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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all just get along? Right right? Leave it to me.
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I'll solve all the world's problems, like the fucking United Nations.
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The only part of the ride that wasn't full of
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fun and fantasy was still shaking that weird feeling of
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those eyes watching me. The main road in disable was quiet,
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like so quiet you could hear a mouse fart for miles.
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This place rolled up the sidewalks after Labor Day weekend
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and it was just the locals left here till the
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winter comes for the snowmobile crowd. Everything was closed or
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being closed up, and the only thing open was a
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convenience store that sold stuff to tourists at inflated prices,
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and the locals knew better than to drive to Owen Sound.
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I used to spend a lot of summers here with
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the boys and even my on and off girlfriends. We'd
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hang out by the giant sign at the beach entrance
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and walk downtown and not have a care in the world.
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Those summers were amazing and I never wanted them to end.
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We'd usually rent a cottage a few times a summer
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along the beach, and it was nothing but parties, loud music, weed,
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and staying up all night playing poker or an old
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Nintendo till we passed out. My GPS started droning on
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its directions to get to Tracy's place. Where in the
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hell was it? Back roads, twists and turns, and I
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don't even think I was anywhere near people at this point.
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If you lived back here, you either valued your privacy
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or had more money than sense to build this far back.
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It was dirt roads, trees, dense bush, and even an
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occasional swamp. Truly paradise, come to think of it. The
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GPS lady sounded kind of hot. Wait, we are not
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fantasizing about fucking Skynet before Tracy, are we? We are.
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It's a new level of sadness, but that's okay. It'll
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be prime time soon enough. Finally I found the address,
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and it was tucked back about as far as one
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could go without being totally off grid. I think her
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neighbors must be easily fifteen or twenty minutes away, and
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I haven't seen any cars pass me, and at least
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that long. On the plus side, no one will hear
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her scream my name when we get down to it.
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I drove carefully along the dirt road, trying not to
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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
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in because I knocked off my muff. Her cottage comes
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00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:06.240
into view and it's way bigger than I expected. Looks
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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
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00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:18.039
a gorgeous wrap around deck and even a little swing set.
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This place was like something out of a TV show
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00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:24.120
or a movie. I pulled up beside her pickup truck
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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
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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
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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 laneway51300:32:31.200 --> 00:32:33.680
towards what I assumed was the main road that I51400:32:33.720 --> 00:32:36.759
had came in on. I didn't even look back, as51500:32:36.799 --> 00:32:39.359
I kept focusing on putting one foot in front of51600:32:39.400 --> 00:32:41.480
the other and doing my best to keep my forward51700:32:41.559 --> 00:32:45.039
momentum going. I just wanted to get with a girl51800:32:45.119 --> 00:32:49.559
this week. I just wanted to get laid right now.51900:32:50.680 --> 00:32:54.240
I just want to live to see tomorrow. Fuck. I'll52000:32:54.279 --> 00:32:56.759
take surviving the next hour if it means I can52100:32:56.839 --> 00:33:01.319
keep breathing. I kept running further and further into the darkness,52200:33:01.680 --> 00:33:04.680
and eventually the lights from Tracy's cottage could barely be52300:33:04.759 --> 00:33:09.000
seen because of the thick mess of pine trees. Looking52400:33:09.039 --> 00:33:11.839
around for anywhere to hide, or at least a place52500:33:11.880 --> 00:33:14.839
to gather myself for a second and to catch my breath.52600:33:15.400 --> 00:33:17.839
I'm not exactly in the worst of shape, but I52700:33:17.839 --> 00:33:20.160
could feel my legs start to turn to jelly and52800:33:20.240 --> 00:33:22.880
each breath start to burn as I gasped for air.52900:33:23.880 --> 00:33:26.839
Peeking off the lane way, I started dashing into the woods,53000:33:27.160 --> 00:33:29.519
and when I finally got into an area too dense53100:33:29.559 --> 00:33:33.160
to run, I started to slow down and carefully walk53200:33:33.680 --> 00:33:37.279
so as not to make too much noise. I couldn't53300:33:37.279 --> 00:33:40.119
hear anything except the faint sounds of a distant owl53400:33:40.680 --> 00:33:44.279
and the lapping of some nearby body of water. It's53500:33:44.319 --> 00:33:47.480
too quiet out here, and all I can truly hear53600:33:47.559 --> 00:33:50.720
is the blood pumping in my ears. I have a53700:33:50.759 --> 00:33:52.799
lot to be sorry for if this is where it53800:33:52.839 --> 00:33:56.960
all ends tonight. I'm sorry Mom and Dad. I know53900:33:57.039 --> 00:33:58.759
you wanted me to go off to school like my54000:33:58.880 --> 00:34:03.200
sister and because I'm a doctor, but I wasn't smart enough.54100:34:04.480 --> 00:34:08.840
I'm mostly sorry to my ex girlfriend Melissa. Hugh didn't54200:34:08.840 --> 00:34:11.760
deserve what I tried to do to you. I thought54300:34:11.800 --> 00:34:15.079
I was something special because someone else besides you took54400:34:15.119 --> 00:34:17.719
a liking to me, and I let it go to54500:34:17.760 --> 00:34:21.960
my head. I fucked up, and I made a lot54600:34:21.960 --> 00:34:26.199
of people unhappy in my life. Maybe I deserve to54700:34:26.199 --> 00:34:30.440
be torn apart by this creature or turned into a54800:34:30.480 --> 00:34:36.519
weird breeding thing for her. I probably deserved this. I54900:34:36.599 --> 00:34:39.400
leaned back against a tree and let out a sigh55000:34:39.679 --> 00:34:41.840
and just looked up at the sky for a second.55100:34:43.119 --> 00:34:45.039
I don't know how long it's been since I ran55200:34:45.159 --> 00:34:51.079
from the house, maybe five minutes, and that's probably being generous.55300:34:51.960 --> 00:34:57.760
I could smell that rotting flesh again. Shit, Suddenly, something55400:34:57.840 --> 00:35:00.840
wet and heavy, slammed into my chest and knocked me55500:35:00.960 --> 00:35:03.960
hard against the tree. Felt like it cracked a rib55600:35:04.119 --> 00:35:07.119
or ten. I crumbled into a heap at the base55700:35:07.159 --> 00:35:11.039
of the tree and was instantly dazed. I tried to55800:35:11.119 --> 00:35:13.960
keep from passing out from the pane and keep focused55900:35:14.039 --> 00:35:17.239
enough to get my wits about me. I opened my eyes,56000:35:18.119 --> 00:35:22.519
and I instantly regretted that decision. Once again, I found56100:35:22.519 --> 00:35:26.639
myself face to face with something that shouldn't exist yet56200:35:27.199 --> 00:35:30.800
here it was, right here in front of me. There56300:35:30.840 --> 00:35:33.760
was enough pale light cast from the overhead moon that56400:35:33.880 --> 00:35:36.440
I could see the face of the creature looking right56500:35:36.519 --> 00:35:41.679
into my soul. Tracy or whatever she was, kept inching56600:35:41.760 --> 00:35:46.719
closer to me with her gigantic mouth drooling. Her spit56700:35:47.119 --> 00:35:55.920
glistened in the moonlight like dew. Okay, this was really it, Tracy.56800:35:56.519 --> 00:36:00.280
If you're gonna kill me, make it quick, and please56900:36:00.320 --> 00:36:02.119
don't make my mom and dad have to worry that57000:36:02.159 --> 00:36:07.079
I disappeared. Give them something to bury, I croaked out57100:36:07.079 --> 00:36:10.679
in a weak voice. The werewolf stood up to its57200:36:10.760 --> 00:36:14.280
full height and cocked its head and looked at me.57300:36:15.559 --> 00:36:18.519
I looked up into the eyes of the creature and57400:36:18.679 --> 00:36:23.840
suddenly They weren't the eyes of a monster. They were57500:36:23.880 --> 00:36:29.840
Tracy Kid's eyes. Tracy's lupine form leaned down and moved57600:36:29.880 --> 00:36:33.039
closer to my body and nuzzled it like a dog57700:36:33.079 --> 00:36:37.639
would to an injured friend or owner. Her big wolf57800:36:37.800 --> 00:36:41.320
like head nuzzled up against mine and touched the side57900:36:41.320 --> 00:36:45.719
of my face gently. This is not what I expected.58000:36:46.599 --> 00:36:49.639
Her form began to shift back into the nineteen year58100:36:49.639 --> 00:36:53.320
old Native girl I had a crush on once she58200:36:53.480 --> 00:36:58.920
was naked, but at that moment it didn't matter. Josh58300:36:59.280 --> 00:37:04.800
are you afraid to die? Yeah? I am. I don't58400:37:04.840 --> 00:37:09.960
want my parents to worry or my sister. I'm sorry58500:37:10.000 --> 00:37:13.079
for a lot of things in my life. I'm sorry58600:37:13.079 --> 00:37:15.480
that I came up here looking to take advantage of you.58700:37:16.559 --> 00:37:23.599
I'm sorry for everything. I whispered quietly. I know you are.58800:37:24.480 --> 00:37:27.440
I can smell it on you. You're a lot of things,58900:37:27.559 --> 00:37:32.639
Joshua Fox. But you're not a bad guy. She reached59000:37:32.639 --> 00:37:35.760
out again with her hands and cupped mine in hers59100:37:36.360 --> 00:37:42.400
and touched my face. I'm sorry, Tracy. What would you59200:37:42.480 --> 00:37:48.280
say if I said I was still interested in you? Okay?59300:37:49.159 --> 00:37:53.880
I went from preparing to meet the almighty to whatever59400:37:54.039 --> 00:38:00.320
this is I'm confused. What do you mean. I didn't59500:38:00.320 --> 00:38:03.400
know how to process what exactly was happening at that moment.59600:38:04.920 --> 00:38:08.039
I'm lonely, Josh. I want to be with someone who59700:38:08.039 --> 00:38:11.440
can be honest like you are right now. What if59800:38:11.480 --> 00:38:15.960
I offered you a chance to be like me, strong, powerful,59900:38:16.960 --> 00:38:22.119
and to be a part of something different? What exactly60000:38:22.280 --> 00:38:26.480
was Tracy asking me. She took back her left hand60100:38:26.519 --> 00:38:29.639
and extended one of her fingernails to an unnatural length60200:38:30.320 --> 00:38:34.960
and pointed it at me. Be with me, Josh. When60300:38:35.000 --> 00:38:38.679
we mate with another we take on strong spiritual and60400:38:38.760 --> 00:38:42.519
personality traits from the partner. I want my pupps to60500:38:42.559 --> 00:38:47.119
have that honesty and that vulnerability you showed tonight. You60600:38:47.199 --> 00:38:49.159
could have tried to fuck me and then left in60700:38:49.199 --> 00:38:53.119
the morning, but instead you chose to talk and open up.60800:38:54.320 --> 00:38:57.039
You went with plan B, even though you didn't immediately60900:38:57.119 --> 00:39:04.239
mean to. Will I be just like you like a monster?61000:39:05.880 --> 00:39:08.760
Yes and no. I'll have to show you how to61100:39:08.800 --> 00:39:12.239
control your new life, and you'll be different from everyone else,61200:39:12.320 --> 00:39:16.320
but you'll meet others like me. It's not as scary61300:39:16.320 --> 00:39:19.440
as it sounds. Trust me. I found out from my61400:39:19.559 --> 00:39:22.800
grandmother in high school. How did you think I got61500:39:22.800 --> 00:39:29.440
so strong, will it hurt just for a minute. Tracy61600:39:29.559 --> 00:39:33.639
leaned in and pressed her naked body against mine, and61700:39:33.679 --> 00:39:39.000
I felt her fingernail cut deep across my back. Pain61800:39:39.199 --> 00:39:42.840
and fire seared across the wound, and I wanted to61900:39:42.880 --> 00:39:56.360
throw up but couldn't. I immediately passed out. The next day,62000:39:56.400 --> 00:39:59.599
I woke up next to Tracy in an unfamiliar bed,62100:40:00.000 --> 00:40:04.800
and all my wounds had healed. I felt weird, like62200:40:04.920 --> 00:40:08.280
everything was moving in slow motion, but I was hyper62300:40:08.360 --> 00:40:13.440
aware of everything. I could hear birds and things that62400:40:13.559 --> 00:40:17.519
seemed miles away. I felt like I was stronger than62500:40:17.559 --> 00:40:21.760
I'd ever been in my life. I got up out62600:40:21.800 --> 00:40:29.239
of bed and noticed I was also naked. Oh that's unexpected. Well,62700:40:29.800 --> 00:40:33.280
if I had any fun last night, it seems like62800:40:33.400 --> 00:40:39.320
I wasn't totally present for that little escapade. I passed62900:40:39.320 --> 00:40:45.960
by a mirror and noticed something different about myself. I63000:40:46.039 --> 00:40:49.440
had the same animalistic look in my own brown eyes63100:40:49.960 --> 00:40:54.880
that Tracy did when we were on the couch last night. Well.63200:40:55.760 --> 00:41:00.079
This is going to take some getting used to, isn't it.63300:41:07.519 --> 00:41:09.840
I used to work in a fire tower with a63400:41:09.920 --> 00:41:16.000
strange set of rules by Michael Kelso it wasn't all63500:41:16.000 --> 00:41:18.599
that long ago. When I worked as a park ranger63600:41:18.639 --> 00:41:21.360
in a fire tower. You'd think it would be an63700:41:21.400 --> 00:41:22.199
easy job.63800:41:23.000 --> 00:41:23.719
You'd be wrong.63900:41:24.840 --> 00:41:27.519
Once I found a strange list of rules, it was64000:41:27.559 --> 00:41:32.159
all downhill from there. Suffice it to say I was64100:41:32.239 --> 00:41:35.920
lucky to get out with my life while still being64200:41:35.960 --> 00:41:39.840
a free man. There was an investigation into the matter,64300:41:39.880 --> 00:41:43.199
and I was questioned several times by the police, but64400:41:43.559 --> 00:41:45.920
they didn't want to hear the truth of the story64500:41:46.760 --> 00:41:52.119
that something strange and supernatural happened that night in that64600:41:52.199 --> 00:41:58.159
fire tower. Unfortunately, one of my fellow rangers wasn't so lucky,64700:41:58.920 --> 00:42:04.239
but that is another story. I never went back to64800:42:04.320 --> 00:42:08.400
that tower ever. I searched for a few weeks before64900:42:08.480 --> 00:42:11.320
finding a new job. It was just in the nick65000:42:11.360 --> 00:42:13.800
of time because I hadn't worked as a park ranger65100:42:13.840 --> 00:42:16.679
long enough to make much money at all, and switching65200:42:16.719 --> 00:42:20.000
back and forth between peanut butter sandwiches and mac and65300:42:20.119 --> 00:42:23.800
cheese wasn't the best way to stave off starvation. But65400:42:25.159 --> 00:42:29.760
beggars can't be choosers, so I applied for this job65500:42:29.800 --> 00:42:32.440
and went into the office building in town for the interview.65600:42:33.360 --> 00:42:36.880
The first question I asked was does it have any65700:42:37.559 --> 00:42:41.440
strange rules. The interviewer looked at me like I had65800:42:41.519 --> 00:42:45.920
just sprouted a second head. Like what kinds of rules?65900:42:46.320 --> 00:42:50.519
She said, I don't know, like don't answer the phone66000:42:50.559 --> 00:42:53.159
at a certain time of night, or if you see66100:42:53.159 --> 00:42:57.239
a glowing orb, look away for thirty seconds. Are you66200:42:57.440 --> 00:43:01.239
planning on seeing any glowing orbs inside our warehouse? She66300:43:01.400 --> 00:43:05.599
said hesitantly, I hope not. She held my gaze for66400:43:05.639 --> 00:43:09.599
a long moment before answering my question. I started to66500:43:09.639 --> 00:43:11.440
wonder if she was going to kick me out of66600:43:11.440 --> 00:43:16.360
her office to answer your original question. She said, I66700:43:16.400 --> 00:43:19.639
don't know of any strange rules for the warehouse. To66800:43:19.719 --> 00:43:23.480
my knowledge, it's a standard night watchman job. You go there,66900:43:23.559 --> 00:43:25.880
you make sure no one breaks in and takes anything,67000:43:25.920 --> 00:43:30.320
and then you go home. That's a relief, just out67100:43:30.360 --> 00:43:36.719
of curiosity. Why did you ask about strange rules. My67200:43:36.840 --> 00:43:40.760
last job had some strange rules, and let's just say67300:43:40.800 --> 00:43:46.480
it didn't end well. Oh, all right, she said, I67400:43:46.519 --> 00:43:49.159
suppose that would be a good question for you to ask.67500:43:49.239 --> 00:43:54.360
Then the rest of the interview was standard stuff. Thankfully67600:43:54.400 --> 00:43:57.599
I hadn't blown it and got the job. She gave67700:43:57.639 --> 00:44:00.559
me my employee packet and the address of the warehouse.67800:44:01.199 --> 00:44:03.320
She told me I would be trained on the job,67900:44:03.880 --> 00:44:05.840
when to be there for my first shift, and the68000:44:05.920 --> 00:44:09.760
name of my supervisor, mister Larson. I thanked her and68100:44:09.840 --> 00:44:12.440
went on my merry way, happy to have a job68200:44:12.519 --> 00:44:16.000
that was easy and paid decently. The next couple of68300:44:16.079 --> 00:44:19.920
days went by slowly as anticipation built for my first shift.68400:44:20.480 --> 00:44:22.800
When I got in my car, the gas gage told68500:44:22.840 --> 00:44:25.199
me I would be pushing it to make it back68600:44:25.239 --> 00:44:27.719
and forth to work before I got my first paycheck.68700:44:28.360 --> 00:44:30.519
I drove to the address and found it in what68800:44:30.719 --> 00:44:35.079
looked like an abandoned business park. There were other warehouses68900:44:35.119 --> 00:44:37.719
along the drive, with weeds growing through the cracks and69000:44:37.800 --> 00:44:40.960
the pavement and up the sides of the buildings. There69100:44:40.960 --> 00:44:44.400
were street lights, but they looked old and decrepit. Only69200:44:44.440 --> 00:44:47.239
two of them were still emanating their putrid yellow light,69300:44:47.800 --> 00:44:51.599
fighting a losing battle against the darkness. I came to69400:44:51.639 --> 00:44:53.800
the end of the road and looming in front of69500:44:53.840 --> 00:44:57.559
me was a massive warehouse. The GPS on my phone69600:44:57.599 --> 00:45:00.599
told me I had arrived, but I was isn't sure69700:45:00.639 --> 00:45:05.000
I wanted to. It was all by itself, surrounded by69800:45:05.039 --> 00:45:07.960
woods on all sides except for the notch that had69900:45:07.960 --> 00:45:11.159
been cut out to make the road. I pulled around70000:45:11.159 --> 00:45:13.320
to the side where the main door was and was70100:45:13.360 --> 00:45:16.199
slightly comforted by the car that was parked in front.70200:45:17.000 --> 00:45:19.559
At least there was some other living soul out here.70300:45:20.599 --> 00:45:23.360
I got out, taking my bag of supplies with me.70400:45:24.000 --> 00:45:26.320
I started toward the door and hit the remote button70500:45:26.320 --> 00:45:29.360
to lock the car out of habit. The horns chirp70600:45:29.440 --> 00:45:32.599
echoed through the trees, making me even more aware of70700:45:32.639 --> 00:45:36.760
their presence. I wasn't looking forward to doing security checks70800:45:36.760 --> 00:45:39.960
around the perimeter. There was only one security light that70900:45:40.000 --> 00:45:42.360
I had seen when I drove up, and it was71000:45:42.400 --> 00:45:46.119
near the entrance. I approached the door and tried to71100:45:46.159 --> 00:45:49.360
open it, but it was locked. I looked around for71200:45:49.440 --> 00:45:53.760
anything and found a keypad. I opened up my email71300:45:53.800 --> 00:45:56.079
on my phone and read the instructions i'd been sent.71400:45:57.159 --> 00:46:00.480
Your shift is from nine pm to nine am, it read,71500:46:01.000 --> 00:46:04.000
you cannot leave between those hours. The code for the71600:46:04.079 --> 00:46:07.320
keypad is your employee code. That way we know it's71700:46:07.360 --> 00:46:11.679
you inside. I paused. There was something about that last71800:46:11.719 --> 00:46:16.360
sentence that gave me chills. I reread it and decided71900:46:16.400 --> 00:46:20.239
it was just a security thing. Your employee code is72000:46:20.280 --> 00:46:23.480
two zero, five nine. It should open any doors you72100:46:23.519 --> 00:46:26.800
need to access inside. If you have any problems, call72200:46:26.920 --> 00:46:31.119
or text the number included in your packet. I didn't72300:46:31.199 --> 00:46:34.719
remember getting any number in my packet, but maybe I'd72400:46:34.880 --> 00:46:38.239
just skimmed over it. I entered my code on the keypad.72500:46:38.760 --> 00:46:41.639
The light above the numbers turned green, and I heard72600:46:41.679 --> 00:46:46.559
the lock click. I pushed the door open and stepped inside.72700:46:46.719 --> 00:46:49.000
When the door shut, I heard the lock click again.72800:46:49.920 --> 00:46:51.920
I stared at it as if the sound had some72900:46:52.719 --> 00:46:56.519
finality to it, Just out of curiosity. I typed in73000:46:56.599 --> 00:47:00.599
my code on the inside keypad, but the light stayed73100:47:00.639 --> 00:47:06.199
red and the door stayed locked. I tried to shrug73200:47:06.239 --> 00:47:08.840
it off, thinking it was like a time card thing73300:47:09.280 --> 00:47:12.639
that it wouldn't open again until nine am. I looked73400:47:12.639 --> 00:47:16.760
at my watch and it read nine oh two pm.73500:47:17.039 --> 00:47:19.639
I turned toward the inside set of doors and punched73600:47:19.679 --> 00:47:23.360
in my code. The green light and click granted me entry.73700:47:24.599 --> 00:47:26.320
If I'm going to have to type in my coat73800:47:26.360 --> 00:47:28.360
at every door, it's going to be a long night,73900:47:28.599 --> 00:47:31.639
I thought. I stepped into what looked like a small74000:47:31.679 --> 00:47:34.480
reception area. There was a desk and a couple of74100:47:34.559 --> 00:47:38.199
vinyl couches along the wall. It was sparsely decorated and74200:47:38.280 --> 00:47:41.559
dimly lit. The only painting I saw on the wall74300:47:41.679 --> 00:47:44.440
had a picture of a large gait that was dark74400:47:44.519 --> 00:47:48.760
red with words in some other language. I walked through74500:47:48.800 --> 00:47:51.840
the first set of doors after inputting my code. They74600:47:51.880 --> 00:47:54.960
opened up into a long, dimly lit hallway with doors74700:47:55.000 --> 00:47:59.039
on both sides. The first one I came to said security.74800:47:59.760 --> 00:48:02.239
It was no surprise when I saw a keypad on74900:48:02.280 --> 00:48:05.159
the door lock. I typed in my code and opened75000:48:05.199 --> 00:48:08.679
the door. Inside there was a desk with monitors and75100:48:08.719 --> 00:48:12.199
a computer. There was also a table with two chairs,75200:48:12.480 --> 00:48:16.519
another vinyl couch, a mini fridge, and a small bathroom.75300:48:16.800 --> 00:48:18.920
I set my bag down on the couch and got75400:48:18.960 --> 00:48:21.760
my water bottle out. I opened the fridge and found75500:48:21.800 --> 00:48:24.760
a lunch box with a bottle on the door. I75600:48:24.800 --> 00:48:27.159
guess it belongs to the guard I'm supposed to relieve,75700:48:27.559 --> 00:48:31.480
I thought, where is he anyway? I put my bottle75800:48:31.519 --> 00:48:34.000
in and closed the fridge, then looked around the room75900:48:34.079 --> 00:48:38.039
more closely. There were three doors on the far wall76000:48:38.079 --> 00:48:40.960
that I hadn't noticed. I opened the first one and76100:48:41.039 --> 00:48:44.239
found it was a closet. A light jacket hung there,76200:48:44.519 --> 00:48:47.280
and a small duffel bag sat on the shelf. I76300:48:47.320 --> 00:48:50.360
sat my bag beside it and closed the door. I76400:48:50.440 --> 00:48:53.559
opened the second one to find a weapons locker. Two76500:48:53.639 --> 00:48:57.320
handguns and two shotguns, along with tasers and pepper spray76600:48:57.360 --> 00:49:00.599
were locked behind a metal mesh door. I tried the76700:49:00.599 --> 00:49:05.119
door out of curiosity, but it refused to budge. Surprisingly,76800:49:05.199 --> 00:49:08.119
there wasn't a keypad to punch in numbers. It was76900:49:08.159 --> 00:49:11.519
an actual lock. I looked around for the keys but77000:49:11.599 --> 00:49:15.559
didn't find them. Maybe the other guard had them. I77100:49:15.639 --> 00:49:18.039
closed the door and tried to open the third one.77200:49:18.599 --> 00:49:22.719
It remained locked. Maybe it's a maintenance closet or something.77300:49:23.599 --> 00:49:25.599
I sat at the desk and looked at the computer.77400:49:26.039 --> 00:49:29.320
The monitor showed a login screen. I typed in my77500:49:29.440 --> 00:49:32.000
code and it came up to an email. I had77600:49:32.039 --> 00:49:35.679
three messages. I clicked on the first that read first77700:49:35.760 --> 00:49:39.719
log in. I opened it and read welcome to your77800:49:39.760 --> 00:49:43.159
first shift. I'm sure by now you have some questions.77900:49:43.679 --> 00:49:46.119
First off, you need to log into our Wi Fi.78000:49:46.840 --> 00:49:48.679
If you look at your phone, you'll see there's no78100:49:48.800 --> 00:49:52.760
cell service inside the building. I looked, and sure enough,78200:49:53.199 --> 00:49:56.519
my phone had no service. I followed the directions to78300:49:56.559 --> 00:49:59.280
hook up to their Wi Fi. Once I logged in,78400:49:59.320 --> 00:50:02.760
a strange symbol flashed on my phone. Then it went78500:50:02.800 --> 00:50:05.760
blank for a whole minute. I tried to go back78600:50:05.880 --> 00:50:08.920
or go to the home screen, but nothing happened. I78700:50:09.000 --> 00:50:12.039
was about to power off when suddenly the screen came back.78800:50:12.920 --> 00:50:15.559
Everything seemed normal and I was able to do everything78900:50:16.119 --> 00:50:19.639
but make calls. My phone dinged as I received a text,79000:50:20.440 --> 00:50:23.400
congratulations on setting up your phone on our corporate WiFi.79100:50:24.039 --> 00:50:26.760
Calling will be disabled while you're on shift. If you79200:50:26.800 --> 00:50:29.920
have any needs, text this number someone is monitoring twenty79300:50:29.960 --> 00:50:32.760
four to seven. I saw the number they sent and79400:50:32.800 --> 00:50:36.480
saved it as corporate. I opened the second email and79500:50:36.519 --> 00:50:41.400
read the message your duties monitor for any unusual activity.79600:50:41.800 --> 00:50:46.159
If there is unusual activity, text corporate immediately check to79700:50:46.199 --> 00:50:50.039
make sure all doors are secure. Do green patrols twice79800:50:50.079 --> 00:50:53.880
per shift, Do a red patrol once per shift. Do79900:50:54.079 --> 00:50:58.079
yellow patrols four times per shift. I was wondering what80000:50:58.119 --> 00:51:01.199
that meant when a video started showing the hallway floors80100:51:01.639 --> 00:51:05.320
that had different color stripes of paint. There was green, yellow,80200:51:05.360 --> 00:51:08.320
and red, and then there seemed to be another color80300:51:08.400 --> 00:51:11.800
beside them. Before I could make it out, the video ended,80400:51:12.639 --> 00:51:16.840
Take your breaks only in the security room. The email ended.80500:51:17.360 --> 00:51:19.079
I looked at the subject for the third one, and80600:51:19.119 --> 00:51:23.559
it read open only after the first patrol. I hovered80700:51:23.599 --> 00:51:26.480
the arrow over the subject and was tempted to click,80800:51:26.960 --> 00:51:30.599
but just then I got a text. Have you done80900:51:30.639 --> 00:51:35.199
your first patrol yet? It read great? I thought, just81000:51:35.280 --> 00:51:38.440
what I need is to be nagged at work. Not yet,81100:51:38.719 --> 00:51:42.679
I texted back, better get to it. I sighed and81200:51:42.760 --> 00:51:45.840
stepped to the door when my phone dinged don't forget81300:51:45.880 --> 00:51:49.159
your flashlight. I read it and looked at the closet,81400:51:49.239 --> 00:51:53.039
realizing I had done just that. I slowly looked back81500:51:53.079 --> 00:51:55.960
at the phone, thinking many things I'd like to respond,81600:51:56.519 --> 00:52:00.320
but texted thanks. I went to the closet and my81700:52:00.320 --> 00:52:03.159
flashlight out of my bag. I looked at my phone81800:52:03.159 --> 00:52:08.159
and thought anything else, wondering if it would respond. Thankfully81900:52:08.199 --> 00:52:11.480
it didn't. My phone literally reading my thoughts would be82000:52:11.559 --> 00:52:15.239
disturbing beyond belief. I opened the door and glanced at82100:52:15.239 --> 00:52:17.480
my phone to see if I'd done anything else wrong.82200:52:18.039 --> 00:52:22.199
It remained, thankfully silent. I stepped back into the hallway,82300:52:22.199 --> 00:52:25.159
where every third light was lit. I assumed it was82400:52:25.199 --> 00:52:28.559
the nighttime lighting and started down the hall, looking at82500:52:28.599 --> 00:52:31.679
the floor. The lines were just like in the video.82600:52:32.119 --> 00:52:36.079
The fourth line was black. I paused at the ramifications82700:52:36.119 --> 00:52:38.679
of being guided towards something they didn't want me to82800:52:38.760 --> 00:52:41.960
check on. That either meant they didn't care about it82900:52:42.119 --> 00:52:46.239
or didn't trust me to check it out. Either one83000:52:46.320 --> 00:52:49.880
was disconcerting. I decided to get a yellow patrol out83100:52:49.920 --> 00:52:52.800
of the way. I followed the line down the hall,83200:52:52.880 --> 00:52:55.280
glancing at each door that was marked with a letter83300:52:55.320 --> 00:52:59.920
and a number. The first one said A one, the83400:53:00.199 --> 00:53:04.719
next said A two. As I continued, the letter remained83500:53:04.719 --> 00:53:08.119
the same as the numbers increased, odd numbers on the83600:53:08.199 --> 00:53:11.800
right side doors even on the left. I reached the83700:53:11.920 --> 00:53:14.440
end of the hall and the yellow and green lines83800:53:14.480 --> 00:53:18.320
turned right down another hallway. The red and black went left.83900:53:19.079 --> 00:53:23.440
I glanced left, but stayed right. My curiosity would have84000:53:23.519 --> 00:53:27.880
to wait until later. I followed the lines down the84100:53:27.920 --> 00:53:31.440
next hall and read the first door. It said B one.84200:53:32.519 --> 00:53:35.880
This continued down the entire hall, just like the first.84300:53:36.440 --> 00:53:38.880
At the end, the green line turned left, while the84400:53:39.000 --> 00:53:43.800
yellow went right. This hall started with C one. The84500:53:43.960 --> 00:53:47.719
entire time I'd been walking there was total silence. There84600:53:47.800 --> 00:53:51.079
wasn't even the sound of air conditioners or anything It84700:53:51.199 --> 00:53:55.840
was eerie. I stopped and looked around the hallway, and84800:53:55.920 --> 00:53:59.079
all the doors were pristine. There wasn't a bit of84900:53:59.119 --> 00:54:03.039
dirt or dust. It didn't look like a warehouse, at85000:54:03.119 --> 00:54:05.320
least not like I thought the inside of a warehouse85100:54:05.320 --> 00:54:09.320
would look. This was something else I would have to85200:54:09.320 --> 00:54:11.559
make a list of questions to ask when I got85300:54:11.599 --> 00:54:15.280
back to the security room. I continued my round and85400:54:15.360 --> 00:54:17.880
followed the yellow line as it turned right yet again.85500:54:18.719 --> 00:54:22.320
This hall started with D one. When I reached the85600:54:22.400 --> 00:54:24.719
end of the hall, the line dead ended at a door.85700:54:25.440 --> 00:54:28.880
I hesitated for a moment before opening it into another hall.85800:54:29.639 --> 00:54:31.880
I turned and looked at the other side of the door.85900:54:32.519 --> 00:54:36.079
It said A one. I looked to the left and86000:54:36.119 --> 00:54:39.400
saw the security room. The yellow line had taken me86100:54:39.440 --> 00:54:42.559
in a circle, or I suppose it would have been86200:54:42.599 --> 00:54:46.400
a square. I shook my head, stepped into the security86300:54:46.480 --> 00:54:49.440
room and sat down at the computer. The e mail86400:54:49.559 --> 00:54:54.440
sat waiting. I clicked it. Congratulations on your first patrol.86500:54:55.159 --> 00:54:59.519
I read the sentence and felt uneasy at the word successful.86600:55:00.400 --> 00:55:03.920
Why wouldn't it be successful? I thought, by now you86700:55:04.039 --> 00:55:07.480
probably have some questions. Perhaps we can answer them before86800:55:07.519 --> 00:55:11.840
you ask. First, the black line do not follow it86900:55:12.000 --> 00:55:16.559
under any circumstances. Second, as I'm sure you've already noticed,87000:55:16.800 --> 00:55:20.559
you cannot leave until your shift is over. Third, make87100:55:20.639 --> 00:55:23.840
sure you close any door you open. These are some87200:55:24.000 --> 00:55:28.559
basic rules. There'll be more as your shift commences. I87300:55:28.639 --> 00:55:32.559
looked for any more emails, but there were none. Great,87400:55:33.079 --> 00:55:37.400
I thought, more rules. At least these ones aren't all87500:55:38.119 --> 00:55:41.719
weird and creepy. I opened the mini fridge and took87600:55:41.719 --> 00:55:44.800
a drink from my water bottle. As I put it back,87700:55:44.840 --> 00:55:47.239
I glanced at the lunch box and wondered where the87800:55:47.280 --> 00:55:50.400
other guard was. I checked my watch and it was87900:55:50.440 --> 00:55:53.800
almost ten. I figured I should do my first green88000:55:53.840 --> 00:55:57.039
line patrol. I went back out into the hallway and88100:55:57.119 --> 00:55:59.400
followed the green line to the point where it veered88200:55:59.400 --> 00:56:02.760
away from the yellow The silence in the hall was88300:56:02.840 --> 00:56:07.400
starting to bother me. Listening to my own footsteps was unnerving.88400:56:08.000 --> 00:56:11.800
The green line led to another similar corridor. This one88500:56:12.000 --> 00:56:15.039
was e hall. I was starting to wonder just how88600:56:15.079 --> 00:56:17.320
big this place was when I heard a sound I88700:56:17.400 --> 00:56:21.440
didn't make. I slowly turned and looked back to find88800:56:21.880 --> 00:56:25.119
an open door. I knew, beyond a shadow of a88900:56:25.159 --> 00:56:27.880
doubt it wasn't open. When I went past it. I89000:56:28.000 --> 00:56:32.320
showed my flashlight around, looking for anything and anyone, but89100:56:32.440 --> 00:56:35.880
nothing was there. I approached the door and was about89200:56:35.880 --> 00:56:38.480
to close it and resume my patrol when I heard89300:56:38.480 --> 00:56:42.599
the sound again. My hand hovered over the knob as89400:56:42.639 --> 00:56:48.039
my curiosity overwhelmed my fear and common sense. Instead of89500:56:48.079 --> 00:56:51.519
shutting the door and moving on, I opened it enough89600:56:51.559 --> 00:56:56.360
to look inside. The room was dark. I considered turning89700:56:56.440 --> 00:56:59.239
on the light, but instead opted to use my flashlight.89800:56:59.840 --> 00:57:01.800
I shown it around the room that looked like a89900:57:01.920 --> 00:57:06.239
lab with plenty of workstations. I did a slow lap90000:57:06.280 --> 00:57:09.039
around the room, looking for anything out of the ordinary,90100:57:09.760 --> 00:57:13.559
which was laughable because I had no idea what went90200:57:13.639 --> 00:57:16.159
on in this room or this building on a day90300:57:16.199 --> 00:57:19.199
to day basis, so how would I know what was90400:57:19.280 --> 00:57:22.719
normal for this place. In the middle of my lap,90500:57:23.039 --> 00:57:25.440
I noticed a dim light underneath a door at the90600:57:25.440 --> 00:57:29.559
far end of the room. I slowly approached it, turned90700:57:29.599 --> 00:57:35.960
the knob, and peeked inside. I wish I hadn't. There90800:57:36.000 --> 00:57:40.639
was a large glowing glass container that held an entity.90900:57:41.039 --> 00:57:42.960
Is the only thing I can think to call it.91000:57:43.559 --> 00:57:45.239
I know if I call it what I think it91100:57:45.239 --> 00:57:47.679
should be called, I'll go insane. Right on the spot,91200:57:48.840 --> 00:57:51.280
it was easily the size of a large human and91300:57:51.320 --> 00:57:54.199
then some It was black and covered with what I91400:57:54.199 --> 00:57:58.920
could only describe as scales. There were sharp points sticking91500:57:58.960 --> 00:58:02.599
out of its elbows and seemingly random spots along its91600:58:02.679 --> 00:58:07.559
head and torso. Its face was a nightmare, with horns91700:58:07.559 --> 00:58:10.280
sticking out of its forehead and curling up like a rams.91800:58:11.039 --> 00:58:14.159
It was hovering inside the container somehow, even though there91900:58:14.199 --> 00:58:17.360
was no liquid inside it, and holding its legs, making92000:58:17.400 --> 00:58:19.800
it look like it was curled up in the fetal position.92100:58:20.880 --> 00:58:23.159
I kept the flashlight down so as not to risk92200:58:23.239 --> 00:58:28.880
disturbing this thing. I panned around the room. There seemed92300:58:28.880 --> 00:58:31.880
to be controls of some sort near the container that92400:58:31.920 --> 00:58:35.719
were making occasional hissing sounds. It was as if the92500:58:35.760 --> 00:58:40.239
machine was breathing for it. How I kept from screaming92600:58:40.280 --> 00:58:42.960
and running out of the room, I don't know. Through92700:58:43.000 --> 00:58:46.079
some miracle, I kept it together and slowly backed away.92800:58:46.960 --> 00:58:51.639
I held the doorknob turned, then slowly released it. Once92900:58:51.719 --> 00:58:55.679
the door was closed, I breathed a sigh of relief93000:58:56.000 --> 00:58:58.559
and started toward the door that led to the hallway.93100:58:59.400 --> 00:59:02.079
I was almost there when I heard the soft scuffle93200:59:02.880 --> 00:59:06.840
of a foot on the floor. I froze and turned93300:59:06.920 --> 00:59:10.199
back to the room, panning slowly with my light. At93400:59:10.239 --> 00:59:14.440
first I didn't see anything, and then a tiny, pale93500:59:14.559 --> 00:59:17.440
hand reached up and turned the knob that led into93600:59:17.440 --> 00:59:20.679
the monster's room. I didn't want to know what was93700:59:20.719 --> 00:59:24.360
doing it. I just wanted it to stop. After a93800:59:24.440 --> 00:59:27.639
quick rundown of potential outcomes, I settled on getting out93900:59:27.679 --> 00:59:31.440
of that room as quietly as possible. I stepped toward94000:59:31.519 --> 00:59:34.679
the hallway door, while shooting furtive glances back at the94100:59:34.719 --> 00:59:38.039
other door that was slowly opening. I could see the94200:59:38.079 --> 00:59:41.199
creature in its container and the thing that had opened94300:59:41.239 --> 00:59:45.639
the door. It was small, only a few feet tall,94400:59:45.719 --> 00:59:49.880
with gangly legs and arms. But what froze my blood94500:59:50.840 --> 00:59:54.599
was seeing its face. It was embedded in its torso.94600:59:55.400 --> 00:59:59.599
Two eyes and a mouth full of sharp, grinning teeth94700:59:59.760 --> 01:00:03.360
were right there where its belly should have been. It94801:00:03.440 --> 01:00:06.679
had no head. It was like someone had smashed all94901:00:06.719 --> 01:00:09.559
but a few inches of this creature's torso and left95001:00:09.599 --> 01:00:13.480
the face right there. It looked at me, and its95101:00:13.519 --> 01:00:17.599
horrific smile grew as it reached the controls in the room.95201:00:19.039 --> 01:00:22.599
I backed out into the hallway and closed the door quietly,95301:00:23.400 --> 01:00:26.360
then ran as I followed the green line to its95401:00:26.480 --> 01:00:30.440
ending underneath a door. I hesitated to open that door,95501:00:30.480 --> 01:00:34.199
with my new knowledge that there were potentially dangerous creatures95601:00:34.280 --> 01:00:39.480
lurking behind every opening. Finally I turned the knob and95701:00:39.559 --> 01:00:43.480
peeked out into a hallway. The first thing I saw95801:00:43.559 --> 01:00:46.480
was four lines on the floor, which told me I95901:00:46.559 --> 01:00:50.599
was once again in the first hall. I looked at96001:00:50.639 --> 01:00:55.559
the number on the door. It read a two. I96101:00:55.679 --> 01:00:58.400
jumped out and slammed the door shut, diving into the96201:00:58.400 --> 01:01:01.639
security room and shutting that door as well. I leaned96301:01:01.639 --> 01:01:04.440
against it for a long moment, wondering how I was96401:01:04.480 --> 01:01:07.639
going to do another patrol, knowing that either or both96501:01:07.679 --> 01:01:12.119
of those creatures would be stalking the hallways. My attention96601:01:12.320 --> 01:01:15.159
was grabbed by one of the monitors. There were over96701:01:15.199 --> 01:01:18.280
a dozen images being transmitted onto different sections of a96801:01:18.519 --> 01:01:21.719
large TV. I looked at the videos for the first96901:01:21.719 --> 01:01:25.320
time and noticed there wasn't a single camera aimed at97001:01:25.360 --> 01:01:30.320
the outside of the building. They were all inside. My97101:01:30.440 --> 01:01:34.360
breath caught in my throat. That means they aren't afraid97201:01:34.360 --> 01:01:40.599
of what's outside, but what's inside. I watched the monitors97301:01:41.000 --> 01:01:44.960
fortunately they were in color. I focused on the cameras97401:01:45.000 --> 01:01:47.559
that showed green lines on the floor and waited to97501:01:47.599 --> 01:01:50.960
see if any of the doors opened. After thirty minutes,97601:01:51.000 --> 01:01:54.000
I hadn't seen any movement. I sat back in my chair,97701:01:54.079 --> 01:01:58.679
Feeling a little better. I decided to do another yellow patrol.97801:01:59.320 --> 01:02:01.480
I didn't want to. I would have rather stayed in97901:02:01.519 --> 01:02:03.400
the security room for the rest of my shift, but98001:02:04.280 --> 01:02:07.719
that wasn't an option. I comforted myself with the thought98101:02:07.800 --> 01:02:10.679
that I had been watching the cameras and nothing had moved.98201:02:11.800 --> 01:02:15.480
It wasn't much comfort. I picked up my flashlight, trying98301:02:15.519 --> 01:02:18.920
to keep it steady as my shaking hands showed my hesitation.98401:02:19.760 --> 01:02:22.280
I stepped through the security room door and out into98501:02:22.320 --> 01:02:27.079
the hallway. Somehow it looked different now. Before when I98601:02:27.159 --> 01:02:30.000
was just checking a bunch of doors, I convinced myself98701:02:30.039 --> 01:02:32.679
that nothing of interest was in any of the rooms.98801:02:33.159 --> 01:02:36.400
Now I knew better. Now I looked at each room98901:02:36.440 --> 01:02:39.320
as if it were about to spring open, and I99001:02:39.360 --> 01:02:42.199
shook the thoughts away. I had to or I wouldn't99101:02:42.239 --> 01:02:46.039
take another step. I walked down the first hall ears99201:02:46.079 --> 01:02:49.519
a tuned to any sound. At my first turn, all99301:02:49.559 --> 01:02:52.960
I heard were my own footsteps. Even they gave me99401:02:53.039 --> 01:02:55.840
pause and had me whipping around to look behind me99501:02:56.239 --> 01:02:59.719
from time to time. By the second turn, I was99601:02:59.719 --> 01:03:03.400
beginning to feel a little less nervous. By the third turn,99701:03:03.679 --> 01:03:06.800
I was almost calm until I saw where the green99801:03:06.880 --> 01:03:10.920
line split off from the yellow. I stopped and stared99901:03:11.000 --> 01:03:15.280
down the green hall wondering if that thing had slipped out.100001:03:16.280 --> 01:03:19.239
For an instant I thought I saw a movement. I100101:03:19.320 --> 01:03:22.800
shone my light all around, but saw nothing. Even so100201:03:23.280 --> 01:03:25.800
I picked up the pace for my last hallway and100301:03:25.920 --> 01:03:29.559
quickly opened the security room door, then closed it. Feeling100401:03:29.599 --> 01:03:32.519
my heart racing, I looked at my watch and it100501:03:32.559 --> 01:03:36.239
was nearly midnight. I'd done three of my seven patrols.100601:03:37.000 --> 01:03:41.800
My phone dinged. There was a text, it's nearly midnight,100701:03:42.159 --> 01:03:46.760
it said. I wanted to reply sarcastically, but thought better100801:03:46.800 --> 01:03:51.960
of it. What's special about midnight? Didn't they tell you?100901:03:53.039 --> 01:04:01.079
Tell me what the rules? My heart in my chest?101001:04:01.800 --> 01:04:05.559
Not again. They told me I couldn't leave before my101101:04:05.599 --> 01:04:09.880
shift was over, and to do different color patrols. That's101201:04:09.920 --> 01:04:13.400
not the rules I'm talking about. I knew it before101301:04:13.440 --> 01:04:17.039
the text came. Do I want to know what they are?101401:04:17.519 --> 01:04:22.199
I texted, you need to what if I just sit101501:04:22.239 --> 01:04:26.320
in the security room. There wasn't an immediate text back.101601:04:27.760 --> 01:04:34.679
There are things that would happen like what like things101701:04:34.679 --> 01:04:39.519
that would destroy you or at least your mind, I sighed,101801:04:40.639 --> 01:04:44.880
So send me the list of rules. I shook my101901:04:44.960 --> 01:04:47.679
head in disbelief that I was doing this crap again.102001:04:48.519 --> 01:04:52.079
One at midnight, you must be in the security office102101:04:52.480 --> 01:04:56.400
and stay there until twelve thirty am. No matter what102201:04:56.519 --> 01:04:59.519
you see or hear, you must stay in the office.102301:04:59.719 --> 01:05:04.039
And I don't open the door for any reason. That102401:05:04.079 --> 01:05:09.320
doesn't sound ominous at all, I texted. Two. When doing102501:05:09.360 --> 01:05:12.519
a patrol, if you hear someone calling to you or screaming,102601:05:13.320 --> 01:05:16.239
ignore it. Do not attempt to find the source of102701:05:16.280 --> 01:05:22.039
the sound. Three, if the doors start changing, follow the102801:05:22.079 --> 01:05:26.719
lines back to the security room. That should actually take102901:05:26.760 --> 01:05:30.079
care of you for now. Just remember, do not follow103001:05:30.119 --> 01:05:34.400
the black line and don't go into any rooms. Are103101:05:34.440 --> 01:05:37.519
you kidding me with this? I texted, I don't want103201:05:37.519 --> 01:05:40.960
to do this again. Let me out. Sorry, not possible.103301:05:41.559 --> 01:05:44.119
Nothing can open those doors until your shift is over.103401:05:45.000 --> 01:05:48.880
And what did you mean again? I worked in a103501:05:48.920 --> 01:05:53.559
fire tower with weird rules. Interesting, I'd like to hear103601:05:53.599 --> 01:05:59.239
that story someday. Good luck, thanks a lot. By the way,103701:05:59.280 --> 01:06:03.840
where's the key the weapons locker? Just in case? Didn't103801:06:03.840 --> 01:06:06.679
the guard you relieved give it to you. I haven't103901:06:06.719 --> 01:06:11.840
seen him. That's not good news. Is there a spare104001:06:11.920 --> 01:06:17.920
key somewhere? No return? Text came, Hello, is there a104101:06:17.960 --> 01:06:23.880
spare key? No response. I checked my watch and it104201:06:23.960 --> 01:06:28.239
was twelve oh one. As if on cue, there was104301:06:28.280 --> 01:06:31.000
a knock at the door. I took a step toward104401:06:31.039 --> 01:06:34.719
it before I remembered the rules I'd been texted. The104501:06:34.800 --> 01:06:40.079
knocking became more insistent. Next, the doorknomb began rattling, as104601:06:40.119 --> 01:06:42.320
if someone was trying to tear it out of the door.104701:06:43.840 --> 01:06:48.039
Who's there, I said, cringing at my own words. The104801:06:48.079 --> 01:06:52.239
doorknob stopped rattling. There was a silence that was only104901:06:52.280 --> 01:06:57.599
broken by the pounding of my own heartbeat. It's mister Larson,105001:06:57.920 --> 01:07:01.599
A voice said, I've missplayed my key. Could you please105101:07:01.679 --> 01:07:04.719
let me in. I took another step and reached for105201:07:04.760 --> 01:07:09.880
the doorknob. When I remembered there's a keypad on the door,105301:07:10.199 --> 01:07:12.840
I said, if you are who you say you are,105401:07:13.000 --> 01:07:16.840
just punch your coatin and the door'll open. There was105501:07:16.920 --> 01:07:20.599
silence on the other side of the door. It lasted105601:07:20.639 --> 01:07:23.400
so long that I wondered if whoever it was had105701:07:23.440 --> 01:07:27.239
gone away. I leaned against the door and put my105801:07:27.320 --> 01:07:31.800
ear up to it. That's when I heard the loudest,105901:07:32.039 --> 01:07:37.519
most blood curdling inhuman scream I'd ever heard in my life.106001:07:37.599 --> 01:07:40.079
I threw myself on the floor, trying to get away106101:07:40.079 --> 01:07:44.320
from the door as quickly as possible. The pounding continued.106201:07:44.840 --> 01:07:47.360
I wondered how long the door would hold up, and106301:07:47.440 --> 01:07:50.039
what I would do when whatever it was broke it down.106401:07:50.920 --> 01:07:54.360
I held my flashlight like a baseball bat, looking all106501:07:54.400 --> 01:07:57.960
around the room for a better weapon, and not finding any.106601:07:59.119 --> 01:08:02.400
My eyes fell on the weapons locker, wishing I had106701:08:02.400 --> 01:08:06.440
a key. The door started bowing inward with every blow.106801:08:07.039 --> 01:08:08.960
It was so bad I got one of the chairs106901:08:09.000 --> 01:08:11.800
from the brake table and wedged it against the doorknob.107001:08:12.199 --> 01:08:16.439
I stepped back and looked at my handiwork. The ludicrousness107101:08:16.479 --> 01:08:18.920
of a folding metal chair trying to hold off an107201:08:18.960 --> 01:08:21.800
assault that was bowing a solid door was enough to107301:08:21.840 --> 01:08:26.239
make me laugh. I knew it wouldn't last long. Sawdust107401:08:26.319 --> 01:08:29.920
was raining down on the floor. I considered locking myself107501:08:29.920 --> 01:08:32.920
in the bathroom, but saved that for a last resort.107601:08:34.239 --> 01:08:41.000
And then suddenly the assault stopped. The last few remnants107701:08:41.079 --> 01:08:44.960
of sawdust floated to the floor in silence. I gripped107801:08:44.960 --> 01:08:49.760
the flashlight tighter, not trusting this respite. Sweat dripped from107901:08:49.760 --> 01:08:52.119
my forehead As I waited for the assault to resume.108001:08:53.279 --> 01:08:58.000
Nothing happened. I stood there staring at the door, dumbfounded,108101:08:58.079 --> 01:09:00.760
not knowing what to do next. I glanced at my108201:09:00.880 --> 01:09:06.239
watch and it said twelve thirty two am. The text108301:09:06.319 --> 01:09:09.560
said to stay in the office from twelve to twelve thirty.108401:09:09.640 --> 01:09:14.920
I thought, maybe it's okay to go out now. I108501:09:15.039 --> 01:09:21.479
grasped the doorknob and slowly turned, taking a deep, cleansing108601:09:21.600 --> 01:09:26.119
breath before pulling it open. I'm not sure what I108701:09:26.199 --> 01:09:31.439
expected to be there, but what I found was nothing.108801:09:32.520 --> 01:09:34.880
The hallway looked the same as it had before.108901:09:37.079 --> 01:09:37.199
No.109001:09:37.399 --> 01:09:43.720
Wait, the lines on the floor, they were wrong. Every109101:09:43.760 --> 01:09:46.119
other time I came out of the security office, the109201:09:46.159 --> 01:09:49.840
lines stretched down the hallway to the right. Now they109301:09:49.840 --> 01:09:52.880
were going to the left. I looked to the right109401:09:52.960 --> 01:09:55.279
and saw the doors that went to the reception area109501:09:55.279 --> 01:09:59.880
and eventually the outside doors. This is impossible, I thought,109601:10:00.640 --> 01:10:04.239
my breathing, becoming erratic with panic. I pulled out my109701:10:04.319 --> 01:10:08.159
phone and texted, the lines are reversed. It took a109801:10:08.199 --> 01:10:11.439
moment for the response. Did you break any rules?109901:10:12.199 --> 01:10:12.239
No?110001:10:12.479 --> 01:10:15.199
I did everything the way you said. Someone was trying110101:10:15.199 --> 01:10:17.800
to beat down the office door, but I didn't open it.110201:10:18.600 --> 01:10:20.640
Have you gone in any rooms?110301:10:21.119 --> 01:10:21.199
No?110401:10:21.479 --> 01:10:25.399
I wait. On my second round, I found an open110501:10:25.439 --> 01:10:29.079
door and went inside to check it. Not good. What110601:10:29.239 --> 01:10:34.399
did you see? Nothing? I lied? Are you sure I110701:10:34.439 --> 01:10:37.840
didn't see anything but an empty room? Then why are110801:10:37.840 --> 01:10:41.800
the lines switched? I have no idea. You're the one110901:10:41.840 --> 01:10:45.720
who's supposed to know this stuff. Okay, do a yellow111001:10:45.720 --> 01:10:48.359
line patrol when you get to the end instead of111101:10:48.399 --> 01:10:50.920
going through the door. The line ends at open the111201:10:50.960 --> 01:10:54.159
first door on your right and go through it, and111301:10:54.359 --> 01:11:00.680
that'll fix things. Hopefully. What do you mean hopefully? No111401:11:00.840 --> 01:11:04.439
return text came. Come on, man, you've got to be111501:11:04.520 --> 01:11:08.199
kidding me with this, I texted, but still got no response.111601:11:09.439 --> 01:11:12.640
I looked left, then right, then back at the security room.111701:11:13.319 --> 01:11:16.600
I sighed and turned left down the hallway, following the lines.111801:11:17.479 --> 01:11:20.760
It was shortly after my first turn that I noticed111901:11:20.760 --> 01:11:25.479
a difference. The place was still silent except for my footsteps,112001:11:25.560 --> 01:11:30.279
but something felt off. It was like I was in112101:11:30.359 --> 01:11:33.880
a different place, but it looked the same. It was112201:11:33.920 --> 01:11:37.000
almost like I was walking through a replica of the warehouse,112301:11:37.560 --> 01:11:40.920
but different. Aside from the fact that I was going112401:11:40.960 --> 01:11:44.199
in the opposite direction, which defied the laws of physics112501:11:44.279 --> 01:11:50.600
because this hallway didn't exist. There was something else. I112601:11:50.680 --> 01:11:54.439
found out what it was when I stopped my footsteps112701:11:55.319 --> 01:11:59.600
kept going. I stood there halfway down the hall, listening112801:11:59.600 --> 01:12:04.039
to my own footsteps continue on without me. I looked112901:12:04.039 --> 01:12:06.359
down and my shoes were still on my feet, so113001:12:06.960 --> 01:12:10.520
that was some comfort. I stomped my shoe on the floor,113101:12:10.520 --> 01:12:15.119
but to my surprise, it made no sound. I stared113201:12:15.119 --> 01:12:18.800
at my shoes as my footsteps rounded the corner and faded.113301:12:19.560 --> 01:12:23.319
I rushed to catch up, but the sound was gone.113401:12:23.520 --> 01:12:26.399
I looked down the dimly lit hall before me and113501:12:26.479 --> 01:12:29.760
saw nothing. My nerves were getting a workout as I113601:12:29.800 --> 01:12:34.039
resumed my patrol in total silence. My shoes no longer113701:12:34.079 --> 01:12:39.279
made any sound. I tried stomping again, but nothing happened.113801:12:40.119 --> 01:12:42.319
When I turned the next corner, I was greeted by113901:12:42.600 --> 01:12:46.600
the worst sight imaginable. The little thing that had been114001:12:46.600 --> 01:12:48.960
in the room on my green patrol was standing in114101:12:49.000 --> 01:12:51.720
the middle of the hall, staring at me and smiling114201:12:51.760 --> 01:12:56.079
that disturbing grin on its belly. But that wasn't the114301:12:56.119 --> 01:13:00.279
worst part. Behind him was the black, scaly creature from114401:13:00.319 --> 01:13:04.039
the glowing container. It stood at least eight feet high114501:13:04.039 --> 01:13:07.479
and was breathing smoke. It looked at me in extended wings.114601:13:07.520 --> 01:13:11.439
I didn't know it had. They reached both walls easily.114701:13:12.560 --> 01:13:20.640
It was also smiling. Neither smile was comforting. I found114801:13:20.640 --> 01:13:23.560
my feet rooted to the floor and my knees shaking.114901:13:24.159 --> 01:13:27.560
The smaller creature made a chittering sound as it started115001:13:27.600 --> 01:13:31.159
toward me, and the larger took its first step. Its115101:13:31.199 --> 01:13:34.600
foot landed with the force of a jackhammer. The sound115201:13:34.680 --> 01:13:38.560
was debilitating. I covered my ears as they approached. I115301:13:38.640 --> 01:13:43.439
turned to run back to where I came from, but somehow, impossibly,115401:13:43.520 --> 01:13:47.279
the same creatures were approaching from that very hallway. I115501:13:47.359 --> 01:13:49.760
glanced back and forth at the mirror images of the115601:13:49.840 --> 01:13:53.760
unearthly threats closing in on me from both sides. I115701:13:53.800 --> 01:13:57.239
had no choice. I dove into the nearest door and115801:13:57.359 --> 01:14:02.119
slammed it shut. The pounding began right away. I backed away,115901:14:02.159 --> 01:14:05.319
but my foot stepped into empty air. I turned to116001:14:05.399 --> 01:14:07.760
find I was at the top step of a stairway,116101:14:08.520 --> 01:14:11.800
but only for a moment. Gravity took over and I116201:14:11.880 --> 01:14:15.359
tumbled down the stairs. Fortunately there was a landing that116301:14:15.479 --> 01:14:18.199
kept me from falling the rest of the way. I116401:14:18.279 --> 01:14:21.000
slowly stood and made sure of my balance while looking116501:14:21.039 --> 01:14:24.760
around at my new environment. The stairs I had fallen116601:14:24.840 --> 01:14:29.279
down looked like concrete and had no railings. I glanced116701:14:29.319 --> 01:14:31.520
over the side at the darkness that seemed to go116801:14:31.600 --> 01:14:36.000
on forever. It reminded me of the Maria Mine staircase116901:14:36.319 --> 01:14:39.399
in Lord of the Rings. I looked up the stairs117001:14:39.399 --> 01:14:42.399
at the door that was still under assault, then looked117101:14:42.439 --> 01:14:46.960
down the stairs that disappeared into darkness. Looking around the room,117201:14:47.039 --> 01:14:51.520
I saw no other option. I reached into my pocket117301:14:51.560 --> 01:14:54.279
and pulled out my phone. I had to go in117401:14:54.319 --> 01:14:59.840
a room. Sorry, I texted, no response, come on, don't117501:14:59.840 --> 01:15:03.880
be like that. Answer me nothing. I looked at the117601:15:03.920 --> 01:15:09.079
phone and it showed no Wi Fi signal. Great, I said,117701:15:09.520 --> 01:15:13.279
hearing the word echo back to me, I sighed and117801:15:13.359 --> 01:15:17.159
started down the stairs. Fortunately, there was a landing every117901:15:17.199 --> 01:15:20.960
thirty steps or so. Each landing started the next set118001:15:21.000 --> 01:15:23.840
of stairs in a different direction. Looking down through the118101:15:23.840 --> 01:15:26.800
middle of the staircase, I could see them disappear in118201:15:26.840 --> 01:15:31.279
an elongated square. After a few landings, I found myself118301:15:31.279 --> 01:15:35.560
thinking the strangest thought, what about the rest of my rounds?118401:15:36.600 --> 01:15:40.560
The unending stairs didn't answer. As I continued down my118501:15:40.680 --> 01:15:45.239
squared circle, I found myself getting tired. More than once.118601:15:45.319 --> 01:15:48.399
I stumbled and nearly rolled down the stairs, only catching118701:15:48.439 --> 01:15:51.520
myself in the nick of time to avoid falling into118801:15:51.520 --> 01:15:55.520
the abyss. I'd been walking for what felt like hours.118901:15:56.159 --> 01:15:59.960
I checked my watch and it said two twenty two am.119001:16:00.960 --> 01:16:04.119
I was tired and thirsty. I sat down on a119101:16:04.159 --> 01:16:08.800
step above a landing and contemplated my non existent options.119201:16:09.279 --> 01:16:12.560
I could keep going. I leaned over and looked down119301:16:12.600 --> 01:16:17.399
at the continuing endless stairs. I could go back. I119401:16:17.479 --> 01:16:20.880
looked up at the seemingly endless stairs above me, knowing119501:16:20.920 --> 01:16:25.680
the creatures were somewhere up there waiting. I wondered if119601:16:25.720 --> 01:16:28.399
I would be fired for not doing my patrols, and119701:16:28.479 --> 01:16:32.439
if I truly cared. My first hunger pang ripped through119801:16:32.439 --> 01:16:36.880
my stomach. I know, I said, looking at my belly.119901:16:38.079 --> 01:16:42.199
The foods somewhere up there. I pointed in some random120001:16:42.279 --> 01:16:46.600
upward direction, having no idea where the security office was.120101:16:53.199 --> 01:16:57.600
Out of sheer boredom, I glanced at my now useless120201:16:57.640 --> 01:17:01.319
phone for an instant. The way Wi Fi signal showed up,120301:17:02.079 --> 01:17:07.960
then disappeared. A bolt of hope shot through me. I texted,120401:17:08.439 --> 01:17:12.479
I got chased into a room by some creatures. I120501:17:12.560 --> 01:17:17.640
clicked send and waited. The signal stayed dead. I got120601:17:17.680 --> 01:17:20.520
a beep saying there was a text, and excitedly read it,120701:17:21.039 --> 01:17:24.079
only to find it was the failed to send notification.120801:17:25.239 --> 01:17:28.800
I tried again, with the same results over and over.120901:17:28.880 --> 01:17:32.239
I kept trying to send. It was my only option121001:17:32.399 --> 01:17:37.119
other than continuing down the endless stairway. My phone dinged121101:17:37.159 --> 01:17:40.840
again and I prepared to hit rescend when a message121201:17:40.840 --> 01:17:45.279
showed up. It said, we'll deal with the consequences later,121301:17:45.880 --> 01:17:50.439
describe the room to me. I was so overjoyed I121401:17:50.560 --> 01:17:56.079
kept misspelling words dark, room, endless stairway. It took five121501:17:56.199 --> 01:17:58.199
tries for it to send, and it was a few121601:17:58.239 --> 01:18:03.119
minutes until a response got through. Okay, do nothing. Set121701:18:03.159 --> 01:18:06.439
your phone down and lay perfectly still for five minutes.121801:18:07.680 --> 01:18:11.479
I didn't bother to try repeatedly sending okay, I lay121901:18:11.520 --> 01:18:14.720
on the platform. I set my phone beside me, and122001:18:14.800 --> 01:18:20.600
I closed my eyes. I counted out five minutes, very slowly,122101:18:21.560 --> 01:18:24.520
just to be sure I didn't end early. When I122201:18:24.600 --> 01:18:29.159
opened them, I gasped. I was laying on the floor122301:18:29.159 --> 01:18:32.079
in the middle of a square room. The pattern on122401:18:32.119 --> 01:18:36.000
the floor looked like the endless staircase. I stood and122501:18:36.079 --> 01:18:39.359
walked over to the door. I reached for the doorknob122601:18:39.399 --> 01:18:43.479
and opened the door very slowly. The hallway appeared to122701:18:43.520 --> 01:18:47.840
be empty. I stepped tentatively out into the hall and122801:18:47.920 --> 01:18:51.520
started back, following the yellow line. I hoped I was122901:18:51.560 --> 01:18:54.720
going in the right direction. At the end of the hall,123001:18:55.039 --> 01:18:58.720
the line turned left, the green line separated off to123101:18:58.720 --> 01:19:02.000
the right, and I stayed with thello. One more turn123201:19:02.079 --> 01:19:06.039
in the yellow line dead ended at a door. I123301:19:06.119 --> 01:19:09.640
reached for the knob, then remembered and turned to the right.123401:19:10.279 --> 01:19:13.159
Opening that door, I peeked through and saw the security123501:19:13.239 --> 01:19:16.239
room across the hall. I lunged for it and dove123601:19:16.319 --> 01:19:20.039
back into the relative safety of the office. I went123701:19:20.079 --> 01:19:22.560
straight to the fridge and grabbed my water bottle, then123801:19:22.600 --> 01:19:25.840
opened the closet and pulled out my sandwich. I lay123901:19:25.880 --> 01:19:28.560
on the couch and chugged half the bottle while inhaling124001:19:28.600 --> 01:19:33.720
my sandwich. It wasn't long until I was asleep. I124101:19:33.840 --> 01:19:36.800
woke to the sound of my phone dinging. I read124201:19:36.840 --> 01:19:41.520
the text, Are you still with us? Yes? Thanks to you,124301:19:42.039 --> 01:19:44.800
I texted, take a break before you do any more.124401:19:44.800 --> 01:19:49.520
Patrols way ahead of you, and don't break any more rules.124501:19:50.039 --> 01:19:55.760
I'll do my absolute best. Trust me a couple more rules. Really,124601:19:56.560 --> 01:19:59.960
if you see any more creatures, don't go in a room,124701:20:00.560 --> 01:20:03.760
stand on the line and be still. As long as124801:20:03.800 --> 01:20:07.680
you're on the line, you'll survive. Can they hurt me?124901:20:08.359 --> 01:20:13.960
Next rule? Yes? The next text didn't come. I set125001:20:14.000 --> 01:20:16.640
down my phone and set a timer for an hour.125101:20:17.399 --> 01:20:20.159
I thought he would text the rest by then. I125201:20:20.239 --> 01:20:24.000
woke an hour later to my phone's alarm, but no text.125301:20:24.840 --> 01:20:28.439
I tried again and waited, but got no response. What125401:20:28.520 --> 01:20:31.199
do I do now? I looked at my watch and125501:20:31.239 --> 01:20:37.680
it said three forty seven am. Okay, let's evaluate, I said,125601:20:37.720 --> 01:20:40.319
sitting at the desk in front of the cameras and computer.125701:20:41.439 --> 01:20:43.840
I have a little over five hours left until I125801:20:43.840 --> 01:20:49.479
can leave this madhouse. I've done one green patrol and125901:20:49.640 --> 01:20:53.199
three yellows, so I have one ech of red, yellow126001:20:53.239 --> 01:20:57.000
and green to do yet. There's some kind of monstrous126101:20:57.039 --> 01:21:01.079
creature roaming the hallways with his deform sidekick, and I126201:21:01.119 --> 01:21:03.239
still don't know where the other guard and the keys126301:21:03.279 --> 01:21:07.359
to the weapon locker are. The laws of reality seemed126401:21:07.359 --> 01:21:10.319
to be subjective and depend greatly on whether or not126501:21:10.359 --> 01:21:15.880
I opened any doors on my patrol. Somehow I decided126601:21:15.880 --> 01:21:18.720
to do another patrol. I was more worried that the126701:21:18.760 --> 01:21:21.119
building itself wouldn't let me out on time if I126801:21:21.159 --> 01:21:24.479
didn't do all my patrols. For a fleeting moment, I126901:21:24.560 --> 01:21:26.720
wondered if that was what happened to the guard I127001:21:26.800 --> 01:21:30.600
was supposed to relieve, if he was sitting on some127101:21:31.239 --> 01:21:36.840
endless staircase, trapped forever because he missed one patrol. It127201:21:36.960 --> 01:21:40.600
wasn't a comforting thought at this point. It was all127301:21:40.640 --> 01:21:43.079
that kept me from laying on the couch and sleeping127401:21:43.119 --> 01:21:46.800
the rest of my shift away. I took another drink127501:21:46.840 --> 01:21:49.720
and went to the bathroom, then stuck my phone in127601:21:49.760 --> 01:21:53.399
my pocket, grabbed my flashlight, and headed out the door.127701:21:54.560 --> 01:21:56.720
When I looked down, I was surprised to see the127801:21:56.760 --> 01:22:01.399
lines going to the right. Maybe I reset things when127901:22:01.439 --> 01:22:05.159
I reset the room, I thought. I headed down the hallway,128001:22:05.439 --> 01:22:09.640
hearing my footsteps. Once again, I stopped, and the sound128101:22:09.680 --> 01:22:13.520
of my footsteps stopped as well. It was a comforting128201:22:13.560 --> 01:22:16.880
return to some normalcy. As I made the first turn,128301:22:16.960 --> 01:22:19.359
I paused and peeked around the corner to see if128401:22:19.399 --> 01:22:23.359
any creatures were waiting for me. The hallway seemed empty.128501:22:23.960 --> 01:22:26.039
I looked at the doors to make sure none were128601:22:26.079 --> 01:22:30.680
cracked open waiting for me to pass. They all seemed closed.128701:22:31.479 --> 01:22:34.119
I was glad I hadn't run across the creatures, but128801:22:34.279 --> 01:22:36.680
every step I took made me wonder if they were128901:22:36.760 --> 01:22:40.199
lying in wait for me at the next turn, silently129001:22:40.239 --> 01:22:43.680
waiting to jump out and do unspeakable things to me.129101:22:44.880 --> 01:22:46.840
I glanced down at the lines where the red and129201:22:46.880 --> 01:22:49.680
black went left and the green and yellow went right.129301:22:50.680 --> 01:22:53.520
There was something on the floor. I'd bent down and129401:22:53.600 --> 01:22:57.600
shown my flashlight to get a closer look. There was129501:22:57.640 --> 01:23:02.760
a small drop of something red. I touched it with129601:23:02.800 --> 01:23:06.920
my finger and it smeared on the floor. Whatever it129701:23:07.119 --> 01:23:11.600
was wasn't dry yet, it hadn't been there long. I129801:23:11.680 --> 01:23:15.199
brought my finger up to my nose and smelled it.129901:23:15.199 --> 01:23:20.840
It had a metallic scent. My eyes went wide with130001:23:20.880 --> 01:23:25.680
the realization it was blood. I jumped up and looked130101:23:25.680 --> 01:23:28.560
all around, searching the floor for where it came from.130201:23:29.159 --> 01:23:32.600
The yellow and green hallway looked clean, but the red130301:23:32.600 --> 01:23:36.720
and black hallway I saw another drop three feet down130401:23:36.720 --> 01:23:39.960
the hall. I shone my flashlight at the yellow and green,130501:23:40.760 --> 01:23:45.199
longing to do a quiet patrol. Then I looked over130601:23:45.279 --> 01:23:47.880
at the red and black lines that were punctuated with130701:23:47.960 --> 01:23:53.479
drops of blood every few feet. I sighed and turned left,130801:23:54.199 --> 01:23:57.439
following the blood and the foreboding red and black lines.130901:23:58.560 --> 01:24:02.119
My senses went on high alair. I could hear my breathing,131001:24:02.319 --> 01:24:05.439
I could smell my perspiration as my stress level rose.131101:24:06.199 --> 01:24:09.760
Every step sounded louder than the one before. Even the131201:24:09.840 --> 01:24:14.039
doors seemed to somehow menace me. When a light in131301:24:14.079 --> 01:24:17.800
the ceiling flickered, I froze nothing, jumped out of a131401:24:17.880 --> 01:24:20.920
room and dragged me to hell. I paused and took131501:24:20.920 --> 01:24:25.520
a deep, cleansing breath, then continued my patrol, keeping an131601:24:25.560 --> 01:24:28.479
eye on the blood on the floor. I came to131701:24:28.520 --> 01:24:32.680
another turn and checked carefully before stepping into the new hallway.131801:24:33.600 --> 01:24:37.279
The problem was it was a fork. The red line131901:24:37.319 --> 01:24:41.920
went right and the black line went left. The blood132001:24:43.279 --> 01:24:47.359
followed the black line. I thought back to the repeated132101:24:47.399 --> 01:24:50.760
warnings not to follow the black line. I remembered being132201:24:50.800 --> 01:24:53.800
trapped for hours when I disobeyed a rule and went132301:24:53.840 --> 01:24:57.359
into a room. I stood there at the fork, looking132401:24:57.399 --> 01:25:01.920
at each line in turn back and fourth. It came132501:25:01.960 --> 01:25:05.880
down to a choice. Obey the rules, follow the red132601:25:05.920 --> 01:25:10.359
line and play it safe. Disobey the rules, follow the132701:25:10.399 --> 01:25:14.800
blood and see if the other guard is hurt. One132801:25:14.920 --> 01:25:19.680
choice was selfless and the other was selfish. Another thought132901:25:19.760 --> 01:25:23.159
pushed to the front of the line. I've already broken133001:25:23.199 --> 01:25:26.079
the rules. True. I was trapped on the stairway to133101:25:26.199 --> 01:25:28.560
hell for a while and wasn't sure if I'd make133201:25:28.600 --> 01:25:32.760
it out, But I did. This thought tipped the scales,133301:25:33.079 --> 01:25:35.159
and I stepped off the red line and onto the133401:25:35.199 --> 01:25:39.000
black one. The moment I did, I felt a chill.133501:25:40.479 --> 01:25:44.119
I looked around, but nothing else seemed different. I kept133601:25:44.159 --> 01:25:47.079
following the trail of blood. When the hall got darker,133701:25:47.960 --> 01:25:51.239
I looked up and every third light was still lit.133801:25:52.000 --> 01:25:56.680
It was like something was snuffing out the lights. The133901:25:56.840 --> 01:25:59.600
chill got more intense, to the point where I could134001:25:59.640 --> 01:26:03.119
see my breath. The doors in this hall were fewer134101:26:03.159 --> 01:26:07.159
and farther apart, and there were no turns I looked134201:26:07.159 --> 01:26:09.000
at the doors to try to figure out how far134301:26:09.079 --> 01:26:13.920
I'd gone. When I noticed they were blank. I shone134401:26:13.920 --> 01:26:16.880
my light at the half dozen doors. Not one of134501:26:16.920 --> 01:26:20.640
them had a letter number or any markings on it.134601:26:21.840 --> 01:26:25.840
I decided my selflessness had reached its limit. I turned134701:26:25.880 --> 01:26:28.600
and started back towards the fork where the red line was.134801:26:29.479 --> 01:26:32.359
I walked for five minutes, and the red line was134901:26:32.439 --> 01:26:36.800
still nowhere in sight. In fact, the chill hadn't gone135001:26:36.840 --> 01:26:40.199
away either. The drops of blood were still there, though.135101:26:41.159 --> 01:26:43.520
I broke into a light jog for a few minutes,135201:26:43.560 --> 01:26:47.239
which soon became a flat out run. After a few135301:26:47.279 --> 01:26:51.840
more minutes, I stopped to catch my breath. That's impossible,135401:26:51.960 --> 01:26:55.359
I thought, realizing even as I thought it that I135501:26:55.359 --> 01:27:00.399
had already seen impossible things tonight. Once I was breathing135601:27:00.439 --> 01:27:03.560
normally again, I decided to break out of this loop.135701:27:04.199 --> 01:27:07.039
I reached for one of the doors, but it was locked.135801:27:07.640 --> 01:27:13.640
I tried another, and another, all locked. I pulled out135901:27:13.640 --> 01:27:18.239
my phone and texted, I'm stuck again. We told you136001:27:18.319 --> 01:27:21.560
not to follow the black line. The return text said,136101:27:22.399 --> 01:27:26.000
it sent chills down my spine. How did you know136201:27:26.079 --> 01:27:29.239
I was following the black line? I only said I136301:27:29.319 --> 01:27:32.359
was in trouble. We know exactly what you're doing the136401:27:32.479 --> 01:27:35.840
entire time you've been in the building. Then why didn't136501:27:35.840 --> 01:27:39.359
you tell me not to follow the black line? We did?136601:27:39.840 --> 01:27:46.119
You ignored it? So what do I do now? A136701:27:46.159 --> 01:27:49.840
single word came back, making me wish I'd never come136801:27:49.880 --> 01:27:59.760
to this place die. As I was still staring at136901:27:59.760 --> 01:28:03.199
the three horrid letters on my phone, I heard a137001:28:03.279 --> 01:28:07.319
noise behind me. It was just the shuffle of a foot,137101:28:07.760 --> 01:28:10.920
and I knew I wasn't moving. I looked up and137201:28:11.000 --> 01:28:14.760
there stood the hideous creature with no head and its137301:28:14.800 --> 01:28:19.079
face on its belly. It was staring at me and grinning.137401:28:19.960 --> 01:28:22.600
I turned to escape the other way, but the massive,137501:28:22.680 --> 01:28:27.119
scaly creature was standing there, blocking my path. They had137601:28:27.159 --> 01:28:29.720
me boxed in and none of the doors would open.137701:28:30.520 --> 01:28:33.319
I was out of options. The only thing I could137801:28:33.359 --> 01:28:36.640
think of was the text that told me to stay137901:28:36.640 --> 01:28:40.279
on the line. I stepped away from the door and138001:28:40.359 --> 01:28:43.119
out to the middle of the hallway and stood on138101:28:43.199 --> 01:28:47.479
the black line. As they approached, I could see smiles138201:28:47.520 --> 01:28:51.680
on each of their grotesque faces. The big one was138301:28:51.760 --> 01:28:55.479
flexing its claws, and the small one's arms were outstretched138401:28:55.479 --> 01:28:58.800
as if wanting to give me a hug, but I138501:28:58.880 --> 01:29:04.680
knew better. They had me, and they knew it. With138601:29:04.800 --> 01:29:08.119
nothing to lose, I ran towards the smaller one, and138701:29:08.199 --> 01:29:10.920
right before I got to him, I swung my flashlight138801:29:10.960 --> 01:29:14.520
with everything I had it smacked him right in the teeth.138901:29:15.199 --> 01:29:19.079
I dove over his falling body as he crumpled to139001:29:19.159 --> 01:29:22.760
the floor. I kept running as hopes sprung up in139101:29:22.840 --> 01:29:26.479
my chest and fueled my escape. It was short lived,139201:29:26.479 --> 01:29:30.119
as I heard massive wings flapping behind me, and the139301:29:30.159 --> 01:29:33.399
next thing I knew, claws grabbed my shoulders, tearing through139401:29:33.439 --> 01:29:36.800
my uniform and into my sides. I tried to escape139501:29:36.800 --> 01:29:40.680
its grasp, but its grip was like iron. I stumbled139601:29:40.680 --> 01:29:42.479
and fell to the floor. With the weight of that139701:29:42.680 --> 01:29:46.119
thing landing on top of me, I felt and heard139801:29:46.199 --> 01:29:49.479
pops in my back as pain raced down my spine.139901:29:50.159 --> 01:29:52.600
It matched the pain in my face as my skull140001:29:52.680 --> 01:29:57.079
bounced off the concrete floor on impact, I knew instantly140101:29:57.560 --> 01:30:00.800
my nose was broken. It released it it's grasp so140201:30:00.920 --> 01:30:03.840
its claws could stand on the floor, but it still140301:30:03.960 --> 01:30:07.560
kept me pinned down. I heard it cackling as it140401:30:07.600 --> 01:30:11.600
relished in my helplessness. I felt hot liquid run down140501:30:11.640 --> 01:30:15.399
my back that I hoped wasn't my blood. I tried140601:30:15.439 --> 01:30:17.920
to break free and squirm my way out of its grip,140701:30:18.399 --> 01:30:20.920
but it was too strong, and all I ended up140801:30:20.960 --> 01:30:24.960
doing was causing myself more pain. I felt its claws140901:30:25.039 --> 01:30:28.960
tearing at my back, ripping cloth and skin. There was141001:30:29.000 --> 01:30:32.119
nothing I could do. It was digging into my spine.141101:30:32.760 --> 01:30:35.960
Once there, I was just a piece of meat. Whoever141201:30:36.000 --> 01:30:40.279
had texted me was right. I was about to die.141301:30:40.319 --> 01:30:44.039
The rules had finally been my undoing. There was a141401:30:44.079 --> 01:30:48.159
flash of light and an explosion from behind me. I141501:30:48.199 --> 01:30:51.079
felt the pressure release as the creature's weight lifted off141601:30:51.119 --> 01:30:55.880
of me. I wondered at this new development, feeling grateful141701:30:55.920 --> 01:30:59.039
but cautious as I painfully rolled to my side and141801:30:59.119 --> 01:31:01.840
attempted to get out up. I got as far as141901:31:01.880 --> 01:31:04.840
my knees when I felt and then heard a presence.142001:31:05.479 --> 01:31:08.520
I looked, and there stood a man with a uniform142101:31:08.560 --> 01:31:12.600
on similar to mine, only not as destroyed. He was142201:31:12.640 --> 01:31:15.279
older than me and looked like he had been through142301:31:15.399 --> 01:31:19.000
a rough time as well. He had several scratches on142401:31:19.039 --> 01:31:21.920
his cheek and his uniform was ripped in several places.142501:31:22.439 --> 01:31:24.560
He also had a bandage on his hand that was142601:31:24.640 --> 01:31:27.720
red and dripping. I tried to get to my feet142701:31:27.720 --> 01:31:30.600
but struggled. He helped me up, and we stared at142801:31:30.600 --> 01:31:36.399
each other for a moment. Mister Larson, I presume, I said. Finally,142901:31:37.399 --> 01:31:40.520
he looked surprised when I said his name. Do I143001:31:40.640 --> 01:31:45.319
know you? He said, I'm your new trainee. I just143101:31:45.439 --> 01:31:48.720
started tonight. What are you doing out here on the143201:31:48.760 --> 01:31:52.199
black line? I saw the blood and followed it to143301:31:52.239 --> 01:31:56.880
make sure someone was all right. He looked at his hand. Yeah,143401:31:57.079 --> 01:32:00.039
got into a bit of a scrap. He said, I143501:32:00.039 --> 01:32:03.199
should probably head back before Ugly decides to show up again.143601:32:04.239 --> 01:32:07.640
I agree, I said, starting to walk away, but my143701:32:07.760 --> 01:32:11.319
left leg didn't want to cooperate. I started to fall,143801:32:11.359 --> 01:32:14.800
but he caught me. You all right there, son, my143901:32:14.920 --> 01:32:17.640
leg seems to be having a bit of a problem.144001:32:18.199 --> 01:32:20.439
He grabbed my arm and pulled it over his shoulder.144101:32:21.199 --> 01:32:23.520
Let's get you back to the security office and take144201:32:23.520 --> 01:32:26.520
a look at that. We started back down the hall,144301:32:26.600 --> 01:32:28.840
and within a few minutes came to see the fork144401:32:29.159 --> 01:32:32.319
where the red line split off. I was never so144501:32:32.439 --> 01:32:35.079
glad to see anything in my life as that line144601:32:35.079 --> 01:32:38.479
of paint on the floor. We started to turn back144701:32:38.560 --> 01:32:42.760
towards the yellow and green lines, but I stopped. Do144801:32:42.800 --> 01:32:46.279
you mind if we do a red line patrol? I said?144901:32:47.239 --> 01:32:50.640
He looked at me, puzzled. I'd rather have someone with145001:32:50.720 --> 01:32:53.079
me anyways, and we do have to go all the145101:32:53.079 --> 01:32:58.640
way back? Sure thing, kid, he said. We kept going145201:32:58.680 --> 01:33:01.680
straight on the red line. The farther we went, the145301:33:01.680 --> 01:33:04.880
more my back seemed to hurt. Do you mind if145401:33:04.880 --> 01:33:08.760
I ask you some questions? I said, keep my mind145501:33:08.760 --> 01:33:15.840
off the pane? Shoot, what is this place? Well, now145601:33:15.880 --> 01:33:18.159
you asked one hell of a question to start out with,145701:33:18.760 --> 01:33:23.239
he said. It's hard to explain. Let's just say it's145801:33:23.279 --> 01:33:28.159
a form of a testing facility, testing what. He seemed145901:33:28.159 --> 01:33:30.720
to struggle with that for a moment and was silent146001:33:30.760 --> 01:33:35.039
as we walked, testing all sorts of things. Obviously you've146101:33:35.079 --> 01:33:38.960
seen some of the more incredible subjects, but there are146201:33:39.000 --> 01:33:45.479
also simpler tests going on, like what mostly dealing with reactions?146301:33:45.520 --> 01:33:50.039
How different subjects deal with stimuli. How do you know146401:33:50.119 --> 01:33:54.000
so much about this place, he chuckled, When you've been146501:33:54.039 --> 01:33:57.239
here as long as I have, you learn things. Just146601:33:57.319 --> 01:34:00.640
then a door burst open and three ugly trees looking146701:34:00.680 --> 01:34:04.680
creatures lumbered toward us. He stopped and tapped his watch,146801:34:05.039 --> 01:34:08.199
then fiddled with controls for a moment as the trolls146901:34:08.239 --> 01:34:11.479
advanced on us. Suddenly there was a wave of light147001:34:11.800 --> 01:34:14.720
and they froze in place, right as they were reaching us.147101:34:15.199 --> 01:34:18.760
I looked from him to the trolls and back. That's147201:34:18.800 --> 01:34:23.000
a handy gadget you have, I said, When do I147301:34:23.079 --> 01:34:28.600
get one of those? He smiled? Can you keep a secret? Sure,147401:34:29.680 --> 01:34:33.239
I'm technically not supposed to have it, but I find147501:34:33.239 --> 01:34:37.840
it makes patrols a lot easier nice. Maybe I could147601:34:37.880 --> 01:34:40.439
borrow it once in a while, if you don't quit147701:34:40.479 --> 01:34:45.279
after tonight, he said, that's a mighty big if, I said,147801:34:45.680 --> 01:34:49.720
feeling the pain getting worse. We continued past the frozen147901:34:49.760 --> 01:34:52.560
trolls until the red line dead ended at a door.148001:34:53.159 --> 01:34:56.640
I reached for it, but he pulled me back. I'm148101:34:56.680 --> 01:35:00.720
guessing you didn't get all the rules yet. Apparently not.148201:35:01.560 --> 01:35:04.039
He touched his watch and a light shone from it148301:35:04.079 --> 01:35:06.439
onto the door. It had a red X on it.148401:35:07.119 --> 01:35:09.319
He shown it on the door beside it, and it148501:35:09.399 --> 01:35:12.840
also showed a red X. The third door showed a148601:35:12.880 --> 01:35:16.840
green circle. It's this one, he said, opening the door148701:35:17.079 --> 01:35:20.159
and helping me through it to my surprise. We came148801:35:20.199 --> 01:35:22.640
out in the main hallway. I looked at the number148901:35:22.640 --> 01:35:26.119
on the door and it said a five. We walked149001:35:26.119 --> 01:35:28.680
down to the security room and I reached for the149101:35:28.760 --> 01:35:32.479
number pad to enter my code. I stopped and withdrew149201:35:32.520 --> 01:35:37.039
my hand. Why don't you enter the code? I said, what?149301:35:37.800 --> 01:35:41.239
Because I'm holding you up so you don't collapse. I149401:35:41.319 --> 01:35:45.000
painfully reached over and leaned against the wall. I'm good,149501:35:45.439 --> 01:35:48.720
Go ahead. He looked at me for a very long moment.149601:35:50.039 --> 01:35:52.319
This isn't a very polite way to treat someone who149701:35:52.319 --> 01:35:55.640
helped you out. No, it isn't. But I'd still like149801:35:55.720 --> 01:35:58.720
to see you enter your code. He glared at me149901:35:58.800 --> 01:36:02.560
with fiery in tents. Is this the way you're going150001:36:02.600 --> 01:36:07.399
to treat your superiors? Not if they really are my superiors?150101:36:07.760 --> 01:36:11.359
What are you saying? I'm saying I'd like to see150201:36:11.359 --> 01:36:14.119
you punch in your employee code to show me you150301:36:14.199 --> 01:36:17.199
are who you say you are. Who else would I be?150401:36:18.359 --> 01:36:22.600
I don't know, let's find out. He stood there, looking150501:36:22.680 --> 01:36:25.520
every bit like he wanted to deck me, and then150601:36:25.640 --> 01:36:31.840
suddenly his expression softened. Good job, kid, he said, then150701:36:32.000 --> 01:36:37.239
faded away to nothingness. I let out of breath. I150801:36:37.279 --> 01:36:41.399
didn't realize I'd been holding and punched in my code.150901:36:41.479 --> 01:36:44.640
The door opened, and I found myself once again looking151001:36:44.680 --> 01:36:48.000
at this room as my place of refuge. I limped151101:36:48.039 --> 01:36:50.800
into the bathroom and painfully peeled off what was left151201:36:50.800 --> 01:36:54.600
of my shirt. I wetted some paper towels and tried151301:36:54.640 --> 01:36:57.119
to pat down the gouges and scrapes on my back.151401:36:57.920 --> 01:37:00.399
I looked in the mirror at my broken nose and151501:37:00.520 --> 01:37:03.319
patted it with wet paper towels to get as much151601:37:03.319 --> 01:37:06.920
of the dried blood as possible. I wasn't looking forward151701:37:06.920 --> 01:37:09.199
to getting it set if I ever got out of151801:37:09.239 --> 01:37:12.399
here alive. That is, as I stepped out of the bathroom,151901:37:12.479 --> 01:37:17.760
something was different about the room. The weapons locker was open.152001:37:18.319 --> 01:37:20.479
I stepped over to it and found the metal door152101:37:20.600 --> 01:37:25.399
hanging wide open. There was a shotgun and a handgun missing.152201:37:26.640 --> 01:37:29.159
I didn't want to think about the ramifications of some152301:37:29.279 --> 01:37:31.760
one being in what should have been the most secure152401:37:31.840 --> 01:37:35.520
room in the building, not only that, but taking weapons152501:37:35.560 --> 01:37:38.439
as well, and the fact that they thought there was152601:37:38.560 --> 01:37:40.880
enough danger to need the weapons in the first place.152701:37:42.119 --> 01:37:44.119
I'll admit it would have been nice to have the152801:37:44.159 --> 01:37:48.560
shotgun on the last patrol. But I grabbed a shotgun152901:37:48.600 --> 01:37:51.199
and loaded it, then threw some extra rounds in my153001:37:51.279 --> 01:37:54.159
pants pocket. Then I took a holster and put it153101:37:54.199 --> 01:37:56.760
on my belt, loading a handgun to put in it.153201:37:57.319 --> 01:38:00.520
I grabbed a taser and pepper spray as well. It153301:38:00.600 --> 01:38:04.359
was strange, but being armed didn't make me feel more secure.153401:38:05.279 --> 01:38:07.479
Maybe it was the fact that I had no idea153501:38:07.520 --> 01:38:11.439
who had the other guns. I hoped it was my supervisor,153601:38:12.000 --> 01:38:15.079
but this place had taught me to expect the unexpected.153701:38:16.039 --> 01:38:18.359
The other difference in the room was the locked door153801:38:18.439 --> 01:38:22.159
that I had assumed was a maintenance closet. It was open.153901:38:23.000 --> 01:38:25.640
I chambered around in the shotgun and peeked around the154001:38:25.680 --> 01:38:29.159
corner into the open door. It was dark. I was154101:38:29.239 --> 01:38:32.119
tempted to close the door and walk away, but my154201:38:32.279 --> 01:38:36.319
curiosity wouldn't let me. I turned on the shotgun's flashlight154301:38:36.800 --> 01:38:40.640
and started through the door. I jumped as my phone dinged,154401:38:40.680 --> 01:38:43.840
saying I had a text, don't go in that room,154501:38:44.279 --> 01:38:47.640
it read. I stuck the phone in my pocket and154601:38:47.800 --> 01:38:51.439
continued into the room. The light wasn't much help against154701:38:51.479 --> 01:38:54.159
the total darkness. I could only see a few feet154801:38:54.199 --> 01:38:57.640
in front of me. The passageway was cramped. I had154901:38:57.680 --> 01:39:01.199
to walk a little sideways. TuS for phobia crept up155001:39:01.199 --> 01:39:03.520
on me and had me fighting off panic. As I155101:39:03.600 --> 01:39:07.680
continued down the tiny corridor, the light from the shotgun155201:39:07.720 --> 01:39:10.920
didn't do much to stave off the darkness. There was155301:39:11.000 --> 01:39:12.960
little to see, but it would have been nicer to155401:39:13.000 --> 01:39:17.039
see it much more brightly. Suddenly the corridor opened up155501:39:17.279 --> 01:39:20.399
into a large room. I made sure there weren't any155601:39:20.399 --> 01:39:24.600
steps to stumble down like before. I flashed the light around,155701:39:24.640 --> 01:39:28.079
but didn't see much. The room was empty except for155801:39:28.159 --> 01:39:32.239
something small in the corner. I cautiously started towards it,155901:39:32.640 --> 01:39:36.239
shooting glances all around as I went. When I got close,156001:39:36.319 --> 01:39:39.439
I could see it was a small box. There were156101:39:39.479 --> 01:39:42.000
bars on the front of the small door, and fingers156201:39:42.000 --> 01:39:48.439
were sticking out. Hello, said a raspy voice, barely loud156301:39:48.520 --> 01:39:53.479
enough to hear. Who are you? I said, my name156401:39:53.560 --> 01:39:57.399
is Kevin Larson. Who are you? And why aren't you156501:39:57.439 --> 01:40:01.520
wearing a shirt? I looked down, and sure enough, I156601:40:01.560 --> 01:40:03.439
forgot to put my shirt back on when I was156701:40:03.520 --> 01:40:08.159
tending to my wounds. That's not important. I need to156801:40:08.199 --> 01:40:12.000
get you out of here. You can't. They're waiting for156901:40:12.039 --> 01:40:15.439
someone to rescue me so they can capture them. I'm157001:40:15.439 --> 01:40:20.439
nothing more than bait, and I fell for it, I said,157101:40:20.520 --> 01:40:24.800
looking at the lock that prevented his escape. Go back157201:40:24.880 --> 01:40:28.239
and report that I'm missing. The other security guard said,157301:40:29.000 --> 01:40:32.800
I did that several hours ago, and they haven't sent157401:40:32.880 --> 01:40:37.880
me one unless they're invisible, which for this place that157501:40:38.000 --> 01:40:41.880
might not be much of a stretch. Who are you again?157601:40:43.039 --> 01:40:47.239
I started last night. I'm your new trainee. You say157701:40:47.239 --> 01:40:51.399
you started last night, Yes, and you called in that157801:40:51.479 --> 01:40:58.159
I was missing. Yes, you're not my trainee, you're my replacement.157901:40:59.079 --> 01:41:01.720
What do you mean If they haven't come looking for158001:41:01.760 --> 01:41:06.920
me yet, that means they think I'm gone. Wow, talk158101:41:06.960 --> 01:41:10.520
about job security. I kept fiddling with the lock, but158201:41:10.600 --> 01:41:15.199
it refused to open. Step back, I said, what are158301:41:15.239 --> 01:41:17.960
you going to? I fired the shotgun at the lock.158401:41:18.359 --> 01:41:22.399
It hit but didn't break it. Stop, he yelled as158501:41:22.439 --> 01:41:25.680
I chambered and fired another round. This time the lock158601:41:25.760 --> 01:41:28.640
broke and came free. I opened the door in time158701:41:28.680 --> 01:41:32.319
to receive a punch to the jaw. You idiot, you158801:41:32.399 --> 01:41:35.159
could have killed me. He came out of the box158901:41:35.199 --> 01:41:38.159
and wrapped his hands around my neck. Get off me,159001:41:38.600 --> 01:41:41.359
I yelled, twisting out of his grip. He knocked me159101:41:41.399 --> 01:41:46.159
to the floor and we rolled around trading punches. You're welcome, asshole,159201:41:46.640 --> 01:41:50.399
I said, for what? Trying to give me a buckshot milkshake.159301:41:51.279 --> 01:41:54.439
I stopped rolling when I heard the sound. It was159401:41:54.520 --> 01:41:58.119
like a rushing wind coming toward us.159501:41:58.600 --> 01:41:59.159
What is that?159601:41:59.600 --> 01:42:02.760
I said. He jumped up and ran toward the corridor.159701:42:03.880 --> 01:42:07.239
What is it? I said to his rapidly disappearing back159801:42:07.439 --> 01:42:10.319
as I ran as best I could behind him. It159901:42:10.399 --> 01:42:13.359
didn't take long for me to find out the large160001:42:13.399 --> 01:42:16.359
creature i'd met last in the back hallway must have160101:42:16.399 --> 01:42:19.359
had a lot of family, because they were all flying160201:42:19.399 --> 01:42:23.479
toward me. I kicked into high adrenaline gear, running faster160301:42:23.560 --> 01:42:26.720
than my injured body wanted to. The wave of black160401:42:26.760 --> 01:42:29.840
wings was almost on me. I turned around long enough160501:42:29.880 --> 01:42:32.720
to fire a shot at the closest one. I was160601:42:32.760 --> 01:42:35.800
rewarded by seeing him not only fall, but take a160701:42:35.800 --> 01:42:39.840
couple of his brothers with him. Encouraged, I fired again,160801:42:40.039 --> 01:42:44.199
watching three more go down. I fired again and again,160901:42:44.880 --> 01:42:47.279
feeling like I could take them on. As I squeezed161001:42:47.279 --> 01:42:51.000
into the corridor, I aimed one more time, but the161101:42:51.039 --> 01:42:54.760
gun only clicked. I had fired my last shot and161201:42:54.880 --> 01:42:59.359
needed to reload. The problem was I was running backward161301:42:59.399 --> 01:43:02.079
in a corridor that had no room, and my arms161401:43:02.079 --> 01:43:05.359
were nearly pinned to my sides. I started hacking at161501:43:05.399 --> 01:43:06.960
them with the butt of the gun when they got161601:43:06.960 --> 01:43:10.359
close enough. It wasn't as effective as a buckshot blast,161701:43:10.399 --> 01:43:14.000
but it still worked. They were almost on me. I161801:43:14.079 --> 01:43:17.640
felt claws scratch at my head and face. Suddenly I161901:43:17.680 --> 01:43:22.399
fell backward onto the floor of the security room. Help me,162001:43:23.000 --> 01:43:25.319
Larson said, as he tried to slam the door shut.162101:43:26.000 --> 01:43:28.239
I had the wind knocked out of me. I stumbled162201:43:28.279 --> 01:43:30.159
to get up and rolled over to press my weight162301:43:30.159 --> 01:43:33.279
against the door. They were still holding it open enough162401:43:33.279 --> 01:43:36.000
that it wouldn't latch. I reached into my pocket and162501:43:36.039 --> 01:43:39.000
pulled out a shotgunshell. I loaded it and stuck the162601:43:39.000 --> 01:43:42.319
barrel into the opening. Before I could do anything, it162701:43:42.359 --> 01:43:45.359
was nearly ripped out of my hands. By some miracle,162801:43:45.399 --> 01:43:48.159
my finger was already on the trigger. It went off,162901:43:48.279 --> 01:43:52.399
knocking them back just enough to close the door. He163001:43:52.479 --> 01:43:57.239
collapsed beside me, breathing hard, and offered his hand. Now,163101:43:57.279 --> 01:44:00.960
I'll thank you for the rescue. You're well, I said,163201:44:01.279 --> 01:44:05.880
sitting there trying to catch my breath, not to sound ungrateful,163301:44:05.960 --> 01:44:09.760
But how did you get in there? Anyway? I pointed163401:44:09.800 --> 01:44:13.800
my thumb over my shoulder. Door was open. He fixed163501:44:13.840 --> 01:44:18.760
a hard stare at me. That's impossible, I shrugged. I163601:44:18.760 --> 01:44:21.119
don't know what to tell you. I walked in after163701:44:21.159 --> 01:44:23.800
my last patrol. The door was open, and so was163801:44:23.840 --> 01:44:28.720
the weapons locker. Was anything missing? He said, suddenly, alarmed163901:44:29.560 --> 01:44:32.600
a shotgun and a handgun. He grabbed my arm and164001:44:32.680 --> 01:44:37.640
yanked We have to go right now. Why The word164101:44:37.680 --> 01:44:39.960
was barely out of my mouth when the floor erupted164201:44:40.000 --> 01:44:42.800
beside me. I jumped up and followed him toward the door.164301:44:42.960 --> 01:44:45.840
A shotgun blast hit the wall behind me. A chunk164401:44:45.880 --> 01:44:47.960
of the door blasted out in front of us just164501:44:48.039 --> 01:44:51.399
before we reached it, causing us to duck. Who the164601:44:51.439 --> 01:44:55.960
hell's doing that? I said, Oh, come on, A voice164701:44:55.960 --> 01:44:58.680
said from the other side of the room. You've forgotten164801:44:58.720 --> 01:45:02.239
your rescuer all ready, Heddy. I glanced around the corner164901:45:02.279 --> 01:45:05.199
and saw the fake Larsen aiming a shot at my head.165001:45:05.720 --> 01:45:08.439
I ducked back just in time as the blast tore165101:45:08.520 --> 01:45:11.000
a hole in the wall. Does this kind of thing165201:45:11.079 --> 01:45:15.079
happen often on night shift? I said? Loading more shells165301:45:15.119 --> 01:45:19.199
into my shotgun. Only when you break the rules, he said,165401:45:19.239 --> 01:45:22.079
fixing me with a pointed glare. If I would have165501:45:22.159 --> 01:45:24.760
known this place had all these freaky rules, I never165601:45:24.760 --> 01:45:28.640
would have taken the job. Neither would anyone else, he said,165701:45:28.680 --> 01:45:32.119
peeking around the corner and being rewarded with a shotgun blast,165801:45:32.159 --> 01:45:35.000
nearly hitting him in the face. I don't get it,165901:45:35.239 --> 01:45:39.119
I said, all these rules are stupid. Maybe we could166001:45:39.159 --> 01:45:42.439
discuss it when we're safe. I fired off a blast166101:45:42.439 --> 01:45:45.960
when I saw fake Larsen peek around the corner. And166201:45:46.039 --> 01:45:48.880
when will that be? I shouted over the return shot.166301:45:49.439 --> 01:45:52.800
His eyes darted around the room, as if searching for something.166401:45:53.439 --> 01:45:56.399
He grabbed the shotgun from me and fired the buckshot166501:45:56.439 --> 01:45:59.279
pierced the fire extinguisher, instantly filling the room with a166601:45:59.279 --> 01:46:02.279
cloud of white powder. He grabbed me and dragged me166701:46:02.319 --> 01:46:06.119
toward the door as the other Larsen fired blindly. We166801:46:06.159 --> 01:46:09.880
fell into the hallway, barely staying upright, coughing powder out166901:46:09.880 --> 01:46:12.960
of her lungs. I turned and slammed the door shut.167001:46:13.840 --> 01:46:16.920
Will that hold him? I said? How many more patrols167101:46:16.920 --> 01:46:19.520
do you have to do? He said, looking at his watch.167201:46:19.960 --> 01:46:22.319
Are you nuts? Why would I do any more patrols167301:46:22.359 --> 01:46:26.520
with that psycho running around? Believe me, he said, looking167401:46:26.560 --> 01:46:29.479
me in the eyes. There are worse things than him167501:46:29.520 --> 01:46:33.119
in this place. I thought for a moment, I still167601:46:33.159 --> 01:46:36.520
need to do one yellow and one green. Do you167701:46:36.560 --> 01:46:39.359
have any more shells for this thing? I felt in167801:46:39.399 --> 01:46:42.399
my pocket and pulled out two more shotgun shells, then167901:46:42.560 --> 01:46:45.960
handed them over. I pulled out the handgun and chambered around,168001:46:46.439 --> 01:46:50.359
then turned on the safety. Let's go, he said, heading168101:46:50.399 --> 01:46:53.680
down the hallway. I was still shirtless and feeling the168201:46:53.680 --> 01:46:56.479
effects of the attack in the black holl but I168301:46:56.520 --> 01:46:58.800
did my best to hide the pain and let the168401:46:58.840 --> 01:47:02.720
adrenaline carry me a long. We walked side by side,168501:47:02.840 --> 01:47:06.680
each alert for anything that might pop out at us. Surprisingly,168601:47:06.760 --> 01:47:08.800
we made it all the way through a yellow patrol168701:47:09.119 --> 01:47:11.680
without a problem. I looked at my watch as we168801:47:11.760 --> 01:47:15.119
emerged back into the main hall near the security room168901:47:16.159 --> 01:47:19.760
eight eleven, I said, we'd better get that last patrol169001:47:19.840 --> 01:47:23.399
in quick. The first hallway was no problem. When we169101:47:23.479 --> 01:47:27.479
turned the corner, however, my large, scaly friend made an appearance.169201:47:28.000 --> 01:47:30.439
I didn't even hesitate. I shot him in the torso,169301:47:30.760 --> 01:47:33.800
then in the head. He screamed, an inhuman shriek and169401:47:33.880 --> 01:47:36.800
ran the other way. His little buddy took one look169501:47:36.840 --> 01:47:39.399
at me, pointing the gun at him, and followed suit.169601:47:40.039 --> 01:47:43.319
Larsen grinned and nodded at me. When he turned the169701:47:43.319 --> 01:47:47.560
second corner. I couldn't believe my eyes. The floor was169801:47:47.640 --> 01:47:54.159
suddenly made of lava. You've gotta be kidding me, I said, Okay,169901:47:54.560 --> 01:47:57.039
I know it looks bad, but stay single file, and170001:47:57.159 --> 01:48:01.399
whatever you do, stay on the line. He started walking,170101:48:01.760 --> 01:48:04.159
keeping his feet on the line like a tightrope walker.170201:48:04.720 --> 01:48:08.119
I followed after him. The heat from the floor was tremendous.170301:48:08.399 --> 01:48:10.960
I was sweating buckets and didn't even want to think170401:48:10.960 --> 01:48:14.159
about the consequences of toppling over without a shirt on.170501:48:14.960 --> 01:48:18.279
We continued as quickly as possible, looking every bit like170601:48:18.359 --> 01:48:21.000
two kids trying to walk the yellow curb on a170701:48:21.039 --> 01:48:24.920
sidewalk right in the middle. I stumbled and lost my balance.170801:48:25.359 --> 01:48:27.560
I stepped one foot into the lava to regain my170901:48:27.640 --> 01:48:32.000
balance and was instantly rewarded with pain. I screamed in171001:48:32.079 --> 01:48:35.199
shock and agony. It felt like my foot was literally171101:48:35.199 --> 01:48:38.199
on fire. I got it back on the line, sucking171201:48:38.199 --> 01:48:41.479
wind through my teeth, trying to stay on limping with171301:48:41.520 --> 01:48:47.600
one foot you o K Larson said, define okay, I said,171401:48:48.319 --> 01:48:52.000
I'm in some madhouse of a not warehouse with demons171501:48:52.159 --> 01:48:55.760
and ghostly employees chasing me, and I literally just burned171601:48:55.800 --> 01:48:59.560
my foot on lava. I know it's a lot to process,171701:49:00.079 --> 01:49:03.359
he said, but we need to keep going, focus on171801:49:03.399 --> 01:49:07.159
the job and save going crazy for later. I took171901:49:07.199 --> 01:49:10.600
a deep breath and immediately began coughing from the fumes.172001:49:11.079 --> 01:49:14.079
I hopped along, staying on the line as best I could.172101:49:14.560 --> 01:49:17.159
I was ecstatic when we turned the corner and left172201:49:17.159 --> 01:49:20.920
the lava behind. I nearly ran over Larson, who had172301:49:20.960 --> 01:49:24.399
stopped and was staring down the hallway. I was about172401:49:24.399 --> 01:49:27.920
to ask why he'd stopped when I saw for myself.172501:49:28.920 --> 01:49:32.399
At the end of the hall stood his doppelganger, and172601:49:32.479 --> 01:49:37.359
he wasn't alone. There were five of them. What do172701:49:37.399 --> 01:49:41.159
we do? I said quietly in his ear. He jumped172801:49:41.199 --> 01:49:45.359
at the sound of my voice. So close I don't know.172901:49:46.119 --> 01:49:50.399
I looked at my watch and it said eight fifty one.173001:49:50.560 --> 01:49:54.119
We only have nine minutes. I said, just go straight173101:49:54.159 --> 01:49:57.720
at him. I ran ahead as fast as I could hobble.173201:49:58.159 --> 01:50:00.680
They came at me in a crowd, fired and hit173301:50:00.720 --> 01:50:02.760
the first one in the knee, taking him out of173401:50:02.760 --> 01:50:05.840
the fight. I fired again, hitting another in the shoulder,173501:50:06.119 --> 01:50:09.119
then again hitting his knee. Foe. Larsen had fired his173601:50:09.159 --> 01:50:12.119
shotgun at me and thankfully missed, although I did feel173701:50:12.159 --> 01:50:15.239
a burning in my leg. I would worry about that later.173801:50:15.760 --> 01:50:19.600
Another shot, another Larsen down. I was nearly halfway when173901:50:19.600 --> 01:50:22.640
his shot hit me in the shoulder. It erupted in pain,174001:50:23.239 --> 01:50:26.039
but I kept going, shooting down the last of his twins.174101:50:26.600 --> 01:50:29.239
I fired a shot at Larsen and somehow hit him174201:50:29.279 --> 01:50:32.359
in the chest. He was wobbly, but still raised his174301:50:32.399 --> 01:50:35.600
shotgun and aimed at me. We were close enough now174401:50:35.680 --> 01:50:39.119
I could tell he would hit me. Suddenly a blast174501:50:39.199 --> 01:50:42.000
came from behind me. It passed so close I could174601:50:42.000 --> 01:50:45.079
feel the heat from the buckshot. It hit him in174701:50:45.079 --> 01:50:48.560
the neck and he stumbled back. I added my last174801:50:48.640 --> 01:50:51.439
round into his chest before he could pull the trigger again.174901:50:52.239 --> 01:50:55.680
He collapsed in a heap, his hand reaching out toward us.175001:50:55.960 --> 01:50:59.279
As we stumbled past through the door and out into175101:50:59.279 --> 01:51:02.680
the main hall. I paused to catch my breath and175201:51:02.760 --> 01:51:06.520
leaned against the door, checking my watch. Eight fifty eight,175301:51:06.840 --> 01:51:10.319
I announced. We hobbled up to the reception door and175401:51:10.439 --> 01:51:14.920
stood silently like two people waiting for an elevator. The175501:51:15.000 --> 01:51:18.079
daytime staff began arriving and punching in through the door,175601:51:18.600 --> 01:51:22.119
throwing furtive looks our way as they entered. The last175701:51:22.159 --> 01:51:25.439
one was the security guard for the day. What the175801:51:25.479 --> 01:51:29.000
hell happened to you two? He said. We looked at175901:51:29.000 --> 01:51:31.680
each other and laughed as we punched in our numbers176001:51:31.720 --> 01:51:35.159
and walked out. He stood next to his car, and176101:51:35.239 --> 01:51:38.920
I stood next to mine. Will I see you at176201:51:38.960 --> 01:51:44.359
work tonight? He said, absolutely, No way in hell, I said.176301:51:45.199 --> 01:51:49.960
He smiled and nodded, understandable. He got in his car176401:51:50.560 --> 01:51:54.239
and drove away. I took an extra moment to look176501:51:54.279 --> 01:51:58.079
around at the building, which looked completely normal from the176601:51:58.119 --> 01:52:02.960
outside in the clean forest air, and listen to the176701:52:02.960 --> 01:52:07.359
birds singing their merry oblivious song. I got in my car,176801:52:07.560 --> 01:52:11.279
slowly and gingerly, knowing there was no way I could176901:52:11.319 --> 01:52:14.600
afford to go to the hospital. I hoped I had177001:52:14.640 --> 01:52:18.039
some gauze and some antibiotic ointment at my dingy apartment.177101:52:18.760 --> 01:52:21.720
I started my car and hoped I had enough gas177201:52:21.760 --> 01:52:24.920
to make it home. Driving away from that building was177301:52:24.960 --> 01:52:28.279
the best feeling. I started wondering if there was any177401:52:28.319 --> 01:52:32.199
place around here that didn't have some strange rules to177501:52:32.239 --> 01:52:36.319
protect their weird secrets, I knew I would have to177601:52:36.319 --> 01:52:40.560
find a job in quickly. Maybe I could do fast food.177701:52:41.000 --> 01:52:43.760
There's no way anyone could have dark secrets in a177801:52:43.840 --> 01:52:58.520
burger joint, right. Camping alone can be terrified, especially when177901:52:58.640 --> 01:53:08.159
something's hunting you. By Michael Kelso. The screams echoed through178001:53:08.239 --> 01:53:11.760
the trees. I couldn't tell if they were human or animal.178101:53:12.520 --> 01:53:17.479
All I knew was they were loud, which meant they178201:53:17.479 --> 01:53:21.439
were close. As I listened to the high pitched shrieks,178301:53:21.960 --> 01:53:24.880
it almost sounded like a couple of people having a178401:53:24.920 --> 01:53:28.319
shouting match. If I had been at my apartment in town,178501:53:28.399 --> 01:53:31.000
That's exactly what I would have thought the sound was.178601:53:31.960 --> 01:53:36.840
But then the pitch changed and it took on a178701:53:36.880 --> 01:53:42.279
feral quality. I knew whoever or whatever was making the sound,178801:53:42.960 --> 01:53:46.399
I wanted nothing to do with them. Thinking you're alone178901:53:46.439 --> 01:53:49.600
in the wilderness is one thing. It gives a certain179001:53:49.680 --> 01:53:53.720
freeing feeling like you're so close to nature. But knowing179101:53:53.800 --> 01:53:58.800
you're alone and hearing the terrifying, nearly indescribable sound sent179201:53:58.920 --> 01:54:03.439
chills down my spot. I quickly questioned how much longer179301:54:03.479 --> 01:54:08.239
I would be alone or alive. Did those things know179401:54:08.359 --> 01:54:12.439
I was here? Were they planning their attack or was179501:54:12.479 --> 01:54:17.920
it just a gathering of something like a harmless chill179601:54:18.000 --> 01:54:23.279
session in the woods in the dead of night. Survival179701:54:23.319 --> 01:54:25.479
instinct was screaming for me to get out of there179801:54:25.560 --> 01:54:28.520
as quickly as possible, to hell with the tent in179901:54:28.640 --> 01:54:35.319
my supplies, just leave. For a brief moment, I nearly listened. Later,180001:54:36.039 --> 01:54:39.840
I would wish I had. Fortunately, I hadn't made a180101:54:39.880 --> 01:54:42.279
fire yet and decided against one.180201:54:42.359 --> 01:54:42.560
Now.180301:54:43.960 --> 01:54:47.439
If by some miracle, those things didn't know I was here,180401:54:47.960 --> 01:54:51.479
a fire would draw them in like flies to well180501:54:52.359 --> 01:54:55.840
something I didn't want to be in. Even though the180601:54:55.960 --> 01:54:59.800
screaming was all going at a fever pitch, I quietly180701:55:00.079 --> 01:55:03.920
knuck into my tent and zipped it shut, as if180801:55:04.000 --> 01:55:08.279
some flimsy material would magically keep at bay whatever beasts180901:55:08.520 --> 01:55:12.840
were raging out there. Searching through my pack, I found181001:55:12.840 --> 01:55:15.159
my Swiss army knife and kept it firm in my181101:55:15.279 --> 01:55:19.119
grasp as I lay down on my sleeping bag. I181201:55:19.199 --> 01:55:22.520
didn't dare settle in for the night, sleeping through being181301:55:22.560 --> 01:55:27.439
attacked by wild whatevers and torn to shreds can be181401:55:27.600 --> 01:55:32.039
bad for my health. As I lay there, eyes wide,181501:55:32.680 --> 01:55:36.600
listening to the horrible shrieks that seemed to come from everywhere,181601:55:38.119 --> 01:55:42.560
they suddenly stopped. At first, this was a relief, but181701:55:42.640 --> 01:55:46.479
when the sound stopped, so did all other noises in181801:55:46.520 --> 01:55:49.439
the forest. It was as if someone had hit the181901:55:49.520 --> 01:55:53.359
mute button on all of nature. I heard a loud,182001:55:53.479 --> 01:55:58.600
thumping sound that sounded like drums beating faster and faster,182101:55:59.479 --> 01:56:02.840
until I realized it was my heart. Trying to calm182201:56:02.840 --> 01:56:05.000
myself so I didn't have a heart attack on the182301:56:05.039 --> 01:56:09.159
spot was a challenge. I tried to think of calm,182401:56:09.880 --> 01:56:14.680
blue oceans and sunrises, of beautiful things that had nothing182501:56:14.720 --> 01:56:19.800
to do with the situation I was in. Apparently I182601:56:19.840 --> 01:56:24.279
did my job too well. I don't remember falling asleep,182701:56:24.640 --> 01:56:28.000
but I do remember waking up in a panic. Jumping up,182801:56:28.039 --> 01:56:30.640
I looked all around for the beasts that were coming182901:56:30.680 --> 01:56:33.760
to get me. When all that stared back at me183001:56:33.840 --> 01:56:36.600
were the contents of my backpack and the four walls183101:56:36.600 --> 01:56:39.720
of the tent. I allowed myself to take a few183201:56:40.359 --> 01:56:45.359
deep breaths. It was morning, the sun was up, and183301:56:45.399 --> 01:56:48.600
the birds were singing. I took both of those as183401:56:48.640 --> 01:56:54.399
good signs. Being alive was a bonus as well. It183501:56:54.479 --> 01:56:57.600
was decision time. Do I pack up and cut my183601:56:57.680 --> 01:57:00.960
trip short by two days, or do I write off183701:57:01.039 --> 01:57:04.800
last night's incident as a rare occurrence and not worry183801:57:04.840 --> 01:57:08.560
about it Today In the daylight, as the sun's rays183901:57:08.720 --> 01:57:13.560
bathed me in warmth, It's funny how fear manifests itself184001:57:13.600 --> 01:57:17.319
so much stronger at night. Last night, the forest seemed184101:57:17.359 --> 01:57:21.119
like the most horrifying place I'd ever been. Today, it184201:57:21.159 --> 01:57:23.960
looks like all the beauty of nature is spread out184301:57:24.000 --> 01:57:28.119
before me. I couldn't imagine anything bad happening in such184401:57:28.119 --> 01:57:32.840
a picturesque place. As I looked out over the clearing184501:57:32.880 --> 01:57:36.279
in the woods, I saw a large dark spot that184601:57:36.479 --> 01:57:39.880
was moving towards me. I dove into my tent and184701:57:39.920 --> 01:57:44.159
emerged with a pair of binoculars. Peering through them, I184801:57:44.239 --> 01:57:48.319
saw the spot was a bear and it was headed184901:57:48.439 --> 01:57:52.479
my way. So much for nothing bad happening in nature,185001:57:53.439 --> 01:57:56.119
My plan of action was to hide and hope it185101:57:56.159 --> 01:58:00.199
went away or turned down another path before it got here.185201:58:01.000 --> 01:58:04.840
That plan didn't work out so well. Within fifteen minutes,185301:58:04.880 --> 01:58:08.439
I could hear it snuffling around the campsite looking for185401:58:08.520 --> 01:58:11.760
something to eat. I hoped it wouldn't be eating a185501:58:11.800 --> 01:58:15.239
fresh camper. The can of bear spray was firmly in185601:58:15.279 --> 01:58:18.760
my hand, with my white knuckles clenching it. Having it185701:58:18.880 --> 01:58:22.800
was one thing, Using it was another. That was my185801:58:22.920 --> 01:58:28.640
last resort, spray and run. The sniffing got louder, and185901:58:28.720 --> 01:58:31.560
I could see the bottom edges of tent being pushed186001:58:31.600 --> 01:58:35.880
in by a large nose. My knuckles grew a little186101:58:35.880 --> 01:58:39.239
wider as I followed its progress along the edge and186201:58:39.319 --> 01:58:44.640
around the tent. And then there was a pause, a186301:58:44.720 --> 01:58:48.720
dreadful pause, the kind of pause that horrible decisions are186401:58:48.760 --> 01:58:52.800
born from. I was contemplating my own horrible decision when186501:58:52.800 --> 01:58:56.800
the sniffing started again, this time leading away from the tent.186601:58:58.000 --> 01:59:01.920
Breathing a cautiously optimistic sigh of relief, I opened the186701:59:01.960 --> 01:59:06.159
tent flap just enough to see the bear lumbering off186801:59:06.520 --> 01:59:12.520
into the woods again. I held a silent vote, just186901:59:12.640 --> 01:59:16.279
like the song said, should I stay or should I go?187001:59:17.960 --> 01:59:21.079
I'd only been camping up here once before, but I187101:59:21.119 --> 01:59:24.960
didn't remember it being this dangerous. Maybe I just got187201:59:25.039 --> 01:59:28.840
lucky last time. Not wanting my luck to run out,187301:59:29.159 --> 01:59:31.439
I packed up my tent and got ready to leave.187401:59:32.319 --> 01:59:35.279
The sun was already high in the sky, leaving me187501:59:35.479 --> 01:59:37.720
just a few hours to hike out what took me187601:59:38.039 --> 01:59:41.399
a full day to hike in. I looked for bear187701:59:41.439 --> 01:59:44.119
tracks to see which way it had left, but the187801:59:44.159 --> 01:59:48.319
ground was so dry there was nothing to see. Crossing187901:59:48.319 --> 01:59:51.000
my fingers, I had it out on the trail, hoping188001:59:51.359 --> 01:59:54.920
it had gone some other way. It was easy going,188101:59:55.079 --> 01:59:59.079
making the terror of last night fade even more. I188201:59:59.159 --> 02:00:01.840
still kept a way wary eye for the bear, though188302:00:02.600 --> 02:00:04.880
no use in getting so caught up in nature that188402:00:04.960 --> 02:00:09.039
I ignore her dangers. After around an hour of walking,188502:00:09.520 --> 02:00:11.560
I found a large rock on the side of the188602:00:11.600 --> 02:00:14.720
trail and decided to take a break, Pulling out a188702:00:14.760 --> 02:00:17.880
granola bar in a bottle of water, I looked around188802:00:17.920 --> 02:00:21.239
as I snacked. There was a clearing in the woods188902:00:21.279 --> 02:00:24.439
and a rough path leading to it. It wasn't any189002:00:24.479 --> 02:00:27.600
official path, just one that happens when a lot of189102:00:27.640 --> 02:00:31.439
feet go the same way and tramp down the foliage.189202:00:31.680 --> 02:00:34.479
There was a faint whiff of smoke coming from the clearing,189302:00:35.000 --> 02:00:38.560
but I couldn't see exactly what was causing it. My189402:00:38.720 --> 02:00:42.239
curiosity wanted to see what was there but my common189502:00:42.319 --> 02:00:47.039
sense said no way. In the end, curiosity fought dirty189602:00:47.399 --> 02:00:49.640
and said the smoke meant there had been a fire,189702:00:50.119 --> 02:00:52.479
and the ashes could blow into the trees if the189802:00:52.479 --> 02:00:56.840
wind picked up and cause a wildfire. It was a189902:00:56.840 --> 02:01:00.079
good point, even though the wind was uncannily still at190002:01:00.079 --> 02:01:03.920
that moment. I took a quick look around to make190102:01:03.960 --> 02:01:07.479
sure the bear wasn't sneaking up on me, then started190202:01:07.520 --> 02:01:11.159
down the narrow path. The trees blocked out some of190302:01:11.199 --> 02:01:14.119
the light as I headed down the path toward the clearing,190402:01:14.800 --> 02:01:19.600
making me literally descend into darkness. It wasn't a good feeling.190502:01:20.359 --> 02:01:24.039
My eyes darted around, looking for anything out of the ordinary,190602:01:24.600 --> 02:01:29.479
and I slowed my pace. Then suddenly the trees opened190702:01:29.560 --> 02:01:33.000
up in daylight shone brightly on the clearing, and the190802:01:33.039 --> 02:01:36.800
remnants of a fire with a wisp of smoke still rising.190902:01:38.039 --> 02:01:41.079
Whoever had made it had been dangerously uncaring about the191002:01:41.119 --> 02:01:44.319
safety of the woods. The fire sat right in the191102:01:44.319 --> 02:01:46.960
middle of a patch of grass, with no ring of191202:01:47.000 --> 02:01:51.199
stones surrounding it. My eye rose at the carelessness of191302:01:51.239 --> 02:01:55.359
this person. I found myself wishing very bad things on them.191402:01:55.760 --> 02:01:59.880
When I noticed something else. There were splotches of red191502:02:00.079 --> 02:02:03.439
all around the fire. It was like someone had spilled191602:02:03.479 --> 02:02:08.279
red paint all around. It was strange. Why would someone191702:02:08.279 --> 02:02:10.880
bring paint out here in the middle of the woods.191802:02:11.600 --> 02:02:14.119
I stalked around the other side of the fire, looking191902:02:14.159 --> 02:02:19.800
for the answer to this mystery. Unfortunately I found it.192002:02:21.079 --> 02:02:24.439
There was something pale sitting just outside the burnt grass192102:02:24.439 --> 02:02:27.920
of the fire. It was next to a splotch of red.192202:02:28.600 --> 02:02:31.680
I bent down and moved the grass to see more clearly.192302:02:32.479 --> 02:02:37.880
Picking it up, I saw it was a severed human toe.192402:02:38.039 --> 02:02:41.239
I dropped it and stood up like a shot. The192502:02:41.319 --> 02:02:45.319
red splotches made sense to me now they weren't paint,192602:02:46.319 --> 02:02:50.359
they were blood. A chill ran down my spine. I192702:02:50.439 --> 02:02:56.159
suddenly felt very alone and surrounded. My eyes darted all192802:02:56.199 --> 02:02:58.760
around the clearing and into the trees as I did192902:02:58.800 --> 02:03:03.000
a slow circle, searching for whatever was about to attack.193002:03:04.079 --> 02:03:07.560
As I searched, I saw the red splotches led off193102:03:07.600 --> 02:03:10.479
into the woods in the opposite direction of the trail.193202:03:11.520 --> 02:03:14.760
Curiosity tried to get me to follow, but I told193302:03:14.800 --> 02:03:17.359
it to shut the hell up and high tailed it193402:03:17.399 --> 02:03:22.159
out of there, my head on a swivel, searching for threats.193502:03:22.960 --> 02:03:25.239
Just as I was about to reach the main trail.193602:03:25.800 --> 02:03:29.399
I literally ran into the bear. I'd been so busy193702:03:29.439 --> 02:03:33.119
watching behind me for whatever might be chasing me that193802:03:33.199 --> 02:03:35.039
I didn't see what was right in front of me.193902:03:35.960 --> 02:03:40.039
It turned to face me, showing its red teeth. Then194002:03:40.119 --> 02:03:44.000
it stood on its hind legs, dwarfing me and roared.194102:03:45.039 --> 02:03:48.720
I wish I'd worn brown pants, because I soiled myself194202:03:48.760 --> 02:03:52.920
in fear. I was so terrified. I didn't move. I couldn't.194302:03:53.439 --> 02:03:57.000
I was paralyzed. It dropped back down on to its194402:03:57.000 --> 02:04:00.840
front legs and approached me, teeth bared. I knew right194502:04:00.960 --> 02:04:04.600
then it was responsible for the screams and the dismembered tow.194602:04:05.640 --> 02:04:08.039
The only thing I couldn't figure out was the fire.194702:04:08.720 --> 02:04:11.640
I'd never heard of bears being able to start a fire.194802:04:12.680 --> 02:04:16.000
This was, unfortunately, the last thought going through my head194902:04:16.600 --> 02:04:20.680
before being eaten. It sniffed and took a step back.195002:04:21.199 --> 02:04:23.520
If I'd known dropping a load in my pants would195102:04:23.520 --> 02:04:26.760
save me, I would have done it last night. As195202:04:26.800 --> 02:04:29.840
I looked into the eyes of my death, it wasn't195302:04:29.880 --> 02:04:35.159
looking back at me. It was looking past me. I195402:04:35.239 --> 02:04:37.640
wasn't sure what kind of trick this bear was pulling.195502:04:38.119 --> 02:04:40.640
It wasn't like it had to fool me or anything.195602:04:41.159 --> 02:04:45.039
It had me dead to rights. Curiosity made me turn195702:04:45.520 --> 02:04:52.359
and follow the bear's gaze. I instantly regretted it. Standing195802:04:52.399 --> 02:04:56.920
near the clearing was a monster. It was like nothing195902:04:56.960 --> 02:05:00.399
I'd ever seen before. It stood on hind legs at196002:05:00.479 --> 02:05:03.720
least eight feet tall. It had the horns of a deer,196102:05:03.840 --> 02:05:06.720
but the face looked like a deer's skull with no196202:05:06.920 --> 02:05:10.239
skin on it. Its shoulders were covered in what looked196302:05:10.319 --> 02:05:14.880
like a cloak made of another animal's skin. The bear196402:05:15.000 --> 02:05:19.159
let out a deep growl full of menace. I took196502:05:19.199 --> 02:05:22.159
the opportunity to back away and allow the bear a196602:05:22.199 --> 02:05:25.800
clear path to its adversary. It glanced at me for196702:05:25.880 --> 02:05:30.479
a moment, then started toward the monster. As soon as196802:05:30.520 --> 02:05:33.560
it was past me, I dropped my pack and ran196902:05:33.640 --> 02:05:36.479
down the trail with every ounce of speed I could muster.197002:05:37.800 --> 02:05:41.199
It didn't matter that my car was miles away. It197102:05:41.239 --> 02:05:44.039
didn't matter that there was no way I could sprint197202:05:44.079 --> 02:05:47.359
all the way there without collapsing and having a heart attack.197302:05:48.920 --> 02:05:55.399
Just then I heard the fight, the growling, roaring, slashing,197402:05:55.479 --> 02:05:58.520
knocking trees down. Fight that would have been awesome to197502:05:58.560 --> 02:06:02.840
watch from his a bunker with two foot thick concrete walls,197602:06:03.680 --> 02:06:06.720
just me alone, without a rocket launcher to defend myself.197702:06:06.880 --> 02:06:09.800
There was no way I was sticking around. I ran197802:06:09.920 --> 02:06:12.279
for a solid ten minutes before the stitch in my197902:06:12.399 --> 02:06:15.159
side told me I had to at least slow to198002:06:15.239 --> 02:06:19.319
a walk. I didn't dare stop. I knew I had198102:06:19.359 --> 02:06:22.640
to keep moving. It was my only chance of surviving198202:06:22.720 --> 02:06:27.119
by some miracle. The sounds of the fight echoed throughout198302:06:27.159 --> 02:06:31.159
the trees, making it seem surreal to hear it, then198402:06:31.319 --> 02:06:34.840
hear it echo back again. It sounded like the fight198502:06:35.000 --> 02:06:38.439
was slowing down. I hoped it would last a little198602:06:38.439 --> 02:06:42.880
while longer, maybe whichever one would forget about me or198702:06:42.960 --> 02:06:46.600
be too tired to track me down. My walk had198802:06:46.640 --> 02:06:49.439
become a limp. I was nearly out of energy and198902:06:49.479 --> 02:06:51.840
had a mile to go to the relative safety of199002:06:51.880 --> 02:06:55.560
my car. Surely, by now I could take it easy.199102:06:56.479 --> 02:06:59.560
As the thought rolled through my brain, the sounds of199202:06:59.600 --> 02:07:04.880
the fight ceased. The fading echo was all that remained.199302:07:05.840 --> 02:07:09.720
I wondered which one had been victorious, and comforted myself199402:07:09.760 --> 02:07:13.720
that the victor was surely enjoying the spoils by feasting199502:07:14.159 --> 02:07:18.119
on the fallen adversary. But in the back of my mind.199602:07:18.960 --> 02:07:24.079
Unease grew. What if it didn't forget me, What if199702:07:24.119 --> 02:07:27.880
it was following me? Right now? I found myself walking199802:07:27.920 --> 02:07:31.279
a little faster, much to the pain and chagrin of199902:07:31.319 --> 02:07:34.920
my legs. The silence that fell in the aftermath of200002:07:34.960 --> 02:07:38.800
the fight was disconcerting. The animals around me had been200102:07:38.920 --> 02:07:45.319
chattering away. Suddenly falling silent was alarming. I started jogging,200202:07:45.359 --> 02:07:48.720
each step a new exercise and pain. There was no200302:07:48.760 --> 02:07:51.880
doubt I was being followed. The footsteps behind me were200402:07:51.920 --> 02:07:55.520
getting louder. By the moment my car was in sight,200502:07:56.439 --> 02:08:01.000
I was almost free. The footsteps behind me were very loud.200602:08:01.079 --> 02:08:03.640
Now I knew it was right behind me, but I200702:08:03.680 --> 02:08:08.479
didn't dare look back. Run, don't think, just run, my200802:08:08.600 --> 02:08:12.800
thoughts screamed at me. Even my curiosity had no desire200902:08:12.840 --> 02:08:16.520
to look back. Ten steps from the car, I dug201002:08:16.560 --> 02:08:19.840
in my pocket, looking for my keys. For a brief,201102:08:20.039 --> 02:08:24.199
terrifying moment, I couldn't find them. Then I dug a201202:08:24.199 --> 02:08:28.079
little deeper and came away with my prize. I hit201302:08:28.159 --> 02:08:30.960
the remote to unlock the car and dove into the201402:08:31.000 --> 02:08:34.279
driver's seat. The engine had just roared to life when201502:08:34.279 --> 02:08:37.800
the monster appeared. I threw the car in reverse and201602:08:37.920 --> 02:08:40.880
stomped on the gas, whipping around and making the Monster201702:08:41.000 --> 02:08:44.560
miss crashing through the windshield. I jammed it into drive201802:08:44.800 --> 02:08:48.000
and flooredd as the monster recovered and started after me.201902:08:48.960 --> 02:08:52.720
For a long, horrid moment, it seemed to be catching202002:08:52.800 --> 02:08:55.600
up to me. The road was gravel and had several202102:08:55.640 --> 02:08:58.920
potholes in it. I found myself swerving to miss the202202:08:58.960 --> 02:09:02.600
biggest ones so my car wouldn't bottom out, but by202302:09:02.640 --> 02:09:06.920
doing so, the Monster gained ground. It was almost within202402:09:07.000 --> 02:09:10.119
reach of my rear bumper when I slid sideways onto202502:09:10.159 --> 02:09:13.960
the main road. Once on the pavement, I floored it202602:09:14.159 --> 02:09:18.680
and watched with satisfaction as the Monster fell behind. I202702:09:18.760 --> 02:09:21.880
breathed a sigh of relief as I relaxed and settled202802:09:21.920 --> 02:09:25.880
in for the ride home. It wasn't long until I202902:09:26.000 --> 02:09:30.119
was pulling into my driveway and parking. My head fell203002:09:30.159 --> 02:09:33.119
back against the headrest, and I was tempted to take203102:09:33.159 --> 02:09:36.560
a nap right there, when my nose reminded me of203202:09:36.600 --> 02:09:40.840
the state of my pants. Walking in empty handed was203302:09:40.880 --> 02:09:45.000
a mixed blessing. I'd left hundreds of dollars in equipment behind,203402:09:45.680 --> 02:09:50.039
but at least I was alive. My shower called to me.203502:09:50.680 --> 02:09:53.680
I stripped through my pants and underwear in the trash,203602:09:54.079 --> 02:09:59.239
then settled into the longest, most rewarding shower of my life.203702:09:59.359 --> 02:10:01.920
After dry eying, I threw on a Metallica T shirt203802:10:02.159 --> 02:10:04.800
and a pair of shorts. I came back out to203902:10:04.880 --> 02:10:07.000
the living room and settled in to watch a movie.204002:10:07.760 --> 02:10:11.239
Horror was Out. I knew I'd have nightmares for weeks204102:10:11.279 --> 02:10:15.199
about my ordeal. I decided to watch an episode of Wipeout.204202:10:16.279 --> 02:10:20.119
Three episodes later, I found my eyelids fighting gravity and exhaustion.204302:10:21.000 --> 02:10:23.640
Heading to bed, I turned out the lights and stepped204402:10:23.720 --> 02:10:26.399
up to the living room window, looking out over the204502:10:26.479 --> 02:10:29.600
lights of the town. I sighed, seeing the trees of204602:10:29.640 --> 02:10:32.920
the park far in the distance and knowing I'd never204702:10:33.079 --> 02:10:38.680
visit there again. Before I turned toward my bedroom, something204802:10:38.960 --> 02:10:44.079
caught my eye. It was impossible. I rubbed my eyes204902:10:44.119 --> 02:10:46.600
to be sure. The monster was creeping out of the205002:10:46.640 --> 02:10:50.960
woods and coming straight toward my house. As I watched,205102:10:51.359 --> 02:10:55.960
it looked up and saw me. Our eyes locked mine205202:10:56.079 --> 02:11:01.159
full of fear. It's full of menace. I ran through205302:11:01.159 --> 02:11:04.520
the house, making sure every door and window was locked.205402:11:05.239 --> 02:11:07.359
After that, I went to my bed stand and pulled205502:11:07.359 --> 02:11:10.560
out my snub nose thirty eight, checking to make sure205602:11:10.600 --> 02:11:13.520
it was loaded, and grabbing a handful of extra bullets,205702:11:13.960 --> 02:11:17.279
shoving them in my pocket. Running back out to the205802:11:17.279 --> 02:11:20.760
living room, I looked out my window, but it was gone.205902:11:22.039 --> 02:11:25.119
Pressing my face against the glass, I searched the front yard,206002:11:26.239 --> 02:11:30.399
but it wasn't there. For an instant, I wondered if206102:11:30.439 --> 02:11:34.079
my imagination had been playing tricks on me. I went206202:11:34.119 --> 02:11:36.680
to the kitchen window and looked into the back yard.206302:11:37.479 --> 02:11:41.359
It was dark and I couldn't see much. Reaching for206402:11:41.399 --> 02:11:44.840
the light switch, I hesitated, not wanting to see it206502:11:44.920 --> 02:11:47.880
suddenly appear in front of me. But I had to206602:11:47.920 --> 02:11:51.119
know if this thing was real or not. I would206702:11:51.239 --> 02:11:53.600
rather that I was going crazy than ever see that206802:11:53.840 --> 02:11:58.159
thing again. Flicking on the light, I took a half206902:11:58.159 --> 02:12:04.239
step back. Nothing was there. I scanned the entire back yard,207002:12:04.600 --> 02:12:08.680
all the way to the woods that bordered my property. Nothing.207102:12:09.920 --> 02:12:13.359
I shrugged and was about to go to bed when207202:12:13.359 --> 02:12:16.720
I heard it. My foot stopped on the first step207302:12:16.880 --> 02:12:20.199
and I turned back toward the door. Some one or207402:12:21.079 --> 02:12:25.600
some thing was scraping against the front door. Feeling like207502:12:25.680 --> 02:12:28.239
I was in a trance, I was drawn to the door.207602:12:28.720 --> 02:12:31.880
Leaning up to the people, I closed my eyes and207702:12:31.960 --> 02:12:37.199
breathed a silent prayer that nothing would be there. My207802:12:37.319 --> 02:12:42.600
prayers were answered. There was nothing out there. As tempted207902:12:42.640 --> 02:12:46.560
as I was to just accept this audible hallucination, my208002:12:46.680 --> 02:12:50.840
shaking hand reached for the door knob. The distance between208102:12:50.880 --> 02:12:54.239
my hand and the door seemed to fade, like one208202:12:54.279 --> 02:12:56.600
of those scenes in a horror movie where the camera208302:12:56.720 --> 02:13:01.279
zooms in while going backward. I turned the knob and208402:13:01.359 --> 02:13:06.119
held my breath while opening the door. Nothing was there.208502:13:07.560 --> 02:13:10.359
I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding.208602:13:11.439 --> 02:13:15.720
Looking around, the yard was empty, just the evening mist208702:13:15.880 --> 02:13:20.840
clinging to the lawn. My imagination had gotten the best208802:13:20.880 --> 02:13:24.760
of me. I turned to go back inside and saw208902:13:24.800 --> 02:13:28.840
the door and door frame had long scratches on it.209002:13:30.159 --> 02:13:36.279
My blood froze. It was real. It was here. It209102:13:36.359 --> 02:13:41.000
had tracked me down. As terror gripped me, I saw209202:13:41.039 --> 02:13:44.319
a flash of brown fur an instant before it charged me.209302:13:45.199 --> 02:13:48.399
In sheer desperation, I fell back into the door just209402:13:48.439 --> 02:13:51.720
as it hit the door frame. Its antlers slammed into209502:13:51.720 --> 02:13:55.119
the frame, sending splinters flying as it struggled to get209602:13:55.159 --> 02:13:58.560
loose from the destroyed wood. I lay on the door,209702:13:59.079 --> 02:14:02.520
watching in grim fascination, stunned by the fact that it209802:14:02.560 --> 02:14:05.920
had missed gouging my eyes by a mere fraction of209902:14:05.920 --> 02:14:10.359
an inch. The doorway had saved me, the same doorway210002:14:10.399 --> 02:14:14.880
that was rapidly disappearing under the monster's onslaught, I regained210102:14:14.880 --> 02:14:19.279
myself and ran. As I darted through the living room.210202:14:19.399 --> 02:14:21.920
Somehow I had the presence of mind to grab the210302:14:21.960 --> 02:14:24.800
house phone and dial nine one one as I headed210402:14:24.840 --> 02:14:27.800
down the basement steps, slamming the door behind me.210502:14:29.039 --> 02:14:30.600
Nine one one, what's your emergency?210602:14:31.119 --> 02:14:34.560
Came the lady operator's voice. I'm being chased by a210702:14:34.600 --> 02:14:38.000
monster who's trying to kill me, I said, vaulting down210802:14:38.000 --> 02:14:38.960
the stairs.210902:14:39.600 --> 02:14:41.479
I'm sorry, Could you repeat that.211002:14:42.119 --> 02:14:45.640
I'm being chased by a monster who is trying to211102:14:45.760 --> 02:14:46.119
kill me?211202:14:47.399 --> 02:14:49.239
Are you talking about a person?211302:14:50.159 --> 02:14:53.760
No? What do you not understand about the word monster?211402:14:54.399 --> 02:14:55.039
I shouted?211502:14:55.760 --> 02:14:58.479
All right, it's my duty to inform you that prank211602:14:58.520 --> 02:15:01.399
calls will be reported to the police and you could211702:15:01.399 --> 02:15:02.239
face charges.211802:15:02.800 --> 02:15:05.479
Fine, send the cops. Maybe they can fight off the211902:15:05.520 --> 02:15:10.239
monster long enough to put me in cuffs. The line disconnected.212002:15:11.159 --> 02:15:13.600
Son of them, I said, as I heard the monster212102:15:13.960 --> 02:15:18.479
stalking around inside the house, I squeezed myself into the212202:15:18.479 --> 02:15:21.399
far corner between the wall and the oil tank and212302:15:21.479 --> 02:15:25.880
tried to be as quiet as possible, barely breathing. I212402:15:26.000 --> 02:15:29.119
listened to its measured steps as it crept from room212502:15:29.239 --> 02:15:34.119
to room. The floorboards complained with loud creaks, telling me212602:15:34.279 --> 02:15:38.640
this thing weighed considerably more than me. I heard it212702:15:38.720 --> 02:15:42.119
turn toward the stairs and thought about making a run212802:15:42.159 --> 02:15:45.560
for the cellar door that led outside. When my phone212902:15:45.640 --> 02:15:50.920
rang Hello, I whisper, screamed, trying to be as quiet213002:15:50.960 --> 02:15:51.640
as possible.213102:15:52.439 --> 02:15:54.640
Is this the person who just dialed nine one one213202:15:54.680 --> 02:15:55.439
about a monster?213302:15:56.640 --> 02:15:59.640
Yes? Who is this? There was a pause as I213402:15:59.680 --> 02:16:01.800
heard the footsteps change direction.213502:16:02.920 --> 02:16:08.520
I'm from another agency, he said, Could you describe the213602:16:08.600 --> 02:16:11.880
monster for me? So you're from one of those three213702:16:11.960 --> 02:16:14.560
letter agencies that always say they don't spy on our213802:16:14.600 --> 02:16:18.199
phone calls. Could you describe the monster for me?213902:16:18.800 --> 02:16:23.079
It's huge, I whispered, at least eight feet tall, covered214002:16:23.119 --> 02:16:26.000
in fur and wearing the fur of another animal over214102:16:26.039 --> 02:16:29.159
its shoulders. Oh, and it has antlers like a deer.214202:16:30.199 --> 02:16:32.000
I heard a sharp intake of air.214302:16:33.760 --> 02:16:34.360
Where is it?214402:16:35.120 --> 02:16:36.399
I gave him my address?214502:16:37.280 --> 02:16:39.000
I mean, where is it in the house.214602:16:39.840 --> 02:16:42.040
It's on the first floor and I'm in the basement,214702:16:42.440 --> 02:16:46.399
I whispered, but I think it's coming down here. Just214802:16:46.479 --> 02:16:50.799
then I heard the basement door open. Gotta go, I whispered,214902:16:50.840 --> 02:16:54.559
then hung up the phone. The basement stairs groaned under215002:16:54.559 --> 02:16:57.399
the weight. I hoped that the wood would collapse under215102:16:57.399 --> 02:17:01.159
the weight and it would fall, snapping its neck. No215202:17:01.319 --> 02:17:05.680
such luck. The stairs creaked as it continued to the bottom.215302:17:06.159 --> 02:17:08.440
I had to duck in this basement so I was215402:17:08.479 --> 02:17:10.760
sure it was on all fours to keep from getting215502:17:10.799 --> 02:17:14.959
tangled in the rafters. My heart pounded. I struggled to215602:17:15.040 --> 02:17:17.719
keep my breathing quiet so I wouldn't give away my position.215702:17:18.440 --> 02:17:22.840
The chuffing of the monster's breathing was getting closer. I215802:17:22.959 --> 02:17:25.600
wanted to close my eyes, but had to know when215902:17:25.600 --> 02:17:29.520
it came close enough. Instead, I reached into my pocket216002:17:30.079 --> 02:17:33.239
and pulled out the gun, aiming it at the corner.216102:17:34.360 --> 02:17:39.440
I waited. The skeletal snout appeared, but I didn't shoot.216202:17:40.440 --> 02:17:43.639
The shot would just bounce off the bone. I wanted216302:17:43.680 --> 02:17:46.520
to hit something more vital and hope that I might216402:17:46.600 --> 02:17:50.879
somehow survive. The rest of the bony skull made its216502:17:50.879 --> 02:17:55.079
appearance and went by without noticing me. Next came the216602:17:55.159 --> 02:17:58.799
neck and the rest of the body. I wasn't sure216702:17:58.799 --> 02:18:02.280
where this thing's vital organs were, so I held off,216802:18:02.680 --> 02:18:05.959
hoping that it might not notice me at all. Those216902:18:06.040 --> 02:18:09.559
hopes were dashed when it sniffed, then whipped around and217002:18:09.639 --> 02:18:12.920
stared right at me. I took that as a sign217102:18:12.959 --> 02:18:16.680
to shoot it in the chest. The gunshot was deafening,217202:18:17.520 --> 02:18:21.280
especially in such a closed space. My ears were ringing217302:18:21.360 --> 02:18:24.479
so loud. I could barely hear the monster screaming and217402:18:24.600 --> 02:18:28.200
tearing my oil tank limb from limb, trying to get217502:18:28.200 --> 02:18:31.920
to me. I fired again, trying to hit any part217602:18:31.920 --> 02:18:36.040
of its body as oil flew from its thrashing. We217702:18:36.040 --> 02:18:39.040
were both covered in heating oil, and yet it still217802:18:39.159 --> 02:18:42.920
kept coming. Three more shots didn't even slow it down.217902:18:43.799 --> 02:18:45.920
It was so close the muzzle of the gun was218002:18:45.959 --> 02:18:48.600
nearly touching it. I shoved the barrel into one of218102:18:48.600 --> 02:18:52.000
its eye sockets and pulled the trigger. The flame from218202:18:52.040 --> 02:18:56.040
the exploding gunpowder set the oil on fire. I don't218302:18:56.079 --> 02:18:59.000
know if it was that or the bullet bouncing around218402:18:59.000 --> 02:19:01.600
in its skull that made did it shriek even louder.218502:19:02.600 --> 02:19:05.959
Flame engulfed its screaming form, making it look like a218602:19:06.000 --> 02:19:09.319
demon straight from hell. It ran out of the basement218702:19:09.360 --> 02:19:12.360
through the outside doors, bursting out into the open air,218802:19:13.159 --> 02:19:17.000
and disappearing into the night. I was so relieved I218902:19:17.000 --> 02:19:20.719
didn't notice right away that I was on fire. The219002:19:20.799 --> 02:19:23.079
oil had splashed on me and had ignited when the219102:19:23.120 --> 02:19:26.239
monster caught on fire. I tried to push my way219202:19:26.280 --> 02:19:29.079
out quickly, but the monster had shoved the tank closer219302:19:29.120 --> 02:19:33.440
to the wall, pinning me. The fire devoured the oil219402:19:33.479 --> 02:19:36.719
on my clothes and my bare skin, making me scream219502:19:36.760 --> 02:19:39.399
an agony as I tried in vain to get away219602:19:39.399 --> 02:19:45.479
from the fire. This was it. I would die, this horrible,219702:19:46.040 --> 02:19:51.719
agonizing death, trapped in an inferno. The monster would get219802:19:51.719 --> 02:19:55.239
its revenge and not even know it. Maybe, once it219902:19:55.319 --> 02:19:58.760
extinguished its own fire, it would come back and devour220002:19:58.840 --> 02:20:02.159
what was left of me like a well done steak.220102:20:04.040 --> 02:20:07.479
I must have been hallucinating, could have sworn a cloud220202:20:07.600 --> 02:20:14.440
enveloped me. Just before I died, I woke in a220302:20:14.440 --> 02:20:17.760
white room with an annoying beeping sound that wouldn't stop.220402:20:18.559 --> 02:20:21.239
There was a smiling face in the corner staring back220502:20:21.280 --> 02:20:25.079
at me, attached to a man I'd never met, How220602:20:25.079 --> 02:20:28.399
are you feeling, he said, stepping over to the hospital bed.220702:20:29.719 --> 02:20:35.040
Am I dead? I rasped, Not yet, he chuckled. It220802:20:35.159 --> 02:20:37.559
was close, though. If we hadn't gotten to you when220902:20:37.559 --> 02:20:40.760
we did, you'd have been a shish kebab. I tried221002:20:40.760 --> 02:20:44.680
to lean up, but pain put me back in the bed. Yeah,221102:20:44.760 --> 02:20:46.920
you're not going to be taking any hiking trips for221202:20:46.959 --> 02:20:50.280
a while, he said. You've got burns all over your221302:20:50.360 --> 02:20:54.120
legs that'll need some time to heal. I'm never going221402:20:54.239 --> 02:20:58.879
hiking again, I said, Are you the guy I talked221502:20:58.920 --> 02:21:02.600
to on the phone? Yeah? Do you mind telling me221602:21:02.680 --> 02:21:05.239
the rest of what happened? He said, pulling out a221702:21:05.239 --> 02:21:10.959
pen and notepad. Sure, I said, shrugging. Since you saved221802:21:10.959 --> 02:21:14.239
my life, it's the least I can do. He pulled221902:21:14.239 --> 02:21:18.239
his chair over and got comfortable. What happened to the222002:21:18.319 --> 02:21:26.200
monster anyway, I said, He hesitated. It got away, didn't it? Yeah,222102:21:26.559 --> 02:21:29.680
he said, lowering his head a little. We lost the222202:21:29.680 --> 02:21:33.840
trail after it extinguished itself, but don't worry, we'll find it.222302:21:34.719 --> 02:21:37.479
I didn't comment on my opinion of the competency of222402:21:37.520 --> 02:21:40.639
government agencies out of respect for the man who saved222502:21:40.639 --> 02:21:44.079
my life, but suffice it to say, I wouldn't be222602:21:44.159 --> 02:21:48.840
sleeping very deeply once I got home. Where would you222702:21:48.879 --> 02:21:52.920
like me to start? I said, The beginning is always222802:21:52.920 --> 02:22:09.079
a good place. Bite me by David O'Hanlon. The rabbit222902:22:09.200 --> 02:22:12.200
exited the log he'd taken shelter in and kicked at223002:22:12.200 --> 02:22:15.520
the fleas that had done much the same inside his ear.223102:22:16.360 --> 02:22:20.520
The bunny stretched then hopped onto the log. His nose223202:22:20.600 --> 02:22:24.719
twitched in the adorable way that rabbit noses dew. The223302:22:24.799 --> 02:22:28.399
air was cool and smelled of the previous night's storm.223402:22:28.760 --> 02:22:32.360
The morning sun caught in the dewdrops bedazzling the high223502:22:32.399 --> 02:22:36.360
grass of the meadow. His beady eyes surveyed the land.223602:22:36.959 --> 02:22:41.000
Parasites be damned. It was a beautiful morning in the Ozarks.223702:22:41.959 --> 02:22:44.959
Just across the field there was a downward slope that223802:22:45.120 --> 02:22:49.040
led to a narrow holler rife with tight caves. Berry223902:22:49.079 --> 02:22:53.920
bushes grew plentifully, and rainwater pulled in the various porous stones.224002:22:54.719 --> 02:22:57.840
For the small fur bearers of the forest, it was224102:22:57.959 --> 02:23:00.879
like hanging out at the mall. The rabbit was only224202:23:00.920 --> 02:23:04.920
halfway across the field and could already smell the females.224302:23:05.680 --> 02:23:08.200
He was late to the party, but it was better224402:23:08.280 --> 02:23:12.520
to be late than belated. A persistent eagle had chased224502:23:12.559 --> 02:23:15.840
him for over an hour the day before, forcing him224602:23:15.879 --> 02:23:19.879
out of his normal foraging range. He finally managed to224702:23:20.040 --> 02:23:23.239
escape at the expense of a squirrel that had been224802:23:23.280 --> 02:23:28.200
distracted by an acorn. Even in the woods, shit happens.224902:23:29.239 --> 02:23:32.000
The storm rolled in before the rabbit could get back225002:23:32.040 --> 02:23:35.840
to the warren, necessitating a night in the log motel.225102:23:36.959 --> 02:23:39.760
The rabbit knew arriving late wasn't going to hurt his225202:23:39.920 --> 02:23:43.840
chances any Aside from the fleas, he was the perfect225302:23:43.879 --> 02:23:48.120
specimen of rabbit masculinity. He was almost to the safety225402:23:48.200 --> 02:23:52.120
of the trees when a shadow cast over him from above.225502:23:53.479 --> 02:23:57.600
Before he could react, the flaming mass struck in front225602:23:57.600 --> 02:24:02.639
of him. The earth erupted, and the rabbit disappeared, his225702:24:02.760 --> 02:24:08.440
body becoming indistinguishable from the explosion. His head bounced when225802:24:08.479 --> 02:24:11.959
it finally came back down and rolled to a stop225902:24:12.239 --> 02:24:16.079
next to the smoldering crater left by the falling object.226002:24:16.840 --> 02:24:19.959
His dead eyes stared at the scorched metal and the226102:24:20.000 --> 02:24:23.959
strange glow of the otherworldly power source that had taken226202:24:24.000 --> 02:24:29.360
it across the galaxy and inside the rabbit's ears. The226302:24:29.399 --> 02:24:34.440
fleas enjoyed their meal next to a romantic radioactive fire.226402:24:36.799 --> 02:24:42.760
Several months later, Lilah's nails tore through the tense nylon226502:24:42.920 --> 02:24:47.840
bottom as she climaxed yet again. Rocco was a terrible226602:24:47.879 --> 02:24:52.040
boyfriend and a miserable human being, but he was a226702:24:52.040 --> 02:24:55.879
great lay. With that in mind, she'd suggested they camp226802:24:55.920 --> 02:24:58.840
in the woods the night before the big reunion, in226902:24:58.920 --> 02:25:02.239
hopes they could fuck away away any relationship tensions that227002:25:02.399 --> 02:25:05.280
might boil over during the weekend with their former high227102:25:05.280 --> 02:25:09.520
school click. Rocco groaned and collapsed on top of her,227202:25:10.120 --> 02:25:14.200
signaling the end of round three without taking any of227302:25:14.239 --> 02:25:17.000
his weight off. He reached from the nearby pack of227402:25:17.120 --> 02:25:21.079
camels and pulled one out with his teeth. Got a spare,227502:25:21.559 --> 02:25:26.040
She asked, about ten of them, he replied, tossing the227602:25:26.120 --> 02:25:29.600
pack into the corner of the tent. Rocco crawled over227702:25:29.680 --> 02:25:33.879
Lilah and unzipped the entrance, freeing the accumulated body heat227802:25:33.920 --> 02:25:37.200
and pheromones of the last hour. He lit his smoke227902:25:37.280 --> 02:25:40.879
and discarded the lighter before shuffling out into the humid228002:25:41.000 --> 02:25:46.559
Arkansas evening. Twenty yards away. Antenna twitched to life and228102:25:46.719 --> 02:25:49.559
rose out of the protection of the fossie to take228202:25:49.600 --> 02:25:53.600
in the chemical stench of sex and co two. The228302:25:53.639 --> 02:25:57.559
combination hit the creature's sensory organs, bringing it out of228402:25:57.600 --> 02:26:01.719
its torpor like a fresh cup of folgers. Rocco, the228502:26:01.799 --> 02:26:05.879
last true gentleman, wiped his cock on the tent flap228602:26:05.959 --> 02:26:08.559
and then walked to the tree line to relieve himself.228702:26:09.440 --> 02:26:12.399
He took a long pull from the cigarette and thought228802:26:12.440 --> 02:26:16.319
about the others as his bladder let loose. Every year228902:26:16.360 --> 02:26:19.959
since high school, they'd gotten together at Hawk's family cabin229002:26:20.079 --> 02:26:25.120
to brag about their accomplishments, and every year Rocco had229102:26:25.159 --> 02:26:29.239
nothing to add to the conversation. He hated those assholes.229202:26:29.799 --> 02:26:34.680
They wasted their lives being overachievers, and every reunion they229302:26:34.760 --> 02:26:37.879
tried to make him feel bad, like he was wasting229402:26:38.040 --> 02:26:42.799
so much potential, as if he did everything he wanted229502:26:42.840 --> 02:26:47.879
to without the burden of success. Successful people set expectations229602:26:47.879 --> 02:26:50.959
that they have to live up to, whereas Roco just229702:26:51.000 --> 02:26:55.639
had to live to exceed expectations. Piss spattered his feet,229802:26:56.079 --> 02:26:59.959
breaking him out of his self congratulations. He looked down229902:27:00.120 --> 02:27:03.840
at his bare toes and something shuffling through the fallen230002:27:03.920 --> 02:27:08.239
leaves toward him. Roco redirected the stream in its direction.230102:27:09.360 --> 02:27:14.920
Whatever it was stopped, but didn't retreat. Kinky, little son230202:27:14.959 --> 02:27:18.840
of a bitch, aren't you, he chuckled. The warm fluid230302:27:18.959 --> 02:27:22.479
rolled down the armored plates to the still stiff limbs230402:27:22.520 --> 02:27:26.520
of the creature. Its simple eyes zeroed in on the230502:27:26.559 --> 02:27:30.280
source of the heat. The glowing end of the cigarette230602:27:30.680 --> 02:27:33.639
could have been an ice cube compared to the bright230702:27:33.760 --> 02:27:39.159
glow of Rocko's shrinking erection. The creature sprang for cover.230802:27:40.520 --> 02:27:43.879
Lilah scuttled out of the tent in a panic. Roco's230902:27:43.879 --> 02:27:47.079
shrill screams drew nearer, and she spun on her hands231002:27:47.120 --> 02:27:50.239
and knees, trying to find out where they were coming from.231102:27:51.200 --> 02:27:55.479
She finally spotted him. He stumbled wildly with a large231202:27:55.600 --> 02:27:59.520
dark object obscuring his crotch Like an over zealous sensor.231302:28:00.520 --> 02:28:04.120
The thing fell between his legs, bloated with its first meal.231402:28:05.239 --> 02:28:09.719
Blood erupted from the swollen, torn flesh volcano that had231502:28:09.760 --> 02:28:14.159
once been Rocco's penis and showered the foot long insect.231602:28:14.799 --> 02:28:18.200
It rolled onto all six feet and turned its gaze231702:28:18.239 --> 02:28:24.319
to the hot terrified exhalations of Lilah. She started to scream,231802:28:24.600 --> 02:28:28.280
but the creature was too fast. In a single bound,231902:28:28.319 --> 02:28:31.680
it covered the distance between them and impacted her face232002:28:31.760 --> 02:28:35.479
with the force of a baseball bat. Teeth flew into232102:28:35.520 --> 02:28:39.520
the darkness, and the giant flea turned its attention to232202:28:39.600 --> 02:28:44.360
the blood pooling in the young woman's mouth. The serrated232302:28:44.399 --> 02:28:48.680
stylets of its mouth plunged into the puddle and threw232402:28:48.840 --> 02:28:56.719
the back of her skull. The next afternoon, That fucking232502:28:56.879 --> 02:29:01.200
losers probably in jail again, Hawks said, as he navigated232602:29:01.239 --> 02:29:05.719
down the steep slope of the holler. Roco keeps getting older,232702:29:05.760 --> 02:29:09.040
but he's never gonna grow up. Kara and I are232802:29:09.079 --> 02:29:14.040
about to open our second dealership. Rocco's still passing around232902:29:14.040 --> 02:29:18.319
his first demo. The world needs musicians as much as233002:29:18.319 --> 02:29:23.879
it needs car salesman Danny replied. His bands called Thundercock.233102:29:24.520 --> 02:29:29.680
Hawk snorted, let's not pretend he's Beethoven. I meant we233202:29:29.760 --> 02:29:33.680
shouldn't downplay the value of art, not that he was233302:29:33.799 --> 02:29:39.360
making any Thundercock is dog shit. Brian chimed in, but233402:29:39.440 --> 02:29:42.200
I gotta admit they're just as good as a lot233502:29:42.200 --> 02:29:48.680
of mainstream bands. White Snake, Danny said, curiously, Yeah, they're233602:29:48.719 --> 02:29:53.239
on that list, Brian replied, before noticing his wife had233702:29:53.280 --> 02:29:58.399
stopped to inspect something in the foliage. Wait, you mean233802:29:58.440 --> 02:30:02.319
you saw a snake, Ryan shivered. The woods are just233902:30:02.360 --> 02:30:04.600
a part of life when you grow up in Arkansas,234002:30:05.000 --> 02:30:07.840
but that doesn't mean you have to like everything about them.234102:30:08.440 --> 02:30:11.000
Ever since an incident in the Scouts, when he first234202:30:11.040 --> 02:30:14.200
came face to face with a copper head nesting on234302:30:14.239 --> 02:30:17.120
the side of a tree trunk, Brian had a lurking234402:30:17.239 --> 02:30:22.840
fear that the scheming serpents constantly surrounded him. Next to234502:30:22.879 --> 02:30:28.079
that log, Danny told him, a solid white snake, that's234602:30:28.120 --> 02:30:31.920
no log, Hawk said, pushing past her for a better look.234702:30:32.840 --> 02:30:36.840
Would it kill y'all to slow down? Kara's thick twang234802:30:36.920 --> 02:30:40.719
called from the top of the embankment. Take your time, honey,234902:30:41.079 --> 02:30:46.319
Frank said, dismissively. The opaque things slithered under the log.235002:30:46.799 --> 02:30:50.760
When the humans got too close. Danny circled the object235102:30:50.799 --> 02:30:54.520
and put a hand on her stomach. Revulsion churned her,235202:30:54.600 --> 02:30:59.360
still digesting breakfast like a queason art. The desiccated skin235302:30:59.520 --> 02:31:04.479
had trunk back, making the terrifying teeth look even more menacing.235402:31:05.600 --> 02:31:11.040
There was no blood anywhere stranger. Still no bugs chewed235502:31:11.079 --> 02:31:17.200
on the dehydrated flesh. It's a bear, Hawk nearly whispered,235602:31:18.559 --> 02:31:24.479
Why does it look like that? Danny asked, dehydration Brian235702:31:24.600 --> 02:31:31.879
said as he approached. It's been shit. It's mummified. Revenge235802:31:31.879 --> 02:31:38.360
of the mummy bear. Wah, Hawk teased, Come on, man, mummified,235902:31:39.639 --> 02:31:45.440
that's why nothing's eating it. Brian informed him. He's bear jerky.236002:31:46.600 --> 02:31:50.920
Sucks to be him. Hawk shrugged. The lake is calling236102:31:51.200 --> 02:31:56.879
the fuck. Something just touched my ankle. The leaves shuffled236202:31:56.920 --> 02:32:01.120
around them, and something long and white in along beneath236302:32:01.159 --> 02:32:06.559
their cover. Then more, something's moved. Brian kicked at the236402:32:06.600 --> 02:32:12.120
detritus and saw the six inch larvae crawling hurriedly toward236502:32:12.200 --> 02:32:17.200
the shelter of the bear's corpse. Well that's enough outside236602:32:17.200 --> 02:32:22.600
for me, he grumbled. Ditto, Danny whispered, What are y'all236702:32:22.600 --> 02:32:25.639
looking at? Down there? Kara called as she tried to236802:32:25.680 --> 02:32:29.559
ease down the decline, but only managed a semi controlled236902:32:29.600 --> 02:32:33.639
slide instead. Gosh, did y'all see that? I almost fell237002:32:33.719 --> 02:32:36.600
right on my keyster. Ain't this where we saw them237102:32:36.639 --> 02:32:40.239
squirrels last year? The other three looked around at the237202:32:40.280 --> 02:32:44.799
still trees. The dingbat was right. It had been like237302:32:44.840 --> 02:32:48.639
a Disney scene when they last visited, with every variety237402:32:48.680 --> 02:32:52.600
of woodland critter having a block party. Despite the encroachment237502:32:52.680 --> 02:32:56.760
of the nuisance of humans. Even Roco's boombox and his237602:32:56.879 --> 02:33:01.559
metallica tape hadn't been enough to disturb them. But this time,237702:33:02.639 --> 02:33:07.360
where are all the fucking animals? Brian asked. Danny knelt237802:33:07.440 --> 02:33:11.360
beside a strangely shaped stone and flipped it over, revealing237902:33:11.600 --> 02:33:15.799
the bucked teeth. Just like the bear, the jack rabbit238002:33:15.879 --> 02:33:20.719
had been completely dried out by something. Snap it to238102:33:20.799 --> 02:33:25.360
a slim Jim Hawk said, holding up the dehydrated remains238202:33:25.399 --> 02:33:28.840
of a raccoon by its tail. What the hell could238302:33:28.879 --> 02:33:35.159
have done this? Though? Those Danny finally managed to get out,238402:33:35.799 --> 02:33:40.680
She pointed unsteadily toward Kara. The dark sclaertes that armored238502:33:40.719 --> 02:33:43.479
their bodies blended in with the rocks jutting from the238602:33:43.520 --> 02:33:48.040
hillside almost perfectly. One of the insects launched itself at Kara,238702:33:48.159 --> 02:33:51.159
so quickly that it appeared to teleport from its moss238802:33:51.200 --> 02:33:54.719
covered perch to the pale skin beneath the ragged hem238902:33:55.399 --> 02:33:59.120
of Kara's cutoffs. The impact sent her to the ground239002:33:59.200 --> 02:34:02.879
with a muted square wheel. Two more fleas pounced on her.239102:34:03.639 --> 02:34:06.799
The cracking of her rib cage sent the others running239202:34:06.920 --> 02:34:12.520
Like a starter pistol. A flea jumped, covering twenty feet239302:34:12.559 --> 02:34:15.719
in the blink of an eye. It landed between Hawk's239402:34:15.719 --> 02:34:20.120
broad shoulders and pierced his back, scraping against the scapula239502:34:20.159 --> 02:34:24.239
with its mouth parts. The former football star tumbled forward239602:34:24.600 --> 02:34:27.760
and rolled back to his feet. The fall shook the239702:34:27.760 --> 02:34:30.879
bug loose, but the armored body had protected it from239802:34:30.879 --> 02:34:33.680
the weight of the human crashing down on top of it.239902:34:34.319 --> 02:34:37.959
Another flea landed on his chest. Hawk pulled it away240002:34:38.040 --> 02:34:40.840
before it could bite. He tried to squash it in240102:34:40.879 --> 02:34:44.200
between his hands, and when that didn't work, opted for240202:34:44.280 --> 02:34:48.920
headbutting it. The exoskeleton ruptured with a spray of hemolymph240302:34:48.959 --> 02:34:53.639
a Crosshawk's face. The flea's forelimbs grappled with the human's wrists.240402:34:54.159 --> 02:34:56.959
Its hooked feet latched into the muscles and ripped them240502:34:57.040 --> 02:35:00.920
free from the bone. Hawk dropped the bug in stumbled away.240602:35:01.719 --> 02:35:06.079
He stared helplessly at the mauled tissue and exposed arteries240702:35:06.079 --> 02:35:10.120
within the Two fleas leapt at the wounds. Their voracious240802:35:10.200 --> 02:35:15.680
appetites overpowered the giant human. In seconds, Hawk's world spun,240902:35:16.440 --> 02:35:20.319
his knees wobbled, and his vision blurred. He hit the241002:35:20.360 --> 02:35:26.239
ground hard, but it did not disturb the buffet. Long241102:35:26.319 --> 02:35:30.760
after everything went dark, he could still hear them slurping241202:35:31.000 --> 02:35:39.799
noisily at the last drops of his life. Danny didn't241302:35:39.840 --> 02:35:42.920
know where the hell she was running to, but knew241402:35:43.000 --> 02:35:45.879
that wherever it was would be better than where they'd been.241502:35:46.799 --> 02:35:50.879
They'd stumbled into the monster bug's nest. Once they were241602:35:50.920 --> 02:35:54.920
far enough away, they'd be safe. At least, she hoped241702:35:55.000 --> 02:35:58.200
that was how it worked. She didn't know much about241802:35:58.319 --> 02:36:04.559
regular insects, let alone twelve venched demon flees left. Brian gasped.241902:36:04.959 --> 02:36:08.920
He slowed to a jog go left. Danny was breathing242002:36:08.959 --> 02:36:12.360
too hard to speak. Her legs were on fire. She242102:36:12.479 --> 02:36:15.799
wanted to stop running to gather her thoughts to formulate242202:36:15.840 --> 02:36:19.440
a plan, but she was convinced every stone and massive242302:36:19.520 --> 02:36:23.600
leaves she saw was another one of those damned things.242402:36:24.040 --> 02:36:27.360
She banked left, jumping over a fallen log, and veered242502:36:27.399 --> 02:36:32.000
towards something resembling a trail. It is a trail, she242602:36:32.159 --> 02:36:36.959
realized two years before, they'd ridden hawks three wheelers along242702:36:37.000 --> 02:36:39.840
the path to an abandoned summer camp on the north242802:36:39.920 --> 02:36:42.920
end of the lake. They weren't far from the cabin.242902:36:43.600 --> 02:36:48.159
More importantly, they weren't far from their jeep. Danny's energy243002:36:48.239 --> 02:36:51.680
levels surged with her new hopefulness. She ignored the pain243102:36:51.799 --> 02:36:56.280
and pushed onward faster than before. After several minutes, the243202:36:56.360 --> 02:36:59.959
path grew steeper. Her legs couldn't hold up any longer,243302:37:00.520 --> 02:37:04.079
and she fell forward, but didn't allow it to stop her.243402:37:04.760 --> 02:37:08.000
She dug her fingers into the earth, crawling along until243502:37:08.000 --> 02:37:12.559
she could run again, then falling and repeating the process243602:37:13.079 --> 02:37:16.479
all the way to safety. She didn't stop until she'd243702:37:16.520 --> 02:37:20.319
clambered up the steps and onto the front porch. Spots243802:37:20.360 --> 02:37:23.440
filled Danny's vision as she lay there, choking on the243902:37:23.479 --> 02:37:27.959
breaths she tried desperately to inhale. It took several minutes244002:37:28.040 --> 02:37:32.360
until she gained some control over herself and finally sat up.244102:37:33.799 --> 02:37:38.680
She was alone. Fear flooded her with another burst of adrenaline.244202:37:39.079 --> 02:37:45.520
Brian Brian. Danny looked around frantically. Brian answer me, he didn't.244302:37:46.440 --> 02:37:48.879
The woods were as still and dead as that bear244402:37:48.959 --> 02:37:55.200
had been, as her friends were as Brian probably was too.244502:37:55.440 --> 02:37:58.799
Danny climbed to her feet, taking only a few seconds244602:37:58.799 --> 02:38:02.520
to scan the path forward him Once more, no one244702:38:02.639 --> 02:38:06.079
was coming. She threw open the cabin door and ran244802:38:06.120 --> 02:38:09.079
to their room for the car keys. He'll be there244902:38:09.079 --> 02:38:12.920
when you get outside, she told herself. He's never been245002:38:12.959 --> 02:38:14.799
a strong runner. He'll catch up by the time you245102:38:14.840 --> 02:38:17.639
find the keys. He's probably waiting at the jeep already.245202:38:19.239 --> 02:38:22.959
She grabbed the rabbit's foot keychain from the nightstand and245302:38:23.120 --> 02:38:27.239
rolled the soft ornament in her palm. Her dad gave245402:38:27.280 --> 02:38:30.639
it to her the first day of college for good luck.245502:38:32.079 --> 02:38:36.559
Good luck, she laughed softly. Hugh had four of them,245602:38:36.559 --> 02:38:40.559
and look what happened to you? Glass broke in the kitchen.245702:38:41.239 --> 02:38:44.200
Danny stuffed the keys into her shorts and crept stealthily245802:38:44.239 --> 02:38:48.319
into the hallway. A pan clattered to the floor. She245902:38:48.440 --> 02:38:52.159
looked around for a weapon, though she wasn't sure exactly246002:38:52.200 --> 02:38:56.280
what she could use to fight a giant flea. She246102:38:56.520 --> 02:38:59.840
eased along the wall to the kitchen door. A cab246202:39:00.079 --> 02:39:05.520
it banged open. More things crashed, Another cabinet slammed. She246302:39:05.639 --> 02:39:10.440
took a deep breath and momentarily forgot how to exhale.246402:39:10.600 --> 02:39:13.040
The bugs didn't have a reason to trash the place,246502:39:13.559 --> 02:39:19.680
which meant someone or something else was inside. She finally246602:39:19.760 --> 02:39:23.079
managed to let go of the captive breath and rounded246702:39:23.120 --> 02:39:29.840
the jam. The scream was unintentional. Kara leaned on the counter, wheezing.246802:39:30.440 --> 02:39:34.239
Sweat plastered her hair to her face. Bug bites the246902:39:34.280 --> 02:39:39.159
size of hubcaps oozed from their gaping centers. Kara scratched247002:39:39.239 --> 02:39:42.680
violently at them, chris crossing the deep furrows she'd left247102:39:42.719 --> 02:39:48.239
with earlier attempts. Vomits stained her gory shirt. Her eyes247202:39:48.760 --> 02:39:54.040
were milky PUFs filled orbs tinged with pink swirls from247302:39:54.079 --> 02:39:59.079
the internal hemorrhaging Convulsions racked her body, bringing her to247402:39:59.120 --> 02:40:04.200
her knees. Danny started toward her, kicking something across the floor.247502:40:04.879 --> 02:40:08.719
She followed the noise as it rolled it bumped against247602:40:08.719 --> 02:40:12.559
the leg of the dining room table. Danny smiled at247702:40:12.559 --> 02:40:16.079
the yellow can of six twelve, the insect repellent that247802:40:16.120 --> 02:40:19.520
had been banned the year before, but Kara insisted it247902:40:19.559 --> 02:40:22.559
was the only thing that worked against the beefy mosquitoes248002:40:23.000 --> 02:40:27.360
of bull shoals. Apparently it worked on mutant fleas as well,248102:40:28.079 --> 02:40:30.360
that must have been what Kara was searching for in248202:40:30.440 --> 02:40:34.120
the ah. Kara moaned and clawed at the bite on248302:40:34.200 --> 02:40:37.719
her chest. She coughed, hacking up crimson phlegm.248402:40:38.479 --> 02:40:40.559
Stop make it stop.248502:40:41.600 --> 02:40:44.319
Kara banged the inside of her head against the counter.248602:40:45.239 --> 02:40:50.879
Stop it, she hissed. The banging grew harder faster. The248702:40:50.959 --> 02:40:56.760
trim cracked spatter decorated the cabinet doors. Kara continued shrieking248802:40:56.799 --> 02:41:00.959
and moaning like one of the undead, for the can248902:41:00.959 --> 02:41:05.799
of repellent. Kara's screams were punctuated by the frantic strikes249002:41:05.840 --> 02:41:11.440
of her head against the counter. Then she collapsed. Gray249102:41:11.520 --> 02:41:14.959
matter pushed through the shards of broken skull to mingle249202:41:15.000 --> 02:41:20.319
with the other fluids in Kara's matted hair. Danny stretched249302:41:20.319 --> 02:41:24.760
her sweat drenched T shirt over her nose. Fleas carried plagus.249402:41:25.479 --> 02:41:27.840
She didn't want to believe that's what the bugs were,249502:41:28.639 --> 02:41:31.760
but there was no denying it. The way they jumped,249602:41:32.319 --> 02:41:36.600
the way they ate. Giant fleas had attacked them, and249702:41:36.680 --> 02:41:40.360
if the insects had mutated, then maybe the viruses they249802:41:40.440 --> 02:41:44.000
carried had as well. She backed out of the kitchen,249902:41:44.120 --> 02:41:48.520
rubbing the repellent across her exposed areas. She blasted through250002:41:48.559 --> 02:41:52.680
the front door, then slid to a sudden halt. Everything250102:41:52.799 --> 02:41:56.120
was quiet, save for the ticking of the tin roof250202:41:56.639 --> 02:42:01.959
expanding in the afternoon. Sunchildhood memory scratched at the back250302:42:02.000 --> 02:42:06.079
of her mind, as persistent as any flea bite. She250402:42:06.200 --> 02:42:08.920
thought about the stray that had wandered into their yard250502:42:09.399 --> 02:42:13.120
when she was five. The pup rolled over onto his250602:42:13.239 --> 02:42:16.799
back for belly rubs, and little Danny had been scarred250702:42:16.840 --> 02:42:21.120
for life. The fleas were clustered together, turning the dog250802:42:21.559 --> 02:42:26.120
into their own personal bonanza buffet. She hadn't understood what250902:42:26.239 --> 02:42:29.840
the little dark specks all over the animal were. Some251002:42:30.040 --> 02:42:35.120
crawled freely between his stiff, tawny hairs. She probed at251102:42:35.159 --> 02:42:39.399
a suckling swarm of the parasites. Detecting new prey, they251202:42:39.520 --> 02:42:43.760
leapt onto Danny's hands. They'd bitten her dozens of times251302:42:43.799 --> 02:42:47.239
before she managed to get them all off. She had251402:42:47.319 --> 02:42:51.079
nightmares for months, which had only been quelled once her251502:42:51.120 --> 02:42:55.879
father explained to her that fleas couldn't survive without an251602:42:55.920 --> 02:43:00.639
animal to live on. That's why everything was silent. She251702:43:00.840 --> 02:43:05.559
realized the sparse populations of black bears and elk were251802:43:05.559 --> 02:43:09.000
the largest animals in the Ozarks. It wouldn't have taken251902:43:09.040 --> 02:43:13.040
the monsters long to exhaust those options. There were no252002:43:13.239 --> 02:43:17.680
viable hosts, so they'd turned to attacking everything they could252102:43:17.840 --> 02:43:22.280
for even a few drops of warm blood. Danny started252202:43:22.319 --> 02:43:26.479
off the porch and the first step squeaked under her weight.252302:43:27.440 --> 02:43:30.079
It reminded her of a dying animal. In the silence252402:43:30.120 --> 02:43:34.639
surrounding the cabin, she paused. One of the rocks in252502:43:34.639 --> 02:43:38.959
the yard seemed to move. She blinked the sweat away252602:43:39.000 --> 02:43:42.159
from her eyes as best she could and watched it252702:43:42.239 --> 02:43:46.920
for a moment. It was just a rock. She took252802:43:46.959 --> 02:43:51.239
another step and the stairs gave a relieved groan. She252902:43:51.399 --> 02:43:55.399
wondered if fleas even had ears. The popping of the253002:43:55.479 --> 02:44:00.680
roof grew more rapid. She glanced over her shoulder and253102:44:00.799 --> 02:44:06.000
started running. The encroaching humans had been enough to awaken253202:44:06.200 --> 02:44:10.799
the entire scratch of super fleas after months of dormancy.253302:44:11.319 --> 02:44:15.600
They were desperate for a meal, any meal. The hot253402:44:15.680 --> 02:44:18.440
roof made the cabin look like a giant animal to253502:44:18.479 --> 02:44:24.399
their simplified heat sensing eyes. They'd forgotten entirely about the253602:44:24.520 --> 02:44:27.799
humans that had led them there, and attached themselves to253702:44:27.840 --> 02:44:32.159
the first hope they'd had for a suitable host. Their253802:44:32.200 --> 02:44:36.760
piercing stylets punched fruitlessly into the unnatural skin of the house.253902:44:37.479 --> 02:44:40.879
Starvation was taking its toll on them. One of the254002:44:40.879 --> 02:44:44.079
weakest slid off the roof and into the yard. Its254102:44:44.159 --> 02:44:47.920
legs curled up to its abdomen as it died without254202:44:47.959 --> 02:44:52.280
a sound. The others continued working away at the cabin's254302:44:52.360 --> 02:44:55.920
metal flesh. Danny was almost to the jeep when the254402:44:55.920 --> 02:45:00.639
windshield of Hawk's Toyota shattered. The malnourished flea had misjudged254502:45:00.680 --> 02:45:04.360
its jump and smashed face first into the safety glass.254602:45:04.879 --> 02:45:09.239
Its lanky hind legs kicked for another go. The sickle254702:45:09.440 --> 02:45:14.000
like claws scraped divots into the truck's hood. Another famished254802:45:14.000 --> 02:45:17.799
flea launched itself from the roof, landing a foot from Danny.254902:45:18.719 --> 02:45:22.319
She squeezed the bottle of six twelve, blasting the bugs255002:45:22.360 --> 02:45:26.079
in the face. It hopped in a circle, toppling wildly255102:45:26.159 --> 02:45:30.920
over itself, and then bounded into the woods. The incessant255202:45:30.959 --> 02:45:34.680
pecking of the parasites on the roof stopped in near unison.255302:45:35.799 --> 02:45:40.799
One after another, they sprang from their perch. Danny stumbled255402:45:40.840 --> 02:45:44.399
backwards and fell to the ground. She scrambled on all fours,255502:45:44.600 --> 02:45:47.959
finally getting to her feet just in time to grab255602:45:48.000 --> 02:45:51.360
the jeep's door handle. She threw open the red door,255702:45:51.440 --> 02:45:56.239
inadvertently batting down an attacking creature. Another landed on her arm.255802:45:56.799 --> 02:46:00.319
She grabbed its head, mashed her thumb into the thing's eye,255902:46:00.520 --> 02:46:03.319
and slung it away so quickly that its clawed feet256002:46:03.399 --> 02:46:07.559
tore through her skin. Danny screamed and fell backwards into256102:46:07.600 --> 02:46:11.840
the vehicle. The insects swarmed around her. She pulled the256202:46:11.879 --> 02:46:16.959
door shut, catching one in the jam. Its armored exoskeleton cracked,256302:46:17.440 --> 02:46:21.079
but it didn't break. The monster tried to bite. It256402:46:21.200 --> 02:46:25.479
squirmed and swung its head around. The lancing mouthparts stabbed256502:46:25.520 --> 02:46:30.000
into the seat repeatedly. Danny leaned back, pulling the door256602:46:30.079 --> 02:46:34.040
with all her weight. It never made a sound, and256702:46:34.120 --> 02:46:39.159
somehow that terrified her more than anything else. It should256802:46:39.200 --> 02:46:43.040
have roared or hissed or made some other horrifying noise256902:46:43.319 --> 02:46:48.040
like the monster it was, but the thing was completely silent.257002:46:48.079 --> 02:46:52.760
As the two combatants tried to murder one another, Danny257102:46:52.840 --> 02:46:56.440
reached for the keys and found the pocket empty. The257202:46:56.479 --> 02:47:00.920
flea inched inside. She quickly pulled the door with both hands. Again,257302:47:01.959 --> 02:47:06.440
the windshield cracked in tiny snowflakes. The fleas were striking257402:47:06.479 --> 02:47:10.559
at her heat signature, fracturing the barrier between themselves and257502:47:10.639 --> 02:47:16.719
their feast. She was dead, and she knew it. Either257602:47:16.760 --> 02:47:19.079
her arms were going to tie her out or the257702:47:19.120 --> 02:47:23.520
windshield was going to shatter, but sooner rather than later,257802:47:24.319 --> 02:47:27.639
the fleas would be inside the jeep with her. Her257902:47:27.719 --> 02:47:32.280
muscles burned. Danny wondered which would be more painful, a258002:47:32.280 --> 02:47:36.239
single flea or the entire scratch latching on at once.258102:47:37.719 --> 02:47:40.159
She'd probably lose enough blood to pass out in a258202:47:40.200 --> 02:47:42.600
second or two if all of them got to her.258302:47:43.879 --> 02:47:47.680
The canvas roof sagged suddenly, hooks tore through the top258402:47:47.719 --> 02:47:50.760
as others searched for another way in. She tried to258502:47:50.760 --> 02:47:54.239
weigh her options, only to find herself without any The258602:47:54.360 --> 02:47:58.000
lacerations on her arms leaked down the door panel, the258702:47:58.079 --> 02:48:02.319
handle started slipping through her grass. Danny swung the appendage258802:48:02.360 --> 02:48:05.520
over the entrapped flea and flexed the muscles to speed258902:48:05.600 --> 02:48:09.559
up the flow. Droplets pelted the monster like crimson rain.259002:48:10.239 --> 02:48:13.239
It twitched and twisted, trying to find the source of259102:48:13.360 --> 02:48:17.840
the smell. Driven mad by hunger, it stabbed into its259202:48:17.879 --> 02:48:23.239
own thorax, chasing a drop of the precious fluid. Danny259302:48:23.319 --> 02:48:26.079
released enough pressure to kick it to the ground. While259402:48:26.079 --> 02:48:30.120
it was distracted. Before she could slam the door, she259502:48:30.280 --> 02:48:34.399
saw other fleas descend on it. They ferociously bit into259602:48:34.399 --> 02:48:37.200
their brethren, trying to get their share of the blood.259702:48:38.239 --> 02:48:41.520
Danny hit the door locks out of instinct. She crawled259802:48:41.520 --> 02:48:43.680
into the back of the vehicle to find a weapon.259902:48:44.600 --> 02:48:47.280
A nylon bag caught her eye. While she wrestled the260002:48:47.319 --> 02:48:51.319
tire iron free. She looked out the plastic back window260102:48:52.319 --> 02:48:55.600
behind the extra gas can. The driveway was a steep260202:48:55.719 --> 02:48:59.600
hill that banked hard to the right. The fabric tore260302:48:59.639 --> 02:49:03.520
overhead as more fleas congregated. She could see them through260402:49:03.559 --> 02:49:07.000
the widening gashes and knew she was almost out of time.260502:49:07.760 --> 02:49:10.079
They were going to get in through sheer dumb luck.260602:49:10.520 --> 02:49:14.200
When the weight brought the canvas top down. A plan260702:49:14.360 --> 02:49:17.479
was starting to formulate, but she needed just a little260802:49:17.520 --> 02:49:20.840
longer to put it into motion. She clamored back to260902:49:20.879 --> 02:49:23.680
the front and rolled the passenger window down an inch.261002:49:24.600 --> 02:49:28.559
Pressing her wounded arm against the opening, she mashed at261102:49:28.600 --> 02:49:32.399
the cuts blood trickled down the glass in tiny rivulets,261202:49:33.040 --> 02:49:35.200
but it was more than enough to draw the attention261302:49:35.799 --> 02:49:40.159
of the ravenous fleas. She cranked the window almost closed,261402:49:40.600 --> 02:49:43.799
but left enough gap to give them false hope. As261502:49:43.840 --> 02:49:48.000
she smeared the fluid over the upholstery, the parasites fought261602:49:48.079 --> 02:49:51.600
for space, knocking each other aside and clawing away the261702:49:51.600 --> 02:49:54.719
more persistent ones for their chance to get into the jeep.261802:49:55.639 --> 02:49:59.280
Danny toppled into the back once more. She grabbed the261902:49:59.319 --> 02:50:03.440
bag and wrestled out an emergency flare. A flea dropped262002:50:03.440 --> 02:50:07.200
through the roof and scurried onto the back seat. Danny262102:50:07.239 --> 02:50:11.440
brought the tire iron up, running it through. She swung262202:50:11.479 --> 02:50:14.520
the spiked end, bug and all toward the back window262302:50:14.959 --> 02:50:19.079
and slashed the plastic. She discarded the weapon, watching the262402:50:19.159 --> 02:50:23.079
flea suckling desperately at its own bodily fluids oozing down262502:50:23.079 --> 02:50:27.040
the metal, Danny struck the flare and wedged it into262602:50:27.040 --> 02:50:30.399
the gas can's handle. She flipped over the back seat262702:50:30.440 --> 02:50:32.559
and released the parking brake. As she moved to the262802:50:32.639 --> 02:50:37.000
driver's seat, she rubbed her arm across the dashboard. The262902:50:37.120 --> 02:50:41.319
roof collapsed and Danny opened the door, letting herself drop263002:50:41.399 --> 02:50:45.239
backwards out of the rolling vehicle. Fleas sprang onto the263102:50:45.280 --> 02:50:48.559
fresh blood trail she'd left for them. The jeep gained263202:50:48.600 --> 02:50:52.479
speed as it descended the driveway. The starving fleas were263302:50:52.520 --> 02:50:55.879
too busy stabbing at the instruments and radio in hopes263402:50:55.920 --> 02:51:00.479
of finding more blood within to notice their predicament. The263502:51:00.559 --> 02:51:04.120
jeep missed the turn and jumped a stump, careening into263602:51:04.120 --> 02:51:08.319
the woods before slamming into a tree. The impact ruptured263702:51:08.319 --> 02:51:11.799
the gas can. The flare ignited the wave of fuel263802:51:11.840 --> 02:51:16.000
as it washed over the vehicle. The fleas became fireballs,263902:51:16.239 --> 02:51:19.760
shooting out of the wreckage. Others were trapped inside the264002:51:19.799 --> 02:51:24.639
mangled jeep, their internal fluids boiled until they exploded from264102:51:24.639 --> 02:51:28.680
the pressure inside their armored bodies. Danny laughed at the264202:51:28.719 --> 02:51:35.239
sound of the parasitic popcorn bursting. She'd survived. She'd won.264302:51:36.360 --> 02:51:40.360
The jeep's gas tank exploded, rumbling the ground beneath her.264402:51:40.920 --> 02:51:43.920
She watched the pillar of fire and smoke rise above264502:51:43.959 --> 02:51:48.479
the tree tops. Danny laid back. She'd find the keys264602:51:48.520 --> 02:51:52.319
to Hawk's truck later. Maybe Rocco and Lila would finally264702:51:52.399 --> 02:51:55.879
show up and she wouldn't have to or maybe the264802:51:55.959 --> 02:52:00.000
fire would attract a game warden. That part could wait264902:52:01.200 --> 02:52:05.000
five minutes before she was sure she was going to die.265002:52:05.079 --> 02:52:08.120
She was safe, and she just wanted to spend some265102:52:08.280 --> 02:52:13.239
time relishing in that. She closed her eyes. Her heart265202:52:13.280 --> 02:52:17.079
rate was starting to slow down when she heard branches265302:52:17.120 --> 02:52:22.120
in the trees above. She opened her eyes slowly, looking265402:52:22.200 --> 02:52:27.719
for the source. A fat squirrel eased out onto a branch,265502:52:28.479 --> 02:52:33.040
looking down curiously at the human. Danny smiled at the265602:52:33.079 --> 02:52:38.040
critter and brought her wounded arm up and waved at it.265702:52:38.040 --> 02:52:44.399
It chittered in response. Hey there, she said, fighting back265802:52:44.399 --> 02:52:49.479
the urge to cry. We made it, little fella. It265902:52:49.559 --> 02:52:55.479
chittered again. A shadow fell across its furry form. Danny266002:52:55.520 --> 02:52:59.159
barely processed it before the flea dropped onto the rodent.266102:52:59.719 --> 02:53:04.840
The stolets punctured the squirrel's neck, effectively decapitating it. The266202:53:04.840 --> 02:53:08.399
flea drank greedily from the stump, and Danny watched in266302:53:08.479 --> 02:53:12.200
horror as the plump body shriveled. The slurping let her266402:53:12.239 --> 02:53:17.000
know the parasite had finished the appetizer. The flea jumped266502:53:17.000 --> 02:53:21.600
from the branch straight for Danny's prone body. Something boomed266602:53:21.879 --> 02:53:26.719
and bits of exoskeleton pelted Danny's body. She rolled over266702:53:26.799 --> 02:53:30.520
and saw Brian limping toward her with one of hawk'skeet266802:53:30.559 --> 02:53:37.479
guns over his shoulder kills on contact, he said, Oh266902:53:37.520 --> 02:53:41.879
my god. Tears welled up in her eyes. You're alive.267002:53:42.920 --> 02:53:46.000
Danny ran to him, throwing her arms around his plump267102:53:46.040 --> 02:53:50.719
waist and burying her face into his chest. He kissed267202:53:50.760 --> 02:53:53.440
the top of her head and forced himself to let267302:53:53.479 --> 02:53:56.559
out a manly chuckle that was harder to believe than267402:53:56.680 --> 02:54:02.639
giant mutated flies. Wheezed him harder, and they both sank267502:54:02.680 --> 02:54:07.399
to the ground. I thought they got you, Danny sniffled,267602:54:08.559 --> 02:54:13.600
almost he whispered. They wouldn't follow Kara because of all267702:54:13.639 --> 02:54:16.920
the bugspray she had on, so I followed her back.267802:54:18.200 --> 02:54:20.280
It was like they couldn't find me in her trail.267902:54:21.239 --> 02:54:24.520
Then I saw them gathering on the roof, so I hid.268002:54:25.600 --> 02:54:31.000
I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, I don't care. I'm just268102:54:31.079 --> 02:54:35.360
glad you made it. Danny squeezed his chubby face between268202:54:35.360 --> 02:54:41.159
her hands, that we made it. Yeah, me too. Brian268302:54:41.280 --> 02:54:46.040
stood and helped her up. I appreciate the romantic fire, honey,268402:54:46.040 --> 02:54:50.079
but I wish you'd blown up someone else's car. The268502:54:50.159 --> 02:54:55.440
ground trembled beneath them again, but there hadn't been another explosion.268602:54:56.479 --> 02:55:00.760
Danny looked around at the rocks dotting the yard, wondering268702:55:01.319 --> 02:55:05.440
which of them might be hidden bugs. Her eyes flicked268802:55:05.440 --> 02:55:10.879
to the trees. Nothing was moving. Her hand moved from268902:55:10.920 --> 02:55:16.040
Brian's side to the double barreled shotgun. She snatched it269002:55:16.079 --> 02:55:19.200
from his hand, passing it behind her back to her269102:55:19.200 --> 02:55:23.719
dominant hand like a majorrette. The ground began to pulse269202:55:24.079 --> 02:55:31.360
and crack. Hey, babe, she said quietly, I think it's269302:55:31.440 --> 02:55:46.079
time we flee. We were hunted by something terrifying in269402:55:46.120 --> 02:55:52.239
the woods by Michael Kelson. His shoulder was broken, the269502:55:52.399 --> 02:55:55.360
arm hanging limply at his side like a loose bag269602:55:55.440 --> 02:55:58.760
of sand. Sweat forced itself out of the pores on269702:55:58.799 --> 02:56:02.319
his face and peeled off the burns on his hands.269802:56:02.959 --> 02:56:06.360
It wasn't a good position to be in under the circumstances,269902:56:06.719 --> 02:56:10.120
and the situation didn't seem likely to improve, but he270002:56:10.200 --> 02:56:13.719
did have one thing working in his favor. He didn't270102:56:13.719 --> 02:56:18.239
care if he survived. Are you all right? I asked,270202:56:18.680 --> 02:56:22.159
cringing at the ludicrousness of the question. He looked up270302:56:22.200 --> 02:56:27.760
at me, his eye swollen nearly shut. Yeah, I'm just peachy,270402:56:28.360 --> 02:56:32.799
he said, sarcasm dripping from every word. Sorry, I just270502:56:32.920 --> 02:56:36.360
don't know what else to say. Isn't much to say,270602:56:36.440 --> 02:56:40.639
is there? Unless you want to talk about no, I said,270702:56:40.920 --> 02:56:43.920
before he could finish the sentence. Let's talk about how270802:56:43.959 --> 02:56:46.920
we're gonna get you down from here. He leaned over,270902:56:47.040 --> 02:56:49.760
wincing as he did, and peeked over the side of271002:56:49.799 --> 02:56:53.879
the cliff. How about you give me a little shove.271102:56:54.360 --> 02:56:58.280
That should do the trick. Very funny. You know I'm271202:56:58.280 --> 02:57:02.079
not gonna do that, he glared at me. Then maybe271302:57:02.120 --> 02:57:05.559
I should give you a shove and make things quicker.271402:57:06.639 --> 02:57:09.959
How about we focus on the positive. You know this271502:57:10.120 --> 02:57:12.879
only ends one way. If you try to save me,271602:57:13.040 --> 02:57:17.079
you get killed in the process, especially with we don't271702:57:17.079 --> 02:57:20.000
know that for sure, okay, I said, packing up the271802:57:20.040 --> 02:57:22.879
supplies we had and trying to form some kind of271902:57:22.959 --> 02:57:27.280
plan to keep us alive long enough to get to safety. Besides,272002:57:28.000 --> 02:57:30.959
we've been best friends since what grade school? If I272102:57:30.959 --> 02:57:33.159
haven't already been tempted to toss you off a cliff,272202:57:33.200 --> 02:57:36.000
I'm not going to start now. I stepped over to272302:57:36.040 --> 02:57:38.920
the edge and glanced down. The wind whipped me in272402:57:38.920 --> 02:57:41.840
the face, sending a chill through me. Even though it272502:57:41.879 --> 02:57:44.399
was spring, there was still enough chill in the air272602:57:44.440 --> 02:57:47.479
to make me shiver. I watched as the sun headed272702:57:47.520 --> 02:57:50.399
toward the horizon. It would be dark before we got272802:57:50.440 --> 02:57:53.639
out if I didn't hurry up. My right knee collapsed272902:57:53.680 --> 02:57:55.239
as he kicked me in the back of the leg.273002:57:55.799 --> 02:57:59.079
I stumbled, my knees, hitting the ground hard, rolling me273102:57:59.159 --> 02:58:02.079
toward the edge. My hand shot out and grabbed the log,273202:58:02.239 --> 02:58:06.520
saving me from a horrible death hundreds of feet below.273302:58:06.559 --> 02:58:09.879
What the hell is wrong with you? I said, lying273402:58:09.920 --> 02:58:13.159
on the ground and breathing hard. I told you this273502:58:13.319 --> 02:58:16.680
only ends one way. Might as well get it over with.273602:58:17.479 --> 02:58:19.959
I stared at him, not believing what I was hearing.273702:58:20.600 --> 02:58:25.200
You're serious, I said, I thought you were just being you.273802:58:26.440 --> 02:58:30.600
Look at me. I'm an excruciating pain. My shoulders a mess,273902:58:30.760 --> 02:58:32.799
I have burns on my hands, and I'm not going274002:58:32.879 --> 02:58:36.120
to be able to climb down. And even if I could,274102:58:36.200 --> 02:58:40.959
there's there's no safety from We have to try, I said,274202:58:41.559 --> 02:58:44.600
I didn't bring you here to die. I wish you274302:58:44.600 --> 02:58:47.639
wouldn't have brought me here at all. There was no274402:58:47.719 --> 02:58:50.799
way to know this was going to happen. He stared274502:58:50.799 --> 02:58:54.280
at me, doubt filled his eyes. I turned away and274602:58:54.319 --> 02:58:57.079
focused on filling my pack with what I hoped was274702:58:57.159 --> 02:59:00.719
the right combination of supplies. I could make the pack274802:59:00.799 --> 02:59:03.479
too heavy because I needed to lower him down and274902:59:03.559 --> 02:59:07.079
possibly carry him too. I tied together all the rope275002:59:07.120 --> 02:59:10.239
we had and double checked the knots. I clipped the275102:59:10.280 --> 02:59:13.360
carabiner to his climbing rig, checking to make sure it275202:59:13.399 --> 02:59:16.959
was still intact and the fire hadn't damaged it. I275302:59:16.959 --> 02:59:22.159
stepped back to admire my handiwork. He was doing the same. Really,275402:59:22.719 --> 02:59:28.920
he said, this is your big plan, sure, I said, smiling,275502:59:29.280 --> 02:59:33.079
proud of myself and my ingenuity. Why not just ring275602:59:33.159 --> 02:59:35.479
the dinner bell for every predator as you dangle me275702:59:35.600 --> 02:59:39.719
like a carrot? You know what, You're right, I said,275802:59:40.319 --> 02:59:43.319
It's not worth all this trouble. I raised my foot275902:59:43.319 --> 02:59:46.120
and shoved his good arm, sending him toppling over the276002:59:46.200 --> 02:59:49.399
edge of the cliff. I heard him scream as he fell.276102:59:50.639 --> 02:59:57.760
Then silence. Thank god, I said, sighing. I was getting276202:59:57.799 --> 03:00:01.360
so tired of listening to his whining. I heard that,276303:00:02.120 --> 03:00:04.959
he said from over the edge. I stepped up and276403:00:05.040 --> 03:00:08.319
peered over. He was dangling there ten feet from the276503:00:08.319 --> 03:00:12.559
top of the ledge. Oh, dang, I thought I killed you,276603:00:13.040 --> 03:00:16.280
I said, chuckling. He looked up and saw me peeking276703:00:16.360 --> 03:00:22.559
over you, bastard, He said, well, isn't that what you wanted?276803:00:22.559 --> 03:00:25.120
For me? To throw you off the cliff? How's that276903:00:25.159 --> 03:00:29.440
working out for you? He glared, daggers at me. Makes277003:00:29.440 --> 03:00:32.120
you appreciate life when you think you're about to die,277103:00:32.200 --> 03:00:37.079
doesn't it. I said, you'll pay for this for saving277203:00:37.120 --> 03:00:41.920
your life. Okay, I'll take full responsibility for that. I277303:00:42.000 --> 03:00:46.399
began the long, arduous process of lowering him down. I277403:00:46.440 --> 03:00:50.520
only hoped I had enough rope. After a while, the277503:00:50.559 --> 03:00:54.239
strain took its toll. I was exhausted and sweaty. My277603:00:54.399 --> 03:00:56.920
hands slipped and I had to quickly recover to keep277703:00:57.000 --> 03:01:00.479
him from smashing into the ground. I managed to slow277803:01:00.520 --> 03:01:03.840
the rope at the cost of my hands getting severe277903:01:03.920 --> 03:01:06.799
rope burn. I tied it off to a tree and278003:01:06.879 --> 03:01:10.440
leaned over to check on him. You okay, I yelled.278103:01:11.079 --> 03:01:14.200
I couldn't see exactly what he was doing. It looked278203:01:14.200 --> 03:01:16.879
like he raised his arm, but I couldn't tell. I278303:01:16.920 --> 03:01:21.200
grabbed my binoculars and peered down, only to see he278403:01:21.360 --> 03:01:25.120
was giving me the finger same to you, I yelled,278503:01:25.959 --> 03:01:27.600
I need to take a breather. Will you be all278603:01:27.680 --> 03:01:31.040
right for a few minutes. His answer was to slump278703:01:31.079 --> 03:01:34.920
his head. I guessed he was taking a nap. I278803:01:35.000 --> 03:01:37.040
sat next to the log and got out a bottle278903:01:37.079 --> 03:01:40.719
of water, taking a long drink. After a few minutes,279003:01:40.959 --> 03:01:43.159
I pulled out my knife and cut some strips off279103:01:43.159 --> 03:01:45.959
the bottom of my shirt, wrapped them around the palms279203:01:45.959 --> 03:01:49.440
of my hands, and tied them off. Why didn't I279303:01:49.479 --> 03:01:52.639
think of that before I started lowering him. I thought279403:01:53.360 --> 03:01:56.159
I was about to start another session of lowering when279503:01:56.200 --> 03:02:02.000
I saw the rope vibrating. That's weird, I thought, What279603:02:02.040 --> 03:02:04.760
are you doing down there? I yelled, stepping to the279703:02:04.879 --> 03:02:09.600
edge and looking down. My spine turned to ice when279803:02:09.639 --> 03:02:18.559
I saw nothing. He wasn't there, Adrian, I yelled. No response, Adrian,279903:02:19.559 --> 03:02:23.239
I yelled again, quickly pushing away thoughts of the rocky movies.280003:02:24.040 --> 03:02:26.760
I pulled the rope and it came up with no resistance.280103:02:27.239 --> 03:02:29.639
I reeled in the entire length and at the end280203:02:30.319 --> 03:02:33.680
there was no sign of Adrian. The rope didn't look280303:02:33.760 --> 03:02:36.040
like it had been cut. It looked like it had280403:02:36.079 --> 03:02:41.399
been torn or chewed. I stared at it for a280503:02:41.440 --> 03:02:45.079
long time. Memories of the horrible events that led up280603:02:45.120 --> 03:02:48.639
to this moment overwhelmed me. I collapsed to the ground280703:02:48.680 --> 03:02:51.760
in fear. My eyes darted around like my head was280803:02:51.799 --> 03:02:56.079
on a swivel. Every tree became a hiding place for280903:02:56.159 --> 03:03:00.760
that thing. I could feel it lurking behind every bush.281003:03:01.399 --> 03:03:05.159
My mind started replaying when the trouble first started. We281103:03:05.239 --> 03:03:06.879
made it up to the top of the cliff and281203:03:06.920 --> 03:03:10.719
celebrated by starting a campfire and making some coffee while281303:03:10.719 --> 03:03:13.639
we set up our tents. Adrian was actually in a281403:03:13.680 --> 03:03:16.399
good mood, if you can imagine, and we stayed up281503:03:16.440 --> 03:03:20.120
by the fire until well after midnight the following morning.281603:03:20.879 --> 03:03:24.799
His mood changed way to keep me up all night, ahole,281703:03:25.280 --> 03:03:28.319
he said, pouring a fresh cup of coffee and looking281803:03:28.440 --> 03:03:31.920
like he needed it. What are you talking about, Don't281903:03:31.959 --> 03:03:35.479
play innocent, he said. You know you were hanging around282003:03:35.479 --> 03:03:39.559
my tent, circling it late last night, growling and pawing282103:03:39.600 --> 03:03:42.680
at the ground, trying to scare me. My eyes went282203:03:42.760 --> 03:03:46.239
wide as he talked, I swear I was in my282303:03:46.319 --> 03:03:49.040
tent the whole time. I fell asleep as soon as282403:03:49.040 --> 03:03:52.239
my head hit the pillow. Then what was making all282503:03:52.280 --> 03:03:56.120
that racket? He said, with doubt creeping into his eyes.282603:03:57.680 --> 03:04:01.399
Maybe I was snoring and you heard that. Trust me,282703:04:02.079 --> 03:04:06.159
this wasn't a snore. Well, if it wasn't me. Then282803:04:06.760 --> 03:04:10.639
I narrowed my eyes at him. Wait a minute, I282903:04:10.680 --> 03:04:13.879
know what you're doing. What am I doing? He said,283003:04:14.120 --> 03:04:17.200
looking at his coffee cup. You're trying to scare me283103:04:17.280 --> 03:04:21.799
with some campfire ghost story, hoping i'll wig out. I'm283203:04:21.840 --> 03:04:27.719
telling you it's not some campfire story. It really happened. Yeah, okay,283303:04:28.200 --> 03:04:30.760
I said, making it clear that I didn't believe a283403:04:30.799 --> 03:04:36.799
single word. I mean it, he said, starting to get angry. Okay, okay,283503:04:37.079 --> 03:04:41.280
I said, don't get your panties in a bunch. You better,283603:04:41.879 --> 03:04:45.719
he started saying, and then stopped. His eyes were focused283703:04:45.719 --> 03:04:49.920
on something behind me. I'm not falling for that, I said,283803:04:50.200 --> 03:04:54.559
refusing to look until I heard a branch snap behind me.283903:04:55.280 --> 03:05:03.319
I turned around and saw. I shook my head to284003:05:03.360 --> 03:05:06.079
clear the memory. I don't want to think about that284103:05:06.200 --> 03:05:09.799
right now, I told myself. I need to focus on284203:05:10.000 --> 03:05:13.440
finding out what happened to Adrian. I stood and checked284303:05:13.440 --> 03:05:16.559
my supplies, then double checked to be sure the rope284403:05:16.840 --> 03:05:20.840
was securely tied to the tree, I avoided looking around284503:05:20.879 --> 03:05:24.360
for fear of what might be lurking. Then, once everything284603:05:24.440 --> 03:05:27.040
was set, I stared down at the deadly ground that284703:05:27.079 --> 03:05:30.319
waited for me to make a mistake, muttered a quick prayer,284803:05:30.879 --> 03:05:35.879
then jumped off the cliff. Repelling down was more difficult.284903:05:35.879 --> 03:05:38.719
With a pack on my back and rags wrapped around285003:05:38.719 --> 03:05:42.959
my already rope burned hands, I took it slow, working285103:05:43.000 --> 03:05:46.000
my way down the same way Adrian had gone. I285203:05:46.040 --> 03:05:50.520
also went slow for fear of finding what I didn't285303:05:50.559 --> 03:05:53.920
want to find. I knew it was possible, so I285403:05:53.959 --> 03:05:56.920
made sure to be as quiet as I could. The285503:05:57.000 --> 03:05:59.040
rock face was rough, and I did my best not285603:05:59.159 --> 03:06:02.120
to knock loose any pebbles or do anything that would285703:06:02.120 --> 03:06:06.079
announce my presence. In a best case scenario, his rope285803:06:06.079 --> 03:06:09.239
got frayed on the rocks and broke. I hoped I285903:06:09.280 --> 03:06:14.280
would find him laying on an outcropping nearby, unconscious but alive.286003:06:15.239 --> 03:06:18.399
As I descended, I noticed an opening in the rock wall.286103:06:18.959 --> 03:06:21.719
My rope was in a straight line with it. I286203:06:21.719 --> 03:06:26.000
imagined Adrian's rope was too. I stopped and swung myself286303:06:26.040 --> 03:06:28.600
over to the rock face, grabbing a bigger rock and286403:06:28.639 --> 03:06:31.680
pulling myself to it. I pulled my rope up and286503:06:31.760 --> 03:06:34.600
stashed it, then climbed down the side of the opening.286603:06:35.280 --> 03:06:37.200
There was a small ledge in front of it that286703:06:37.280 --> 03:06:41.520
I landed on and peered inside. It was dark as pitch.286803:06:42.319 --> 03:06:45.079
Even though the sun had just set. It seemed like286903:06:45.200 --> 03:06:49.120
daylight couldn't penetrate the darkness. I pulled out my flashlight287003:06:49.360 --> 03:06:52.799
and slowly explored the opening with it. It turned out287103:06:52.799 --> 03:06:56.680
to be a large cave. I stepped inside, and walking upright,287203:06:56.760 --> 03:07:00.239
my head easily cleared the ceiling by a good three feet.287303:07:00.799 --> 03:07:04.120
Curiosity overtook me as I shined the light around this287403:07:04.399 --> 03:07:08.399
newfound hall of mysteries. There were no markings on the walls,287503:07:08.440 --> 03:07:10.600
and the floor was rough, like the cave had formed287603:07:10.680 --> 03:07:14.639
naturally instead of by someone making it. But then again,287703:07:15.639 --> 03:07:18.239
why would someone make a cave halfway up a cliff287803:07:18.239 --> 03:07:22.879
face where it's nearly impossible to get to? I wasn't287903:07:22.920 --> 03:07:26.319
sure I really wanted to know the answer. As I288003:07:26.399 --> 03:07:30.600
continued inside, the air became cooler. I hugged myself and288103:07:30.639 --> 03:07:33.879
fought off a chill. This cave was much bigger than288203:07:33.920 --> 03:07:37.399
I had originally thought. I walked a short distance before288303:07:37.440 --> 03:07:42.040
I noticed the smell. Actually, it was two smells that288403:07:42.159 --> 03:07:46.000
intertwined with each other. The first was the smell of fire,288503:07:46.799 --> 03:07:49.600
not like a rushing wildfire coming to burn me to288603:07:49.639 --> 03:07:55.479
a crisp more like a campfire. The second smell was288703:07:55.559 --> 03:08:01.680
less encouraging. It was the smell of decay. Some animal288803:08:01.719 --> 03:08:04.280
had died in here, There was no doubt about it.288903:08:04.799 --> 03:08:08.159
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if perhaps I had289003:08:08.159 --> 03:08:12.879
explored far enough. My wondering ceased when I remembered why289103:08:12.920 --> 03:08:16.840
I was here in the first place. Adrian was still missing.289203:08:17.360 --> 03:08:19.520
If he had come down here, it didn't seem like289303:08:19.559 --> 03:08:22.840
he was coerced, At least. I didn't see any sign289403:08:22.920 --> 03:08:25.959
of drag marks on the ground or a struggle, but289503:08:26.000 --> 03:08:28.559
then again, it was hard to tell on the rough289603:08:28.680 --> 03:08:33.040
rock floor. I suddenly stopped, unsure of what to do.289703:08:33.840 --> 03:08:37.399
The passageway split in two. I shone my light at289803:08:37.440 --> 03:08:40.719
the right one and then the left. Neither seemed to289903:08:40.760 --> 03:08:43.840
show any clue of which was the correct path. I290003:08:43.920 --> 03:08:46.879
stared at each for a long moment, then mentally flipped290103:08:46.879 --> 03:08:50.360
a coin and went right. As soon as I took290203:08:50.360 --> 03:08:53.520
a few steps, I could feel a strong wind blowing290303:08:53.559 --> 03:08:57.079
in my face, carrying the smells of fire and rot290403:08:57.120 --> 03:09:00.399
with it. I nearly backed up and took the other path,290503:09:00.760 --> 03:09:03.600
but this was where I was most likely to find Adrian,290603:09:04.200 --> 03:09:08.360
at least I hoped I would. As I walked, I290703:09:08.479 --> 03:09:12.319
noticed a slight glow ahead. I turned off my flashlight290803:09:12.399 --> 03:09:16.159
and followed the ever increasing light. When I turned the corner,290903:09:16.799 --> 03:09:19.399
I saw Adrian lying on the ground in front of291003:09:19.399 --> 03:09:23.840
the fire. He didn't seem to be injured, well, at291103:09:23.920 --> 03:09:27.399
least not any more than he already was. I didn't291203:09:27.399 --> 03:09:30.639
see any blood near him. I did, however, see a291303:09:30.680 --> 03:09:35.360
pile of bones tossed in the corner behind him. It291403:09:35.479 --> 03:09:38.520
disturbed me to see the pile and think about my291503:09:38.639 --> 03:09:42.600
friend's bones eventually laying there. I took a step forward291603:09:42.639 --> 03:09:46.159
to go check on him, then suddenly stopped. The huge291703:09:46.239 --> 03:09:50.280
rock that had been sitting by the fire suddenly moved.291803:09:51.040 --> 03:09:53.600
I recognized it right away from the size and the291903:09:53.639 --> 03:09:57.799
color of the hair that covered it. I stepped back292003:09:57.840 --> 03:10:00.799
out of view and began shaking. I knew I only292103:10:00.840 --> 03:10:05.239
had two options, kill this thing or hide from it.292203:10:06.520 --> 03:10:08.840
There was nothing in my bag that would kill it.292303:10:09.639 --> 03:10:11.760
I didn't have a gun with me, and I doubted292403:10:11.760 --> 03:10:14.680
a pocket knife would do the trick. I had to292503:10:14.719 --> 03:10:19.239
find somewhere to hide until it left. My mind ran292603:10:19.319 --> 03:10:22.959
in circles trying to think of a hiding place. When292703:10:22.959 --> 03:10:26.000
it dawned on me, I turned and went back to292803:10:26.079 --> 03:10:29.799
the other passageway as quietly as I could. Once there,292903:10:29.840 --> 03:10:32.879
I stepped inside, thinking it would be a long cavern293003:10:33.319 --> 03:10:39.040
like its counterpart. However, it was almost immediately blocked. I293103:10:39.120 --> 03:10:41.920
shone my flashlight on the blockage and was horrified to293203:10:42.000 --> 03:10:47.239
find it was piled up with clothes, shirts, pants, shoes,293303:10:47.719 --> 03:10:51.799
and even the occasional backpack. It was all piled nearly293403:10:51.840 --> 03:10:55.319
to the ceiling of the cave, and more disturbingly, each293503:10:55.479 --> 03:10:59.680
article had blood on it. There didn't seem to be293603:10:59.719 --> 03:11:03.479
any that escaped damage either. Most were ripped or chewed,293703:11:03.520 --> 03:11:08.719
probably like their unfortunate owners. I remember hearing about hikers293803:11:08.760 --> 03:11:11.719
going missing in this very park, but I thought it293903:11:11.760 --> 03:11:14.399
was just the normal stuff. Like in any other park,294003:11:14.959 --> 03:11:19.959
people get lost or fall into some hidden crevasse or ravine.294103:11:20.200 --> 03:11:23.440
I guess not. My mind screamed for me to get294203:11:23.440 --> 03:11:26.719
out of there fast, but I needed to know Adrian294303:11:26.879 --> 03:11:31.040
was okay and somehow try to rescue him, although at294403:11:31.040 --> 03:11:35.760
the moment that seemed impossible. The longer I stared at294503:11:35.840 --> 03:11:38.840
the clothes of these poor, helpless victims, the more it294603:11:38.959 --> 03:11:42.719
formed into an idea. I grabbed some of the clothes294703:11:42.920 --> 03:11:45.920
and pushed them aside, digging my way toward the bottom294803:11:45.920 --> 03:11:50.000
of the seemingly endless pile. I wondered how many missing294903:11:50.079 --> 03:11:54.479
people it took before a major investigation started. I reached295003:11:54.520 --> 03:11:58.280
the bottom and took my pack off, setting it beside me.295103:11:58.920 --> 03:12:02.040
Then I pulled clothes down on top of me, leaving295203:12:02.120 --> 03:12:06.040
a small space for me to peek through. There was295303:12:06.159 --> 03:12:08.360
just a hint of light coming from the mouth of295403:12:08.399 --> 03:12:12.879
the cave, but it was rapidly dwindling. I slowly unzipped295503:12:12.920 --> 03:12:15.159
all the zippers on my pack so I had easy295603:12:15.239 --> 03:12:19.200
access without making a sound. When I needed something, I295703:12:19.280 --> 03:12:22.319
settled in and tried to make a comfortable seat out295803:12:22.319 --> 03:12:26.239
of the clothes. My conscience was not happy using the295903:12:26.239 --> 03:12:31.319
clothes of murder victims for comfort, but I saw no alternative.296003:12:31.799 --> 03:12:34.520
If I ran, that thing would hunt me down. It296103:12:34.680 --> 03:12:38.559
already found us once. I must have been more tired296203:12:38.600 --> 03:12:43.159
than I thought. Once I settled in, I fell asleep296303:12:43.239 --> 03:12:53.000
almost immediately. I turned and it was there. I wasn't296403:12:53.040 --> 03:12:56.200
even sure what it was. It was dark and hairy.296503:12:57.159 --> 03:12:59.680
It stood on its back legs, but hunched over as296603:12:59.719 --> 03:13:06.719
if readying for an attack. I was petrified, Adrian, I said,296703:13:08.120 --> 03:13:13.959
what he hissed? Is that what you heard? Yeah, I'm296803:13:14.000 --> 03:13:18.000
thinking so, he said, quietly, barely moving his mouth, as296903:13:18.040 --> 03:13:22.399
if the monster wouldn't attack if you didn't speak. What297003:13:22.399 --> 03:13:26.000
do we do? I said, through clenched teeth. How the297103:13:26.079 --> 03:13:30.000
hell should I know? It was circling us and moving closer.297203:13:30.040 --> 03:13:33.280
At the same time, its sharp teeth dripped with drool.297303:13:34.760 --> 03:13:39.799
Did you bring a gun? I said, no, did you?297403:13:40.840 --> 03:13:44.079
I slowly shook my head. It stopped and looked at297503:13:44.079 --> 03:13:47.879
me as though it understood the whole conversation. It stopped297603:13:47.959 --> 03:13:51.239
lurching and stood to its full height. It must have297703:13:51.360 --> 03:13:54.559
been at least eight feet tall. It lunged at me297803:13:54.639 --> 03:13:57.840
with incredible speed. I screamed and tried to run, but297903:13:57.920 --> 03:13:59.799
my foot got caught on the log and I fell298003:13:59.799 --> 03:14:03.520
over backwards, knocking the wind out of me. In the end,298103:14:04.000 --> 03:14:07.200
that was a good thing. The monster lunged at my torso,298203:14:07.959 --> 03:14:10.239
but since I fell, my torso was laying on the298303:14:10.239 --> 03:14:13.120
ground with the rest of me. It flew through the air,298403:14:13.239 --> 03:14:16.520
sailing right over me. I looked over at Adrian and298503:14:16.559 --> 03:14:20.000
saw his pocket knife in his hand. The monster saw298603:14:20.040 --> 03:14:23.319
it too. It narrowed its eyes at him and snapped298703:14:23.319 --> 03:14:26.440
its jaws. I was surprised by how much its head298803:14:26.440 --> 03:14:29.799
and snout reminded me of a dog. This was my298903:14:29.920 --> 03:14:33.719
thought as I lay there on my back, helpless, unable299003:14:33.760 --> 03:14:37.440
to breathe, I watched as it lunged at Adrian. I299103:14:37.479 --> 03:14:40.040
saw him plunge the knife into its chest, and it299203:14:40.120 --> 03:14:44.479
howled in pain. It never slowed even as he stabbed it.299303:14:44.479 --> 03:14:47.440
It merely twisted in the air as it grabbed his arms,299403:14:47.760 --> 03:14:51.840
pinning them to his side. I heard the crunch as299503:14:51.879 --> 03:14:56.000
they both landed together on top of Adrian's shoulder. He299603:14:56.200 --> 03:14:59.239
screamed as they continued to roll right into the fire.299703:15:00.319 --> 03:15:02.959
Adrian tried to push his way out of the flames,299803:15:03.079 --> 03:15:06.120
severely burning his hand, by grabbing a piece of wood299903:15:06.159 --> 03:15:09.440
and swinging it in a huge arc, smashing into the300003:15:09.479 --> 03:15:13.799
face of the monster. It whimpered and growled, then disappeared300103:15:13.840 --> 03:15:17.479
as quickly and silently as it came. It took me300203:15:17.520 --> 03:15:20.520
a while to be able to move. When I could.300303:15:20.600 --> 03:15:24.200
I crawled over to Adrian, who was laying still beside300403:15:24.239 --> 03:15:28.239
the fire. Are you okay, I said, rolling him on300503:15:28.319 --> 03:15:32.799
his back. He screamed in pain as I rolled him300603:15:32.799 --> 03:15:37.879
onto his injured shoulder. Sorry, I said, get away from me,300703:15:38.639 --> 03:15:40.920
he said, as I helped him to a sitting position300803:15:41.520 --> 03:15:44.920
and looked at his burned hand. Are you all right?300903:15:45.239 --> 03:15:53.920
I said, yeah, I'm just peachy. I woke with a start,301003:15:53.959 --> 03:15:57.799
but didn't know why. I reached for my flashlight and301103:15:57.920 --> 03:15:59.559
was about to turn it on when I heard the301203:15:59.600 --> 03:16:05.559
sound of sniffing. I froze. Every ounce of concentration was301303:16:05.600 --> 03:16:09.920
on being as still as possible. The sniffing got louder.301403:16:10.319 --> 03:16:12.760
I didn't dare even open my eyes for fear it301503:16:12.760 --> 03:16:16.280
would somehow see them and that would be it. I301603:16:16.319 --> 03:16:19.920
could feel its presence getting closer. I fought back the301703:16:19.959 --> 03:16:22.600
panic that would make me do something stupid like try301803:16:22.639 --> 03:16:25.840
to run. I just closed my eyes and thought about301903:16:25.840 --> 03:16:29.040
the last sunrise I had seen, hoping it wouldn't be302003:16:29.040 --> 03:16:32.840
the last one I would ever see. I felt the302103:16:32.879 --> 03:16:35.520
snout touch the layer of clothes right in front of me,302203:16:36.120 --> 03:16:38.840
and then it paused, as if it was deciding if302303:16:38.879 --> 03:16:41.559
it wanted to eat me now, or save me for302403:16:41.600 --> 03:16:46.319
a snack later on. The monster withdrew so silently I302503:16:46.360 --> 03:16:49.799
barely knew it was gone. I waited for it to return.302603:16:50.319 --> 03:16:52.079
I knew it was waiting for me to make a302703:16:52.159 --> 03:16:55.200
move so it could catch me, but I didn't. I302803:16:55.280 --> 03:16:58.840
sat still as a statue for what seemed like hours.302903:16:59.319 --> 03:17:02.319
Finally I couldn't take it anymore. I had to move.303003:17:02.360 --> 03:17:05.360
I had to stretch. I stood and stretched my arms303103:17:05.360 --> 03:17:08.879
and legs, still quiet. When I sat back down and303203:17:08.959 --> 03:17:11.959
made sure I was covered by clothes, I risked a303303:17:12.000 --> 03:17:14.040
little bit of light through my hand to get a303403:17:14.040 --> 03:17:18.079
bite to eat. Opening a granola bar without making noise303503:17:18.120 --> 03:17:21.799
as a tedious job at best. It took me a303603:17:21.840 --> 03:17:26.559
half hour, and after I ate, my only reward was thirst.303703:17:27.639 --> 03:17:30.319
I sipped on my bottle of water, avoiding the temptation303803:17:30.479 --> 03:17:33.200
to gulp it down. I didn't know when I would303903:17:33.239 --> 03:17:37.159
be able to fill it. I checked my watch. It304003:17:37.239 --> 03:17:40.280
was one in the morning, at the same time Adrian304103:17:40.319 --> 03:17:42.799
had heard the growling. I took a chance that this304203:17:42.959 --> 03:17:45.719
thing would be out hunting at night. I pushed my304303:17:45.799 --> 03:17:48.559
layer of clothes off me, grabbed my flashlight, and went304403:17:48.600 --> 03:17:51.920
to check on Adrian. I stepped carefully and kept my304503:17:52.000 --> 03:17:55.799
light pointed at the ground, just in case. My eyes304603:17:55.840 --> 03:17:59.399
strained to hear any sounds. Of course, there were the304703:17:59.479 --> 03:18:02.639
echoes of my own footsteps, making me whip around, thinking304803:18:02.680 --> 03:18:06.479
the monster was right behind me. I made it to304903:18:06.520 --> 03:18:09.719
the main cave without having a full panic attack. The305003:18:09.719 --> 03:18:12.520
fire had burned low, and a dull orange glow lit305103:18:12.559 --> 03:18:16.120
the walls. I found Adrian lying in the same spot305203:18:16.520 --> 03:18:22.079
as before. He didn't seem to be moving. I leaned305303:18:22.120 --> 03:18:26.280
down and listened for breathing. I could hear a faint305403:18:26.360 --> 03:18:31.520
breath Adrian, I whispered, shaking him. Come on, man, we305503:18:31.600 --> 03:18:36.600
gotta go. He moved a little, Adrian, I said, looking305603:18:36.639 --> 03:18:39.760
to be sure it wasn't sneaking up on me. Adrian,305703:18:39.840 --> 03:18:43.879
come on. He opened his eyes just a slit, and305803:18:43.959 --> 03:18:46.319
put his hand up to shade his eyes from the light.305903:18:47.680 --> 03:18:51.360
He's still with me, buddy, I said. He tried to speak,306003:18:51.479 --> 03:18:56.239
but nothing came out. Here. Drink a little water. I306103:18:56.319 --> 03:19:00.879
gave him a few SIPs and he perked up a little. Why,306203:19:01.719 --> 03:19:08.719
he rasped, Why what, buddy, Why are you here? I306303:19:08.760 --> 03:19:09.799
came to rescue you.306403:19:11.360 --> 03:19:11.879
Leave me.306503:19:13.319 --> 03:19:16.520
I'm not going to do that. In the distance, I306603:19:16.600 --> 03:19:20.000
heard a howl. It chilled me to the bone. I306703:19:20.120 --> 03:19:23.079
wondered how far away it was and if it was306803:19:23.159 --> 03:19:29.360
celebrating another victim. Okay, listen, I'm gonna go, but i'll306903:19:29.399 --> 03:19:31.079
be back when i'm sure it's out of the cave.307003:19:31.840 --> 03:19:36.159
I gave him another drink. You hang on, Okay. He307103:19:36.280 --> 03:19:39.799
closed his eyes and laid back his head. I stared307203:19:39.799 --> 03:19:42.360
at him for a moment, then jumped up and ran307303:19:42.399 --> 03:19:45.040
out of the cave. I turned at the fork and307403:19:45.120 --> 03:19:48.200
buried myself back under the clothes, turning off the light307503:19:48.239 --> 03:19:51.840
as soon as I was set. It wasn't five minutes307603:19:51.920 --> 03:19:56.159
later I heard something lumber by in the cave. I307703:19:56.200 --> 03:19:59.000
had cut it too close. I needed to make mental307803:19:59.079 --> 03:20:01.840
notes of when it went out out. I stole a307903:20:01.879 --> 03:20:04.959
glance at my watch. It was one thirty seven in308003:20:05.000 --> 03:20:09.239
the morning. I drank the last swallow of water and308103:20:09.319 --> 03:20:16.760
lay down in my nest of clothes. I woke up308203:20:16.840 --> 03:20:21.239
some time later. The cave was dimly lit. I could308303:20:21.239 --> 03:20:24.040
see a bright light coming from the opening, but it308403:20:24.079 --> 03:20:26.799
didn't penetrate all the way to my nest. I could308503:20:26.840 --> 03:20:30.040
see the walls near the opening, but not much else.308603:20:30.879 --> 03:20:34.120
As I watched a massive shadow block my view. It308703:20:34.239 --> 03:20:37.680
was standing right in front of me. I became still308803:20:37.719 --> 03:20:42.799
as a stone. What was it doing? Didn't know I308903:20:42.920 --> 03:20:47.680
was there? Was it toying with me? Sweat poured off309003:20:47.719 --> 03:20:51.239
my brow. I knew I was about to die. I309103:20:51.319 --> 03:20:54.239
gripped my flashlight tight, knowing that it wouldn't do much309203:20:54.280 --> 03:20:56.840
to the monster, but at least i'd go down fighting.309303:20:58.360 --> 03:21:02.280
Something fell on top of me. It wasn't very heavy,309403:21:02.319 --> 03:21:05.239
so I knew it wasn't the monster. I waited for309503:21:05.319 --> 03:21:08.600
a long moment until I heard it walk away before309603:21:08.639 --> 03:21:11.799
I used the flashlight to see what was on top309703:21:11.840 --> 03:21:14.719
of me. I shone the light on the pile and309803:21:14.879 --> 03:21:21.440
found new clothes. There was a shirt, shorts, underwear, and309903:21:21.479 --> 03:21:25.799
a bra. I knew it was from the monster's latest victim.310003:21:26.760 --> 03:21:29.520
My heart went out to that poor woman. I wished310103:21:29.559 --> 03:21:32.159
there was something I could do to help her, but310203:21:32.319 --> 03:21:37.360
there wasn't. I was barely surviving myself. My water was gone.310303:21:37.639 --> 03:21:40.719
I had three granola bars left, and that was the310403:21:40.799 --> 03:21:43.959
last of my food. I had to do something before310503:21:44.000 --> 03:21:48.079
I didn't have the energy to escape. This was my chance.310603:21:48.840 --> 03:21:51.920
Usually the monster kept to a schedule. I assumed governed310703:21:51.920 --> 03:21:54.799
by hunger and thirst. I knew it wouldn't go out310803:21:54.799 --> 03:21:58.239
again for hours. I could leave. I could sneak out310903:21:58.239 --> 03:22:02.120
and be gone without it knowing I was here. But311003:22:02.200 --> 03:22:07.200
I couldn't. I had to rescue Adrian. But why, my311103:22:07.319 --> 03:22:13.000
mind said, because he's my friend? I thought, would he311203:22:13.159 --> 03:22:17.159
leave you behind? Of course not. He'd be doing exactly311303:22:17.200 --> 03:22:21.079
what I'm doing now. Really, that's why he tried to311403:22:21.079 --> 03:22:24.520
trip you and throw you off the cliff. That wasn't real.311503:22:25.000 --> 03:22:28.520
He was just joking around. He didn't seem like he311603:22:28.600 --> 03:22:34.000
was joking. He seemed like he wanted to die and311703:22:34.079 --> 03:22:38.520
to take you with him. He was just upset. How311803:22:38.600 --> 03:22:40.760
upset do you think he'd be waiting here in this311903:22:40.879 --> 03:22:46.200
cave to rescue you? Very He'd probably be wigging out.312003:22:46.319 --> 03:22:49.680
He never was much for small spaces. Do you think312103:22:49.719 --> 03:22:52.760
he would have left you by now? Maybe? But the312203:22:52.799 --> 03:22:58.280
important thing is I'm not him. You could leave right now. No,312303:22:59.159 --> 03:23:01.280
who cares if you save your friend and die in312403:23:01.319 --> 03:23:05.360
the process. I do. Do you really think that thing312503:23:05.479 --> 03:23:09.959
doesn't know you're here? What that thing is playing you?312603:23:10.360 --> 03:23:14.200
It's stalking you, waiting for you to make a mistake. No,312703:23:14.719 --> 03:23:19.000
I've outsmarted it. I've learned its routine. Keep thinking that312803:23:19.559 --> 03:23:22.200
maybe you can outsmart its teeth as it's chewing you312903:23:22.280 --> 03:23:27.719
to pieces. I'm not leaving yet. End of conversation. I313003:23:27.799 --> 03:23:30.840
waited for a response that never came. Even though I313103:23:30.879 --> 03:23:34.559
had decided to wait, there were things that still bothered me.313203:23:35.639 --> 03:23:38.440
Was it toying with me? Did it really not know313303:23:38.559 --> 03:23:42.159
I was here? Why hadn't it killed Adrian yet? Was313403:23:42.200 --> 03:23:45.920
it leaving him alive to bait me in. The more313503:23:45.959 --> 03:23:48.239
I thought about such things, the more I felt panic313603:23:48.360 --> 03:23:52.120
rising inside me. I pushed the clothes aside, and the313703:23:52.200 --> 03:23:56.319
dull glow shone from the mouth of the cave. It313803:23:56.440 --> 03:23:59.639
called to me. It told me the coast was clear,313903:24:00.200 --> 03:24:04.840
that I needed to go right now. I felt my314003:24:04.959 --> 03:24:07.920
muscles tighten, getting ready to rise and run out of314103:24:07.959 --> 03:24:11.799
the cave. I pushed the clothes over more, clearing a path.314203:24:12.280 --> 03:24:17.479
When suddenly I heard something. I quickly and quietly buried314303:24:17.479 --> 03:24:20.639
myself under the clothes. I had barely stopped moving when314403:24:20.680 --> 03:24:24.399
I heard the monster lumber through. It paused in front314503:24:24.440 --> 03:24:27.920
of the clothes, sniffing the air, then turned back toward314603:24:27.959 --> 03:24:32.799
the mouth of the cave and disappeared. I waited for314703:24:32.879 --> 03:24:36.520
a full minute before I breathed a sigh of relief.314803:24:36.600 --> 03:24:39.959
My own ingenuity had nearly gotten me killed. I was314903:24:40.040 --> 03:24:42.879
sure that thing wouldn't be going back outside for hours,315003:24:42.920 --> 03:24:46.159
and yet it had left within minutes. I began to315103:24:46.239 --> 03:24:49.799
doubt myself and my own intelligence for taking such a risk.315203:24:51.239 --> 03:24:54.200
It was time to leave. I dug out from under315303:24:54.200 --> 03:24:56.680
the clothes and started for the mouth of the cave.315403:24:57.280 --> 03:25:01.319
Then I stopped and turned back. I had to try315503:25:01.399 --> 03:25:06.079
one more time to get Adrian out. I went deeper315603:25:06.120 --> 03:25:09.079
into the cave to the main room with the fire pit.315703:25:10.040 --> 03:25:13.360
There was a freshly made fire, which told me I315803:25:13.399 --> 03:25:17.680
didn't have much time. Adrian was still lying there beside315903:25:17.719 --> 03:25:21.399
the fire. I went to him and leaned down. Time316003:25:21.399 --> 03:25:25.040
to go, buddy, I whispered. He didn't answer me back.316103:25:26.319 --> 03:25:28.520
I know it's going to be tough, but you need316203:25:28.600 --> 03:25:31.920
to try. I grabbed his shoulders and gently shook him.316303:25:32.479 --> 03:25:36.799
Come on, man, you gotta wake up. His eyes didn't open.316403:25:37.719 --> 03:25:41.840
Something about his shoulders felt wrong. Aside from the fact316503:25:41.879 --> 03:25:44.719
that one of them was either dislocated or broken and316603:25:44.799 --> 03:25:49.680
should have caused him excruciating pain, he didn't twitch. The316703:25:49.760 --> 03:25:54.639
other thing was the shoulders felt cold. Not just a316803:25:54.680 --> 03:26:00.559
little chilly, they were stone cold. Adrian. I pressed my316903:26:00.639 --> 03:26:04.760
fingers against his neck and felt for a pulse. There317003:26:04.840 --> 03:26:08.719
was nothing. His neck felt cold as well. I pushed him,317103:26:08.719 --> 03:26:12.239
and his body clumsily rolled over onto his back. I317203:26:12.319 --> 03:26:16.120
tried to move his arms and legs, but couldn't rigor317303:26:16.200 --> 03:26:22.639
mortis had already set in. I stared in disbelief. My317403:26:22.799 --> 03:26:33.840
friend was gone. Not only was my friend gone, but317503:26:33.920 --> 03:26:36.920
I had wasted all this time trying to rescue him.317603:26:38.079 --> 03:26:41.920
Maybe I had killed myself in the process. I wiped317703:26:41.959 --> 03:26:45.159
the tears from my cheeks and pulled Adrian's body back317803:26:45.200 --> 03:26:48.479
into the same position. My only chance was for this317903:26:48.760 --> 03:26:52.719
horrible monster not to know I was here. I stood318003:26:52.760 --> 03:26:55.239
next to the fire, letting the smoke wash over me,318103:26:55.319 --> 03:26:58.319
in the hope that it might somehow cover my scent.318203:26:59.440 --> 03:27:02.040
After a couple of minutes, I looked back over at318303:27:02.079 --> 03:27:07.440
my friend, said a silent goodbye, and walked back out318403:27:07.440 --> 03:27:10.920
of the cave. I stopped at my hiding place and318503:27:11.000 --> 03:27:14.479
climbed inside, hoping this would be the last time I318603:27:14.559 --> 03:27:18.879
waited for death to pass by. I settled in and318703:27:18.920 --> 03:27:22.319
took a nap to prepare for my escape. A short318803:27:22.319 --> 03:27:25.879
while later, I woke up hearing the monster passed by.318903:27:27.360 --> 03:27:30.959
I waited. When I thought it was time, I slowly319003:27:31.040 --> 03:27:35.959
and silently packed my backpack, then stood to leave. As319103:27:36.000 --> 03:27:39.360
strange as it sounds, I knew I would miss this place.319203:27:39.879 --> 03:27:42.159
It had been a refuge of safety for the last319303:27:42.239 --> 03:27:45.799
two days, even though it was also a constant reminder319403:27:46.600 --> 03:27:50.000
of death. I stood at the edge of the pile319503:27:50.079 --> 03:27:53.639
and tried to rearrange them so that nothing looked amiss.319603:27:54.159 --> 03:27:57.120
Then I turned toward the mouth of the cave and319703:27:57.280 --> 03:28:01.120
started making my way out. It was late afternoon and319803:28:01.200 --> 03:28:04.840
the sun shone brightly in my face, blinding me. I319903:28:04.879 --> 03:28:07.680
hadn't realized how bright the sun was until I was320003:28:07.719 --> 03:28:11.479
without it for a couple of days. As I stood320103:28:11.479 --> 03:28:14.479
at the mouth of the cave, my first problem presented itself.320203:28:15.239 --> 03:28:17.319
I looked over the edge and it was a good320303:28:17.440 --> 03:28:21.879
fifty to eighty feet to the ground. That would be320403:28:21.959 --> 03:28:26.120
why people left the cave alone. They couldn't get to it.320503:28:26.959 --> 03:28:30.079
I searched the surroundings looking for a solution, when one320603:28:30.120 --> 03:28:34.319
presented itself. There were vines hanging from the trees that320703:28:34.440 --> 03:28:38.040
looked like they might support me. The problem was they320803:28:38.079 --> 03:28:41.159
weren't in reach. My arm would need to be a320903:28:41.200 --> 03:28:46.120
foot or so longer. They sat so tantalizingly close that321003:28:46.639 --> 03:28:50.000
I had to try leaning out to grab one. That321103:28:50.159 --> 03:28:52.719
ended when I nearly stumbled off the ledge and fell321203:28:52.760 --> 03:28:56.840
to my death. I searched for any other way, but321303:28:56.959 --> 03:28:59.600
there was none. I just had to go for it.321403:29:00.479 --> 03:29:03.639
I backed up a few steps, then took a deep,321503:29:04.079 --> 03:29:08.680
cleansing breath, and ran. I jumped at the last minute321603:29:08.680 --> 03:29:11.840
and grabbed for the vines. My hands wrapped around them,321703:29:11.840 --> 03:29:14.200
but I was already falling, and I had to wrap321803:29:14.239 --> 03:29:16.799
my legs around them too and squeeze for all I321903:29:16.879 --> 03:29:20.120
was worth to slow my descent. My hands and legs322003:29:20.120 --> 03:29:24.079
were burning as they slowed me, but I didn't dare scream.322103:29:24.920 --> 03:29:28.520
The cave was still too close. Even sliding down the322203:29:28.600 --> 03:29:32.680
vines may have been too loud. My hands were failing.322303:29:33.079 --> 03:29:35.120
I didn't know how much longer I could hang on322403:29:35.559 --> 03:29:39.479
My fingers let go one by one, and I fell.322503:29:40.440 --> 03:29:44.879
I landed on my back, and the backpack cushioned my fall. Fortunately,322603:29:45.479 --> 03:29:47.959
I had only been around ten feet from the ground322703:29:47.959 --> 03:29:50.840
when I did. It still knocked the wind out of322803:29:50.879 --> 03:29:53.559
me and left me laying there helpless as I looked322903:29:53.600 --> 03:29:56.680
back up at the cave opening, only I could no323003:29:56.760 --> 03:30:00.360
longer see it. It must have been invisible from ground level.323103:30:01.239 --> 03:30:03.680
Once I could breathe again, I focused on getting out323203:30:03.680 --> 03:30:06.600
of here. I stood and tried to get my bearings.323303:30:07.000 --> 03:30:09.799
The sun was setting, so I knew which way was west.323403:30:10.600 --> 03:30:12.840
It was around two miles to the south, where the323503:30:12.879 --> 03:30:18.239
trailhead was. My car. My salvation waited there for me.323603:30:19.440 --> 03:30:21.760
I made my way through the trees and headed south.323703:30:22.079 --> 03:30:25.120
When there was an opening. Before I knew it, I323803:30:25.159 --> 03:30:28.799
had run across a trail. I stepped onto it, feeling323903:30:28.879 --> 03:30:32.159
more relieved than I had in days. Then I heard324003:30:32.200 --> 03:30:37.639
something in the brush behind me. I froze. I turned324103:30:37.639 --> 03:30:42.200
toward the sound and saw the predator. It was a324203:30:42.239 --> 03:30:46.079
mountain lion, not the horrible monster I had just escaped.324303:30:46.360 --> 03:30:49.920
But it didn't matter. If this cat was hungry, I'd324403:30:49.959 --> 03:30:55.040
be just as dead. I tried to nonchalantly continue walking324503:30:55.079 --> 03:30:58.520
on the trail, hoping it would lose interest. My walk324603:30:58.600 --> 03:31:02.639
turned into a power walk, and still the lion followed.324703:31:03.159 --> 03:31:05.840
It seemed to be closing the distance between us without324803:31:05.879 --> 03:31:10.399
breaking into a run. Yet I tried to remember what324903:31:10.440 --> 03:31:12.879
to do in case of a mountain lion attack, but325003:31:12.959 --> 03:31:17.440
all I remembered was don't run. I thought of this325103:31:17.520 --> 03:31:20.200
as I power walked away from the pursuing cat that325203:31:20.319 --> 03:31:23.559
was getting closer by the minute. Suddenly I was hit325303:31:23.600 --> 03:31:27.040
from behind. The lion had jumped on me. Fortunately it325403:31:27.079 --> 03:31:30.000
had jumped on my pack. Its weight held me down,325503:31:30.079 --> 03:31:33.200
making me helpless. As it climbed up my pack, heading325603:31:33.239 --> 03:31:36.440
for my neck. I covered my head and neck, hoping325703:31:36.520 --> 03:31:40.079
to survive. I could feel its hot breath against my fingers.325803:31:40.520 --> 03:31:45.319
I knew an attack was imminent, and then it stopped.325903:31:46.079 --> 03:31:48.520
It lifted its head and I could hear it sniffing326003:31:48.559 --> 03:31:52.399
the air. In an instant, it leaped off of me326103:31:53.239 --> 03:31:56.600
and was gone. I sat up and looked around, not326203:31:56.639 --> 03:32:01.840
believing my luck when I noticed the forest had gone silent.326303:32:03.760 --> 03:32:06.959
The only reason a predator runs away like that is326403:32:07.040 --> 03:32:10.760
there's a bigger predator in the area, my mind reminded me.326503:32:11.959 --> 03:32:15.360
I had a very good idea which predator had scared326603:32:15.360 --> 03:32:21.799
it off. This was it fight or flight. I jumped326703:32:21.840 --> 03:32:24.200
up and ran at a full sprint down the trail.326803:32:24.799 --> 03:32:27.280
I didn't know I had that much energy left after326903:32:27.319 --> 03:32:30.639
the last two days, but death is a great motivator,327003:32:31.079 --> 03:32:33.879
and I knew this thing wasn't coming to congratulate me327103:32:33.959 --> 03:32:38.040
for escaping its layer. My legs burned, I had a327203:32:38.079 --> 03:32:41.479
stitch in my side. My backpack was throwing off my balance,327303:32:41.520 --> 03:32:44.879
and I nearly fell. But I could see the trailhead.327403:32:45.000 --> 03:32:47.360
There was a glint of metal that was on the327503:32:47.399 --> 03:32:50.079
front bumper of my car. All I had to do327603:32:50.280 --> 03:32:53.920
was keep going. I could hear panting behind me. My327703:32:54.000 --> 03:32:57.600
footsteps weren't the only ones running on the trail. It327803:32:57.760 --> 03:33:01.639
sounds more like a gallop behind me. For a fleeting moment,327903:33:01.879 --> 03:33:04.200
I almost stopped to see if I was being chased328003:33:04.239 --> 03:33:07.719
by a horse, but I knew that that would be328103:33:07.760 --> 03:33:11.399
a fatal mistake. I reached into my pocket and pulled328203:33:11.399 --> 03:33:14.760
out my keys, pressing the button and unlocking the doors.328303:33:15.239 --> 03:33:17.319
I didn't want to make the same mistake I'd seen328403:33:17.360 --> 03:33:20.399
in dozens of horror movies. I was one of the328503:33:20.399 --> 03:33:24.040
ones screaming the loudest when the victim dropped their keys.328603:33:24.479 --> 03:33:27.280
I ripped open the driver's door and dove inside. I328703:33:27.319 --> 03:33:29.959
had just shut it when a nightmare landed on the hood.328803:33:30.639 --> 03:33:33.319
I stared at it for a moment, transfixed by this328903:33:33.719 --> 03:33:37.639
horrific apparition, it looked like someone had taken a dog329003:33:38.120 --> 03:33:41.200
and turned it into a horrible beast. It was massive,329103:33:41.239 --> 03:33:45.239
at least eight feet tall. Its fangs were sharp and red.329203:33:45.559 --> 03:33:48.559
They drooled onto the windshield as the red eyes stared329303:33:48.559 --> 03:33:52.239
at me. It reached back with its paw and smashed329403:33:52.280 --> 03:33:55.799
into my windshield, nearly breaking through. I woke from my329503:33:55.920 --> 03:33:59.200
stupor and started the car as it smashed the windshield again,329603:33:59.520 --> 03:34:03.680
this time breaking through. It shoved it snout inside and329703:34:03.760 --> 03:34:05.920
snapped at me. As I put the car in reverse329803:34:05.959 --> 03:34:09.200
and floored it, turning hard and making the beast tumble329903:34:09.239 --> 03:34:11.879
off to the ground, I threw it into drive and330003:34:11.959 --> 03:34:15.079
stomped the pedal to the floor. The car looched forward,330103:34:15.120 --> 03:34:18.520
with rubbers screeching in protest. I gained momentum when the330203:34:18.559 --> 03:34:21.520
monster landed on the roof with a crash. It began330303:34:21.680 --> 03:34:25.079
pounding over and over. I saw claw marks coming through330403:34:25.120 --> 03:34:28.760
the metal and into the cloth on the ceiling. In desperation,330503:34:28.879 --> 03:34:32.879
I began swerving back and forth, trying to shake the monster. Loose.330603:34:33.280 --> 03:34:36.239
Metal and rubber protested at the maneuvers. With the extra330703:34:36.280 --> 03:34:39.239
weight on top, I wondered if the car would flip330803:34:39.479 --> 03:34:42.879
and end my escape in a bloody fashion. So far,330903:34:43.000 --> 03:34:44.959
the road had been a park drive that was never331003:34:45.000 --> 03:34:47.719
meant for such speeds. I knew there was a hard331103:34:47.760 --> 03:34:50.319
turn coming up and I wouldn't make it as fast331203:34:50.399 --> 03:34:53.440
as I was driving, I slammed on the brake, sending331303:34:53.479 --> 03:34:57.079
the monster flying. I stomped on the gas and swerved331403:34:57.120 --> 03:35:01.319
around it, continuing to gain speed. As it was I331503:35:01.399 --> 03:35:03.559
knew if I had tried to run it over, my331603:35:03.719 --> 03:35:08.000
car would never survive, and right now, survival was all331703:35:08.079 --> 03:35:12.319
that mattered. I looked into the rearview mirror, and impossibly,331803:35:12.959 --> 03:35:15.360
it was catching up to me. I saw it leap,331903:35:15.559 --> 03:35:18.079
trying to land on the car again, but I swerved332003:35:18.120 --> 03:35:21.520
in time, leaving it only asphalt to land on. I332103:35:21.600 --> 03:35:24.440
made another hard turn and I was on a state road.332203:35:25.159 --> 03:35:27.920
The monster followed me, but I was able to get332303:35:28.000 --> 03:35:32.760
up enough speed to finally escape. I breathed a sigh332403:35:32.840 --> 03:35:40.920
of relief as I sped toward town. I didn't bother332503:35:41.079 --> 03:35:44.360
going home. I went straight to the police department. After332603:35:44.399 --> 03:35:46.799
waiting half an hour to make it to the front desk,332703:35:47.120 --> 03:35:50.799
I was finally interviewed by an officer. When I started332803:35:50.799 --> 03:35:54.719
my story, he seemed to be only mildly interested. By332903:35:54.760 --> 03:35:57.799
the time I was done, there were six officers standing333003:35:57.840 --> 03:36:02.040
around listening. That was one hell of a story, the333103:36:02.040 --> 03:36:06.879
officer said, looking around at the other officers smirking. It's true,333203:36:07.280 --> 03:36:12.120
I said, The officer sighed. As the others dispersed. I'm sorry, Son.333303:36:12.200 --> 03:36:15.239
As entertaining as that was, I'm too busy to go333403:36:15.319 --> 03:36:19.440
chasing around the woods hunting after some urban legend. I333503:36:19.479 --> 03:36:22.079
took a piece of paper off his notepad and wrote333603:36:22.079 --> 03:36:26.360
down a series of numbers. What's this, he said when333703:36:26.399 --> 03:36:29.479
I handed it to him. I had my GPS with me,333803:36:29.760 --> 03:36:32.920
I said, those numbers are the location of the cave333903:36:33.239 --> 03:36:36.920
that has all the evidence you need. Listen, Son, Without334003:36:36.920 --> 03:36:39.719
something concrete, there's no one who's going out to the334103:36:39.719 --> 03:36:43.479
middle of the woods chasing a fairy tale. Well maybe334203:36:43.479 --> 03:36:46.200
this'll help, I said, getting up and setting up my334303:36:46.280 --> 03:36:49.520
backpack on his desk. I opened the zippers and dumped334403:36:49.559 --> 03:36:53.840
clothes out of them. WHOA, whoa, whoa. What's this concrete?334503:36:54.200 --> 03:36:57.360
I said? These are the clothes of the thing's victims.334603:36:57.920 --> 03:37:00.280
If you take DNA samples from the sweat and blood334703:37:00.319 --> 03:37:02.879
on them, you might find matches to some people who've334803:37:02.879 --> 03:37:07.760
gone missing recently. You're serious, he said, looking from the334903:37:07.760 --> 03:37:11.920
clothes to me as if just waking up. Yes, I said,335003:37:12.120 --> 03:37:14.920
as I got up and started toward the door. If335103:37:14.920 --> 03:37:18.600
it's not too much trouble, I walked out, leaving several335203:37:18.680 --> 03:37:22.600
officers staring at the pile of clothes. I got into335303:37:22.600 --> 03:37:26.479
my destroyed car, hoping it would start, and headed home.335403:37:27.440 --> 03:37:31.120
The entire way I kept glancing in the rear view mirror.335503:37:31.920 --> 03:37:35.680
After all this, there were two things that captured my thoughts.335603:37:36.280 --> 03:37:39.840
One I would be barricading my house as soon as335703:37:39.879 --> 03:37:46.920
I got home, and two I wouldn't be sleeping soundly ever. Again,335803:37:52.440 --> 03:37:56.559
I hope you all enjoyed that monstrous march through the335903:37:57.159 --> 03:38:02.280
wooded lands of your mind's eye as much as I did.336003:38:02.840 --> 03:38:05.520
Make sure you're subscribed because we have a brand new336103:38:05.639 --> 03:38:10.239
terror tale coming this Wednesday, and of course, a terrifying336203:38:10.280 --> 03:38:14.920
and true episode all about the Bennington Triangle this Monday.336303:38:16.159 --> 03:38:19.959
So go to your favorite podcasting app click subscribe, and336403:38:20.040 --> 03:38:22.239
while you're at it, leave us a five star rating.336503:38:22.719 --> 03:38:26.680
It really does make a big difference. I've been Enrique Kuto,336603:38:26.799 --> 03:38:29.879
your host and narrator, and I'll be talking to you336703:38:30.159 --> 03:38:34.639
very very soon and until then. If you're going to336803:38:34.680 --> 03:38:41.440
go camping, maybe by a very sturdy tent. Until next time,336903:38:42.079 --> 03:38:42.920
my spookies,
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