I took another step and reached for

1052
01:07:04.760 --> 01:07:09.880
the doorknob. When I remembered there's a keypad on the door,

1053
01:07:10.199 --> 01:07:12.840
I said, if you are who you say you are,

1054
01:07:13.000 --> 01:07:16.840
just punch your coatin and the door'll open. There was

1055
01:07:16.920 --> 01:07:20.599
silence on the other side of the door. It lasted

1056
01:07:20.639 --> 01:07:23.400
so long that I wondered if whoever it was had

1057
01:07:23.440 --> 01:07:27.239
gone away. I leaned against the door and put my

1058
01:07:27.320 --> 01:07:31.800
ear up to it. That's when I heard the loudest,

1059
01:07:32.039 --> 01:07:37.519
most blood curdling inhuman scream I'd ever heard in my life.

1060
01:07:37.599 --> 01:07:40.079
I threw myself on the floor, trying to get away

1061
01:07:40.079 --> 01:07:44.320
from the door as quickly as possible. The pounding continued.

1062
01:07:44.840 --> 01:07:47.360
I wondered how long the door would hold up, and

1063
01:07:47.440 --> 01:07:50.039
what I would do when whatever it was broke it down.

1064
01:07:50.920 --> 01:07:54.360
I held my flashlight like a baseball bat, looking all

1065
01:07:54.400 --> 01:07:57.960
around the room for a better weapon, and not finding any.

1066
01:07:59.119 --> 01:08:02.400
My eyes fell on the weapons locker, wishing I had

1067
01:08:02.400 --> 01:08:06.440
a key. The door started bowing inward with every blow.

1068
01:08:07.039 --> 01:08:08.960
It was so bad I got one of the chairs

1069
01:08:09.000 --> 01:08:11.800
from the brake table and wedged it against the doorknob.

1070
01:08:12.199 --> 01:08:16.439
I stepped back and looked at my handiwork. The ludicrousness

1071
01:08:16.479 --> 01:08:18.920
of a folding metal chair trying to hold off an

1072
01:08:18.960 --> 01:08:21.800
assault that was bowing a solid door was enough to

1073
01:08:21.840 --> 01:08:26.239
make me laugh. I knew it wouldn't last long. Sawdust

1074
01:08:26.319 --> 01:08:29.920
was raining down on the floor. I considered locking myself

1075
01:08:29.920 --> 01:08:32.920
in the bathroom, but saved that for a last resort.

1076
01:08:34.239 --> 01:08:41.000
And then suddenly the assault stopped. The last few remnants

1077
01:08:41.079 --> 01:08:44.960
of sawdust floated to the floor in silence. I gripped

1078
01:08:44.960 --> 01:08:49.760
the flashlight tighter, not trusting this respite. Sweat dripped from

1079
01:08:49.760 --> 01:08:52.119
my forehead As I waited for the assault to resume.

1080
01:08:53.279 --> 01:08:58.000
Nothing happened. I stood there staring at the door, dumbfounded,

1081
01:08:58.079 --> 01:09:00.760
not knowing what to do next. I glanced at my

1082
01:09:00.880 --> 01:09:06.239
watch and it said twelve thirty two am. The text

1083
01:09:06.319 --> 01:09:09.560
said to stay in the office from twelve to twelve thirty.

1084
01:09:09.640 --> 01:09:14.920
I thought, maybe it's okay to go out now. I

1085
01:09:15.039 --> 01:09:21.479
grasped the doorknob and slowly turned, taking a deep, cleansing

1086
01:09:21.600 --> 01:09:26.119
breath before pulling it open. I'm not sure what I

1087
01:09:26.199 --> 01:09:31.439
expected to be there, but what I found was nothing.

1088
01:09:32.520 --> 01:09:34.880
The hallway looked the same as it had before.

1089
01:09:37.079 --> 01:09:37.199
No.

1090
01:09:37.399 --> 01:09:43.720
Wait, the lines on the floor, they were wrong. Every

1091
01:09:43.760 --> 01:09:46.119
other time I came out of the security office, the

1092
01:09:46.159 --> 01:09:49.840
lines stretched down the hallway to the right. Now they

1093
01:09:49.840 --> 01:09:52.880
were going to the left. I looked to the right

1094
01:09:52.960 --> 01:09:55.279
and saw the doors that went to the reception area

1095
01:09:55.279 --> 01:09:59.880
and eventually the outside doors. This is impossible, I thought,

1096
01:10:00.640 --> 01:10:04.239
my breathing, becoming erratic with panic. I pulled out my

1097
01:10:04.319 --> 01:10:08.159
phone and texted, the lines are reversed. It took a

1098
01:10:08.199 --> 01:10:11.439
moment for the response. Did you break any rules?

1099
01:10:12.199 --> 01:10:12.239
No?

1100
01:10:12.479 --> 01:10:15.199
I did everything the way you said. Someone was trying

1101
01:10:15.199 --> 01:10:17.800
to beat down the office door, but I didn't open it.

1102
01:10:18.600 --> 01:10:20.640
Have you gone in any rooms?

1103
01:10:21.119 --> 01:10:21.199
No?

1104
01:10:21.479 --> 01:10:25.399
I wait. On my second round, I found an open

1105
01:10:25.439 --> 01:10:29.079
door and went inside to check it. Not good. What

1106
01:10:29.239 --> 01:10:34.399
did you see? Nothing? I lied? Are you sure I

1107
01:10:34.439 --> 01:10:37.840
didn't see anything but an empty room? Then why are

1108
01:10:37.840 --> 01:10:41.800
the lines switched? I have no idea. You're the one

1109
01:10:41.840 --> 01:10:45.720
who's supposed to know this stuff. Okay, do a yellow

1110
01:10:45.720 --> 01:10:48.359
line patrol when you get to the end instead of

1111
01:10:48.399 --> 01:10:50.920
going through the door. The line ends at open the

1112
01:10:50.960 --> 01:10:54.159
first door on your right and go through it, and

1113
01:10:54.359 --> 01:11:00.680
that'll fix things. Hopefully. What do you mean hopefully? No

1114
01:11:00.840 --> 01:11:04.439
return text came. Come on, man, you've got to be

1115
01:11:04.520 --> 01:11:08.199
kidding me with this, I texted, but still got no response.

1116
01:11:09.439 --> 01:11:12.640
I looked left, then right, then back at the security room.

1117
01:11:13.319 --> 01:11:16.600
I sighed and turned left down the hallway, following the lines.

1118
01:11:17.479 --> 01:11:20.760
It was shortly after my first turn that I noticed

1119
01:11:20.760 --> 01:11:25.479
a difference. The place was still silent except for my footsteps,

1120
01:11:25.560 --> 01:11:30.279
but something felt off. It was like I was in

1121
01:11:30.359 --> 01:11:33.880
a different place, but it looked the same. It was

1122
01:11:33.920 --> 01:11:37.000
almost like I was walking through a replica of the warehouse,

1123
01:11:37.560 --> 01:11:40.920
but different. Aside from the fact that I was going

1124
01:11:40.960 --> 01:11:44.199
in the opposite direction, which defied the laws of physics

1125
01:11:44.279 --> 01:11:50.600
because this hallway didn't exist. There was something else. I

1126
01:11:50.680 --> 01:11:54.439
found out what it was when I stopped my footsteps

1127
01:11:55.319 --> 01:11:59.600
kept going. I stood there halfway down the hall, listening

1128
01:11:59.600 --> 01:12:04.039
to my own footsteps continue on without me. I looked

1129
01:12:04.039 --> 01:12:06.359
down and my shoes were still on my feet, so

1130
01:12:06.960 --> 01:12:10.520
that was some comfort. I stomped my shoe on the floor,

1131
01:12:10.520 --> 01:12:15.119
but to my surprise, it made no sound. I stared

1132
01:12:15.119 --> 01:12:18.800
at my shoes as my footsteps rounded the corner and faded.

1133
01:12:19.560 --> 01:12:23.319
I rushed to catch up, but the sound was gone.

1134
01:12:23.520 --> 01:12:26.399
I looked down the dimly lit hall before me and

1135
01:12:26.479 --> 01:12:29.760
saw nothing. My nerves were getting a workout as I

1136
01:12:29.800 --> 01:12:34.039
resumed my patrol in total silence. My shoes no longer

1137
01:12:34.079 --> 01:12:39.279
made any sound. I tried stomping again, but nothing happened.

1138
01:12:40.119 --> 01:12:42.319
When I turned the next corner, I was greeted by

1139
01:12:42.600 --> 01:12:46.600
the worst sight imaginable. The little thing that had been

1140
01:12:46.600 --> 01:12:48.960
in the room on my green patrol was standing in

1141
01:12:49.000 --> 01:12:51.720
the middle of the hall, staring at me and smiling

1142
01:12:51.760 --> 01:12:56.079
that disturbing grin on its belly. But that wasn't the

1143
01:12:56.119 --> 01:13:00.279
worst part. Behind him was the black, scaly creature from

1144
01:13:00.319 --> 01:13:04.039
the glowing container. It stood at least eight feet high

1145
01:13:04.039 --> 01:13:07.479
and was breathing smoke. It looked at me in extended wings.

1146
01:13:07.520 --> 01:13:11.439
I didn't know it had. They reached both walls easily.

1147
01:13:12.560 --> 01:13:20.640
It was also smiling. Neither smile was comforting. I found

1148
01:13:20.640 --> 01:13:23.560
my feet rooted to the floor and my knees shaking.

1149
01:13:24.159 --> 01:13:27.560
The smaller creature made a chittering sound as it started

1150
01:13:27.600 --> 01:13:31.159
toward me, and the larger took its first step. Its

1151
01:13:31.199 --> 01:13:34.600
foot landed with the force of a jackhammer. The sound

1152
01:13:34.680 --> 01:13:38.560
was debilitating. I covered my ears as they approached. I

1153
01:13:38.640 --> 01:13:43.439
turned to run back to where I came from, but somehow, impossibly,

1154
01:13:43.520 --> 01:13:47.279
the same creatures were approaching from that very hallway. I

1155
01:13:47.359 --> 01:13:49.760
glanced back and forth at the mirror images of the

1156
01:13:49.840 --> 01:13:53.760
unearthly threats closing in on me from both sides. I

1157
01:13:53.800 --> 01:13:57.239
had no choice. I dove into the nearest door and

1158
01:13:57.359 --> 01:14:02.119
slammed it shut. The pounding began right away. I backed away,

1159
01:14:02.159 --> 01:14:05.319
but my foot stepped into empty air. I turned to

1160
01:14:05.399 --> 01:14:07.760
find I was at the top step of a stairway,

1161
01:14:08.520 --> 01:14:11.800
but only for a moment. Gravity took over and I

1162
01:14:11.880 --> 01:14:15.359
tumbled down the stairs. Fortunately there was a landing that

1163
01:14:15.479 --> 01:14:18.199
kept me from falling the rest of the way. I

1164
01:14:18.279 --> 01:14:21.000
slowly stood and made sure of my balance while looking

1165
01:14:21.039 --> 01:14:24.760
around at my new environment. The stairs I had fallen

1166
01:14:24.840 --> 01:14:29.279
down looked like concrete and had no railings. I glanced

1167
01:14:29.319 --> 01:14:31.520
over the side at the darkness that seemed to go

1168
01:14:31.600 --> 01:14:36.000
on forever. It reminded me of the Maria Mine staircase

1169
01:14:36.319 --> 01:14:39.399
in Lord of the Rings. I looked up the stairs

1170
01:14:39.399 --> 01:14:42.399
at the door that was still under assault, then looked

1171
01:14:42.439 --> 01:14:46.960
down the stairs that disappeared into darkness. Looking around the room,

1172
01:14:47.039 --> 01:14:51.520
I saw no other option. I reached into my pocket

1173
01:14:51.560 --> 01:14:54.279
and pulled out my phone. I had to go in

1174
01:14:54.319 --> 01:14:59.840
a room. Sorry, I texted, no response, come on, don't

1175
01:14:59.840 --> 01:15:03.880
be like that. Answer me nothing. I looked at the

1176
01:15:03.920 --> 01:15:09.079
phone and it showed no Wi Fi signal. Great, I said,

1177
01:15:09.520 --> 01:15:13.279
hearing the word echo back to me, I sighed and

1178
01:15:13.359 --> 01:15:17.159
started down the stairs. Fortunately, there was a landing every

1179
01:15:17.199 --> 01:15:20.960
thirty steps or so. Each landing started the next set

1180
01:15:21.000 --> 01:15:23.840
of stairs in a different direction. Looking down through the

1181
01:15:23.840 --> 01:15:26.800
middle of the staircase, I could see them disappear in

1182
01:15:26.840 --> 01:15:31.279
an elongated square. After a few landings, I found myself

1183
01:15:31.279 --> 01:15:35.560
thinking the strangest thought, what about the rest of my rounds?

1184
01:15:36.600 --> 01:15:40.560
The unending stairs didn't answer. As I continued down my

1185
01:15:40.680 --> 01:15:45.239
squared circle, I found myself getting tired. More than once.

1186
01:15:45.319 --> 01:15:48.399
I stumbled and nearly rolled down the stairs, only catching

1187
01:15:48.439 --> 01:15:51.520
myself in the nick of time to avoid falling into

1188
01:15:51.520 --> 01:15:55.520
the abyss. I'd been walking for what felt like hours.

1189
01:15:56.159 --> 01:15:59.960
I checked my watch and it said two twenty two am.

1190
01:16:00.960 --> 01:16:04.119
I was tired and thirsty. I sat down on a

1191
01:16:04.159 --> 01:16:08.800
step above a landing and contemplated my non existent options.

1192
01:16:09.279 --> 01:16:12.560
I could keep going. I leaned over and looked down

1193
01:16:12.600 --> 01:16:17.399
at the continuing endless stairs. I could go back. I

1194
01:16:17.479 --> 01:16:20.880
looked up at the seemingly endless stairs above me, knowing

1195
01:16:20.920 --> 01:16:25.680
the creatures were somewhere up there waiting. I wondered if

1196
01:16:25.720 --> 01:16:28.399
I would be fired for not doing my patrols, and

1197
01:16:28.479 --> 01:16:32.439
if I truly cared. My first hunger pang ripped through

1198
01:16:32.439 --> 01:16:36.880
my stomach. I know, I said, looking at my belly.

1199
01:16:38.079 --> 01:16:42.199
The foods somewhere up there. I pointed in some random

1200
01:16:42.279 --> 01:16:46.600
upward direction, having no idea where the security office was.

1201
01:16:53.199 --> 01:16:57.600
Out of sheer boredom, I glanced at my now useless

1202
01:16:57.640 --> 01:17:01.319
phone for an instant. The way Wi Fi signal showed up,

1203
01:17:02.079 --> 01:17:07.960
then disappeared. A bolt of hope shot through me. I texted,

1204
01:17:08.439 --> 01:17:12.479
I got chased into a room by some creatures. I

1205
01:17:12.560 --> 01:17:17.640
clicked send and waited. The signal stayed dead. I got

1206
01:17:17.680 --> 01:17:20.520
a beep saying there was a text, and excitedly read it,

1207
01:17:21.039 --> 01:17:24.079
only to find it was the failed to send notification.

1208
01:17:25.239 --> 01:17:28.800
I tried again, with the same results over and over.

1209
01:17:28.880 --> 01:17:32.239
I kept trying to send. It was my only option

1210
01:17:32.399 --> 01:17:37.119
other than continuing down the endless stairway. My phone dinged

1211
01:17:37.159 --> 01:17:40.840
again and I prepared to hit rescend when a message

1212
01:17:40.840 --> 01:17:45.279
showed up. It said, we'll deal with the consequences later,

1213
01:17:45.880 --> 01:17:50.439
describe the room to me. I was so overjoyed I

1214
01:17:50.560 --> 01:17:56.079
kept misspelling words dark, room, endless stairway. It took five

1215
01:17:56.199 --> 01:17:58.199
tries for it to send, and it was a few

1216
01:17:58.239 --> 01:18:03.119
minutes until a response got through. Okay, do nothing. Set

1217
01:18:03.159 --> 01:18:06.439
your phone down and lay perfectly still for five minutes.

1218
01:18:07.680 --> 01:18:11.479
I didn't bother to try repeatedly sending okay, I lay

1219
01:18:11.520 --> 01:18:14.720
on the platform. I set my phone beside me, and

1220
01:18:14.800 --> 01:18:20.600
I closed my eyes. I counted out five minutes, very slowly,

1221
01:18:21.560 --> 01:18:24.520
just to be sure I didn't end early. When I

1222
01:18:24.600 --> 01:18:29.159
opened them, I gasped. I was laying on the floor

1223
01:18:29.159 --> 01:18:32.079
in the middle of a square room. The pattern on

1224
01:18:32.119 --> 01:18:36.000
the floor looked like the endless staircase. I stood and

1225
01:18:36.079 --> 01:18:39.359
walked over to the door. I reached for the doorknob

1226
01:18:39.399 --> 01:18:43.479
and opened the door very slowly. The hallway appeared to

1227
01:18:43.520 --> 01:18:47.840
be empty. I stepped tentatively out into the hall and

1228
01:18:47.920 --> 01:18:51.520
started back, following the yellow line. I hoped I was

1229
01:18:51.560 --> 01:18:54.720
going in the right direction. At the end of the hall,

1230
01:18:55.039 --> 01:18:58.720
the line turned left, the green line separated off to

1231
01:18:58.720 --> 01:19:02.000
the right, and I stayed with thello. One more turn

1232
01:19:02.079 --> 01:19:06.039
in the yellow line dead ended at a door. I

1233
01:19:06.119 --> 01:19:09.640
reached for the knob, then remembered and turned to the right.

1234
01:19:10.279 --> 01:19:13.159
Opening that door, I peeked through and saw the security

1235
01:19:13.239 --> 01:19:16.239
room across the hall. I lunged for it and dove

1236
01:19:16.319 --> 01:19:20.039
back into the relative safety of the office. I went

1237
01:19:20.079 --> 01:19:22.560
straight to the fridge and grabbed my water bottle, then

1238
01:19:22.600 --> 01:19:25.840
opened the closet and pulled out my sandwich. I lay

1239
01:19:25.880 --> 01:19:28.560
on the couch and chugged half the bottle while inhaling

1240
01:19:28.600 --> 01:19:33.720
my sandwich. It wasn't long until I was asleep. I

1241
01:19:33.840 --> 01:19:36.800
woke to the sound of my phone dinging. I read

1242
01:19:36.840 --> 01:19:41.520
the text, Are you still with us? Yes? Thanks to you,

1243
01:19:42.039 --> 01:19:44.800
I texted, take a break before you do any more.

1244
01:19:44.800 --> 01:19:49.520
Patrols way ahead of you, and don't break any more rules.

1245
01:19:50.039 --> 01:19:55.760
I'll do my absolute best. Trust me a couple more rules. Really,

1246
01:19:56.560 --> 01:19:59.960
if you see any more creatures, don't go in a room,

1247
01:20:00.560 --> 01:20:03.760
stand on the line and be still. As long as

1248
01:20:03.800 --> 01:20:07.680
you're on the line, you'll survive. Can they hurt me?

1249
01:20:08.359 --> 01:20:13.960
Next rule? Yes? The next text didn't come. I set

1250
01:20:14.000 --> 01:20:16.640
down my phone and set a timer for an hour.

1251
01:20:17.399 --> 01:20:20.159
I thought he would text the rest by then. I

1252
01:20:20.239 --> 01:20:24.000
woke an hour later to my phone's alarm, but no text.

1253
01:20:24.840 --> 01:20:28.439
I tried again and waited, but got no response. What

1254
01:20:28.520 --> 01:20:31.199
do I do now? I looked at my watch and

1255
01:20:31.239 --> 01:20:37.680
it said three forty seven am. Okay, let's evaluate, I said,

1256
01:20:37.720 --> 01:20:40.319
sitting at the desk in front of the cameras and computer.

1257
01:20:41.439 --> 01:20:43.840
I have a little over five hours left until I

1258
01:20:43.840 --> 01:20:49.479
can leave this madhouse. I've done one green patrol and

1259
01:20:49.640 --> 01:20:53.199
three yellows, so I have one ech of red, yellow

1260
01:20:53.239 --> 01:20:57.000
and green to do yet. There's some kind of monstrous

1261
01:20:57.039 --> 01:21:01.079
creature roaming the hallways with his deform sidekick, and I

1262
01:21:01.119 --> 01:21:03.239
still don't know where the other guard and the keys

1263
01:21:03.279 --> 01:21:07.359
to the weapon locker are. The laws of reality seemed

1264
01:21:07.359 --> 01:21:10.319
to be subjective and depend greatly on whether or not

1265
01:21:10.359 --> 01:21:15.880
I opened any doors on my patrol. Somehow I decided

1266
01:21:15.880 --> 01:21:18.720
to do another patrol. I was more worried that the

1267
01:21:18.760 --> 01:21:21.119
building itself wouldn't let me out on time if I

1268
01:21:21.159 --> 01:21:24.479
didn't do all my patrols. For a fleeting moment, I

1269
01:21:24.560 --> 01:21:26.720
wondered if that was what happened to the guard I

1270
01:21:26.800 --> 01:21:30.600
was supposed to relieve, if he was sitting on some

1271
01:21:31.239 --> 01:21:36.840
endless staircase, trapped forever because he missed one patrol. It

1272
01:21:36.960 --> 01:21:40.600
wasn't a comforting thought at this point. It was all

1273
01:21:40.640 --> 01:21:43.079
that kept me from laying on the couch and sleeping

1274
01:21:43.119 --> 01:21:46.800
the rest of my shift away. I took another drink

1275
01:21:46.840 --> 01:21:49.720
and went to the bathroom, then stuck my phone in

1276
01:21:49.760 --> 01:21:53.399
my pocket, grabbed my flashlight, and headed out the door.

1277
01:21:54.560 --> 01:21:56.720
When I looked down, I was surprised to see the

1278
01:21:56.760 --> 01:22:01.399
lines going to the right. Maybe I reset things when

1279
01:22:01.439 --> 01:22:05.159
I reset the room, I thought. I headed down the hallway,

1280
01:22:05.439 --> 01:22:09.640
hearing my footsteps. Once again, I stopped, and the sound

1281
01:22:09.680 --> 01:22:13.520
of my footsteps stopped as well. It was a comforting

1282
01:22:13.560 --> 01:22:16.880
return to some normalcy. As I made the first turn,

1283
01:22:16.960 --> 01:22:19.359
I paused and peeked around the corner to see if

1284
01:22:19.399 --> 01:22:23.359
any creatures were waiting for me. The hallway seemed empty.

1285
01:22:23.960 --> 01:22:26.039
I looked at the doors to make sure none were

1286
01:22:26.079 --> 01:22:30.680
cracked open waiting for me to pass. They all seemed closed.

1287
01:22:31.479 --> 01:22:34.119
I was glad I hadn't run across the creatures, but

1288
01:22:34.279 --> 01:22:36.680
every step I took made me wonder if they were

1289
01:22:36.760 --> 01:22:40.199
lying in wait for me at the next turn, silently

1290
01:22:40.239 --> 01:22:43.680
waiting to jump out and do unspeakable things to me.

1291
01:22:44.880 --> 01:22:46.840
I glanced down at the lines where the red and

1292
01:22:46.880 --> 01:22:49.680
black went left and the green and yellow went right.

1293
01:22:50.680 --> 01:22:53.520
There was something on the floor. I'd bent down and

1294
01:22:53.600 --> 01:22:57.600
shown my flashlight to get a closer look. There was

1295
01:22:57.640 --> 01:23:02.760
a small drop of something red. I touched it with

1296
01:23:02.800 --> 01:23:06.920
my finger and it smeared on the floor. Whatever it

1297
01:23:07.119 --> 01:23:11.600
was wasn't dry yet, it hadn't been there long. I

1298
01:23:11.680 --> 01:23:15.199
brought my finger up to my nose and smelled it.

1299
01:23:15.199 --> 01:23:20.840
It had a metallic scent. My eyes went wide with

1300
01:23:20.880 --> 01:23:25.680
the realization it was blood. I jumped up and looked

1301
01:23:25.680 --> 01:23:28.560
all around, searching the floor for where it came from.

1302
01:23:29.159 --> 01:23:32.600
The yellow and green hallway looked clean, but the red

1303
01:23:32.600 --> 01:23:36.720
and black hallway I saw another drop three feet down

1304
01:23:36.720 --> 01:23:39.960
the hall. I shone my flashlight at the yellow and green,

1305
01:23:40.760 --> 01:23:45.199
longing to do a quiet patrol. Then I looked over

1306
01:23:45.279 --> 01:23:47.880
at the red and black lines that were punctuated with

1307
01:23:47.960 --> 01:23:53.479
drops of blood every few feet. I sighed and turned left,

1308
01:23:54.199 --> 01:23:57.439
following the blood and the foreboding red and black lines.

1309
01:23:58.560 --> 01:24:02.119
My senses went on high alair. I could hear my breathing,

1310
01:24:02.319 --> 01:24:05.439
I could smell my perspiration as my stress level rose.

1311
01:24:06.199 --> 01:24:09.760
Every step sounded louder than the one before. Even the

1312
01:24:09.840 --> 01:24:14.039
doors seemed to somehow menace me. When a light in

1313
01:24:14.079 --> 01:24:17.800
the ceiling flickered, I froze nothing, jumped out of a

1314
01:24:17.880 --> 01:24:20.920
room and dragged me to hell. I paused and took

1315
01:24:20.920 --> 01:24:25.520
a deep, cleansing breath, then continued my patrol, keeping an

1316
01:24:25.560 --> 01:24:28.479
eye on the blood on the floor. I came to

1317
01:24:28.520 --> 01:24:32.680
another turn and checked carefully before stepping into the new hallway.

1318
01:24:33.600 --> 01:24:37.279
The problem was it was a fork. The red line

1319
01:24:37.319 --> 01:24:41.920
went right and the black line went left. The blood

1320
01:24:43.279 --> 01:24:47.359
followed the black line. I thought back to the repeated

1321
01:24:47.399 --> 01:24:50.760
warnings not to follow the black line. I remembered being

1322
01:24:50.800 --> 01:24:53.800
trapped for hours when I disobeyed a rule and went

1323
01:24:53.840 --> 01:24:57.359
into a room. I stood there at the fork, looking

1324
01:24:57.399 --> 01:25:01.920
at each line in turn back and fourth. It came

1325
01:25:01.960 --> 01:25:05.880
down to a choice. Obey the rules, follow the red

1326
01:25:05.920 --> 01:25:10.359
line and play it safe. Disobey the rules, follow the

1327
01:25:10.399 --> 01:25:14.800
blood and see if the other guard is hurt. One

1328
01:25:14.920 --> 01:25:19.680
choice was selfless and the other was selfish. Another thought

1329
01:25:19.760 --> 01:25:23.159
pushed to the front of the line. I've already broken

1330
01:25:23.199 --> 01:25:26.079
the rules. True. I was trapped on the stairway to

1331
01:25:26.199 --> 01:25:28.560
hell for a while and wasn't sure if I'd make

1332
01:25:28.600 --> 01:25:32.760
it out, But I did. This thought tipped the scales,

1333
01:25:33.079 --> 01:25:35.159
and I stepped off the red line and onto the

1334
01:25:35.199 --> 01:25:39.000
black one. The moment I did, I felt a chill.

1335
01:25:40.479 --> 01:25:44.119
I looked around, but nothing else seemed different. I kept

1336
01:25:44.159 --> 01:25:47.079
following the trail of blood. When the hall got darker,

1337
01:25:47.960 --> 01:25:51.239
I looked up and every third light was still lit.

1338
01:25:52.000 --> 01:25:56.680
It was like something was snuffing out the lights. The

1339
01:25:56.840 --> 01:25:59.600
chill got more intense, to the point where I could

1340
01:25:59.640 --> 01:26:03.119
see my breath. The doors in this hall were fewer

1341
01:26:03.159 --> 01:26:07.159
and farther apart, and there were no turns I looked

1342
01:26:07.159 --> 01:26:09.000
at the doors to try to figure out how far

1343
01:26:09.079 --> 01:26:13.920
I'd gone. When I noticed they were blank. I shone

1344
01:26:13.920 --> 01:26:16.880
my light at the half dozen doors. Not one of

1345
01:26:16.920 --> 01:26:20.640
them had a letter number or any markings on it.

1346
01:26:21.840 --> 01:26:25.840
I decided my selflessness had reached its limit. I turned

1347
01:26:25.880 --> 01:26:28.600
and started back towards the fork where the red line was.

1348
01:26:29.479 --> 01:26:32.359
I walked for five minutes, and the red line was

1349
01:26:32.439 --> 01:26:36.800
still nowhere in sight. In fact, the chill hadn't gone

1350
01:26:36.840 --> 01:26:40.199
away either. The drops of blood were still there, though.

1351
01:26:41.159 --> 01:26:43.520
I broke into a light jog for a few minutes,

1352
01:26:43.560 --> 01:26:47.239
which soon became a flat out run. After a few

1353
01:26:47.279 --> 01:26:51.840
more minutes, I stopped to catch my breath. That's impossible,

1354
01:26:51.960 --> 01:26:55.359
I thought, realizing even as I thought it that I

1355
01:26:55.359 --> 01:27:00.399
had already seen impossible things tonight. Once I was breathing

1356
01:27:00.439 --> 01:27:03.560
normally again, I decided to break out of this loop.

1357
01:27:04.199 --> 01:27:07.039
I reached for one of the doors, but it was locked.

1358
01:27:07.640 --> 01:27:13.640
I tried another, and another, all locked. I pulled out

1359
01:27:13.640 --> 01:27:18.239
my phone and texted, I'm stuck again. We told you

1360
01:27:18.319 --> 01:27:21.560
not to follow the black line. The return text said,

1361
01:27:22.399 --> 01:27:26.000
it sent chills down my spine. How did you know

1362
01:27:26.079 --> 01:27:29.239
I was following the black line? I only said I

1363
01:27:29.319 --> 01:27:32.359
was in trouble. We know exactly what you're doing the

1364
01:27:32.479 --> 01:27:35.840
entire time you've been in the building. Then why didn't

1365
01:27:35.840 --> 01:27:39.359
you tell me not to follow the black line? We did?

1366
01:27:39.840 --> 01:27:46.119
You ignored it? So what do I do now? A

1367
01:27:46.159 --> 01:27:49.840
single word came back, making me wish I'd never come

1368
01:27:49.880 --> 01:27:59.760
to this place die. As I was still staring at

1369
01:27:59.760 --> 01:28:03.199
the three horrid letters on my phone, I heard a

1370
01:28:03.279 --> 01:28:07.319
noise behind me. It was just the shuffle of a foot,

1371
01:28:07.760 --> 01:28:10.920
and I knew I wasn't moving. I looked up and

1372
01:28:11.000 --> 01:28:14.760
there stood the hideous creature with no head and its

1373
01:28:14.800 --> 01:28:19.079
face on its belly. It was staring at me and grinning.

1374
01:28:19.960 --> 01:28:22.600
I turned to escape the other way, but the massive,

1375
01:28:22.680 --> 01:28:27.119
scaly creature was standing there, blocking my path. They had

1376
01:28:27.159 --> 01:28:29.720
me boxed in and none of the doors would open.

1377
01:28:30.520 --> 01:28:33.319
I was out of options. The only thing I could

1378
01:28:33.359 --> 01:28:36.640
think of was the text that told me to stay

1379
01:28:36.640 --> 01:28:40.279
on the line. I stepped away from the door and

1380
01:28:40.359 --> 01:28:43.119
out to the middle of the hallway and stood on

1381
01:28:43.199 --> 01:28:47.479
the black line. As they approached, I could see smiles

1382
01:28:47.520 --> 01:28:51.680
on each of their grotesque faces. The big one was

1383
01:28:51.760 --> 01:28:55.479
flexing its claws, and the small one's arms were outstretched

1384
01:28:55.479 --> 01:28:58.800
as if wanting to give me a hug, but I

1385
01:28:58.880 --> 01:29:04.680
knew better. They had me, and they knew it. With

1386
01:29:04.800 --> 01:29:08.119
nothing to lose, I ran towards the smaller one, and

1387
01:29:08.199 --> 01:29:10.920
right before I got to him, I swung my flashlight

1388
01:29:10.960 --> 01:29:14.520
with everything I had it smacked him right in the teeth.

1389
01:29:15.199 --> 01:29:19.079
I dove over his falling body as he crumpled to

1390
01:29:19.159 --> 01:29:22.760
the floor. I kept running as hopes sprung up in

1391
01:29:22.840 --> 01:29:26.479
my chest and fueled my escape. It was short lived,

1392
01:29:26.479 --> 01:29:30.119
as I heard massive wings flapping behind me, and the

1393
01:29:30.159 --> 01:29:33.399
next thing I knew, claws grabbed my shoulders, tearing through

1394
01:29:33.439 --> 01:29:36.800
my uniform and into my sides. I tried to escape

1395
01:29:36.800 --> 01:29:40.680
its grasp, but its grip was like iron. I stumbled

1396
01:29:40.680 --> 01:29:42.479
and fell to the floor. With the weight of that

1397
01:29:42.680 --> 01:29:46.119
thing landing on top of me, I felt and heard

1398
01:29:46.199 --> 01:29:49.479
pops in my back as pain raced down my spine.

1399
01:29:50.159 --> 01:29:52.600
It matched the pain in my face as my skull

1400
01:29:52.680 --> 01:29:57.079
bounced off the concrete floor on impact, I knew instantly

1401
01:29:57.560 --> 01:30:00.800
my nose was broken. It released it it's grasp so

1402
01:30:00.920 --> 01:30:03.840
its claws could stand on the floor, but it still

1403
01:30:03.960 --> 01:30:07.560
kept me pinned down. I heard it cackling as it

1404
01:30:07.600 --> 01:30:11.600
relished in my helplessness. I felt hot liquid run down

1405
01:30:11.640 --> 01:30:15.399
my back that I hoped wasn't my blood. I tried

1406
01:30:15.439 --> 01:30:17.920
to break free and squirm my way out of its grip,

1407
01:30:18.399 --> 01:30:20.920
but it was too strong, and all I ended up

1408
01:30:20.960 --> 01:30:24.960
doing was causing myself more pain. I felt its claws

1409
01:30:25.039 --> 01:30:28.960
tearing at my back, ripping cloth and skin. There was

1410
01:30:29.000 --> 01:30:32.119
nothing I could do. It was digging into my spine.

1411
01:30:32.760 --> 01:30:35.960
Once there, I was just a piece of meat. Whoever

1412
01:30:36.000 --> 01:30:40.279
had texted me was right. I was about to die.

1413
01:30:40.319 --> 01:30:44.039
The rules had finally been my undoing. There was a

1414
01:30:44.079 --> 01:30:48.159
flash of light and an explosion from behind me. I

1415
01:30:48.199 --> 01:30:51.079
felt the pressure release as the creature's weight lifted off

1416
01:30:51.119 --> 01:30:55.880
of me. I wondered at this new development, feeling grateful

1417
01:30:55.920 --> 01:30:59.039
but cautious as I painfully rolled to my side and

1418
01:30:59.119 --> 01:31:01.840
attempted to get out up. I got as far as

1419
01:31:01.880 --> 01:31:04.840
my knees when I felt and then heard a presence.

1420
01:31:05.479 --> 01:31:08.520
I looked, and there stood a man with a uniform

1421
01:31:08.560 --> 01:31:12.600
on similar to mine, only not as destroyed. He was

1422
01:31:12.640 --> 01:31:15.279
older than me and looked like he had been through

1423
01:31:15.399 --> 01:31:19.000
a rough time as well. He had several scratches on

1424
01:31:19.039 --> 01:31:21.920
his cheek and his uniform was ripped in several places.

1425
01:31:22.439 --> 01:31:24.560
He also had a bandage on his hand that was

1426
01:31:24.640 --> 01:31:27.720
red and dripping. I tried to get to my feet

1427
01:31:27.720 --> 01:31:30.600
but struggled. He helped me up, and we stared at

1428
01:31:30.600 --> 01:31:36.399
each other for a moment. Mister Larson, I presume, I said. Finally,

1429
01:31:37.399 --> 01:31:40.520
he looked surprised when I said his name. Do I

1430
01:31:40.640 --> 01:31:45.319
know you? He said, I'm your new trainee. I just

1431
01:31:45.439 --> 01:31:48.720
started tonight. What are you doing out here on the

1432
01:31:48.760 --> 01:31:52.199
black line? I saw the blood and followed it to

1433
01:31:52.239 --> 01:31:56.880
make sure someone was all right. He looked at his hand. Yeah,

1434
01:31:57.079 --> 01:32:00.039
got into a bit of a scrap. He said, I

1435
01:32:00.039 --> 01:32:03.199
should probably head back before Ugly decides to show up again.

1436
01:32:04.239 --> 01:32:07.640
I agree, I said, starting to walk away, but my

1437
01:32:07.760 --> 01:32:11.319
left leg didn't want to cooperate. I started to fall,

1438
01:32:11.359 --> 01:32:14.800
but he caught me. You all right there, son, my

1439
01:32:14.920 --> 01:32:17.640
leg seems to be having a bit of a problem.

1440
01:32:18.199 --> 01:32:20.439
He grabbed my arm and pulled it over his shoulder.

1441
01:32:21.199 --> 01:32:23.520
Let's get you back to the security office and take

1442
01:32:23.520 --> 01:32:26.520
a look at that. We started back down the hall,

1443
01:32:26.600 --> 01:32:28.840
and within a few minutes came to see the fork

1444
01:32:29.159 --> 01:32:32.319
where the red line split off. I was never so

1445
01:32:32.439 --> 01:32:35.079
glad to see anything in my life as that line

1446
01:32:35.079 --> 01:32:38.479
of paint on the floor. We started to turn back

1447
01:32:38.560 --> 01:32:42.760
towards the yellow and green lines, but I stopped. Do

1448
01:32:42.800 --> 01:32:46.279
you mind if we do a red line patrol? I said?

1449
01:32:47.239 --> 01:32:50.640
He looked at me, puzzled. I'd rather have someone with

1450
01:32:50.720 --> 01:32:53.079
me anyways, and we do have to go all the

1451
01:32:53.079 --> 01:32:58.640
way back? Sure thing, kid, he said. We kept going

1452
01:32:58.680 --> 01:33:01.680
straight on the red line. The farther we went, the

1453
01:33:01.680 --> 01:33:04.880
more my back seemed to hurt. Do you mind if

1454
01:33:04.880 --> 01:33:08.760
I ask you some questions? I said, keep my mind

1455
01:33:08.760 --> 01:33:15.840
off the pane? Shoot, what is this place? Well, now

1456
01:33:15.880 --> 01:33:18.159
you asked one hell of a question to start out with,

1457
01:33:18.760 --> 01:33:23.239
he said. It's hard to explain. Let's just say it's

1458
01:33:23.279 --> 01:33:28.159
a form of a testing facility, testing what. He seemed

1459
01:33:28.159 --> 01:33:30.720
to struggle with that for a moment and was silent

1460
01:33:30.760 --> 01:33:35.039
as we walked, testing all sorts of things. Obviously you've

1461
01:33:35.079 --> 01:33:38.960
seen some of the more incredible subjects, but there are

1462
01:33:39.000 --> 01:33:45.479
also simpler tests going on, like what mostly dealing with reactions?

1463
01:33:45.520 --> 01:33:50.039
How different subjects deal with stimuli. How do you know

1464
01:33:50.119 --> 01:33:54.000
so much about this place, he chuckled, When you've been

1465
01:33:54.039 --> 01:33:57.239
here as long as I have, you learn things. Just

1466
01:33:57.319 --> 01:34:00.640
then a door burst open and three ugly trees looking

1467
01:34:00.680 --> 01:34:04.680
creatures lumbered toward us. He stopped and tapped his watch,

1468
01:34:05.039 --> 01:34:08.199
then fiddled with controls for a moment as the trolls

1469
01:34:08.239 --> 01:34:11.479
advanced on us. Suddenly there was a wave of light

1470
01:34:11.800 --> 01:34:14.720
and they froze in place, right as they were reaching us.

1471
01:34:15.199 --> 01:34:18.760
I looked from him to the trolls and back. That's

1472
01:34:18.800 --> 01:34:23.000
a handy gadget you have, I said, When do I

1473
01:34:23.079 --> 01:34:28.600
get one of those? He smiled? Can you keep a secret? Sure,

1474
01:34:29.680 --> 01:34:33.239
I'm technically not supposed to have it, but I find

1475
01:34:33.239 --> 01:34:37.840
it makes patrols a lot easier nice. Maybe I could

1476
01:34:37.880 --> 01:34:40.439
borrow it once in a while, if you don't quit

1477
01:34:40.479 --> 01:34:45.279
after tonight, he said, that's a mighty big if, I said,

1478
01:34:45.680 --> 01:34:49.720
feeling the pain getting worse. We continued past the frozen

1479
01:34:49.760 --> 01:34:52.560
trolls until the red line dead ended at a door.

1480
01:34:53.159 --> 01:34:56.640
I reached for it, but he pulled me back. I'm

1481
01:34:56.680 --> 01:35:00.720
guessing you didn't get all the rules yet. Apparently not.

1482
01:35:01.560 --> 01:35:04.039
He touched his watch and a light shone from it

1483
01:35:04.079 --> 01:35:06.439
onto the door. It had a red X on it.

1484
01:35:07.119 --> 01:35:09.319
He shown it on the door beside it, and it

1485
01:35:09.399 --> 01:35:12.840
also showed a red X. The third door showed a

1486
01:35:12.880 --> 01:35:16.840
green circle. It's this one, he said, opening the door

1487
01:35:17.079 --> 01:35:20.159
and helping me through it to my surprise. We came

1488
01:35:20.199 --> 01:35:22.640
out in the main hallway. I looked at the number

1489
01:35:22.640 --> 01:35:26.119
on the door and it said a five. We walked

1490
01:35:26.119 --> 01:35:28.680
down to the security room and I reached for the

1491
01:35:28.760 --> 01:35:32.479
number pad to enter my code. I stopped and withdrew

1492
01:35:32.520 --> 01:35:37.039
my hand. Why don't you enter the code? I said, what?

1493
01:35:37.800 --> 01:35:41.239
Because I'm holding you up so you don't collapse. I

1494
01:35:41.319 --> 01:35:45.000
painfully reached over and leaned against the wall. I'm good,

1495
01:35:45.439 --> 01:35:48.720
Go ahead. He looked at me for a very long moment.

1496
01:35:50.039 --> 01:35:52.319
This isn't a very polite way to treat someone who

1497
01:35:52.319 --> 01:35:55.640
helped you out. No, it isn't. But I'd still like

1498
01:35:55.720 --> 01:35:58.720
to see you enter your code. He glared at me

1499
01:35:58.800 --> 01:36:02.560
with fiery in tents. Is this the way you're going

1500
01:36:02.600 --> 01:36:07.399
to treat your superiors? Not if they really are my superiors?

1501
01:36:07.760 --> 01:36:11.359
What are you saying? I'm saying I'd like to see

1502
01:36:11.359 --> 01:36:14.119
you punch in your employee code to show me you

1503
01:36:14.199 --> 01:36:17.199
are who you say you are. Who else would I be?

1504
01:36:18.359 --> 01:36:22.600
I don't know, let's find out. He stood there, looking

1505
01:36:22.680 --> 01:36:25.520
every bit like he wanted to deck me, and then

1506
01:36:25.640 --> 01:36:31.840
suddenly his expression softened. Good job, kid, he said, then

1507
01:36:32.000 --> 01:36:37.239
faded away to nothingness. I let out of breath. I

1508
01:36:37.279 --> 01:36:41.399
didn't realize I'd been holding and punched in my code.

1509
01:36:41.479 --> 01:36:44.640
The door opened, and I found myself once again looking

1510
01:36:44.680 --> 01:36:48.000
at this room as my place of refuge. I limped

1511
01:36:48.039 --> 01:36:50.800
into the bathroom and painfully peeled off what was left

1512
01:36:50.800 --> 01:36:54.600
of my shirt. I wetted some paper towels and tried

1513
01:36:54.640 --> 01:36:57.119
to pat down the gouges and scrapes on my back.

1514
01:36:57.920 --> 01:37:00.399
I looked in the mirror at my broken nose and

1515
01:37:00.520 --> 01:37:03.319
patted it with wet paper towels to get as much

1516
01:37:03.319 --> 01:37:06.920
of the dried blood as possible. I wasn't looking forward

1517
01:37:06.920 --> 01:37:09.199
to getting it set if I ever got out of

1518
01:37:09.239 --> 01:37:12.399
here alive. That is, as I stepped out of the bathroom,

1519
01:37:12.479 --> 01:37:17.760
something was different about the room. The weapons locker was open.

1520
01:37:18.319 --> 01:37:20.479
I stepped over to it and found the metal door

1521
01:37:20.600 --> 01:37:25.399
hanging wide open. There was a shotgun and a handgun missing.

1522
01:37:26.640 --> 01:37:29.159
I didn't want to think about the ramifications of some

1523
01:37:29.279 --> 01:37:31.760
one being in what should have been the most secure

1524
01:37:31.840 --> 01:37:35.520
room in the building, not only that, but taking weapons

1525
01:37:35.560 --> 01:37:38.439
as well, and the fact that they thought there was

1526
01:37:38.560 --> 01:37:40.880
enough danger to need the weapons in the first place.

1527
01:37:42.119 --> 01:37:44.119
I'll admit it would have been nice to have the

1528
01:37:44.159 --> 01:37:48.560
shotgun on the last patrol. But I grabbed a shotgun

1529
01:37:48.600 --> 01:37:51.199
and loaded it, then threw some extra rounds in my

1530
01:37:51.279 --> 01:37:54.159
pants pocket. Then I took a holster and put it

1531
01:37:54.199 --> 01:37:56.760
on my belt, loading a handgun to put in it.

1532
01:37:57.319 --> 01:38:00.520
I grabbed a taser and pepper spray as well. It

1533
01:38:00.600 --> 01:38:04.359
was strange, but being armed didn't make me feel more secure.

1534
01:38:05.279 --> 01:38:07.479
Maybe it was the fact that I had no idea

1535
01:38:07.520 --> 01:38:11.439
who had the other guns. I hoped it was my supervisor,

1536
01:38:12.000 --> 01:38:15.079
but this place had taught me to expect the unexpected.

1537
01:38:16.039 --> 01:38:18.359
The other difference in the room was the locked door

1538
01:38:18.439 --> 01:38:22.159
that I had assumed was a maintenance closet. It was open.

1539
01:38:23.000 --> 01:38:25.640
I chambered around in the shotgun and peeked around the

1540
01:38:25.680 --> 01:38:29.159
corner into the open door. It was dark. I was

1541
01:38:29.239 --> 01:38:32.119
tempted to close the door and walk away, but my

1542
01:38:32.279 --> 01:38:36.319
curiosity wouldn't let me. I turned on the shotgun's flashlight

1543
01:38:36.800 --> 01:38:40.640
and started through the door. I jumped as my phone dinged,

1544
01:38:40.680 --> 01:38:43.840
saying I had a text, don't go in that room,

1545
01:38:44.279 --> 01:38:47.640
it read. I stuck the phone in my pocket and

1546
01:38:47.800 --> 01:38:51.439
continued into the room. The light wasn't much help against

1547
01:38:51.479 --> 01:38:54.159
the total darkness. I could only see a few feet

1548
01:38:54.199 --> 01:38:57.640
in front of me. The passageway was cramped. I had

1549
01:38:57.680 --> 01:39:01.199
to walk a little sideways. TuS for phobia crept up

1550
01:39:01.199 --> 01:39:03.520
on me and had me fighting off panic. As I

1551
01:39:03.600 --> 01:39:07.680
continued down the tiny corridor, the light from the shotgun

1552
01:39:07.720 --> 01:39:10.920
didn't do much to stave off the darkness. There was

1553
01:39:11.000 --> 01:39:12.960
little to see, but it would have been nicer to

1554
01:39:13.000 --> 01:39:17.039
see it much more brightly. Suddenly the corridor opened up

1555
01:39:17.279 --> 01:39:20.399
into a large room. I made sure there weren't any

1556
01:39:20.399 --> 01:39:24.600
steps to stumble down like before. I flashed the light around,

1557
01:39:24.640 --> 01:39:28.079
but didn't see much. The room was empty except for

1558
01:39:28.159 --> 01:39:32.239
something small in the corner. I cautiously started towards it,

1559
01:39:32.640 --> 01:39:36.239
shooting glances all around as I went. When I got close,

1560
01:39:36.319 --> 01:39:39.439
I could see it was a small box. There were

1561
01:39:39.479 --> 01:39:42.000
bars on the front of the small door, and fingers

1562
01:39:42.000 --> 01:39:48.439
were sticking out. Hello, said a raspy voice, barely loud

1563
01:39:48.520 --> 01:39:53.479
enough to hear. Who are you? I said, my name

1564
01:39:53.560 --> 01:39:57.399
is Kevin Larson. Who are you? And why aren't you

1565
01:39:57.439 --> 01:40:01.520
wearing a shirt? I looked down, and sure enough, I

1566
01:40:01.560 --> 01:40:03.439
forgot to put my shirt back on when I was

1567
01:40:03.520 --> 01:40:08.159
tending to my wounds. That's not important. I need to

1568
01:40:08.199 --> 01:40:12.000
get you out of here. You can't. They're waiting for

1569
01:40:12.039 --> 01:40:15.439
someone to rescue me so they can capture them. I'm

1570
01:40:15.439 --> 01:40:20.439
nothing more than bait, and I fell for it, I said,

1571
01:40:20.520 --> 01:40:24.800
looking at the lock that prevented his escape. Go back

1572
01:40:24.880 --> 01:40:28.239
and report that I'm missing. The other security guard said,

1573
01:40:29.000 --> 01:40:32.800
I did that several hours ago, and they haven't sent

1574
01:40:32.880 --> 01:40:37.880
me one unless they're invisible, which for this place that

1575
01:40:38.000 --> 01:40:41.880
might not be much of a stretch. Who are you again?

1576
01:40:43.039 --> 01:40:47.239
I started last night. I'm your new trainee. You say

1577
01:40:47.239 --> 01:40:51.399
you started last night, Yes, and you called in that

1578
01:40:51.479 --> 01:40:58.159
I was missing. Yes, you're not my trainee, you're my replacement.

1579
01:40:59.079 --> 01:41:01.720
What do you mean If they haven't come looking for

1580
01:41:01.760 --> 01:41:06.920
me yet, that means they think I'm gone. Wow, talk

1581
01:41:06.960 --> 01:41:10.520
about job security. I kept fiddling with the lock, but

1582
01:41:10.600 --> 01:41:15.199
it refused to open. Step back, I said, what are

1583
01:41:15.239 --> 01:41:17.960
you going to? I fired the shotgun at the lock.

1584
01:41:18.359 --> 01:41:22.399
It hit but didn't break it. Stop, he yelled as

1585
01:41:22.439 --> 01:41:25.680
I chambered and fired another round. This time the lock

1586
01:41:25.760 --> 01:41:28.640
broke and came free. I opened the door in time

1587
01:41:28.680 --> 01:41:32.319
to receive a punch to the jaw. You idiot, you

1588
01:41:32.399 --> 01:41:35.159
could have killed me. He came out of the box

1589
01:41:35.199 --> 01:41:38.159
and wrapped his hands around my neck. Get off me,

1590
01:41:38.600 --> 01:41:41.359
I yelled, twisting out of his grip. He knocked me

1591
01:41:41.399 --> 01:41:46.159
to the floor and we rolled around trading punches. You're welcome, asshole,

1592
01:41:46.640 --> 01:41:50.399
I said, for what? Trying to give me a buckshot milkshake.

1593
01:41:51.279 --> 01:41:54.439
I stopped rolling when I heard the sound. It was

1594
01:41:54.520 --> 01:41:58.119
like a rushing wind coming toward us.

1595
01:41:58.600 --> 01:41:59.159
What is that?

1596
01:41:59.600 --> 01:42:02.760
I said. He jumped up and ran toward the corridor.

1597
01:42:03.880 --> 01:42:07.239
What is it? I said to his rapidly disappearing back

1598
01:42:07.439 --> 01:42:10.319
as I ran as best I could behind him. It

1599
01:42:10.399 --> 01:42:13.359
didn't take long for me to find out the large

1600
01:42:13.399 --> 01:42:16.359
creature i'd met last in the back hallway must have

1601
01:42:16.399 --> 01:42:19.359
had a lot of family, because they were all flying

1602
01:42:19.399 --> 01:42:23.479
toward me. I kicked into high adrenaline gear, running faster

1603
01:42:23.560 --> 01:42:26.720
than my injured body wanted to. The wave of black

1604
01:42:26.760 --> 01:42:29.840
wings was almost on me. I turned around long enough

1605
01:42:29.880 --> 01:42:32.720
to fire a shot at the closest one. I was

1606
01:42:32.760 --> 01:42:35.800
rewarded by seeing him not only fall, but take a

1607
01:42:35.800 --> 01:42:39.840
couple of his brothers with him. Encouraged, I fired again,

1608
01:42:40.039 --> 01:42:44.199
watching three more go down. I fired again and again,

1609
01:42:44.880 --> 01:42:47.279
feeling like I could take them on. As I squeezed

1610
01:42:47.279 --> 01:42:51.000
into the corridor, I aimed one more time, but the

1611
01:42:51.039 --> 01:42:54.760
gun only clicked. I had fired my last shot and

1612
01:42:54.880 --> 01:42:59.359
needed to reload. The problem was I was running backward

1613
01:42:59.399 --> 01:43:02.079
in a corridor that had no room, and my arms

1614
01:43:02.079 --> 01:43:05.359
were nearly pinned to my sides. I started hacking at

1615
01:43:05.399 --> 01:43:06.960
them with the butt of the gun when they got

1616
01:43:06.960 --> 01:43:10.359
close enough. It wasn't as effective as a buckshot blast,

1617
01:43:10.399 --> 01:43:14.000
but it still worked. They were almost on me. I

1618
01:43:14.079 --> 01:43:17.640
felt claws scratch at my head and face. Suddenly I

1619
01:43:17.680 --> 01:43:22.399
fell backward onto the floor of the security room. Help me,

1620
01:43:23.000 --> 01:43:25.319
Larson said, as he tried to slam the door shut.

1621
01:43:26.000 --> 01:43:28.239
I had the wind knocked out of me. I stumbled

1622
01:43:28.279 --> 01:43:30.159
to get up and rolled over to press my weight

1623
01:43:30.159 --> 01:43:33.279
against the door. They were still holding it open enough

1624
01:43:33.279 --> 01:43:36.000
that it wouldn't latch. I reached into my pocket and

1625
01:43:36.039 --> 01:43:39.000
pulled out a shotgunshell. I loaded it and stuck the

1626
01:43:39.000 --> 01:43:42.319
barrel into the opening. Before I could do anything, it

1627
01:43:42.359 --> 01:43:45.359
was nearly ripped out of my hands. By some miracle,

1628
01:43:45.399 --> 01:43:48.159
my finger was already on the trigger. It went off,

1629
01:43:48.279 --> 01:43:52.399
knocking them back just enough to close the door. He

1630
01:43:52.479 --> 01:43:57.239
collapsed beside me, breathing hard, and offered his hand. Now,

1631
01:43:57.279 --> 01:44:00.960
I'll thank you for the rescue. You're well, I said,

1632
01:44:01.279 --> 01:44:05.880
sitting there trying to catch my breath, not to sound ungrateful,

1633
01:44:05.960 --> 01:44:09.760
But how did you get in there? Anyway? I pointed

1634
01:44:09.800 --> 01:44:13.800
my thumb over my shoulder. Door was open. He fixed

1635
01:44:13.840 --> 01:44:18.760
a hard stare at me. That's impossible, I shrugged. I

1636
01:44:18.760 --> 01:44:21.119
don't know what to tell you. I walked in after

1637
01:44:21.159 --> 01:44:23.800
my last patrol. The door was open, and so was

1638
01:44:23.840 --> 01:44:28.720
the weapons locker. Was anything missing? He said, suddenly, alarmed

1639
01:44:29.560 --> 01:44:32.600
a shotgun and a handgun. He grabbed my arm and

1640
01:44:32.680 --> 01:44:37.640
yanked We have to go right now. Why The word

1641
01:44:37.680 --> 01:44:39.960
was barely out of my mouth when the floor erupted

1642
01:44:40.000 --> 01:44:42.800
beside me. I jumped up and followed him toward the door.

1643
01:44:42.960 --> 01:44:45.840
A shotgun blast hit the wall behind me. A chunk

1644
01:44:45.880 --> 01:44:47.960
of the door blasted out in front of us just

1645
01:44:48.039 --> 01:44:51.399
before we reached it, causing us to duck. Who the

1646
01:44:51.439 --> 01:44:55.960
hell's doing that? I said, Oh, come on, A voice

1647
01:44:55.960 --> 01:44:58.680
said from the other side of the room. You've forgotten

1648
01:44:58.720 --> 01:45:02.239
your rescuer all ready, Heddy. I glanced around the corner

1649
01:45:02.279 --> 01:45:05.199
and saw the fake Larsen aiming a shot at my head.

1650
01:45:05.720 --> 01:45:08.439
I ducked back just in time as the blast tore

1651
01:45:08.520 --> 01:45:11.000
a hole in the wall. Does this kind of thing

1652
01:45:11.079 --> 01:45:15.079
happen often on night shift? I said? Loading more shells

1653
01:45:15.119 --> 01:45:19.199
into my shotgun. Only when you break the rules, he said,

1654
01:45:19.239 --> 01:45:22.079
fixing me with a pointed glare. If I would have

1655
01:45:22.159 --> 01:45:24.760
known this place had all these freaky rules, I never

1656
01:45:24.760 --> 01:45:28.640
would have taken the job. Neither would anyone else, he said,

1657
01:45:28.680 --> 01:45:32.119
peeking around the corner and being rewarded with a shotgun blast,

1658
01:45:32.159 --> 01:45:35.000
nearly hitting him in the face. I don't get it,

1659
01:45:35.239 --> 01:45:39.119
I said, all these rules are stupid. Maybe we could

1660
01:45:39.159 --> 01:45:42.439
discuss it when we're safe. I fired off a blast

1661
01:45:42.439 --> 01:45:45.960
when I saw fake Larsen peek around the corner. And

1662
01:45:46.039 --> 01:45:48.880
when will that be? I shouted over the return shot.

1663
01:45:49.439 --> 01:45:52.800
His eyes darted around the room, as if searching for something.

1664
01:45:53.439 --> 01:45:56.399
He grabbed the shotgun from me and fired the buckshot

1665
01:45:56.439 --> 01:45:59.279
pierced the fire extinguisher, instantly filling the room with a

1666
01:45:59.279 --> 01:46:02.279
cloud of white powder. He grabbed me and dragged me

1667
01:46:02.319 --> 01:46:06.119
toward the door as the other Larsen fired blindly. We

1668
01:46:06.159 --> 01:46:09.880
fell into the hallway, barely staying upright, coughing powder out

1669
01:46:09.880 --> 01:46:12.960
of her lungs. I turned and slammed the door shut.

1670
01:46:13.840 --> 01:46:16.920
Will that hold him? I said? How many more patrols

1671
01:46:16.920 --> 01:46:19.520
do you have to do? He said, looking at his watch.

1672
01:46:19.960 --> 01:46:22.319
Are you nuts? Why would I do any more patrols

1673
01:46:22.359 --> 01:46:26.520
with that psycho running around? Believe me, he said, looking

1674
01:46:26.560 --> 01:46:29.479
me in the eyes. There are worse things than him

1675
01:46:29.520 --> 01:46:33.119
in this place. I thought for a moment, I still

1676
01:46:33.159 --> 01:46:36.520
need to do one yellow and one green. Do you

1677
01:46:36.560 --> 01:46:39.359
have any more shells for this thing? I felt in

1678
01:46:39.399 --> 01:46:42.399
my pocket and pulled out two more shotgun shells, then

1679
01:46:42.560 --> 01:46:45.960
handed them over. I pulled out the handgun and chambered around,

1680
01:46:46.439 --> 01:46:50.359
then turned on the safety. Let's go, he said, heading

1681
01:46:50.399 --> 01:46:53.680
down the hallway. I was still shirtless and feeling the

1682
01:46:53.680 --> 01:46:56.479
effects of the attack in the black holl but I

1683
01:46:56.520 --> 01:46:58.800
did my best to hide the pain and let the

1684
01:46:58.840 --> 01:47:02.720
adrenaline carry me a long. We walked side by side,

1685
01:47:02.840 --> 01:47:06.680
each alert for anything that might pop out at us. Surprisingly,

1686
01:47:06.760 --> 01:47:08.800
we made it all the way through a yellow patrol

1687
01:47:09.119 --> 01:47:11.680
without a problem. I looked at my watch as we

1688
01:47:11.760 --> 01:47:15.119
emerged back into the main hall near the security room

1689
01:47:16.159 --> 01:47:19.760
eight eleven, I said, we'd better get that last patrol

1690
01:47:19.840 --> 01:47:23.399
in quick. The first hallway was no problem. When we

1691
01:47:23.479 --> 01:47:27.479
turned the corner, however, my large, scaly friend made an appearance.

1692
01:47:28.000 --> 01:47:30.439
I didn't even hesitate. I shot him in the torso,

1693
01:47:30.760 --> 01:47:33.800
then in the head. He screamed, an inhuman shriek and

1694
01:47:33.880 --> 01:47:36.800
ran the other way. His little buddy took one look

1695
01:47:36.840 --> 01:47:39.399
at me, pointing the gun at him, and followed suit.

1696
01:47:40.039 --> 01:47:43.319
Larsen grinned and nodded at me. When he turned the

1697
01:47:43.319 --> 01:47:47.560
second corner. I couldn't believe my eyes. The floor was

1698
01:47:47.640 --> 01:47:54.159
suddenly made of lava. You've gotta be kidding me, I said, Okay,

1699
01:47:54.560 --> 01:47:57.039
I know it looks bad, but stay single file, and

1700
01:47:57.159 --> 01:48:01.399
whatever you do, stay on the line. He started walking,

1701
01:48:01.760 --> 01:48:04.159
keeping his feet on the line like a tightrope walker.

1702
01:48:04.720 --> 01:48:08.119
I followed after him. The heat from the floor was tremendous.

1703
01:48:08.399 --> 01:48:10.960
I was sweating buckets and didn't even want to think

1704
01:48:10.960 --> 01:48:14.159
about the consequences of toppling over without a shirt on.

1705
01:48:14.960 --> 01:48:18.279
We continued as quickly as possible, looking every bit like

1706
01:48:18.359 --> 01:48:21.000
two kids trying to walk the yellow curb on a

1707
01:48:21.039 --> 01:48:24.920
sidewalk right in the middle. I stumbled and lost my balance.

1708
01:48:25.359 --> 01:48:27.560
I stepped one foot into the lava to regain my

1709
01:48:27.640 --> 01:48:32.000
balance and was instantly rewarded with pain. I screamed in

1710
01:48:32.079 --> 01:48:35.199
shock and agony. It felt like my foot was literally

1711
01:48:35.199 --> 01:48:38.199
on fire. I got it back on the line, sucking

1712
01:48:38.199 --> 01:48:41.479
wind through my teeth, trying to stay on limping with

1713
01:48:41.520 --> 01:48:47.600
one foot you o K Larson said, define okay, I said,

1714
01:48:48.319 --> 01:48:52.000
I'm in some madhouse of a not warehouse with demons

1715
01:48:52.159 --> 01:48:55.760
and ghostly employees chasing me, and I literally just burned

1716
01:48:55.800 --> 01:48:59.560
my foot on lava. I know it's a lot to process,

1717
01:49:00.079 --> 01:49:03.359
he said, but we need to keep going, focus on

1718
01:49:03.399 --> 01:49:07.159
the job and save going crazy for later. I took

1719
01:49:07.199 --> 01:49:10.600
a deep breath and immediately began coughing from the fumes.

1720
01:49:11.079 --> 01:49:14.079
I hopped along, staying on the line as best I could.

1721
01:49:14.560 --> 01:49:17.159
I was ecstatic when we turned the corner and left

1722
01:49:17.159 --> 01:49:20.920
the lava behind. I nearly ran over Larson, who had

1723
01:49:20.960 --> 01:49:24.399
stopped and was staring down the hallway. I was about

1724
01:49:24.399 --> 01:49:27.920
to ask why he'd stopped when I saw for myself.

1725
01:49:28.920 --> 01:49:32.399
At the end of the hall stood his doppelganger, and

1726
01:49:32.479 --> 01:49:37.359
he wasn't alone. There were five of them. What do

1727
01:49:37.399 --> 01:49:41.159
we do? I said quietly in his ear. He jumped

1728
01:49:41.199 --> 01:49:45.359
at the sound of my voice. So close I don't know.

1729
01:49:46.119 --> 01:49:50.399
I looked at my watch and it said eight fifty one.

1730
01:49:50.560 --> 01:49:54.119
We only have nine minutes. I said, just go straight

1731
01:49:54.159 --> 01:49:57.720
at him. I ran ahead as fast as I could hobble.

1732
01:49:58.159 --> 01:50:00.680
They came at me in a crowd, fired and hit

1733
01:50:00.720 --> 01:50:02.760
the first one in the knee, taking him out of

1734
01:50:02.760 --> 01:50:05.840
the fight. I fired again, hitting another in the shoulder,

1735
01:50:06.119 --> 01:50:09.119
then again hitting his knee. Foe. Larsen had fired his

1736
01:50:09.159 --> 01:50:12.119
shotgun at me and thankfully missed, although I did feel

1737
01:50:12.159 --> 01:50:15.239
a burning in my leg. I would worry about that later.

1738
01:50:15.760 --> 01:50:19.600
Another shot, another Larsen down. I was nearly halfway when

1739
01:50:19.600 --> 01:50:22.640
his shot hit me in the shoulder. It erupted in pain,

1740
01:50:23.239 --> 01:50:26.039
but I kept going, shooting down the last of his twins.

1741
01:50:26.600 --> 01:50:29.239
I fired a shot at Larsen and somehow hit him

1742
01:50:29.279 --> 01:50:32.359
in the chest. He was wobbly, but still raised his

1743
01:50:32.399 --> 01:50:35.600
shotgun and aimed at me. We were close enough now

1744
01:50:35.680 --> 01:50:39.119
I could tell he would hit me. Suddenly a blast

1745
01:50:39.199 --> 01:50:42.000
came from behind me. It passed so close I could

1746
01:50:42.000 --> 01:50:45.079
feel the heat from the buckshot. It hit him in

1747
01:50:45.079 --> 01:50:48.560
the neck and he stumbled back. I added my last

1748
01:50:48.640 --> 01:50:51.439
round into his chest before he could pull the trigger again.

1749
01:50:52.239 --> 01:50:55.680
He collapsed in a heap, his hand reaching out toward us.

1750
01:50:55.960 --> 01:50:59.279
As we stumbled past through the door and out into

1751
01:50:59.279 --> 01:51:02.680
the main hall. I paused to catch my breath and

1752
01:51:02.760 --> 01:51:06.520
leaned against the door, checking my watch. Eight fifty eight,

1753
01:51:06.840 --> 01:51:10.319
I announced. We hobbled up to the reception door and

1754
01:51:10.439 --> 01:51:14.920
stood silently like two people waiting for an elevator. The

1755
01:51:15.000 --> 01:51:18.079
daytime staff began arriving and punching in through the door,

1756
01:51:18.600 --> 01:51:22.119
throwing furtive looks our way as they entered. The last

1757
01:51:22.159 --> 01:51:25.439
one was the security guard for the day. What the

1758
01:51:25.479 --> 01:51:29.000
hell happened to you two? He said. We looked at

1759
01:51:29.000 --> 01:51:31.680
each other and laughed as we punched in our numbers

1760
01:51:31.720 --> 01:51:35.159
and walked out. He stood next to his car, and

1761
01:51:35.239 --> 01:51:38.920
I stood next to mine. Will I see you at

1762
01:51:38.960 --> 01:51:44.359
work tonight? He said, absolutely, No way in hell, I said.

1763
01:51:45.199 --> 01:51:49.960
He smiled and nodded, understandable. He got in his car

1764
01:51:50.560 --> 01:51:54.239
and drove away. I took an extra moment to look

1765
01:51:54.279 --> 01:51:58.079
around at the building, which looked completely normal from the

1766
01:51:58.119 --> 01:52:02.960
outside in the clean forest air, and listen to the

1767
01:52:02.960 --> 01:52:07.359
birds singing their merry oblivious song. I got in my car,

1768
01:52:07.560 --> 01:52:11.279
slowly and gingerly, knowing there was no way I could

1769
01:52:11.319 --> 01:52:14.600
afford to go to the hospital. I hoped I had

1770
01:52:14.640 --> 01:52:18.039
some gauze and some antibiotic ointment at my dingy apartment.

1771
01:52:18.760 --> 01:52:21.720
I started my car and hoped I had enough gas

1772
01:52:21.760 --> 01:52:24.920
to make it home. Driving away from that building was

1773
01:52:24.960 --> 01:52:28.279
the best feeling. I started wondering if there was any

1774
01:52:28.319 --> 01:52:32.199
place around here that didn't have some strange rules to

1775
01:52:32.239 --> 01:52:36.319
protect their weird secrets, I knew I would have to

1776
01:52:36.319 --> 01:52:40.560
find a job in quickly. Maybe I could do fast food.

1777
01:52:41.000 --> 01:52:43.760
There's no way anyone could have dark secrets in a

1778
01:52:43.840 --> 01:52:58.520
burger joint, right. Camping alone can be terrified, especially when

1779
01:52:58.640 --> 01:53:08.159
something's hunting you. By Michael Kelso. The screams echoed through

1780
01:53:08.239 --> 01:53:11.760
the trees. I couldn't tell if they were human or animal.

1781
01:53:12.520 --> 01:53:17.479
All I knew was they were loud, which meant they

1782
01:53:17.479 --> 01:53:21.439
were close. As I listened to the high pitched shrieks,

1783
01:53:21.960 --> 01:53:24.880
it almost sounded like a couple of people having a

1784
01:53:24.920 --> 01:53:28.319
shouting match. If I had been at my apartment in town,

1785
01:53:28.399 --> 01:53:31.000
That's exactly what I would have thought the sound was.

1786
01:53:31.960 --> 01:53:36.840
But then the pitch changed and it took on a

1787
01:53:36.880 --> 01:53:42.279
feral quality. I knew whoever or whatever was making the sound,

1788
01:53:42.960 --> 01:53:46.399
I wanted nothing to do with them. Thinking you're alone

1789
01:53:46.439 --> 01:53:49.600
in the wilderness is one thing. It gives a certain

1790
01:53:49.680 --> 01:53:53.720
freeing feeling like you're so close to nature. But knowing

1791
01:53:53.800 --> 01:53:58.800
you're alone and hearing the terrifying, nearly indescribable sound sent

1792
01:53:58.920 --> 01:54:03.439
chills down my spot. I quickly questioned how much longer

1793
01:54:03.479 --> 01:54:08.239
I would be alone or alive. Did those things know

1794
01:54:08.359 --> 01:54:12.439
I was here? Were they planning their attack or was

1795
01:54:12.479 --> 01:54:17.920
it just a gathering of something like a harmless chill

1796
01:54:18.000 --> 01:54:23.279
session in the woods in the dead of night. Survival

1797
01:54:23.319 --> 01:54:25.479
instinct was screaming for me to get out of there

1798
01:54:25.560 --> 01:54:28.520
as quickly as possible, to hell with the tent in

1799
01:54:28.640 --> 01:54:35.319
my supplies, just leave. For a brief moment, I nearly listened. Later,

1800
01:54:36.039 --> 01:54:39.840
I would wish I had. Fortunately, I hadn't made a

1801
01:54:39.880 --> 01:54:42.279
fire yet and decided against one.

1802
01:54:42.359 --> 01:54:42.560
Now.

1803
01:54:43.960 --> 01:54:47.439
If by some miracle, those things didn't know I was here,

1804
01:54:47.960 --> 01:54:51.479
a fire would draw them in like flies to well

1805
01:54:52.359 --> 01:54:55.840
something I didn't want to be in. Even though the

1806
01:54:55.960 --> 01:54:59.800
screaming was all going at a fever pitch, I quietly

1807
01:55:00.079 --> 01:55:03.920
knuck into my tent and zipped it shut, as if

1808
01:55:04.000 --> 01:55:08.279
some flimsy material would magically keep at bay whatever beasts

1809
01:55:08.520 --> 01:55:12.840
were raging out there. Searching through my pack, I found

1810
01:55:12.840 --> 01:55:15.159
my Swiss army knife and kept it firm in my

1811
01:55:15.279 --> 01:55:19.119
grasp as I lay down on my sleeping bag. I

1812
01:55:19.199 --> 01:55:22.520
didn't dare settle in for the night, sleeping through being

1813
01:55:22.560 --> 01:55:27.439
attacked by wild whatevers and torn to shreds can be

1814
01:55:27.600 --> 01:55:32.039
bad for my health. As I lay there, eyes wide,

1815
01:55:32.680 --> 01:55:36.600
listening to the horrible shrieks that seemed to come from everywhere,

1816
01:55:38.119 --> 01:55:42.560
they suddenly stopped. At first, this was a relief, but

1817
01:55:42.640 --> 01:55:46.479
when the sound stopped, so did all other noises in

1818
01:55:46.520 --> 01:55:49.439
the forest. It was as if someone had hit the

1819
01:55:49.520 --> 01:55:53.359
mute button on all of nature. I heard a loud,

1820
01:55:53.479 --> 01:55:58.600
thumping sound that sounded like drums beating faster and faster,

1821
01:55:59.479 --> 01:56:02.840
until I realized it was my heart. Trying to calm

1822
01:56:02.840 --> 01:56:05.000
myself so I didn't have a heart attack on the

1823
01:56:05.039 --> 01:56:09.159
spot was a challenge. I tried to think of calm,

1824
01:56:09.880 --> 01:56:14.680
blue oceans and sunrises, of beautiful things that had nothing

1825
01:56:14.720 --> 01:56:19.800
to do with the situation I was in. Apparently I

1826
01:56:19.840 --> 01:56:24.279
did my job too well. I don't remember falling asleep,

1827
01:56:24.640 --> 01:56:28.000
but I do remember waking up in a panic. Jumping up,

1828
01:56:28.039 --> 01:56:30.640
I looked all around for the beasts that were coming

1829
01:56:30.680 --> 01:56:33.760
to get me. When all that stared back at me

1830
01:56:33.840 --> 01:56:36.600
were the contents of my backpack and the four walls

1831
01:56:36.600 --> 01:56:39.720
of the tent. I allowed myself to take a few

1832
01:56:40.359 --> 01:56:45.359
deep breaths. It was morning, the sun was up, and

1833
01:56:45.399 --> 01:56:48.600
the birds were singing. I took both of those as

1834
01:56:48.640 --> 01:56:54.399
good signs. Being alive was a bonus as well. It

1835
01:56:54.479 --> 01:56:57.600
was decision time. Do I pack up and cut my

1836
01:56:57.680 --> 01:57:00.960
trip short by two days, or do I write off

1837
01:57:01.039 --> 01:57:04.800
last night's incident as a rare occurrence and not worry

1838
01:57:04.840 --> 01:57:08.560
about it Today In the daylight, as the sun's rays

1839
01:57:08.720 --> 01:57:13.560
bathed me in warmth, It's funny how fear manifests itself

1840
01:57:13.600 --> 01:57:17.319
so much stronger at night. Last night, the forest seemed

1841
01:57:17.359 --> 01:57:21.119
like the most horrifying place I'd ever been. Today, it

1842
01:57:21.159 --> 01:57:23.960
looks like all the beauty of nature is spread out

1843
01:57:24.000 --> 01:57:28.119
before me. I couldn't imagine anything bad happening in such

1844
01:57:28.119 --> 01:57:32.840
a picturesque place. As I looked out over the clearing

1845
01:57:32.880 --> 01:57:36.279
in the woods, I saw a large dark spot that

1846
01:57:36.479 --> 01:57:39.880
was moving towards me. I dove into my tent and

1847
01:57:39.920 --> 01:57:44.159
emerged with a pair of binoculars. Peering through them, I

1848
01:57:44.239 --> 01:57:48.319
saw the spot was a bear and it was headed

1849
01:57:48.439 --> 01:57:52.479
my way. So much for nothing bad happening in nature,

1850
01:57:53.439 --> 01:57:56.119
My plan of action was to hide and hope it

1851
01:57:56.159 --> 01:58:00.199
went away or turned down another path before it got here.

1852
01:58:01.000 --> 01:58:04.840
That plan didn't work out so well. Within fifteen minutes,

1853
01:58:04.880 --> 01:58:08.439
I could hear it snuffling around the campsite looking for

1854
01:58:08.520 --> 01:58:11.760
something to eat. I hoped it wouldn't be eating a

1855
01:58:11.800 --> 01:58:15.239
fresh camper. The can of bear spray was firmly in

1856
01:58:15.279 --> 01:58:18.760
my hand, with my white knuckles clenching it. Having it

1857
01:58:18.880 --> 01:58:22.800
was one thing, Using it was another. That was my

1858
01:58:22.920 --> 01:58:28.640
last resort, spray and run. The sniffing got louder, and

1859
01:58:28.720 --> 01:58:31.560
I could see the bottom edges of tent being pushed

1860
01:58:31.600 --> 01:58:35.880
in by a large nose. My knuckles grew a little

1861
01:58:35.880 --> 01:58:39.239
wider as I followed its progress along the edge and

1862
01:58:39.319 --> 01:58:44.640
around the tent. And then there was a pause, a

1863
01:58:44.720 --> 01:58:48.720
dreadful pause, the kind of pause that horrible decisions are

1864
01:58:48.760 --> 01:58:52.800
born from. I was contemplating my own horrible decision when

1865
01:58:52.800 --> 01:58:56.800
the sniffing started again, this time leading away from the tent.

1866
01:58:58.000 --> 01:59:01.920
Breathing a cautiously optimistic sigh of relief, I opened the

1867
01:59:01.960 --> 01:59:06.159
tent flap just enough to see the bear lumbering off

1868
01:59:06.520 --> 01:59:12.520
into the woods again. I held a silent vote, just

1869
01:59:12.640 --> 01:59:16.279
like the song said, should I stay or should I go?

1870
01:59:17.960 --> 01:59:21.079
I'd only been camping up here once before, but I

1871
01:59:21.119 --> 01:59:24.960
didn't remember it being this dangerous. Maybe I just got

1872
01:59:25.039 --> 01:59:28.840
lucky last time. Not wanting my luck to run out,

1873
01:59:29.159 --> 01:59:31.439
I packed up my tent and got ready to leave.

1874
01:59:32.319 --> 01:59:35.279
The sun was already high in the sky, leaving me

1875
01:59:35.479 --> 01:59:37.720
just a few hours to hike out what took me

1876
01:59:38.039 --> 01:59:41.399
a full day to hike in. I looked for bear

1877
01:59:41.439 --> 01:59:44.119
tracks to see which way it had left, but the

1878
01:59:44.159 --> 01:59:48.319
ground was so dry there was nothing to see. Crossing

1879
01:59:48.319 --> 01:59:51.000
my fingers, I had it out on the trail, hoping

1880
01:59:51.359 --> 01:59:54.920
it had gone some other way. It was easy going,

1881
01:59:55.079 --> 01:59:59.079
making the terror of last night fade even more. I

1882
01:59:59.159 --> 02:00:01.840
still kept a way wary eye for the bear, though

1883
02:00:02.600 --> 02:00:04.880
no use in getting so caught up in nature that

1884
02:00:04.960 --> 02:00:09.039
I ignore her dangers. After around an hour of walking,

1885
02:00:09.520 --> 02:00:11.560
I found a large rock on the side of the

1886
02:00:11.600 --> 02:00:14.720
trail and decided to take a break, Pulling out a

1887
02:00:14.760 --> 02:00:17.880
granola bar in a bottle of water, I looked around

1888
02:00:17.920 --> 02:00:21.239
as I snacked. There was a clearing in the woods

1889
02:00:21.279 --> 02:00:24.439
and a rough path leading to it. It wasn't any

1890
02:00:24.479 --> 02:00:27.600
official path, just one that happens when a lot of

1891
02:00:27.640 --> 02:00:31.439
feet go the same way and tramp down the foliage.

1892
02:00:31.680 --> 02:00:34.479
There was a faint whiff of smoke coming from the clearing,

1893
02:00:35.000 --> 02:00:38.560
but I couldn't see exactly what was causing it. My

1894
02:00:38.720 --> 02:00:42.239
curiosity wanted to see what was there but my common

1895
02:00:42.319 --> 02:00:47.039
sense said no way. In the end, curiosity fought dirty

1896
02:00:47.399 --> 02:00:49.640
and said the smoke meant there had been a fire,

1897
02:00:50.119 --> 02:00:52.479
and the ashes could blow into the trees if the

1898
02:00:52.479 --> 02:00:56.840
wind picked up and cause a wildfire. It was a

1899
02:00:56.840 --> 02:01:00.079
good point, even though the wind was uncannily still at

1900
02:01:00.079 --> 02:01:03.920
that moment. I took a quick look around to make

1901
02:01:03.960 --> 02:01:07.479
sure the bear wasn't sneaking up on me, then started

1902
02:01:07.520 --> 02:01:11.159
down the narrow path. The trees blocked out some of

1903
02:01:11.199 --> 02:01:14.119
the light as I headed down the path toward the clearing,

1904
02:01:14.800 --> 02:01:19.600
making me literally descend into darkness. It wasn't a good feeling.

1905
02:01:20.359 --> 02:01:24.039
My eyes darted around, looking for anything out of the ordinary,

1906
02:01:24.600 --> 02:01:29.479
and I slowed my pace. Then suddenly the trees opened

1907
02:01:29.560 --> 02:01:33.000
up in daylight shone brightly on the clearing, and the

1908
02:01:33.039 --> 02:01:36.800
remnants of a fire with a wisp of smoke still rising.

1909
02:01:38.039 --> 02:01:41.079
Whoever had made it had been dangerously uncaring about the

1910
02:01:41.119 --> 02:01:44.319
safety of the woods. The fire sat right in the

1911
02:01:44.319 --> 02:01:46.960
middle of a patch of grass, with no ring of

1912
02:01:47.000 --> 02:01:51.199
stones surrounding it. My eye rose at the carelessness of

1913
02:01:51.239 --> 02:01:55.359
this person. I found myself wishing very bad things on them.

1914
02:01:55.760 --> 02:01:59.880
When I noticed something else. There were splotches of red

1915
02:02:00.079 --> 02:02:03.439
all around the fire. It was like someone had spilled

1916
02:02:03.479 --> 02:02:08.279
red paint all around. It was strange. Why would someone

1917
02:02:08.279 --> 02:02:10.880
bring paint out here in the middle of the woods.

1918
02:02:11.600 --> 02:02:14.119
I stalked around the other side of the fire, looking

1919
02:02:14.159 --> 02:02:19.800
for the answer to this mystery. Unfortunately I found it.

1920
02:02:21.079 --> 02:02:24.439
There was something pale sitting just outside the burnt grass

1921
02:02:24.439 --> 02:02:27.920
of the fire. It was next to a splotch of red.

1922
02:02:28.600 --> 02:02:31.680
I bent down and moved the grass to see more clearly.

1923
02:02:32.479 --> 02:02:37.880
Picking it up, I saw it was a severed human toe.

1924
02:02:38.039 --> 02:02:41.239
I dropped it and stood up like a shot. The

1925
02:02:41.319 --> 02:02:45.319
red splotches made sense to me now they weren't paint,

1926
02:02:46.319 --> 02:02:50.359
they were blood. A chill ran down my spine. I

1927
02:02:50.439 --> 02:02:56.159
suddenly felt very alone and surrounded. My eyes darted all

1928
02:02:56.199 --> 02:02:58.760
around the clearing and into the trees as I did

1929
02:02:58.800 --> 02:03:03.000
a slow circle, searching for whatever was about to attack.

1930
02:03:04.079 --> 02:03:07.560
As I searched, I saw the red splotches led off

1931
02:03:07.600 --> 02:03:10.479
into the woods in the opposite direction of the trail.

1932
02:03:11.520 --> 02:03:14.760
Curiosity tried to get me to follow, but I told

1933
02:03:14.800 --> 02:03:17.359
it to shut the hell up and high tailed it

1934
02:03:17.399 --> 02:03:22.159
out of there, my head on a swivel, searching for threats.

1935
02:03:22.960 --> 02:03:25.239
Just as I was about to reach the main trail.

1936
02:03:25.800 --> 02:03:29.399
I literally ran into the bear. I'd been so busy

1937
02:03:29.439 --> 02:03:33.119
watching behind me for whatever might be chasing me that

1938
02:03:33.199 --> 02:03:35.039
I didn't see what was right in front of me.

1939
02:03:35.960 --> 02:03:40.039
It turned to face me, showing its red teeth. Then

1940
02:03:40.119 --> 02:03:44.000
it stood on its hind legs, dwarfing me and roared.

1941
02:03:45.039 --> 02:03:48.720
I wish I'd worn brown pants, because I soiled myself

1942
02:03:48.760 --> 02:03:52.920
in fear. I was so terrified. I didn't move. I couldn't.

1943
02:03:53.439 --> 02:03:57.000
I was paralyzed. It dropped back down on to its

1944
02:03:57.000 --> 02:04:00.840
front legs and approached me, teeth bared. I knew right

1945
02:04:00.960 --> 02:04:04.600
then it was responsible for the screams and the dismembered tow.

1946
02:04:05.640 --> 02:04:08.039
The only thing I couldn't figure out was the fire.

1947
02:04:08.720 --> 02:04:11.640
I'd never heard of bears being able to start a fire.

1948
02:04:12.680 --> 02:04:16.000
This was, unfortunately, the last thought going through my head

1949
02:04:16.600 --> 02:04:20.680
before being eaten. It sniffed and took a step back.

1950
02:04:21.199 --> 02:04:23.520
If I'd known dropping a load in my pants would

1951
02:04:23.520 --> 02:04:26.760
save me, I would have done it last night. As

1952
02:04:26.800 --> 02:04:29.840
I looked into the eyes of my death, it wasn't

1953
02:04:29.880 --> 02:04:35.159
looking back at me. It was looking past me. I

1954
02:04:35.239 --> 02:04:37.640
wasn't sure what kind of trick this bear was pulling.

1955
02:04:38.119 --> 02:04:40.640
It wasn't like it had to fool me or anything.

1956
02:04:41.159 --> 02:04:45.039
It had me dead to rights. Curiosity made me turn

1957
02:04:45.520 --> 02:04:52.359
and follow the bear's gaze. I instantly regretted it. Standing

1958
02:04:52.399 --> 02:04:56.920
near the clearing was a monster. It was like nothing

1959
02:04:56.960 --> 02:05:00.399
I'd ever seen before. It stood on hind legs at

1960
02:05:00.479 --> 02:05:03.720
least eight feet tall. It had the horns of a deer,

1961
02:05:03.840 --> 02:05:06.720
but the face looked like a deer's skull with no

1962
02:05:06.920 --> 02:05:10.239
skin on it. Its shoulders were covered in what looked

1963
02:05:10.319 --> 02:05:14.880
like a cloak made of another animal's skin. The bear

1964
02:05:15.000 --> 02:05:19.159
let out a deep growl full of menace. I took

1965
02:05:19.199 --> 02:05:22.159
the opportunity to back away and allow the bear a

1966
02:05:22.199 --> 02:05:25.800
clear path to its adversary. It glanced at me for

1967
02:05:25.880 --> 02:05:30.479
a moment, then started toward the monster. As soon as

1968
02:05:30.520 --> 02:05:33.560
it was past me, I dropped my pack and ran

1969
02:05:33.640 --> 02:05:36.479
down the trail with every ounce of speed I could muster.

1970
02:05:37.800 --> 02:05:41.199
It didn't matter that my car was miles away. It

1971
02:05:41.239 --> 02:05:44.039
didn't matter that there was no way I could sprint

1972
02:05:44.079 --> 02:05:47.359
all the way there without collapsing and having a heart attack.

1973
02:05:48.920 --> 02:05:55.399
Just then I heard the fight, the growling, roaring, slashing,

1974
02:05:55.479 --> 02:05:58.520
knocking trees down. Fight that would have been awesome to

1975
02:05:58.560 --> 02:06:02.840
watch from his a bunker with two foot thick concrete walls,

1976
02:06:03.680 --> 02:06:06.720
just me alone, without a rocket launcher to defend myself.

1977
02:06:06.880 --> 02:06:09.800
There was no way I was sticking around. I ran

1978
02:06:09.920 --> 02:06:12.279
for a solid ten minutes before the stitch in my

1979
02:06:12.399 --> 02:06:15.159
side told me I had to at least slow to

1980
02:06:15.239 --> 02:06:19.319
a walk. I didn't dare stop. I knew I had

1981
02:06:19.359 --> 02:06:22.640
to keep moving. It was my only chance of surviving

1982
02:06:22.720 --> 02:06:27.119
by some miracle. The sounds of the fight echoed throughout

1983
02:06:27.159 --> 02:06:31.159
the trees, making it seem surreal to hear it, then

1984
02:06:31.319 --> 02:06:34.840
hear it echo back again. It sounded like the fight

1985
02:06:35.000 --> 02:06:38.439
was slowing down. I hoped it would last a little

1986
02:06:38.439 --> 02:06:42.880
while longer, maybe whichever one would forget about me or

1987
02:06:42.960 --> 02:06:46.600
be too tired to track me down. My walk had

1988
02:06:46.640 --> 02:06:49.439
become a limp. I was nearly out of energy and

1989
02:06:49.479 --> 02:06:51.840
had a mile to go to the relative safety of

1990
02:06:51.880 --> 02:06:55.560
my car. Surely, by now I could take it easy.

1991
02:06:56.479 --> 02:06:59.560
As the thought rolled through my brain, the sounds of

1992
02:06:59.600 --> 02:07:04.880
the fight ceased. The fading echo was all that remained.

1993
02:07:05.840 --> 02:07:09.720
I wondered which one had been victorious, and comforted myself

1994
02:07:09.760 --> 02:07:13.720
that the victor was surely enjoying the spoils by feasting

1995
02:07:14.159 --> 02:07:18.119
on the fallen adversary. But in the back of my mind.

1996
02:07:18.960 --> 02:07:24.079
Unease grew. What if it didn't forget me, What if

1997
02:07:24.119 --> 02:07:27.880
it was following me? Right now? I found myself walking

1998
02:07:27.920 --> 02:07:31.279
a little faster, much to the pain and chagrin of

1999
02:07:31.319 --> 02:07:34.920
my legs. The silence that fell in the aftermath of

2000
02:07:34.960 --> 02:07:38.800
the fight was disconcerting. The animals around me had been

2001
02:07:38.920 --> 02:07:45.319
chattering away. Suddenly falling silent was alarming. I started jogging,

2002
02:07:45.359 --> 02:07:48.720
each step a new exercise and pain. There was no

2003
02:07:48.760 --> 02:07:51.880
doubt I was being followed. The footsteps behind me were

2004
02:07:51.920 --> 02:07:55.520
getting louder. By the moment my car was in sight,

2005
02:07:56.439 --> 02:08:01.000
I was almost free. The footsteps behind me were very loud.

2006
02:08:01.079 --> 02:08:03.640
Now I knew it was right behind me, but I

2007
02:08:03.680 --> 02:08:08.479
didn't dare look back. Run, don't think, just run, my

2008
02:08:08.600 --> 02:08:12.800
thoughts screamed at me. Even my curiosity had no desire

2009
02:08:12.840 --> 02:08:16.520
to look back. Ten steps from the car, I dug

2010
02:08:16.560 --> 02:08:19.840
in my pocket, looking for my keys. For a brief,

2011
02:08:20.039 --> 02:08:24.199
terrifying moment, I couldn't find them. Then I dug a

2012
02:08:24.199 --> 02:08:28.079
little deeper and came away with my prize. I hit

2013
02:08:28.159 --> 02:08:30.960
the remote to unlock the car and dove into the

2014
02:08:31.000 --> 02:08:34.279
driver's seat. The engine had just roared to life when

2015
02:08:34.279 --> 02:08:37.800
the monster appeared. I threw the car in reverse and

2016
02:08:37.920 --> 02:08:40.880
stomped on the gas, whipping around and making the Monster

2017
02:08:41.000 --> 02:08:44.560
miss crashing through the windshield. I jammed it into drive

2018
02:08:44.800 --> 02:08:48.000
and flooredd as the monster recovered and started after me.

2019
02:08:48.960 --> 02:08:52.720
For a long, horrid moment, it seemed to be catching

2020
02:08:52.800 --> 02:08:55.600
up to me. The road was gravel and had several

2021
02:08:55.640 --> 02:08:58.920
potholes in it. I found myself swerving to miss the

2022
02:08:58.960 --> 02:09:02.600
biggest ones so my car wouldn't bottom out, but by

2023
02:09:02.640 --> 02:09:06.920
doing so, the Monster gained ground. It was almost within

2024
02:09:07.000 --> 02:09:10.119
reach of my rear bumper when I slid sideways onto

2025
02:09:10.159 --> 02:09:13.960
the main road. Once on the pavement, I floored it

2026
02:09:14.159 --> 02:09:18.680
and watched with satisfaction as the Monster fell behind. I

2027
02:09:18.760 --> 02:09:21.880
breathed a sigh of relief as I relaxed and settled

2028
02:09:21.920 --> 02:09:25.880
in for the ride home. It wasn't long until I

2029
02:09:26.000 --> 02:09:30.119
was pulling into my driveway and parking. My head fell

2030
02:09:30.159 --> 02:09:33.119
back against the headrest, and I was tempted to take

2031
02:09:33.159 --> 02:09:36.560
a nap right there, when my nose reminded me of

2032
02:09:36.600 --> 02:09:40.840
the state of my pants. Walking in empty handed was

2033
02:09:40.880 --> 02:09:45.000
a mixed blessing. I'd left hundreds of dollars in equipment behind,

2034
02:09:45.680 --> 02:09:50.039
but at least I was alive. My shower called to me.

2035
02:09:50.680 --> 02:09:53.680
I stripped through my pants and underwear in the trash,

2036
02:09:54.079 --> 02:09:59.239
then settled into the longest, most rewarding shower of my life.

2037
02:09:59.359 --> 02:10:01.920
After dry eying, I threw on a Metallica T shirt

2038
02:10:02.159 --> 02:10:04.800
and a pair of shorts. I came back out to

2039
02:10:04.880 --> 02:10:07.000
the living room and settled in to watch a movie.

2040
02:10:07.760 --> 02:10:11.239
Horror was Out. I knew I'd have nightmares for weeks

2041
02:10:11.279 --> 02:10:15.199
about my ordeal. I decided to watch an episode of Wipeout.

2042
02:10:16.279 --> 02:10:20.119
Three episodes later, I found my eyelids fighting gravity and exhaustion.

2043
02:10:21.000 --> 02:10:23.640
Heading to bed, I turned out the lights and stepped

2044
02:10:23.720 --> 02:10:26.399
up to the living room window, looking out over the

2045
02:10:26.479 --> 02:10:29.600
lights of the town. I sighed, seeing the trees of

2046
02:10:29.640 --> 02:10:32.920
the park far in the distance and knowing I'd never

2047
02:10:33.079 --> 02:10:38.680
visit there again. Before I turned toward my bedroom, something

2048
02:10:38.960 --> 02:10:44.079
caught my eye. It was impossible. I rubbed my eyes

2049
02:10:44.119 --> 02:10:46.600
to be sure. The monster was creeping out of the

2050
02:10:46.640 --> 02:10:50.960
woods and coming straight toward my house. As I watched,

2051
02:10:51.359 --> 02:10:55.960
it looked up and saw me. Our eyes locked mine

2052
02:10:56.079 --> 02:11:01.159
full of fear. It's full of menace. I ran through

2053
02:11:01.159 --> 02:11:04.520
the house, making sure every door and window was locked.

2054
02:11:05.239 --> 02:11:07.359
After that, I went to my bed stand and pulled

2055
02:11:07.359 --> 02:11:10.560
out my snub nose thirty eight, checking to make sure

2056
02:11:10.600 --> 02:11:13.520
it was loaded, and grabbing a handful of extra bullets,

2057
02:11:13.960 --> 02:11:17.279
shoving them in my pocket. Running back out to the

2058
02:11:17.279 --> 02:11:20.760
living room, I looked out my window, but it was gone.

2059
02:11:22.039 --> 02:11:25.119
Pressing my face against the glass, I searched the front yard,

2060
02:11:26.239 --> 02:11:30.399
but it wasn't there. For an instant, I wondered if

2061
02:11:30.439 --> 02:11:34.079
my imagination had been playing tricks on me. I went

2062
02:11:34.119 --> 02:11:36.680
to the kitchen window and looked into the back yard.

2063
02:11:37.479 --> 02:11:41.359
It was dark and I couldn't see much. Reaching for

2064
02:11:41.399 --> 02:11:44.840
the light switch, I hesitated, not wanting to see it

2065
02:11:44.920 --> 02:11:47.880
suddenly appear in front of me. But I had to

2066
02:11:47.920 --> 02:11:51.119
know if this thing was real or not. I would

2067
02:11:51.239 --> 02:11:53.600
rather that I was going crazy than ever see that

2068
02:11:53.840 --> 02:11:58.159
thing again. Flicking on the light, I took a half

2069
02:11:58.159 --> 02:12:04.239
step back. Nothing was there. I scanned the entire back yard,

2070
02:12:04.600 --> 02:12:08.680
all the way to the woods that bordered my property. Nothing.

2071
02:12:09.920 --> 02:12:13.359
I shrugged and was about to go to bed when

2072
02:12:13.359 --> 02:12:16.720
I heard it. My foot stopped on the first step

2073
02:12:16.880 --> 02:12:20.199
and I turned back toward the door. Some one or

2074
02:12:21.079 --> 02:12:25.600
some thing was scraping against the front door. Feeling like

2075
02:12:25.680 --> 02:12:28.239
I was in a trance, I was drawn to the door.

2076
02:12:28.720 --> 02:12:31.880
Leaning up to the people, I closed my eyes and

2077
02:12:31.960 --> 02:12:37.199
breathed a silent prayer that nothing would be there. My

2078
02:12:37.319 --> 02:12:42.600
prayers were answered. There was nothing out there. As tempted

2079
02:12:42.640 --> 02:12:46.560
as I was to just accept this audible hallucination, my

2080
02:12:46.680 --> 02:12:50.840
shaking hand reached for the door knob. The distance between

2081
02:12:50.880 --> 02:12:54.239
my hand and the door seemed to fade, like one

2082
02:12:54.279 --> 02:12:56.600
of those scenes in a horror movie where the camera

2083
02:12:56.720 --> 02:13:01.279
zooms in while going backward. I turned the knob and

2084
02:13:01.359 --> 02:13:06.119
held my breath while opening the door. Nothing was there.

2085
02:13:07.560 --> 02:13:10.359
I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

2086
02:13:11.439 --> 02:13:15.720
Looking around, the yard was empty, just the evening mist

2087
02:13:15.880 --> 02:13:20.840
clinging to the lawn. My imagination had gotten the best

2088
02:13:20.880 --> 02:13:24.760
of me. I turned to go back inside and saw

2089
02:13:24.800 --> 02:13:28.840
the door and door frame had long scratches on it.

2090
02:13:30.159 --> 02:13:36.279
My blood froze. It was real. It was here. It

2091
02:13:36.359 --> 02:13:41.000
had tracked me down. As terror gripped me, I saw

2092
02:13:41.039 --> 02:13:44.319
a flash of brown fur an instant before it charged me.

2093
02:13:45.199 --> 02:13:48.399
In sheer desperation, I fell back into the door just

2094
02:13:48.439 --> 02:13:51.720
as it hit the door frame. Its antlers slammed into

2095
02:13:51.720 --> 02:13:55.119
the frame, sending splinters flying as it struggled to get

2096
02:13:55.159 --> 02:13:58.560
loose from the destroyed wood. I lay on the door,

2097
02:13:59.079 --> 02:14:02.520
watching in grim fascination, stunned by the fact that it

2098
02:14:02.560 --> 02:14:05.920
had missed gouging my eyes by a mere fraction of

2099
02:14:05.920 --> 02:14:10.359
an inch. The doorway had saved me, the same doorway

2100
02:14:10.399 --> 02:14:14.880
that was rapidly disappearing under the monster's onslaught, I regained

2101
02:14:14.880 --> 02:14:19.279
myself and ran. As I darted through the living room.

2102
02:14:19.399 --> 02:14:21.920
Somehow I had the presence of mind to grab the

2103
02:14:21.960 --> 02:14:24.800
house phone and dial nine one one as I headed

2104
02:14:24.840 --> 02:14:27.800
down the basement steps, slamming the door behind me.

2105
02:14:29.039 --> 02:14:30.600
Nine one one, what's your emergency?

2106
02:14:31.119 --> 02:14:34.560
Came the lady operator's voice. I'm being chased by a

2107
02:14:34.600 --> 02:14:38.000
monster who's trying to kill me, I said, vaulting down

2108
02:14:38.000 --> 02:14:38.960
the stairs.

2109
02:14:39.600 --> 02:14:41.479
I'm sorry, Could you repeat that.

2110
02:14:42.119 --> 02:14:45.640
I'm being chased by a monster who is trying to

2111
02:14:45.760 --> 02:14:46.119
kill me?

2112
02:14:47.399 --> 02:14:49.239
Are you talking about a person?

2113
02:14:50.159 --> 02:14:53.760
No? What do you not understand about the word monster?

2114
02:14:54.399 --> 02:14:55.039
I shouted?

2115
02:14:55.760 --> 02:14:58.479
All right, it's my duty to inform you that prank

2116
02:14:58.520 --> 02:15:01.399
calls will be reported to the police and you could

2117
02:15:01.399 --> 02:15:02.239
face charges.

2118
02:15:02.800 --> 02:15:05.479
Fine, send the cops. Maybe they can fight off the

2119
02:15:05.520 --> 02:15:10.239
monster long enough to put me in cuffs. The line disconnected.

2120
02:15:11.159 --> 02:15:13.600
Son of them, I said, as I heard the monster

2121
02:15:13.960 --> 02:15:18.479
stalking around inside the house, I squeezed myself into the

2122
02:15:18.479 --> 02:15:21.399
far corner between the wall and the oil tank and

2123
02:15:21.479 --> 02:15:25.880
tried to be as quiet as possible, barely breathing. I

2124
02:15:26.000 --> 02:15:29.119
listened to its measured steps as it crept from room

2125
02:15:29.239 --> 02:15:34.119
to room. The floorboards complained with loud creaks, telling me

2126
02:15:34.279 --> 02:15:38.640
this thing weighed considerably more than me. I heard it

2127
02:15:38.720 --> 02:15:42.119
turn toward the stairs and thought about making a run

2128
02:15:42.159 --> 02:15:45.560
for the cellar door that led outside. When my phone

2129
02:15:45.640 --> 02:15:50.920
rang Hello, I whisper, screamed, trying to be as quiet

2130
02:15:50.960 --> 02:15:51.640
as possible.

2131
02:15:52.439 --> 02:15:54.640
Is this the person who just dialed nine one one

2132
02:15:54.680 --> 02:15:55.439
about a monster?

2133
02:15:56.640 --> 02:15:59.640
Yes? Who is this? There was a pause as I

2134
02:15:59.680 --> 02:16:01.800
heard the footsteps change direction.

2135
02:16:02.920 --> 02:16:08.520
I'm from another agency, he said, Could you describe the

2136
02:16:08.600 --> 02:16:11.880
monster for me? So you're from one of those three

2137
02:16:11.960 --> 02:16:14.560
letter agencies that always say they don't spy on our

2138
02:16:14.600 --> 02:16:18.199
phone calls. Could you describe the monster for me?

2139
02:16:18.800 --> 02:16:23.079
It's huge, I whispered, at least eight feet tall, covered

2140
02:16:23.119 --> 02:16:26.000
in fur and wearing the fur of another animal over

2141
02:16:26.039 --> 02:16:29.159
its shoulders. Oh, and it has antlers like a deer.

2142
02:16:30.199 --> 02:16:32.000
I heard a sharp intake of air.

2143
02:16:33.760 --> 02:16:34.360
Where is it?

2144
02:16:35.120 --> 02:16:36.399
I gave him my address?

2145
02:16:37.280 --> 02:16:39.000
I mean, where is it in the house.

2146
02:16:39.840 --> 02:16:42.040
It's on the first floor and I'm in the basement,

2147
02:16:42.440 --> 02:16:46.399
I whispered, but I think it's coming down here. Just

2148
02:16:46.479 --> 02:16:50.799
then I heard the basement door open. Gotta go, I whispered,

2149
02:16:50.840 --> 02:16:54.559
then hung up the phone. The basement stairs groaned under

2150
02:16:54.559 --> 02:16:57.399
the weight. I hoped that the wood would collapse under

2151
02:16:57.399 --> 02:17:01.159
the weight and it would fall, snapping its neck. No

2152
02:17:01.319 --> 02:17:05.680
such luck. The stairs creaked as it continued to the bottom.

2153
02:17:06.159 --> 02:17:08.440
I had to duck in this basement so I was

2154
02:17:08.479 --> 02:17:10.760
sure it was on all fours to keep from getting

2155
02:17:10.799 --> 02:17:14.959
tangled in the rafters. My heart pounded. I struggled to

2156
02:17:15.040 --> 02:17:17.719
keep my breathing quiet so I wouldn't give away my position.

2157
02:17:18.440 --> 02:17:22.840
The chuffing of the monster's breathing was getting closer. I

2158
02:17:22.959 --> 02:17:25.600
wanted to close my eyes, but had to know when

2159
02:17:25.600 --> 02:17:29.520
it came close enough. Instead, I reached into my pocket

2160
02:17:30.079 --> 02:17:33.239
and pulled out the gun, aiming it at the corner.

2161
02:17:34.360 --> 02:17:39.440
I waited. The skeletal snout appeared, but I didn't shoot.

2162
02:17:40.440 --> 02:17:43.639
The shot would just bounce off the bone. I wanted

2163
02:17:43.680 --> 02:17:46.520
to hit something more vital and hope that I might

2164
02:17:46.600 --> 02:17:50.879
somehow survive. The rest of the bony skull made its

2165
02:17:50.879 --> 02:17:55.079
appearance and went by without noticing me. Next came the

2166
02:17:55.159 --> 02:17:58.799
neck and the rest of the body. I wasn't sure

2167
02:17:58.799 --> 02:18:02.280
where this thing's vital organs were, so I held off,

2168
02:18:02.680 --> 02:18:05.959
hoping that it might not notice me at all. Those

2169
02:18:06.040 --> 02:18:09.559
hopes were dashed when it sniffed, then whipped around and

2170
02:18:09.639 --> 02:18:12.920
stared right at me. I took that as a sign

2171
02:18:12.959 --> 02:18:16.680
to shoot it in the chest. The gunshot was deafening,

2172
02:18:17.520 --> 02:18:21.280
especially in such a closed space. My ears were ringing

2173
02:18:21.360 --> 02:18:24.479
so loud. I could barely hear the monster screaming and

2174
02:18:24.600 --> 02:18:28.200
tearing my oil tank limb from limb, trying to get

2175
02:18:28.200 --> 02:18:31.920
to me. I fired again, trying to hit any part

2176
02:18:31.920 --> 02:18:36.040
of its body as oil flew from its thrashing. We

2177
02:18:36.040 --> 02:18:39.040
were both covered in heating oil, and yet it still

2178
02:18:39.159 --> 02:18:42.920
kept coming. Three more shots didn't even slow it down.

2179
02:18:43.799 --> 02:18:45.920
It was so close the muzzle of the gun was

2180
02:18:45.959 --> 02:18:48.600
nearly touching it. I shoved the barrel into one of

2181
02:18:48.600 --> 02:18:52.000
its eye sockets and pulled the trigger. The flame from

2182
02:18:52.040 --> 02:18:56.040
the exploding gunpowder set the oil on fire. I don't

2183
02:18:56.079 --> 02:18:59.000
know if it was that or the bullet bouncing around

2184
02:18:59.000 --> 02:19:01.600
in its skull that made did it shriek even louder.

2185
02:19:02.600 --> 02:19:05.959
Flame engulfed its screaming form, making it look like a

2186
02:19:06.000 --> 02:19:09.319
demon straight from hell. It ran out of the basement

2187
02:19:09.360 --> 02:19:12.360
through the outside doors, bursting out into the open air,

2188
02:19:13.159 --> 02:19:17.000
and disappearing into the night. I was so relieved I

2189
02:19:17.000 --> 02:19:20.719
didn't notice right away that I was on fire. The

2190
02:19:20.799 --> 02:19:23.079
oil had splashed on me and had ignited when the

2191
02:19:23.120 --> 02:19:26.239
monster caught on fire. I tried to push my way

2192
02:19:26.280 --> 02:19:29.079
out quickly, but the monster had shoved the tank closer

2193
02:19:29.120 --> 02:19:33.440
to the wall, pinning me. The fire devoured the oil

2194
02:19:33.479 --> 02:19:36.719
on my clothes and my bare skin, making me scream

2195
02:19:36.760 --> 02:19:39.399
an agony as I tried in vain to get away

2196
02:19:39.399 --> 02:19:45.479
from the fire. This was it. I would die, this horrible,

2197
02:19:46.040 --> 02:19:51.719
agonizing death, trapped in an inferno. The monster would get

2198
02:19:51.719 --> 02:19:55.239
its revenge and not even know it. Maybe, once it

2199
02:19:55.319 --> 02:19:58.760
extinguished its own fire, it would come back and devour

2200
02:19:58.840 --> 02:20:02.159
what was left of me like a well done steak.

2201
02:20:04.040 --> 02:20:07.479
I must have been hallucinating, could have sworn a cloud

2202
02:20:07.600 --> 02:20:14.440
enveloped me. Just before I died, I woke in a

2203
02:20:14.440 --> 02:20:17.760
white room with an annoying beeping sound that wouldn't stop.

2204
02:20:18.559 --> 02:20:21.239
There was a smiling face in the corner staring back

2205
02:20:21.280 --> 02:20:25.079
at me, attached to a man I'd never met, How

2206
02:20:25.079 --> 02:20:28.399
are you feeling, he said, stepping over to the hospital bed.

2207
02:20:29.719 --> 02:20:35.040
Am I dead? I rasped, Not yet, he chuckled. It

2208
02:20:35.159 --> 02:20:37.559
was close, though. If we hadn't gotten to you when

2209
02:20:37.559 --> 02:20:40.760
we did, you'd have been a shish kebab. I tried

2210
02:20:40.760 --> 02:20:44.680
to lean up, but pain put me back in the bed. Yeah,

2211
02:20:44.760 --> 02:20:46.920
you're not going to be taking any hiking trips for

2212
02:20:46.959 --> 02:20:50.280
a while, he said. You've got burns all over your

2213
02:20:50.360 --> 02:20:54.120
legs that'll need some time to heal. I'm never going

2214
02:20:54.239 --> 02:20:58.879
hiking again, I said, Are you the guy I talked

2215
02:20:58.920 --> 02:21:02.600
to on the phone? Yeah? Do you mind telling me

2216
02:21:02.680 --> 02:21:05.239
the rest of what happened? He said, pulling out a

2217
02:21:05.239 --> 02:21:10.959
pen and notepad. Sure, I said, shrugging. Since you saved

2218
02:21:10.959 --> 02:21:14.239
my life, it's the least I can do. He pulled

2219
02:21:14.239 --> 02:21:18.239
his chair over and got comfortable. What happened to the

2220
02:21:18.319 --> 02:21:26.200
monster anyway, I said, He hesitated. It got away, didn't it? Yeah,

2221
02:21:26.559 --> 02:21:29.680
he said, lowering his head a little. We lost the

2222
02:21:29.680 --> 02:21:33.840
trail after it extinguished itself, but don't worry, we'll find it.

2223
02:21:34.719 --> 02:21:37.479
I didn't comment on my opinion of the competency of

2224
02:21:37.520 --> 02:21:40.639
government agencies out of respect for the man who saved

2225
02:21:40.639 --> 02:21:44.079
my life, but suffice it to say, I wouldn't be

2226
02:21:44.159 --> 02:21:48.840
sleeping very deeply once I got home. Where would you

2227
02:21:48.879 --> 02:21:52.920
like me to start? I said, The beginning is always

2228
02:21:52.920 --> 02:22:09.079
a good place. Bite me by David O'Hanlon. The rabbit

2229
02:22:09.200 --> 02:22:12.200
exited the log he'd taken shelter in and kicked at

2230
02:22:12.200 --> 02:22:15.520
the fleas that had done much the same inside his ear.

2231
02:22:16.360 --> 02:22:20.520
The bunny stretched then hopped onto the log. His nose

2232
02:22:20.600 --> 02:22:24.719
twitched in the adorable way that rabbit noses dew. The

2233
02:22:24.799 --> 02:22:28.399
air was cool and smelled of the previous night's storm.

2234
02:22:28.760 --> 02:22:32.360
The morning sun caught in the dewdrops bedazzling the high

2235
02:22:32.399 --> 02:22:36.360
grass of the meadow. His beady eyes surveyed the land.

2236
02:22:36.959 --> 02:22:41.000
Parasites be damned. It was a beautiful morning in the Ozarks.

2237
02:22:41.959 --> 02:22:44.959
Just across the field there was a downward slope that

2238
02:22:45.120 --> 02:22:49.040
led to a narrow holler rife with tight caves. Berry

2239
02:22:49.079 --> 02:22:53.920
bushes grew plentifully, and rainwater pulled in the various porous stones.

2240
02:22:54.719 --> 02:22:57.840
For the small fur bearers of the forest, it was

2241
02:22:57.959 --> 02:23:00.879
like hanging out at the mall. The rabbit was only

2242
02:23:00.920 --> 02:23:04.920
halfway across the field and could already smell the females.

2243
02:23:05.680 --> 02:23:08.200
He was late to the party, but it was better

2244
02:23:08.280 --> 02:23:12.520
to be late than belated. A persistent eagle had chased

2245
02:23:12.559 --> 02:23:15.840
him for over an hour the day before, forcing him

2246
02:23:15.879 --> 02:23:19.879
out of his normal foraging range. He finally managed to

2247
02:23:20.040 --> 02:23:23.239
escape at the expense of a squirrel that had been

2248
02:23:23.280 --> 02:23:28.200
distracted by an acorn. Even in the woods, shit happens.

2249
02:23:29.239 --> 02:23:32.000
The storm rolled in before the rabbit could get back

2250
02:23:32.040 --> 02:23:35.840
to the warren, necessitating a night in the log motel.

2251
02:23:36.959 --> 02:23:39.760
The rabbit knew arriving late wasn't going to hurt his

2252
02:23:39.920 --> 02:23:43.840
chances any Aside from the fleas, he was the perfect

2253
02:23:43.879 --> 02:23:48.120
specimen of rabbit masculinity. He was almost to the safety

2254
02:23:48.200 --> 02:23:52.120
of the trees when a shadow cast over him from above.

2255
02:23:53.479 --> 02:23:57.600
Before he could react, the flaming mass struck in front

2256
02:23:57.600 --> 02:24:02.639
of him. The earth erupted, and the rabbit disappeared, his

2257
02:24:02.760 --> 02:24:08.440
body becoming indistinguishable from the explosion. His head bounced when

2258
02:24:08.479 --> 02:24:11.959
it finally came back down and rolled to a stop

2259
02:24:12.239 --> 02:24:16.079
next to the smoldering crater left by the falling object.

2260
02:24:16.840 --> 02:24:19.959
His dead eyes stared at the scorched metal and the

2261
02:24:20.000 --> 02:24:23.959
strange glow of the otherworldly power source that had taken

2262
02:24:24.000 --> 02:24:29.360
it across the galaxy and inside the rabbit's ears. The

2263
02:24:29.399 --> 02:24:34.440
fleas enjoyed their meal next to a romantic radioactive fire.

2264
02:24:36.799 --> 02:24:42.760
Several months later, Lilah's nails tore through the tense nylon

2265
02:24:42.920 --> 02:24:47.840
bottom as she climaxed yet again. Rocco was a terrible

2266
02:24:47.879 --> 02:24:52.040
boyfriend and a miserable human being, but he was a

2267
02:24:52.040 --> 02:24:55.879
great lay. With that in mind, she'd suggested they camp

2268
02:24:55.920 --> 02:24:58.840
in the woods the night before the big reunion, in

2269
02:24:58.920 --> 02:25:02.239
hopes they could fuck away away any relationship tensions that

2270
02:25:02.399 --> 02:25:05.280
might boil over during the weekend with their former high

2271
02:25:05.280 --> 02:25:09.520
school click. Rocco groaned and collapsed on top of her,

2272
02:25:10.120 --> 02:25:14.200
signaling the end of round three without taking any of

2273
02:25:14.239 --> 02:25:17.000
his weight off. He reached from the nearby pack of

2274
02:25:17.120 --> 02:25:21.079
camels and pulled one out with his teeth. Got a spare,

2275
02:25:21.559 --> 02:25:26.040
She asked, about ten of them, he replied, tossing the

2276
02:25:26.120 --> 02:25:29.600
pack into the corner of the tent. Rocco crawled over

2277
02:25:29.680 --> 02:25:33.879
Lilah and unzipped the entrance, freeing the accumulated body heat

2278
02:25:33.920 --> 02:25:37.200
and pheromones of the last hour. He lit his smoke

2279
02:25:37.280 --> 02:25:40.879
and discarded the lighter before shuffling out into the humid

2280
02:25:41.000 --> 02:25:46.559
Arkansas evening. Twenty yards away. Antenna twitched to life and

2281
02:25:46.719 --> 02:25:49.559
rose out of the protection of the fossie to take

2282
02:25:49.600 --> 02:25:53.600
in the chemical stench of sex and co two. The

2283
02:25:53.639 --> 02:25:57.559
combination hit the creature's sensory organs, bringing it out of

2284
02:25:57.600 --> 02:26:01.719
its torpor like a fresh cup of folgers. Rocco, the

2285
02:26:01.799 --> 02:26:05.879
last true gentleman, wiped his cock on the tent flap

2286
02:26:05.959 --> 02:26:08.559
and then walked to the tree line to relieve himself.

2287
02:26:09.440 --> 02:26:12.399
He took a long pull from the cigarette and thought

2288
02:26:12.440 --> 02:26:16.319
about the others as his bladder let loose. Every year

2289
02:26:16.360 --> 02:26:19.959
since high school, they'd gotten together at Hawk's family cabin

2290
02:26:20.079 --> 02:26:25.120
to brag about their accomplishments, and every year Rocco had

2291
02:26:25.159 --> 02:26:29.239
nothing to add to the conversation. He hated those assholes.

2292
02:26:29.799 --> 02:26:34.680
They wasted their lives being overachievers, and every reunion they

2293
02:26:34.760 --> 02:26:37.879
tried to make him feel bad, like he was wasting

2294
02:26:38.040 --> 02:26:42.799
so much potential, as if he did everything he wanted

2295
02:26:42.840 --> 02:26:47.879
to without the burden of success. Successful people set expectations

2296
02:26:47.879 --> 02:26:50.959
that they have to live up to, whereas Roco just

2297
02:26:51.000 --> 02:26:55.639
had to live to exceed expectations. Piss spattered his feet,

2298
02:26:56.079 --> 02:26:59.959
breaking him out of his self congratulations. He looked down

2299
02:27:00.120 --> 02:27:03.840
at his bare toes and something shuffling through the fallen

2300
02:27:03.920 --> 02:27:08.239
leaves toward him. Roco redirected the stream in its direction.

2301
02:27:09.360 --> 02:27:14.920
Whatever it was stopped, but didn't retreat. Kinky, little son

2302
02:27:14.959 --> 02:27:18.840
of a bitch, aren't you, he chuckled. The warm fluid

2303
02:27:18.959 --> 02:27:22.479
rolled down the armored plates to the still stiff limbs

2304
02:27:22.520 --> 02:27:26.520
of the creature. Its simple eyes zeroed in on the

2305
02:27:26.559 --> 02:27:30.280
source of the heat. The glowing end of the cigarette

2306
02:27:30.680 --> 02:27:33.639
could have been an ice cube compared to the bright

2307
02:27:33.760 --> 02:27:39.159
glow of Rocko's shrinking erection. The creature sprang for cover.

2308
02:27:40.520 --> 02:27:43.879
Lilah scuttled out of the tent in a panic. Roco's

2309
02:27:43.879 --> 02:27:47.079
shrill screams drew nearer, and she spun on her hands

2310
02:27:47.120 --> 02:27:50.239
and knees, trying to find out where they were coming from.

2311
02:27:51.200 --> 02:27:55.479
She finally spotted him. He stumbled wildly with a large

2312
02:27:55.600 --> 02:27:59.520
dark object obscuring his crotch Like an over zealous sensor.

2313
02:28:00.520 --> 02:28:04.120
The thing fell between his legs, bloated with its first meal.

2314
02:28:05.239 --> 02:28:09.719
Blood erupted from the swollen, torn flesh volcano that had

2315
02:28:09.760 --> 02:28:14.159
once been Rocco's penis and showered the foot long insect.

2316
02:28:14.799 --> 02:28:18.200
It rolled onto all six feet and turned its gaze

2317
02:28:18.239 --> 02:28:24.319
to the hot terrified exhalations of Lilah. She started to scream,

2318
02:28:24.600 --> 02:28:28.280
but the creature was too fast. In a single bound,

2319
02:28:28.319 --> 02:28:31.680
it covered the distance between them and impacted her face

2320
02:28:31.760 --> 02:28:35.479
with the force of a baseball bat. Teeth flew into

2321
02:28:35.520 --> 02:28:39.520
the darkness, and the giant flea turned its attention to

2322
02:28:39.600 --> 02:28:44.360
the blood pooling in the young woman's mouth. The serrated

2323
02:28:44.399 --> 02:28:48.680
stylets of its mouth plunged into the puddle and threw

2324
02:28:48.840 --> 02:28:56.719
the back of her skull. The next afternoon, That fucking

2325
02:28:56.879 --> 02:29:01.200
losers probably in jail again, Hawks said, as he navigated

2326
02:29:01.239 --> 02:29:05.719
down the steep slope of the holler. Roco keeps getting older,

2327
02:29:05.760 --> 02:29:09.040
but he's never gonna grow up. Kara and I are

2328
02:29:09.079 --> 02:29:14.040
about to open our second dealership. Rocco's still passing around

2329
02:29:14.040 --> 02:29:18.319
his first demo. The world needs musicians as much as

2330
02:29:18.319 --> 02:29:23.879
it needs car salesman Danny replied. His bands called Thundercock.

2331
02:29:24.520 --> 02:29:29.680
Hawk snorted, let's not pretend he's Beethoven. I meant we

2332
02:29:29.760 --> 02:29:33.680
shouldn't downplay the value of art, not that he was

2333
02:29:33.799 --> 02:29:39.360
making any Thundercock is dog shit. Brian chimed in, but

2334
02:29:39.440 --> 02:29:42.200
I gotta admit they're just as good as a lot

2335
02:29:42.200 --> 02:29:48.680
of mainstream bands. White Snake, Danny said, curiously, Yeah, they're

2336
02:29:48.719 --> 02:29:53.239
on that list, Brian replied, before noticing his wife had

2337
02:29:53.280 --> 02:29:58.399
stopped to inspect something in the foliage. Wait, you mean

2338
02:29:58.440 --> 02:30:02.319
you saw a snake, Ryan shivered. The woods are just

2339
02:30:02.360 --> 02:30:04.600
a part of life when you grow up in Arkansas,

2340
02:30:05.000 --> 02:30:07.840
but that doesn't mean you have to like everything about them.

2341
02:30:08.440 --> 02:30:11.000
Ever since an incident in the Scouts, when he first

2342
02:30:11.040 --> 02:30:14.200
came face to face with a copper head nesting on

2343
02:30:14.239 --> 02:30:17.120
the side of a tree trunk, Brian had a lurking

2344
02:30:17.239 --> 02:30:22.840
fear that the scheming serpents constantly surrounded him. Next to

2345
02:30:22.879 --> 02:30:28.079
that log, Danny told him, a solid white snake, that's

2346
02:30:28.120 --> 02:30:31.920
no log, Hawk said, pushing past her for a better look.

2347
02:30:32.840 --> 02:30:36.840
Would it kill y'all to slow down? Kara's thick twang

2348
02:30:36.920 --> 02:30:40.719
called from the top of the embankment. Take your time, honey,

2349
02:30:41.079 --> 02:30:46.319
Frank said, dismissively. The opaque things slithered under the log.

2350
02:30:46.799 --> 02:30:50.760
When the humans got too close. Danny circled the object

2351
02:30:50.799 --> 02:30:54.520
and put a hand on her stomach. Revulsion churned her,

2352
02:30:54.600 --> 02:30:59.360
still digesting breakfast like a queason art. The desiccated skin

2353
02:30:59.520 --> 02:31:04.479
had trunk back, making the terrifying teeth look even more menacing.

2354
02:31:05.600 --> 02:31:11.040
There was no blood anywhere stranger. Still no bugs chewed

2355
02:31:11.079 --> 02:31:17.200
on the dehydrated flesh. It's a bear, Hawk nearly whispered,

2356
02:31:18.559 --> 02:31:24.479
Why does it look like that? Danny asked, dehydration Brian

2357
02:31:24.600 --> 02:31:31.879
said as he approached. It's been shit. It's mummified. Revenge

2358
02:31:31.879 --> 02:31:38.360
of the mummy bear. Wah, Hawk teased, Come on, man, mummified,

2359
02:31:39.639 --> 02:31:45.440
that's why nothing's eating it. Brian informed him. He's bear jerky.

2360
02:31:46.600 --> 02:31:50.920
Sucks to be him. Hawk shrugged. The lake is calling

2361
02:31:51.200 --> 02:31:56.879
the fuck. Something just touched my ankle. The leaves shuffled

2362
02:31:56.920 --> 02:32:01.120
around them, and something long and white in along beneath

2363
02:32:01.159 --> 02:32:06.559
their cover. Then more, something's moved. Brian kicked at the

2364
02:32:06.600 --> 02:32:12.120
detritus and saw the six inch larvae crawling hurriedly toward

2365
02:32:12.200 --> 02:32:17.200
the shelter of the bear's corpse. Well that's enough outside

2366
02:32:17.200 --> 02:32:22.600
for me, he grumbled. Ditto, Danny whispered, What are y'all

2367
02:32:22.600 --> 02:32:25.639
looking at? Down there? Kara called as she tried to

2368
02:32:25.680 --> 02:32:29.559
ease down the decline, but only managed a semi controlled

2369
02:32:29.600 --> 02:32:33.639
slide instead. Gosh, did y'all see that? I almost fell

2370
02:32:33.719 --> 02:32:36.600
right on my keyster. Ain't this where we saw them

2371
02:32:36.639 --> 02:32:40.239
squirrels last year? The other three looked around at the

2372
02:32:40.280 --> 02:32:44.799
still trees. The dingbat was right. It had been like

2373
02:32:44.840 --> 02:32:48.639
a Disney scene when they last visited, with every variety

2374
02:32:48.680 --> 02:32:52.600
of woodland critter having a block party. Despite the encroachment

2375
02:32:52.680 --> 02:32:56.760
of the nuisance of humans. Even Roco's boombox and his

2376
02:32:56.879 --> 02:33:01.559
metallica tape hadn't been enough to disturb them. But this time,

2377
02:33:02.639 --> 02:33:07.360
where are all the fucking animals? Brian asked. Danny knelt

2378
02:33:07.440 --> 02:33:11.360
beside a strangely shaped stone and flipped it over, revealing

2379
02:33:11.600 --> 02:33:15.799
the bucked teeth. Just like the bear, the jack rabbit

2380
02:33:15.879 --> 02:33:20.719
had been completely dried out by something. Snap it to

2381
02:33:20.799 --> 02:33:25.360
a slim Jim Hawk said, holding up the dehydrated remains

2382
02:33:25.399 --> 02:33:28.840
of a raccoon by its tail. What the hell could

2383
02:33:28.879 --> 02:33:35.159
have done this? Though? Those Danny finally managed to get out,

2384
02:33:35.799 --> 02:33:40.680
She pointed unsteadily toward Kara. The dark sclaertes that armored

2385
02:33:40.719 --> 02:33:43.479
their bodies blended in with the rocks jutting from the

2386
02:33:43.520 --> 02:33:48.040
hillside almost perfectly. One of the insects launched itself at Kara,

2387
02:33:48.159 --> 02:33:51.159
so quickly that it appeared to teleport from its moss

2388
02:33:51.200 --> 02:33:54.719
covered perch to the pale skin beneath the ragged hem

2389
02:33:55.399 --> 02:33:59.120
of Kara's cutoffs. The impact sent her to the ground

2390
02:33:59.200 --> 02:34:02.879
with a muted square wheel. Two more fleas pounced on her.

2391
02:34:03.639 --> 02:34:06.799
The cracking of her rib cage sent the others running

2392
02:34:06.920 --> 02:34:12.520
Like a starter pistol. A flea jumped, covering twenty feet

2393
02:34:12.559 --> 02:34:15.719
in the blink of an eye. It landed between Hawk's

2394
02:34:15.719 --> 02:34:20.120
broad shoulders and pierced his back, scraping against the scapula

2395
02:34:20.159 --> 02:34:24.239
with its mouth parts. The former football star tumbled forward

2396
02:34:24.600 --> 02:34:27.760
and rolled back to his feet. The fall shook the

2397
02:34:27.760 --> 02:34:30.879
bug loose, but the armored body had protected it from

2398
02:34:30.879 --> 02:34:33.680
the weight of the human crashing down on top of it.

2399
02:34:34.319 --> 02:34:37.959
Another flea landed on his chest. Hawk pulled it away

2400
02:34:38.040 --> 02:34:40.840
before it could bite. He tried to squash it in

2401
02:34:40.879 --> 02:34:44.200
between his hands, and when that didn't work, opted for

2402
02:34:44.280 --> 02:34:48.920
headbutting it. The exoskeleton ruptured with a spray of hemolymph

2403
02:34:48.959 --> 02:34:53.639
a Crosshawk's face. The flea's forelimbs grappled with the human's wrists.

2404
02:34:54.159 --> 02:34:56.959
Its hooked feet latched into the muscles and ripped them

2405
02:34:57.040 --> 02:35:00.920
free from the bone. Hawk dropped the bug in stumbled away.

2406
02:35:01.719 --> 02:35:06.079
He stared helplessly at the mauled tissue and exposed arteries

2407
02:35:06.079 --> 02:35:10.120
within the Two fleas leapt at the wounds. Their voracious

2408
02:35:10.200 --> 02:35:15.680
appetites overpowered the giant human. In seconds, Hawk's world spun,

2409
02:35:16.440 --> 02:35:20.319
his knees wobbled, and his vision blurred. He hit the

2410
02:35:20.360 --> 02:35:26.239
ground hard, but it did not disturb the buffet. Long

2411
02:35:26.319 --> 02:35:30.760
after everything went dark, he could still hear them slurping

2412
02:35:31.000 --> 02:35:39.799
noisily at the last drops of his life. Danny didn't

2413
02:35:39.840 --> 02:35:42.920
know where the hell she was running to, but knew

2414
02:35:43.000 --> 02:35:45.879
that wherever it was would be better than where they'd been.

2415
02:35:46.799 --> 02:35:50.879
They'd stumbled into the monster bug's nest. Once they were

2416
02:35:50.920 --> 02:35:54.920
far enough away, they'd be safe. At least, she hoped

2417
02:35:55.000 --> 02:35:58.200
that was how it worked. She didn't know much about

2418
02:35:58.319 --> 02:36:04.559
regular insects, let alone twelve venched demon flees left. Brian gasped.

2419
02:36:04.959 --> 02:36:08.920
He slowed to a jog go left. Danny was breathing

2420
02:36:08.959 --> 02:36:12.360
too hard to speak. Her legs were on fire. She

2421
02:36:12.479 --> 02:36:15.799
wanted to stop running to gather her thoughts to formulate

2422
02:36:15.840 --> 02:36:19.440
a plan, but she was convinced every stone and massive

2423
02:36:19.520 --> 02:36:23.600
leaves she saw was another one of those damned things.

2424
02:36:24.040 --> 02:36:27.360
She banked left, jumping over a fallen log, and veered

2425
02:36:27.399 --> 02:36:32.000
towards something resembling a trail. It is a trail, she

2426
02:36:32.159 --> 02:36:36.959
realized two years before, they'd ridden hawks three wheelers along

2427
02:36:37.000 --> 02:36:39.840
the path to an abandoned summer camp on the north

2428
02:36:39.920 --> 02:36:42.920
end of the lake. They weren't far from the cabin.

2429
02:36:43.600 --> 02:36:48.159
More importantly, they weren't far from their jeep. Danny's energy

2430
02:36:48.239 --> 02:36:51.680
levels surged with her new hopefulness. She ignored the pain

2431
02:36:51.799 --> 02:36:56.280
and pushed onward faster than before. After several minutes, the

2432
02:36:56.360 --> 02:36:59.959
path grew steeper. Her legs couldn't hold up any longer,

2433
02:37:00.520 --> 02:37:04.079
and she fell forward, but didn't allow it to stop her.

2434
02:37:04.760 --> 02:37:08.000
She dug her fingers into the earth, crawling along until

2435
02:37:08.000 --> 02:37:12.559
she could run again, then falling and repeating the process

2436
02:37:13.079 --> 02:37:16.479
all the way to safety. She didn't stop until she'd

2437
02:37:16.520 --> 02:37:20.319
clambered up the steps and onto the front porch. Spots

2438
02:37:20.360 --> 02:37:23.440
filled Danny's vision as she lay there, choking on the

2439
02:37:23.479 --> 02:37:27.959
breaths she tried desperately to inhale. It took several minutes

2440
02:37:28.040 --> 02:37:32.360
until she gained some control over herself and finally sat up.

2441
02:37:33.799 --> 02:37:38.680
She was alone. Fear flooded her with another burst of adrenaline.

2442
02:37:39.079 --> 02:37:45.520
Brian Brian. Danny looked around frantically. Brian answer me, he didn't.

2443
02:37:46.440 --> 02:37:48.879
The woods were as still and dead as that bear

2444
02:37:48.959 --> 02:37:55.200
had been, as her friends were as Brian probably was too.

2445
02:37:55.440 --> 02:37:58.799
Danny climbed to her feet, taking only a few seconds

2446
02:37:58.799 --> 02:38:02.520
to scan the path forward him Once more, no one

2447
02:38:02.639 --> 02:38:06.079
was coming. She threw open the cabin door and ran

2448
02:38:06.120 --> 02:38:09.079
to their room for the car keys. He'll be there

2449
02:38:09.079 --> 02:38:12.920
when you get outside, she told herself. He's never been

2450
02:38:12.959 --> 02:38:14.799
a strong runner. He'll catch up by the time you

2451
02:38:14.840 --> 02:38:17.639
find the keys. He's probably waiting at the jeep already.

2452
02:38:19.239 --> 02:38:22.959
She grabbed the rabbit's foot keychain from the nightstand and

2453
02:38:23.120 --> 02:38:27.239
rolled the soft ornament in her palm. Her dad gave

2454
02:38:27.280 --> 02:38:30.639
it to her the first day of college for good luck.

2455
02:38:32.079 --> 02:38:36.559
Good luck, she laughed softly. Hugh had four of them,

2456
02:38:36.559 --> 02:38:40.559
and look what happened to you? Glass broke in the kitchen.

2457
02:38:41.239 --> 02:38:44.200
Danny stuffed the keys into her shorts and crept stealthily

2458
02:38:44.239 --> 02:38:48.319
into the hallway. A pan clattered to the floor. She

2459
02:38:48.440 --> 02:38:52.159
looked around for a weapon, though she wasn't sure exactly

2460
02:38:52.200 --> 02:38:56.280
what she could use to fight a giant flea. She

2461
02:38:56.520 --> 02:38:59.840
eased along the wall to the kitchen door. A cab

2462
02:39:00.079 --> 02:39:05.520
it banged open. More things crashed, Another cabinet slammed. She

2463
02:39:05.639 --> 02:39:10.440
took a deep breath and momentarily forgot how to exhale.

2464
02:39:10.600 --> 02:39:13.040
The bugs didn't have a reason to trash the place,

2465
02:39:13.559 --> 02:39:19.680
which meant someone or something else was inside. She finally

2466
02:39:19.760 --> 02:39:23.079
managed to let go of the captive breath and rounded

2467
02:39:23.120 --> 02:39:29.840
the jam. The scream was unintentional. Kara leaned on the counter, wheezing.

2468
02:39:30.440 --> 02:39:34.239
Sweat plastered her hair to her face. Bug bites the

2469
02:39:34.280 --> 02:39:39.159
size of hubcaps oozed from their gaping centers. Kara scratched

2470
02:39:39.239 --> 02:39:42.680
violently at them, chris crossing the deep furrows she'd left

2471
02:39:42.719 --> 02:39:48.239
with earlier attempts. Vomits stained her gory shirt. Her eyes

2472
02:39:48.760 --> 02:39:54.040
were milky PUFs filled orbs tinged with pink swirls from

2473
02:39:54.079 --> 02:39:59.079
the internal hemorrhaging Convulsions racked her body, bringing her to

2474
02:39:59.120 --> 02:40:04.200
her knees. Danny started toward her, kicking something across the floor.

2475
02:40:04.879 --> 02:40:08.719
She followed the noise as it rolled it bumped against

2476
02:40:08.719 --> 02:40:12.559
the leg of the dining room table. Danny smiled at

2477
02:40:12.559 --> 02:40:16.079
the yellow can of six twelve, the insect repellent that

2478
02:40:16.120 --> 02:40:19.520
had been banned the year before, but Kara insisted it

2479
02:40:19.559 --> 02:40:22.559
was the only thing that worked against the beefy mosquitoes

2480
02:40:23.000 --> 02:40:27.360
of bull shoals. Apparently it worked on mutant fleas as well,

2481
02:40:28.079 --> 02:40:30.360
that must have been what Kara was searching for in

2482
02:40:30.440 --> 02:40:34.120
the ah. Kara moaned and clawed at the bite on

2483
02:40:34.200 --> 02:40:37.719
her chest. She coughed, hacking up crimson phlegm.

2484
02:40:38.479 --> 02:40:40.559
Stop make it stop.

2485
02:40:41.600 --> 02:40:44.319
Kara banged the inside of her head against the counter.

2486
02:40:45.239 --> 02:40:50.879
Stop it, she hissed. The banging grew harder faster. The

2487
02:40:50.959 --> 02:40:56.760
trim cracked spatter decorated the cabinet doors. Kara continued shrieking

2488
02:40:56.799 --> 02:41:00.959
and moaning like one of the undead, for the can

2489
02:41:00.959 --> 02:41:05.799
of repellent. Kara's screams were punctuated by the frantic strikes

2490
02:41:05.840 --> 02:41:11.440
of her head against the counter. Then she collapsed. Gray

2491
02:41:11.520 --> 02:41:14.959
matter pushed through the shards of broken skull to mingle

2492
02:41:15.000 --> 02:41:20.319
with the other fluids in Kara's matted hair. Danny stretched

2493
02:41:20.319 --> 02:41:24.760
her sweat drenched T shirt over her nose. Fleas carried plagus.

2494
02:41:25.479 --> 02:41:27.840
She didn't want to believe that's what the bugs were,

2495
02:41:28.639 --> 02:41:31.760
but there was no denying it. The way they jumped,

2496
02:41:32.319 --> 02:41:36.600
the way they ate. Giant fleas had attacked them, and

2497
02:41:36.680 --> 02:41:40.360
if the insects had mutated, then maybe the viruses they

2498
02:41:40.440 --> 02:41:44.000
carried had as well. She backed out of the kitchen,

2499
02:41:44.120 --> 02:41:48.520
rubbing the repellent across her exposed areas. She blasted through

2500
02:41:48.559 --> 02:41:52.680
the front door, then slid to a sudden halt. Everything

2501
02:41:52.799 --> 02:41:56.120
was quiet, save for the ticking of the tin roof

2502
02:41:56.639 --> 02:42:01.959
expanding in the afternoon. Sunchildhood memory scratched at the back

2503
02:42:02.000 --> 02:42:06.079
of her mind, as persistent as any flea bite. She

2504
02:42:06.200 --> 02:42:08.920
thought about the stray that had wandered into their yard

2505
02:42:09.399 --> 02:42:13.120
when she was five. The pup rolled over onto his

2506
02:42:13.239 --> 02:42:16.799
back for belly rubs, and little Danny had been scarred

2507
02:42:16.840 --> 02:42:21.120
for life. The fleas were clustered together, turning the dog

2508
02:42:21.559 --> 02:42:26.120
into their own personal bonanza buffet. She hadn't understood what

2509
02:42:26.239 --> 02:42:29.840
the little dark specks all over the animal were. Some

2510
02:42:30.040 --> 02:42:35.120
crawled freely between his stiff, tawny hairs. She probed at

2511
02:42:35.159 --> 02:42:39.399
a suckling swarm of the parasites. Detecting new prey, they

2512
02:42:39.520 --> 02:42:43.760
leapt onto Danny's hands. They'd bitten her dozens of times

2513
02:42:43.799 --> 02:42:47.239
before she managed to get them all off. She had

2514
02:42:47.319 --> 02:42:51.079
nightmares for months, which had only been quelled once her

2515
02:42:51.120 --> 02:42:55.879
father explained to her that fleas couldn't survive without an

2516
02:42:55.920 --> 02:43:00.639
animal to live on. That's why everything was silent. She

2517
02:43:00.840 --> 02:43:05.559
realized the sparse populations of black bears and elk were

2518
02:43:05.559 --> 02:43:09.000
the largest animals in the Ozarks. It wouldn't have taken

2519
02:43:09.040 --> 02:43:13.040
the monsters long to exhaust those options. There were no

2520
02:43:13.239 --> 02:43:17.680
viable hosts, so they'd turned to attacking everything they could

2521
02:43:17.840 --> 02:43:22.280
for even a few drops of warm blood. Danny started

2522
02:43:22.319 --> 02:43:26.479
off the porch and the first step squeaked under her weight.

2523
02:43:27.440 --> 02:43:30.079
It reminded her of a dying animal. In the silence

2524
02:43:30.120 --> 02:43:34.639
surrounding the cabin, she paused. One of the rocks in

2525
02:43:34.639 --> 02:43:38.959
the yard seemed to move. She blinked the sweat away

2526
02:43:39.000 --> 02:43:42.159
from her eyes as best she could and watched it

2527
02:43:42.239 --> 02:43:46.920
for a moment. It was just a rock. She took

2528
02:43:46.959 --> 02:43:51.239
another step and the stairs gave a relieved groan. She

2529
02:43:51.399 --> 02:43:55.399
wondered if fleas even had ears. The popping of the

2530
02:43:55.479 --> 02:44:00.680
roof grew more rapid. She glanced over her shoulder and

2531
02:44:00.799 --> 02:44:06.000
started running. The encroaching humans had been enough to awaken

2532
02:44:06.200 --> 02:44:10.799
the entire scratch of super fleas after months of dormancy.

2533
02:44:11.319 --> 02:44:15.600
They were desperate for a meal, any meal. The hot

2534
02:44:15.680 --> 02:44:18.440
roof made the cabin look like a giant animal to

2535
02:44:18.479 --> 02:44:24.399
their simplified heat sensing eyes. They'd forgotten entirely about the

2536
02:44:24.520 --> 02:44:27.799
humans that had led them there, and attached themselves to

2537
02:44:27.840 --> 02:44:32.159
the first hope they'd had for a suitable host. Their

2538
02:44:32.200 --> 02:44:36.760
piercing stylets punched fruitlessly into the unnatural skin of the house.

2539
02:44:37.479 --> 02:44:40.879
Starvation was taking its toll on them. One of the

2540
02:44:40.879 --> 02:44:44.079
weakest slid off the roof and into the yard. Its

2541
02:44:44.159 --> 02:44:47.920
legs curled up to its abdomen as it died without

2542
02:44:47.959 --> 02:44:52.280
a sound. The others continued working away at the cabin's

2543
02:44:52.360 --> 02:44:55.920
metal flesh. Danny was almost to the jeep when the

2544
02:44:55.920 --> 02:45:00.639
windshield of Hawk's Toyota shattered. The malnourished flea had misjudged

2545
02:45:00.680 --> 02:45:04.360
its jump and smashed face first into the safety glass.

2546
02:45:04.879 --> 02:45:09.239
Its lanky hind legs kicked for another go. The sickle

2547
02:45:09.440 --> 02:45:14.000
like claws scraped divots into the truck's hood. Another famished

2548
02:45:14.000 --> 02:45:17.799
flea launched itself from the roof, landing a foot from Danny.

2549
02:45:18.719 --> 02:45:22.319
She squeezed the bottle of six twelve, blasting the bugs

2550
02:45:22.360 --> 02:45:26.079
in the face. It hopped in a circle, toppling wildly

2551
02:45:26.159 --> 02:45:30.920
over itself, and then bounded into the woods. The incessant

2552
02:45:30.959 --> 02:45:34.680
pecking of the parasites on the roof stopped in near unison.

2553
02:45:35.799 --> 02:45:40.799
One after another, they sprang from their perch. Danny stumbled

2554
02:45:40.840 --> 02:45:44.399
backwards and fell to the ground. She scrambled on all fours,

2555
02:45:44.600 --> 02:45:47.959
finally getting to her feet just in time to grab

2556
02:45:48.000 --> 02:45:51.360
the jeep's door handle. She threw open the red door,

2557
02:45:51.440 --> 02:45:56.239
inadvertently batting down an attacking creature. Another landed on her arm.

2558
02:45:56.799 --> 02:46:00.319
She grabbed its head, mashed her thumb into the thing's eye,

2559
02:46:00.520 --> 02:46:03.319
and slung it away so quickly that its clawed feet

2560
02:46:03.399 --> 02:46:07.559
tore through her skin. Danny screamed and fell backwards into

2561
02:46:07.600 --> 02:46:11.840
the vehicle. The insects swarmed around her. She pulled the

2562
02:46:11.879 --> 02:46:16.959
door shut, catching one in the jam. Its armored exoskeleton cracked,

2563
02:46:17.440 --> 02:46:21.079
but it didn't break. The monster tried to bite. It

2564
02:46:21.200 --> 02:46:25.479
squirmed and swung its head around. The lancing mouthparts stabbed

2565
02:46:25.520 --> 02:46:30.000
into the seat repeatedly. Danny leaned back, pulling the door

2566
02:46:30.079 --> 02:46:34.040
with all her weight. It never made a sound, and

2567
02:46:34.120 --> 02:46:39.159
somehow that terrified her more than anything else. It should

2568
02:46:39.200 --> 02:46:43.040
have roared or hissed or made some other horrifying noise

2569
02:46:43.319 --> 02:46:48.040
like the monster it was, but the thing was completely silent.

2570
02:46:48.079 --> 02:46:52.760
As the two combatants tried to murder one another, Danny

2571
02:46:52.840 --> 02:46:56.440
reached for the keys and found the pocket empty. The

2572
02:46:56.479 --> 02:47:00.920
flea inched inside. She quickly pulled the door with both hands. Again,

2573
02:47:01.959 --> 02:47:06.440
the windshield cracked in tiny snowflakes. The fleas were striking

2574
02:47:06.479 --> 02:47:10.559
at her heat signature, fracturing the barrier between themselves and

2575
02:47:10.639 --> 02:47:16.719
their feast. She was dead, and she knew it. Either

2576
02:47:16.760 --> 02:47:19.079
her arms were going to tie her out or the

2577
02:47:19.120 --> 02:47:23.520
windshield was going to shatter, but sooner rather than later,

2578
02:47:24.319 --> 02:47:27.639
the fleas would be inside the jeep with her. Her

2579
02:47:27.719 --> 02:47:32.280
muscles burned. Danny wondered which would be more painful, a

2580
02:47:32.280 --> 02:47:36.239
single flea or the entire scratch latching on at once.

2581
02:47:37.719 --> 02:47:40.159
She'd probably lose enough blood to pass out in a

2582
02:47:40.200 --> 02:47:42.600
second or two if all of them got to her.

2583
02:47:43.879 --> 02:47:47.680
The canvas roof sagged suddenly, hooks tore through the top

2584
02:47:47.719 --> 02:47:50.760
as others searched for another way in. She tried to

2585
02:47:50.760 --> 02:47:54.239
weigh her options, only to find herself without any The

2586
02:47:54.360 --> 02:47:58.000
lacerations on her arms leaked down the door panel, the

2587
02:47:58.079 --> 02:48:02.319
handle started slipping through her grass. Danny swung the appendage

2588
02:48:02.360 --> 02:48:05.520
over the entrapped flea and flexed the muscles to speed

2589
02:48:05.600 --> 02:48:09.559
up the flow. Droplets pelted the monster like crimson rain.

2590
02:48:10.239 --> 02:48:13.239
It twitched and twisted, trying to find the source of

2591
02:48:13.360 --> 02:48:17.840
the smell. Driven mad by hunger, it stabbed into its

2592
02:48:17.879 --> 02:48:23.239
own thorax, chasing a drop of the precious fluid. Danny

2593
02:48:23.319 --> 02:48:26.079
released enough pressure to kick it to the ground. While

2594
02:48:26.079 --> 02:48:30.120
it was distracted. Before she could slam the door, she

2595
02:48:30.280 --> 02:48:34.399
saw other fleas descend on it. They ferociously bit into

2596
02:48:34.399 --> 02:48:37.200
their brethren, trying to get their share of the blood.

2597
02:48:38.239 --> 02:48:41.520
Danny hit the door locks out of instinct. She crawled

2598
02:48:41.520 --> 02:48:43.680
into the back of the vehicle to find a weapon.

2599
02:48:44.600 --> 02:48:47.280
A nylon bag caught her eye. While she wrestled the

2600
02:48:47.319 --> 02:48:51.319
tire iron free. She looked out the plastic back window

2601
02:48:52.319 --> 02:48:55.600
behind the extra gas can. The driveway was a steep

2602
02:48:55.719 --> 02:48:59.600
hill that banked hard to the right. The fabric tore

2603
02:48:59.639 --> 02:49:03.520
overhead as more fleas congregated. She could see them through

2604
02:49:03.559 --> 02:49:07.000
the widening gashes and knew she was almost out of time.

2605
02:49:07.760 --> 02:49:10.079
They were going to get in through sheer dumb luck.

2606
02:49:10.520 --> 02:49:14.200
When the weight brought the canvas top down. A plan

2607
02:49:14.360 --> 02:49:17.479
was starting to formulate, but she needed just a little

2608
02:49:17.520 --> 02:49:20.840
longer to put it into motion. She clamored back to

2609
02:49:20.879 --> 02:49:23.680
the front and rolled the passenger window down an inch.

2610
02:49:24.600 --> 02:49:28.559
Pressing her wounded arm against the opening, she mashed at

2611
02:49:28.600 --> 02:49:32.399
the cuts blood trickled down the glass in tiny rivulets,

2612
02:49:33.040 --> 02:49:35.200
but it was more than enough to draw the attention

2613
02:49:35.799 --> 02:49:40.159
of the ravenous fleas. She cranked the window almost closed,

2614
02:49:40.600 --> 02:49:43.799
but left enough gap to give them false hope. As

2615
02:49:43.840 --> 02:49:48.000
she smeared the fluid over the upholstery, the parasites fought

2616
02:49:48.079 --> 02:49:51.600
for space, knocking each other aside and clawing away the

2617
02:49:51.600 --> 02:49:54.719
more persistent ones for their chance to get into the jeep.

2618
02:49:55.639 --> 02:49:59.280
Danny toppled into the back once more. She grabbed the

2619
02:49:59.319 --> 02:50:03.440
bag and wrestled out an emergency flare. A flea dropped

2620
02:50:03.440 --> 02:50:07.200
through the roof and scurried onto the back seat. Danny

2621
02:50:07.239 --> 02:50:11.440
brought the tire iron up, running it through. She swung

2622
02:50:11.479 --> 02:50:14.520
the spiked end, bug and all toward the back window

2623
02:50:14.959 --> 02:50:19.079
and slashed the plastic. She discarded the weapon, watching the

2624
02:50:19.159 --> 02:50:23.079
flea suckling desperately at its own bodily fluids oozing down

2625
02:50:23.079 --> 02:50:27.040
the metal, Danny struck the flare and wedged it into

2626
02:50:27.040 --> 02:50:30.399
the gas can's handle. She flipped over the back seat

2627
02:50:30.440 --> 02:50:32.559
and released the parking brake. As she moved to the

2628
02:50:32.639 --> 02:50:37.000
driver's seat, she rubbed her arm across the dashboard. The

2629
02:50:37.120 --> 02:50:41.319
roof collapsed and Danny opened the door, letting herself drop

2630
02:50:41.399 --> 02:50:45.239
backwards out of the rolling vehicle. Fleas sprang onto the

2631
02:50:45.280 --> 02:50:48.559
fresh blood trail she'd left for them. The jeep gained

2632
02:50:48.600 --> 02:50:52.479
speed as it descended the driveway. The starving fleas were

2633
02:50:52.520 --> 02:50:55.879
too busy stabbing at the instruments and radio in hopes

2634
02:50:55.920 --> 02:51:00.479
of finding more blood within to notice their predicament. The

2635
02:51:00.559 --> 02:51:04.120
jeep missed the turn and jumped a stump, careening into

2636
02:51:04.120 --> 02:51:08.319
the woods before slamming into a tree. The impact ruptured

2637
02:51:08.319 --> 02:51:11.799
the gas can. The flare ignited the wave of fuel

2638
02:51:11.840 --> 02:51:16.000
as it washed over the vehicle. The fleas became fireballs,

2639
02:51:16.239 --> 02:51:19.760
shooting out of the wreckage. Others were trapped inside the

2640
02:51:19.799 --> 02:51:24.639
mangled jeep, their internal fluids boiled until they exploded from

2641
02:51:24.639 --> 02:51:28.680
the pressure inside their armored bodies. Danny laughed at the

2642
02:51:28.719 --> 02:51:35.239
sound of the parasitic popcorn bursting. She'd survived. She'd won.

2643
02:51:36.360 --> 02:51:40.360
The jeep's gas tank exploded, rumbling the ground beneath her.

2644
02:51:40.920 --> 02:51:43.920
She watched the pillar of fire and smoke rise above

2645
02:51:43.959 --> 02:51:48.479
the tree tops. Danny laid back. She'd find the keys

2646
02:51:48.520 --> 02:51:52.319
to Hawk's truck later. Maybe Rocco and Lila would finally

2647
02:51:52.399 --> 02:51:55.879
show up and she wouldn't have to or maybe the

2648
02:51:55.959 --> 02:52:00.000
fire would attract a game warden. That part could wait

2649
02:52:01.200 --> 02:52:05.000
five minutes before she was sure she was going to die.

2650
02:52:05.079 --> 02:52:08.120
She was safe, and she just wanted to spend some

2651
02:52:08.280 --> 02:52:13.239
time relishing in that. She closed her eyes. Her heart

2652
02:52:13.280 --> 02:52:17.079
rate was starting to slow down when she heard branches

2653
02:52:17.120 --> 02:52:22.120
in the trees above. She opened her eyes slowly, looking

2654
02:52:22.200 --> 02:52:27.719
for the source. A fat squirrel eased out onto a branch,

2655
02:52:28.479 --> 02:52:33.040
looking down curiously at the human. Danny smiled at the

2656
02:52:33.079 --> 02:52:38.040
critter and brought her wounded arm up and waved at it.

2657
02:52:38.040 --> 02:52:44.399
It chittered in response. Hey there, she said, fighting back

2658
02:52:44.399 --> 02:52:49.479
the urge to cry. We made it, little fella. It

2659
02:52:49.559 --> 02:52:55.479
chittered again. A shadow fell across its furry form. Danny

2660
02:52:55.520 --> 02:52:59.159
barely processed it before the flea dropped onto the rodent.

2661
02:52:59.719 --> 02:53:04.840
The stolets punctured the squirrel's neck, effectively decapitating it. The

2662
02:53:04.840 --> 02:53:08.399
flea drank greedily from the stump, and Danny watched in

2663
02:53:08.479 --> 02:53:12.200
horror as the plump body shriveled. The slurping let her

2664
02:53:12.239 --> 02:53:17.000
know the parasite had finished the appetizer. The flea jumped

2665
02:53:17.000 --> 02:53:21.600
from the branch straight for Danny's prone body. Something boomed

2666
02:53:21.879 --> 02:53:26.719
and bits of exoskeleton pelted Danny's body. She rolled over

2667
02:53:26.799 --> 02:53:30.520
and saw Brian limping toward her with one of hawk'skeet

2668
02:53:30.559 --> 02:53:37.479
guns over his shoulder kills on contact, he said, Oh

2669
02:53:37.520 --> 02:53:41.879
my god. Tears welled up in her eyes. You're alive.

2670
02:53:42.920 --> 02:53:46.000
Danny ran to him, throwing her arms around his plump

2671
02:53:46.040 --> 02:53:50.719
waist and burying her face into his chest. He kissed

2672
02:53:50.760 --> 02:53:53.440
the top of her head and forced himself to let

2673
02:53:53.479 --> 02:53:56.559
out a manly chuckle that was harder to believe than

2674
02:53:56.680 --> 02:54:02.639
giant mutated flies. Wheezed him harder, and they both sank

2675
02:54:02.680 --> 02:54:07.399
to the ground. I thought they got you, Danny sniffled,

2676
02:54:08.559 --> 02:54:13.600
almost he whispered. They wouldn't follow Kara because of all

2677
02:54:13.639 --> 02:54:16.920
the bugspray she had on, so I followed her back.

2678
02:54:18.200 --> 02:54:20.280
It was like they couldn't find me in her trail.

2679
02:54:21.239 --> 02:54:24.520
Then I saw them gathering on the roof, so I hid.

2680
02:54:25.600 --> 02:54:31.000
I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, I don't care. I'm just

2681
02:54:31.079 --> 02:54:35.360
glad you made it. Danny squeezed his chubby face between

2682
02:54:35.360 --> 02:54:41.159
her hands, that we made it. Yeah, me too. Brian

2683
02:54:41.280 --> 02:54:46.040
stood and helped her up. I appreciate the romantic fire, honey,

2684
02:54:46.040 --> 02:54:50.079
but I wish you'd blown up someone else's car. The

2685
02:54:50.159 --> 02:54:55.440
ground trembled beneath them again, but there hadn't been another explosion.

2686
02:54:56.479 --> 02:55:00.760
Danny looked around at the rocks dotting the yard, wondering

2687
02:55:01.319 --> 02:55:05.440
which of them might be hidden bugs. Her eyes flicked

2688
02:55:05.440 --> 02:55:10.879
to the trees. Nothing was moving. Her hand moved from

2689
02:55:10.920 --> 02:55:16.040
Brian's side to the double barreled shotgun. She snatched it

2690
02:55:16.079 --> 02:55:19.200
from his hand, passing it behind her back to her

2691
02:55:19.200 --> 02:55:23.719
dominant hand like a majorrette. The ground began to pulse

2692
02:55:24.079 --> 02:55:31.360
and crack. Hey, babe, she said quietly, I think it's

2693
02:55:31.440 --> 02:55:46.079
time we flee. We were hunted by something terrifying in

2694
02:55:46.120 --> 02:55:52.239
the woods by Michael Kelson. His shoulder was broken, the

2695
02:55:52.399 --> 02:55:55.360
arm hanging limply at his side like a loose bag

2696
02:55:55.440 --> 02:55:58.760
of sand. Sweat forced itself out of the pores on

2697
02:55:58.799 --> 02:56:02.319
his face and peeled off the burns on his hands.

2698
02:56:02.959 --> 02:56:06.360
It wasn't a good position to be in under the circumstances,

2699
02:56:06.719 --> 02:56:10.120
and the situation didn't seem likely to improve, but he

2700
02:56:10.200 --> 02:56:13.719
did have one thing working in his favor. He didn't

2701
02:56:13.719 --> 02:56:18.239
care if he survived. Are you all right? I asked,

2702
02:56:18.680 --> 02:56:22.159
cringing at the ludicrousness of the question. He looked up

2703
02:56:22.200 --> 02:56:27.760
at me, his eye swollen nearly shut. Yeah, I'm just peachy,

2704
02:56:28.360 --> 02:56:32.799
he said, sarcasm dripping from every word. Sorry, I just

2705
02:56:32.920 --> 02:56:36.360
don't know what else to say. Isn't much to say,

2706
02:56:36.440 --> 02:56:40.639
is there? Unless you want to talk about no, I said,

2707
02:56:40.920 --> 02:56:43.920
before he could finish the sentence. Let's talk about how

2708
02:56:43.959 --> 02:56:46.920
we're gonna get you down from here. He leaned over,

2709
02:56:47.040 --> 02:56:49.760
wincing as he did, and peeked over the side of

2710
02:56:49.799 --> 02:56:53.879
the cliff. How about you give me a little shove.

2711
02:56:54.360 --> 02:56:58.280
That should do the trick. Very funny. You know I'm

2712
02:56:58.280 --> 02:57:02.079
not gonna do that, he glared at me. Then maybe

2713
02:57:02.120 --> 02:57:05.559
I should give you a shove and make things quicker.

2714
02:57:06.639 --> 02:57:09.959
How about we focus on the positive. You know this

2715
02:57:10.120 --> 02:57:12.879
only ends one way. If you try to save me,

2716
02:57:13.040 --> 02:57:17.079
you get killed in the process, especially with we don't

2717
02:57:17.079 --> 02:57:20.000
know that for sure, okay, I said, packing up the

2718
02:57:20.040 --> 02:57:22.879
supplies we had and trying to form some kind of

2719
02:57:22.959 --> 02:57:27.280
plan to keep us alive long enough to get to safety. Besides,

2720
02:57:28.000 --> 02:57:30.959
we've been best friends since what grade school? If I

2721
02:57:30.959 --> 02:57:33.159
haven't already been tempted to toss you off a cliff,

2722
02:57:33.200 --> 02:57:36.000
I'm not going to start now. I stepped over to

2723
02:57:36.040 --> 02:57:38.920
the edge and glanced down. The wind whipped me in

2724
02:57:38.920 --> 02:57:41.840
the face, sending a chill through me. Even though it

2725
02:57:41.879 --> 02:57:44.399
was spring, there was still enough chill in the air

2726
02:57:44.440 --> 02:57:47.479
to make me shiver. I watched as the sun headed

2727
02:57:47.520 --> 02:57:50.399
toward the horizon. It would be dark before we got

2728
02:57:50.440 --> 02:57:53.639
out if I didn't hurry up. My right knee collapsed

2729
02:57:53.680 --> 02:57:55.239
as he kicked me in the back of the leg.

2730
02:57:55.799 --> 02:57:59.079
I stumbled, my knees, hitting the ground hard, rolling me

2731
02:57:59.159 --> 02:58:02.079
toward the edge. My hand shot out and grabbed the log,

2732
02:58:02.239 --> 02:58:06.520
saving me from a horrible death hundreds of feet below.

2733
02:58:06.559 --> 02:58:09.879
What the hell is wrong with you? I said, lying

2734
02:58:09.920 --> 02:58:13.159
on the ground and breathing hard. I told you this

2735
02:58:13.319 --> 02:58:16.680
only ends one way. Might as well get it over with.

2736
02:58:17.479 --> 02:58:19.959
I stared at him, not believing what I was hearing.

2737
02:58:20.600 --> 02:58:25.200
You're serious, I said, I thought you were just being you.

2738
02:58:26.440 --> 02:58:30.600
Look at me. I'm an excruciating pain. My shoulders a mess,

2739
02:58:30.760 --> 02:58:32.799
I have burns on my hands, and I'm not going

2740
02:58:32.879 --> 02:58:36.120
to be able to climb down. And even if I could,

2741
02:58:36.200 --> 02:58:40.959
there's there's no safety from We have to try, I said,

2742
02:58:41.559 --> 02:58:44.600
I didn't bring you here to die. I wish you

2743
02:58:44.600 --> 02:58:47.639
wouldn't have brought me here at all. There was no

2744
02:58:47.719 --> 02:58:50.799
way to know this was going to happen. He stared

2745
02:58:50.799 --> 02:58:54.280
at me, doubt filled his eyes. I turned away and

2746
02:58:54.319 --> 02:58:57.079
focused on filling my pack with what I hoped was

2747
02:58:57.159 --> 02:59:00.719
the right combination of supplies. I could make the pack

2748
02:59:00.799 --> 02:59:03.479
too heavy because I needed to lower him down and

2749
02:59:03.559 --> 02:59:07.079
possibly carry him too. I tied together all the rope

2750
02:59:07.120 --> 02:59:10.239
we had and double checked the knots. I clipped the

2751
02:59:10.280 --> 02:59:13.360
carabiner to his climbing rig, checking to make sure it

2752
02:59:13.399 --> 02:59:16.959
was still intact and the fire hadn't damaged it. I

2753
02:59:16.959 --> 02:59:22.159
stepped back to admire my handiwork. He was doing the same. Really,

2754
02:59:22.719 --> 02:59:28.920
he said, this is your big plan, sure, I said, smiling,

2755
02:59:29.280 --> 02:59:33.079
proud of myself and my ingenuity. Why not just ring

2756
02:59:33.159 --> 02:59:35.479
the dinner bell for every predator as you dangle me

2757
02:59:35.600 --> 02:59:39.719
like a carrot? You know what, You're right, I said,

2758
02:59:40.319 --> 02:59:43.319
It's not worth all this trouble. I raised my foot

2759
02:59:43.319 --> 02:59:46.120
and shoved his good arm, sending him toppling over the

2760
02:59:46.200 --> 02:59:49.399
edge of the cliff. I heard him scream as he fell.

2761
02:59:50.639 --> 02:59:57.760
Then silence. Thank god, I said, sighing. I was getting

2762
02:59:57.799 --> 03:00:01.360
so tired of listening to his whining. I heard that,

2763
03:00:02.120 --> 03:00:04.959
he said from over the edge. I stepped up and

2764
03:00:05.040 --> 03:00:08.319
peered over. He was dangling there ten feet from the

2765
03:00:08.319 --> 03:00:12.559
top of the ledge. Oh, dang, I thought I killed you,

2766
03:00:13.040 --> 03:00:16.280
I said, chuckling. He looked up and saw me peeking

2767
03:00:16.360 --> 03:00:22.559
over you, bastard, He said, well, isn't that what you wanted?

2768
03:00:22.559 --> 03:00:25.120
For me? To throw you off the cliff? How's that

2769
03:00:25.159 --> 03:00:29.440
working out for you? He glared, daggers at me. Makes

2770
03:00:29.440 --> 03:00:32.120
you appreciate life when you think you're about to die,

2771
03:00:32.200 --> 03:00:37.079
doesn't it. I said, you'll pay for this for saving

2772
03:00:37.120 --> 03:00:41.920
your life. Okay, I'll take full responsibility for that. I

2773
03:00:42.000 --> 03:00:46.399
began the long, arduous process of lowering him down. I

2774
03:00:46.440 --> 03:00:50.520
only hoped I had enough rope. After a while, the

2775
03:00:50.559 --> 03:00:54.239
strain took its toll. I was exhausted and sweaty. My

2776
03:00:54.399 --> 03:00:56.920
hands slipped and I had to quickly recover to keep

2777
03:00:57.000 --> 03:01:00.479
him from smashing into the ground. I managed to slow

2778
03:01:00.520 --> 03:01:03.840
the rope at the cost of my hands getting severe

2779
03:01:03.920 --> 03:01:06.799
rope burn. I tied it off to a tree and

2780
03:01:06.879 --> 03:01:10.440
leaned over to check on him. You okay, I yelled.

2781
03:01:11.079 --> 03:01:14.200
I couldn't see exactly what he was doing. It looked

2782
03:01:14.200 --> 03:01:16.879
like he raised his arm, but I couldn't tell. I

2783
03:01:16.920 --> 03:01:21.200
grabbed my binoculars and peered down, only to see he

2784
03:01:21.360 --> 03:01:25.120
was giving me the finger same to you, I yelled,

2785
03:01:25.959 --> 03:01:27.600
I need to take a breather. Will you be all

2786
03:01:27.680 --> 03:01:31.040
right for a few minutes. His answer was to slump

2787
03:01:31.079 --> 03:01:34.920
his head. I guessed he was taking a nap. I

2788
03:01:35.000 --> 03:01:37.040
sat next to the log and got out a bottle

2789
03:01:37.079 --> 03:01:40.719
of water, taking a long drink. After a few minutes,

2790
03:01:40.959 --> 03:01:43.159
I pulled out my knife and cut some strips off

2791
03:01:43.159 --> 03:01:45.959
the bottom of my shirt, wrapped them around the palms

2792
03:01:45.959 --> 03:01:49.440
of my hands, and tied them off. Why didn't I

2793
03:01:49.479 --> 03:01:52.639
think of that before I started lowering him. I thought

2794
03:01:53.360 --> 03:01:56.159
I was about to start another session of lowering when

2795
03:01:56.200 --> 03:02:02.000
I saw the rope vibrating. That's weird, I thought, What

2796
03:02:02.040 --> 03:02:04.760
are you doing down there? I yelled, stepping to the

2797
03:02:04.879 --> 03:02:09.600
edge and looking down. My spine turned to ice when

2798
03:02:09.639 --> 03:02:18.559
I saw nothing. He wasn't there, Adrian, I yelled. No response, Adrian,

2799
03:02:19.559 --> 03:02:23.239
I yelled again, quickly pushing away thoughts of the rocky movies.

2800
03:02:24.040 --> 03:02:26.760
I pulled the rope and it came up with no resistance.

2801
03:02:27.239 --> 03:02:29.639
I reeled in the entire length and at the end

2802
03:02:30.319 --> 03:02:33.680
there was no sign of Adrian. The rope didn't look

2803
03:02:33.760 --> 03:02:36.040
like it had been cut. It looked like it had

2804
03:02:36.079 --> 03:02:41.399
been torn or chewed. I stared at it for a

2805
03:02:41.440 --> 03:02:45.079
long time. Memories of the horrible events that led up

2806
03:02:45.120 --> 03:02:48.639
to this moment overwhelmed me. I collapsed to the ground

2807
03:02:48.680 --> 03:02:51.760
in fear. My eyes darted around like my head was

2808
03:02:51.799 --> 03:02:56.079
on a swivel. Every tree became a hiding place for

2809
03:02:56.159 --> 03:03:00.760
that thing. I could feel it lurking behind every bush.

2810
03:03:01.399 --> 03:03:05.159
My mind started replaying when the trouble first started. We

2811
03:03:05.239 --> 03:03:06.879
made it up to the top of the cliff and

2812
03:03:06.920 --> 03:03:10.719
celebrated by starting a campfire and making some coffee while

2813
03:03:10.719 --> 03:03:13.639
we set up our tents. Adrian was actually in a

2814
03:03:13.680 --> 03:03:16.399
good mood, if you can imagine, and we stayed up

2815
03:03:16.440 --> 03:03:20.120
by the fire until well after midnight the following morning.

2816
03:03:20.879 --> 03:03:24.799
His mood changed way to keep me up all night, ahole,

2817
03:03:25.280 --> 03:03:28.319
he said, pouring a fresh cup of coffee and looking

2818
03:03:28.440 --> 03:03:31.920
like he needed it. What are you talking about, Don't

2819
03:03:31.959 --> 03:03:35.479
play innocent, he said. You know you were hanging around

2820
03:03:35.479 --> 03:03:39.559
my tent, circling it late last night, growling and pawing

2821
03:03:39.600 --> 03:03:42.680
at the ground, trying to scare me. My eyes went

2822
03:03:42.760 --> 03:03:46.239
wide as he talked, I swear I was in my

2823
03:03:46.319 --> 03:03:49.040
tent the whole time. I fell asleep as soon as

2824
03:03:49.040 --> 03:03:52.239
my head hit the pillow. Then what was making all

2825
03:03:52.280 --> 03:03:56.120
that racket? He said, with doubt creeping into his eyes.

2826
03:03:57.680 --> 03:04:01.399
Maybe I was snoring and you heard that. Trust me,

2827
03:04:02.079 --> 03:04:06.159
this wasn't a snore. Well, if it wasn't me. Then

2828
03:04:06.760 --> 03:04:10.639
I narrowed my eyes at him. Wait a minute, I

2829
03:04:10.680 --> 03:04:13.879
know what you're doing. What am I doing? He said,

2830
03:04:14.120 --> 03:04:17.200
looking at his coffee cup. You're trying to scare me

2831
03:04:17.280 --> 03:04:21.799
with some campfire ghost story, hoping i'll wig out. I'm

2832
03:04:21.840 --> 03:04:27.719
telling you it's not some campfire story. It really happened. Yeah, okay,

2833
03:04:28.200 --> 03:04:30.760
I said, making it clear that I didn't believe a

2834
03:04:30.799 --> 03:04:36.799
single word. I mean it, he said, starting to get angry. Okay, okay,

2835
03:04:37.079 --> 03:04:41.280
I said, don't get your panties in a bunch. You better,

2836
03:04:41.879 --> 03:04:45.719
he started saying, and then stopped. His eyes were focused

2837
03:04:45.719 --> 03:04:49.920
on something behind me. I'm not falling for that, I said,

2838
03:04:50.200 --> 03:04:54.559
refusing to look until I heard a branch snap behind me.

2839
03:04:55.280 --> 03:05:03.319
I turned around and saw. I shook my head to

2840
03:05:03.360 --> 03:05:06.079
clear the memory. I don't want to think about that

2841
03:05:06.200 --> 03:05:09.799
right now, I told myself. I need to focus on

2842
03:05:10.000 --> 03:05:13.440
finding out what happened to Adrian. I stood and checked

2843
03:05:13.440 --> 03:05:16.559
my supplies, then double checked to be sure the rope

2844
03:05:16.840 --> 03:05:20.840
was securely tied to the tree, I avoided looking around

2845
03:05:20.879 --> 03:05:24.360
for fear of what might be lurking. Then, once everything

2846
03:05:24.440 --> 03:05:27.040
was set, I stared down at the deadly ground that

2847
03:05:27.079 --> 03:05:30.319
waited for me to make a mistake, muttered a quick prayer,

2848
03:05:30.879 --> 03:05:35.879
then jumped off the cliff. Repelling down was more difficult.

2849
03:05:35.879 --> 03:05:38.719
With a pack on my back and rags wrapped around

2850
03:05:38.719 --> 03:05:42.959
my already rope burned hands, I took it slow, working

2851
03:05:43.000 --> 03:05:46.000
my way down the same way Adrian had gone. I

2852
03:05:46.040 --> 03:05:50.520
also went slow for fear of finding what I didn't

2853
03:05:50.559 --> 03:05:53.920
want to find. I knew it was possible, so I

2854
03:05:53.959 --> 03:05:56.920
made sure to be as quiet as I could. The

2855
03:05:57.000 --> 03:05:59.040
rock face was rough, and I did my best not

2856
03:05:59.159 --> 03:06:02.120
to knock loose any pebbles or do anything that would

2857
03:06:02.120 --> 03:06:06.079
announce my presence. In a best case scenario, his rope

2858
03:06:06.079 --> 03:06:09.239
got frayed on the rocks and broke. I hoped I

2859
03:06:09.280 --> 03:06:14.280
would find him laying on an outcropping nearby, unconscious but alive.

2860
03:06:15.239 --> 03:06:18.399
As I descended, I noticed an opening in the rock wall.

2861
03:06:18.959 --> 03:06:21.719
My rope was in a straight line with it. I

2862
03:06:21.719 --> 03:06:26.000
imagined Adrian's rope was too. I stopped and swung myself

2863
03:06:26.040 --> 03:06:28.600
over to the rock face, grabbing a bigger rock and

2864
03:06:28.639 --> 03:06:31.680
pulling myself to it. I pulled my rope up and

2865
03:06:31.760 --> 03:06:34.600
stashed it, then climbed down the side of the opening.

2866
03:06:35.280 --> 03:06:37.200
There was a small ledge in front of it that

2867
03:06:37.280 --> 03:06:41.520
I landed on and peered inside. It was dark as pitch.

2868
03:06:42.319 --> 03:06:45.079
Even though the sun had just set. It seemed like

2869
03:06:45.200 --> 03:06:49.120
daylight couldn't penetrate the darkness. I pulled out my flashlight

2870
03:06:49.360 --> 03:06:52.799
and slowly explored the opening with it. It turned out

2871
03:06:52.799 --> 03:06:56.680
to be a large cave. I stepped inside, and walking upright,

2872
03:06:56.760 --> 03:07:00.239
my head easily cleared the ceiling by a good three feet.

2873
03:07:00.799 --> 03:07:04.120
Curiosity overtook me as I shined the light around this

2874
03:07:04.399 --> 03:07:08.399
newfound hall of mysteries. There were no markings on the walls,

2875
03:07:08.440 --> 03:07:10.600
and the floor was rough, like the cave had formed

2876
03:07:10.680 --> 03:07:14.639
naturally instead of by someone making it. But then again,

2877
03:07:15.639 --> 03:07:18.239
why would someone make a cave halfway up a cliff

2878
03:07:18.239 --> 03:07:22.879
face where it's nearly impossible to get to? I wasn't

2879
03:07:22.920 --> 03:07:26.319
sure I really wanted to know the answer. As I

2880
03:07:26.399 --> 03:07:30.600
continued inside, the air became cooler. I hugged myself and

2881
03:07:30.639 --> 03:07:33.879
fought off a chill. This cave was much bigger than

2882
03:07:33.920 --> 03:07:37.399
I had originally thought. I walked a short distance before

2883
03:07:37.440 --> 03:07:42.040
I noticed the smell. Actually, it was two smells that

2884
03:07:42.159 --> 03:07:46.000
intertwined with each other. The first was the smell of fire,

2885
03:07:46.799 --> 03:07:49.600
not like a rushing wildfire coming to burn me to

2886
03:07:49.639 --> 03:07:55.479
a crisp more like a campfire. The second smell was

2887
03:07:55.559 --> 03:08:01.680
less encouraging. It was the smell of decay. Some animal

2888
03:08:01.719 --> 03:08:04.280
had died in here, There was no doubt about it.

2889
03:08:04.799 --> 03:08:08.159
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if perhaps I had

2890
03:08:08.159 --> 03:08:12.879
explored far enough. My wondering ceased when I remembered why

2891
03:08:12.920 --> 03:08:16.840
I was here in the first place. Adrian was still missing.

2892
03:08:17.360 --> 03:08:19.520
If he had come down here, it didn't seem like

2893
03:08:19.559 --> 03:08:22.840
he was coerced, At least. I didn't see any sign

2894
03:08:22.920 --> 03:08:25.959
of drag marks on the ground or a struggle, but

2895
03:08:26.000 --> 03:08:28.559
then again, it was hard to tell on the rough

2896
03:08:28.680 --> 03:08:33.040
rock floor. I suddenly stopped, unsure of what to do.

2897
03:08:33.840 --> 03:08:37.399
The passageway split in two. I shone my light at

2898
03:08:37.440 --> 03:08:40.719
the right one and then the left. Neither seemed to

2899
03:08:40.760 --> 03:08:43.840
show any clue of which was the correct path. I

2900
03:08:43.920 --> 03:08:46.879
stared at each for a long moment, then mentally flipped

2901
03:08:46.879 --> 03:08:50.360
a coin and went right. As soon as I took

2902
03:08:50.360 --> 03:08:53.520
a few steps, I could feel a strong wind blowing

2903
03:08:53.559 --> 03:08:57.079
in my face, carrying the smells of fire and rot

2904
03:08:57.120 --> 03:09:00.399
with it. I nearly backed up and took the other path,

2905
03:09:00.760 --> 03:09:03.600
but this was where I was most likely to find Adrian,

2906
03:09:04.200 --> 03:09:08.360
at least I hoped I would. As I walked, I

2907
03:09:08.479 --> 03:09:12.319
noticed a slight glow ahead. I turned off my flashlight

2908
03:09:12.399 --> 03:09:16.159
and followed the ever increasing light. When I turned the corner,

2909
03:09:16.799 --> 03:09:19.399
I saw Adrian lying on the ground in front of

2910
03:09:19.399 --> 03:09:23.840
the fire. He didn't seem to be injured, well, at

2911
03:09:23.920 --> 03:09:27.399
least not any more than he already was. I didn't

2912
03:09:27.399 --> 03:09:30.639
see any blood near him. I did, however, see a

2913
03:09:30.680 --> 03:09:35.360
pile of bones tossed in the corner behind him. It

2914
03:09:35.479 --> 03:09:38.520
disturbed me to see the pile and think about my

2915
03:09:38.639 --> 03:09:42.600
friend's bones eventually laying there. I took a step forward

2916
03:09:42.639 --> 03:09:46.159
to go check on him, then suddenly stopped. The huge

2917
03:09:46.239 --> 03:09:50.280
rock that had been sitting by the fire suddenly moved.

2918
03:09:51.040 --> 03:09:53.600
I recognized it right away from the size and the

2919
03:09:53.639 --> 03:09:57.799
color of the hair that covered it. I stepped back

2920
03:09:57.840 --> 03:10:00.799
out of view and began shaking. I knew I only

2921
03:10:00.840 --> 03:10:05.239
had two options, kill this thing or hide from it.

2922
03:10:06.520 --> 03:10:08.840
There was nothing in my bag that would kill it.

2923
03:10:09.639 --> 03:10:11.760
I didn't have a gun with me, and I doubted

2924
03:10:11.760 --> 03:10:14.680
a pocket knife would do the trick. I had to

2925
03:10:14.719 --> 03:10:19.239
find somewhere to hide until it left. My mind ran

2926
03:10:19.319 --> 03:10:22.959
in circles trying to think of a hiding place. When

2927
03:10:22.959 --> 03:10:26.000
it dawned on me, I turned and went back to

2928
03:10:26.079 --> 03:10:29.799
the other passageway as quietly as I could. Once there,

2929
03:10:29.840 --> 03:10:32.879
I stepped inside, thinking it would be a long cavern

2930
03:10:33.319 --> 03:10:39.040
like its counterpart. However, it was almost immediately blocked. I

2931
03:10:39.120 --> 03:10:41.920
shone my flashlight on the blockage and was horrified to

2932
03:10:42.000 --> 03:10:47.239
find it was piled up with clothes, shirts, pants, shoes,

2933
03:10:47.719 --> 03:10:51.799
and even the occasional backpack. It was all piled nearly

2934
03:10:51.840 --> 03:10:55.319
to the ceiling of the cave, and more disturbingly, each

2935
03:10:55.479 --> 03:10:59.680
article had blood on it. There didn't seem to be

2936
03:10:59.719 --> 03:11:03.479
any that escaped damage either. Most were ripped or chewed,

2937
03:11:03.520 --> 03:11:08.719
probably like their unfortunate owners. I remember hearing about hikers

2938
03:11:08.760 --> 03:11:11.719
going missing in this very park, but I thought it

2939
03:11:11.760 --> 03:11:14.399
was just the normal stuff. Like in any other park,

2940
03:11:14.959 --> 03:11:19.959
people get lost or fall into some hidden crevasse or ravine.

2941
03:11:20.200 --> 03:11:23.440
I guess not. My mind screamed for me to get

2942
03:11:23.440 --> 03:11:26.719
out of there fast, but I needed to know Adrian

2943
03:11:26.879 --> 03:11:31.040
was okay and somehow try to rescue him, although at

2944
03:11:31.040 --> 03:11:35.760
the moment that seemed impossible. The longer I stared at

2945
03:11:35.840 --> 03:11:38.840
the clothes of these poor, helpless victims, the more it

2946
03:11:38.959 --> 03:11:42.719
formed into an idea. I grabbed some of the clothes

2947
03:11:42.920 --> 03:11:45.920
and pushed them aside, digging my way toward the bottom

2948
03:11:45.920 --> 03:11:50.000
of the seemingly endless pile. I wondered how many missing

2949
03:11:50.079 --> 03:11:54.479
people it took before a major investigation started. I reached

2950
03:11:54.520 --> 03:11:58.280
the bottom and took my pack off, setting it beside me.

2951
03:11:58.920 --> 03:12:02.040
Then I pulled clothes down on top of me, leaving

2952
03:12:02.120 --> 03:12:06.040
a small space for me to peek through. There was

2953
03:12:06.159 --> 03:12:08.360
just a hint of light coming from the mouth of

2954
03:12:08.399 --> 03:12:12.879
the cave, but it was rapidly dwindling. I slowly unzipped

2955
03:12:12.920 --> 03:12:15.159
all the zippers on my pack so I had easy

2956
03:12:15.239 --> 03:12:19.200
access without making a sound. When I needed something, I

2957
03:12:19.280 --> 03:12:22.319
settled in and tried to make a comfortable seat out

2958
03:12:22.319 --> 03:12:26.239
of the clothes. My conscience was not happy using the

2959
03:12:26.239 --> 03:12:31.319
clothes of murder victims for comfort, but I saw no alternative.

2960
03:12:31.799 --> 03:12:34.520
If I ran, that thing would hunt me down. It

2961
03:12:34.680 --> 03:12:38.559
already found us once. I must have been more tired

2962
03:12:38.600 --> 03:12:43.159
than I thought. Once I settled in, I fell asleep

2963
03:12:43.239 --> 03:12:53.000
almost immediately. I turned and it was there. I wasn't

2964
03:12:53.040 --> 03:12:56.200
even sure what it was. It was dark and hairy.

2965
03:12:57.159 --> 03:12:59.680
It stood on its back legs, but hunched over as

2966
03:12:59.719 --> 03:13:06.719
if readying for an attack. I was petrified, Adrian, I said,

2967
03:13:08.120 --> 03:13:13.959
what he hissed? Is that what you heard? Yeah, I'm

2968
03:13:14.000 --> 03:13:18.000
thinking so, he said, quietly, barely moving his mouth, as

2969
03:13:18.040 --> 03:13:22.399
if the monster wouldn't attack if you didn't speak. What

2970
03:13:22.399 --> 03:13:26.000
do we do? I said, through clenched teeth. How the

2971
03:13:26.079 --> 03:13:30.000
hell should I know? It was circling us and moving closer.

2972
03:13:30.040 --> 03:13:33.280
At the same time, its sharp teeth dripped with drool.

2973
03:13:34.760 --> 03:13:39.799
Did you bring a gun? I said, no, did you?

2974
03:13:40.840 --> 03:13:44.079
I slowly shook my head. It stopped and looked at

2975
03:13:44.079 --> 03:13:47.879
me as though it understood the whole conversation. It stopped

2976
03:13:47.959 --> 03:13:51.239
lurching and stood to its full height. It must have

2977
03:13:51.360 --> 03:13:54.559
been at least eight feet tall. It lunged at me

2978
03:13:54.639 --> 03:13:57.840
with incredible speed. I screamed and tried to run, but

2979
03:13:57.920 --> 03:13:59.799
my foot got caught on the log and I fell

2980
03:13:59.799 --> 03:14:03.520
over backwards, knocking the wind out of me. In the end,

2981
03:14:04.000 --> 03:14:07.200
that was a good thing. The monster lunged at my torso,

2982
03:14:07.959 --> 03:14:10.239
but since I fell, my torso was laying on the

2983
03:14:10.239 --> 03:14:13.120
ground with the rest of me. It flew through the air,

2984
03:14:13.239 --> 03:14:16.520
sailing right over me. I looked over at Adrian and

2985
03:14:16.559 --> 03:14:20.000
saw his pocket knife in his hand. The monster saw

2986
03:14:20.040 --> 03:14:23.319
it too. It narrowed its eyes at him and snapped

2987
03:14:23.319 --> 03:14:26.440
its jaws. I was surprised by how much its head

2988
03:14:26.440 --> 03:14:29.799
and snout reminded me of a dog. This was my

2989
03:14:29.920 --> 03:14:33.719
thought as I lay there on my back, helpless, unable

2990
03:14:33.760 --> 03:14:37.440
to breathe, I watched as it lunged at Adrian. I

2991
03:14:37.479 --> 03:14:40.040
saw him plunge the knife into its chest, and it

2992
03:14:40.120 --> 03:14:44.479
howled in pain. It never slowed even as he stabbed it.

2993
03:14:44.479 --> 03:14:47.440
It merely twisted in the air as it grabbed his arms,

2994
03:14:47.760 --> 03:14:51.840
pinning them to his side. I heard the crunch as

2995
03:14:51.879 --> 03:14:56.000
they both landed together on top of Adrian's shoulder. He

2996
03:14:56.200 --> 03:14:59.239
screamed as they continued to roll right into the fire.

2997
03:15:00.319 --> 03:15:02.959
Adrian tried to push his way out of the flames,

2998
03:15:03.079 --> 03:15:06.120
severely burning his hand, by grabbing a piece of wood

2999
03:15:06.159 --> 03:15:09.440
and swinging it in a huge arc, smashing into the

3000
03:15:09.479 --> 03:15:13.799
face of the monster. It whimpered and growled, then disappeared

3001
03:15:13.840 --> 03:15:17.479
as quickly and silently as it came. It took me

3002
03:15:17.520 --> 03:15:20.520
a while to be able to move. When I could.

3003
03:15:20.600 --> 03:15:24.200
I crawled over to Adrian, who was laying still beside

3004
03:15:24.239 --> 03:15:28.239
the fire. Are you okay, I said, rolling him on

3005
03:15:28.319 --> 03:15:32.799
his back. He screamed in pain as I rolled him

3006
03:15:32.799 --> 03:15:37.879
onto his injured shoulder. Sorry, I said, get away from me,

3007
03:15:38.639 --> 03:15:40.920
he said, as I helped him to a sitting position

3008
03:15:41.520 --> 03:15:44.920
and looked at his burned hand. Are you all right?

3009
03:15:45.239 --> 03:15:53.920
I said, yeah, I'm just peachy. I woke with a start,

3010
03:15:53.959 --> 03:15:57.799
but didn't know why. I reached for my flashlight and

3011
03:15:57.920 --> 03:15:59.559
was about to turn it on when I heard the

3012
03:15:59.600 --> 03:16:05.559
sound of sniffing. I froze. Every ounce of concentration was

3013
03:16:05.600 --> 03:16:09.920
on being as still as possible. The sniffing got louder.

3014
03:16:10.319 --> 03:16:12.760
I didn't dare even open my eyes for fear it

3015
03:16:12.760 --> 03:16:16.280
would somehow see them and that would be it. I

3016
03:16:16.319 --> 03:16:19.920
could feel its presence getting closer. I fought back the

3017
03:16:19.959 --> 03:16:22.600
panic that would make me do something stupid like try

3018
03:16:22.639 --> 03:16:25.840
to run. I just closed my eyes and thought about

3019
03:16:25.840 --> 03:16:29.040
the last sunrise I had seen, hoping it wouldn't be

3020
03:16:29.040 --> 03:16:32.840
the last one I would ever see. I felt the

3021
03:16:32.879 --> 03:16:35.520
snout touch the layer of clothes right in front of me,

3022
03:16:36.120 --> 03:16:38.840
and then it paused, as if it was deciding if

3023
03:16:38.879 --> 03:16:41.559
it wanted to eat me now, or save me for

3024
03:16:41.600 --> 03:16:46.319
a snack later on. The monster withdrew so silently I

3025
03:16:46.360 --> 03:16:49.799
barely knew it was gone. I waited for it to return.

3026
03:16:50.319 --> 03:16:52.079
I knew it was waiting for me to make a

3027
03:16:52.159 --> 03:16:55.200
move so it could catch me, but I didn't. I

3028
03:16:55.280 --> 03:16:58.840
sat still as a statue for what seemed like hours.

3029
03:16:59.319 --> 03:17:02.319
Finally I couldn't take it anymore. I had to move.

3030
03:17:02.360 --> 03:17:05.360
I had to stretch. I stood and stretched my arms

3031
03:17:05.360 --> 03:17:08.879
and legs, still quiet. When I sat back down and

3032
03:17:08.959 --> 03:17:11.959
made sure I was covered by clothes, I risked a

3033
03:17:12.000 --> 03:17:14.040
little bit of light through my hand to get a

3034
03:17:14.040 --> 03:17:18.079
bite to eat. Opening a granola bar without making noise

3035
03:17:18.120 --> 03:17:21.799
as a tedious job at best. It took me a

3036
03:17:21.840 --> 03:17:26.559
half hour, and after I ate, my only reward was thirst.

3037
03:17:27.639 --> 03:17:30.319
I sipped on my bottle of water, avoiding the temptation

3038
03:17:30.479 --> 03:17:33.200
to gulp it down. I didn't know when I would

3039
03:17:33.239 --> 03:17:37.159
be able to fill it. I checked my watch. It

3040
03:17:37.239 --> 03:17:40.280
was one in the morning, at the same time Adrian

3041
03:17:40.319 --> 03:17:42.799
had heard the growling. I took a chance that this

3042
03:17:42.959 --> 03:17:45.719
thing would be out hunting at night. I pushed my

3043
03:17:45.799 --> 03:17:48.559
layer of clothes off me, grabbed my flashlight, and went

3044
03:17:48.600 --> 03:17:51.920
to check on Adrian. I stepped carefully and kept my

3045
03:17:52.000 --> 03:17:55.799
light pointed at the ground, just in case. My eyes

3046
03:17:55.840 --> 03:17:59.399
strained to hear any sounds. Of course, there were the

3047
03:17:59.479 --> 03:18:02.639
echoes of my own footsteps, making me whip around, thinking

3048
03:18:02.680 --> 03:18:06.479
the monster was right behind me. I made it to

3049
03:18:06.520 --> 03:18:09.719
the main cave without having a full panic attack. The

3050
03:18:09.719 --> 03:18:12.520
fire had burned low, and a dull orange glow lit

3051
03:18:12.559 --> 03:18:16.120
the walls. I found Adrian lying in the same spot

3052
03:18:16.520 --> 03:18:22.079
as before. He didn't seem to be moving. I leaned

3053
03:18:22.120 --> 03:18:26.280
down and listened for breathing. I could hear a faint

3054
03:18:26.360 --> 03:18:31.520
breath Adrian, I whispered, shaking him. Come on, man, we

3055
03:18:31.600 --> 03:18:36.600
gotta go. He moved a little, Adrian, I said, looking

3056
03:18:36.639 --> 03:18:39.760
to be sure it wasn't sneaking up on me. Adrian,

3057
03:18:39.840 --> 03:18:43.879
come on. He opened his eyes just a slit, and

3058
03:18:43.959 --> 03:18:46.319
put his hand up to shade his eyes from the light.

3059
03:18:47.680 --> 03:18:51.360
He's still with me, buddy, I said. He tried to speak,

3060
03:18:51.479 --> 03:18:56.239
but nothing came out. Here. Drink a little water. I

3061
03:18:56.319 --> 03:19:00.879
gave him a few SIPs and he perked up a little. Why,

3062
03:19:01.719 --> 03:19:08.719
he rasped, Why what, buddy, Why are you here? I

3063
03:19:08.760 --> 03:19:09.799
came to rescue you.

3064
03:19:11.360 --> 03:19:11.879
Leave me.

3065
03:19:13.319 --> 03:19:16.520
I'm not going to do that. In the distance, I

3066
03:19:16.600 --> 03:19:20.000
heard a howl. It chilled me to the bone. I

3067
03:19:20.120 --> 03:19:23.079
wondered how far away it was and if it was

3068
03:19:23.159 --> 03:19:29.360
celebrating another victim. Okay, listen, I'm gonna go, but i'll

3069
03:19:29.399 --> 03:19:31.079
be back when i'm sure it's out of the cave.

3070
03:19:31.840 --> 03:19:36.159
I gave him another drink. You hang on, Okay. He

3071
03:19:36.280 --> 03:19:39.799
closed his eyes and laid back his head. I stared

3072
03:19:39.799 --> 03:19:42.360
at him for a moment, then jumped up and ran

3073
03:19:42.399 --> 03:19:45.040
out of the cave. I turned at the fork and

3074
03:19:45.120 --> 03:19:48.200
buried myself back under the clothes, turning off the light

3075
03:19:48.239 --> 03:19:51.840
as soon as I was set. It wasn't five minutes

3076
03:19:51.920 --> 03:19:56.159
later I heard something lumber by in the cave. I

3077
03:19:56.200 --> 03:19:59.000
had cut it too close. I needed to make mental

3078
03:19:59.079 --> 03:20:01.840
notes of when it went out out. I stole a

3079
03:20:01.879 --> 03:20:04.959
glance at my watch. It was one thirty seven in

3080
03:20:05.000 --> 03:20:09.239
the morning. I drank the last swallow of water and

3081
03:20:09.319 --> 03:20:16.760
lay down in my nest of clothes. I woke up

3082
03:20:16.840 --> 03:20:21.239
some time later. The cave was dimly lit. I could

3083
03:20:21.239 --> 03:20:24.040
see a bright light coming from the opening, but it

3084
03:20:24.079 --> 03:20:26.799
didn't penetrate all the way to my nest. I could

3085
03:20:26.840 --> 03:20:30.040
see the walls near the opening, but not much else.

3086
03:20:30.879 --> 03:20:34.120
As I watched a massive shadow block my view. It

3087
03:20:34.239 --> 03:20:37.680
was standing right in front of me. I became still

3088
03:20:37.719 --> 03:20:42.799
as a stone. What was it doing? Didn't know I

3089
03:20:42.920 --> 03:20:47.680
was there? Was it toying with me? Sweat poured off

3090
03:20:47.719 --> 03:20:51.239
my brow. I knew I was about to die. I

3091
03:20:51.319 --> 03:20:54.239
gripped my flashlight tight, knowing that it wouldn't do much

3092
03:20:54.280 --> 03:20:56.840
to the monster, but at least i'd go down fighting.

3093
03:20:58.360 --> 03:21:02.280
Something fell on top of me. It wasn't very heavy,

3094
03:21:02.319 --> 03:21:05.239
so I knew it wasn't the monster. I waited for

3095
03:21:05.319 --> 03:21:08.600
a long moment until I heard it walk away before

3096
03:21:08.639 --> 03:21:11.799
I used the flashlight to see what was on top

3097
03:21:11.840 --> 03:21:14.719
of me. I shone the light on the pile and

3098
03:21:14.879 --> 03:21:21.440
found new clothes. There was a shirt, shorts, underwear, and

3099
03:21:21.479 --> 03:21:25.799
a bra. I knew it was from the monster's latest victim.

3100
03:21:26.760 --> 03:21:29.520
My heart went out to that poor woman. I wished

3101
03:21:29.559 --> 03:21:32.159
there was something I could do to help her, but

3102
03:21:32.319 --> 03:21:37.360
there wasn't. I was barely surviving myself. My water was gone.

3103
03:21:37.639 --> 03:21:40.719
I had three granola bars left, and that was the

3104
03:21:40.799 --> 03:21:43.959
last of my food. I had to do something before

3105
03:21:44.000 --> 03:21:48.079
I didn't have the energy to escape. This was my chance.

3106
03:21:48.840 --> 03:21:51.920
Usually the monster kept to a schedule. I assumed governed

3107
03:21:51.920 --> 03:21:54.799
by hunger and thirst. I knew it wouldn't go out

3108
03:21:54.799 --> 03:21:58.239
again for hours. I could leave. I could sneak out

3109
03:21:58.239 --> 03:22:02.120
and be gone without it knowing I was here. But

3110
03:22:02.200 --> 03:22:07.200
I couldn't. I had to rescue Adrian. But why, my

3111
03:22:07.319 --> 03:22:13.000
mind said, because he's my friend? I thought, would he

3112
03:22:13.159 --> 03:22:17.159
leave you behind? Of course not. He'd be doing exactly

3113
03:22:17.200 --> 03:22:21.079
what I'm doing now. Really, that's why he tried to

3114
03:22:21.079 --> 03:22:24.520
trip you and throw you off the cliff. That wasn't real.

3115
03:22:25.000 --> 03:22:28.520
He was just joking around. He didn't seem like he

3116
03:22:28.600 --> 03:22:34.000
was joking. He seemed like he wanted to die and

3117
03:22:34.079 --> 03:22:38.520
to take you with him. He was just upset. How

3118
03:22:38.600 --> 03:22:40.760
upset do you think he'd be waiting here in this

3119
03:22:40.879 --> 03:22:46.200
cave to rescue you? Very He'd probably be wigging out.

3120
03:22:46.319 --> 03:22:49.680
He never was much for small spaces. Do you think

3121
03:22:49.719 --> 03:22:52.760
he would have left you by now? Maybe? But the

3122
03:22:52.799 --> 03:22:58.280
important thing is I'm not him. You could leave right now. No,

3123
03:22:59.159 --> 03:23:01.280
who cares if you save your friend and die in

3124
03:23:01.319 --> 03:23:05.360
the process. I do. Do you really think that thing

3125
03:23:05.479 --> 03:23:09.959
doesn't know you're here? What that thing is playing you?

3126
03:23:10.360 --> 03:23:14.200
It's stalking you, waiting for you to make a mistake. No,

3127
03:23:14.719 --> 03:23:19.000
I've outsmarted it. I've learned its routine. Keep thinking that

3128
03:23:19.559 --> 03:23:22.200
maybe you can outsmart its teeth as it's chewing you

3129
03:23:22.280 --> 03:23:27.719
to pieces. I'm not leaving yet. End of conversation. I

3130
03:23:27.799 --> 03:23:30.840
waited for a response that never came. Even though I

3131
03:23:30.879 --> 03:23:34.559
had decided to wait, there were things that still bothered me.

3132
03:23:35.639 --> 03:23:38.440
Was it toying with me? Did it really not know

3133
03:23:38.559 --> 03:23:42.159
I was here? Why hadn't it killed Adrian yet? Was

3134
03:23:42.200 --> 03:23:45.920
it leaving him alive to bait me in. The more

3135
03:23:45.959 --> 03:23:48.239
I thought about such things, the more I felt panic

3136
03:23:48.360 --> 03:23:52.120
rising inside me. I pushed the clothes aside, and the

3137
03:23:52.200 --> 03:23:56.319
dull glow shone from the mouth of the cave. It

3138
03:23:56.440 --> 03:23:59.639
called to me. It told me the coast was clear,

3139
03:24:00.200 --> 03:24:04.840
that I needed to go right now. I felt my

3140
03:24:04.959 --> 03:24:07.920
muscles tighten, getting ready to rise and run out of

3141
03:24:07.959 --> 03:24:11.799
the cave. I pushed the clothes over more, clearing a path.

3142
03:24:12.280 --> 03:24:17.479
When suddenly I heard something. I quickly and quietly buried

3143
03:24:17.479 --> 03:24:20.639
myself under the clothes. I had barely stopped moving when

3144
03:24:20.680 --> 03:24:24.399
I heard the monster lumber through. It paused in front

3145
03:24:24.440 --> 03:24:27.920
of the clothes, sniffing the air, then turned back toward

3146
03:24:27.959 --> 03:24:32.799
the mouth of the cave and disappeared. I waited for

3147
03:24:32.879 --> 03:24:36.520
a full minute before I breathed a sigh of relief.

3148
03:24:36.600 --> 03:24:39.959
My own ingenuity had nearly gotten me killed. I was

3149
03:24:40.040 --> 03:24:42.879
sure that thing wouldn't be going back outside for hours,

3150
03:24:42.920 --> 03:24:46.159
and yet it had left within minutes. I began to

3151
03:24:46.239 --> 03:24:49.799
doubt myself and my own intelligence for taking such a risk.

3152
03:24:51.239 --> 03:24:54.200
It was time to leave. I dug out from under

3153
03:24:54.200 --> 03:24:56.680
the clothes and started for the mouth of the cave.

3154
03:24:57.280 --> 03:25:01.319
Then I stopped and turned back. I had to try

3155
03:25:01.399 --> 03:25:06.079
one more time to get Adrian out. I went deeper

3156
03:25:06.120 --> 03:25:09.079
into the cave to the main room with the fire pit.

3157
03:25:10.040 --> 03:25:13.360
There was a freshly made fire, which told me I

3158
03:25:13.399 --> 03:25:17.680
didn't have much time. Adrian was still lying there beside

3159
03:25:17.719 --> 03:25:21.399
the fire. I went to him and leaned down. Time

3160
03:25:21.399 --> 03:25:25.040
to go, buddy, I whispered. He didn't answer me back.

3161
03:25:26.319 --> 03:25:28.520
I know it's going to be tough, but you need

3162
03:25:28.600 --> 03:25:31.920
to try. I grabbed his shoulders and gently shook him.

3163
03:25:32.479 --> 03:25:36.799
Come on, man, you gotta wake up. His eyes didn't open.

3164
03:25:37.719 --> 03:25:41.840
Something about his shoulders felt wrong. Aside from the fact

3165
03:25:41.879 --> 03:25:44.719
that one of them was either dislocated or broken and

3166
03:25:44.799 --> 03:25:49.680
should have caused him excruciating pain, he didn't twitch. The

3167
03:25:49.760 --> 03:25:54.639
other thing was the shoulders felt cold. Not just a

3168
03:25:54.680 --> 03:26:00.559
little chilly, they were stone cold. Adrian. I pressed my

3169
03:26:00.639 --> 03:26:04.760
fingers against his neck and felt for a pulse. There

3170
03:26:04.840 --> 03:26:08.719
was nothing. His neck felt cold as well. I pushed him,

3171
03:26:08.719 --> 03:26:12.239
and his body clumsily rolled over onto his back. I

3172
03:26:12.319 --> 03:26:16.120
tried to move his arms and legs, but couldn't rigor

3173
03:26:16.200 --> 03:26:22.639
mortis had already set in. I stared in disbelief. My

3174
03:26:22.799 --> 03:26:33.840
friend was gone. Not only was my friend gone, but

3175
03:26:33.920 --> 03:26:36.920
I had wasted all this time trying to rescue him.

3176
03:26:38.079 --> 03:26:41.920
Maybe I had killed myself in the process. I wiped

3177
03:26:41.959 --> 03:26:45.159
the tears from my cheeks and pulled Adrian's body back

3178
03:26:45.200 --> 03:26:48.479
into the same position. My only chance was for this

3179
03:26:48.760 --> 03:26:52.719
horrible monster not to know I was here. I stood

3180
03:26:52.760 --> 03:26:55.239
next to the fire, letting the smoke wash over me,

3181
03:26:55.319 --> 03:26:58.319
in the hope that it might somehow cover my scent.

3182
03:26:59.440 --> 03:27:02.040
After a couple of minutes, I looked back over at

3183
03:27:02.079 --> 03:27:07.440
my friend, said a silent goodbye, and walked back out

3184
03:27:07.440 --> 03:27:10.920
of the cave. I stopped at my hiding place and

3185
03:27:11.000 --> 03:27:14.479
climbed inside, hoping this would be the last time I

3186
03:27:14.559 --> 03:27:18.879
waited for death to pass by. I settled in and

3187
03:27:18.920 --> 03:27:22.319
took a nap to prepare for my escape. A short

3188
03:27:22.319 --> 03:27:25.879
while later, I woke up hearing the monster passed by.

3189
03:27:27.360 --> 03:27:30.959
I waited. When I thought it was time, I slowly

3190
03:27:31.040 --> 03:27:35.959
and silently packed my backpack, then stood to leave. As

3191
03:27:36.000 --> 03:27:39.360
strange as it sounds, I knew I would miss this place.

3192
03:27:39.879 --> 03:27:42.159
It had been a refuge of safety for the last

3193
03:27:42.239 --> 03:27:45.799
two days, even though it was also a constant reminder

3194
03:27:46.600 --> 03:27:50.000
of death. I stood at the edge of the pile

3195
03:27:50.079 --> 03:27:53.639
and tried to rearrange them so that nothing looked amiss.

3196
03:27:54.159 --> 03:27:57.120
Then I turned toward the mouth of the cave and

3197
03:27:57.280 --> 03:28:01.120
started making my way out. It was late afternoon and

3198
03:28:01.200 --> 03:28:04.840
the sun shone brightly in my face, blinding me. I

3199
03:28:04.879 --> 03:28:07.680
hadn't realized how bright the sun was until I was

3200
03:28:07.719 --> 03:28:11.479
without it for a couple of days. As I stood

3201
03:28:11.479 --> 03:28:14.479
at the mouth of the cave, my first problem presented itself.

3202
03:28:15.239 --> 03:28:17.319
I looked over the edge and it was a good

3203
03:28:17.440 --> 03:28:21.879
fifty to eighty feet to the ground. That would be

3204
03:28:21.959 --> 03:28:26.120
why people left the cave alone. They couldn't get to it.

3205
03:28:26.959 --> 03:28:30.079
I searched the surroundings looking for a solution, when one

3206
03:28:30.120 --> 03:28:34.319
presented itself. There were vines hanging from the trees that

3207
03:28:34.440 --> 03:28:38.040
looked like they might support me. The problem was they

3208
03:28:38.079 --> 03:28:41.159
weren't in reach. My arm would need to be a

3209
03:28:41.200 --> 03:28:46.120
foot or so longer. They sat so tantalizingly close that

3210
03:28:46.639 --> 03:28:50.000
I had to try leaning out to grab one. That

3211
03:28:50.159 --> 03:28:52.719
ended when I nearly stumbled off the ledge and fell

3212
03:28:52.760 --> 03:28:56.840
to my death. I searched for any other way, but

3213
03:28:56.959 --> 03:28:59.600
there was none. I just had to go for it.

3214
03:29:00.479 --> 03:29:03.639
I backed up a few steps, then took a deep,

3215
03:29:04.079 --> 03:29:08.680
cleansing breath, and ran. I jumped at the last minute

3216
03:29:08.680 --> 03:29:11.840
and grabbed for the vines. My hands wrapped around them,

3217
03:29:11.840 --> 03:29:14.200
but I was already falling, and I had to wrap

3218
03:29:14.239 --> 03:29:16.799
my legs around them too and squeeze for all I

3219
03:29:16.879 --> 03:29:20.120
was worth to slow my descent. My hands and legs

3220
03:29:20.120 --> 03:29:24.079
were burning as they slowed me, but I didn't dare scream.

3221
03:29:24.920 --> 03:29:28.520
The cave was still too close. Even sliding down the

3222
03:29:28.600 --> 03:29:32.680
vines may have been too loud. My hands were failing.

3223
03:29:33.079 --> 03:29:35.120
I didn't know how much longer I could hang on

3224
03:29:35.559 --> 03:29:39.479
My fingers let go one by one, and I fell.

3225
03:29:40.440 --> 03:29:44.879
I landed on my back, and the backpack cushioned my fall. Fortunately,

3226
03:29:45.479 --> 03:29:47.959
I had only been around ten feet from the ground

3227
03:29:47.959 --> 03:29:50.840
when I did. It still knocked the wind out of

3228
03:29:50.879 --> 03:29:53.559
me and left me laying there helpless as I looked

3229
03:29:53.600 --> 03:29:56.680
back up at the cave opening, only I could no

3230
03:29:56.760 --> 03:30:00.360
longer see it. It must have been invisible from ground level.

3231
03:30:01.239 --> 03:30:03.680
Once I could breathe again, I focused on getting out

3232
03:30:03.680 --> 03:30:06.600
of here. I stood and tried to get my bearings.

3233
03:30:07.000 --> 03:30:09.799
The sun was setting, so I knew which way was west.

3234
03:30:10.600 --> 03:30:12.840
It was around two miles to the south, where the

3235
03:30:12.879 --> 03:30:18.239
trailhead was. My car. My salvation waited there for me.

3236
03:30:19.440 --> 03:30:21.760
I made my way through the trees and headed south.

3237
03:30:22.079 --> 03:30:25.120
When there was an opening. Before I knew it, I

3238
03:30:25.159 --> 03:30:28.799
had run across a trail. I stepped onto it, feeling

3239
03:30:28.879 --> 03:30:32.159
more relieved than I had in days. Then I heard

3240
03:30:32.200 --> 03:30:37.639
something in the brush behind me. I froze. I turned

3241
03:30:37.639 --> 03:30:42.200
toward the sound and saw the predator. It was a

3242
03:30:42.239 --> 03:30:46.079
mountain lion, not the horrible monster I had just escaped.

3243
03:30:46.360 --> 03:30:49.920
But it didn't matter. If this cat was hungry, I'd

3244
03:30:49.959 --> 03:30:55.040
be just as dead. I tried to nonchalantly continue walking

3245
03:30:55.079 --> 03:30:58.520
on the trail, hoping it would lose interest. My walk

3246
03:30:58.600 --> 03:31:02.639
turned into a power walk, and still the lion followed.

3247
03:31:03.159 --> 03:31:05.840
It seemed to be closing the distance between us without

3248
03:31:05.879 --> 03:31:10.399
breaking into a run. Yet I tried to remember what

3249
03:31:10.440 --> 03:31:12.879
to do in case of a mountain lion attack, but

3250
03:31:12.959 --> 03:31:17.440
all I remembered was don't run. I thought of this

3251
03:31:17.520 --> 03:31:20.200
as I power walked away from the pursuing cat that

3252
03:31:20.319 --> 03:31:23.559
was getting closer by the minute. Suddenly I was hit

3253
03:31:23.600 --> 03:31:27.040
from behind. The lion had jumped on me. Fortunately it

3254
03:31:27.079 --> 03:31:30.000
had jumped on my pack. Its weight held me down,

3255
03:31:30.079 --> 03:31:33.200
making me helpless. As it climbed up my pack, heading

3256
03:31:33.239 --> 03:31:36.440
for my neck. I covered my head and neck, hoping

3257
03:31:36.520 --> 03:31:40.079
to survive. I could feel its hot breath against my fingers.

3258
03:31:40.520 --> 03:31:45.319
I knew an attack was imminent, and then it stopped.

3259
03:31:46.079 --> 03:31:48.520
It lifted its head and I could hear it sniffing

3260
03:31:48.559 --> 03:31:52.399
the air. In an instant, it leaped off of me

3261
03:31:53.239 --> 03:31:56.600
and was gone. I sat up and looked around, not

3262
03:31:56.639 --> 03:32:01.840
believing my luck when I noticed the forest had gone silent.

3263
03:32:03.760 --> 03:32:06.959
The only reason a predator runs away like that is

3264
03:32:07.040 --> 03:32:10.760
there's a bigger predator in the area, my mind reminded me.

3265
03:32:11.959 --> 03:32:15.360
I had a very good idea which predator had scared

3266
03:32:15.360 --> 03:32:21.799
it off. This was it fight or flight. I jumped

3267
03:32:21.840 --> 03:32:24.200
up and ran at a full sprint down the trail.

3268
03:32:24.799 --> 03:32:27.280
I didn't know I had that much energy left after

3269
03:32:27.319 --> 03:32:30.639
the last two days, but death is a great motivator,

3270
03:32:31.079 --> 03:32:33.879
and I knew this thing wasn't coming to congratulate me

3271
03:32:33.959 --> 03:32:38.040
for escaping its layer. My legs burned, I had a

3272
03:32:38.079 --> 03:32:41.479
stitch in my side. My backpack was throwing off my balance,

3273
03:32:41.520 --> 03:32:44.879
and I nearly fell. But I could see the trailhead.

3274
03:32:45.000 --> 03:32:47.360
There was a glint of metal that was on the

3275
03:32:47.399 --> 03:32:50.079
front bumper of my car. All I had to do

3276
03:32:50.280 --> 03:32:53.920
was keep going. I could hear panting behind me. My

3277
03:32:54.000 --> 03:32:57.600
footsteps weren't the only ones running on the trail. It

3278
03:32:57.760 --> 03:33:01.639
sounds more like a gallop behind me. For a fleeting moment,

3279
03:33:01.879 --> 03:33:04.200
I almost stopped to see if I was being chased

3280
03:33:04.239 --> 03:33:07.719
by a horse, but I knew that that would be

3281
03:33:07.760 --> 03:33:11.399
a fatal mistake. I reached into my pocket and pulled

3282
03:33:11.399 --> 03:33:14.760
out my keys, pressing the button and unlocking the doors.

3283
03:33:15.239 --> 03:33:17.319
I didn't want to make the same mistake I'd seen

3284
03:33:17.360 --> 03:33:20.399
in dozens of horror movies. I was one of the

3285
03:33:20.399 --> 03:33:24.040
ones screaming the loudest when the victim dropped their keys.

3286
03:33:24.479 --> 03:33:27.280
I ripped open the driver's door and dove inside. I

3287
03:33:27.319 --> 03:33:29.959
had just shut it when a nightmare landed on the hood.

3288
03:33:30.639 --> 03:33:33.319
I stared at it for a moment, transfixed by this

3289
03:33:33.719 --> 03:33:37.639
horrific apparition, it looked like someone had taken a dog

3290
03:33:38.120 --> 03:33:41.200
and turned it into a horrible beast. It was massive,

3291
03:33:41.239 --> 03:33:45.239
at least eight feet tall. Its fangs were sharp and red.

3292
03:33:45.559 --> 03:33:48.559
They drooled onto the windshield as the red eyes stared

3293
03:33:48.559 --> 03:33:52.239
at me. It reached back with its paw and smashed

3294
03:33:52.280 --> 03:33:55.799
into my windshield, nearly breaking through. I woke from my

3295
03:33:55.920 --> 03:33:59.200
stupor and started the car as it smashed the windshield again,

3296
03:33:59.520 --> 03:34:03.680
this time breaking through. It shoved it snout inside and

3297
03:34:03.760 --> 03:34:05.920
snapped at me. As I put the car in reverse

3298
03:34:05.959 --> 03:34:09.200
and floored it, turning hard and making the beast tumble

3299
03:34:09.239 --> 03:34:11.879
off to the ground, I threw it into drive and

3300
03:34:11.959 --> 03:34:15.079
stomped the pedal to the floor. The car looched forward,

3301
03:34:15.120 --> 03:34:18.520
with rubbers screeching in protest. I gained momentum when the

3302
03:34:18.559 --> 03:34:21.520
monster landed on the roof with a crash. It began

3303
03:34:21.680 --> 03:34:25.079
pounding over and over. I saw claw marks coming through

3304
03:34:25.120 --> 03:34:28.760
the metal and into the cloth on the ceiling. In desperation,

3305
03:34:28.879 --> 03:34:32.879
I began swerving back and forth, trying to shake the monster. Loose.

3306
03:34:33.280 --> 03:34:36.239
Metal and rubber protested at the maneuvers. With the extra

3307
03:34:36.280 --> 03:34:39.239
weight on top, I wondered if the car would flip

3308
03:34:39.479 --> 03:34:42.879
and end my escape in a bloody fashion. So far,

3309
03:34:43.000 --> 03:34:44.959
the road had been a park drive that was never

3310
03:34:45.000 --> 03:34:47.719
meant for such speeds. I knew there was a hard

3311
03:34:47.760 --> 03:34:50.319
turn coming up and I wouldn't make it as fast

3312
03:34:50.399 --> 03:34:53.440
as I was driving, I slammed on the brake, sending

3313
03:34:53.479 --> 03:34:57.079
the monster flying. I stomped on the gas and swerved

3314
03:34:57.120 --> 03:35:01.319
around it, continuing to gain speed. As it was I

3315
03:35:01.399 --> 03:35:03.559
knew if I had tried to run it over, my

3316
03:35:03.719 --> 03:35:08.000
car would never survive, and right now, survival was all

3317
03:35:08.079 --> 03:35:12.319
that mattered. I looked into the rearview mirror, and impossibly,

3318
03:35:12.959 --> 03:35:15.360
it was catching up to me. I saw it leap,

3319
03:35:15.559 --> 03:35:18.079
trying to land on the car again, but I swerved

3320
03:35:18.120 --> 03:35:21.520
in time, leaving it only asphalt to land on. I

3321
03:35:21.600 --> 03:35:24.440
made another hard turn and I was on a state road.

3322
03:35:25.159 --> 03:35:27.920
The monster followed me, but I was able to get

3323
03:35:28.000 --> 03:35:32.760
up enough speed to finally escape. I breathed a sigh

3324
03:35:32.840 --> 03:35:40.920
of relief as I sped toward town. I didn't bother

3325
03:35:41.079 --> 03:35:44.360
going home. I went straight to the police department. After

3326
03:35:44.399 --> 03:35:46.799
waiting half an hour to make it to the front desk,

3327
03:35:47.120 --> 03:35:50.799
I was finally interviewed by an officer. When I started

3328
03:35:50.799 --> 03:35:54.719
my story, he seemed to be only mildly interested. By

3329
03:35:54.760 --> 03:35:57.799
the time I was done, there were six officers standing

3330
03:35:57.840 --> 03:36:02.040
around listening. That was one hell of a story, the

3331
03:36:02.040 --> 03:36:06.879
officer said, looking around at the other officers smirking. It's true,

3332
03:36:07.280 --> 03:36:12.120
I said, The officer sighed. As the others dispersed. I'm sorry, Son.

3333
03:36:12.200 --> 03:36:15.239
As entertaining as that was, I'm too busy to go

3334
03:36:15.319 --> 03:36:19.440
chasing around the woods hunting after some urban legend. I

3335
03:36:19.479 --> 03:36:22.079
took a piece of paper off his notepad and wrote

3336
03:36:22.079 --> 03:36:26.360
down a series of numbers. What's this, he said when

3337
03:36:26.399 --> 03:36:29.479
I handed it to him. I had my GPS with me,

3338
03:36:29.760 --> 03:36:32.920
I said, those numbers are the location of the cave

3339
03:36:33.239 --> 03:36:36.920
that has all the evidence you need. Listen, Son, Without

3340
03:36:36.920 --> 03:36:39.719
something concrete, there's no one who's going out to the

3341
03:36:39.719 --> 03:36:43.479
middle of the woods chasing a fairy tale. Well maybe

3342
03:36:43.479 --> 03:36:46.200
this'll help, I said, getting up and setting up my

3343
03:36:46.280 --> 03:36:49.520
backpack on his desk. I opened the zippers and dumped

3344
03:36:49.559 --> 03:36:53.840
clothes out of them. WHOA, whoa, whoa. What's this concrete?

3345
03:36:54.200 --> 03:36:57.360
I said? These are the clothes of the thing's victims.

3346
03:36:57.920 --> 03:37:00.280
If you take DNA samples from the sweat and blood

3347
03:37:00.319 --> 03:37:02.879
on them, you might find matches to some people who've

3348
03:37:02.879 --> 03:37:07.760
gone missing recently. You're serious, he said, looking from the

3349
03:37:07.760 --> 03:37:11.920
clothes to me as if just waking up. Yes, I said,

3350
03:37:12.120 --> 03:37:14.920
as I got up and started toward the door. If

3351
03:37:14.920 --> 03:37:18.600
it's not too much trouble, I walked out, leaving several

3352
03:37:18.680 --> 03:37:22.600
officers staring at the pile of clothes. I got into

3353
03:37:22.600 --> 03:37:26.479
my destroyed car, hoping it would start, and headed home.

3354
03:37:27.440 --> 03:37:31.120
The entire way I kept glancing in the rear view mirror.

3355
03:37:31.920 --> 03:37:35.680
After all this, there were two things that captured my thoughts.

3356
03:37:36.280 --> 03:37:39.840
One I would be barricading my house as soon as

3357
03:37:39.879 --> 03:37:46.920
I got home, and two I wouldn't be sleeping soundly ever. Again,

3358
03:37:52.440 --> 03:37:56.559
I hope you all enjoyed that monstrous march through the

3359
03:37:57.159 --> 03:38:02.280
wooded lands of your mind's eye as much as I did.

3360
03:38:02.840 --> 03:38:05.520
Make sure you're subscribed because we have a brand new

3361
03:38:05.639 --> 03:38:10.239
terror tale coming this Wednesday, and of course, a terrifying

3362
03:38:10.280 --> 03:38:14.920
and true episode all about the Bennington Triangle this Monday.

3363
03:38:16.159 --> 03:38:19.959
So go to your favorite podcasting app click subscribe, and

3364
03:38:20.040 --> 03:38:22.239
while you're at it, leave us a five star rating.

3365
03:38:22.719 --> 03:38:26.680
It really does make a big difference. I've been Enrique Kuto,

3366
03:38:26.799 --> 03:38:29.879
your host and narrator, and I'll be talking to you

3367
03:38:30.159 --> 03:38:34.639
very very soon and until then. If you're going to

3368
03:38:34.680 --> 03:38:41.440
go camping, maybe by a very sturdy tent. Until next time,

3369
03:38:42.079 --> 03:38:42.920
my spookies,