Love Gone Wrong | 7 Terrifying Tales of Romance & Horror の全文書き起こし

00:04:38.600 the last time you showered, man? You looked like shit anyway, 69 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:42.000 Derek retorted. As they reached the road, all three of 70 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:44.879 them watched as the girls drove off in Chelsea's dad's 71 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:48.680 dodge Ram. Chad flipped them off. I knew I should 72 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:51.079 have insisted that I drove. Then she wouldn't have been 73 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:56.439 able to leave, Chad said, to what end? Like? Seriously? 74 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:00.199 Brian said, unlocking the corolla his parents got him for 75 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.319 graduating last year. They told him he could use it 76 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:06.959 to drive to college. They were so proud of him. 77 00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:09.959 All he'd done since was get drunk in fields and 78 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:14.120 try to get laid. He wondered if they were still proud. 79 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:18.319 He wasn't sure. Well, if they stayed with us and 80 00:05:18.360 --> 00:05:21.920 got to know us, Chad began, let me cut you 81 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:25.600 off there, Chad. The longer they were with us, the 82 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:29.079 more they would have disliked us. There ain't nothing to 83 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:32.480 like about us. Can't you see that? There ain't no 84 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:35.040 girls around here that would give us the time of day. 85 00:05:35.839 --> 00:05:39.040 Derek said, Now, go home so I can crawl into 86 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:42.120 bed and rub one out before I pass out. What 87 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:44.519 are we supposed to do then, go into the city 88 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:47.839 and get hookers and catch one of those veterinary diseases? 89 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:53.680 Chad asked, Maybe we just conjure one up. Brian joked 90 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:57.879 and shivered in the chill of the early November night air. Yeah, 91 00:05:57.959 --> 00:06:00.959 we can just dress a scarecrow up women's clothes and 92 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:05.439 take turns fucking her a pussy. Chad said, somehow, it 93 00:06:05.560 --> 00:06:09.079 seems less demeaning than getting rejected by real girls all 94 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:13.120 the time. Brian said, my dad catches us fucking one 95 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:16.560 of his scarecrows and he'll beat my ass again, Derek 96 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:20.600 shouted at them again. Chad and Brian asked at the 97 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:25.920 same time, Well, not for the same thing. Derek replied sure. 98 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:32.199 Chad said, but you know you might be onto something. 99 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:35.480 I think they built a woman in that movie from 100 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:40.160 the eighties. Why couldn't we do that? We don't have 101 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:43.560 a computer, asshole. Brian chimed in as he got everything 102 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:47.279 packed into the car. Can we go now? They got 103 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:49.480 one down at the library. I can ask Old Pete 104 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:52.800 about it. He's the smartest person I know. If anyone 105 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:55.800 would know how to do it, it'd be him, Chad 106 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:59.519 said in a eureka moment. Brian dismissed him and climbed 107 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:09.120 into the car. Let's go the next night. Two in 108 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:14.000 the morning, zero hour. Time to finish and go to sleep, 109 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:16.839 Derek thought as he held his phone in one hand 110 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:19.879 and his dick in the other. He only dropped it 111 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:22.600 twice on his face this time. They should make a 112 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:25.399 headband that holds your phone for when you're watching porn, 113 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:28.639 he thought, just as he finished into a dirty sock. 114 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:31.560 He used the outside to wipe himself off a bit 115 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:34.120 and tossed it onto the floor of his dirty room 116 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:38.480 in a satisfied sigh. It only felt like a few 117 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:44.439 seconds before there was a weird sound from outside. Perplexed, 118 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:46.759 Derek rose out of bed and threw on a pair 119 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:50.160 of sweatpants the dirty sock had landed on. Ignoring the cold, 120 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:53.399 wet spot, he made his way to a window, looking 121 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:58.120 towards the seemingly endless fields. His dad maintained, What the fuck? 122 00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:02.199 He whispered and opened his window. Chad and Brian were 123 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:07.000 standing there. Behind them was a wheelbarrow, and was that 124 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:10.120 someone in it? He couldn't quite make it out in 125 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:14.319 the dark. What are you guys doing here, Derek asked 126 00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:18.319 in an angry whisper, waiting for you to finish? Chad replied, 127 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:22.519 took you long enough. How's your nose? You were watching me? 128 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:26.959 Never mind, what do you want, Derek asked, Meet us 129 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:30.360 out in the field. We'll explain it all. Chad said 130 00:08:30.360 --> 00:08:32.639 with a smile and grabbed the wooden handles on the 131 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:36.399 wheelbarrow and took off into the field, leaving an obvious trail. 132 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:39.080 This was why we always went in from the road. 133 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:43.200 Plausible deniability, Derek thought, as his gaze went from a 134 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:46.480 bewildered Brian to his room. As he looked around for 135 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:50.360 some clothes to wear. You gonna follow him in a second. 136 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:53.879 I got a shit mind if I come in, Brian asked, 137 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:57.840 don't wake my

folks and hurry up. They met Chad 138 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:00.840 in the clearing waiting for them, a bunch of weird 139 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:04.799 stuff laid out around them. What's all this, Derek asked, 140 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:10.639 We gonna get laid tonight, Chad said, Brian agreed. Derek 141 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:13.080 realized he could see his breath in the cold air 142 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:16.879 and wished he'd brought a thicker jacket. The plants were 143 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:20.120 going to die tonight in the frost. He watched as 144 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:23.360 Chad kept checking his phone and looking around the clearing 145 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:26.159 like he was reading a recipe and making sure he 146 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:29.799 had all the parts. He placed a single rose to 147 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:33.279 the left of the wheelbarrow and a black Swan DVD 148 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:38.000 to the right. You want to explain how, Derek asked. 149 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:41.360 Chad went to see Old Pete at the library and 150 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:44.759 he explained it all to him. Apparently they looked up 151 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:48.000 the particulars online, but the printer was broke, so Chad 152 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:50.720 had to type it all into his phone. Remember how 153 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:53.279 that girl from Milford broke his camera when he tried 154 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:56.000 to get a pick of her peeing over there, Brian 155 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:58.080 explained as he pointed to the part of the field 156 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:01.279 they all used to piss on nights like this. Yeah, 157 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:09.120 I remember Stacy or something like that, Derek said, Stacia. Anyway, 158 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:11.320 he got it all down and now we can do it, 159 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:16.799 Brian said, excitedly. Do what exactly. 160 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:22.679 Sh it was only the wind. You're safe, weekly spooky, 161 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:23.799 We'll be right back. 162 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:27.120 Have a woman that don't want to have sex with 163 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:30.960 us all the time. Chad chimed in, You see, it's 164 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:34.360 real simple. Old Pete said that what you need to 165 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:36.679 do is someon something that likes to have sex and 166 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:44.120 whamo there you go. You mean like a succubis. Derek asked, 167 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:48.360 oh no, Pete said that would be a mistake. He's 168 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:50.600 done that before and it didn't end well at all. 169 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:53.639 Did you know Old Pete is only thirty two years old. 170 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:56.799 He looks seventy. He said. It was from a night 171 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:00.840 with a succubus, he said, to someon something nicer, like 172 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:05.039 a love goddess. Chad said, and how do we do that? 173 00:11:05.759

--> 00:11:10.240 Derek asked, getting annoyed at Chad. Well, we looked into 174 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:12.960 it and found this old Greek book about their mythology 175 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:16.320 and shit. It had these rituals where you would offer 176 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:18.519 things to the gods and they would come and accept 177 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:21.519 the gifts. Old Pete says, all the gods are real. 178 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.919 They pop into reality as long as one person believes 179 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:28.120 in them. Chad finished, as he removed the body from 180 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:30.840 the wheelbarrow and placed it into the center of the 181 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:34.039 figure he had drawn in the soil around them. What 182 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:40.840 is that, Derek asked a vessel. Brian explained, like a ship, No, 183 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:44.440 like a host. The gods can't come to our world 184 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:47.200 without a body to inhabit. I took one of your 185 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:50.559 dad's old scarecrows from the cornfield over there, Chad said, 186 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:54.240 pointing off into the distance. Guess we will be fucking 187 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:58.159 a scarecrow after all, Brian said and laughed. You don't 188 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:01.360 believe any of this shit, do you, Derek asked him. 189 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:05.080 Brian always seemed like the most level headed of them. 190 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:09.600 If it works, great, If not, I had no better 191 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:13.840 plans tonight anyway, his friend explained, with a hint of sadness. 192 00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:17.879 And you're basing this all on what some old librarian 193 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:22.360 told you, Derek asked them. Oh, Pete, isn't the librarian. 194 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:26.320 He lives behind the library in the alley. Chad clarified. 195 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:30.000 Sometimes he'll tell you about his crazy adventures for a 196 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:34.759 forty crazy is right? Derek said, What do I have 197 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:37.720 to do so this can fail and I can go 198 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:41.320 back to bed? I knew you'd be into it, Chad said, 199 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:44.519 and handed him a grocery bag full of fall colored leaves. 200 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:48.480 He pointed at the scarecrow. What am I doing with this? 201 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:52.879 Derek wondered out loud. Stuff it's bra man. We want 202 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:56.120 to give her big old titties, don't we, Chad said. 203 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:59.000 Derek looked at Brian for a hint of reason to 204 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:02.399 this night, but he just nodded his agreement, then made 205 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:06.440 hand gestures of how big he would suggest. Shaking his head, 206 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:09.519 Derek went over to the scarecrow and began to stuff 207 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:13.879 its shirt. Is this makeup? Where did you get makeup 208 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:18.440 to put on my father's scarecrow? Here? Mom's room? Chad said, 209 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:22.440 and laughed. Brian laughed too. Even Derek grinned a little 210 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:26.639 bit at the lame your mom joke. Okay, I think 211 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:28.960 everything is where old Pete told me to set it up. 212 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:32.360 All I gotta do is read the passage, and we 213 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:37.039 should summon a love goddess to pleasure us. Chad explained, 214 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:40.600 remember to read it exactly as you wrote it down. 215 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:43.879 Old Pete said that was the most important part. If 216 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:46.000 we screw it up, we don't know what could happen, 217 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:49.440 Brian said, adjusting the scarecrow a little bit to the left. 218 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:53.679 I got it, Chad said, it's only a few sentences. 219 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:58.039 I think I can handle it. From the depths of 220 00:13:58.120 --> 00:14:03.360 the other planes, from the space beyond mortal men, we 221 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:07.720 call you forth with these gifts, symbols of your power 222 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:12.399 and prowess. We bring you forth, mother of love, passion, 223 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:16.279 and beauty. We ask that you bestow your attributes on 224 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:21.960 us with this A slight pause as Chad giggled. This 225 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:25.679 Alfalfa is scratchy, Brian said, pulling his leg away from 226 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:29.799 the dying plant. In fact, all the plants around them 227 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:33.519 were dying. It looks like a pale light was draining 228 00:14:33.559 --> 00:14:38.759 from them into the scarecrow. Come forth, Alfalfa diiti, Chad 229 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:42.440 called out. A distant boom was heard, and Chad turned 230 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:47.039 towards his friends. Shit, what did I just say? You 231 00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:51.759 fucked up the name, you idiot, Brian said, I meant aphrodite. 232 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:56.240 You're the one who mentioned alfalfa. So what happens now, 233 00:14:56.919 --> 00:15:02.000 Brian asked. Think we're about to find out, Derek answered. 234 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:05.600 As the scarecrow started to twitch on the ground. The 235 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:09.440 face a pumpkin with his mother's makeup on it, turned 236 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:15.000 towards him. Its drawn on mouth somehow became animated and 237 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:19.120 opened into a womanly scream. They all backed up to 238 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:21.360 the edge of the clearing as they watched the thing 239 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:26.080 stand up awkwardly. The hay wound its way through the 240 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:31.279 sleeves and formed arms and hands, slender, delicate hands, the 241 00:15:31.360 -->

00:15:35.919 hands of a woman. The round pumpkin turned its head 242 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:41.720 toward Chad. A wicked smile crossed its painted on facial features. 243 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:45.759 A tongue licked around the lipstick that formed its mouth. 244 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:50.360 It looked Chad up and down as it stepped towards 245 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:56.960 him seductively. Guys, I think it worked, maybe not exactly 246 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:00.120 as we planned it, he paused, as he looked that 247 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:03.159 the scarecrow love Goddess approach him. I think we can 248 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:08.000 make this work. Yeah, I got half a chub, Brian admitted, 249 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:13.320 and smiled nervously. You guys are fucking insane, Derek said. 250 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:16.559 This thing is not what you told me it was 251 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:20.200 going to be. I want no part of this. To 252 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:23.799 be fair, you didn't want part of it before, Chad said. 253 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:26.919 As it approached him, it reached out a slender arm 254 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:32.519 towards his waist, pointing its haystock wrapped finger. Oh yeah, baby, 255 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:36.840 I know what you want, Chad said, and unzipped his pants. 256 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:39.519 He pulled out what he always bragged to them was 257 00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:43.039 a fine example of USDA grade a man meat, but 258 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:47.320 was in reality a micro penis. You would think it 259 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:50.200 would take the scarecrow love goddess some talent to find 260 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.759 it in the cold night, but it didn't. It didn't 261 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:56.360 take it long at all to shoot a haystock straight 262 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:59.080 up the hole in the micro penis, and it must 263 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:01.159 have pushed some air out of him elsewhere as he 264 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:06.839 simultaneously farted and screamed, the latter being louder, but not 265 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:11.200 by much. She's penetrating his piss hole, Brian said. Had 266 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:13.640 tried to cross his legs while standing, which made him 267 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:17.920 fall to the ground. That's some kinky shit. I ain't into. 268 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:22.039 Nobody's into that, Derek said, and panicked. He definitely didn't 269 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:24.119 want that for him. He grabbed the first thing he 270 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:26.599 could find and charged toward the hay goddess of penis 271 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:29.599 penetration with a war cry that would make Vikings proud. 272 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:32.200 He swung the object and struck it on the back. 273 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:35.400 It had little to no effect other than to get 274 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:39.200 her attention. It was a boring movie anyway, he said, 275 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:41.599

and tossed the DVD to the ground. A rope of 276 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:44.960 hay slipped from her other hand and wrapped around his throat, 277 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:52.000 choking him. You brought me here into existence to play. 278 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:59.000 Let's play, the creature said, in a seductive tone. I'm 279 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:02.480 going to have to admit that voices bringing back my chub, 280 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:06.240 Brian said, getting to his feet. If I see old 281 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:08.880 Pete again, I'm going to punch that coot in the face, 282 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:12.319 Chad said, pulling his hands away from his bloody groin. 283 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:16.640 The distraction had made the goddess unpenetrate him. He panicked 284 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:19.480 for a second, thinking she had ripped off what he had, 285 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:22.720 but he sighed when he realized it was still there, 286 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:27.920 just with a wider hole. Derek hobbled towards the goddess, 287 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:30.480 who was holding Derek by the throat. While digging in 288 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:34.000 his jeans for something. Fuck this, I'm out of here, 289 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:38.200 Brian said, and turned to leave, but with her free hand, 290 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:41.640 a tentacle made of straw shot towards Brian, ripping a 291 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:45.200 hole into the back of his Walmart jeans. He screamed out, 292 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.599 wishing he had paid the extra for leviyes. They probably 293 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:51.640 would have held up better either way. He didn't have 294 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:54.079 to worry much longer, as the straw tentacle made its 295 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:57.119 exit through all the holes in his body at the 296 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:01.960 same time, impressively impaling his eyes. Balls that twitched in 297 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:07.079 the pale moonlight. That killed Brian. I would have bet 298 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:09.440 he would be the one of us to survive something 299 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:13.880 like this, Chad said, and stabbed his pocket knife into 300 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:17.480 the pumpkinheaded hell bitch, she screamed out as pumpkin seed 301 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:20.920 and pulp sprayed over Chad's face. It dropped Derek to 302 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:24.640 the ground, who coughed and gasped for air. Oh shit, 303 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:28.799 Chad said, backing away from it, grasping his micro penis 304 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:33.119 with two hands protectively. She circled him like a corn 305 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:36.839 carnivore hunting its prey. He closed his eyes and fought 306 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:40.039 back tears All he wanted to do was get laid. 307 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:42.599 He didn't want any of this shit. He felt the 308 00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:45.960 stalk touching his leg and working its way up him 309 00:19:46.279

--> 00:19:51.160 with a gentle touch, a womanly touch. You don't want 310 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:56.799 to play with me anymore, the seductive voice asked playfully. 311 00:19:58.039 --> 00:20:02.240 I like it, spooky weekly, Spooky will be right back. 312 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:08.079 No, please, just go back. We didn't know what we 313 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:12.119 were doing, Chad cried out, as it circled behind him. 314 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:16.720 Have you no desire to win my heart anymore? You 315 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:20.079 created me in the ritual, You gave me a name 316 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:27.599 and therefore power. I was nothing until you named me Alfalphaditi. 317 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:33.400 What did you expect, a love goddess? You created me 318 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:38.759 by mistake. I am a mistake. You wanted me to 319 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:43.200 do whatever your heart desired, and now you have no 320 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:48.440 desire for my heart. Chad whimpered. Derek stood up, leaning 321 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:51.559 on the wheelbarrow and looked at his friend. This can't 322 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:54.559 be real. He's either having the weirdest wet dream of 323 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:57.200 his life or he took a ton of great drugs 324 00:20:57.240 --> 00:21:00.720 without knowing it. He rubbed his neck and his throat. 325 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:06.400 You don't want my heart, I refuse yours. The monster 326 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:10.240 sent a straw tentacle through Chad's chest from behind, impaling 327 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:13.119 his heart and shooting it out his chest towards his friend. 328 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:16.720 The heart landed in Derek's hand as he was removing 329 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:20.119 it from his throat. He shrieked when he realized what 330 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:23.160 it was and dropped it to the ground next to 331 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:25.759 a can of hair spray that must have been part 332 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:28.519 of the ritual. He grabbed for the can as his 333 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:31.799 friend's lifeless body hit the cold earth just feet in 334 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:35.200 front of him. Derek got to his knees and reached 335 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:38.480 into his pocket, pulling out his bowl and lighter. He 336 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:41.359 tossed the bowl down and faced the creature as it 337 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:44.960 approached him in that sexy walk with stalks for heels. 338 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:49.079 I don't want nothing from you, Derek called out. Leave 339 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:53.240 me be, Derek. It was part of you that summoned 340 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:58.799 me here. We have the strongest bond, she said as 341 00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:01.279 she pointed to a familiar your object on the ground, 342 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:06.359 his spank sock. God, damn it, Brian, take a shit 343 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:09.920 my ass. He stole my spank sock. He raised the 344 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:12.720 can of hairspray and held it up to his lighter. 345 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:15.880 With a flick and a press a fireball shot into 346 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:18.519 the face of the scarecrow. Fuck Buddy gone wrong and 347 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:22.119 sent it reeling back with a scream. He stepped forward 348 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:25.799 over the spank sock and sent another fireball into the scarecrow, 349 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:28.960 this time aiming it at its flammable shirt and straw 350 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:34.799 instead of its pumpkin face. Stop, the voluptuous voice called 351 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:38.720 out to him. You don't understand. I had to get 352 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:42.920 rid of them so that we could be alone. It 353 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:46.759 was your magic that summoned me, she said, looking at 354 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:49.400 the sock and trying to brush out the straw that 355 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:54.759 was on fire. Magic, Derek asked, watching her every move. 356 00:22:55.680 --> 00:23:02.319 Years of your reproductive magic, the potency. It's very strong magic, 357 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:06.720 she said. Taking a step towards him, He noticed her 358 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:11.200 leaves had burned away. No more breasts for her. No 359 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:17.160 this can't be. I don't want this, Chad did, Derek said. 360 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:22.400 Do not reject me again, she said, and wrapped his 361 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:26.359 leg with straw, Pulling him to the ground. She mounted him. 362 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:30.920 I will not be as gentle next time. Derek managed 363 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:33.000 to get the can and lighter between the two of 364 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:36.880 them and let loose with another blast, this one point blank. 365 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:39.920 He felt the heat probably just as much as she did, 366 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:43.480 and screamed to match hers. He continued as long as 367 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:46.279 he could until she got up from him. He rubbed 368 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:48.799 his chest where he had been burned himself and found 369 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:52.920 his shirt burned into his flesh. The creature wasn't doing 370 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:56.359 much better as it ran around, now engulfed in flames. 371 00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:59.920 He ran towards it and planted the can of hairsp 372 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:03.000 in its flat chest, burning his hand in the process, 373 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:07.279 and backed away, wrapping his burned up hand in his 374 00:24:07.400 --> 00:24:12.160 spank sock. Don't leave me, I was created so we 375 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:15.400 would be together, she called to him, wrapping him in 376 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:19.279 her smoldering straw tentacles. He turned to face her, a 377 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:23.559 tear running down his cheek. He was going to die. 378 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:29.279

There was no escape. Just then, the can of hairspray exploded, 379 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:33.119 sending the torso flying in all directions. The pumpkinhead fell 380 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:36.240 to the ground, cracking open and spilling the insides onto 381 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:39.279 the ground. The tentacles fell away from Derek, and he 382 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:43.359 dropped to his knees, looking at the carnage. He heard 383 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:48.920 something coming through the field towards him. Oh God, could 384 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:53.000 this be another one? How many more are there? He thought? 385 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:56.759 A second later, his father entered the clearing with a 386 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:00.559 shotgun in his hand. God damn it, Derek, I thought 387 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:04.039 there was some hooligans out here fucking around. It's just 388 00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:09.000 you banging another scarecrow. I am gonna whoop your ass. 389 00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:12.880 Did you did you use your mother's makeup on that thing? 390 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:18.119 Derek closed his eyes, wishing the thing had finished him 391 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:30.920 off like it did his friends. Suspended by Rob Fields. 392 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:35.559 It was just a week ago that Strickfield High School 393 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:40.359 won the state football championship, beating out Strickfield Academy in 394 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:44.960 what was a rather unusual game. Yeah, people are still 395 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:49.039 talking about it. It was Greg Branlake, the big, hot 396 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:54.079 shot quarterback of Strickfield Academy, who ended up transforming into 397 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:58.160 a demon and trying to kill Strickfield High's Eddie Peewee Richter. 398 00:25:58.920 --> 00:26:01.799 As the demonic brand was ready to kill Richter for 399 00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:05.359 winning the game and the state championship for Strickfield High, 400 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:10.440 his head exploded all over the field. The police reports 401 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:13.359 say someone fired a high powered rifle at brand Lake. 402 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:17.559 No one knows who was behind it, but I'm sure 403 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:21.079 the question you want to know the answers to are bella, 404 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:24.759 you're a Strickfield High cheerleader. Right, aren't you the bitch 405 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:27.680 master vampire who could have stopped brand Lake after he 406 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:33.759 went all demon. The answers are yes and fuck yeah. However, 407 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:38.160 I wasn't there that night, you see, yours truly wasn't 408 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:42.759 allowed on school property or at school functions. Our ever 409 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:47.039 so esteemed principle, Matthew Van Deiste, suspended me from school 410 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:50.519 just prior to the state championship game. In fact, it 411 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:55.920 was our quarterback Jason Norman who got me suspended. Let 412 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:59.039 me tell you about it. It was the Wednesday prior 413 00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:02.720 when Donnerley and I were walking the halls of Strickfield 414 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:05.599 High to get to our lockers. Both of us were 415 00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:08.960 wearing our cheerleading outfits since basketball season had started and 416 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:12.160 we had to cheer for a game that night. Two 417 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:14.759 nights later, we would have to cheer for our football 418 00:27:14.759 --> 00:27:18.200 team at the state championship game. AINI and I were 419 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:22.000 opening our lockers and talking about shit when Jason Norman 420 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:26.079 came up right behind me and groped my tiny little titties. 421 00:27:26.920 --> 00:27:30.720 You're easily the hottest cheerleader at this school, Bella, he said, 422 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:33.880 slyly in my ear, looking at you I can tell 423 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:36.640 you need a good fucking Let's skip school and I'll 424 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:41.160 take care of you. Clearly, this stupid mortal didn't know 425 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:44.039 who he was fucking with. It was time to teach 426 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:47.799 him a very important lesson that every red blooded young 427 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:53.480 American boy needed to know. You never never put your 428 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:59.640 fucking hands on me unless I want you to. Big mistake, motherfucker, 429 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:03.400 I hissed as I turned around, grabbed him, and slammed 430 00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:07.240 him into the nearby lockers. Norman made some serious dents 431 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:10.440 across them. He got back up and came at me again. 432 00:28:11.119 --> 00:28:15.119 Now people at Strickfield High call me the bad schoolgirl. 433 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:19.039 One reason is they know I'm strong as fuck. They 434 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:22.000 didn't know I was really a master vampire, a rare 435 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:24.319 one who can walk in daylight and doesn't have to 436 00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:28.079 drink blood. Norman sneered to tell me he would have 437 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:31.720 me no matter what. When he tried putting his hands 438 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:34.759 on me again, I lifted him up off his feet 439 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:38.960 and threw him right through a classroom door. And wouldn't 440 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:43.119 you know it, Principal van Deist had seen me. Now, 441 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:47.160 either he wasn't around to see Norman grope me, or 442 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:51.920 he just didn't like how extreme I got. Principal Van 443 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:54.279 dest raised his voice to me for the first time 444 00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:57.319 ever and practically screamed for

me to go to the office. 445 00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:00.920 He wouldn't even let me tell my side of the story. Now, 446 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:03.720 as far as he was concerned, I'd assaulted the star 447 00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:09.839 quarterback of Strickfield High. Oh fuck you, I told him 448 00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:13.000 right to his face. It's quite all right for him 449 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:14.759 to have his hands all over me, but I'm not 450 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:18.519 allowed to defend myself. You know what, you can go 451 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:22.279 suck my dick. The next thing I knew, he was 452 00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:25.920 riding up my suspension. You do not come anywhere near 453 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:29.359 this school for two weeks bela tabon, and that means 454 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:32.400 no cheerleading. You're going to learn your place here at 455 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:36.640 Strickfield High one way or another. I gave him my 456 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:40.359 wicked little smile, the one that got my grandparents to 457 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:44.079 start calling me little devil when I was younger. Then 458 00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:48.519 I raised my fists together and do what scrawny geek 459 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:52.119 Jaren Hatley had done months ago. I brought my fists 460 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:57.599 down and destroyed his desk. Boy did he ever shriek. 461 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.960 I don't believe he shit his pan, but the look 462 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:05.640 on his face was priceless. Now we're at present time. 463 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:08.839 Now you know why I wasn't at the state championship 464 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:11.079 game shaking my tits and ass with the rest of 465 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:14.359 the girls when the bran Lake demon shit went down. 466 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:18.160 Sometimes I run into Principal van dist on the streets. 467 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:22.680 He always looks worried whenever he passes me, probably thinking 468 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:26.160 I'm gonna kick his ass or something. Yeah, like I'd 469 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:30.079 waste my time and energy on a pathetic loser like him. 470 00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:34.680 Don't go away, weekly, Spooky, We'll be right back. 471 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:39.519 But I'd bite and give him my little devil smirk. 472 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:43.359 Thanks to Ainie. I don't really need her to do 473 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:45.839 that for me, but she's just doing her duty by 474 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:50.200 me as my best friend. Martin, Aileen's older brother, calls 475 00:30:50.200 --> 00:30:53.519 her Einstein on account of how smart she is. I've 476 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:57.240 been calling her Iini for short. In response, she calls 477 00:30:57.240 --> 00:31:01.240 me Bells. It's Saturday morning, the week after the Big 478 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:04.680 Game and Greg Brandlake's death. Martin and I have been 479 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:08.400

mostly distant pretty much since Ainy and I got back 480 00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:12.680 from vacationing in Shore City back in June. Martin makes 481 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:15.160 another one of his stupid attempts to try and talk 482 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:17.720 to me before he takes off to go work at 483 00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:21.359 Denoyer's grill. I'm about to let him go fuck himself 484 00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:23.960 when I notice Aine has that look on her face 485 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:29.079 that tells me something's on her mind, not even acknowledging Martin. 486 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:33.039 I follow Aine so we can go and talk in private. Oh. 487 00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:35.599 I can feel Martin glaring at me as he walks 488 00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:39.640 out and slams the back door behind him. Well fuck him. 489 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:42.680 He doesn't deserve any of my time. After Aine told 490 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:46.880 me he's the main reason why she's sick. When we're alone, 491 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:50.200 we face each other. Talk to me, Iine, I say, 492 00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:54.559 am I still that obvious bells? She asks in her 493 00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:58.279 mousey voice. How long have we been best friends? Aine? 494 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:02.839 I remind her. She groans a little. We've got this 495 00:32:02.920 --> 00:32:07.480 new hot girl at school. Her name's Lavender Collier. Everybody's 496 00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:11.200 just gawking at her. I mean, she's really put together. 497 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:15.440 She could be Taylor Miron's body double. I have to 498 00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:19.319 think about this, okay, Aine, So you're saying she's got 499 00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:22.480 a hot porn star body. She wouldn't be the only 500 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:25.599 one like that at school, you know. Iini tightens her 501 00:32:25.640 --> 00:32:29.160 fists and growls a little. Yeah. But every damn guy 502 00:32:29.200 --> 00:32:32.240 is practically drooling over her. She's even telling people she 503 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:36.119 wants your place on the cheerleading squad, so let her 504 00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:40.200 fucking have it. I reply, Ainie unbowls her fists and 505 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:43.599 points right at me. No, you don't, bells. You're not 506 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:47.160 getting away from school that easily, especially not when Principal 507 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:50.839 van dest is itching to put Lavender on the squad. Seriously, 508 00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:54.640 she's got him eating right out of her hand. Principal 509 00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:57.559 van Deist always has his eyes on other girl's tits. 510 00:32:57.920 --> 00:33:01.200 I emphasize, fuck, can't even keep his eyes off my 511 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:06.279 little speed bumps. Iine's really agitated now. Then she jumps 512 00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:08.720 up and down quickly a few times as she growls, 513 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:11.720 will you listen to me? I'm trying to tell you 514 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:16.799 something's not right about Lavender. I remember Aini's my best friend, 515 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:21.119 and get serious. Okay, okay, did you see something that 516 00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:25.200 wasn't right with her? She calms down and nods. She 517 00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:27.680 kissed one of those jocks in the hallway yesterday. I 518 00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:31.359 mean she really planted one on him. Then he breaks 519 00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:34.039 up with his girlfriend right in front of everybody. He 520 00:33:34.160 --> 00:33:38.759 literally became Lavender's lap dog, doing whatever she wanted, and 521 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:43.200 then something clicks in my brain. Keep talking, Iinie takes 522 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:45.559 a deep breath and looks me right in the face. 523 00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:49.759 His body was found in his bedroom this morning. She 524 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:54.000 hands me today's paper. Look. I read the top story 525 00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:58.119 about Jacob Lautner, a star basketball player for Strickfield High, 526 00:33:58.200 --> 00:34:01.359 who was found dead in his bedroom. The cause of 527 00:34:01.400 --> 00:34:03.680 death was unknown, but his body looked like the human 528 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:07.000 equivalent of a prune. It made me think of that 529 00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:09.440 science fiction movie Ainie had me watch with her and 530 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:12.880 her cousin Madeleine about a month ago, called Life Force. 531 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:15.639 If you've seen it, then you know what I'm talking about. Here, 532 00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:21.440 Aini looks desperate. Now something's wrong here, Bell's please believe me. 533 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:23.960 I put the paper down and put my hand on 534 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:27.559 her shoulder. I believe you. I think I may know 535 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:29.960 what's going on, but I have to get a closer 536 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:34.360 look at this lavender collier to be sure. How will 537 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:39.239 you get into school? Ainie inquires, you're suspended. Remember Principal 538 00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:41.639 van dest said he'd expel you if you came back 539 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:45.679 before your suspension was over. I give her my little 540 00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:51.360 devil smile. Maybe he will and maybe he won't. Aini 541 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:56.000 gives me her worried look, what are you going to do? Bells? 542 00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:03.800 Monday comes, I'm back to walking the halls of Strickfield 543 00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:07.440 High with Iini. It's not long before Principal van dest 544 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:10.360 passes both of us. He just looks at me the 545 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:14.079 way he always looks at the bad schoolgirl. He makes 546 00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:17.360 it a quick point to check out my sexy schoolgirl outfit, 547 00:35:17.960

--> 00:35:20.800 the shirt with the sleeves torn off and tied in 548 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:23.360 the front to reveal my black braw and a plaid 549 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:28.400 miniskirt with my men's eighties rebock pump basketball shoes. Some 550 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:32.159 people here have joked that I'm a runaway from Strickfield Academy. 551 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:35.800 Even now, I'm sure Principal van Deste is undressing me 552 00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:39.039 in his mind just the same he doesn't say a 553 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:44.280 fucking thing about my suspension. What happened? I got iinny 554 00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:46.480 to distract him in the office long enough for me 555 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:49.480 to slip in the way vampires do. I grabbed a 556 00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:51.800 hold of Van Deist and gave him a light brushing 557 00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:54.920 of glam to make him forget that he suspended me. 558 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:57.960 Since I only gave him just a tiny bit of glam, 559 00:35:58.280 --> 00:36:00.880 I have to be careful not to provoke it too much, 560 00:36:01.320 --> 00:36:03.719 otherwise he'll snap out of it and remember that this 561 00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:07.639 little devil is his mortal enemy and that I'm suspended. 562 00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:11.159 I know, why not just wipe his mind completely? Right? 563 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:15.480 Because my glam is quite powerful for being a master vampire. 564 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:18.639 If I'm not careful with how I apply it, I 565 00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:23.360 can do some serious, irreparable damage to somebody's mind. I'd 566 00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:26.360 rather not do that shit unless someone truly deserves it. 567 00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:31.960 I may be a wicked little devil, but I'm not inhumane. Okay, Iine, 568 00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:36.880 show me lavender Collier. I say, Aine's looking around. Then 569 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:40.960 she suddenly grabs my wrist behind us bells. We both 570 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:45.079 turn to see she's with Principal Van Deste. Holy fucking shit, 571 00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:48.480 Aine's not kidding when she said this bitch is hot. 572 00:36:48.719 --> 00:36:53.400 I mean she's got it all. Looks sexy body, huge tits, 573 00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:57.320 and lavender hair. Thanks to my master vampire site, I 574 00:36:57.320 --> 00:36:59.920 can see that it's her natural hair color and not 575 00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:04.639 die job. I know exactly what this creature is. She's 576 00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:08.400 a succubus, I whisper to AINI think of her as 577 00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:12.360 being a vampire, except instead of drinking blood, she steals 578 00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:15.760 sexual energy from men. But why would she go after 579 00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:20.480 somebody like Van deist Aine wonders, and then iiny gasps 580 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:24.000 when we see Lavender slide her tongue into the principal's mouth. 581 00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:27.400 You'd swear the other students passing by would have seen it, 582 00:37:27.800 --> 00:37:31.559 but they just act like nothing's going on. The succubus 583 00:37:31.639 --> 00:37:34.039 is emitting some kind of a field that makes them 584 00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:38.079 not see her. Inhaling van Deste, the only reason why 585 00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:40.280 Ainie and I can see her is because our minds 586 00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:43.719 are strong. Guess that shows a lot of these students 587 00:37:43.719 --> 00:37:46.320 here are just going through the motions, if you know 588 00:37:46.360 --> 00:37:49.119 what I mean. Ainie and I both head into an 589 00:37:49.119 --> 00:37:53.360 empty classroom to talk. Can you stop her bells? She asks? 590 00:37:54.199 --> 00:37:59.239 I can, but school isn't the place. I answer. Lavender 591 00:37:59.320 --> 00:38:01.679 is very power. I can see it in her aura. 592 00:38:02.119 --> 00:38:05.480 I can't risk getting other students hurt. But why go 593 00:38:05.559 --> 00:38:09.880 after principal? Van Deiste pels He's not exactly a prize catch, right? 594 00:38:10.519 --> 00:38:14.159 I raise my finger on the contrary. One thing you 595 00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:17.280 need to know about a sucubus. She doesn't care what 596 00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:19.480 a male looks like. As long as he's got a 597 00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:23.360 great deal of sexual energy. You're in the ballpark. Though, 598 00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:26.320 when it comes to Van dest you just know he's 599 00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:28.800 not with anybody. He definitely wants to be, which is 600 00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:31.840 why he's checking out other girls. He's got so much 601 00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:34.960 pent up sexual energy. He's just perfect for somebody like 602 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:39.039 Lavender Collier. She won't take him here, No, she's priming 603 00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:41.920 him up. She'll likely come for him tonight when he's 604 00:38:41.920 --> 00:38:45.480 sleeping and dreaming about her. And that's where we're gonna 605 00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:50.280 be you too, An all too familiar voice calls out. 606 00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:54.000 We turn to see Principal Van Deste standing in the doorway. 607 00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:57.280 He turns on the light and sees us. He points 608 00:38:57.320 --> 00:39:01.920 to Aileen, get to class now. Then he points to me, 609 00:39:02.760 --> 00:39:06.079 and you can tack on another week to your suspension. 610 00:39:06.480 --> 00:39:10.679 Bella Tabon. Damn it, that fucking succubist was able to 611 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:14.119 overpower my glam with her a lure. Van Deist remembers 612 00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:17.760 everything regarding me. He comes straight to me and grabs 613 00:39:17.800 --> 00:39:20.920 my arm. Normally I'd have beaten the living shit out 614 00:39:20.920 --> 00:39:25.440 of a man for that, but there's a fucking succubus involved. Okay, 615 00:39:25.559

--> 00:39:28.599 Van Deiste, you get this one for free. He walks 616 00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:32.039 me to the main doors and yes, every nearby student 617 00:39:32.119 --> 00:39:34.960 is looking right at us. He pushes open one of 618 00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:37.800 the doors and shoves me through it. Then he steps 619 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:41.039 outside and points right at me. I'm getting sick and 620 00:39:41.159 --> 00:39:43.960 tired of you thinking you run my school bella tabon. 621 00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:48.679 You need to remember I'm the principal here me. And 622 00:39:48.719 --> 00:39:53.440 then I notice he's staring me down again. Hmm. Me, 623 00:39:53.559 --> 00:39:56.159 being as scantily clad as I am, can work to 624 00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:59.480 my advantage here. I move my hands up to my 625 00:39:59.559 --> 00:40:02.760 hair pose for him just enough to where Van Deist 626 00:40:02.880 --> 00:40:06.039 can see my sex appeal. I may not have the 627 00:40:06.039 --> 00:40:09.039 glamorous body of a succubust, but there are plenty of 628 00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:13.679 males here at Strickfield High who would love to be mine. 629 00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:17.559 Are you one of those people, Matthew van Deste. Let's 630 00:40:17.639 --> 00:40:21.719 just see who's got more allure here, the voluptuous succubists 631 00:40:22.239 --> 00:40:27.039 or the skin tight vampire. U sh it. 632 00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:31.239 Was only the wind. You're safe, weekly Spooky will be 633 00:40:31.400 --> 00:40:31.960 right back. 634 00:40:33.320 --> 00:40:36.000 Van Deiste is just stammering his words as he keeps 635 00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:39.599 ripping me one new ass after another. I've already said 636 00:40:39.639 --> 00:40:42.800 I have little speed bumps for tits, but he's still 637 00:40:42.880 --> 00:40:46.639 drawn to him. He's still quite attracted to my tight body. 638 00:40:47.159 --> 00:40:49.920 I'm not even using glam on him like that fucking 639 00:40:49.960 --> 00:40:52.639 succubist in the school. I can wrap people so tight 640 00:40:52.639 --> 00:40:56.199 around my little finger, they'll do anything I tell them, 641 00:40:56.360 --> 00:40:58.679 so I guess you can say Lavender and I aren't 642 00:40:58.719 --> 00:41:02.119 that much different in that department. And that's when I 643 00:41:02.159 --> 00:41:05.559 see the bitch looking out and glaring at me. Now, 644 00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:08.679 I've never been sure whether or not a succubist or 645 00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:12.960 an incubus can sense a vampire. A master vampire can 646 00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:16.599 sense them, for sure. Lavender looks ready to come outside 647 00:41:16.599 --> 00:41:19.840 and confront me, but she knows that's probably not a 648 00:41:19.880 --> 00:41:24.280 good idea. No, Lavender doesn't want people knowing what any 649 00:41:24.360 --> 00:41:28.119 and I both know. I keep turning on the charm 650 00:41:28.199 --> 00:41:30.559 for van Deste. I don't even have to go full 651 00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:34.159 porno on him, just showing a curve here and there, 652 00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:38.760 keeping his full attention on my nearly naked body. Guess 653 00:41:38.760 --> 00:41:42.519 bigger tits ain't always better, huh, Lavender. I'm laughing my 654 00:41:42.599 --> 00:41:46.840 ass off. Deep down, Lavender is fucking pissed at me. Now, 655 00:41:47.599 --> 00:41:51.559 good come for me, bitch, and then I have a 656 00:41:51.639 --> 00:41:54.559 hell of a plan. I don't know if Van Deste 657 00:41:54.559 --> 00:41:57.519 heard the bell ring, but I sure did. Still he's 658 00:41:57.639 --> 00:42:00.000 rambling on and even repeats a few things to me 659 00:42:00.360 --> 00:42:04.239 as he's still undressing me, with his eyes still holding 660 00:42:04.320 --> 00:42:08.639 Lavender's attention. It's time to do the unthinkable. I come 661 00:42:08.679 --> 00:42:11.679 in close to van dest and lock my lips with 662 00:42:11.800 --> 00:42:15.480 his boy do his fucking arms ever wrap me up? 663 00:42:15.880 --> 00:42:18.760 He holds me oh so gently to him as we 664 00:42:18.840 --> 00:42:21.960 share a soft kiss together, and then I hear his 665 00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:27.480 heart beating and realize I just made a huge mistake. 666 00:42:34.199 --> 00:42:37.079 I quickly back the fuck away from Principal van Deste. 667 00:42:37.639 --> 00:42:42.639 Then he just looks right at me, bella, I know 668 00:42:43.039 --> 00:42:46.360 I'm suspended. I quickly reply, getting my ass off school 669 00:42:46.360 --> 00:42:49.400 property right now. Then I give him two middle fingers 670 00:42:49.840 --> 00:42:53.320 and you can go fuck yourself. Just then, a teacher 671 00:42:53.360 --> 00:42:56.840 sees Lavender and tells her to get to class. At first, 672 00:42:56.880 --> 00:42:59.639 she won't go, but she ultimately doesn't have a choice 673 00:42:59.679 --> 00:43:03.800 if she doesn't want to expose herself. She finally leaves, 674 00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:07.440 knowing I did what I wanted to do in provoking Lavender, 675 00:43:07.599 --> 00:43:11.440 I turn and start walking away. As I turn the corner, 676 00:43:11.559 --> 00:43:15.039 Van Deist snatches my wrist. Now you wait just a minute. 677 00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:18.880 As I turn around to face him. We suddenly lock 678 00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:22.440 lips again. This time the kiss lasts a little longer. 679 00:43:23.039 --> 00:43:27.559 Then we come apart. What in the actual fuck? When 680 00:43:27.559 --> 00:43:30.400 I hear his heartbeat again, I have my confirmation that 681 00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:33.920 I truly fucked up. I know now that Principal Van 682 00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:37.519 Deste has desired me for a very long time. I 683 00:43:37.559 --> 00:43:39.559 don't mean he just wants to have hot and nasty 684 00:43:39.639 --> 00:43:43.000 sex with me. I mean he wants to be with me. 685 00:43:44.119 --> 00:43:49.039 He's he's fucking in love with me. I

compose myself 686 00:43:49.039 --> 00:43:54.079 and raise my finger. Okay, Matthew, one, you know, fucking 687 00:43:54.199 --> 00:43:58.320 goddamn well, what we're doing is quite forbidden. Read the 688 00:43:58.400 --> 00:44:02.280 student handbook. Two, you'd have to decide if you want 689 00:44:02.360 --> 00:44:06.480 Lavender or me, and three it'll never work between you 690 00:44:06.559 --> 00:44:09.400 and me in any case. And since I'm not supposed 691 00:44:09.400 --> 00:44:12.840 to be here, When we hear someone opening one of 692 00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:15.960 the main doors and calling for Van dest he glances 693 00:44:15.960 --> 00:44:18.760 over his shoulder when he goes to look back at me, 694 00:44:19.320 --> 00:44:23.679 I'm gone, Yeah, just like Batman, the little devil in 695 00:44:23.719 --> 00:44:26.639 me loves pulling that shit on him. But this wasn't 696 00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:30.000 a case of me being a little devil here. I 697 00:44:30.039 --> 00:44:33.039 had to get the fuck away from Van dest I 698 00:44:33.119 --> 00:44:36.239 need to think I'm out on the football field. When 699 00:44:36.320 --> 00:44:41.199 Aini finds me at lunch break, bells you okay, she asks, 700 00:44:41.400 --> 00:44:44.880 sitting down next to me. I shake my head. No, 701 00:44:46.280 --> 00:44:49.239 and you're gonna be so pissed off at me. I 702 00:44:49.320 --> 00:44:53.960 tell Ainie everything. Her jaw drops. Are you saying? I mean? 703 00:44:54.719 --> 00:44:57.320 I get principal? Van Deste has a thing for you. 704 00:44:57.920 --> 00:44:59.920 I've known that ever since I first brought you just 705 00:45:00.199 --> 00:45:06.119 field high. But are you in love with him? I sigh? Heine, 706 00:45:07.039 --> 00:45:10.159 you know, Martin and I aren't fucking anymore, ever since 707 00:45:10.199 --> 00:45:12.519 your grandma talked to me about him and you told 708 00:45:12.559 --> 00:45:16.840 me how you got sick. There's just no way in hell. Also, 709 00:45:17.239 --> 00:45:22.000 I can smell that he's been fucking other girls. I sigh, 710 00:45:22.039 --> 00:45:26.280 But I have feelings and needs too. Go ahead, rip 711 00:45:26.360 --> 00:45:30.440 me some new asses. Nothing you haven't done before. Aine 712 00:45:30.519 --> 00:45:34.239 just looks at me and groans in frustration herself. So 713 00:45:35.639 --> 00:45:38.119 what are you going to do about Van dest You 714 00:45:38.159 --> 00:45:41.559 can't just leave him for Lavender to suck up. No 715 00:45:41.719 --> 00:45:45.880 fucking shit, I mutter. He's a fucking worm of a man, 716 00:45:46.079 --> 00:45:48.800 but I have to save him. Lavender will come for 717 00:45:48.920 --> 00:45:51.480 him tonight. She plans to fuck him and take his 718 00:45:51.559 --> 00:45:55.400 sexual energy. Van Deiste will end up just like Jacob Lautner. 719 00:45:55.559 --> 00:45:59.559 If that happens, I swear the shit you get me into. Iine. 720 00:46:00.519 --> 00:46:04.639 She looks apologetic. Now I had to tell you Bells. 721 00:46:05.440 --> 00:46:08.320 I smirk a little in patter he's shoulder. I know. 722 00:46:09.280 --> 00:46:15.039 I'm glad you did. I just didn't expect this. I 723 00:46:15.119 --> 00:46:24.679 put my hands on my forehead and grown fuck That night. 724 00:46:24.800 --> 00:46:28.519 Anie and I are hiding in Van Deste's backyard. Thanks 725 00:46:28.519 --> 00:46:30.639 to my night vision, I can see shit like it's 726 00:46:30.679 --> 00:46:34.679 still daylight. Van Deste is sitting at his computer. I 727 00:46:34.760 --> 00:46:38.079 recently discovered I can focus my vampire vision to zoom 728 00:46:38.079 --> 00:46:40.679 in on things I can see. Van Deste has the 729 00:46:40.679 --> 00:46:46.480 Strickfield High website up. He's looking at pictures of me. 730 00:46:47.559 --> 00:46:50.239 God damn it. That's what I get for attaching a 731 00:46:50.280 --> 00:46:53.280 piece of old bloodstone to my choker to allow myself 732 00:46:53.280 --> 00:46:56.400 to cast a reflection. I did it so people wouldn't 733 00:46:56.480 --> 00:47:01.239 see what they shouldn't. Ainie's using night vie goggles she made. 734 00:47:01.840 --> 00:47:04.199 She's really putting that big brain of hers to use 735 00:47:04.239 --> 00:47:06.639 and building all these new toys we're using when we're 736 00:47:06.639 --> 00:47:10.360 out together. I used to tell AINI that I work alone. 737 00:47:11.039 --> 00:47:13.440 But you know, damn well, she's not gonna stay put. 738 00:47:13.920 --> 00:47:19.119 Ainie's definitely not my sidekick. No, she's my partner in crime. 739 00:47:19.840 --> 00:47:23.039 To be honest, I like having her around. Then I 740 00:47:23.079 --> 00:47:27.480 hear Ainy sigh of disgust. I don't know what you did, Bells, 741 00:47:27.880 --> 00:47:32.280 but you've definitely set Van Deist on fire. Yeah, no shit, 742 00:47:32.719 --> 00:47:37.599 I mutter, how you feeling? Can you do this? I'll 743 00:47:37.639 --> 00:47:41.920 be okay, And then looks like he's getting ready for bed. 744 00:47:42.599 --> 00:47:45.360 Lavender will come for him. Once he's asleep and dreaming. 745 00:47:46.280 --> 00:47:48.800 He'll dream about her, assuming her hold on him is 746 00:47:48.840 --> 00:47:53.159 still there. I know I did some research on Suckuby. 747 00:47:53.800 --> 00:47:59.599 I roll my eyes. I'm what Wikipedia? Please? She scoffs 748 00:47:59.639 --> 00:48:02.519 at me. I never use Wikipedia. Give me a break, 749 00:48:02.559 --> 00:48:06.679 Bell's She bumps my arm. You better move. I can 750 00:48:06.719 --> 00:48:09.800 sense the tension between any and me. She knows I'm 751 00:48:09.800 --> 00:48:12.840 feeling something for Van dest I move out of the 752 00:48:12.840 --> 00:48:16.199 bushes and leap up onto the roof. I walk barefoot 753 00:48:16.199 --> 00:48:19.440 to his window and look in, making sure he doesn't 754 00:48:19.440 --> 00:48:22.719 see me. Even out here, I can still hear his 755 00:48:22.800 -->

00:48:29.239 heart beating. He still desires me more than anything. Why 756 00:48:29.280 --> 00:48:33.440 the fuck did I ever kiss him? He finally falls asleep. 757 00:48:33.920 --> 00:48:37.400 I just have to wait until he's dreaming. It's then 758 00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:41.119 that I smell Lavender Collier. She comes out of his 759 00:48:41.199 --> 00:48:48.480 closet and approaches the bed. Yes, mortal, your energies are 760 00:48:48.559 --> 00:48:53.440 at their utmost, she purrs. Now, I shall give you 761 00:48:53.559 --> 00:48:58.400 that which you most desire. In turn, you shall sustain 762 00:48:58.559 --> 00:49:04.920 me once I fed, then you die. She's wearing a 763 00:49:05.000 --> 00:49:09.360 red dress and is already barefoot. She easily undoes the 764 00:49:09.400 --> 00:49:13.320 shoulder straps and lets the dress drop to the floor. Naked, 765 00:49:13.679 --> 00:49:17.519 she slithers onto the bed and lays on top of him. 766 00:49:18.440 --> 00:49:23.159 Wake up, my love, Lavender whispers, Take me in your 767 00:49:23.320 --> 00:49:27.880 arms and make me yours. I need you so desperately. 768 00:49:28.880 --> 00:49:31.559 Van Deist wakes up and sees the beautiful form on 769 00:49:31.639 --> 00:49:37.360 top of him. But then something quite adverse happens. No 770 00:49:38.239 --> 00:49:44.760 Vandiste utters, shaking his head. What, Lavender shrieks, This cannot be. 771 00:49:45.280 --> 00:49:46.840 How have you broken my allure? 772 00:49:48.280 --> 00:49:52.199 You're not safe yet weakly Spooky will be right back. 773 00:49:54.320 --> 00:49:58.440 Yeah, I truly drove any thought of Lavender Collier out 774 00:49:58.440 --> 00:50:00.480 of his mind when I let him in this morning. 775 00:50:01.599 --> 00:50:03.760 His love for me is powerful enough for him to 776 00:50:03.800 --> 00:50:08.320 resist her. I realize I can't just stay outside and observe. 777 00:50:08.440 --> 00:50:12.599 Now I gotta fight the bitch. I burst through the 778 00:50:12.599 --> 00:50:16.400 window and glare at Lavender. Get the fuck off him 779 00:50:16.960 --> 00:50:20.840 right now. Lavender gets off the bed and on the 780 00:50:20.880 --> 00:50:24.639 other side. Then she glares at me and begins to 781 00:50:24.800 --> 00:50:28.639 change into her true form. She now has big horns 782 00:50:28.639 --> 00:50:31.280 on her head, a long tail with a very sharp 783 00:50:31.320 --> 00:50:35.480 point on the end, and claws. Seeing her reminds me 784 00:50:35.519 --> 00:50:38.519 of pictures I've seen of the hell Weaver. In fact, 785 00:50:39.119 --> 00:50:42.760 all suck you By are her daughters. I quickly vamp 786 00:50:42.800 --> 00:50:46.559 out and raise my claws. You can't have him, I 787 00:50:46.639 --> 00:50:50.920 say to Lavender, But I shall once I have disposed 788 00:50:50.960 --> 00:50:57.320 of you. She replies, Bella what Van dest cries out, 789 00:50:57.840 --> 00:51:03.119 you're a mumpire. Lavender hisses at me and raises her 790 00:51:03.119 --> 00:51:06.000 own claws. The two of us leap up and meet 791 00:51:06.039 --> 00:51:09.360 over the bed. We punch and clawed each other. I 792 00:51:09.480 --> 00:51:12.280 know I'm gonna have a hell of a fight with Lavender. 793 00:51:13.039 --> 00:51:16.440 Suck Youby are very strong and can become quite dangerous 794 00:51:16.480 --> 00:51:21.199 when they're threatened over their chosen prey. I eventually grab 795 00:51:21.280 --> 00:51:24.079 Lavender and throw her ass out the window. Then I 796 00:51:24.119 --> 00:51:26.800 come out after her. I can smell where Inini is 797 00:51:26.840 --> 00:51:30.159 and know she's watching us fight. I'm feeling so high 798 00:51:30.239 --> 00:51:34.559 strung right now. I fucking love to fight. My desire 799 00:51:34.599 --> 00:51:37.639 to fight really increased after I became my own unique 800 00:51:37.639 --> 00:51:42.760 master vampire. Along with my appetite and my libido, Lavender 801 00:51:42.760 --> 00:51:45.400 and I attack and roll around on each other. We 802 00:51:45.480 --> 00:51:48.639 throw each other into things. She's really quite strong and 803 00:51:48.679 --> 00:51:52.800 can possibly match my strength. She hisses loudly in frustration 804 00:51:53.000 --> 00:51:55.719 when I won't stay down. She even tries to claw 805 00:51:55.760 --> 00:51:59.159 at my heart. Hate to tell you, bitch, but going 806 00:51:59.199 --> 00:52:01.719 for my heart won't help you in the least. I 807 00:52:01.800 --> 00:52:05.159 tell her no. Lie. While it takes a stake through 808 00:52:05.159 --> 00:52:09.159 the heart and decapitation to destroy a traditional master vampire, 809 00:52:09.920 --> 00:52:13.480 this method does not work on me. I've been staked 810 00:52:13.519 --> 00:52:17.000 and beheaded twice during my existence as a master vampire. 811 00:52:17.559 --> 00:52:20.920 When Thornton Gillian's blood mixed with my pure Tabon blood 812 00:52:21.320 --> 00:52:25.039 those many years ago, it made me something truly unique. 813 00:52:25.400 --> 00:52:28.800 I'm beginning to think I may never be capable of dying. 814 00:52:29.880 --> 00:52:32.320 Lavender and I have bled each other with our claws. 815 00:52:32.599 --> 00:52:36.880 Though our injuries heal almost immediately. This certainly isn't your 816 00:52:37.039 --> 00:52:40.719 usual high school cat fight either. No, Lavender knows how 817 00:52:40.760 --> 00:52:43.840 to fight same as I do. Our styles differ on 818 00:52:43.840 --> 00:52:46.440 the account of our training. What Lavender is about to 819 00:52:46.480 --> 00:52:49.360 find out is that she picked the wrong fucking cunt 820 00:52:49.599 --> 00:52:52.719 to fight. You see, any and I both know how 821 00:52:52.719 --> 00:52:56.000 to kill these fucking things. In fact, I'm about to 822 00:52:56.079 --> 00:52:58.719 use one of those toys she whipped up. I have 823 00:52:58.840 --> 00:53:02.440 launchers strapped to my forearms. She originally made them for 824

00:53:02.519 --> 00:53:06.239 fighting enemy vampires. We used them to fight werewolves back 825 00:53:06.239 --> 00:53:09.480 in early June at Shore City. In fact, it'll be 826 00:53:09.519 --> 00:53:12.079 the same method we use to end the werewolves that'll 827 00:53:12.199 --> 00:53:16.559 end this succubus. Since I've kept Lavender from fucking van Deist, 828 00:53:16.679 --> 00:53:19.719 she hasn't been able to feed. By keeping her fighting 829 00:53:19.760 --> 00:53:23.320 with me, she's gotten weaker. I finally get her to 830 00:53:23.360 --> 00:53:26.239 the point where she's desperate. When she tries to grab 831 00:53:26.280 --> 00:53:28.519 my head to rip it off, I hold her to 832 00:53:28.639 --> 00:53:31.280 me and position one of my launchers at her heart region. 833 00:53:31.960 --> 00:53:35.360 Lavender shrieks and then cries out in serious pain when 834 00:53:35.400 --> 00:53:38.360 she feels the tip of the silver steak coming out 835 00:53:38.400 --> 00:53:42.679 of her back. That's how you kill them, silver, but 836 00:53:42.719 --> 00:53:45.360 you have to have a substantial amount of it, like 837 00:53:45.400 --> 00:53:48.920 in a stake. Something as small as a silver bullet 838 00:53:48.960 --> 00:53:51.599 can kill a werewolf, but something as big as a 839 00:53:51.599 --> 00:53:55.800 silver steak is what you need for killing these fucking bitches. 840 00:53:56.360 --> 00:54:00.800 The only exception is hell Weaver herself falls back and 841 00:54:00.880 --> 00:54:04.039 tries to remove the silver steak from her heart. It's 842 00:54:04.079 --> 00:54:08.559 in there pretty tight, and she's too weak, you bitch. 843 00:54:09.280 --> 00:54:14.880 Lavender moans, my mother will destroy you for this. I 844 00:54:15.000 --> 00:54:18.800 sneer as I raise my middle finger. Your mother can 845 00:54:18.840 --> 00:54:23.920 make like a dildo and go fuck herself. Lavender finally dies. 846 00:54:24.800 --> 00:54:29.519 Then she begins to melt away, even her bones. Soon 847 00:54:29.599 --> 00:54:33.639 there's nothing left but residue and the silver steak. I 848 00:54:33.719 --> 00:54:35.599 pick it up and hand it to Ainy. When she 849 00:54:35.679 --> 00:54:43.159 comes beside me, you okay, bells still kicking. I answer, okay, 850 00:54:43.280 --> 00:54:48.400 we can go home. Then she says, I sigh. Not yet. 851 00:54:49.039 --> 00:54:51.719 Van Deste has seen me. He knows what I am. 852 00:54:51.800 --> 00:54:54.320 Now I have to go back and glam him to 853 00:54:54.360 --> 00:54:59.480 make him forget Iini gives me a doubtful look. You're 854 00:54:59.559 --> 00:55:02.440 really going to sleep with him, aren't you. I just 855 00:55:02.519 --> 00:55:06.480 lower my head. I can't walk away. He knows my secret. 856 00:55:07.559 --> 00:55:09.360 She and I just look at each other for a 857 00:55:09.400 --> 00:55:14.920 long moment. Then she turns and walks away. I want 858 00:55:14.920 --> 00:55:24.079 to call her out, but Cih van Deiste is still 859 00:55:24.079 --> 00:55:26.239 in his bed with covers pulled up to his chin. 860 00:55:26.320 --> 00:55:29.280 When I return. When he sees me, he pushes the 861 00:55:29.320 --> 00:55:32.280 covers down and quickly gets out of bed. He comes 862 00:55:32.360 --> 00:55:35.199 right to me and takes me in his arms. I'm 863 00:55:35.280 --> 00:55:38.360 still in my vampire form, and he's not the least 864 00:55:38.400 --> 00:55:42.519 bit afraid of me. We don't talk. I can tell 865 00:55:42.599 --> 00:55:45.119 he wants to tell me he loves me. I can 866 00:55:45.159 --> 00:55:49.039 feel my own feelings. I don't understand why I feel 867 00:55:49.079 --> 00:55:52.119 for someone like Matthew van Deste, given what I know 868 00:55:52.239 --> 00:55:55.719 about him at school. In the truest sense of age, 869 00:55:55.760 --> 00:55:58.599 it wouldn't be wrong for us to be together. He's 870 00:55:58.639 --> 00:56:01.280 in his early forties and I appear to be seventeen, 871 00:56:01.840 --> 00:56:03.639 which was how old I was when I came to 872 00:56:03.679 --> 00:56:08.079 be a master vampire back in eighteen eighty nine. I'm 873 00:56:08.079 --> 00:56:12.679 easily the older woman here. Now we share a long, deep, 874 00:56:12.920 --> 00:56:16.880 passionate kiss. Truly, Van Deste has loved me for quite 875 00:56:16.960 --> 00:56:20.320 some time. I don't know if I've always harbored feelings 876 00:56:20.360 --> 00:56:22.519 for him. As much as I've played with him at school, 877 00:56:23.199 --> 00:56:26.880 he's always tried to tame the bad schoolgirl, but he 878 00:56:27.000 --> 00:56:31.480 continues to find I just can't be tamed. If anything, 879 00:56:31.599 --> 00:56:35.119 I keep him honest, but I gotta be honest with myself. 880 00:56:35.719 --> 00:56:37.920 As much as I'd truly love to see where this 881 00:56:38.039 --> 00:56:42.920 forbidden relationship would take us, I gotta pull away. I 882 00:56:43.039 --> 00:56:46.599 do just that. After we finish our kiss, his eyes 883 00:56:46.599 --> 00:56:50.800 are on mine. Now he's sinking deep into me. His 884 00:56:50.920 --> 00:56:58.760 will is mine? Okay, Matthew. I begin The next morning, 885 00:56:59.159 --> 00:57:02.880 Innie and I walk into Strickfield High together. Principal van 886 00:57:02.960 --> 00:57:07.199 dest immediately sees us, and he's undressing me with his eyes. 887 00:57:07.760 --> 00:57:10.000 I play with him again by flipping him off and 888 00:57:10.079 --> 00:57:13.079 flicking my tongue for him. He just glares at me 889 00:57:13.360 --> 00:57:16.719 but does nothing. I can still hear his heart beat. 890 00:57:17.360 --> 00:57:19.719 He still loves me with all his heart and soul. 891 00:57:20.760 --> 00:57:25.199 Even my powerful glam can't remove or change true emotions. 892 00:57:25.760 --> 00:57:28.400 I need nods for us to go into an empty classroom. 893 00:57:29.840 --> 00:57:33.480 We go in there to talk bells. Why didn't you 894 00:57:33.519

--> 00:57:37.239 pursue van Deste, she asks, I know you want to. 895 00:57:38.159 --> 00:57:41.280 I shake my head a little, because you mean more 896 00:57:41.320 --> 00:57:44.039 to me than he does. When you walked away from 897 00:57:44.039 --> 00:57:49.679 me last night, it really hurt. I even cried a little. 898 00:57:50.239 --> 00:57:53.639 I never expected to have a friend like you. I 899 00:57:53.719 --> 00:57:57.519 love you, iinee. A forbidden relationship with Van Deste isn't 900 00:57:57.559 --> 00:58:01.719 worth losing your friendship over. I may be having emotional issues, 901 00:58:01.760 --> 00:58:05.559 but I'm not a fool. Anie and I come together 902 00:58:05.639 --> 00:58:10.000 and hug. I love you too, Bells and thank you 903 00:58:10.079 --> 00:58:13.599 for always sticking by me. After we come out of 904 00:58:13.639 --> 00:58:16.320 our hug, we leave the classroom and make our way 905 00:58:16.360 --> 00:58:20.719 to first period to start the school day. Deep down, 906 00:58:20.920 --> 00:58:22.920 I have the feeling it's only going to be a 907 00:58:22.920 --> 00:58:26.880 matter of time before something drastic happens to bring Van 908 00:58:26.960 --> 00:58:30.599 Deiste and me dangerously close to each other once again. 909 00:58:31.960 --> 00:58:44.920 But not today. Echo echo by shame, shame, Biglevoka. I 910 00:58:45.000 --> 00:58:47.880 first met him last week, though I'd heard about the 911 00:58:47.920 --> 00:58:51.239 new guy in town before that. Castle New York was 912 00:58:51.280 --> 00:58:55.719 the smallest of small towns. Word travels fast when somebody 913 00:58:55.760 --> 00:58:58.960 knew moves to town. Travis looked like he stepped out 914 00:58:59.000 --> 00:59:02.320 of one of those fifties biker films, and last Thursday, 915 00:59:02.599 --> 00:59:05.079 when he walked into the diner I work at, I 916 00:59:05.119 --> 00:59:07.639 couldn't take my eyes off him, and he knew it. 917 00:59:08.480 --> 00:59:11.039 He caught me looking at him and smiled that sly 918 00:59:11.239 --> 00:59:14.519 smile of his. My eyes darted away and I tried 919 00:59:14.519 --> 00:59:16.639 to make it look like I was working around the diner, 920 00:59:16.679 --> 00:59:20.159 but it was too late. He strode over to me. 921 00:59:21.199 --> 00:59:25.920 Hello there, he said. Hey. I tried to sound confident, 922 00:59:26.119 --> 00:59:29.239 like I didn't give a fuck, but my voice cracked. 923 00:59:29.719 --> 00:59:33.199 He smiled at me. Can I get a chocolate milkshake 924 00:59:33.239 --> 00:59:40.800 to go? Sure? I heard there, like wow here. I 925 00:59:40.840 --> 00:59:43.199 started making the shake. As he leaned on the counter, 926 00:59:43.679 --> 00:59:46.320 he looked at his reflection in the glass case of donuts, 927 00:59:46.400 --> 00:59:52.400 adjusting his perfect hair. Yeah they're really good, I said, unsuccessfully, 928 00:59:52.480 --> 00:59:56.480 thinking of something cool to say. Lived here all your life, 929 00:59:56.800 --> 01:00:02.840 he asked. Unfortunately, ain't so, I've been to worse. I 930 01:00:02.920 --> 01:00:05.440 finished the shake and brought it over to him. He 931 01:00:05.519 --> 01:00:08.199 gave me a wink and took a sip. Before I 932 01:00:08.239 --> 01:00:11.039 could say anything, he slid a ten dollars bill across 933 01:00:11.039 --> 01:00:14.760 the counter. A large silver ring gleamed on his hand. 934 01:00:15.400 --> 01:00:19.800 He turned and started to leave. Let me get your change. 935 01:00:19.880 --> 01:00:24.360 The rest is for you, Dolly. I watched him go. Dolly. 936 01:00:25.239 --> 01:00:28.599 I felt a bit offended, but at the same time, 937 01:00:28.679 --> 01:00:34.159 I was feeling something else, love lust, whatever it was. 938 01:00:34.440 --> 01:00:38.800 It made me somewhat forgiving of the Dolly remark. So 939 01:00:38.880 --> 01:00:42.320 that's the new guy, not bad. I turned and it 940 01:00:42.400 --> 01:00:46.119 was my coworker and friend, bren She adjusted her raven hair. 941 01:00:46.920 --> 01:00:50.039 What did he say to you, Ronnie? Nothing much, just 942 01:00:50.400 --> 01:00:55.760 wanted a milkshake. Yeah, yours? We both laughed. Brenn has 943 01:00:55.840 --> 01:00:59.320 this obnoxious laugh that usually ends up making me laugh 944 01:00:59.360 --> 01:01:02.639 even harder. The next day he didn't show up, but 945 01:01:02.840 --> 01:01:06.320 the day after that he was there again, this time 946 01:01:06.400 --> 01:01:10.320 wanting a milkshake and a burger. No matter who waited 947 01:01:10.320 --> 01:01:13.239 on him, he always ended up talking to me, usually 948 01:01:13.280 --> 01:01:17.840 asking me about some town idiosyncrasy or whatnot, always coming 949 01:01:17.840 --> 01:01:21.679 in at the same time every other day. It continued 950 01:01:21.719 --> 01:01:24.559 like this for a month. We'd small talk a little, 951 01:01:24.599 --> 01:01:27.239 and then he'd leave. I never saw him outside of 952 01:01:27.239 --> 01:01:31.960 the diner. Then one day he changed the routine. I 953 01:01:32.000 --> 01:01:34.840 got off work one sunny Monday afternoon and Travis was 954 01:01:34.880 --> 01:01:38.400 waiting for me. He was leaning ever so slightly against 955 01:01:38.400 --> 01:01:41.960 the side of the diner. He smiled at me. Hey, 956 01:01:42.639 --> 01:01:46.679 I said, hey, he answered. He flicked out a metal 957 01:01:46.760 --> 01:01:49.480 lighter and lit a slim cigarette. So what do you 958 01:01:49.559 --> 01:01:53.239 do for a kick around here? There's the movie theater 959 01:01:53.400 --> 01:01:58.159 or the bowling alley? No, no, you? He took a puff. 960 01:02:00.119 --> 01:02:10.199 Me not much? Nah, dang, shame pretty little girl like you? Thanks? 961 01:02:10.880 --> 01:02:14.199 The flattery made me blush? Was he hitting on me? 962 01:02:15.239 --> 01:02:17.159 I sucked at this kind of thing. I wasn't sure 963 01:02:17.199 --> 01:02:21.119 if he wanted me to

say anything. I haven't found 964 01:02:21.239 --> 01:02:25.440 much in town to get excited about Dullsville. Really, he 965 01:02:25.519 --> 01:02:28.440 took a long drag on his cigarette, so I was 966 01:02:28.440 --> 01:02:33.079 wondering if you want to hang? I thought for a second, 967 01:02:33.760 --> 01:02:37.880 he's asking me out. I suck at dating. He's good 968 01:02:37.920 --> 01:02:41.119 looking and seems nice, but there's no way a date 969 01:02:41.159 --> 01:02:45.400 between us won't end an embarrassment for me and perhaps 970 01:02:45.440 --> 01:02:50.599 him too. How can I talk him out of it? 971 01:02:50.599 --> 01:02:53.920 It's kind of been a rough day, you know, mondays, 972 01:02:54.679 --> 01:02:58.159 I just want to go back home and chill. It 973 01:02:58.239 --> 01:03:03.519 don't have to be today. Oh cool? So want to 974 01:03:03.559 --> 01:03:08.079 see a flick? He said, show the new guy the sights? Sure? 975 01:03:08.760 --> 01:03:13.199 Am I really going to do this? Yeah? I guess 976 01:03:13.239 --> 01:03:18.199 I was. Why not? I deserve some fun, right right? 977 01:03:19.039 --> 01:03:21.760 You do? Brend was always trying to get me to 978 01:03:21.800 --> 01:03:27.719 go out this would really shocker tomorrow night good. I 979 01:03:27.800 --> 01:03:30.159 thought about it. Did you know I didn't have to 980 01:03:30.159 --> 01:03:35.239 work the day after? Sure, aces, it's a date. Then 981 01:03:35.599 --> 01:03:40.159 I'll let you pick the flick cool. Yeah, he looked 982 01:03:40.159 --> 01:03:42.480 at me. You should always have your hair like that. 983 01:03:43.519 --> 01:03:46.079 I touched my hair. I forgot I tied it back 984 01:03:46.079 --> 01:03:49.159 at work. This was probably the first time he saw 985 01:03:49.159 --> 01:03:57.320 it loose. It's so beautiful and red like a rose. Thanks. 986 01:03:58.159 --> 01:04:02.920 My face lit up as I blushed. Great, got a run, babe, 987 01:04:03.119 --> 01:04:05.679 be seeing you. He did a little point at me 988 01:04:05.719 --> 01:04:08.639 and winked before leaving, the spurs on the back of 989 01:04:08.679 --> 01:04:12.320 his cowboy boots jangling as he went. What had I 990 01:04:12.400 --> 01:04:16.840 got myself into? Our first date went well, as did 991 01:04:16.880 --> 01:04:20.000 the next three. Before I realized it, we were a 992 01:04:20.159 --> 01:04:24.840 thing in town. I think Brenn was jealous. For our 993 01:04:24.880 --> 01:04:27.360 fifth date, Travis wanted to take me on a picnic 994 01:04:27.400 --> 01:04:30.199 to Harmony Lake. It would be our first date in 995 01:04:30.239 --> 01:04:34.840 a less public space. I wasn't too worried. On every date. 996 01:04:35.119 --> 01:04:37.880 Travis had been quite the gentleman. I was getting ready 997 01:04:37.920 --> 01:04:40.639 in the apartment I share with Brenn. I stood doing 998 01:04:40.679 --> 01:04:45.039 my hair over and over again. You look good. Let 999 01:04:45.039 --> 01:04:48.039 it go.

She said. I turned from the mirror and 1000 01:04:48.079 --> 01:04:51.840 presented myself. You think, I said, twirling around in my 1001 01:04:51.920 --> 01:04:57.599 new dress. You're hideous, hilarious. Seriously, hun, you look a 1002 01:04:57.679 --> 01:05:01.039 maze balls, she hugged me. Have fun at the lake. 1003 01:05:01.639 --> 01:05:05.840 Try not to get too lucky. Hey, it's been a while, 1004 01:05:05.880 --> 01:05:09.719 but not that long. Travis picked me up in his 1005 01:05:09.800 --> 01:05:13.880 nineteen fifty seven Plymouth Fury. It was a convertible. The 1006 01:05:13.960 --> 01:05:16.400 thing looked like a shark that decided to crawl out 1007 01:05:16.440 --> 01:05:18.760 of the ocean and start looking for meals on land. 1008 01:05:19.519 --> 01:05:23.400 He tooted the horn as he pulled up. You look stunning, babe, 1009 01:05:23.840 --> 01:05:26.800 he said. Ever the gentleman, he wouldn't let me into 1010 01:05:26.800 --> 01:05:29.280 the car unless he got out and opened the door 1011 01:05:29.320 --> 01:05:32.599 for me. Some old song was playing on the car radio. 1012 01:05:33.159 --> 01:05:36.440 In fact, I don't think he ever listened to anything 1013 01:05:36.480 --> 01:05:39.440 after the fifties. We headed out of town as the 1014 01:05:39.559 --> 01:05:43.960 King sang on the radio. I can't get over your car, Travis, 1015 01:05:44.119 --> 01:05:47.800 I said, it looks so good for its age. I 1016 01:05:47.960 --> 01:05:50.320 take care of this baby means a lot to me 1017 01:05:50.880 --> 01:05:55.440 sentimental value. I keep her cherry, try to get maximum performance. 1018 01:05:56.199 --> 01:05:59.239 He steps on the gas and we're moving a little 1019 01:05:59.280 --> 01:06:02.480 too fast through town. I look at him nervously as 1020 01:06:02.480 --> 01:06:05.559 he speeds up. Don't sweat it, Rose, I got this. 1021 01:06:06.480 --> 01:06:10.639 Travis had started calling me Rose. Honestly, I didn't mind. 1022 01:06:11.199 --> 01:06:16.519 He took my hand. I think today is gonna be special. 1023 01:06:20.440 --> 01:06:22.719 The lake looked beautiful in the summer sun as we 1024 01:06:22.800 --> 01:06:26.119 walked to a nice secluded spot under a large tree. 1025 01:06:26.320 --> 01:06:30.239 Travis left the car radio on. Down in the willow 1026 01:06:30.400 --> 01:06:35.360 garden where me and my love did meet. He set 1027 01:06:35.400 --> 01:06:39.320 down a large blanket. My dear, he said, ushering me 1028 01:06:39.360 --> 01:06:43.119 to the blanket. We brought quite the selection of food. 1029 01:06:43.599 --> 01:06:47.280 Travis popped open a bottle of wine. Was that weird 1030 01:06:47.320 --> 01:06:50.880 for a picnic? He caught me, making a face. Don't 1031 01:06:50.880 --> 01:06:54.440 tell me you don't drink wine. No, just seems like 1032 01:06:54.519 --> 01:06:58.239 a bit much for an afternoon picnic. Well, it's a 1033 01:06:58.239 --> 01:07:03.880 celebration too, babe. It is what are we celebrating? Five dates? 1034 01:07:04.400 --> 01:07:09.719 I laugh, Okay, I'll drink to that, my love. She 1035 01:07:09.960 --> 01:07:13.400 did not know. The song played on as he poured 1036 01:07:13.480 --> 01:07:16.400 us each a glass of wine. We eat and I 1037 01:07:16.480 --> 01:07:19.119 take a couple SIPs of wine. I haven't had much 1038 01:07:19.119 --> 01:07:21.559 in the way of wine, but this is really good. 1039 01:07:21.960 --> 01:07:24.960 I wonder where he dug it up around here. As 1040 01:07:25.000 --> 01:07:28.800 we eat, we talk mostly about me. He always has 1041 01:07:28.840 --> 01:07:32.840 so many questions. Every time I ask him something about him, 1042 01:07:33.400 --> 01:07:37.719 he seems sad, almost on the verge of tears. I 1043 01:07:37.719 --> 01:07:41.159 don't want to bring up any bad memories. As we talk, 1044 01:07:41.280 --> 01:07:46.320 my head starts to feel light, which was a dreadful sign. 1045 01:07:47.000 --> 01:07:52.320 What's up, Ronnie wow? Uh getting a head rush. I 1046 01:07:52.360 --> 01:07:54.800 try to stand up, but my legs feel like rubber. 1047 01:07:55.320 --> 01:07:58.480 Travis catches me as I come, crashing back down on 1048 01:07:58.559 --> 01:08:05.239 the radio song keeps repeating a dreadful sign. He brushes 1049 01:08:05.280 --> 01:08:07.559 the hair out of my face and gives me a 1050 01:08:07.599 --> 01:08:15.920 sad smile. I'm so sorry, dull, What sorry about? I stammer. 1051 01:08:16.159 --> 01:08:20.119 My mouth doesn't want to move. I'm sorry. You have 1052 01:08:20.199 --> 01:08:26.439 to die. All beauty must die. It's my curse. I 1053 01:08:26.479 --> 01:08:29.640 summon up all my strength and push away from Travis. 1054 01:08:29.800 --> 01:08:31.760 He tries to grab me, and I scratch his face 1055 01:08:31.800 --> 01:08:34.520 with my nails. Trying to stand again, I fall to 1056 01:08:34.560 --> 01:08:37.760 my knees. The world begins shaking apart at the seams. 1057 01:08:37.760 --> 01:08:41.039 My eyelids feel heavy. Every time I blink, it feels 1058 01:08:41.079 --> 01:08:44.319 like it'll be my last. Maybe if I just sleep 1059 01:08:44.439 --> 01:08:48.079 it'll be better. I'll wake up from this nightmare. No 1060 01:08:48.600 --> 01:08:51.920 fight it. I start crawling on all fours, dragging myself, 1061 01:08:52.039 --> 01:08:54.880 digging my nails into the ground. I have to get away, 1062 01:08:55.319 --> 01:08:58.359 have to fight, have to get to the car. A 1063 01:08:58.479 --> 01:09:03.359 dreadful sigh. I see someone standing by Travis's car. I 1064 01:09:03.399 --> 01:09:09.319 can't make them out. Why won't they help? Please? Rose, 1065 01:09:09.920 --> 01:09:13.359 No one can help. I'm sorry. He grabs me by 1066 01:09:13.359 --> 01:09:16.359 the leg, pulling me back. Travis turns me over, glaring 1067 01:09:16.439 --> 01:09:21.880 at me. The scratches on his face aren't bleeding. I 1068 01:09:22.039 --> 01:09:25.000 like playing with you, Rose, he said, But my dear, 1069

01:09:25.600 --> 01:09:31.880 you're breaking my heart. Fuck you. I try to hit him, 1070 01:09:32.239 --> 01:09:34.920 but I have no strength left. Why won't that person 1071 01:09:35.039 --> 01:09:38.359 do something? He stands up, pulling a large knife from 1072 01:09:38.399 --> 01:09:42.159 his leather jacket. I could gut you, but that's no fun, 1073 01:09:43.119 --> 01:09:46.840 not anymore. He looks at his reflection on the knife blade. 1074 01:09:47.439 --> 01:09:52.439 He adjusts his hair. I used to find his vanity. Cute, bastard. 1075 01:09:53.119 --> 01:09:56.920 The poison isn't killing you, just making it hard for 1076 01:09:56.960 --> 01:10:03.800 you to do anything. Why why not? I tried to 1077 01:10:03.840 --> 01:10:05.760 move my head to see if that person was still 1078 01:10:05.800 --> 01:10:11.119 standing there. A dreadful sign. Why is that song? Repeating 1079 01:10:11.680 --> 01:10:14.640 is that an effect from the drugs. Travis notices me 1080 01:10:14.680 --> 01:10:17.039 trying to look at the car. I can hear him 1081 01:10:17.079 --> 01:10:21.880 talking to somebody. I think, go away. He says, you're 1082 01:10:21.880 --> 01:10:26.359 not welcome here. He turns the radio off. Who was that? 1083 01:10:27.439 --> 01:10:31.279 Who was he talking to? After what seems like hours, 1084 01:10:31.520 --> 01:10:35.039 Travis comes back holding a large cinder block and rope. 1085 01:10:35.600 --> 01:10:40.359 Did you hear that? Better check the locks on your doors? Weekly, spooky, 1086 01:10:40.560 --> 01:10:41.640 We'll be right back. 1087 01:10:42.920 --> 01:10:48.159 Comfortable, doll, go to hell. I manage my mouth starting 1088 01:10:48.159 --> 01:10:52.640 to fail me. Travis just laughs, be right back. He 1089 01:10:52.720 --> 01:10:58.680 walks off, carrying the cinder block and rope. My mind races, move, move, 1090 01:10:59.479 --> 01:11:03.439 but I can't it. It's physically impossible. I try to 1091 01:11:03.760 --> 01:11:07.279 will myself, picturing my spirit leaving my body, flying over 1092 01:11:07.319 --> 01:11:10.920 the trees, finding bread, or my folks, telling them what's 1093 01:11:10.920 --> 01:11:14.000 happening here. If I want it strong enough, I can 1094 01:11:14.000 --> 01:11:19.079 make it happen. Run, flee, I will my spirit to soar. 1095 01:11:20.520 --> 01:11:24.239 He comes back, standing over me. He reaches down and 1096 01:11:24.279 --> 01:11:28.640 grabs my legs, going for a little trip, my beautiful rose. 1097 01:11:29.399 --> 01:11:32.000 He drags me across the ground. I can see the 1098 01:11:32.039 --> 01:11:35.479 grass ending as we go over a rocky area, but 1099 01:11:35.600 --> 01:11:38.520 I can't feel any of it. I can't feel his 1100 01:11:38.560 --> 01:11:42.840 hands on my legs, just a great numbness. We go 1101 01:11:42.960 --> 01:11:46.119 up a small hill near the beach. He stops dragging me. 1102 01:11:46.880 --> 01:11:50.359 We're here. We don't have much time left together. He 1103 01:11:50.439 --> 01:11:54.039 kneels down and touches my face, wiping away my tears. 1104 01:11:54.680 --> 01:11:57.079 He pulls out two coins and puts one on each 1105 01:11:57.119 --> 01:12:00.520 of my eyes. I blink my eyes and a slip off. 1106 01:12:00.880 --> 01:12:04.520 He gets frustrated, Why did you do that? Therefore your 1107 01:12:04.600 --> 01:12:07.880 journey over. He takes them and sticks them in one 1108 01:12:07.920 --> 01:12:11.359 of my hands, bawling it into a fist. I see 1109 01:12:11.399 --> 01:12:13.520 the cinder block with the rope tied to it near 1110 01:12:13.560 --> 01:12:16.800 my feet. He crawls over to it and ties the 1111 01:12:16.880 --> 01:12:20.520 rope to my legs. No, no, no, he's going to 1112 01:12:20.600 --> 01:12:23.680 drown me. You've been a blast. He picks up the 1113 01:12:23.720 --> 01:12:25.479 cinder block and walks to the edge of the hill, 1114 01:12:25.520 --> 01:12:29.279 overlooking the lake. I scream, but my throat fails me. 1115 01:12:30.000 --> 01:12:32.720 I can barely make more than a crackling noise. He 1116 01:12:32.720 --> 01:12:38.880 hefts the block up. He sighs, parting sweet sorrow and whatnot. 1117 01:12:39.800 --> 01:12:41.600 He throws the block over the side, and I can 1118 01:12:41.600 --> 01:12:44.399 hear the rope quickly chasing after it, knowing that any 1119 01:12:44.439 --> 01:12:49.640 second I'll be following it. And then I'm falling, followed 1120 01:12:49.640 --> 01:12:55.600 by the slam of hitting the water. I sink, my lungs, 1121 01:12:55.680 --> 01:13:01.920 quickly filling with water. I welcome it. Please let there 1122 01:13:01.960 --> 01:13:07.640 be peace. I feel so tired. I just want it 1123 01:13:07.680 --> 01:13:12.079 to be over. I can see the sunlight trickling down 1124 01:13:12.159 --> 01:13:16.319 through the water. Darkness starts to creep into my vision 1125 01:13:17.840 --> 01:13:27.319 until the light is swallowed by it. I wake, unable 1126 01:13:27.359 --> 01:13:32.920 to move, my heart racing where am I. I'm in 1127 01:13:33.000 --> 01:13:37.359 my room, laying on my bed. I hear a noise, 1128 01:13:37.439 --> 01:13:42.880 a crackling hiss, almost like static. My eyes catch movement 1129 01:13:42.920 --> 01:13:46.399 in the darkness. The thing nears the edge of my bed. 1130 01:13:46.920 --> 01:13:50.399 My heart pounds faster and faster. Am I having a 1131 01:13:50.399 --> 01:13:53.640 heart attack? A low, whispering hiss comes from the shade 1132 01:13:53.640 --> 01:13:58.159 at the foot of my bed. Not a dream. Heed 1133 01:13:58.239 --> 01:14:03.439 the sign, and then the world went back to normal. 1134 01:14:03.720 --> 01:14:07.119 I could move again. I wiped the sweat from my forehead. 1135 01:14:07.560 --> 01:14:10.600 My heart beat started to slow. I curled up in 1136 01:14:10.640 --> 01:14:13.279 a ball on the bed, pulling the blankets over me. 1137 01:14:14.000 --> 01:14:17.239 For the longest time, I didn't move, fearing that that 1138

01:14:17.600 --> 01:14:22.319 thing was waiting for me in the darkness. Eventually I 1139 01:14:22.399 --> 01:14:25.880 drifted off to sleep again. I woke and my room 1140 01:14:25.960 --> 01:14:29.079 was lit by the light of early morning. Had it 1141 01:14:29.239 --> 01:14:34.399 just been a dream, a nightmare? I get up, dangling 1142 01:14:34.399 --> 01:14:36.880 my legs over the side of the bed. Was this 1143 01:14:36.960 --> 01:14:40.640 all a nightmare brought on by being nervous over my 1144 01:14:40.720 --> 01:14:45.520 big date with Travis. I stand in the shower, almost 1145 01:14:45.520 --> 01:14:48.680 in a trance, as the water pours over me. I've 1146 01:14:48.720 --> 01:14:52.680 taken plenty of showers before, but this just seems weird. 1147 01:14:53.279 --> 01:14:55.640 The water feels like it's closing in on me. I 1148 01:14:56.039 --> 01:15:00.880 hear the jarring sound of static through here the shower curtain. 1149 01:15:00.920 --> 01:15:04.159 I see a dark shape move the thing from my nightmare. 1150 01:15:04.640 --> 01:15:07.960 It's back for me. I back against the shower wall. 1151 01:15:08.479 --> 01:15:11.600 The wet tiles are cold against my back. I run 1152 01:15:11.680 --> 01:15:15.319 my hands over them, looking for escape. A voice snaps 1153 01:15:15.359 --> 01:15:20.039 me back to reality. You almost done, Brenn says, annoyance 1154 01:15:20.079 --> 01:15:26.840 in her voice. Water will be freaking cold. Sorry, almost done. 1155 01:15:27.119 --> 01:15:31.239 I hear the door slam shut. All dread is faded away, 1156 01:15:32.359 --> 01:15:35.039 and I just feel like a shit for hogging the shower. 1157 01:15:36.039 --> 01:15:38.600 I get out and dry off quick, trying not to 1158 01:15:38.640 --> 01:15:41.560 waste any more time. I leave the bathroom a towel 1159 01:15:41.600 --> 01:15:44.760 wrapped around me. Brenn is waiting for me by the door. 1160 01:15:45.520 --> 01:15:49.960 You okay, Why what were you doing in the shower 1161 01:15:50.039 --> 01:15:55.720 so long? Daydreaming or a little pre date gratification. I 1162 01:15:55.760 --> 01:16:00.840 shoot her a look and bren does that laugh of hers. Ronnie, 1163 01:16:01.159 --> 01:16:04.000 I know you're all stressed. She gives me a kiss 1164 01:16:04.039 --> 01:16:07.199 on the cheek and goes into the bathroom, shutting the 1165 01:16:07.199 --> 01:16:11.000 door behind her. I hear the lock click. Guess I 1166 01:16:11.000 --> 01:16:14.720 should have done that at work. It's no easier. My 1167 01:16:14.840 --> 01:16:18.560 mind drifts all day thinking about our date. This afternoon, 1168 01:16:19.680 --> 01:16:23.399 the day moves in slow motion. What seemed like hours 1169 01:16:23.439 --> 01:16:26.439 were in fact minutes when I looked at the clock, 1170 01:16:26.520 --> 01:16:30.319 and everything I did at work seemed like the wrong thing, 1171 01:16:31.039 --> 01:16:35.800 giving people the wrong order, spilling drinks. I shouldn't be 1172 01:16:35.800 --> 01:16:39.720 this stressed over a date. No, it was that dream, 1173 01:16:39.319 --> 01:16:44.279 that nightmare. I consider calling the picnic off, but by 1174 01:16:44.319 --> 01:16:47.960 the time my shift is over, I've reconsidered maybe I 1175 01:16:48.000 --> 01:16:50.640 could turn this day around. When we get back to 1176 01:16:50.680 --> 01:16:53.439 the apartment, I strip out of my waitress uniform and 1177 01:16:53.479 --> 01:16:56.560 splash some water on my face. The water seems to 1178 01:16:56.600 --> 01:16:59.720 engulf the room, for the briefest of seconds, but the 1179 01:17:00.039 --> 01:17:07.159 ucination quickly fades. Am I losing my mind? The lake 1180 01:17:07.239 --> 01:17:10.199 looked beautiful in the summer sun. We found a nice 1181 01:17:10.199 --> 01:17:14.159 secluded spot under a large tree. Travis left the car nearby. 1182 01:17:14.720 --> 01:17:18.920 He had the top down and the radio on. Down 1183 01:17:19.359 --> 01:17:23.640 in the willow garden where me and my love did meet, 1184 01:17:25.000 --> 01:17:28.880 he sat down a large basket. My dear, he said, 1185 01:17:29.359 --> 01:17:31.720 ushering me to the blanket with a wave of his hand. 1186 01:17:32.640 --> 01:17:36.039 We'd brought quite the selection of food. Travis popped open 1187 01:17:36.079 --> 01:17:38.840 a bottle of wine. Was that weird for a picnic? 1188 01:17:39.600 --> 01:17:43.359 He caught me making a face. Have we done this before? 1189 01:17:44.039 --> 01:17:49.079 Don't tell me you don't drink wine? No, just seems 1190 01:17:49.119 --> 01:17:54.199 a bit much for a afternoon picnic. Well, it's a 1191 01:17:54.239 --> 01:18:00.159 celebration too, babe, my love. She did not know. I 1192 01:18:00.199 --> 01:18:03.119 put my hand up. I'm sorry, but I don't think 1193 01:18:03.159 --> 01:18:07.760 I should. I'm feeling a little sick, sick everything, Okay, 1194 01:18:08.720 --> 01:18:12.840 I just had a rough night, bad nightmare. He touches 1195 01:18:12.880 --> 01:18:16.680 my hand. I don't know why this makes me flinch. 1196 01:18:17.319 --> 01:18:22.279 He looks at me, puzzled. What kind of nightmare? I think? 1197 01:18:22.319 --> 01:18:25.840 I was drowning? And there was this figure there when 1198 01:18:25.880 --> 01:18:29.399 I woke up, I swear it was still there, you know. 1199 01:18:30.119 --> 01:18:33.039 He starts pouring wine into the glasses. I think you 1200 01:18:33.079 --> 01:18:37.159 need a little nip of wine, my rose. No, really, 1201 01:18:37.199 --> 01:18:42.199 it's okay, it'll help your nerves. Okay, maybe just a little. 1202 01:18:42.880 --> 01:18:45.960 Travis hands me one of the glasses. There's the sound 1203 01:18:46.039 --> 01:18:50.439 of static cutting through the air, like someone's adjusting the radio. 1204 01:18:50.640 --> 01:18:56.479 A dreadful sign. I look over at Travis's car and 1205 01:18:57.079 --> 01:19:01.600 see it there, the thing from my nightmare. The glass 1206 01:19:01.600 --> 01:19:03.640

of wine falls from my hand. It hits the ground, 1207 01:19:03.920 --> 01:19:07.600 rolling and spilling all over the blanket. The song skips 1208 01:19:08.359 --> 01:19:16.199 or repeats, A dreadful sign. Not a dream, it said, 1209 01:19:16.920 --> 01:19:21.800 heed the sign. At first, I don't realize I'm screaming 1210 01:19:22.399 --> 01:19:26.359 until I see Travis's face. He grimaces. He grabs me, 1211 01:19:26.479 --> 01:19:29.159 clapping a hand over my mouth. He holds me so tight. 1212 01:19:29.439 --> 01:19:32.159 I start to tear up. Shut the fuck up, would you? 1213 01:19:32.960 --> 01:19:35.079 I try to pull away, but his hands are like 1214 01:19:35.159 --> 01:19:37.880 iron clamps. I can see the anger in his eyes. 1215 01:19:38.039 --> 01:19:40.439 He looks over to the thing standing next to the car. 1216 01:19:41.520 --> 01:19:45.479 A dreadful sign. That's not gonna help you, Ronnie, dear, 1217 01:19:45.920 --> 01:19:50.399 he says, his voice never wavering it's just an echo. 1218 01:19:50.560 --> 01:19:53.960 As if robbed of its power, the thing evaporates into 1219 01:19:54.039 --> 01:19:57.840 the air. He tightens his grip, tears streaming down my cheeks, 1220 01:19:58.199 --> 01:20:01.079 soaking his hand. I see the one wine bottle lying there, 1221 01:20:01.279 --> 01:20:04.439 just out of reach of my free hand. I could 1222 01:20:04.479 --> 01:20:07.840 hit him with it. Listen to yourself, you're gonna hit him. 1223 01:20:08.119 --> 01:20:12.079 This is nuts. It has to be a game, right, No, 1224 01:20:12.159 --> 01:20:15.960 it's not. I just need a weapon to get away. 1225 01:20:16.560 --> 01:20:19.800 I rake his face with my fingernails, scratching jagged lines 1226 01:20:19.840 --> 01:20:22.600 down his face. For all the world, it sounded like 1227 01:20:22.680 --> 01:20:25.520 running your nails over stone. He lets go of me, 1228 01:20:25.880 --> 01:20:28.239 and I lunge for the wine bottle. As I reach 1229 01:20:28.279 --> 01:20:29.960 for the bottle, he grabs me by the belt of 1230 01:20:29.960 --> 01:20:32.520 my jeans. The bottle slips from my hands as he 1231 01:20:32.600 --> 01:20:36.079 yanks me towards him, rolling just out of reach. I 1232 01:20:36.199 --> 01:20:38.600 dig my feet and hands into the ground, pulling myself 1233 01:20:38.640 --> 01:20:41.560 towards the bottle, the sun reflecting off of it like 1234 01:20:41.600 --> 01:20:45.119 some magical weapon. It beckoned to me. My arms and 1235 01:20:45.199 --> 01:20:50.079 legs burned as I strained, Almost my fingers brushed off 1236 01:20:50.079 --> 01:20:52.920 the smooth neck of the bottle. Why won't you let 1237 01:20:52.920 --> 01:20:57.359 me help you? Travis says, help me. I'm gonna free 1238 01:20:57.399 --> 01:21:01.279 you of all this bullshit. I manage a last bit 1239 01:21:01.319 --> 01:21:06.359 of strength and grab the goddamn bottle. I swing it 1240 01:21:06.520 --> 01:21:08.279 and hit him square in the side of the head. 1241 01:21:09.079 -->

01:21:12.760 Unlike in the movies, the bottle doesn't break. Travis lets 1242 01:21:12.760 --> 01:21:16.319 go of me. I hit him again, and again the 1243 01:21:16.319 --> 01:21:20.439 bottle doesn't break. He falls to the ground, momentarily stunned. 1244 01:21:20.880 --> 01:21:22.800 I bring the bottle down again on his head for 1245 01:21:22.880 --> 01:21:27.119 good measure. This time it shatters. I turn and run 1246 01:21:27.159 --> 01:21:30.119 for his car. As I reach the car, Travis appears, 1247 01:21:30.279 --> 01:21:33.039 pulling a large knife from his leather jacket. I didn't 1248 01:21:33.079 --> 01:21:36.119 want to make a mess Rose. He touches the wounds 1249 01:21:36.119 --> 01:21:39.840 on his face. Gonna have to fix these. I slide 1250 01:21:39.840 --> 01:21:42.680 into the driver's seat. Yes, the keys are there. I 1251 01:21:42.760 --> 01:21:45.199 start the car. It roars to life. I hit the gas, 1252 01:21:45.239 --> 01:21:48.399 aiming right for Travis. This is insane, am I in 1253 01:21:48.439 --> 01:21:51.760 a never ending nightmare. I ram into him, sending his 1254 01:21:51.800 --> 01:21:55.039 body flying up onto the hood. He smashes through the windshield, 1255 01:21:55.079 --> 01:21:59.239 his face contorted in a wicked smile. Hold hands you, 1256 01:21:59.399 --> 01:22:03.239 love birds, he says. The car plunges into the lake. 1257 01:22:03.760 --> 01:22:08.319 Water rushes in as we sink the nightmare. I'm going 1258 01:22:08.359 --> 01:22:12.600 to drown here with him. A shard of broken window 1259 01:22:12.640 --> 01:22:15.560 floats by me as we sink down. I grab it. 1260 01:22:16.239 --> 01:22:19.520 The jagged edges cut into my hand. I take it, 1261 01:22:20.159 --> 01:22:23.039 jabbing it into his eye. He lets go of me. 1262 01:22:23.640 --> 01:22:26.439 He smiles at me as I push him away. I 1263 01:22:26.520 --> 01:22:29.760 swim through the open top. For however long I live, 1264 01:22:29.800 --> 01:22:32.960 I don't think I'll ever forget that smile, the jagged 1265 01:22:33.039 --> 01:22:37.920 shard embedded in his eye. Travis and his car sinking 1266 01:22:37.960 --> 01:22:41.760 to the bottom. I pull myself onto the beach. I 1267 01:22:41.800 --> 01:22:44.439 think I pass out for a while, lying there in 1268 01:22:44.479 --> 01:22:48.960 the dirt, soaking wet. I wake with a start and 1269 01:22:49.000 --> 01:22:53.119 see a shadow fall across me. I look up and 1270 01:22:53.239 --> 01:22:56.920 see that thing, the thing from my nightmare, standing over me. 1271 01:22:57.520 --> 01:23:01.680 Its face and arms are blue and blowed. Its face 1272 01:23:02.399 --> 01:23:07.760 vaguely feminine, Its remaining hair rotten, hangs down in long strands. 1273 01:23:09.119 --> 01:23:21.520 It wore a dress, my dress roxy by Charles Campbell. 1274 01:23:29.199 --> 01:23:33.159 Thunder only happens when it's raining, or so Stevie sang 1275 01:23:33.199 --> 01:23:37.239 in the popular Fleetwood Max song. But I've found in 1276 01:23:37.319 --> 01:23:41.760 my lifetime anyway, that is not always the case. It 1277 01:23:41.800 --> 01:23:46.479 can thunder without rain and it can be oh so 1278 01:23:46.840 --> 01:23:50.880 very loud, so loud in fact, that it drowns out 1279 01:23:50.920 --> 01:23:55.439 everything that once was important. What was my thunder, you ask? 1280 01:23:56.359 --> 01:24:00.760 My thunder was a girl named Roxy, and she rumbled 1281 01:24:00.760 --> 01:24:06.399 into my life two short years ago. I wish she hadn't. 1282 01:24:06.760 --> 01:24:11.039 Two years ago, Jake Blackman was walking his mud of 1283 01:24:11.079 --> 01:24:14.800 a dog, minding his own business when she passed him by. 1284 01:24:16.000 --> 01:24:19.600 Jake caught a whiff of sweetness and turned his head. 1285 01:24:20.199 --> 01:24:24.520 He took a deep breath. The scent was immediately intoxicating, 1286 01:24:25.199 --> 01:24:29.319 and when he saw her, his eyes widened as if 1287 01:24:29.359 --> 01:24:33.119 he had just stumbled upon the holy Grail. She was 1288 01:24:33.159 --> 01:24:36.560 the prettiest girl he'd ever seen. She stopped when she 1289 01:24:36.680 --> 01:24:41.479 noticed him staring at her. Jake fumbled for his words. Hi, 1290 01:24:41.760 --> 01:24:44.760 your name's Jake. What's yours? He winced as soon as 1291 01:24:44.800 --> 01:24:48.760 the words escaped his lips. He felt better when she giggled. 1292 01:24:49.760 --> 01:24:53.279 You're a cute one, aren't you? She asked. Her skin 1293 01:24:53.479 --> 01:24:56.439 was like porcelain, and her smile cut through Jake in 1294 01:24:56.560 --> 01:25:00.520 such a way he felt lightheaded. Let me try that again. 1295 01:25:00.720 --> 01:25:08.800 I'm Jake Blackman. What's your name? Roxy? She replied? Roxy? What? No? Roxy? What? 1296 01:25:09.880 --> 01:25:14.279 Just Roxy? She answered. Her long jet black hair hung 1297 01:25:14.399 --> 01:25:16.880 around her shoulders like a shawl on a cold night. 1298 01:25:17.560 --> 01:25:20.920 Roxy's eyes were dark brown pools that pulled Jake in 1299 01:25:21.000 --> 01:25:26.399 like a cobra. And her smell, he couldn't quite describe it. 1300 01:25:26.399 --> 01:25:30.199 It was sweet, for sure, but not sickeningly so. It 1301 01:25:30.279 --> 01:25:33.039 was a smell that felt ancient and new at the 1302 01:25:33.079 --> 01:25:37.399 same time. Roxy was a different breed, and Jake felt 1303 01:25:37.399 --> 01:25:40.720 it it made him water. Jake's mud of a dog 1304 01:25:40.880 --> 01:25:45.159 was even enamored with the woman. Normally, he'd sound off 1305 01:25:45.199 --> 01:25:48.520 with barks and growls around someone new, but Rusty seemed 1306 01:25:48.560 --> 01:25:52.359 to be just as love struck with Roxy as his owner. 1307 01:25:53.359 --> 01:25:57.439 He was sniffing her black knee high boots. Oh what's 1308 01:25:57.479 --> 01:26:00.960 your dog's name, Roxy asked, as she down and stroked 1309 01:26:01.000 --> 01:26:07.319 Rusty's head. Uh.

Jake struggled to remember, and Roxy let 1310 01:26:07.399 --> 01:26:11.800 him off the hook. Oh, his tag says Rusty. Hey, Rusty, 1311 01:26:12.479 --> 01:26:15.840 she said as she stood. Rusty jumped up his dirty paws, 1312 01:26:15.920 --> 01:26:20.239 leaving streaks on her boots. Rusty, stop, I'm so sorry, 1313 01:26:20.560 --> 01:26:24.479 Jake said. It's all good, Jake, they'll wipe off. You 1314 01:26:24.520 --> 01:26:28.000 want to buy a girl dinner? She asked. Jake was 1315 01:26:28.079 --> 01:26:32.079 nodding his head, and she knew this was going to 1316 01:26:32.119 --> 01:26:39.520 be easy. After a dinner of burgers and fries, they 1317 01:26:39.560 --> 01:26:42.680 walked back to Jake's house, with Rusty hanging closer to 1318 01:26:42.800 --> 01:26:47.319 Roxy than the man that fed him. Jake was completely 1319 01:26:47.359 --> 01:26:51.359 in love with this woman, everything about her, her look, 1320 01:26:51.920 --> 01:26:55.000 her smell, the way she spoke to him in an 1321 01:26:55.079 --> 01:26:59.039 unassuming tone, keeping Jake on edge in a good way. 1322 01:27:00.119 --> 01:27:02.920 He felt the thunder for the first time when they 1323 01:27:02.920 --> 01:27:07.760 went inside. Do you love me, Jake, Roxy asked. As 1324 01:27:07.800 --> 01:27:11.319 soon as they were inside the house, I do Roxy, 1325 01:27:12.039 --> 01:27:16.000 He said, It wasn't a lie. He was madly in 1326 01:27:16.039 --> 01:27:19.399 love with her. Roxy led Jake to the bedroom as 1327 01:27:19.399 --> 01:27:22.800 if she had lived there all her life. Rusty followed 1328 01:27:22.840 --> 01:27:25.520 behind and whimpered when the door closed in his face. 1329 01:27:26.640 --> 01:27:30.560 Roxy and Jake made love. Jake felt the thunder roll 1330 01:27:30.720 --> 01:27:33.720 through his heart. She was lying in his arms and 1331 01:27:33.760 --> 01:27:37.479 no words were spoken. As the rain began to fall outside. 1332 01:27:38.199 --> 01:27:41.720 It was followed by thunder that paled in comparison to 1333 01:27:41.760 --> 01:27:46.960 what Roxy had brought him. She was trouble somehow, he 1334 01:27:47.079 --> 01:27:57.000 knew it, but Jake didn't care. He would later. Very 1335 01:27:57.039 --> 01:28:00.479 early the next morning, Roxy nuzzled her face next to 1336 01:28:00.560 --> 01:28:04.159 Jake's neck and breathed that sweet breath in his ear 1337 01:28:04.279 --> 01:28:05.760 before she whispered. 1338 01:28:06.159 --> 01:28:08.920 Jake, will you kill for me? 1339 01:28:09.840 --> 01:28:13.359 You know I will, Jake replied, without a second thought. 1340 01:28:14.439 --> 01:28:18.039 She was the cobra after all, and she had completely 1341 01:28:18.079 --> 01:28:24.600 glamored him. That's good, you sweet man. Now go back 1342 01:28:24.640 --> 01:28:29.119 to sleep, she whispered, and that's exactly what Jake did. 1343 01:28:29.960 --> 01:28:33.760 He went to sleep. When he awoke four hours later, 1344 01:28:34.520 --> 01:28:38.920 Roxy was gone. Jake didn't get a phone number and 1345 01:28:39.199 --> 01:28:43.319 no last name. The mystery lover blew his world apart 1346 01:28:43.399 --> 01:28:47.600 without trying. He looked for her high and low. She 1347 01:28:47.760 --> 01:28:51.279 was gone. Jake remembered what she asked him in the 1348 01:28:51.279 --> 01:28:55.640 middle of the night, and he remembered his answer. He 1349 01:28:55.800 --> 01:29:00.119 meant it. He would kill for her, anything to have 1350 01:29:00.199 --> 01:29:04.600 her in his life. Rusty mister too. He whimpered and 1351 01:29:04.640 --> 01:29:08.920 whined for two weeks straight after Roxy disappeared. Two months 1352 01:29:08.960 --> 01:29:13.119 after that, Jake wondered if it was even real. Maybe 1353 01:29:13.159 --> 01:29:16.720 she never really existed, Maybe he made the whole thing 1354 01:29:16.800 --> 01:29:19.680 up in his mind. It was her scent that he 1355 01:29:19.720 --> 01:29:24.600 couldn't shake. Jake could almost smell her. He hungered for it, 1356 01:29:25.079 --> 01:29:28.079 and he wouldn't get a full night's sleep until she 1357 01:29:28.359 --> 01:29:32.640 was in his arms once again. Another ten months passed. 1358 01:29:33.279 --> 01:29:38.600 One year later, Jake was now alone. After Roxy left, 1359 01:29:38.680 --> 01:29:43.319 Rusty was never the same. He stopped eating, he didn't 1360 01:29:43.359 --> 01:29:46.640 want to take walks anymore, and after more than a 1361 01:29:46.680 --> 01:29:50.720 few visits to several different veterinarians, none of them could 1362 01:29:50.720 --> 01:29:54.720 give Jack a plausible explanation as to why Rusty's desire 1363 01:29:54.800 --> 01:29:59.520 to live was so siphoned away. Rusty passed away one night, 1364 01:30:00.279 --> 01:30:04.760 lying by the kitchen door. Jake was devastated. It was 1365 01:30:04.840 --> 01:30:07.800 three days after Rusty died and Jake was walking home 1366 01:30:07.880 --> 01:30:13.920 with his head hanging. Then the smell hit him. Jake 1367 01:30:13.960 --> 01:30:16.600 felt a tingle in the back of his neck. He 1368 01:30:16.720 --> 01:30:20.640 stopped looking at his feet. I'm sorry to hear about Rusty, 1369 01:30:21.279 --> 01:30:24.439 Roxy said. She was standing there in front of him, 1370 01:30:24.479 --> 01:30:28.239 looking exactly as she had one year before, same hair, 1371 01:30:28.720 --> 01:30:34.840 same clothes, same boots, and she was devastatingly beautiful. Where 1372 01:30:36.159 --> 01:30:40.560 where have you been, Jake asked, Oh, it doesn't really matter. 1373 01:30:41.479 --> 01:30:45.359 You want to buy a girl dinner? Roxy asked. Jake's 1374 01:30:45.399 --> 01:30:48.960 sadness over Rusty vanished. He smiled and took a deep 1375 01:30:49.079 --> 01:30:52.880 breath of her sweetness. It was even better than he remembered. 1376 01:30:54.600 --> 01:30:58.319 Don't go away weakly, Spooky, We'll be right back. 1377 01:31:00.319 --> 01:31:04.079 After a dinner of caesar salad and wine,

they walked 1378 01:31:04.159 --> 01:31:07.640 hand in hand back to Jake's house without uttering a word. 1379 01:31:08.439 --> 01:31:12.279 When they got inside, Roxy led him directly to the bedroom, 1380 01:31:12.359 --> 01:31:15.560 where she quickly ripped at Jake's shirt. Before they both 1381 01:31:15.680 --> 01:31:20.119 hastily undressed. Roxy pulled him toward her. She kissed him 1382 01:31:20.199 --> 01:31:23.720 hard and rough. Jake felt a trickle of blood rolled 1383 01:31:23.800 --> 01:31:28.159 down his chin, but he didn't care. Jake lifted Roxy. 1384 01:31:28.680 --> 01:31:31.760 She was almost weightless, and he set her gently on 1385 01:31:31.880 --> 01:31:36.439 the bed. She was rough, He was not. He couldn't 1386 01:31:36.479 --> 01:31:41.560 be not with her. He moved slowly over her porcelain body, 1387 01:31:41.640 --> 01:31:45.680 taking in every feature, and was more intoxicated by the 1388 01:31:45.760 --> 01:31:49.199 scent than he had ever been by alcohol. He kissed 1389 01:31:49.239 --> 01:31:53.119 her softly, as if he may break her. As soon 1390 01:31:53.159 --> 01:31:58.760 as Jake's lips touched Roxy's, she moved so fast Jake 1391 01:31:58.960 --> 01:32:02.079 was now under her, and she locked onto his eyes 1392 01:32:02.119 --> 01:32:07.079 As she moved rhythmically on top of him. She spoke, Jake, 1393 01:32:07.720 --> 01:32:10.520 you said you loved me, and now it's time to 1394 01:32:10.560 --> 01:32:14.359 prove it. I need you to kill for me. Roxy said, 1395 01:32:14.399 --> 01:32:17.760 as she began to grind harder. He was shaking his 1396 01:32:17.800 --> 01:32:21.840 head in obedience and ecstasy. Jake never took his eyes 1397 01:32:21.880 --> 01:32:25.840 off of Roxies, and he saw the change. Her eyes 1398 01:32:25.880 --> 01:32:29.720 were now opaque, covered by a third lid that sprang 1399 01:32:29.800 --> 01:32:33.279 from the bottom corner of her eyes. It was like 1400 01:32:33.359 --> 01:32:39.680 a shark's eyes. He wasn't afraid Jake was captured. The 1401 01:32:39.760 --> 01:32:49.880 thunder was louder the next morning. It was deja vus 1402 01:32:49.920 --> 01:32:54.880 because it certainly happened before. Jake woke in a daze 1403 01:32:55.239 --> 01:32:59.039 and Roxy was gone. He searched the house like he 1404 01:32:59.119 --> 01:33:02.800 had the year before, and there was one noticeable difference. 1405 01:33:03.560 --> 01:33:06.479 There was a single piece of evidence that confirmed to 1406 01:33:06.600 --> 01:33:10.159 Jake that he wasn't psychotic. It let him know that 1407 01:33:10.319 --> 01:33:14.239 Roxy was real. There was a note on the kitchen table. 1408 01:33:14.920 --> 01:33:17.960 He read the only four words on the torn sheet 1409 01:33:18.239 --> 01:33:26.560 of notebook paper, kill Billy Cuto, Roxy Billy Cuto. Jake 1410 01:33:26.680 --> 01:33:30.239 asked the empty room. He hadn't the slightest clue who 1411 01:33:30.279 --> 01:33:33.840 this person was or why he had to die, but

1412 01:33:34.800 --> 01:33:38.359 he knew he had to do it because Roxy said so. 1413 01:33:39.720 --> 01:33:43.000 It was Saturday, so Jake had nowhere to be. He 1414 01:33:43.079 --> 01:33:45.159 walked to the small desk in the corner of the 1415 01:33:45.199 --> 01:33:48.920 living room, where his laptop lay dormant. Jake clicked the 1416 01:33:48.960 --> 01:33:51.760 mouse to bring it back to life, and he entered 1417 01:33:51.760 --> 01:33:56.479 his password rusty two zero one seven dollar sign. A 1418 01:33:56.600 --> 01:34:01.840 chrome window was already open, and Jake refreshed the Facebook page. 1419 01:34:01.920 --> 01:34:05.520 The feed was filled with shared memes, pet and children 1420 01:34:05.560 --> 01:34:08.760 pictures he could care less about. He quickly typed the 1421 01:34:08.840 --> 01:34:14.279 name Billy Cuto into the search bar. There were three hits, 1422 01:34:14.840 --> 01:34:18.800 one of them local, with four mutual friends. Three of 1423 01:34:18.840 --> 01:34:23.319 the mutual friends Jake really didn't know. Jake was pretty 1424 01:34:23.399 --> 01:34:27.760 lucy goosey with accepting friend requests. He pretty much accepted 1425 01:34:27.760 --> 01:34:31.039 them all and deleted the hot chicks that immediately messaged 1426 01:34:31.079 --> 01:34:33.640 him out of the blue looking for money. Once a 1427 01:34:33.680 --> 01:34:38.600 request passed. Twelve hours later, Billy Cuto stepped onto his 1428 01:34:38.640 --> 01:34:41.720 front porch. There was a chill in the air, but 1429 01:34:42.000 --> 01:34:45.520 it didn't require a hoodie just yet. Billy lit the 1430 01:34:45.560 --> 01:34:49.479 Marlborough that hung loosely from his lips. He glanced at 1431 01:34:49.479 --> 01:34:52.880 his phone, hoping for any kind of communication from the 1432 01:34:52.920 --> 01:34:55.439 woman that came and went out of his life a 1433 01:34:55.479 --> 01:34:59.560 couple of years ago. She was all he could think about. 1434 01:35:00.159 --> 01:35:02.760 He used to keep his hair cut short, a marine 1435 01:35:02.840 --> 01:35:06.319 crew cut if there ever was one. Now his hair 1436 01:35:06.399 --> 01:35:09.720 was shoulder length, and he sported a nicely groomed beard. 1437 01:35:10.520 --> 01:35:14.399 One other change Billy made since she disappeared was discontinuing 1438 01:35:14.439 --> 01:35:19.439 his monthly shipment of contacts. Instead, Billy opted to get 1439 01:35:19.439 --> 01:35:24.520 some old fashioned horn rimmed glasses, Buddy Holly style. He 1440 01:35:24.520 --> 01:35:28.079 shouldn't have threatened to expose her, Billy thought, sure she 1441 01:35:28.279 --> 01:35:32.479 was different, but aren't we all. She frightened him and 1442 01:35:32.520 --> 01:35:36.439 he couldn't handle it. Then she left, and Billy hadn't 1443 01:35:36.439 --> 01:35:40.199 seen her since the sound of a hammer being pulled 1444 01:35:40.279 --> 01:35:44.560 back brought Billy to the here and now. The cigarette 1445 01:35:44.600 --> 01:35:49.399 fell from his lips. Roxy sends her regards, Jake said, 1446 01:35:49.439 --> 01:35:54.119 before the single shot rang out, scrambling Billy's brain, killing 1447 01:35:54.199 --> 01:35:58.840 him instantly. Dogs were barking in the distance. Jake held 1448 01:35:58.880 --> 01:36:03.199 the smoking gun and smiled. He had never taken a life, 1449 01:36:03.720 --> 01:36:07.239 but Roxy was worth it one hundred times over. He'd 1450 01:36:07.319 --> 01:36:10.119 killed the entire fucking town if she asked him to. 1451 01:36:11.359 --> 01:36:17.479 He went home to an empty house. Ten months later. 1452 01:36:19.159 --> 01:36:23.520 It was now a life of longing. Roxy was all 1453 01:36:23.560 --> 01:36:27.359 he could think about. Jake ate just enough to keep 1454 01:36:27.439 --> 01:36:31.760 him going. The same went for sleep. He muddled through 1455 01:36:31.840 --> 01:36:35.520 work every day, doing just enough not to get fired. 1456 01:36:36.159 --> 01:36:40.399 But his once friendly demeanor was replaced by one of 1457 01:36:40.560 --> 01:36:44.600 constant sadness, and he was indifferent to people that cared. 1458 01:36:45.159 --> 01:36:48.600 There was only one that mattered to him. Jake did 1459 01:36:48.600 --> 01:36:52.600 what she asked, and Roxy still hadn't returned. That's really 1460 01:36:52.640 --> 01:36:56.159 what kept him going. Jake was compelled to wait on her, 1461 01:36:56.279 --> 01:36:59.880 no matter how long it took. It was Friday afternoon 1462 01:37:00.560 --> 01:37:05.840 and Jake was zombie walking home. Hey, Jake, Roxy said, 1463 01:37:05.880 --> 01:37:09.239 as he approached his house. Jake stopped looking at his 1464 01:37:09.239 --> 01:37:13.079 feet and raised his head to meet her gaze. Roxy 1465 01:37:13.199 --> 01:37:16.520 was sitting on the front porch steps, looking exactly as 1466 01:37:16.520 --> 01:37:20.600 she had always looked, wearing the same outfit. There was 1467 01:37:20.640 --> 01:37:24.920 one big difference this time. Beside her sat a little 1468 01:37:24.960 --> 01:37:29.000 girl that was the spitting image of Roxy. Jake gave 1469 01:37:29.039 --> 01:37:34.920 her a puzzled look. Who uh, Who's she? Jake asked, 1470 01:37:35.560 --> 01:37:39.920 she's your daughter, Roxy replied. The little girl looked up 1471 01:37:39.920 --> 01:37:44.920 at Jake with the same brown pools. That's impossible. If 1472 01:37:44.960 --> 01:37:48.680 she were mine, she'd still be a baby. This little 1473 01:37:48.680 --> 01:37:52.279 girl is at least three years old, maybe four Jake said, 1474 01:37:53.039 --> 01:37:57.800 Anger wasn't his emotion. It was confusion, And then a 1475 01:37:57.920 --> 01:38:02.600 thought slapped him in the face. Billy. He bet it 1476 01:38:02.640 --> 01:38:05.800 was Billy's daughter, not that it was a deal breaker, 1477 01:38:05.880 --> 01:38:09.800 because he wanted Roxy more than anything. His veil of 1478 01:38:09.840 --> 01:38:15.720 indifference was

yanked away. Hi, Daddy, my name's Roxy. The 1479 01:38:15.800 --> 01:38:20.359 little girl said, what Jake asked, looking at her mother. 1480 01:38:21.279 --> 01:38:26.960 She's me and I'm her, Roxy said, and she's you too, Jake. 1481 01:38:27.880 --> 01:38:30.920 The little girl stood and outstretched her hand for a shake. 1482 01:38:31.640 --> 01:38:35.439 She looked like a living porcelain doll. Jake took the 1483 01:38:35.479 --> 01:38:39.720 girl's hand and smiled. It fell into the Everything was 1484 01:38:39.760 --> 01:38:43.560 aok if Roxy was in his life lane. The three 1485 01:38:43.600 --> 01:38:50.520 of them walked into the house together. Jake and Roxy 1486 01:38:50.600 --> 01:38:53.920 sat together and listened to little Roxy tell her father 1487 01:38:54.079 --> 01:38:58.600 everything about her life, about the things she had learned, 1488 01:38:59.159 --> 01:39:02.720 and Jake was a She was smarter than any adult 1489 01:39:02.760 --> 01:39:06.680 he had ever met, and not in a precocious kid way. 1490 01:39:07.560 --> 01:39:11.199 She was beyond anything he had ever encountered. The dialect 1491 01:39:11.239 --> 01:39:15.079 and intelligence with which she spoke frightened Jake. This was 1492 01:39:15.159 --> 01:39:19.800 no ordinary child, and she had no ordinary mother. Jake 1493 01:39:19.880 --> 01:39:23.199 remembered the last time he and Roxy made love and 1494 01:39:23.279 --> 01:39:28.000 the uniqueness of Roxy's eyes. But Jake thought of himself 1495 01:39:28.039 --> 01:39:32.840 as quite ordinary, boring. In fact, he didn't care. He 1496 01:39:32.880 --> 01:39:35.439 loved Roxy and the little girl by the same name. 1497 01:39:36.319 --> 01:39:40.600 Little Roxy looked at him with the eyes of her mother. Daddy, 1498 01:39:41.600 --> 01:39:47.039 kill for me, she said, sure, sweetie, Jake answered, he 1499 01:39:47.119 --> 01:39:50.239 was just as charmed by little Roxy. I need you 1500 01:39:50.279 --> 01:39:53.720 to kill him, she said, and pointed toward the window. 1501 01:39:54.840 --> 01:39:58.359 There was an older man walking down the sidewalk toward 1502 01:39:58.479 --> 01:40:03.199 Jake's house. Okay, Jake said, and grabbed the baseball bat 1503 01:40:03.239 --> 01:40:04.520 he kept in the hall closet. 1504 01:40:06.159 --> 01:40:10.520 There's more scares where that came from. Weakly, Spooky will 1505 01:40:10.560 --> 01:40:11.399 be right back. 1506 01:40:12.840 --> 01:40:15.520 It was secondary protection if he wasn't within reach of 1507 01:40:15.560 --> 01:40:19.439 his pistol if someone kicked in his door. Jake casually 1508 01:40:19.520 --> 01:40:21.720 walked out the front door, looking as if he were 1509 01:40:21.760 --> 01:40:25.159 going to batting practice. The man took notice as soon 1510 01:40:25.159 --> 01:40:28.680 as Jake stepped from his front porch. Hey, there, the 1511 01:40:28.720 --> 01:40:32.319 man shouted, smiled for a second, and waved at Jake. 1512 01:40:33.199 --> 01:40:37.039 Jake didn't return the wave. He broke into a sprint, 1513 01:40:37.239 --> 01:40:39.920 and this is when the older man realized the threat. 1514 01:40:40.560 --> 01:40:43.039 Jake held that bat over his head as he closed 1515 01:40:43.039 --> 01:40:46.840 the distance between himself and the man. The man held 1516 01:40:46.880 --> 01:40:51.600 up his hands in a defensive posture. No, don't were 1517 01:40:51.640 --> 01:40:53.760 the two words the man got out of his mouth 1518 01:40:54.159 --> 01:40:56.920 before Jake brought the bat down on the man's skull. 1519 01:40:57.680 --> 01:41:01.039 The dull thunk of wood striking bow and filled the air. 1520 01:41:01.800 --> 01:41:05.319 The older man blinked wildly at Jake. His eyes were 1521 01:41:05.399 --> 01:41:09.359 crossed and blood trickled down his forehead. He kept his feet. 1522 01:41:09.399 --> 01:41:12.279 With the first strike, Jake brought it down again, and 1523 01:41:12.359 --> 01:41:16.399 this time it sounded like a ripe melon splitting in half. 1524 01:41:17.119 --> 01:41:20.680 The man fell face first onto the sidewalk. Jake went 1525 01:41:20.720 --> 01:41:23.640 to town on the corpse's head. He brought the bat 1526 01:41:23.720 --> 01:41:28.680 down over and over again, bits of brain and bone 1527 01:41:28.720 --> 01:41:33.199 flying with every smash. Little Roxy smiled from the window. 1528 01:41:33.840 --> 01:41:37.119 She watched it all happen. Her mother was behind her. 1529 01:41:38.039 --> 01:41:42.000 You learned so fast, Roxy whispered in her daughter's ear. 1530 01:41:43.079 --> 01:41:46.760 It's time to go. There was a scream and a 1531 01:41:46.840 --> 01:41:50.640 yelp from across the street. Sydney Jones yanked her dog 1532 01:41:50.760 --> 01:41:53.640 back by the leash. Jake turned toward her with a 1533 01:41:53.640 --> 01:41:56.520 bloody grin on his face, and tipped the bat toward 1534 01:41:56.640 --> 01:41:59.760 her as if it were a hat. Jake wiped his 1535 01:41:59.800 --> 01:42:03.880 bra with his forearm. His mouth was parched. He'd go 1536 01:42:04.000 --> 01:42:06.640 inside so little Roxy and her mother could see what 1537 01:42:06.720 --> 01:42:10.840 he did for them. They weren't there. He looked through 1538 01:42:10.880 --> 01:42:13.840 the house and stopped when he saw the note on 1539 01:42:13.920 --> 01:42:17.119 the kitchen table, thank you for killing Billy and his 1540 01:42:17.279 --> 01:42:23.520 daddy the Roxies. Then the wail of sirens came. Jake 1541 01:42:23.640 --> 01:42:25.840 set the bat on the kitchen table and went to 1542 01:42:25.880 --> 01:42:30.079 the porch steps. He waited for the police. Jake knew 1543 01:42:30.119 --> 01:42:33.720 he'd never see them again. They were worse than mermaids 1544 01:42:33.720 --> 01:42:36.920 in the legends of pirates, and they were much more 1545 01:42:37.359 --> 01:42:42.159 than mortal, but they needed men to breed. How many 1546 01:42:42.319 --> 01:42:47.039 Roxies were in the world, Jake wondered,

beautiful creatures that 1547 01:42:47.159 --> 01:42:50.800 convinced men to do their evil bidding before disappearing in 1548 01:42:50.880 --> 01:42:54.479 a veil of mystery. Jake raised his hands as the 1549 01:42:54.520 --> 01:42:58.039 officers stepped from the cruiser. There would be no trace 1550 01:42:58.039 --> 01:43:01.359 of DNA evidence suggesting that anyone else was in the home, 1551 01:43:02.279 --> 01:43:05.720 just the handwritten note tying Jake to the killing of 1552 01:43:05.760 --> 01:43:10.399 the younger Kuto with his bloody prints. Thunder doesn't only 1553 01:43:10.479 --> 01:43:15.319 happen when it's raining. Thunder can come from anywhere. Thunder 1554 01:43:15.359 --> 01:43:20.319 can have any name. The name of Jake's thunder was Roxy, 1555 01:43:21.119 --> 01:43:29.960 and he was certain he wasn't the only one party 1556 01:43:30.119 --> 01:43:36.000 in the woods. By Joe Salmat, Tristan and Becha made 1557 01:43:36.039 --> 01:43:39.319 their way down the wooded path behind Tristan's neighbor's farm. 1558 01:43:39.960 --> 01:43:42.479 Josh and Emily went to bed pretty early, so for 1559 01:43:42.600 --> 01:43:45.840 years Tristan had brought friends down here behind the farm 1560 01:43:45.920 --> 01:43:49.279 to explore the woods. As he got older, he explored 1561 01:43:49.359 --> 01:43:51.800 less and came to the woods to drink and party 1562 01:43:51.800 --> 01:43:54.840 with the girls from town. Becca was new to town, 1563 01:43:55.279 --> 01:43:58.880 just moving here a month ago. Tristan was infatuated as 1564 01:43:58.880 --> 01:44:01.000 soon as he saw her in the hall in school, 1565 01:44:01.479 --> 01:44:05.319 her long brown hair flowing behind her. He followed her 1566 01:44:05.359 --> 01:44:08.239 after school, trying to come up with something to say 1567 01:44:08.239 --> 01:44:11.560 to her to spark a conversation. It paid off, though, 1568 01:44:11.920 --> 01:44:14.640 he thought, as he sneaked a glance at her behind 1569 01:44:14.720 --> 01:44:18.239 the moonlight through a break in the trees. She carried 1570 01:44:18.239 --> 01:44:20.800 a bottle of Jack Daniels in her right hand. It 1571 01:44:20.920 --> 01:44:24.000 was already missing a quarter of the brown liquid inside. 1572 01:44:24.479 --> 01:44:27.039 She was more of a drinker than he was, he 1573 01:44:27.159 --> 01:44:30.600 noted with a smile. He couldn't keep his eyes off 1574 01:44:30.640 --> 01:44:34.560 of the way she walked the curve, swaying back and forth. 1575 01:44:35.000 --> 01:44:39.720 It was mesmerizing the swaying stopped in front of him. Tristan, 1576 01:44:40.560 --> 01:44:44.119 did you hear that, she whispered to him. Hear what, 1577 01:44:44.800 --> 01:44:49.079 he asked at a normal volume. Sh something in the woods? 1578 01:44:49.680 --> 01:44:54.720 She replied. Do you guys have bears around here? She asked, 1579 01:44:54.760 --> 01:44:58.079 with a little bit of fright in her voice. I 1580 01:44:58.119 --> 01:45:01.319

didn't hear anything. Don't worry. I've been coming here since 1581 01:45:01.319 --> 01:45:03.760 I was a kid. There's nothing out here that can 1582 01:45:03.840 --> 01:45:07.680 hurt us, he said, and smiled that famous smile that 1583 01:45:07.760 --> 01:45:12.279 got him the girl on numerous occasions. Becca still stood 1584 01:45:12.279 --> 01:45:15.479 there for a moment. When she didn't hear anything, she 1585 01:45:15.600 --> 01:45:20.199 began to walk the path again, but cautiously, Tristan snuck 1586 01:45:20.279 --> 01:45:22.479 up behind her and grabbed the bottle from her hands. 1587 01:45:22.760 --> 01:45:25.000 She let out a scared yelp as he laughed at her. 1588 01:45:25.479 --> 01:45:27.680 He took a big gulp off the bottle, letting the 1589 01:45:27.720 --> 01:45:31.760 alcohol burn his throat. Are the others meeting us up here? 1590 01:45:32.319 --> 01:45:35.199 Becca asked? She wouldn't agree to coming out to the 1591 01:45:35.239 --> 01:45:38.000 woods with the guy she'd just met unless others were 1592 01:45:38.039 --> 01:45:40.880 going to be there. He scrambled to find another couple 1593 01:45:40.960 --> 01:45:44.640 to come along. Yeah, it's not much farther now. We 1594 01:45:44.720 --> 01:45:48.079 got a little fireplace from an old house, Tristan said. 1595 01:45:48.640 --> 01:45:51.560 It must have been from the seventeen hundreds. He said, 1596 01:45:52.399 --> 01:45:57.199 sounds cool, becha said, Thinking of the fireplace, Tristan frowned. 1597 01:45:57.640 --> 01:45:59.880 He should be able to see it from here. He 1598 01:46:00.119 --> 01:46:03.479 knew Greg and Beth were already there. He saw Greg's 1599 01:46:03.479 --> 01:46:05.239 car down by the side of the highway on the 1600 01:46:05.239 --> 01:46:09.359 way over. Maybe he was just lazy. He thought the 1601 01:46:09.399 --> 01:46:12.079 moon was hidden by the boughs of the trees above. 1602 01:46:12.640 --> 01:46:14.600 Tristan made his way in the dark to where he 1603 01:46:14.640 --> 01:46:17.880 knew the stone chimney was. He could barely see the 1604 01:46:17.960 --> 01:46:20.920 lighter stone in the darkness. He felt around to the 1605 01:46:21.039 --> 01:46:24.600 right where he stacked the kindling. It felt wet, but 1606 01:46:24.640 --> 01:46:28.680 he didn't remember it raining recently. Greg, if you pissed 1607 01:46:28.720 --> 01:46:31.760 on our wood, I will kill you, he called out 1608 01:46:31.760 --> 01:46:34.319 to the night. He hoped Greg heard him as he 1609 01:46:34.399 --> 01:46:37.640 banged Beth or whatever they were doing. He grabbed a 1610 01:46:37.680 --> 01:46:40.319 book of matches from his pocket. After stacking the wooden 1611 01:46:40.319 --> 01:46:43.399 branches into a small t piece shape with pine needles 1612 01:46:43.399 --> 01:46:47.720 and last falls leaves underneath. I can't see anything, Becha 1613 01:46:47.800 --> 01:46:52.439 said from behind him. One second, he said, masking his disappointment. 1614 01:46:53.000 --> 01:46:55.079 She was one hell of a looker, but she seemed 1615 01:46:55.159 --> 01:46:58.319 kind of annoying to him. He struck the match, which 1616 01:46:58.359 --> 01:47:00.439 blinded him for a second with its brightness in the 1617 01:47:00.479 --> 01:47:04.159 almost complete dark. He instinctively moved the match to the 1618 01:47:04.199 --> 01:47:07.199 pine needles under the wood before it burned out or 1619 01:47:07.279 --> 01:47:10.279 the wind got it. He saw spots in his vision 1620 01:47:10.319 --> 01:47:13.760 as he gently blew on the pine needles. Yes, he 1621 01:47:13.800 --> 01:47:16.640 called out, as the fire came to life. It wasn't 1622 01:47:16.680 --> 01:47:20.560 piss on the sticks. It was a darker, thicker color. 1623 01:47:21.159 --> 01:47:24.520 It reminded him of the bottle Becca carried. Hey, Babe, 1624 01:47:24.560 --> 01:47:27.079 can I get a drink? He said, getting to his feet. 1625 01:47:27.680 --> 01:47:30.039 The sticks were catching now and the light from the 1626 01:47:30.119 --> 01:47:35.720 chimney was spreading. Becca didn't answer him. Babe, he said, 1627 01:47:36.119 --> 01:47:39.920 and turned around. Becca was standing in front of him, 1628 01:47:40.279 --> 01:47:42.760 ten feet away, with the bottle still in her right hand, 1629 01:47:43.279 --> 01:47:48.079 her widened eyes staring past him towards the chimney. What 1630 01:47:48.119 --> 01:47:50.439 the hell's gotten into you, he said, and took a 1631 01:47:50.439 --> 01:47:54.640 step closer, but she didn't move. He watched as the 1632 01:47:54.680 --> 01:47:57.760 bottle slipped from her hand and struck the ground, spilling 1633 01:47:57.800 --> 01:48:02.119 its contents. What's wrong with you, he said, grabbing the 1634 01:48:02.119 --> 01:48:04.560 bottle off the ground to save its contents, which he 1635 01:48:04.600 --> 01:48:07.520 tried to pour down his throat. He stopped with the 1636 01:48:07.520 --> 01:48:12.800 bottle to his lips. Becca still hadn't moved. He started 1637 01:48:12.840 --> 01:48:16.640 to get a creepy feeling and turned towards the fire. 1638 01:48:17.279 --> 01:48:21.039 The light from the flames illuminated the immediate area. The 1639 01:48:21.079 --> 01:48:24.800 stack of wood he had piled there yesterday was definitely wet, 1640 01:48:25.199 --> 01:48:30.039 but it was also red. It looks like something bled 1641 01:48:30.079 --> 01:48:33.119 all over it. His eyes fell to just in front 1642 01:48:33.159 --> 01:48:36.439 of the stack of wood, and he saw the source 1643 01:48:36.479 --> 01:48:40.199 of the blood. Greg naked to the waist, lay on 1644 01:48:40.239 --> 01:48:45.359 the ground, twisted and away. Tristan could only describe as wrong. 1645 01:48:46.439 --> 01:48:49.640 His face looked behind him, and several vertebrates stuck out 1646 01:48:49.680 --> 01:48:52.600 from a gaping hole in his neck. His eyes were 1647 01:48:52.640 --> 01:48:58.680 wide open in fear, similar to Becca's. He turned towards 1648

01:48:58.680 --> 01:49:01.880 his would be girlfriend, but she was still looking in 1649 01:49:01.960 --> 01:49:06.079 the same direction. Tears streaked her cheeks and a sob 1650 01:49:06.239 --> 01:49:09.039 escaped her lips. He turned back to see what she 1651 01:49:09.119 --> 01:49:13.159 was looking at, and that's when he noticed. 1652 01:49:12.840 --> 01:49:17.560 Beth did you hear that? Better check the locks on 1653 01:49:17.640 --> 01:49:21.319 your doors. Weakly, spooky, We'll be right back. 1654 01:49:22.399 --> 01:49:26.039 Blonde hair mixed with crimson blood covered her young face 1655 01:49:26.079 --> 01:49:29.199 from the caved in skull before it sunk into the 1656 01:49:29.239 --> 01:49:32.760 opening that her missing lower jaw left behind. She was 1657 01:49:32.840 --> 01:49:37.960 completely naked behind the woodpile. Tristan approached her body carefully. 1658 01:49:38.560 --> 01:49:42.640 He tried to speak, but nothing came out. She had 1659 01:49:42.720 --> 01:49:46.800 large scratches or claw marks chris crossing across her naked 1660 01:49:46.880 --> 01:49:49.920 breasts at an inch deep, filled with rivers of blood. 1661 01:49:50.680 --> 01:49:55.479 One of her legs was missing, just missing. How does 1662 01:49:55.520 --> 01:49:59.800 that even happen? He couldn't see it anywhere, but he 1663 01:49:59.800 --> 01:50:03.840 did find her lower jaw. It looked like some sick 1664 01:50:03.920 --> 01:50:07.399 bastard tried to rape her with it, but all it 1665 01:50:07.439 --> 01:50:11.239 did was tear her pubic area. Teeth peeked out from 1666 01:50:11.239 --> 01:50:14.359 between strings of her mangled genitalia that hung from her 1667 01:50:14.399 --> 01:50:17.239 body like the streamers on a five year old girl's bicycle. 1668 01:50:18.239 --> 01:50:22.000 Panics started to settle in to Tristan. He stepped backwards, 1669 01:50:22.039 --> 01:50:26.279 away from the mangled corpses of his high school friends Becca. 1670 01:50:26.720 --> 01:50:31.399 He called out, run. He turned himself to run and 1671 01:50:31.560 --> 01:50:35.800 saw a horrid sight. Behind Becca, who still hadn't moved 1672 01:50:35.800 --> 01:50:41.000 from the same position, stood three humanoid shapes. Their eyes 1673 01:50:41.039 --> 01:50:45.520 reflected the firelight from the chimney. Beca Tristan managed to 1674 01:50:45.560 --> 01:50:48.760 say before the creatures moved in an instant. Two grabbed 1675 01:50:48.760 --> 01:50:51.199 his date and held her arms behind her back. He 1676 01:50:51.199 --> 01:50:53.680 heard a sickening pop as one of her shoulders were 1677 01:50:53.680 --> 01:50:56.960 dislocated violently. The pain seemed to break Becca out of 1678 01:50:56.960 --> 01:51:00.720 her shock. She screamed. The third creature charged Tristan. He 1679 01:51:00.800 --> 01:51:02.720 managed to land a punch on the monster, but it 1680 01:51:02.760 --> 01:51:05.079 didn't seem to have any effect. It grabbed him and 1681 01:51:05.119 --> 01:51:07.359 forced him to his knees, placing one of its large 1682 01:51:07.399 --> 01:51:09.439 clawed feet on the back of his legs so he 1683 01:51:09.479 --> 01:51:14.079 couldn't get up. Help me, Tristan, Becha called out. It 1684 01:51:14.159 --> 01:51:17.439 was her last words. One of the creature's hands suddenly 1685 01:51:17.439 --> 01:51:20.479 protruded from her lower abdomen, tearing out of her flesh 1686 01:51:20.520 --> 01:51:25.079 with a violence Tristan had never witnessed before. No. He 1687 01:51:25.159 --> 01:51:28.039 called out in horror and began to sob. He swore. 1688 01:51:28.119 --> 01:51:31.520 The creature holding him mocked his cry. Tristan saw the 1689 01:51:31.560 --> 01:51:34.279 moment Beca died. He could see it in her eyes. 1690 01:51:34.960 --> 01:51:37.760 The moment it ceased to be Becca and became only 1691 01:51:37.800 --> 01:51:40.560 a sack of meat. It was worse than the mangled 1692 01:51:40.560 --> 01:51:45.520 corpses of his friends. Watching her die like that, Becha's 1693 01:51:45.520 --> 01:51:48.840 body fell down to the ground. The two monsters fought 1694 01:51:48.880 --> 01:51:51.600 over her, tearing pieces of her flesh off in front 1695 01:51:51.600 --> 01:51:54.680 of him, the same flesh he was admiring just a 1696 01:51:54.680 --> 01:51:58.079 short time ago. Tristan couldn't take it anymore. He put 1697 01:51:58.079 --> 01:52:00.319 his head down, letting his hair cover his eyes, but 1698 01:52:00.359 --> 01:52:03.159 the creature holding him reached down with its gray hand 1699 01:52:03.319 --> 01:52:06.520 and pulled his hair until once again he was facing Becha. 1700 01:52:07.319 --> 01:52:10.399 Not only did they seem to enjoy killing, but it 1701 01:52:10.479 --> 01:52:15.079 seemed they enjoyed making him watch. He cried out. When 1702 01:52:15.079 --> 01:52:19.119 the two creatures finished dividing up Becha, they began to eat. 1703 01:52:19.880 --> 01:52:23.359 Tristan struggled, but the creature's strength was too much for him. 1704 01:52:23.640 --> 01:52:26.239 He clenched his eyes closed to block out the horror 1705 01:52:26.239 --> 01:52:28.560 in front of him, but the creature seemed to know 1706 01:52:29.439 --> 01:52:31.520 it dug a dull nail into the back of his 1707 01:52:31.640 --> 01:52:34.600 neck every time he closed his eyes, only letting the 1708 01:52:34.600 --> 01:52:39.399 pressure off when he opened them again. Closed or opened 1709 01:52:39.840 --> 01:52:43.039 he was being tortured. He kept them closed as long 1710 01:52:43.079 --> 01:52:45.640 as he could take the nail digging him, never in 1711 01:52:45.680 --> 01:52:48.720 the exact same space, then opened them until the pain 1712 01:52:48.800 --> 01:52:52.600 from the nail was replaced with the evisceration of his date. 1713 01:52:53.880 --> 01:52:56.800 It seemed to go on forever. He couldn't take any more. 1714 01:52:56.920 --> 01:52:59.000 He tried to move again, but the third creature that 1715

01:52:59.039 --> 01:53:03.840 held him did so diligently. Go on, get a bite, 1716 01:53:04.359 --> 01:53:07.079 Tristan called out to his captor. It was the only 1717 01:53:07.119 --> 01:53:10.800 thing he could do, mocking his torturers. He had no 1718 01:53:10.920 --> 01:53:13.960 way to track time, but at least fifteen minutes past 1719 01:53:14.039 --> 01:53:18.079 as he watched his date disappear peace by piece down 1720 01:53:18.119 --> 01:53:22.439 the gullets of these hellish creatures. He couldn't take any 1721 01:53:22.479 --> 01:53:25.359 more and closed his eyes to escape, But his ears 1722 01:53:25.399 --> 01:53:28.800 picked up on the wet snapping of teeth through flesh 1723 01:53:28.840 --> 01:53:32.239 and bone. It reminded him of tearing the wings off 1724 01:53:32.239 --> 01:53:34.840 of a chicken for dinner, and it made him want 1725 01:53:34.880 --> 01:53:38.119 to throw up. The creature holding him down pushed him 1726 01:53:38.159 --> 01:53:41.239 all the way to the ground. He opened his eyes 1727 01:53:41.279 --> 01:53:44.079 and looked at what was left of Becca. At that 1728 01:53:44.239 --> 01:53:47.800 point he did throw up, but it had nowhere to go. 1729 01:53:47.920 --> 01:53:51.039 Being forced down to the ground, he breathed in his 1730 01:53:51.119 --> 01:53:54.359 own vomit and thought he was going to drown. The 1731 01:53:54.399 --> 01:53:56.520 creature yanked him back up to his knees. As the 1732 01:53:56.560 --> 01:53:59.479 other two approached. He was pulled all the way to 1733 01:53:59.520 --> 01:54:02.319 his feet, and with the last act of defiance, he 1734 01:54:02.439 --> 01:54:04.640 kicked the groin of the creature right in front of him. 1735 01:54:05.000 --> 01:54:07.680 It stepped back from the impact, then reached out with 1736 01:54:07.720 --> 01:54:11.800 its gray skinned hand and grabbed his chest, tearing cloth 1737 01:54:11.920 --> 01:54:15.680 and flesh away from his body. He screamed. The pain 1738 01:54:15.840 --> 01:54:20.560 was intense. Just fucking kill me already, he yelled out, 1739 01:54:20.960 --> 01:54:25.119 just wanting it done. He couldn't take any more, Do it, 1740 01:54:25.239 --> 01:54:29.560 you cocksucker. The monsters didn't heed him. One of them 1741 01:54:29.600 --> 01:54:32.680 grabbed his hand and held it out. The first creature 1742 01:54:32.880 --> 01:54:35.800 that had been holding him the whole time switched places 1743 01:54:35.840 --> 01:54:37.920 with the one that tore a piece out of his chest. 1744 01:54:38.600 --> 01:54:41.760 It looked him in the eye with an evil intelligence 1745 01:54:41.800 --> 01:54:46.439 behind its gaze. As it slowly and deliberately raised his 1746 01:54:46.600 --> 01:54:50.239 hand to its mouth and bit off his thumb. He 1747 01:54:50.319 --> 01:54:52.880 screamed out into the night. He held on to a 1748 01:54:52.920 --> 01:54:55.640 slim hope that Josh or Emily might hear him in 1749 01:54:55.680 --> 01:54:58.560 the quiet country night. They had just had a newborn, 1750 01:54:58.880 --> 01:55:02.079 so maybe they would be wake feeding it, he thought. 1751 01:55:02.760 --> 01:55:06.159 The creature bit off his middle finger and smiled. Tristan's 1752 01:55:06.199 --> 01:55:10.119 blood and flesh still sitting in its gaping maw. Its 1753 01:55:10.159 --> 01:55:13.920 body shook with small convulsions with a grunting sound. A 1754 01:55:14.000 --> 01:55:17.680 shiver shot up Tristan's back as he realized it was 1755 01:55:17.800 --> 01:55:30.159 laughing at his misery. Till death do Us Part by 1756 01:55:30.319 --> 01:55:37.399 Rob Fields, fourteen months ago. Ain't a church supposed to 1757 01:55:37.439 --> 01:55:42.279 be a safe, sacred place. Ain't all churches considered the 1758 01:55:42.359 --> 01:55:46.039 house of God? Y'all? Wouldn't have known that if you 1759 01:55:46.239 --> 01:55:50.079 was at the Strickfield Community Church. It was Saturday afternoon 1760 01:55:50.119 --> 01:55:52.560 and my best friend was supposed to be marrying her fella. 1761 01:55:53.359 --> 01:55:56.880 You'd have thought it'd be a happy scene. The guests 1762 01:55:56.920 --> 01:56:00.439 invited filled many of the pews there. You would have 1763 01:56:00.520 --> 01:56:04.680 seen the minister herself, Delphine Brewster Sloane, conducting the wedding 1764 01:56:04.960 --> 01:56:08.319 between my girl, Whitney Miron and her fella, her high 1765 01:56:08.359 --> 01:56:12.880 school sweetheart. But you see, I know what Whitney knows. 1766 01:56:13.520 --> 01:56:17.600 The fella ain't been faithful to Whitney. In fact, I 1767 01:56:17.720 --> 01:56:23.319 done seen her cheating twice with different women. First time 1768 01:56:23.439 --> 01:56:26.720 was with Whitney's mama, and a couple days ago, her 1769 01:56:26.760 --> 01:56:29.840 fella was putting the screws to a stripper at his 1770 01:56:29.960 --> 01:56:34.319 bachelor party. Whitney's fella knew I knew about him and 1771 01:56:34.359 --> 01:56:37.520 Whitney's mama, and swore up and down he'd kill me 1772 01:56:38.079 --> 01:56:41.720 if i'd done told her. But that's just it. I 1773 01:56:41.880 --> 01:56:45.479 told Whitney. She ain't none believed me about her mama, 1774 01:56:45.920 --> 01:56:48.760 but she done saw what I saw with that stripper. 1775 01:56:49.479 --> 01:56:53.640 Whitney was fuman to kill her fella right then and there. Honestly, 1776 01:56:54.720 --> 01:56:56.439 I would have thought she would have ended the wedding. 1777 01:56:57.520 --> 01:57:01.159 But the wedding happened, and everything started off like you'd 1778 01:57:01.199 --> 01:57:06.880 expect a wedding to start. Then it happened. Whitney suddenly 1779 01:57:06.880 --> 01:57:11.920 turned and faced everybody, but y'all wouldn't recognize her. When 1780 01:57:11.960 --> 01:57:15.840 I saw her, I donepede myself. Whitney was a ghost 1781 01:57:15.920 --> 01:57:19.479 bride right out of some horror flick. Her eyes glowed red, 1782 01:57:19.520 -->

01:57:24.039 and her skin was like shining marble. She done completely 1783 01:57:24.079 --> 01:57:28.800 looked like some other girl. Suddenly, Whitney pointed past the crowd. 1784 01:57:29.520 --> 01:57:31.840 I swear y'all could have heard every door in here 1785 01:57:31.920 --> 01:57:36.359 locking fast minister Brewster. Sloane shrieked and stepped away from 1786 01:57:36.359 --> 01:57:42.159 the couple. Almighty God in heaven, she choked out. Whitney 1787 01:57:42.159 --> 01:57:46.800 turned to her. God doesn't exist here, she laughed coldly, 1788 01:57:47.760 --> 01:57:50.159 Or he would have appeared when you asked if there 1789 01:57:50.199 --> 01:57:52.920 was a reason why my groom and I shouldn't be married. 1790 01:57:54.319 --> 01:57:57.560 Whitney's suddenly pointing right at her fella while holding her 1791 01:57:57.560 --> 01:58:01.840 bridal bouquet, which looks more You are like black roses 1792 01:58:01.880 --> 01:58:06.840 now instead of the red ones originally. You cheating bastard, 1793 01:58:07.359 --> 01:58:10.520 she accused him. Why did you even keep our wedding 1794 01:58:10.560 --> 01:58:14.359 today when you don't even love me, she screams now, 1795 01:58:14.479 --> 01:58:17.560 making him fly out into the crowd. Then she drops 1796 01:58:17.600 --> 01:58:21.560 the bouquet. You betrayed me, lover, but we'll have one 1797 01:58:21.680 --> 01:58:25.760 hell of an event here today. When that Whitney thing 1798 01:58:25.840 --> 01:58:28.840 went out into the crowd, the guests ran to the doors. 1799 01:58:29.279 --> 01:58:33.039 I knew deep down they wouldn't budge none. When I 1800 01:58:33.119 --> 01:58:36.359 tried running, Whitney was suddenly right there. I know you 1801 01:58:36.479 --> 01:58:39.880 tried telling me about his cheating and I wouldn't listen, 1802 01:58:41.199 --> 01:58:43.800 But you still get to be my maid of honor. 1803 01:58:44.960 --> 01:58:48.239 Whitney turned and went to her. Fella boy, was he 1804 01:58:48.319 --> 01:58:51.319 ever begging and pleading for Whitney to let him live. 1805 01:58:52.560 --> 01:58:56.279 Whitney smiled at him. I'll spare your life if you 1806 01:58:56.319 --> 01:58:59.319 can show that you're faithful to whommever you truly do, 1807 01:58:59.399 --> 01:59:03.840 give your black heart too. She raised her finger. But 1808 01:59:03.960 --> 01:59:08.359 be warned. If I see you're still unfaithful, then I'll 1809 01:59:08.399 --> 01:59:12.840 return for you on your wedding day. Whitney turned her 1810 01:59:12.840 --> 01:59:16.239 attention to the crowd and laughed insanely as she went 1811 01:59:16.279 --> 01:59:19.279 and painted the church with the blood from the guests. 1812 01:59:19.840 --> 01:59:22.199 I peed myself again at the horror I was seeing. 1813 01:59:22.920 --> 01:59:25.439 I was a mess. When Whitney returned to me, her 1814 01:59:25.479 --> 01:59:28.880 once beautiful bridle gown now all wet and red itself. 1815 01:59:29.680 --> 01:59:33.520 Whitney's

mouth was full of blood. Then she licked her 1816 01:59:33.560 --> 01:59:35.880 fingers like she'd done finished a good help in her 1817 01:59:35.920 --> 01:59:39.279 ribs on Memorial Day. I know you tried to tell 1818 01:59:39.319 --> 01:59:44.399 me about mom Oh, but I just ate her black heart, 1819 01:59:44.600 --> 01:59:50.199 she smiled a toothy smile. Don't worry, Arianne, you and 1820 01:59:50.279 --> 01:59:52.319 the minister get to live. 1821 01:59:54.399 --> 01:59:58.840 If you're not afraid, then you're already dead. Weekly spooky, 1822 01:59:58.920 --> 01:59:59.880 We'll be right back. 1823 02:00:01.119 --> 02:00:03.520 Next thing I knew Whitney picked up her bouquet of 1824 02:00:03.600 --> 02:00:06.640 black roses. Then I remembered where she got them from. 1825 02:00:07.359 --> 02:00:10.239 Whitney's mama found them for her at a stand at 1826 02:00:10.359 --> 02:00:14.039 Jamie's flea Market near the village limits. On the west side. 1827 02:00:14.199 --> 02:00:18.720 There was this booth set up called Tinkers. The man 1828 02:00:18.800 --> 02:00:21.279 there was selling odd junk, but he also had this 1829 02:00:21.880 --> 02:00:24.760 bridal bouquet and his refrigerator off to the side and 1830 02:00:24.800 --> 02:00:28.960 made her an offer she couldn't refuse. Whitney's mama was 1831 02:00:29.000 --> 02:00:34.479 such a cheapskate even with Whitney. Whitney smiled. Now almost 1832 02:00:34.600 --> 02:00:39.000 forgot the most important part. Whitney shoved the bouquet of 1833 02:00:39.039 --> 02:00:42.800 black roses into my arms. I hissed when my fingers 1834 02:00:42.800 --> 02:00:46.079 got cut by them thorns. I was bleeding on the flowers. 1835 02:00:46.079 --> 02:00:51.359 Now soon they all turned red again as before. Whitney 1836 02:00:51.399 --> 02:00:55.960 pointed at me. You're getting married next girl. She lowered 1837 02:00:56.000 --> 02:00:59.760 her hand. Hopefully you'll find a man that'll worship the 1838 02:00:59.760 --> 02:01:04.640 grind you walk on, because I sure didn't. She turned 1839 02:01:04.640 --> 02:01:09.840 to her fella, remember, if you're unfaithful to your next bride, 1840 02:01:09.920 --> 02:01:15.399 I'll return for you and claim your soul. Then Whitney laughed. 1841 02:01:15.439 --> 02:01:20.119 This horrible laughter as she suddenly caught fire and started burning. 1842 02:01:20.680 --> 02:01:22.920 The minister and I escaped the church as it caught 1843 02:01:22.960 --> 02:01:26.159 fire and burned to the ground. I didn't know about 1844 02:01:26.199 --> 02:01:28.680 the minister, but I knew I'd never forget that day 1845 02:01:29.359 --> 02:01:37.479 as long as I lived the present. I'd taken that 1846 02:01:37.560 --> 02:01:40.399 next big step with my fellow once I'd finally taken 1847 02:01:40.439 --> 02:01:43.800 a long shower and had a few too many nightmares 1848 02:01:43.840 --> 02:01:47.840 about Whitney Miron's wedding. Lance Westerhold and I had been 1849 02:01:47.880 --> 02:01:50.319 seeing each other off and on for a long time. 1850 02:01:50.880 --> 02:01:53.800 I couldn't tell you why we kept getting back together 1851 02:01:53.880 --> 02:01:56.840 and backing off each other. I couldn't even tell you 1852 02:01:56.880 --> 02:02:00.720 how many times we fucked again and again. I admit, 1853 02:02:00.840 --> 02:02:04.439 without reservations, I ain't pretty and ain't no prize to catch. 1854 02:02:05.159 --> 02:02:07.239 I know for a fact Lance has fucked other girls 1855 02:02:07.239 --> 02:02:10.319 who could have been sex stars. Lance could have done 1856 02:02:10.399 --> 02:02:14.279 way better than me. I even joke about being beaten 1857 02:02:14.319 --> 02:02:17.600 with an ugly stick by my mama many times. I 1858 02:02:17.720 --> 02:02:20.640 never understood to this day why guys think I'm some 1859 02:02:20.840 --> 02:02:24.680 kind of prize getting back to Lance. I was just 1860 02:02:24.800 --> 02:02:29.119 leaving Woodies, driving after finishing my open to clothes. Yeah, 1861 02:02:29.359 --> 02:02:32.079 I was a car hop who served people on roller skates. 1862 02:02:32.640 --> 02:02:36.760 What's really fucked up? I actually loved working there. Yeah, 1863 02:02:36.840 --> 02:02:39.920 y'all heard me. I loved being on my skates all day. 1864 02:02:40.439 --> 02:02:42.880 Pay ain't for shit, but I get me some damn 1865 02:02:42.920 --> 02:02:46.079 good tips. I was walking home to my trailer when 1866 02:02:46.159 --> 02:02:49.520 Lance pulled up beside me and his Dodge charger. Now 1867 02:02:49.560 --> 02:02:53.279 you talking about a complete mismatch here. Lance was one 1868 02:02:53.279 --> 02:02:57.039 of them handsome, muscular mechanics you'd see in an older 1869 02:02:57.119 --> 02:03:01.880 romance movie. I was just a scrawny He had that 1870 02:03:02.039 --> 02:03:05.199 nice car, and I had my roller skates. He lived 1871 02:03:05.239 --> 02:03:09.239 in a small house. I was just trailer trash. Lance 1872 02:03:09.319 --> 02:03:11.079 was the kind of guy who knew what he wanted 1873 02:03:11.119 --> 02:03:13.319 and went and got it. I was the kind of 1874 02:03:13.359 --> 02:03:15.640 girl who accepted her lot in life and lived with it. 1875 02:03:16.359 --> 02:03:19.680 Let me alone, Lance, God damn it, I yelled, I 1876 02:03:19.720 --> 02:03:23.079 ain't no mood for your shit today. We was out 1877 02:03:23.119 --> 02:03:26.399 on Township Road one point thirteen, not far from my trailer. 1878 02:03:26.960 --> 02:03:29.880 In other words, nobody was coming or going when Lance 1879 02:03:29.920 --> 02:03:33.039 stopped me and started working his charms on me again. 1880 02:03:33.960 --> 02:03:36.800 He started telling me I was the only woman for him. 1881 02:03:37.279 --> 02:03:39.720 I told him he was so full of shit, it 1882 02:03:39.760 --> 02:03:42.880 was coming out his brown eyes. When I told him 1883 02:03:42.880 --> 02:03:45.479 to fuck off again. He finally got out of his 1884

02:03:45.520 --> 02:03:48.479 car and came to me. Then the fucker grabbed me 1885 02:03:48.520 --> 02:03:50.760 and crushed me against him as he gagged me with 1886 02:03:50.840 --> 02:03:53.880 his big tongue. Next thing I knew, he got my 1887 02:03:53.960 --> 02:03:56.239 shorts off and was banging me in the back seat. 1888 02:03:57.039 --> 02:03:59.920 Like I said, he had all them other hot peace 1889 02:04:00.079 --> 02:04:03.800 ass he could be having whenever he wanted, and the 1890 02:04:03.880 --> 02:04:07.560 dumb fuck kept coming right back to me one more time. 1891 02:04:08.279 --> 02:04:12.960 I am an ugly ass fucking girl. And no, Lance 1892 02:04:12.960 --> 02:04:15.399 ain't been drinking because I'd ha tasted it when he 1893 02:04:15.479 --> 02:04:19.039 was sucking tongue with me. Also, Lance ain't my first, 1894 02:04:19.039 --> 02:04:23.479 but I was definitely his. It was at Strickfield High 1895 02:04:23.520 --> 02:04:26.640 when Lance saw me and Tammy Lesher at a football game. 1896 02:04:27.199 --> 02:04:29.640 My girl and I were smoking a bowl together when 1897 02:04:29.880 --> 02:04:33.399 Lance approached us. Now, Tammy was one of them hot 1898 02:04:33.439 --> 02:04:37.079 girls Lance could have had whenever he wanted, but he 1899 02:04:37.119 --> 02:04:40.520 couldn't keep his eyes off of me. When Tammy went 1900 02:04:40.560 --> 02:04:42.560 back to the game, Lance grabbed a hold of me 1901 02:04:42.920 --> 02:04:46.279 and took me where no nosey Parker could see us. 1902 02:04:46.720 --> 02:04:49.560 I kept insisting Tammy could have given him a much 1903 02:04:49.600 --> 02:04:52.319 better time than me, but he stripped me naked and 1904 02:04:52.399 --> 02:04:54.960 gave me his cherry. I ain't telling you how I 1905 02:04:55.039 --> 02:04:57.479 knew I was his first, but believe me when I 1906 02:04:57.560 --> 02:05:01.560 say I knew. Like I said, We've been off and on, 1907 02:05:02.079 --> 02:05:05.199 in and out of bed together, in and out of relationships, 1908 02:05:05.199 --> 02:05:08.239 and now we was in the back seat of his car. 1909 02:05:08.960 --> 02:05:12.000 I never saw it coming. After he'd fucked me twice, 1910 02:05:12.439 --> 02:05:17.560 He'd said it right to my very lips, marry me, Arianne. 1911 02:05:17.800 --> 02:05:22.279 Nothing much surprised me after Whitney's wedding, except that the 1912 02:05:22.359 --> 02:05:27.680 fuck you say, marry me Arianne, he repeated. We looked 1913 02:05:27.680 --> 02:05:30.199 at each other for the longest time. Then I scoffed, 1914 02:05:31.039 --> 02:05:36.359 fuck you, marry me Arianne, he whispered to my lips 1915 02:05:36.439 --> 02:05:39.600 one more time. We looked at each other for the 1916 02:05:39.680 --> 02:05:43.359 longest time again. Then I told him the closest thing 1917 02:05:43.399 --> 02:05:47.560 to a yes, he was gonna get fuck you, I muttered. 1918 02:05:48.239 --> 02:05:50.439 Then he fucked me a couple more times in his 1919 02:05:50.520 --> 02:05:55.279 back seat to make our engagement official. Anyway, That's how 1920 02:05:55.319 --> 02:05:57.439 I keep remembering it. As I'm getting out of bed 1921 02:05:57.439 --> 02:06:00.600 and leaving Lance sleeping, and go into the bathroom and 1922 02:06:00.640 --> 02:06:04.319 look in the mirror. My ugly ass face was staring 1923 02:06:04.439 --> 02:06:07.680 right back at me. At first, I was gonna laugh 1924 02:06:07.720 --> 02:06:10.439 for even dreaming. Lance asked me to marry him till 1925 02:06:10.479 --> 02:06:13.319 I'm feeling the weight on my left hand and raise 1926 02:06:13.359 --> 02:06:16.239 it to see the big glowing rock he put on 1927 02:06:16.279 --> 02:06:19.640 my finger. I come back out and look at Lance 1928 02:06:19.680 --> 02:06:23.720 as he keeps snoring away. Now, unlike Whitney, I know 1929 02:06:24.000 --> 02:06:27.239 exactly what to expect from my fellaw. Yeah, I know, 1930 02:06:27.399 --> 02:06:30.560 goddamn well, he's gonna keep fucking other women like I'm 1931 02:06:30.560 --> 02:06:35.159 gonna keep fucking other fellas, and we're getting married. The 1932 02:06:35.279 --> 02:06:39.119 rock on my finger says we are okay. Know one. 1933 02:06:39.159 --> 02:06:42.800 What I know about Lance. All I'm wondering is why 1934 02:06:43.840 --> 02:06:46.520 I ain't rich, Like I said, I'm a car hop 1935 02:06:46.560 --> 02:06:49.720 at an old time driving. I own this trailer and 1936 02:06:49.760 --> 02:06:51.840 the land at rests on that. My folks left me 1937 02:06:51.920 --> 02:06:55.600 out right, and it's my only lot in life. Only 1938 02:06:55.680 --> 02:06:59.000 thing I'm thinking is I gotta be one hell of 1939 02:06:59.039 --> 02:07:02.239 a hot fuck. I shake my head and keep wondering 1940 02:07:02.279 --> 02:07:04.920 how I keep getting laid when fellas shouldn't want to 1941 02:07:04.920 --> 02:07:07.720 touch me with a ten foot pole. And then I 1942 02:07:07.760 --> 02:07:11.000 see that fucking bouquet of flowers Whitney Mirror gave me 1943 02:07:11.479 --> 02:07:15.239 at that wedding from Hell, all them months ago. Yeah 1944 02:07:15.279 --> 02:07:19.680 it's been months and then flowers they're still looking like 1945 02:07:19.760 --> 02:07:22.399 I just picked them up at the flower shop. They're 1946 02:07:22.479 --> 02:07:24.960 still red as the blood I bled on them that day. 1947 02:07:26.119 --> 02:07:28.960 I went and picked up the bouquet. Then I shook 1948 02:07:29.000 --> 02:07:35.640 my head slowly. Fuck you. I took them fucking flowers outside, 1949 02:07:35.760 --> 02:07:38.720 not giving two shits who drive by and see me naked. 1950 02:07:39.239 --> 02:07:41.439 I tossed them into the fire pit I burn shit 1951 02:07:41.520 --> 02:07:45.039 in after soaking them down good and gasoline and lighting 1952 02:07:45.079 --> 02:07:48.560 them up. I'm amazed yet again. Not only am I 1953 02:07:48.560 --> 02:07:52.640 getting married, them flowers from Hell ain't even burning

up, 1954 02:07:52.920 --> 02:07:56.520 even after making the flames go real high. Then the 1955 02:07:56.520 --> 02:08:01.319 fire finally goes out, them flowers are still there. I 1956 02:08:01.399 --> 02:08:03.920 reach into the pit and pull him out. They ain't 1957 02:08:03.960 --> 02:08:07.600 even warm. Next thing I knew, Lance is out here 1958 02:08:07.600 --> 02:08:10.760 with me. He cradled me into him from behind so 1959 02:08:10.840 --> 02:08:15.359 he can swap spitting morning breath in a kiss. The 1960 02:08:15.479 --> 02:08:19.000 day of the wedding is finally here. It definitely wouldn't 1961 02:08:19.039 --> 02:08:21.479 be a very big one, but there was enough people 1962 02:08:21.520 --> 02:08:24.600 on both my side and his that came believe it 1963 02:08:24.720 --> 02:08:27.760 or not, Lance's parents paid for our wedding. Now I 1964 02:08:27.840 --> 02:08:30.439 know for a fact, Lance's parents ain't never liked me 1965 02:08:30.560 --> 02:08:33.279 none too much. I even heard his daddy telling him 1966 02:08:33.319 --> 02:08:36.359 he could do so much better than me. Hell, I 1967 02:08:37.000 --> 02:08:39.159 even told Lance he could do way better than me. 1968 02:08:40.199 --> 02:08:43.079 All the dumbass says back to me, is I love you, 1969 02:08:43.159 --> 02:08:47.720 Arian and I'm marrying you. Keep in mind, I ain't 1970 02:08:47.760 --> 02:08:50.600 never said I loved him, But I think he knew 1971 02:08:50.640 --> 02:08:52.720 I'd stay with him when I'd let him fuck me 1972 02:08:52.800 --> 02:08:56.279 six ways from Sunday, even after I knew he'd just 1973 02:08:56.359 --> 02:08:59.680 fucked another woman, or when I'd show up walking funny 1974 02:08:59.680 --> 02:09:04.000 in his place. Yet he still wants to marry me. Well, 1975 02:09:04.800 --> 02:09:08.600 fuck it. Then, getting back to the wedding, we was 1976 02:09:08.640 --> 02:09:12.079 wearing normal dress clothes. Fuck being all formal and everything. 1977 02:09:12.720 --> 02:09:15.760 Lance comes and looks at me before the wedding. Forget 1978 02:09:15.840 --> 02:09:18.279 he ain't supposed to see the bride before the wedding. Right, 1979 02:09:19.000 --> 02:09:22.720 we're alone with each other now, you just know we're 1980 02:09:22.720 --> 02:09:26.680 gonna be miserable together. Right, I tell him you can 1981 02:09:26.720 --> 02:09:29.920 do so much better than me. Last chance to tell 1982 02:09:29.920 --> 02:09:33.119 me to fuck off. I promise you no hard feelings. 1983 02:09:33.760 --> 02:09:36.079 He just pulls me into his arms and stares deep 1984 02:09:36.119 --> 02:09:40.359 into my eyes. I love you. I laugh a little, 1985 02:09:41.079 --> 02:09:44.000 and you're off your fucking rocker, leaving that rich girl 1986 02:09:44.039 --> 02:09:46.800 all to her own at your wedding rehearsal. Not just 1987 02:09:46.840 --> 02:09:50.279 a rich girl a mirror. You do know, mirrans are 1988 02:09:50.359 --> 02:09:53.720 rich as fuck, right, Yet your dumb ass done stood 1989 02:09:53.720 --> 02:09:56.359 her up when you came to my trailer and fucked me. 1990 02:09:57.600 --> 02:10:00.159 We stare at each other again, then he ki, this 1991 02:10:00.199 --> 02:10:02.840 is me one more time before leaving me before our wedding. 1992 02:10:03.760 --> 02:10:08.840 Suddenly that that fucking bouquet of flowers is right there 1993 02:10:08.840 --> 02:10:11.720 on the table. I take him in my hands and 1994 02:10:11.760 --> 02:10:14.880 hold him in front of me. The bloody red flowers 1995 02:10:14.920 --> 02:10:20.600 turned deathly black. Funny thing. Not only have I continued 1996 02:10:20.600 --> 02:10:24.279 having nightmares about Whitney's weddin, but I keep having nightmares 1997 02:10:24.319 --> 02:10:28.439 about some of her last moments before the wedding. I'd 1998 02:10:28.479 --> 02:10:32.039 swear I was looking right through her own eyes. That 1999 02:10:32.159 --> 02:10:34.760 rich girl found herself a fellow whom thought the world 2000 02:10:34.760 --> 02:10:37.880 of her the way she did him. Her girls she 2001 02:10:37.920 --> 02:10:40.439 went to Strickfield High with kept telling her he wasn't 2002 02:10:40.479 --> 02:10:45.159 no good for she wouldn't listen. I saw everything like 2003 02:10:45.239 --> 02:10:48.359 I was Whitney Mihr and herself. She gave this man 2004 02:10:48.479 --> 02:10:52.399 her everything. She gave him her heart, she gave him 2005 02:10:52.399 --> 02:10:56.520 her body however he wanted to do her. She thought 2006 02:10:56.640 --> 02:11:00.640 she did everything right. Then the wedding came and Whitney 2007 02:11:00.640 --> 02:11:04.680 got this very bouquet. Whitney's mom especially ordered him just 2008 02:11:04.760 --> 02:11:08.640 for her, from a man named Isley Tinker. Turned out 2009 02:11:08.680 --> 02:11:11.079 he was doing flowers on the side of selling odds 2010 02:11:11.119 --> 02:11:14.880 and ends at a junk shop. When Whitney got the flowers, 2011 02:11:14.880 --> 02:11:18.319 her fingers got pricked by the thorns, same when Whitney 2012 02:11:18.319 --> 02:11:22.119 put them in my hands. After Whitney bled all over him, 2013 02:11:23.039 --> 02:11:26.560 she learned the truth about her fella. He was never 2014 02:11:26.640 --> 02:11:30.239 once loyal to her. Whitney's fella fucked around on her 2015 02:11:30.279 --> 02:11:34.119 again and again. The more she saw, the more she 2016 02:11:34.279 --> 02:11:35.479 burned hot as hell. 2017 02:11:37.199 --> 02:11:41.159 You're not safe yet, weekly Spooky will be right back. 2018 02:11:42.840 --> 02:11:45.600 And at the Strickfield Community Church where the wedding was 2019 02:11:45.640 --> 02:11:48.680 to take place, Whitney turned into a bride from hell 2020 02:11:49.640 --> 02:11:53.560 and slaughtered everyone in that particular church, including the church 2021 02:11:53.600 --> 02:11:58.960 people themselves, save Minister Brewster Sloan. Remember when I said 2022 02:11:59.000 --> 02:12:03.199 I know

everything there is to know about Lance you see, 2023 02:12:03.399 --> 02:12:07.319 Lance was the fella fucking around on Whitney Mirran over 2024 02:12:07.359 --> 02:12:10.920 a year ago. I knew damn well he was gonna 2025 02:12:10.920 --> 02:12:13.319 marry her. I even agreed to be Whitney's maid of honor. 2026 02:12:13.960 --> 02:12:16.760 But god damn if Lance wouldn't stop fucking me anyways. 2027 02:12:17.520 --> 02:12:20.039 Only reason Whitney didn't kill his ass that day was 2028 02:12:20.079 --> 02:12:23.359 because he begged her for his life, promising he'd be 2029 02:12:23.399 --> 02:12:26.520 a better man. She said she'd hold him to it. 2030 02:12:27.680 --> 02:12:30.680 Now that fucking music's playing for me to make my entrance, 2031 02:12:31.000 --> 02:12:34.520 everybody's gasping at me. Now. No, not because I'm one 2032 02:12:34.600 --> 02:12:38.399 ugly fucking girl about to marry Lance Westerhold. It's because 2033 02:12:39.640 --> 02:12:43.720 I became Whitney Mihr and herself. Now I'm the same 2034 02:12:43.800 --> 02:12:49.680 ghostly bride Whitney became all because of having them fucking flowers. 2035 02:12:50.479 --> 02:12:53.039 The doors are all locked tight, and I'm seeing the 2036 02:12:53.039 --> 02:12:56.520 look on Lance's face. He wants to run as our 2037 02:12:56.560 --> 02:12:59.399 relatives are exploding all over the place and painting the 2038 02:12:59.399 --> 02:13:02.800 Strickfield Chapel the unholy red wedding it needs to be. 2039 02:13:04.039 --> 02:13:07.399 Lance is looking at me now, knowing he fucked up royally. 2040 02:13:07.880 --> 02:13:14.279 In fact, it's only him the preacher Man and me. Now, Lance, 2041 02:13:14.319 --> 02:13:20.079 don't even try running away. I'm ready, I tell the 2042 02:13:20.079 --> 02:13:24.159 Preacher Man in Whitney Mirren's disembodied voice. The preacher Man 2043 02:13:24.279 --> 02:13:27.800 stammers through the usual wedding lines with Lance. Lance is 2044 02:13:27.840 --> 02:13:31.399 looking like he's ready to piss himself, but he looks 2045 02:13:31.439 --> 02:13:37.800 at me and says, I ugh do now. The Preacher 2046 02:13:37.840 --> 02:13:41.239 Man stammers the same lines to me, except he calls 2047 02:13:41.239 --> 02:13:45.840 me Whitney Mirron, since that's who I am now. When 2048 02:13:45.880 --> 02:13:49.239 he finishes, the preacher Man and Lance wait my answer. 2049 02:13:50.279 --> 02:13:53.159 I look at Lance with my glowing eyes and smile 2050 02:13:53.279 --> 02:13:58.279 sweetly till death do us part. And then I drop 2051 02:13:58.359 --> 02:14:02.119 my cursed bouquet to whole Lance to me and seal 2052 02:14:02.600 --> 02:14:06.439 our unholy union with a kiss. Then the Preacher Man 2053 02:14:06.560 --> 02:14:11.199 watches us burst into flames as I'm taking Lance straight 2054 02:14:11.760 --> 02:14:28.479 to hell with me. First date by Rob Fields Perspective 2055 02:14:28.960 --> 02:14:32.640 Ariel Mirron. Who would have thought that my life would 2056 02:14:32.680 --> 02:14:36.600 have changed so drastically over the holidays. I'm pretty good 2057 02:14:36.600 --> 02:14:40.640 at keeping my feelings to myself, but I'm still very 2058 02:14:40.680 --> 02:14:45.359 angry and upset with my parents, mostly Mom. I still 2059 02:14:45.359 --> 02:14:49.520 can't believe that Witch offered me to Queen Arcadia in 2060 02:14:49.560 --> 02:14:54.159 exchange for her fame and fortune. Oh, let me tell you. 2061 02:14:54.479 --> 02:14:57.239 I was so angry with Mom that I screamed and 2062 02:14:57.279 --> 02:14:59.760 threw everything at her that I could get my hands on. 2063 02:15:00.600 --> 02:15:04.680 I mean, I destroyed a lot of stuff. My friends 2064 02:15:04.680 --> 02:15:06.600 who were there with me had to pull me off 2065 02:15:06.640 --> 02:15:10.800 Mom when I finally attacked her myself. I've had sufficient 2066 02:15:10.840 --> 02:15:14.399 time now to calm down and assess my current situation. 2067 02:15:15.279 --> 02:15:18.479 I'm living with Madeline Donnerley and her family now and 2068 02:15:18.560 --> 02:15:23.039 actually have my own room. Mouse's parents converted a spare 2069 02:15:23.079 --> 02:15:26.640 bedroom just for me. Not only that, I figured that, 2070 02:15:26.880 --> 02:15:30.760 upon returning to Strickfield Junior High that people would be 2071 02:15:30.920 --> 02:15:35.680 jeering me about the whole fall from Grace thing. No 2072 02:15:35.720 --> 02:15:40.239 one said a word. In fact, I continued on as 2073 02:15:40.239 --> 02:15:43.159 if that whole blow up between Mom and I had 2074 02:15:43.199 --> 02:15:48.239 never happened. But something did happen at school today. You 2075 02:15:48.359 --> 02:15:51.159 probably know by now that Carter Cross and I have 2076 02:15:51.279 --> 02:15:56.399 always been polar opposites. Even now, he still calls me princess, 2077 02:15:57.039 --> 02:15:59.119 but he's not making fun of me because of my 2078 02:15:59.239 --> 02:16:03.000 fall from Grace. I wasn't letting him off so fast, though. 2079 02:16:03.520 --> 02:16:06.039 I still managed to swipe a few of his sodas, 2080 02:16:06.520 --> 02:16:12.119 including at lunch period today today though, it just it 2081 02:16:12.159 --> 02:16:15.560 didn't feel right normally, Carter's on me the minute I 2082 02:16:15.600 --> 02:16:19.199 swipe a soda. In fact, we both had the can 2083 02:16:19.319 --> 02:16:22.960 ready to fight for it. Then he just let me 2084 02:16:23.039 --> 02:16:26.520 have it. The truth is, I haven't forgotten that he 2085 02:16:26.600 --> 02:16:29.920 asked me out the first weekend of December, when we 2086 02:16:29.920 --> 02:16:34.200 were trapped in the Strickfield Town Center mall overnight hanging 2087 02:16:34.280 --> 02:16:38.959 Christmas decorations for cousin harmony. I can't stop replaying that 2088 02:16:39.040 --> 02:16:42.639 event in my mind over and over. Carter hasn't asked 2089 02:16:42.639 --> 02:16:47.879 me out again since, though,

however, I haven't really given 2090 02:16:47.920 --> 02:16:51.799 him an answer. Then I remember that Carter Cross actually 2091 02:16:51.840 --> 02:16:55.399 lives next door to me. Now, I go to my 2092 02:16:55.440 --> 02:16:59.040 smartphone and text Carter to see if he's home. I 2093 02:16:59.079 --> 02:17:03.479 get a reply back almost immediately. Yes. I get off 2094 02:17:03.520 --> 02:17:05.719 my bed and head downstairs to go to his house. 2095 02:17:06.239 --> 02:17:08.680 He's right there at the back door and invites me in. 2096 02:17:09.440 --> 02:17:13.440 What's up, Princess, he asks. I take a deep breath 2097 02:17:13.440 --> 02:17:17.239 and look at him. Yes, Carter, I'm sorry I never 2098 02:17:17.280 --> 02:17:20.360 answered you that night, but yes, I will go out 2099 02:17:20.399 --> 02:17:23.239 with you. Carter and I stare at each other for 2100 02:17:23.319 --> 02:17:29.680 a long moment. You sure, he asks quietly. I nod quickly. 2101 02:17:30.799 --> 02:17:33.239 We need to know for sure if there's really something 2102 02:17:33.280 --> 02:17:36.840 there between us. We can know for sure in one date. Right. 2103 02:17:37.920 --> 02:17:42.760 We stare at each other again. What do we do? 2104 02:17:43.520 --> 02:17:47.840 He stammers, I ain't never been on a date before 2105 02:17:49.000 --> 02:17:53.159 me neither, I admit. I guess we can just go 2106 02:17:53.799 --> 02:17:59.399 hang out together, right. Carter nods, okay, Yeah, what time 2107 02:17:59.399 --> 02:18:07.639 do you want to go? Oh perspective Carter cross. Madeline 2108 02:18:07.719 --> 02:18:10.840 Donnerley and me are playing video games at Roth's Rings 2109 02:18:11.520 --> 02:18:15.120 after losing a third straight game of cruising USA place 2110 02:18:15.200 --> 02:18:20.239 in nearly last Madeline looks at me. Let's go talk, buddy, 2111 02:18:20.799 --> 02:18:24.200 she says in her mousey voice. We grab our drinks 2112 02:18:24.200 --> 02:18:28.280 and head outside. Then I just tell her Ariel and 2113 02:18:28.319 --> 02:18:31.719 me are going on a date tonight. Her eyes are 2114 02:18:31.760 --> 02:18:36.319 really wide. Now. Really, I tell Madeline about when I 2115 02:18:36.360 --> 02:18:40.000 asked Ariel out at the mall during that overnight last month. 2116 02:18:40.879 --> 02:18:44.040 I just kept thinking about it. You've been giving me 2117 02:18:44.079 --> 02:18:47.079 a hard time about Ariel. I know Mona and Bailey 2118 02:18:47.120 --> 02:18:50.559 give Ariel a hard time too. Ariel said, we got 2119 02:18:50.559 --> 02:18:53.520 to know if there's something there, so we're gonna do 2120 02:18:53.600 --> 02:18:58.239 one date tonight. Now it's the same silence like at 2121 02:18:58.280 --> 02:19:00.639 my place. When Ariel and I agree to go out. 2122 02:19:01.879 --> 02:19:05.479 Madeline breaks the silence. Told you you liked her, buddy, 2123 02:19:06.239 --> 02:19:10.079 I sigh. What if I mess things up with her? Madeline, 2124 02:19:11.000 --> 02:19:13.639 this is our first date. It ain't gonna be like 2125 02:19:13.680 --> 02:19:18.159 when we hang out, she smirks. Just talk to her carter. 2126 02:19:18.840 --> 02:19:22.360 The rest will work itself out. I ain't never dated yet, 2127 02:19:22.360 --> 02:19:26.520 but I understand a few things based on movies. She 2128 02:19:26.680 --> 02:19:31.479 gently slaps my shoulder. Just talk to her. I nod quickly, 2129 02:19:32.840 --> 02:19:35.680 Sorry about what happened in here. I should have just 2130 02:19:35.959 --> 02:19:40.440 talked to you. It's all good, buddy, she replies. I 2131 02:19:40.520 --> 02:19:43.440 put my hand on her shoulder. I'm glad. I can 2132 02:19:43.479 --> 02:19:47.360 always talk to you, Madeleine, and you always will, she 2133 02:19:47.520 --> 02:19:51.360 promises me. Feeling better, we go back inside and start 2134 02:19:51.399 --> 02:19:55.079 playing again. Now I can actually compete with Madeline. When 2135 02:19:55.120 --> 02:20:04.600 we start racing again, perspective Ariel mirror. I enter Mouse's 2136 02:20:04.639 --> 02:20:08.680 house she calls it the mousehole, and see she's typing 2137 02:20:08.719 --> 02:20:12.479 away on her computer. A few minutes later, she's finally done. 2138 02:20:12.799 --> 02:20:15.360 I think she finished a paper for one of our classes. 2139 02:20:15.920 --> 02:20:19.879 Now she looks right at me. It's gonna be okay, Ariel, 2140 02:20:20.360 --> 02:20:24.520 she tells me. I sigh. Carter talked to you, didn't he. 2141 02:20:25.479 --> 02:20:27.520 She turns in her chair and waits for me to 2142 02:20:27.559 --> 02:20:31.120 sit on her lower bunk. He did, but she kind 2143 02:20:31.120 --> 02:20:34.159 of been fidgeting all day. You only ever do that 2144 02:20:34.200 --> 02:20:37.440 when you're really nervous, which don't happen often with you. 2145 02:20:38.440 --> 02:20:43.319 I sigh again. I hate you. Mouse. She comes and 2146 02:20:43.360 --> 02:20:47.600 sits beside me. It'll be okay. You and Carter are 2147 02:20:47.680 --> 02:20:51.799 gonna hang out, Just have fun and talk to him. Suddenly, 2148 02:20:52.559 --> 02:20:53.600 the doorbell. 2149 02:20:53.280 --> 02:20:58.680 Rings don't go away. Weekly spooky. We'll be right back. 2150 02:21:00.360 --> 02:21:04.040 It's Carter, Mouse tells me. I give her an odd look. 2151 02:21:04.600 --> 02:21:09.319 Carter usually just comes in. Mouse smirks, Yeah. Carter and 2152 02:21:09.399 --> 02:21:12.680 me usually walk into each other's houses. But Carter ain't 2153 02:21:12.680 --> 02:21:15.040 here to hang out with me. He's here for you. 2154 02:21:15.920 --> 02:21:19.159 Better go answer that. I look at the Freddy Krueger 2155 02:21:19.200 --> 02:21:22.799 clock next to the door. Seven point thirty time sure 2156 02:21:22.920 --> 02:21:25.879 flew since Carter and I arranged our date. I see 2157 02:21:25.920 --> 02:21:29.440 Mouse's smile and know everything's going to be all right. 2158 02:21:30.120 -->

02:21:31.760 I get up and make my way down to the 2159 02:21:31.799 --> 02:21:35.760 front door. Mouse is right when Carter's standing outside. We 2160 02:21:35.879 --> 02:21:38.760 look at each other for a long moment, just like 2161 02:21:38.840 --> 02:21:41.840 at his house earlier. Then I finally put on my 2162 02:21:41.959 --> 02:21:44.600 jacket and go out onto the porch, with him closing 2163 02:21:44.639 --> 02:21:48.920 the door behind me. Where officially on our first date. 2164 02:21:49.600 --> 02:21:59.760 Now perspective, Carter Cross, Ariel and me are both pretty nervous. 2165 02:22:00.239 --> 02:22:03.600 We're walking to downtown village together in silence, glancing at 2166 02:22:03.600 --> 02:22:08.399 each other at times. Finally, Ariel says something, I'm just 2167 02:22:08.440 --> 02:22:11.959 as scared as you, Carter. That makes me feel better. 2168 02:22:12.840 --> 02:22:15.760 What do you want to do? We stop right outside 2169 02:22:15.799 --> 02:22:20.280 the Strickfield Centennial Theater. There's only two movies playing, including 2170 02:22:20.280 --> 02:22:24.120 a special screening of Rad Yeah, that bicycle movie from 2171 02:22:24.120 --> 02:22:28.040 the nineteen eighties. Ariel surprises me and wants to see it. 2172 02:22:28.799 --> 02:22:31.120 I pay for our tickets and buy us both cokes. 2173 02:22:32.040 --> 02:22:34.319 Madeline and I had seen this movie plenty of times 2174 02:22:34.360 --> 02:22:37.639 after we became friends. Rad got us into riding bikes 2175 02:22:37.639 --> 02:22:42.600 the way we do, even getting mongooses. Anyway, Ariel never 2176 02:22:42.639 --> 02:22:48.440 got bored once. Later, we're sitting in Big Ed's soda 2177 02:22:48.479 --> 02:22:52.040 parlor after the movie and talking about it. Madeline's right 2178 02:22:52.120 --> 02:22:56.239 about just talking to Ariel. Also, Ariel insisted on paying 2179 02:22:56.239 --> 02:23:00.559 for our Sundays since I paid it the movies. Suddenly, 2180 02:23:00.719 --> 02:23:05.159 Ariel's eyes get wide, so do mine. When Bailey Downs 2181 02:23:05.200 --> 02:23:09.959 and Mona Abels approach our table, Ariel's face goes red fast, 2182 02:23:10.200 --> 02:23:14.200 and not because she's mad. Ah ain't you too cute? 2183 02:23:14.680 --> 02:23:20.520 Mona teases. Bailey just gives Ariel this weird smile. Now 2184 02:23:20.559 --> 02:23:24.920 Ariel does tough enough. Yes, I am here with Carter Cross, 2185 02:23:25.239 --> 02:23:28.319 go tell the whole school. When Bailey and Mona look 2186 02:23:28.360 --> 02:23:32.000 at me, I just NodD Ariel's way what she said. 2187 02:23:33.079 --> 02:23:36.200 Then Mona and Bailey smile wickedly and giggle a little 2188 02:23:36.280 --> 02:23:41.000 before they start singing Ariel's got a boy friend. Ariel's 2189 02:23:41.040 --> 02:23:45.559 got a boy friend. Ariel growls at them, I hate 2190 02:23:45.600 --> 02:23:49.920 you both. Then they turn and walk away, laughing. The 2191 02:23:50.000 --> 02:23:52.600 last thing I hear before they leave is Bailey telling 2192 02:23:52.639 --> 02:23:57.120 Mona told you so. Ariel takes a deep breath and 2193 02:23:57.159 --> 02:24:01.319 looks at me. Now, I really don't care Carter. I 2194 02:24:01.440 --> 02:24:06.360 smile at Ariel me neither. When we finish our ice cream, 2195 02:24:06.360 --> 02:24:09.719 we leave and go walking around. Then I decide to 2196 02:24:09.719 --> 02:24:13.680 be a man and take Ariel's hand. She gasps at first, 2197 02:24:14.760 --> 02:24:19.239 and then relaxes. She doesn't take her hand back. Then 2198 02:24:19.319 --> 02:24:27.760 we get calm and start talking again. Perspective Ariel Mirn. 2199 02:24:29.159 --> 02:24:31.719 You just know Bailey and Mona are going to tell 2200 02:24:31.760 --> 02:24:34.719 anyone who's willing to listen. I meant what I said. 2201 02:24:34.760 --> 02:24:36.959 I really don't care who knows that I'm on a 2202 02:24:37.040 --> 02:24:41.000 date with Carter Cross. I decide to be honest with him. 2203 02:24:41.959 --> 02:24:45.120 Maybe if I was still living back in the gated community, 2204 02:24:45.159 --> 02:24:48.360 I might have denied it. But I'm out here with 2205 02:24:48.440 --> 02:24:51.760 all of you. Now, you ever miss being in there? 2206 02:24:52.319 --> 02:24:57.879 Carter asks, no, I say, without hesitation, my parents never 2207 02:24:57.959 --> 02:25:02.000 once called Mouse's house asking for They never stopped by either, 2208 02:25:02.799 --> 02:25:06.479 not even anything in the mail. I smile a little. 2209 02:25:07.799 --> 02:25:12.879 Madeline's parents are good people, I know. Suddenly, Carter and 2210 02:25:12.959 --> 02:25:17.959 I just stop dead. How did we end up walking 2211 02:25:18.000 --> 02:25:24.040 down this street? Carter? I ask, we just did? Carter 2212 02:25:24.159 --> 02:25:28.120 tells me we just turned down this way. And well, 2213 02:25:28.920 --> 02:25:32.159 Carter and I are staring right at the old Carnivosh 2214 02:25:32.280 --> 02:25:36.239 estate from outside the high fence. When Carter and I 2215 02:25:36.319 --> 02:25:40.440 squeeze hands, I admit something to him. Mona, Bailey and 2216 02:25:40.479 --> 02:25:42.559 I dared Mouse to go into this house when we 2217 02:25:42.920 --> 02:25:46.399 walked by it in early October. Mona asked her if 2218 02:25:46.399 --> 02:25:49.680 she was chicken. Mouse simply told us she was brave 2219 02:25:49.799 --> 02:25:53.799 enough to go in there, but not stupid enough. We 2220 02:25:53.879 --> 02:25:58.760 didn't say anything more to her about it after that. Okay, well, 2221 02:25:58.879 --> 02:26:03.879 let's just keep walking, Carter suggests, after a little bit. Yeah, 2222 02:26:04.239 --> 02:26:09.360 let's I agree, fast, but neither of us move. It's 2223 02:26:09.440 --> 02:26:12.600 not because we're both scared of the house. It's because 2224 02:26:12.639 --> 02:26:16.879 we're looking through the main gate and seeing a little 2225

02:26:16.920 --> 02:26:22.120 girl standing in one of the windows, looking right out 2226 02:26:22.159 --> 02:26:32.719 at us perspective, Carter cross. Ariel and I both agree 2227 02:26:32.760 --> 02:26:35.680 we saw that little girl in the house. We're both 2228 02:26:35.760 --> 02:26:39.680 pretty sure nobody lives in the Carnivosh estate, and not 2229 02:26:39.840 --> 02:26:43.520 for a very long time living in the village itself. 2230 02:26:43.559 --> 02:26:47.280 It would be big news fast if anyone actually moved 2231 02:26:47.319 --> 02:26:50.760 in there. When the little girl moves away from the window, 2232 02:26:50.879 --> 02:26:54.559 Ariel and I look at each other. Carter, we can't 2233 02:26:55.000 --> 02:26:59.000 leave that little girl in there, Ariel tells me. I gulp, 2234 02:27:00.159 --> 02:27:03.520 afraid you'd say that. Ariel and me don't even gotta 2235 02:27:03.559 --> 02:27:06.079 talk about it. We climb the fence and go inside. 2236 02:27:06.079 --> 02:27:09.200 The property. Looks like this place ain't had yard work 2237 02:27:09.280 --> 02:27:13.159 done in years, even though it's early January. Weeds seem 2238 02:27:13.239 --> 02:27:16.559 to keep growing real good here. When we reach the 2239 02:27:16.600 --> 02:27:19.920 front door, one of them's wide open. Then I hear 2240 02:27:20.000 --> 02:27:24.559 Ariel gulp. She's breathing fast and giving me looks. I 2241 02:27:24.639 --> 02:27:27.760 know I gotta be looking scared too. Ariel and I 2242 02:27:27.799 --> 02:27:31.520 are still holding hands when we slowly go inside. We 2243 02:27:31.600 --> 02:27:35.440 hain't even two steps past the door. When Ariel and 2244 02:27:35.520 --> 02:27:37.639 me both cry out and turn around to see the 2245 02:27:37.719 --> 02:27:42.399 doors are both completely closed. We go to them and 2246 02:27:42.520 --> 02:27:48.239 find we're locked in. Ariel quickly pulls out her phone. No, 2247 02:27:48.920 --> 02:27:53.920 she looks at me. No signal you, uh huh, I confirm. 2248 02:27:54.319 --> 02:27:57.920 Then I open my settings. No nearby Wi Fi either. 2249 02:27:58.760 --> 02:28:02.040 We put our phones away. Then Ariel points to the stairway. 2250 02:28:03.200 --> 02:28:06.319 I don't think she was upstairs, Ariel, I say, I 2251 02:28:06.360 --> 02:28:08.120 thought the little girl was in the room to the 2252 02:28:08.159 --> 02:28:12.520 left of the doors. Ariel points in the direction in there. 2253 02:28:13.319 --> 02:28:17.040 Ariel quickly grabs my hand. Don't you dare let go. 2254 02:28:17.159 --> 02:28:20.719 I'm not losing you, Carter Cross. I shake her hand 2255 02:28:20.719 --> 02:28:23.760 to assure her I'm holding it. Then we walk into 2256 02:28:23.799 --> 02:28:28.520 what looks like a living room. Little girl, I call out. 2257 02:28:29.120 --> 02:28:32.200 Then I point to the window. There's where we saw 2258 02:28:32.239 --> 02:28:35.200 her right. We moved to the window and look outside 2259 02:28:35.239 --> 02:28:38.479 to see where we were before we came in. We'll 2260 02:28:38.479 --> 02:28:42.079 have to keep looking around, Ariel says, she's not in here. Now. 2261 02:28:42.920 --> 02:28:46.680 I stop her fast, Ariel. She turns and sees I'm 2262 02:28:46.680 --> 02:28:51.200 pointing down a hallway where we see the little girl. Stop. 2263 02:28:51.440 --> 02:28:55.280 Ariel calls out, please come this way. Ariel and I 2264 02:28:55.360 --> 02:28:58.200 run down the hallway as she turns away. When we 2265 02:28:58.280 --> 02:29:01.440 reach the end, we come into a conservatory. We move 2266 02:29:01.520 --> 02:29:03.559 to the other entrance and go through it to see 2267 02:29:03.600 --> 02:29:07.639 the little girl again at the end of another hallway. Carter, 2268 02:29:08.200 --> 02:29:13.120 Ariel gasps, you seeing this, I nod fast. The little 2269 02:29:13.159 --> 02:29:16.200 girl's feet are pointing to the floor, but it's plain 2270 02:29:16.360 --> 02:29:21.120 as the noses on our faces. She's floating. Yeah, I 2271 02:29:21.200 --> 02:29:25.399 definitely think she's a ghost, Ariel. I hate you, Carter. 2272 02:29:25.879 --> 02:29:30.280 Ariel stutters. She really squeezes my hand. Now. Then we 2273 02:29:30.319 --> 02:29:33.200 look down the hallway. I think she wants us to 2274 02:29:33.280 --> 02:29:36.639 follow her. I say, it's like she's trying to tell 2275 02:29:36.719 --> 02:29:40.399 us something. Ariel gulps again and turns me to look 2276 02:29:40.440 --> 02:29:44.559 at the wall. There's an old Carnivoge family portrait hanging there. 2277 02:29:45.760 --> 02:29:48.200 Now we see the little girl at the very center 2278 02:29:48.879 --> 02:29:54.120 in front of her family. Clearly she was the youngest. 2279 02:29:54.760 --> 02:29:59.280 The date is January fourth, eighteen twenty four. 2280 02:30:00.959 --> 02:30:05.159 I like it, spooky weekly. Spooky will be right back. 2281 02:30:10.719 --> 02:30:16.399 Perspective, Aeriel Mirrn. That little Carnivosh girl is over two 2282 02:30:16.479 --> 02:30:20.799 hundred years old. Had she lived, we look to see 2283 02:30:20.840 --> 02:30:24.879 her ghost is still waiting for us. Come on, Carter, 2284 02:30:25.440 --> 02:30:28.479 I stammer. The two of us keep following the little 2285 02:30:28.479 --> 02:30:32.360 girl until we're at another door. No doubt this one's 2286 02:30:32.399 --> 02:30:34.639 going to lead into the one place you would never 2287 02:30:35.079 --> 02:30:37.280 want to go in a creepy old mansion like this, 2288 02:30:38.639 --> 02:30:42.719 the basement. The door opens on its own, Then the 2289 02:30:42.760 --> 02:30:46.159 little girl floats down the stairway. She's giving off this 2290 02:30:46.319 --> 02:30:49.520 eerie light to show she's at the bottom and waiting 2291 02:30:49.559 --> 02:30:53.520 for us. Since she's lighting our way, we can easily 2292 02:30:53.600 --> 02:30:57.479 follow her down without tripping over our own feet. Carter 2293 02:30:57.639

--> 02:31:00.799 insists on leading the way like the gall guy I 2294 02:31:00.840 --> 02:31:04.079 know he is. When we reach the bottom, the ghost 2295 02:31:04.200 --> 02:31:08.600 moves again, the basement still lit thanks to her. She 2296 02:31:08.719 --> 02:31:11.520 takes us through a few rooms and finally stops next 2297 02:31:11.520 --> 02:31:14.719 to a big brick wall. Then she points right at it. 2298 02:31:16.280 --> 02:31:21.200 You want us to break Carter mumbles. The little girl 2299 02:31:21.280 --> 02:31:25.600 keeps pointing to the wall. Then I see something over there. 2300 02:31:25.639 --> 02:31:28.920 Carter grab that big hammer. Carter and I let go 2301 02:31:29.000 --> 02:31:32.120 of each other's hands. He finds the big sledgehammer on 2302 02:31:32.159 --> 02:31:35.200 a workbench and brings it over. It takes Carter a 2303 02:31:35.239 --> 02:31:39.200 few really big hits before he finally succeeds in cracking 2304 02:31:39.239 --> 02:31:42.920 the mortar. He keeps swinging and hitting until he finally 2305 02:31:42.959 --> 02:31:46.120 makes a block come loose. Then he keeps hitting it 2306 02:31:46.200 --> 02:31:49.719 until it falls over on the inside. Carter has to 2307 02:31:49.799 --> 02:31:53.440 take little breaks to collect himself, but he finally manages 2308 02:31:53.479 --> 02:31:56.159 to break the wall in enough. I take out my 2309 02:31:56.239 --> 02:32:01.000 smartphone and shine my light through the hole Carter made. 2310 02:32:01.040 --> 02:32:04.239 Carter and I both scream when we see a couple 2311 02:32:04.239 --> 02:32:09.879 of skeletons, one big and one small, and then the 2312 02:32:09.920 --> 02:32:14.959 little girl smiles happily and points to both of us. Suddenly, 2313 02:32:15.040 --> 02:32:22.719 this huge flash of light washes over us. Epilogue perspective 2314 02:32:22.879 --> 02:32:27.000 aerial Mirron. Later that night, Carter and I are in 2315 02:32:27.040 --> 02:32:31.200 the mousehole telling mouse about our experience at the Carnivosh estate. 2316 02:32:32.079 --> 02:32:34.840 We told her about finding the little girl and then 2317 02:32:34.879 --> 02:32:37.600 her leading us to where she and her dad were 2318 02:32:37.600 --> 02:32:42.479 both walled up in the basement. Two hundred years ago today, 2319 02:32:42.920 --> 02:32:46.040 a band of robbers came to the Carnivosh estate and 2320 02:32:46.159 --> 02:32:50.319 robbed it. Emilio Carnivoche tried to save and protect his 2321 02:32:50.479 --> 02:32:53.520 family from the robbers, but it was all in vain. 2322 02:32:54.120 --> 02:32:57.399 Emilio and little Rosemary were walled up within the basement 2323 02:32:57.760 --> 02:33:01.479 to cruelly separate the two of them from Margo, the mother, 2324 02:33:02.040 --> 02:33:06.879 and Rosemary's two older brothers, Waldo and Morton. Emilia was 2325 02:33:06.959 --> 02:33:11.959 badly hurt and weakened, and Rosemary was too little, unable 2326 02:33:12.000 --> 02:33:16.319 to free themselves from their tomb. They died of starvation. 2327 02:33:17.520 --> 02:33:19.520 We weren't shown what happened to the rest of the 2328 02:33:19.559 --> 02:33:24.360 Carnivoge family. I can feel like deep down that both 2329 02:33:24.399 --> 02:33:26.840 the father and the little girl are resting in peace. 2330 02:33:26.920 --> 02:33:30.920 Now I finish. Yeah, we got out of the house 2331 02:33:30.959 --> 02:33:33.559 and went to Roth's Rings to call the police. Anonymously, 2332 02:33:34.079 --> 02:33:38.120 Carter ads Carter and I both Pinky promised Mouse that 2333 02:33:38.200 --> 02:33:41.719 we weren't making up the story. Ah, I believe you both, 2334 02:33:42.040 --> 02:33:45.920 she said, Come on, we survived Abigail Tomlin, a big 2335 02:33:46.000 --> 02:33:51.239 vampire woman, and Queen Arcadia. Right, good point, Madeline. Carter 2336 02:33:51.399 --> 02:33:55.159 agrees When we finished talking, Carter and I leave the house. 2337 02:33:55.559 --> 02:33:59.159 We find ourselves holding hands again as we walk onto 2338 02:33:59.200 --> 02:34:02.799 Carter's back pot. Carter and I both look like we 2339 02:34:02.840 --> 02:34:05.600 want to say something to each other, but we just 2340 02:34:05.680 --> 02:34:08.959 look at each other again. Carter leans in a little, 2341 02:34:10.000 --> 02:34:15.920 he's hesitating, I'm hesitating, and then I barely feel it 2342 02:34:15.959 --> 02:34:18.840 when we come apart, but Carter and I shared our 2343 02:34:18.840 --> 02:34:21.840 first kiss. We don't even have to say anything to 2344 02:34:21.879 --> 02:34:24.840 each other, but we know mutually we're not going to 2345 02:34:24.879 --> 02:34:28.200 be just one and done on dating. Carter and I 2346 02:34:28.280 --> 02:34:30.639 say goodbye, and I watch him go into his house. 2347 02:34:31.280 --> 02:34:33.639 I return to the Donnerly Home and go back in. 2348 02:34:34.799 --> 02:34:36.719 I head to my room and lay on my bed, 2349 02:34:36.879 --> 02:34:40.280 knowing I have a lot to think about, and that's 2350 02:34:40.319 --> 02:34:44.120 where this particular adventure ends. But I can promise you 2351 02:34:44.760 --> 02:34:51.840 we'll be back again very soon. Well, my spooky lover's 2352 02:34:51.879 --> 02:34:55.840 out there. I hope you enjoyed either experiencing some of 2353 02:34:55.879 --> 02:35:00.239 our finest fair about fearful love, whether it was the 2354 02:35:00.280 --> 02:35:04.479 first time or as a much needed revisit, Because you know, 2355 02:35:05.280 --> 02:35:09.319 absence does make the heart grow fonder. The longer a 2356 02:35:09.360 --> 02:35:12.680 story's been away, the more it deserves a little revisiting 2357 02:35:13.520 --> 02:35:18.520 or maybe just maybe I'm becoming a little sentimental in 2358 02:35:18.639 --> 02:35:22.120 my old age. But thank you so much for listening, 2359 02:35:22.520 --> 02:35:25.360 and I hope you enjoy our brand new Valentine's Day 2360 02:35:25.440 --> 02:35:29.000 story next Wednesday. If you want to hang out with us, 2361 02:35:29.040 --> 02:35:32.719 if you're a part of that Weekly Spooky Lonely Hearts club, 2362 02:35:33.280 --> 02:35:36.239 just head over to Facebook and type in weekly Spooky's 2363 02:35:36.319 --> 02:35:40.000 Tomb of Terror, hang out with myself, our authors, and 2364 02:35:40.120 --> 02:35:46.920 other spookies like yourself. Until next time, stay safe, stay spooky, 2365 02:35:47.159 --> 02:35:48.639 and watch out for love.