0:15

Here it is, for better or worse,

0:17

the final chapters of There You Are.

0:20

You'll find it right now in

0:22

its entirety without chatter or interruption

0:24

over on Patreon, and you

0:26

may access it at the $5 month level

0:28

or above. This

0:31

installment also marks the end of this batch of

0:33

stories for the podcast. I wish you a scary

0:35

summer, and I'll see you back here in October.

0:39

Alright, let's find out how this mess

0:41

ends. Chapter

0:51

14 There

0:54

is no end to what a private investigator

0:56

can find out about you if they are

0:58

well paid and determined. They

1:00

may bribe the concierge in your building, befriend

1:02

an intern at your job, stake

1:04

out your home, your work, follow

1:06

at a safe distance behind you as

1:08

you run errands or exercise. Jeff

1:11

Davis only came forward after Jane

1:14

had escaped. Joel had hired

1:16

him, asking the man to

1:18

find out every detail he could about

1:20

Jane's life, schedule, habits. The

1:23

private investigator hadn't asked any questions, just did what

1:25

he was hired to do and tracked her for

1:27

six months. His contract

1:29

ended only a month before Jane was

1:32

taken. There

1:34

were plenty of questions when he did finally come

1:36

forward. Yes, he'd seen the news. Yeah,

1:39

he'd recognized her photo. He

1:41

claimed that he thought it was just a coincidence. He

1:44

didn't get paid to connect dots. He got

1:46

paid to collect information. What

1:49

his employer did with that information was up to them. Peter

1:52

wanted to sue him. Jane convinced him

1:54

to drop it. She couldn't stand

1:56

the thought of the attention a suit would bring. Already

1:58

she felt as if she were living for her. living in a fishbowl

2:01

surrounded by sharks who fed on gory

2:03

details. She just wanted

2:05

quiet and routine and isolation,

2:07

like doors and closed curtains and

2:10

meals planned perfectly. The

2:12

block schedule, every second accounted for

2:14

in a day. Zero delay

2:16

in response to her texts or calls,

2:18

zero obligation to return messages from others.

2:21

Didn't they understand it was all too much? The

2:24

questions, the check-ins, the requests,

2:26

the thinking of yous, and

2:29

the pressure of hearing people had been praying

2:31

for her. She

2:33

wanted to tell them all to fuck off. She

2:36

wanted to shave her head. She wanted to gourd

2:38

herself on junk food. She wanted to starve herself.

2:40

If she felt even the slightest inclination that

2:43

someone was trying to persuade her to do

2:45

something, anything, eat this, drink

2:47

that, get fresh air, reenter your

2:49

life. She shut them out, cut

2:52

them off. Joel

2:54

would come back for her. She knew it. Why

2:56

didn't anyone understand that he would come for her

2:59

and he would kill anyone who got in his

3:01

way? Eventually,

3:03

weeks passed. Her

3:06

sister coaxed her out of the apartment. She

3:08

brought her to her first session with Andrea, Peter

3:11

waiting outside, escorting them from door to door.

3:14

They handled her gently, hid their shock

3:16

and dismay when she actually admitted her

3:18

fears. Jeff Davis had tracked

3:21

her before. Why couldn't he do it again? For

3:23

that matter, Joel could hire anyone to track her.

3:26

There was nothing they could do about it. Weeks

3:29

turned into months and the urgency of

3:31

her fear died down, simmering

3:33

to a hum in the background. Andrea

3:36

helped her to see the possibility of a future

3:38

beyond the walls of her apartment. She

3:41

began responding to emails and text messages again.

3:44

No one knew how awful the cabin had been,

3:46

but those closest to her knew her and they

3:49

loved her and they wanted her to stay with them.

3:52

Their patient efforts kept her from carrying

3:54

out her darkest thoughts. There

3:57

were a handful of people she could trust. She

3:59

leaned heavily. on that truth because if

4:01

she focused too long on the fact that

4:03

there had been a madman behind the scenes

4:05

of her life for over a year, tracking

4:08

her every move, planning her future

4:10

for her, pulling strings she didn't

4:12

know existed, she would go mad. Peter's

4:18

travel bag sat beside the front door. He

4:20

stood at a window in the dining room watching for his ride.

4:23

It was a 35 minute drive to the airport,

4:26

a one hour and 20 minute flight to Syracuse,

4:28

and another 56 minutes to Henderson, New

4:30

York. Jane hadn't asked him where

4:33

he was staying. As angry

4:35

as she was, she was terrified,

4:37

frightened beyond reason. What

4:39

if Joel was there? What if he went after Peter? It

4:42

was irrational. Henderson would be the

4:44

last place Joel would hide out at Stahl.

4:48

Leaning against the kitchen counter, she scanned

4:50

a text from Andrea who'd reached out

4:52

expressing concern over their last phone call.

4:55

The therapist had sent something was off and

4:57

wanted to make sure Jane was alright. My

5:00

schedule's flexible today and tomorrow if you'd like to talk.

5:03

Jane wasn't ready to share what was happening

5:05

with Peter, and she certainly wasn't going to

5:07

tell Andrea she'd seen the forest demon again. She

5:11

sent a bland, I'm totally fine,

5:13

just tired from the move response,

5:16

then glanced out the window over the kitchen sink. She

5:19

recalled Andrea's suggestion from months ago. This

5:23

is silly, Jane typed, but would you happen

5:25

to still have that website you told me

5:27

about? The one with the other weirdos

5:29

who've seen magical creatures? She

5:31

sent a laughing face emoji and

5:34

a zombie emoji after the fact

5:36

to convey calm, silliness, nothing

5:38

to see here. Andrea's

5:40

response was immediate. cryptozoologytoday.com,

5:42

she sent. Happy hunting.

5:47

Call Carrie if anything comes up, Peter

5:49

said, startling her. I really wish

5:51

you would just go and stay with her. Jane

5:54

shook her head. She wanted to ignore

5:56

him, to go hide out in their bedroom, but

5:59

she couldn't. Fear kept her near him

6:01

like a magnet. Jane,

6:03

he pleaded. She met his eyes.

6:06

You're really going through with this? I

6:09

signed a contract. I don't have a choice. She

6:12

snorted in disbelief. He

6:14

crossed the room, reaching for her, but his

6:16

arm dropped as she shifted away from him.

6:20

We've gone through so much. We'll get through this too.

6:23

Through what? Your betrayal? Your visit to

6:26

the place where I was abducted and

6:28

tortured for weeks? Your next book

6:30

release? That's not fair.

6:33

He argued. Not fair? She

6:35

began, then drew in a breath, an attempt

6:38

to calm herself. They'd been

6:40

through the same conversation over and over

6:42

for the past few days, rehashing the

6:44

same points, the same arguments, making

6:47

zero progress, each of them entrenched in their

6:49

position. He insisted the experience

6:51

was his too, that he had every right

6:53

to share it from his perspective. No

6:55

matter how many ways he tried to argue

6:57

it, convince her, plead with her to understand

6:59

that this book would be the book, would set

7:02

them up for life, would take away any and

7:04

every concern for their future. She

7:06

couldn't accept it. Concern

7:09

for our future? She'd yelled in

7:11

disbelief. Your mom left us

7:13

her fully paid off house. We both work.

7:15

We just sold the fucking condo. We have

7:17

a massive rainy day fund. I'm

7:20

a writer, Jane. What do you want me to do? Be

7:23

fucking loyal, she spat, at least until Joel

7:25

comes back to finish the job. Think about

7:27

the kind of sales you'll have once I'm

7:29

dead. God damn it,

7:31

Jane, he'd yelled, losing his temper. He's

7:33

not coming back. He's gone. He probably

7:35

killed himself. Someone would have seen him

7:37

by now. His

7:39

raised voice made her freeze up, furious

7:42

with herself but unable to stop the

7:44

reaction. She began shaking. Since

7:46

then, they hadn't spoken more than a few words

7:48

to each other. A

7:51

large black SUV honked as it pulled into

7:53

the driveway. Peter stepped towards her.

7:56

Jane, please, I'm sorry. She

7:59

pulled further away from her. from him. We'll

8:01

sort through the details when you get back," she

8:04

said flatly. "'I

8:06

love you,' he told her. "'You'd

8:08

better get going.'" The

8:12

house was dead quiet. She was

8:15

terrified. She couldn't call

8:17

Carrie. She didn't trust that she could keep

8:19

what was happening to herself and didn't

8:21

want to tell her that she intended to divorce Peter until

8:23

she'd worked up the courage to tell him

8:25

that. She sat on the

8:27

edge of the armchair in Peter's mother's office, sad

8:30

that she would never have the chance to make it her own.

8:33

Sad that she had to move out of this cozy,

8:35

warm home. Sad that she

8:37

would be another statistic. The odds

8:40

told her that most marriages wouldn't make it through what

8:42

had happened to her at its aftermath, but she'd

8:44

truly thought theirs would. She

8:47

wondered where she would go. Alone. Fully

8:49

alone. And to Syracuse seemed

8:52

like the only option. Her sister was there.

8:54

But so were all those memories.

8:57

She'd always been curious about Salem,

8:59

Massachusetts. Instagram videos

9:01

of their Halloween festivities had let her down

9:03

a rabbit hole, looked so pretty, so

9:05

New England, with its perpetual fall

9:08

vibes. She imagined herself working

9:10

in one of the little touristy shops, keying

9:12

t-shirts and Chachki prices into a

9:14

register. She

9:17

stared out the office windows, not really

9:19

seeing the side yard, until a particularly

9:21

strong blast of wind whipped the branches

9:23

against one another, snapping

9:25

her out of the dissociation, reminding

9:28

her of what she'd seen out there. Peter

9:31

was a real, tangible problem that could be

9:34

worked out. The monster in their

9:36

backyard was a whole other ball of paranoia

9:38

and worry. The conflict

9:40

with Peter had allowed her to ignore the fact

9:42

that she'd seen the creature. Now

9:45

alone in the house, the reality of it came

9:47

rushing back. Had it

9:49

finally happened? Had she lost her

9:51

grip on reality? She

9:54

didn't know if she had the courage to walk out the front

9:56

door and make it to the car, but she couldn't stay in

9:58

that house another second. I fear

10:00

of the woods behind the house outweighed the fear of

10:02

the short walk to the driveway. Keys.

10:05

And hands you made a run for it

10:07

using the key fob to unlock the door

10:09

to the second. Before she got in she

10:11

opened the door slammed shut. We engage the

10:13

lox, put the seat belt the cross chest

10:15

while pressing the button. To start the engine.

10:18

Immediately. Put it in reverse and back

10:20

down the driveway. head on a swivel the

10:22

entire time. Though. She

10:25

could count on two hands the numbers of

10:27

times she'd driven. Somewhere in the past year

10:29

that had been her practice every time.

10:32

Keep. In mind and the goal. Get in

10:34

the car and go. No hesitation. Hesitation.

10:37

Lead to disaster. She

10:40

began driving down the street and groaned as

10:42

she's an elderly woman waiting her down as

10:44

she approached the only other driveway on the

10:47

road. She. Slowed and roll

10:49

down the passenger side window. You.

10:52

Must be Jane. The. Jury face

10:54

woman said her hair a gorgeous multi

10:56

dimensional gray partner. severe bad. I'm so

10:59

embarrassed that we haven't stopped by at

11:01

this is our only busy time of

11:03

the well. This and when we pack

11:05

up and come back up north. I'm

11:08

Jenny Consolidate. That's Benjamin. I talked to

11:10

Peter at your mother in law's wake.

11:12

sorry we didn't get a chance. Introduce

11:14

ourselves then Benjamin's It's chain out this

11:17

Peter Watts life. Same.

11:19

With the price, she'd known her last

11:21

name, but then she realized many people

11:23

shouldn't no new her last name. The.

11:26

Man had been struggling to fit the

11:28

particularly large piece of luggage, and the

11:30

back there hatchback held up a hand

11:32

and acknowledgement, then returned to his task.

11:35

Game kept her smile throughout the monologue.

11:38

It's so nice to meet you. I

11:41

wish we had more time to get to know you,

11:43

but we'll have to look forward to doing so when

11:45

we come back. At the end of April. Are

11:47

landscaper comes to check on the house occasionally mainly

11:49

to check the light bulbs. We do have a

11:51

timer set the for your life will come on

11:53

at night so don't be alarmed to see them.

11:56

Peter has or number if anything comes up. How

11:58

are you settling in? Fine,

12:01

Thank you. Day. Mind. I'm

12:03

so glad you took up the house! Peter

12:05

was such a nice quiet boy. Makes

12:08

perfect sense that he became a writer. Jane?

12:10

Not an answer how to respond. All

12:14

right then send said taking a step back

12:16

from the car. You take care and will

12:18

see you in the spring. Safe

12:20

Travels Jane applied before pulling

12:23

away. The

12:26

only place team could think to go with

12:28

Booker's She considered going to the town library,

12:31

but she hadn't visited it yet and didn't

12:33

think she could handle an unfamiliar space. But.

12:36

As a restaurant. Came. Into view she changed

12:38

her mind, deciding instead to just

12:40

return. Home and barricade herself in the

12:42

bedroom. Unfortunately, For her,

12:44

Gabby was outside tending to the

12:46

autumn themed window boxes out from.

12:49

She. Waved a huge smile on her face.

12:51

Is Jane Pulled into a parking spot. Hi

12:54

Gabby enthused, wrapping her and a

12:57

hug. Jane. Found herself fighting

12:59

back tears. She. Could tell gabby notice

13:01

that was to play to comment. I

13:04

was just tinkering with them. Many pumpkins by I

13:07

better quit on the had Gabby told her that

13:09

go grab something. To eat. The

13:11

inside her inside instead awkwardly will gabby

13:14

as the man behind the counter to

13:16

heat up to pumpkin muffins, tea or

13:18

coffee, chess game. Oh

13:20

God. He. Actually

13:22

a d Get enthused too

13:24

Hot chocolate? To

13:26

The Jane Tollbooth. You've got

13:29

your laptop Shabby said motioning to Genes

13:31

tote bag. I promise I'll leave. You

13:33

be after we enjoy her treats. Know

13:36

it's nice to have the company. Peters

13:39

Traveling Rape. Noticing.

13:41

Jane surprise gabby reassured her he stopped by

13:43

to tell us to keep an eye on

13:45

you. Oh chain said

13:48

unable to come up with any other

13:50

comment. right? So what

13:52

are you working on? I'm obsessed with

13:54

podcast. You know? I haven't watched a

13:56

second of those Bravo House live shows,

13:58

but I devour podcast. Recap on a cast

14:00

by that. Chain. Laughed

14:03

as a deep depression settled within

14:05

her. Gabby was so

14:07

genuinely herself, open and friendly,

14:10

Self assured, Chain thought she

14:12

would get anything to go back to

14:14

her old self before the abduction. Should

14:16

have been able to connect with Gabby

14:18

right away. keep up with the conversation,

14:20

share something of herself, Now

14:23

all she felt disconnected

14:25

from everyone and everything

14:27

around her. addressed alone.

14:30

Unable to break through, the walls she'd built around

14:32

are still. A

14:34

young man delivered muffins and mugs of cocoa

14:36

to their table. Mere

14:39

only bake season the Fall Getty told her

14:41

peeling off the Rapper but my birthdays and

14:43

August and I asked for them instead of

14:45

a birthday cake every year. During

14:47

that over promotion and shipped from the presently

14:50

Thirty Monk and reasoned with the book or

14:52

logo. An awkward current

14:54

style with. Load her hoover completely.

14:56

Her mind went blank. She.

14:58

Opened her mouth to save. She liked the mug.

15:00

When a young woman approached the table. Hi

15:03

Gabby! Sorry, I think I did that thing with

15:05

the back door again. I can get it open

15:07

and. So much my

15:09

little treat break Gabby laughed and said out

15:12

of the booth. I'll leave you

15:14

to it. Jane

15:16

opened her laptop and though she felt

15:18

she should be looking for available apartments

15:20

and Syracuse, after a moment's hesitation, she

15:22

typed in the website Andrea had given

15:24

her. She. Scanned the predictably

15:27

difficult to read welcome page with

15:29

it's white text Against the for

15:31

screen background is a table of

15:33

contents of the sort containing a

15:35

list of paranormal creatures and topics.

15:37

So overwhelmed and sure where to

15:39

begin? Banshees. Now

15:42

Sentara. Nope. Demons probably not.

15:44

The thing had helped her.

15:47

Both. Now ghouls, maybe?

15:50

She. Clicked and the word and a list

15:52

of other links popped up. She clicked the

15:54

first one labeled cool Traits. Oh

15:57

dear she muttered to herself, quickly

15:59

closing the. She

16:01

made it down to the bottom of the list, but nothing seemed

16:03

to suit. Frustrated,

16:06

she did a Google search for forest monster.

16:09

No. Forest demon. No. Creature

16:11

in the forest that looks like a tree. Scanning

16:14

the results, she came across a

16:16

description of something called an elemental

16:18

spirit. The beings apparently represented, or

16:21

were created, from elemental energies. Earth,

16:23

air, fire, water. She

16:26

clicked images. She sat back

16:28

in her seat, as a screen filled

16:30

with the images of trees that held

16:32

frighteningly human characteristics. One

16:35

in particular looked terrifyingly similar to the

16:37

monster she'd seen twice now. But

16:40

how could it have followed me? She

16:43

clicked the image and began scanning a poorly

16:45

written description of elemental spirits. Hey!

16:48

A voice said behind her.

16:50

Jane screamed. Oh

16:52

shit! Mia said, sliding into the booth across from

16:54

her. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't

16:56

have snuck up on you like that. I hate

16:59

when people do that to me. Jane

17:01

shook her head, embarrassed. No,

17:04

sorry. I'm just, I'm too on edge. Tell

17:07

me about it, Mia said kindly. I've

17:09

been an anxious wreck lately. There must be

17:11

something in the air. I

17:13

don't want to pry, but are you doing research on

17:16

a paranormal podcast? She'd obviously

17:18

seen Jane's laptop scream. Research,

17:21

yes, but not for a podcast.

17:24

Cool. I love that scary stuff. Has anyone

17:26

told you about the Dover demon? No,

17:29

Jane replied, a touch of

17:31

fear returning. Oh,

17:33

have we got a story for you. A couple

17:36

kids back in the 70s saw this thing that I actually

17:38

think was an alien. But Gabby insisted

17:40

it was some sort of a forest creature. Someone

17:42

called it the Dover demon and the nickname stuck. You and

17:45

Pete have to come over for a bottle of wine next

17:47

week and we'll tell you all about it. Sadness

17:50

blotted out the fear within her. Sounds

17:53

good. She closed her laptop and

17:55

put it into her tote bag. You

17:58

know, I'd better get going. Me:

18:00

And not in man. Oh, I almost

18:02

forgot, there was a guy here. This

18:04

weekend asking if we knew you. And

18:07

just like that a fear with back as

18:09

a spike of utter terror shot through her

18:11

chest. keeping her voice as even as she

18:14

could she asked. What?

18:16

Did he look like. Ah,

18:18

husky guy was packed glasses.

18:21

Jane. The only slight relief? Joel

18:24

had been obsessed. With staying trim and

18:26

vein as hell about his hair. But.

18:29

Still someone knew where she was.

18:31

Someone has sounder. And if they

18:33

could then like. Miniature. Did.

18:36

He say what he wanted. Me I

18:38

shook her head. I'm

18:40

sorry I don't want to overstep, but I got

18:43

the feeling that he might be a journalist or

18:45

something. He had that true crime vibe about him.

18:48

What did you tell him? Me: A

18:50

smiled. That. We've never met anyone

18:52

by that name that we keep an eye out.

18:54

Gabby? Actually, yeah, city had a business card or

18:57

something that he said he didn't. Change

19:00

mind race. Thanks She

19:02

managed. Your. Problem.

19:05

He. Replied fucking Vultures I can't even

19:07

imagine how you put up with

19:09

it. Jane met

19:11

her eyes and found only kindness. They're.

19:14

Not. Sure, yeah, City or ghoulish

19:16

interest? Just empathy. She.

19:20

Rushed inside the house and dropped or tell bag.

19:23

Mean against the door and fled

19:25

to the floor and straight ahead.

19:27

her mind strangely quiet. It

19:29

occurred to her she might worry about

19:31

how numb she felt by the cocoon

19:33

of it was too enticing. She.

19:36

Stared down the shore hallway for time, occasionally

19:38

telling yourself to get out but couldn't find

19:40

the strength. Took her

19:43

a while to notice the object. On the

19:45

kitchen counter. She. Could just see it from

19:47

where she was sitting. So. Yesterday

19:49

eventually pulled her off the floor. Took

19:52

a few tentative steps towards. The kitchen. The

19:55

house is quiet. buy something was

19:57

off. Something. Told her the

19:59

house was. empty. Peter,

20:02

she called out, wondering

20:04

if he'd come back. Maybe he'd changed

20:06

his mind. She moved into

20:08

the kitchen. On

20:10

the counter sat a coffee mug beside a

20:12

box of sleepy-time tea. There

20:15

was a subtle creak on the floorboards behind her.

20:18

I brought you a present. She

20:21

turned slowly, reaching into her back pocket for her

20:23

keychain, grateful she'd made a habit of keeping it

20:25

on her at all times. Joel

20:28

stood in the front hall. He

20:30

took a step towards her. She held the

20:32

taser in front of her and pressed the button, filling

20:34

the air with its threatening crackle. He

20:37

looked completely different. His hair

20:39

in a buzz cut. He'd gained at least

20:41

fifty pounds and wore black, rimmed glasses that

20:43

must have been fake. "'You

20:46

cut your hair,' he sounded

20:48

disappointed. So did you."

20:51

The word slipped from her mouth before she had a chance to

20:53

even think. His hand went to his

20:56

head. "'It's temporary,'

20:58

he muttered. "'You

21:00

brought too much attention to us, Jane.' He

21:03

took another two steps forward. She

21:05

backed towards the French doors, her arms snatty

21:07

before her. "'Get out of my

21:09

house.' He shook his head. "'I

21:12

can't do that. Not without you.' "'How

21:16

did you get in?' He

21:18

just snooped. All of

21:20

the rage, all of the terror, all of

21:22

the misery, welled up within her. And

21:25

she reacted. Darting towards

21:27

him, taser crackling, she hit him dead in

21:29

the chest. Pressing

21:31

the small pink device into him relentlessly

21:33

as his body dropped and he screamed

21:36

out. She held steady as he

21:38

convulsed, not even realizing that she was

21:40

screaming, too. Her

21:42

arm finally dropped to her side, panting, she

21:44

stared down at him in disgust. Backing

21:47

away, not wanting to turn her back on

21:49

him, she shuffled her keychain, her hand shaking

21:51

so badly she was terrified she would drop

21:53

it. Pressing the security

21:55

system fob, she pressed the button to the

21:57

silent alarm. Joel moaned.

22:00

On twitch on the ground, the effects of

22:02

the shock wearing on us. She.

22:04

Didn't hesitate a second longer, She ran.

22:07

Yanking. Open the French doors. She darted across

22:09

the porch, out into the yard and left

22:11

over that low stone wall. took off into

22:13

the woods. As she did

22:15

see her jaw scream her name. Her.

22:19

Cell phone was in her tote bag. Beside the front

22:21

door it should be ringing at that moment

22:23

for alarm fab was conducted to her phone

22:25

number. She pressed again for good measure as

22:28

she didn't answer. The Call and get

22:30

them her security code words. They would

22:32

send the police response time a five

22:34

to ten minutes depending upon how close

22:36

the nearest officer was to a residence

22:38

to be one company. Had problems with

22:40

must week be would come looking for her.

22:42

Am I still closed it? But he wouldn't

22:45

He wouldn't take the time and risk losing

22:47

her in the woods. The police would com

22:49

she just had to hide. She.

22:52

Exact through the trees, ambling, gripping her

22:54

key chains, unaware that she was crying

22:56

every time Josefina her name, he sounded

22:58

closer and closer. She took a sharp.

23:00

Turn thinking she was at a deeper into the

23:03

ones. Did she become disoriented?

23:05

She. Had behind a clump of the trees

23:07

and shrubs. trying to breed as quietly as

23:09

she could, She listened. Joel had gone quiet.

23:12

there was no telling where he was. She's.

23:15

Credit her eyes wiping away tears. And

23:18

stood slowly having. No idea which

23:20

way she'd come from. She. Began

23:22

walking as quietly as she could. And

23:24

a random direction. a branch snapped

23:26

ahead of her. She

23:28

froze staring into the trees. For.

23:31

The briefest moment she thought release

23:33

that it had been a squirrel

23:35

or branch falling and then the

23:37

fourth devil to the jerky step

23:39

out. From behind a tree. She.

23:41

Put her hand over her mouth, stifling

23:44

a scream, not wanting to alert job

23:46

to our location. The. Creature

23:48

with larger than she'd remembered. just

23:50

as terrifying. Maybe more sell? That

23:54

d what she begged. The words coming

23:56

out and a sob. The.

23:58

Creature hold of it. Branch arm pointing

24:01

behind her just as it had

24:03

exactly a year. Ago to that

24:05

day. She. Stared into it's.

24:07

Dark cloud he eyes looking for

24:09

something some emotion are fuming. There

24:12

was nothing. He just stared back. In

24:15

her mind, she heard it's voice. You.

24:18

called for me. Now go. Thank.

24:22

You. James. That allowed. But

24:24

as she began to reverse direction, she

24:27

heard her name. Chain.

24:30

She. Turned and there was jobs. just twenty.

24:32

Feet from her. The. Monster had been

24:35

wrong. Stop Running

24:37

he pleaded. please just listen To

24:39

me. Why? Are you

24:41

doing this She demanded Taking a step

24:43

forward, her taser held out before her.

24:46

I love you. I've loved you ever

24:49

since I laid eyes on, you know?

24:51

She stained. Shush he screen

24:53

back. You don't know what I've done for

24:55

you. You don't know what it took to

24:57

get back to you Do? don't know. I've

24:59

sacrificed. Jane took another

25:01

two steps forward. She was done running.

25:04

That's right, He said it's okay. you can

25:06

come to me. Jane.

25:09

Knelt down, not taking her eyes off

25:11

him. With are free hand, she grabbed a

25:13

thick branch from the ground. I

25:16

pressed the panic button on the alarm system. The

25:18

police will be here any minute. Impossible

25:21

he said and she could see

25:23

confusion and fear and his eyes.

25:27

There were just fifteen feet between them now.

25:30

She. Took two more steps forward and saw

25:32

that he was standing just a few feet

25:34

from a drop off the tops of trees

25:36

visible behind. Him. What

25:38

do you want to do? Take me again.

25:41

Strike me to some other cabin. Torture me

25:43

She demanded. I never

25:45

tortured you. The sight of

25:47

you of torture. Your existence is torture

25:49

and you look like shit she sees.

25:52

Watch. Your mouth. Hello!

25:56

A man's blaze yelled from far away. Dover

25:59

Police. responding to silent alarm. The

26:02

voice recited her home address. Hello?

26:05

Here, Jane screamed. We're over

26:08

here. Joel

26:10

slid a backpack off his shoulders and unzipped it.

26:13

Reaching inside, he pulled out a small

26:15

gun. As he did,

26:17

movement in the background caught her attention.

26:20

Impossibly, behind him, antlers

26:23

rose up from below the drop-off. How?

26:27

she whispered. We can

26:29

make it work. It doesn't have to end this way.

26:32

Joel replied, thinking the question was meant

26:34

for him. The

26:36

forest demon's antlers peeked up about

26:38

two feet over the edge. Jane

26:42

will know when to run. She

26:44

dropped the branch and her keychain. Joel

26:46

smiled. He thought she'd changed her mind.

26:49

His hand holding the gun dropped to his side. She

26:52

sprinted forward, arms outstretched, and shimped

26:54

him as hard as she could.

26:57

Over the edge he went, the gun

26:59

going off beside her head as he

27:01

fell backwards, impaling himself on the forest

27:03

demon's antlers. Momentarily deaf,

27:05

she fell to her knees at the edge of

27:08

the drop-off. Panting, blood

27:10

bubbling out of his mouth, he held

27:12

an arm out for her. She

27:14

watched him take his last breath. The

27:17

monster stood still beneath him. Thank

27:20

you, Jane sobbed. Thank you. What's

27:23

up? The voice was muffled.

27:26

The gunshot had momentarily deafened her on

27:28

one side. Drop your

27:30

weapon. Put your hands up. Jane,

27:32

still kneeling, put her hands in the air. The

27:35

officer came around in front of her, kicking Joel's

27:37

gun out of reach. Are

27:39

you hurt? She could only shake her head.

27:42

Finally, the man followed her gaze and

27:45

looked down into the little valley, took

27:47

one look at Joel, impaled on a

27:49

dead tree, and bent over, retting. Appelog.

27:56

Three months later, Peter sat at the kitchen table,

27:59

reading the book. reading through a pile of

28:01

papers, the dim light from

28:03

the foyer providing little illumination. He'd

28:06

lost track of how many times he'd read through the

28:08

report. The police had

28:10

refused to release the documents, but

28:12

luckily for Peter, Jeff Davis was

28:15

easily motivated by money. The

28:17

scumbag didn't even know it was Peter who was

28:19

getting the documents from him. He'd

28:21

approached him through a fake email account

28:23

posing as some true crime-obsessed fan, the

28:26

bastard. If he'd come forward

28:28

when Jane had gone missing, it would have

28:30

saved Peter hours of interrogation. But

28:33

if they found any connection between them, there

28:35

would have been more questions. It

28:37

had been hard enough to conceal his interactions with

28:39

Joel. At least

28:42

you could say one thing for the

28:44

guy. The private detective had been relentlessly

28:46

thorough in his research and

28:48

a surprisingly good writer at that. The

28:50

reports read like a novel, rams

28:52

of information that allowed Joel to know

28:54

Jane without knowing her. But

28:57

that's where Peter had an advantage. He

29:00

knew Jane better than anyone else in the world. His

29:03

eyes ached from the strain of reading in the low

29:05

light. He got up and moved through

29:08

the foyer to the living room window, careful to

29:10

stay in the shadows, and peered out at the

29:12

house he grew up in, knowing it like the

29:14

back of his hand. The

29:17

motion lights over the garage were on, as

29:19

was the lantern over the front door. He

29:21

could just see the glow of the little green

29:23

light above the doorbell camera. She

29:26

would have the alarm activated at all times. Of

29:29

course she would. But he knew that

29:31

system like the back of his hand as well. He'd

29:34

been there to see it installed when

29:36

Jane thought he was on another expedition

29:38

to collect information about a non-existent story.

29:41

He didn't think she would have the

29:43

password or code changed. She hated talking

29:45

to service people, her paranoia making her

29:47

suspicious, even when people were trying to help

29:49

her. I mean, who could blame her? The Gonzales'

29:53

would be in Florida for about three more

29:55

months. He'd reached out to let them

29:57

know he'd be happy to keep an eye on the house. Change

30:00

the light bulbs if they went out. No need to

30:02

hire someone for the job. After all, he

30:04

was just right next door. Easy peasy. They'd

30:07

happily given him the code to the garage so he

30:09

could access the house. For

30:11

appearances, he maintained an apartment in

30:13

nearby Wellesley, but Peter slept

30:16

every night at the Gonzales house, hunting

30:18

through the woods in the evening from a

30:20

little used entry to hail reservation walking

30:22

trails, where he parked his car, coming

30:25

and going as he pleased. The trail

30:27

dumped him at the top of the street. It was

30:29

simple to move through the woods to the

30:31

backyard unseen. Over

30:33

the past months, he'd conducted a post-mortem.

30:36

His plan had gone off the rails and he

30:39

was finally beginning to understand why. Joel

30:42

had become obsessed. That wasn't supposed

30:44

to happen. Peter understood

30:46

why Joel fell for her. He'd

30:48

done so as well, but since he'd known

30:51

her, she'd wasted her potential, her

30:53

natural charisma. She valued

30:55

comfort more than success. It was a shame.

30:58

She just needed guidance. Despite

31:00

her weak attempts to stop it, his book was

31:02

due for release in the fall. The

31:05

abduction made her famous. This

31:07

book would make her a star. Now

31:10

he was focused on the sequel. Across

31:14

the yard, past the doorbell, through the

31:16

security system's false assurance of safety, upstairs

31:19

in Peter's childhood home, Jane lay

31:21

in bed fast asleep, dreaming

31:24

of her move to Salem, blissfully unaware

31:26

that again, a man was

31:28

making terrible plans for her future. You