0:00

Heavy rock music Millennials

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Mingling Demonstration

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Music Greetings

0:37

sleepless listeners and welcome

0:39

to sleepless decompositions volume

0:41

16. I'm

0:44

your host David Cummings. When

0:47

it comes to decompositions, that is

0:49

the act of decomposing, it's hard

0:51

not to think of one of

0:54

the world's oldest and most spoken

0:56

of horror monsters, the

0:58

Vampyr. For millennia,

1:00

cultures that go back to the dawn

1:02

of human history have told tales about

1:05

undead creatures which attack and feast on

1:07

the essence of the living. The

1:10

legends of vampires have changed over the

1:12

years. In modern times,

1:14

they're often depicted as suave and

1:16

sexy gentlemen, pale yet

1:19

alluring, ready to sweep

1:21

a virginal woman off her feet as

1:23

they seduce her to open up to

1:25

them, allowing them to slip

1:28

inside of her with their gleaming,

1:30

hard fangs. But

1:39

the legend of the lusty vampire wasn't

1:41

always the way they were depicted. In

1:44

early descriptions of the monsters, they

1:46

wore shrouds over their bloated and

1:48

ruddy bodies. This fits

1:50

more closely with the idea of a

1:52

vampire being dead and their body going

1:54

through the stages of, yes, you guessed

1:57

it, decomposition. And

2:00

so on this volume of Sleepless

2:02

Decompositions, we have three tales which

2:04

visit the legend of those creatures

2:07

who use their wiles and their

2:09

teeth to do more than merely

2:11

seduce. You can

2:13

count on these stories being rather... biting.

2:18

So, dear friends, join us and

2:21

brace yourself for these

2:24

sleepless decompositions. In

2:31

our first tale, we travel way

2:34

up north to an archipelago in

2:36

the Arctic Ocean, known as Svalbard,

2:38

Norway. A man is

2:40

trapped in a cabin, but it's not just

2:43

the wintery weather confining him to this space.

2:46

As we'll learn in this tale,

2:48

shared with us by author Brian

2:50

Lavelle, there is something outside his

2:52

door scratching, hoping to be let

2:54

in, and the man

2:56

will do anything to prevent that

2:58

happening. Performing

3:00

this tale are Graham Rowett,

3:03

Nicole Goodnight, and David

3:05

All. So when

3:07

faced with the endless night,

3:09

do whatever you can to

3:11

avoid a Norwegian standoff. December

3:27

10th, Svalbard. It's

3:30

been three weeks now that I've been locked in

3:32

here with that thing scratching at my door. I

3:35

regret injuring it with my .30-06 as

3:37

it dragged my partner off screaming into

3:40

the night. It's now as

3:42

much stuck out there as I am stuck in

3:44

here. My food supply

3:46

is dwindling and I'm this creature's only shot

3:48

at a meal for miles around. It

3:51

came here expecting easy prey, but

3:53

now we're both engaged in a standoff.

3:57

Can this thing starve to death? I'm

3:59

starting to think he has a . . . No, when

4:01

was it that it's next poor young Sophie

4:03

as she tried to escape and fed noisily

4:05

on her body for hours? Twelve,

4:08

fourteen days ago? I

4:11

can't remember. Luckily, I think I

4:13

have the supplies to stay put for another two

4:15

months, even if that means

4:17

languishing and starvation for most of that time.

4:20

There are at least another six weeks that

4:22

I have to survive before the sunlight returns,

4:25

when I might have a chance to escape. That

4:27

is, of course, if that thing is what I think it is.

4:30

The stories I've read about them are true. So

4:33

far, at least, one of the legends seems to

4:35

match reality. It looks

4:37

unwilling to break into this shoddy cabin,

4:39

even though it is obviously strong enough

4:41

to shatter any of the many single-pained

4:43

windows through which it hungrily glares at

4:45

me. It begs me to let

4:47

it in, and using the

4:50

voices of people I love, it berates me

4:52

for hours, apologizes and

4:54

pleads for mercy. Trying

4:56

everything it can to persuade me. Right

4:59

now, it's using the voice that upsets me most.

5:02

The one of my daughter, Mina. Dad,

5:05

why won't you let me in? It's

5:07

freezing out here. Is what

5:10

Mom said about you wishing I was never born true?

5:13

Please, don't let me die. I'm

5:16

sorry I have been such a burden on you.

5:18

I promise I will be a better daughter. There's

5:21

a single thought that keeps me hopeful that I might make

5:23

it home. If this

5:25

one characteristic is accurate, that it can't

5:27

enter this shelter without my invitation, maybe

5:30

the others are too. Maybe it can't stand

5:32

the sunlight. If so,

5:34

once those glorious golden rays finally

5:37

find Norway after this wretched polar

5:39

winter, it'll be forced to seek

5:41

shelter or die. I know

5:43

that the darkness is what people usually fear.

5:46

I used to think that's all the monsters are. An

5:49

allegory for a human phobia of the

5:51

ordinary predators that thrive in the night.

5:54

But I'm now most afraid of daylight. It's

5:57

coming and this torture continuing on...

6:00

despite it well into the thaw

6:02

while the flowers bloom and the grass

6:04

grows tall. The worst

6:06

thing I can imagine is these terrible

6:09

voices against the soundscape of spring songbirds

6:11

and snow sliding off the roof, accompanied

6:14

by the smell of warming soil as

6:16

light streaks through cracks in the cabin

6:18

walls. But her hopelessness,

6:22

my greatest wish, is that you are

6:24

the monster I think you are. Good

6:26

looking, damn it, that sounds insane. Where

6:29

in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever

6:31

hope I was being hunted by a vampire? December

6:36

25th. Hell. Merry

6:40

Christmas. It's been fifteen days since

6:42

I last wrote in this journal. Something

6:45

horrifying started to develop immediately

6:47

after finishing that previous, oddly

6:49

hopeful entry. I've been too

6:51

afraid to describe the ordeal in writing, praying

6:54

that these events are only in my imagination.

6:57

Like a person with a toothache who refuses

6:59

to call the dentist, I have procrastinated. But

7:02

now the data I've collected suggests something awful

7:04

is happening to me. I

7:06

said before that I hoped this creature was a

7:09

vampire, but I forgot

7:11

about a crucial characteristic these monsters

7:13

frequently possess, the ability

7:15

to control minds. For

7:18

the first few weeks I could easily ignore

7:20

its begging, but lately

7:22

I'm afraid it's finding a way to

7:24

weasel inside my head. Change

7:27

how it can enter a mind without asking,

7:29

and yet still requires a permission slip to

7:31

smash through a window. Anyway,

7:34

each black morning I wake up standing in

7:37

front of the door and staring at the

7:39

doorknob. At first I

7:41

wrote it off as sleepwalking, somehow brought on

7:43

by severe hunger and stress. Still

7:46

I couldn't help but notice that every time I came to

7:48

it looked like I was slightly

7:50

closer to the door than the previous day.

7:53

I started carrying a piece of chalk in my

7:56

pocket and making a mark on the wooden floor

7:58

just in front of my toes every morning. There

8:01

are now nine marks on the

8:03

floor. These increments are

8:05

regularly spaced and happen every day.

8:08

I segmented the distance remaining between where I

8:11

awoke this morning and the door based

8:13

on the average distance between markings one

8:15

through nine. This allows me

8:17

to see how many more mornings there

8:19

are before I unwittingly let this animal

8:21

inside. Eight days

8:24

left. I've gathered all my food

8:26

and put it under the bed against the wall

8:28

furthest from the door. I

8:30

spend all my time just sitting here and

8:32

trying not to fall asleep, attempting

8:34

to ignore the constant shrieks and beckoning

8:37

of my family and friends from the

8:39

darkness. If my math is

8:41

correct, there's no way I can

8:43

make it to the next seasonal sunrise. But I

8:46

can't give up. All I can

8:48

do now is hope this predator loses interest.

8:51

Or someone comes to my rescue. January

8:56

2nd, the end. There

9:00

is space for one more mark on

9:02

the floor. It is

9:04

over. I'm so sorry, Mina.

9:07

I hung in there as long as possible. I

9:10

considered blowing my brains out days ago, but I

9:12

just couldn't do it. Tomorrow

9:14

morning, I will likely meet the thing

9:16

unless I'm saved by some miracle. Is

9:19

it weird that even though I know I will die soon, I'm

9:22

still pleased that my predictions were correct

9:24

down to the last marker. The

9:27

last few nights I was concerned that the

9:29

intensity of the mind control would increase to

9:31

more than usual. But, my

9:34

friends, we have found a linear relationship

9:36

between the amount of time spent under

9:38

the influence of mind control and the

9:41

intensity of the phenomenon. Maybe

9:43

they can use this as an

9:45

exciting example for teaching regression models

9:48

in college courses someday. I

9:50

know this is idiotic, but this

9:53

thought comforts me as I lay here writing for the

9:55

last time, by the light of my

9:57

last candle. I

10:00

have plenty of candles left, but

10:02

this is the last one I will ever

10:04

set aflame. The last words I

10:07

will commit to paper. The

10:09

final few breaths of this doomed

10:11

organism. My

10:14

wonderful, cruel, beautiful,

10:18

absurd world. I

10:20

love you, Mina. January

10:24

3rd. Why

10:27

didn't I kill myself when I had the chance?

10:32

Today I woke up writhing in a pool of

10:34

my own blood. I

10:36

overlooked another characteristic of vampires and didn't even

10:38

consider that there are worse things they can

10:40

do to me than kill me. They

10:44

can make me one of them.

10:46

Oh, God! It's

10:49

inside now, sitting on the

10:51

bed, staring, smiling,

10:55

laughing at me. My

10:58

hunger pains have changed to those of a different

11:00

kind that I'm used to, and

11:02

there's an intense throbbing soreness in my

11:04

neck from where it inserted its long,

11:07

needle-like canines. As

11:09

it turns out, the slow inching towards the door

11:11

night after night was just a mind game, like

11:14

a sadistic kid snipping off the leg of a frog

11:16

to see what it would do. It

11:19

was merely toying with its newfound Renfield

11:21

and could have coerced me into allowing

11:23

him inside that very first day if

11:25

it wanted. This creature is so

11:29

powerful. It spent

11:31

days searching my mind, and

11:33

it saw everything. It

11:36

knows my village, the seclusion

11:38

of this cabin, how easily

11:40

I could convince trusting villagers to come out

11:42

here with me. It knows

11:44

of Mina. It likes

11:47

it here. It sees opportunities

11:49

in me and has made it clear that if I

11:51

refuse to serve, to bring

11:53

it fresh, warm bodies, it will

11:56

head straight for my Mina. I'm

11:59

such a Look

12:01

at that moron that was writing

12:03

last night drooling over his stupid,

12:06

childish little experiment.

12:08

What horrible last words! Proud

12:11

of his idiotic math and totally

12:14

ignorant of the possible unforeseen conclusions

12:16

to this horror story. So

12:19

confident and comfortable that he knew exactly

12:21

how it all would end. Smug

12:25

asshole! Now I

12:27

don't even know how to kill myself. This

12:30

thing probably knew as soon as it invaded my

12:32

thoughts that I was the perfect, soft-handed,

12:36

pitiful weakling it needed to guarantee

12:38

itself a life of relative ease

12:40

for a little while. Eventually

12:43

the village will notice the soon-to-be mounting number

12:45

of missing people and that I was the

12:47

last person that many of them were seen

12:50

with. What will the creature do

12:52

with me once I'm found out? Maybe

12:54

if I'm an obedient servant he will take me

12:56

with him to the next town. Further

12:59

away from Mina. Mina?

13:03

I must stay focused on Mina. Protecting

13:05

her from this nightmare, even if I can

13:08

only do it for a short while. Even

13:10

if it means a victim a day it would be worth

13:12

it. I will feed the whole

13:14

goddamn world to this monster before I let it have

13:16

Mina. It told

13:18

me that it's time to stop writing and

13:21

start working. It

13:23

promised me a few sips at the jugular

13:25

of whoever I bring back if I'm a

13:27

good boy. I'm horrified

13:30

that this does not disgust me. That

13:32

it is actually just the motivation I need

13:34

to begin the harvest. My

13:37

master understands me better than I do. At

13:40

least I finally get to leave this musty old

13:42

building. At least I'm

13:44

not dead. What am

13:46

I, anyway? There are

13:49

numerous windows in this cabin and

13:51

my master must have sensed that I was concerned

13:53

about what we would do when the sunlight returned.

13:56

He got up, walked over, and

13:59

crouched. Next to me, he

14:01

gently started running his long, white

14:03

fingers through my hair. Do

14:09

not worry. That part

14:11

is just a dream. Come

14:40

warm yourself around this

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15:00

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Do you have a good handle on

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what the right amount of social interaction

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is for you? And how do

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you recharge so you thrive around people

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instead of having to suffer through it

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just waiting for some alone time? Well,

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Now Factor The show. this

16:27

next story is looking really

16:29

good. Let's

16:38

face it, we're all getting older

16:40

and I don't need to tell

16:42

you ladies that the pressure is

16:44

on to look your best no

16:47

matter how many candles or on

16:49

your birthday cake. It's unfair, but

16:51

that's just the way our society

16:53

is. Perhaps that's why the eternal

16:55

youth of the Undead is so

16:57

appealing. Will learn about that from

16:59

author Kareena Percent and if I

17:02

may, this story and many others

17:04

are featured in Corinne his new

17:06

book titles at Girl Driving and.

17:08

Other devastations. It's

17:10

out now. Check the show notes for a

17:12

link to learn more. You

17:15

see, it's not just the young

17:17

and new bio mass is that

17:19

face nosferatu spite. Even women in

17:21

their. Mom matures,

17:23

years have to deal with

17:26

their new existence. Performing

17:29

this tale is nicole do

17:31

less. Pain

17:33

seed to this find.

17:35

it helps we present

17:37

the stages of Monster

17:39

Greece a guide for

17:41

middle aged vampires. Ladies,

17:56

you may have. dreamed of a day when you

17:58

no longer have to a gracefully or

18:01

are forced into obscurity by a

18:03

wardrobe filled with basic neutrals. You

18:07

look in the mirror only to be confronted

18:09

with sagging skin, pebbled

18:11

cellulite, and wrinkles

18:14

in places you never expected.

18:17

You start to wonder if you'll be old and

18:19

alone forever. A little bit of

18:22

blood is worth the price to drink at the fountain of

18:24

youth, isn't it? One.

18:28

Denial. And

18:31

then it happens. Some

18:33

figure seduces you from the shadows and

18:35

you fall lovingly into their arms with

18:37

your throat bared by a torn turtleneck.

18:41

You think you've beaten the odds. Only

18:43

death is never as romantic as it is

18:45

in the movies, and

18:47

rebirth is downright disgusting. That

18:50

$200 cut in color is reduced

18:52

to a dirt-matted mop, and your

18:54

nails are broken from digging your way out of

18:56

a shallow grave. Don't

18:59

even get started on the state of your skin.

19:02

And they say Mudd makes a

19:04

magical facial. Call

19:07

bullshit on that one. You

19:09

blow it off. Decide you were

19:11

slipped in Mickey, and some

19:13

teenage asshat buried your passed-out body in

19:16

a mound of moldy leaves as a joke.

19:19

No prince charming dressed like

19:21

Bela Lugosi. No

19:23

sexy interlude behind the cocktail

19:26

lounge. No throb

19:28

of the forbidden. You

19:31

refuse to acknowledge the truth. So

19:34

you rub at the bruise on your neck

19:36

and search through the closet for an even

19:38

higher collar to hide the arterial bloom. The

19:42

next day you call in sick. After

19:45

all, you've been working at the college wearing your

19:47

nicest smile for twenty fucking

19:49

years. Don't you

19:51

deserve some time off for good behavior. You've

19:54

never acted on the impulse to feel a student

19:57

just because they are a monster in the classroom.

20:00

But no one has ever thanked you,

20:03

not once. Screw

20:05

that! When

20:07

you wake up, the day

20:10

has disappeared, and September's

20:12

harvest moon squats low on the

20:14

horizon. You've

20:16

been eating vegan in an attempt to

20:18

lose belly fat and to reduce cholesterol,

20:21

but all you can think about

20:24

is a nice, juicy steak, rare.

20:28

And why shouldn't you treat yourself?

20:31

You only live once, right?

20:37

2. Anger Okay,

20:40

so maybe you didn't make it to the

20:42

restaurant on your walk from campus to downtown,

20:45

and those belligerent fret boys probably

20:47

had it coming anyway. Back

20:50

at home, you take a shower and toss

20:52

your blood-soaked clothes in the bin. No

20:55

more beige for you. From

20:57

here on out, you will only

20:59

wear velvet and lace, cut

21:01

seductively to show off the new you. But

21:05

when you look in the mirror, nothing has changed.

21:09

That crepey skin is still visible

21:11

on your neck. Your

21:13

breasts sag without the support of

21:15

an underwire, and the

21:17

cellulite on your thighs appears even more dimple

21:19

than it did before. You

21:22

go out the next night looking for

21:24

answers from your vampire progenitor. You

21:27

figure they have some explaining to do. Why

21:30

can you see yourself in a mirror? Better

21:32

yet, where's the goddamn fountain of

21:34

youth? You wouldn't have

21:36

wanted the cursed blessing if you knew that

21:38

you'd have to spend the rest of your

21:40

presumably immortal days alone at the

21:43

resting age of fifty-five. What

21:46

kind of sick fuck would damn you to that particular

21:48

purgatory? Three.

21:52

Depression. You

21:55

think about walking outside and ending it all

21:57

with a little vitamin D, But

21:59

you're not. The never liked the sun. Skin

22:02

cancer? Know that? You

22:04

didn't were wide brimmed hats, long

22:06

sleeves, And your weight and Sdf one

22:08

hundred for thirty years to go out in

22:10

a blaze of glory. Instead,

22:13

you go on. A binge

22:15

of boys and booze. It

22:18

could be worse. For.

22:23

Acceptance. You.

22:26

Invest in. Course it's like your

22:28

home with candles. Still

22:30

a take some time. To let go of

22:33

modern perceptions of youth and beauty even

22:35

though you know from experience as more

22:37

to life than that. After

22:39

all, you can dead lift the family

22:41

sedan. You've gotten out of

22:43

the academic grind with a C. Well, Placed casualties

22:46

and snapshots of your new

22:48

i don't give a fuck

22:50

Stylings, Turned you into

22:52

an Instagram hit. Sure

22:55

those pictures or mistakenly

22:57

titles sexy. It's sixties.

22:59

But clever. It

23:03

doesn't take long. Before Your Memoirs sold

23:05

six and for six figures. Any

23:07

start the popular blogs. So you

23:09

want to write a Vampire novel?

23:13

And between readings and convention appearances,

23:15

you stock the streets looking for

23:17

one of your own kind. Even

23:20

though you never found the vampire

23:22

who turns you or any other

23:24

vampire for that matter, you crave

23:27

a companion. So.

23:30

When you see the fuck woman

23:32

is try to block be to

23:34

the motorcycle. silver hair streaming out

23:37

behind her. you. Act on in

23:39

both. You pretend

23:41

you didn't notice it was the

23:43

sole moon or that the have

23:45

dogging her trail sounded like wolves.

23:48

It's your nature after all. New tell

23:51

yourself as you dig a shallow grave

23:53

with a broken sender, you tell yourself

23:55

that still love you forever even as

23:57

you push the dirt over her drained

23:59

by. She'll

24:01

forget her lover with the moon-bright eyes. She'll

24:04

forget the spat that sent her far from her

24:07

pack. Your blood

24:09

will triumph. You're sure of

24:11

it. But when

24:13

she rises, the silver-haired woman looks right

24:15

through you. She

24:18

stumbles away and leaves you behind to stare

24:20

at an empty hole filled with nothing

24:22

more than moonlight and frost. Over

24:26

the distant sounds of traffic and sirens,

24:29

a wolf howls. Betrayal.

24:36

Overhead, January's wolf moon

24:39

watches with an amused grin. The

24:42

silver-haired woman breaks into a lope. You

24:46

don't need a magic mirror to tell you how this

24:48

will play out. The movies

24:50

are full of stories about romantic

24:52

triangles and unrequited love. If

24:56

nothing else, you'll no longer be alone.

25:00

You gather your cape and

25:02

follow. In

25:34

our final tale, we venture into

25:37

the seediest neighborhood in the city.

25:40

Well, us and Elmore Gibbs.

25:43

You see, Gibbs is something of a

25:45

bounty hunter, and he's not there to

25:47

mess around. But

25:49

in this tale, shared with us by

25:51

author Gene Kendall, His plans

25:54

get changed when he has an

25:56

encounter with a rather important teenage

25:58

runaway. Performing

26:00

this tale are Peter

26:03

Lewis, Sarah Thomas, Just

26:05

Clement, Matthew Bradford, Atticus

26:07

Jackson, and David. All.

26:10

So remember sometimes the bite

26:12

is worse than the bark

26:15

especially if they have dog

26:17

btc. My

26:31

mother once accused me of

26:34

lacking one with of com

26:36

and since. I'm truly

26:38

med two parties st correct

26:40

this evening, strolling through the

26:42

Disciples Ship District in radiating

26:44

ally but that invites little

26:47

more than trouble. So

26:50

be it. I

26:53

have no one to blame myself for

26:55

and in up here soft footing of

26:57

the Cds neighborhood in the city. Were

27:01

given to poetry and in

27:03

my cause, it's mainly giant

27:05

rumination. So now the wind's

27:07

blowing through this neighborhood arts

27:10

movie like a demonic force.

27:12

Touching each song was the

27:14

warm breath as malevolent. Susie's

27:18

is just ordinary damn

27:20

wind with the streets

27:22

do carry something with

27:24

some. Notes

27:27

Laws does not as easy

27:30

names and sinful last day

27:32

of it's links and of

27:34

dark alleyways. Suitable

27:36

backdrop for the couples

27:38

passing by and they're

27:40

shiny king outfits. Far

27:42

more lust and love

27:45

present in their dark

27:47

eyes. I

27:49

stand out like a some has lost

27:52

its fight with a hammer. No

27:54

one in a five mile radius of here is

27:57

wearing a brown. Suede jacket flannel

27:59

but. up in jeans, I

28:02

promise you. Just

28:05

isn't the style of the locals. Us

28:09

normal folk of the world started

28:11

calling them dog teeth after

28:13

they writhed down to the underground, now

28:17

outright brash and announcing their

28:19

presence. Their

28:22

preferred term would be disciples. Of

28:27

who or what they ain't

28:29

tellin'. Few

28:32

years of conflict between these pallid

28:34

ghouls and all the decent tanned

28:36

people of the city resulted in

28:39

the establishment of the Discipleship District.

28:42

They have their own corner of the

28:45

city, pushed up as far north as

28:47

districting could allow. A

28:49

comfortable distance from both the

28:51

docks and the tall glass

28:53

buildings that house all those

28:55

urban professionals. You

28:58

can still find a preppy

29:00

or a tourist in discipleship,

29:02

though, hoping to indulge a

29:05

fetish or simply engage in

29:07

some freak watching. A

29:10

chancy pastime, and

29:12

it often ends violently. No

29:16

official sanction declares these streets

29:18

off-limit to police, but all

29:20

honest souls realize the odds

29:22

of spotting flashing blue lights

29:24

around here are minimal. I'm

29:28

fully aware of all this, and

29:30

yet, here I go

29:32

wandering these streets armed with not

29:34

but a 1320's single-mark

29:36

k-bar. It's

29:38

tucked against my hip, sticking

29:40

close like a loyal puppy.

29:44

Admittedly it's a lovely blade,

29:46

well balanced and only negligibly

29:48

dulled after years of service,

29:51

but not much protection for what I

29:53

know I'll find here in discipleship. As

30:01

I amble towards another one of

30:03

Ween Street's endless gin mills, my

30:06

path nearly crosses with a young

30:08

dogtooth couple all dolled up in

30:10

their matching leather outfits. They've

30:13

already been served a capacity at

30:16

some other establishment, but why let

30:18

that stop a fine bar crawl?

30:22

She has her ivory white hand tucked

30:25

into his back pocket. She

30:28

has his right hand situated someplace

30:31

far more provocative. A

30:36

pause by the front door exchange

30:38

a look with the male. Dogtooth

30:43

lore says they carry some kind of

30:45

psychic ability, just

30:47

one of a dozen reasons why

30:49

they creep us out so severely.

30:52

But it's not as if he'd need any

30:55

telepathy to pick up the aura I emanate

30:57

this evening. There's

31:00

a shift in his stance, a

31:02

twinkle in those obsidian eyes, that

31:04

hints he's open to giving a

31:06

tired old man what he wants.

31:15

Then there's the flash of

31:17

his pearly white canines that

31:19

gets my hopes all kinds

31:21

of up. Unfortunate

31:26

though how fast the act dissolves

31:28

once he catches my hand moving

31:30

to my hip. Seems

31:43

he might be more of a lover than a fighter. He

31:47

gives his lady a squeeze and the

31:49

two of them enter the establishment walking

31:51

past as if I wasn't worth their

31:53

bother. The

31:57

bar has a Nosferatu theme.

32:00

playing up an old legend that

32:02

connects dog teeth to the undead

32:04

creatures of folklore. They've

32:07

always sworn this is untrue. Used to

32:10

claim it was damned offensive, actually, but

32:13

even the dimmest of individuals

32:15

would have to suspect. And

32:18

here they are today, outright

32:20

boasting about it. I cross

32:24

my arms and sulk like a

32:26

kid discovering a barren tree on

32:28

Christmas morning. A

32:31

doubt flutters by has me

32:34

questioning this whole scheme. Not

32:37

a serious enough one to send me

32:40

back home, however. Nearly

32:43

one that leaves me

32:45

standing still on this

32:47

sidewalk, inhaling the night

32:49

sense. I'm almost pleased to

32:51

feel the sensation of goose flesh popping

32:54

on my arm. Confirms

32:56

I'm still human enough to

32:59

experience that visceral sense of

33:01

disgust. Some

33:04

movement at the door snaps me out

33:06

of this funk. A

33:08

dog tooth, sporting neck

33:11

tats, a chained nose

33:13

piercing, and double mohawks

33:16

is stumbling out, dancing

33:18

with imaginary spirits. There's

33:22

a possibility my movement in his

33:24

direction, the hip check, that sends

33:27

him to the pavement is more

33:29

than an accident. He

33:32

lands, lands face first. Hey,

33:37

Matt, what's your deal? He

33:40

wipes blood from his lip. Those

33:43

marauder eyes flick upward, and

33:45

I offer a response that

33:47

carries no remorse. It's

33:51

a disappointment, though. Don't

33:53

even get a decent look at his

33:56

canines before the recognition sets on his

33:58

face. Shitting

34:01

me, Gibbs. Oh man, no

34:03

way. He

34:05

staggers back onto his wobbly

34:07

feet and shuffles backwards. Nope,

34:12

not tonight, man. I

34:15

want to grab the skunk, pull

34:17

him close and tell him it

34:20

is tonight, has to be tonight.

34:24

He's already scuttling his merry way into

34:26

the street, however, keeping more of an

34:28

eye on me than the traffic. He

34:32

has to dodge a speeding Mercedes

34:34

or two, but he's soon safe on

34:36

the other side. But

34:41

for him... Me,

34:44

though, and I've

34:46

been denied twice. And

34:49

I got a morose suspicion the next

34:52

encounter will be my official strikeout.

34:58

There's honking down the street, coming

35:00

from one of those shiny black

35:02

cokes so popular in this neighborhood.

35:06

I suspect there's an accident,

35:08

some confrontation between adrenaline-amp dog

35:10

teeth that might give me

35:13

the action I desire. I

35:17

hoist it over there in less than

35:20

twenty seconds from spots, yet

35:22

another disappointment. The

35:27

vehicles occupied by a girl, maybe

35:29

not even twenty, was laying her

35:31

fist on the hooter in impotent

35:33

frustration. Her

35:37

lovely coop, it seems, is officially crapped

35:39

out on her. That

35:43

plume of smoke wafting from beneath the

35:45

hood is my big hint. I'm

35:49

ready to turn back, to bump

35:52

into a few more drunken disorderlies.

35:56

When I hear the coop's driver's side door

35:58

pop open... The

36:02

girl steps out onto the sidewalk, wiping

36:04

a tear with the back of her

36:06

balled up fist. She's

36:09

wearing an oversized hoodie and athletic

36:11

shorts, dressed like she's headed for

36:13

bed. Plashes

36:15

hard against the polished and studded

36:18

outfits that surround her. The

36:22

girl takes a moment to collect herself,

36:24

maybe draw up some courage and then

36:26

scope out her environs.

36:31

Those good Samaritan types, you're

36:34

not likely to find them in the

36:36

discipleship. I watch

36:38

the girl turn to the onlookers, desperate

36:40

for help. The

36:43

first one scoffs at her, the

36:45

second laughs. For

36:49

reasons unknown, I'm approaching the young

36:51

dog tooth with both hands in

36:53

my pockets. Flicking

36:57

my eyes to her car, I ask. You

37:01

been cleaning the condenser? Making

37:04

sure your coolant is nice and topped up? She's

37:09

exasperated, scared, doesn't

37:11

appreciate my grand humor. I

37:15

hate to tell you, but I think you're stuck,

37:19

I say, in a tone bordering

37:21

on friendly. And

37:25

I doubt you'll have any luck asking this

37:27

crowd fell. Chivalrous

37:30

instinct, a reason that has me

37:32

doing this. The

37:35

girl has the same black hair and

37:37

bloodless skin as any other dog tooth.

37:40

No way I'm telling her anything she doesn't already

37:43

know. She's amongst her own

37:45

people. But

37:48

there's real hurt in her eyes,

37:50

a hopelessness in her body language.

37:54

In a case I wouldn't normally associate with

37:56

dog teeth. I

38:01

was so close to getting out of here. She

38:05

eyes her surroundings with disgust.

38:10

I can't say if she's talking to me or herself. So

38:16

close. Could

38:20

be she's a master manipulator, that

38:23

she's playing her con like a black

38:25

widow and I'm the unfortunate fly that's

38:27

been drawn into her web. Even

38:31

if this is the case, that means the

38:34

petite thing is giving me precisely what

38:36

I want. You

38:39

got a name, miss? A

38:42

sad dark eyes turn to mine. Anna,

38:49

I'm sorry to be bothering you, Mr. Gibbs.

38:55

No more Gibbs. I

38:58

tell her with a dip of my chin. I

39:02

make sure to say this clearly to

39:04

make certain she knows who she's talking

39:06

to. There's

39:08

a second before the recognition sets on

39:10

her face. Oh.

39:17

She turns to the car and looks back

39:19

at me. I

39:22

guess you're here on a job. Not

39:26

tonight, Anna. She's

39:29

a small thing, not even coming

39:31

up to my shoulders. Most

39:35

of these dog teeth have a long,

39:37

lanky anatomy, like they're made out of

39:39

aluminum wire. You

39:42

have a phone to call for help?

39:47

It's been shut off. I

39:49

was going to buy a new one, I guess

39:51

a cheap one, after

39:53

I got out of town. Well,

39:57

you likely know mechanic is...

40:00

and on my resume, girl. Don't

40:02

think there's much I could do to help you out here."

40:07

She agrees, nods with

40:09

those big, sad eyes closed.

40:14

I'm clearing my throat and

40:16

repositioning myself, easing my

40:18

stance. I'm

40:20

going to tell myself this might still be a

40:22

trap, and when

40:25

I've already chosen to be the fly

40:27

tonight. But

40:29

if you need a phone to borrow, I

40:32

could offer mine. It might be older

40:34

than you are, but it'll still catch a signal.

40:39

The self-conscious grin creases her face,

40:41

and I unclip the mobile from

40:43

my belt. As

40:46

I hand it to her, I advise

40:48

that we move away from this crowded

40:50

street. Easy

40:53

to imagine there are hunters

40:55

about, too many rapacious glances

40:57

for anyone's comfort. I

41:00

stay close to Anna as we

41:02

step discreetly to a side street

41:04

that separates two of the bars.

41:08

In the lonely alleyway, she makes a call

41:10

to a garage that's already closed for the

41:12

night. The

41:14

second call doesn't pick up. The

41:18

third shop answers, and is

41:21

rather courteous and professional until she

41:23

brings out the Discipleship District. I

41:27

overhear his voice on the phone,

41:29

telling her with no hesitation that Tomlinson

41:32

Auto Repair does not

41:34

service that area. Thanks

41:39

for the phone. She

41:42

hands me back the mobile. Guess

41:45

I should have counted on that, given my

41:48

luck tonight. And

41:50

really, I couldn't have paid those people

41:52

much of anything anyway. There's

41:56

a noise from the nearby street, still. Are

42:02

you know now? depraved

42:04

Alaska? Escaping those enjoins.

42:07

Agitated profanities from the

42:10

motorists inconvenienced by and

42:12

as abandoned car. She.

42:15

Gives a look to both directions like she

42:17

doesn't know which way to earn. Some

42:21

emergency bag and a new away from

42:23

the city is fine evening. And.

42:27

Of Sales in her lungs and

42:29

gives herself a moment before answering.

42:34

More like tonight's my boss.

42:37

And I see a total idiot not to. Expose.

42:41

life's full of disappointment. And

42:44

then confess I don't understand why

42:46

the so uneasy in among your

42:48

own kind. Not

42:51

everyone said deeply and feals.

42:55

What's the word? Tribalism.

43:00

Sounds right. Could

43:03

be honest of a trusted applauded the probably

43:05

some of the stick it out a long

43:07

time of the her that they don't belong

43:09

here. Another have been

43:11

waiting for that. Since waiting

43:13

anxiously he didn't get the

43:15

heck out. I

43:19

keep moving toward the facing street.

43:22

Used to be Roseville Street into

43:24

the dog T renamed it Blurs

43:26

Co. And of

43:28

a strip of bars. enjoy houses.

43:32

She follows. Fear

43:36

not alone in their ceiling. I

43:41

know you don't one of the least. Given

43:43

your paths with. Us.

43:48

Everyone carries the past when I'm. In

43:51

a, be a fool not to respect what

43:53

they've learned along the way. What

43:56

certain individuals have chosen

43:58

The show them. The

44:02

baggies leave every sweatshirt cross over

44:05

an hour ago chest. But

44:08

if you're not here on had shot. Why

44:11

would you go to disciple ship of all

44:13

places? I

44:16

sent an item my be the place

44:18

because that you've me when I need

44:20

it. Probably

44:23

have the people on that street wouldn't mind separating

44:25

their ships in your. New. Wind

44:30

blows those raven lock seem to

44:32

have faced. With

44:35

a burst of defiance, he flicks the

44:37

air and strands out of her iron.

44:41

Your over here for a fight

44:43

or it's. Nothing

44:49

good on. You

44:52

know our these. Calls

44:54

are garbage. They produce. Serious.

45:03

Purchase. Something inside. Me

45:10

the an a his own some

45:12

honesty. Maybe

45:14

I've grown tired playing?

45:16

I. Know.

45:26

You're looking for. Oh.

45:28

More get to know she can't say

45:31

anonymous into focus on. Look,

45:35

I'm not some free

45:37

to miss and made

45:39

up of flesh and

45:42

blood and Subarus and

45:44

all that other nonsense.

45:46

My hands are still in my

45:49

pocket and I noticed my shoulder

45:51

sistema like some Cd a teenager

45:53

having an awkward conversation with his

45:55

father. Some

45:58

days. I get

46:00

bad news. I don't know

46:02

how to process. And

46:06

coming here helps? I

46:11

don't think there's much of a difference between helping and

46:13

hurting at this point. A

46:18

tiny grunt of confusion leaves a dark

46:20

lips. After

46:24

a weighty silence, she asks. What

46:28

kind of bad news are we talking about? Ever

46:33

go to the doctor and hear something you didn't like? Maybe.

46:42

I wonder though if dog teeth even have

46:44

physicians. Always assumed

46:47

some kind of demonic voodoo

46:49

priest instead. Irrelevant

46:51

now, I guess. Ever

46:56

tell the doctor your symptoms and all he

46:58

can give you in return is a shake

47:00

of his head and a dull whole look

47:02

of regret? And

47:07

I can't think of an answer. She

47:09

bobs her neck back and forth and then

47:12

moves a few steps ahead of me. There's

47:16

a shift in her bearing like she's just

47:18

caught sight of something out there on Blasco

47:20

Street. Something

47:22

she didn't like. Listen,

47:25

I'm not out to ruin your fun.

47:30

Assuming you'd take advice from a dog tooth like

47:32

me, I'd suggest

47:34

you try some other therapy. She's

47:39

trying to sound chipper and

47:41

reassuring, comes across more nervous

47:43

instead. Thanks

47:46

for your help. I'll

47:48

try to figure something out.

47:53

She Breaks on ahead, pulling her hoodie

47:55

even lower and sprinting off into the

47:57

street. I

48:00

catch up though. Get

48:03

a grip on a ride on. In

48:07

his face painting allude to

48:09

life even for a dog.

48:11

Do. With my

48:14

free hand, their freezer crinkly bill

48:16

out of my office. Here.

48:21

Asleep the cash and or i see

48:23

on. There

48:25

should be a bus over on Coast

48:28

It boulevard within the hour. You

48:30

know the way. She

48:34

not after spending a second work in

48:36

some the now in her mind. And

48:40

she bounces up on his sneakers and gives me

48:42

a kiss on the cheek. She

48:49

hurries a whole load it off.

48:51

a little look back. I

48:56

stand in the midst of Glasgow

48:58

and eighty in the site questioning

49:00

what scooped the girl. Snores

49:04

crowded his wings trade for these

49:06

are healthy assortment of drunks embarrassing

49:08

themselves on the sidewalk. None

49:12

are taken off and his way

49:14

something I note with gratitude. For

49:18

there is however alone figure

49:20

leaning over the Schoenberg Hotels

49:22

wooden gallery. It's clad in

49:25

a black suit with a

49:27

wine red collared shirt. Kind

49:30

outfit you just as easily

49:32

fine on a big city

49:35

sophisticated aura. Hired Killer. He's

49:39

got a bottle of champagne in hand,

49:41

but nothing in his body language reads

49:43

his tipsy. The

49:47

mystery man is watching Stephen his eye

49:49

on the street. Washing

49:52

with what looks like a predators

49:54

green. at least

49:56

from this older gentleman's perspective

50:01

Tired eyes, plain tricks,

50:04

paranoia, or

50:07

maybe Elmore Gibbs has developed

50:09

some instincts over his misspent

50:11

years. I

50:14

watch as the hunter scans the

50:16

streets, looks the way of poor

50:19

departing Anna, and then heads back

50:21

inside, and he

50:24

does it with a bounce to his

50:26

step. I

50:29

snake my way past the traffic

50:32

of automobiles and the sordid glonheads

50:34

and reach the Schomburgs lobby. Suppose

50:38

there's still the possibility this is

50:40

part of an elaborate scheme, that

50:42

I'm walking into a well-crafted trap,

50:46

but I'll remind myself again that I have

50:48

no problem with this. The

50:51

Schomburgs are a known place for

50:53

humans and dog teeth to mingle

50:56

in peace. Despite

50:59

a few tanned ones milling

51:02

about the lobby, some noticeably

51:04

strung out, a few purchased

51:07

from street corners and others

51:09

standing obediently behind their dog

51:12

tooth companions. Those

51:15

tend to be the rich kids

51:17

with daddy issues, the ones who

51:19

can't get their rocks off through

51:22

conventional means, I've heard. Or

51:26

maybe they think their life of privilege

51:28

requires some twisted form of penance. They

51:32

give me predictable stares as I make my

51:34

way through the open space, dark

51:37

ambient lighting, ivy creepers winding

51:39

up brick walls, and an

51:41

enigmatic scent of leather, clothes

51:44

buds, and lilies which make the

51:46

chase all the normies away. I'm

51:50

looking out for my mystery friend when

51:52

I feel two taps against my shoulder.

51:56

He doesn't notice my grip on the k-bar as I turn the face of the The Schomburgs. Listen,

52:02

it's an employee dressed in

52:04

that ludicrous, formal, yet fatal

52:06

look you'll always find in

52:08

the more respectable dog-tooth joints.

52:13

Silk suit and tie with a

52:15

studded neck choker. Sir,

52:19

do you have a reservation

52:21

for this evening? No

52:25

reason to give him an answer, so

52:28

I don't. Having

52:31

released my grip on the blade, I keep

52:33

moving through the lobby, curious if my friend

52:35

has made his way down yet. I

52:39

hear dainty steps following. Sir,

52:44

only guests and their companions

52:46

are allowed at the Schomburg.

52:51

I'm worried two syllables that might

52:53

sound like, uh-huh, as I brush

52:55

past. As

52:57

possible, I maneuver my elbow in such

52:59

a way it knocks the dainty one

53:02

over. There's

53:04

some offended chatter in the background

53:06

as I spot the elevator bank

53:08

and pick up my steps. An

53:12

elevator arrives right at this moment as

53:14

luck would have it. As

53:17

the bell gives its ding, doors

53:20

open and I spot that

53:22

familiar figure from the gallery.

53:26

His sable hair is shaped like

53:29

Caesar's, and his build indicates he's

53:31

just as much a warrior. Expression

53:35

on his mug shows he wasn't expecting

53:37

to find me here. Guess

53:40

he thought he could saunter on out

53:42

and do his dark business without any

53:45

hassles. His

53:47

lip curls. You!

53:54

I Flash the K-bar and give him a

53:56

push back into the elevator. I.

54:04

Whisper says his body slammed against

54:06

the back wall. Tell

54:10

me friend Ma'am I didn't in the

54:12

way some a new downplay and. I

54:15

don't have time versus deeps. Let.

54:18

Me go and I might lead

54:20

to leave here without any missing

54:22

limbs. Is

54:26

indifferent to the blade as pressed

54:28

against his neck. And

54:31

is a special Santa. He's in his voice

54:34

in the case. He knows me by way

54:36

of more than reputation. We

54:40

had some occasion to break bread

54:42

of are sprayed bad in the

54:44

past pal. The.

54:48

Odium on his face is to be

54:51

it. Suggests. For

54:53

bribes as he goes when bruised. For.

54:57

Yaga, Six.

54:59

Years back you chased after me

55:01

to collect some sources bout. That

55:05

means hospitals broken jaw.

55:10

I guess they do have doctor is after

55:13

all. Been

55:15

doing this for too long.

55:19

I tell was keeping the blade

55:22

steady. Stoned

55:24

or lose track of all

55:27

these terrorist encounters. Here

55:31

is Nancy with Words moves

55:33

faster than expected to rise

55:36

my own family business. Nearly

55:40

chess the came on my I. Still

55:44

have a grip on a though and a/down

55:46

well with a piece of and soon target

55:48

of a. Little

55:51

more. Lacking against

55:53

and in the past. like

55:57

a really taken a minister I

56:02

have stupidly left myself open for his

56:04

right hand and had my arm as

56:06

his body slides out of the way.

56:10

He's got both hands on my wrist before

56:12

I can reorient, jerking me forward and then

56:16

planting his healed boot into my

56:18

left shin. Well,

56:21

it's a bit too ravenous this time.

56:24

I went into hammer on my back

56:26

with both fists. I

56:30

astonishingly managed to pivot out of his

56:32

way and spear his right side at

56:35

the moment those fists connect with the

56:37

mortal glory. Help

56:40

me, Steve. Ask, guys.

56:44

Get some diaper. Oh,

56:46

those canines are out now. Dutnot

56:49

between the sizes and by

56:51

suspects. Again,

56:54

dog teeth square than on vampires.

56:56

Even if they can't create undead

56:59

slaves, all accounts state those chompers

57:01

hurt like hell. I

57:05

remove my blade in debate, taking

57:07

a better shot at his neck.

57:10

There's been a strange pair of

57:12

hands, breaths my shoulders, calls me

57:14

away within the room. Some

57:19

quick fits of pain register, not

57:22

even a second later, and I

57:24

gather it's the sensation of several

57:26

feet connecting with my aged body.

57:32

Those gaffs, the preppy human

57:34

ones, seem vexed I've interrupted

57:37

their fun. The

57:40

sensation of their loafers and oxbirds

57:42

pounding against my real good point

57:45

across. Causing

57:47

trouble. I'm wrestling a

57:50

disheartening. Enough. Enough.

58:01

I'm guessing now I blacked out for

58:03

a moment there, once the preppies

58:06

confused me for a soccer ball,

58:08

because Wolf is already racing past

58:10

the doors and into that cold

58:12

night. One

58:15

of those enthusiastic men to land close enough

58:17

to my free hand for me to get

58:19

a grip. Look

58:22

at the sap head over

58:24

and grunt some satisfaction. He's

58:28

a broad-shouldered young man who lands

58:31

with a thick enough thud, inspiring

58:33

the rabble to take a few

58:36

steps back. I

58:39

stagger upward brandishing the k-bar.

58:46

I'm not looking to slice my own kind.

58:50

Not that I'm thrilled sharing a

58:52

species with you lot. I

58:57

take a cautious step backward towards the

58:59

door. The preppies keep

59:01

their distance and I only end up

59:03

bumping into a potted plant as I

59:06

walk a stern out of the Schomburg

59:08

lobby. I

59:11

check the sidewalk both ways and

59:13

Wolf's nowhere to be found. There's

59:18

a trickle on my chin I know is

59:20

blood even before I wipe and inspect the

59:22

back of my hand. Guess

59:26

I'm lucky if he leaves

59:28

only a minimal smear across my

59:30

knuckles. That

59:33

ache in my ribs, though, is gonna

59:36

stick around like a hit song.

59:40

Huh, silly old man complaining

59:42

about lingering aches two weeks from

59:44

now when I wasn't planning on

59:47

surviving past this very night. No,

59:51

this isn't the time for those

59:53

deep thoughts. I've

59:56

set out on a course of action and

59:58

it's best for everyone. if I

1:00:00

play it through. I

1:00:03

return the K-bar to its sheath and

1:00:05

fish another crinkly bill out of my

1:00:07

wallet. There's

1:00:10

a dog-toothed human couple headed for

1:00:12

the Schomburg. I

1:00:15

ask the human, a sprightly

1:00:17

female in her late teens

1:00:19

who seems more determined to

1:00:22

upset her parents than revel

1:00:24

in any dark desires if

1:00:26

she's seen anyone matching Wolf's

1:00:28

description. Her

1:00:30

dog-toothed boyfriend tries to bug off

1:00:33

a group of forearm and add

1:00:35

a crumpled grant to that Jackson.

1:00:39

Ma'am, it'd mean the world

1:00:42

to a weary old man if you could help.

1:00:47

She tells me in her childlike nimble

1:00:49

voice that he went east. I'm

1:00:53

out of my thanks and race

1:00:56

along with throbbing bones. Maybe

1:01:00

Wolf took off so fast because

1:01:02

he suspected he was given an

1:01:04

irritable goat precisely what he wanted.

1:01:08

Maybe he said goat was preventing

1:01:10

Wolf from engaging in some nastiness

1:01:12

with poor Anna and that's why

1:01:14

he bolted. Maybe

1:01:18

both. I

1:01:20

tell myself again to stop

1:01:22

thinking so much and keep

1:01:24

moving. East

1:01:28

would be the direction of Caustic Boulevard

1:01:30

where I'd sent Anna to catch the

1:01:32

bus. Hoping

1:01:35

it in that direction, I hit the

1:01:37

intersection where Caustic intersects with Ackerman. Few

1:01:42

figures linger around the bus stop.

1:01:46

It might as well be ants to my

1:01:48

ancient eyes. But

1:01:50

none seem to match Anna's height or

1:01:53

body language. Over

1:01:57

to my right, Aye Aye Ackerman Street.

1:02:00

Specifically, the community gardens located

1:02:02

less than the block from

1:02:04

the intersection and separated from

1:02:06

the sidewalk by an ornamental

1:02:08

steel fence. I

1:02:11

tell myself I'm hearing muffled cries in

1:02:14

that direction. I

1:02:17

also tell myself I'm not hearing a thing and

1:02:20

my mind's playing tricks, concocting excuses

1:02:22

for me to keep living out

1:02:25

a fool's death wish. Regardless,

1:02:29

I shift my wobbling dog trot

1:02:31

in the direction of those gardens.

1:02:36

No gin joints or teddy bars on

1:02:39

Ackerman, meaning

1:02:41

there's no audience to observe

1:02:43

this fatigued old kook scale

1:02:45

that imposing fence. I

1:02:49

wanted to watch him fall twice while doing it.

1:02:54

I'm eventually able to clamber over

1:02:56

the top though and manage a

1:02:58

somewhat graceful descent on the grass.

1:03:02

It turns out my ears

1:03:04

and mind weren't concocting fairy tales.

1:03:09

I do hear a voice, a

1:03:11

young lady, all panicked and muffled.

1:03:17

Sometimes the neighboring crickets are kicking up

1:03:19

a louder ruckus, but I soon pinpoint

1:03:21

the source of those cries. On

1:03:25

a raised area of grassy

1:03:27

land is the garden's main

1:03:29

attraction, an imposing bronze sculpture

1:03:32

surrounded by black velvet petunia

1:03:34

and other gothic flowers. It

1:03:37

is a monument to an unnamed

1:03:39

female, one reported to be a

1:03:41

divine figure amongst the dog teeth.

1:03:45

A light affixed to the

1:03:47

sculpture's base illuminates two additional

1:03:50

figures, animated ones. It's

1:03:54

wolf, now manhandling

1:03:56

Anna. He's

1:03:59

torn off a beezus. his fancy college shirt

1:04:01

and shoved it into her mouth. Anna?

1:04:06

I removed

1:04:08

the k-bar and approached the sculpture

1:04:11

with furious steps. Leave

1:04:15

her be, you rad-eyed shithill.

1:04:20

Rage flares across his sallow face.

1:04:24

This doesn't concern you, old man.

1:04:28

Pressing his forearm tighter against Anna's

1:04:31

throat, he has... Something

1:04:33

is off while you can still

1:04:36

move. While

1:04:38

his eyes are trained on me,

1:04:41

Anna sees her shot. The presses

1:04:43

heal hard into Wolf's toes. Hurts

1:04:48

hard enough for him to temporarily lose

1:04:50

his grip. She

1:04:53

manages to get not even six inches

1:04:55

away before he nabs her again. He

1:05:00

only has one hand on her, though,

1:05:02

and she isn't giving up the fight.

1:05:06

Gives me an opportunity to barrel

1:05:08

in and collide into Wolf with

1:05:10

my good shape. Rad-eyed

1:05:14

one, he uses his grip and

1:05:16

stumbles backward, almost connecting with the

1:05:19

sculpture's marble base. Go,

1:05:21

girl. I point

1:05:23

towards the street. Run!

1:05:28

She can't talk thanks to the gag, and

1:05:30

her face doesn't give me any kind of

1:05:32

an answer. I

1:05:34

have to pray she does the smart

1:05:36

thing as I quickly lose sight of

1:05:38

the girl. Wolf's

1:05:41

recovered faster than I anticipated, running

1:05:44

from an angle and taking a

1:05:46

mighty swing. The

1:05:50

plan is just right, raffling

1:05:52

my mold, causing me to

1:05:54

see even more stars than

1:05:56

the sky has to offer.

1:06:01

I taste some blood, spit

1:06:04

some unkind words, and then

1:06:07

stagger back. I

1:06:11

make him think he gave me the blow of

1:06:13

a lifetime, not much acting

1:06:15

on my part. He

1:06:18

dives in with the sloppy

1:06:20

move I anticipate, enabling me

1:06:22

to skewers right on. He

1:06:27

screams, I grunt, and

1:06:29

I get caught up in an awkward

1:06:31

embrace. I've

1:06:33

got half of you with that stalker

1:06:36

now, and I'm sorely pissed off at

1:06:38

how badly it's distracting me. The

1:06:42

mystery idol is standing proud,

1:06:45

wavy locks smack into the

1:06:47

position over her shoulders as

1:06:49

she cradles in that nascent

1:06:51

thick-billed rhythm and overlooks the

1:06:54

city. Waves

1:06:58

of smoke frame her body into

1:07:00

the feet of the hands of

1:07:02

a servant desperate for even the

1:07:04

most freeing of contact. It's

1:07:08

like she has this

1:07:10

look on her face,

1:07:12

hearty, superior, but pleased

1:07:14

tool. Like

1:07:16

I've given her a show, and she wants me

1:07:18

to know she's getting a kick out of it.

1:07:23

Some hypnotic sensation begins to

1:07:25

swirl about, pulling me unlucky

1:07:28

for this opportunity to please

1:07:30

her. It's

1:07:34

an honor, I should know, to

1:07:36

be born with such low station,

1:07:38

as found myself in a complete

1:07:40

sacrifice in my body for her

1:07:43

amusement. A

1:07:46

snap out of this sickening

1:07:48

trance with a noise, a

1:07:50

moist squish escapes wolves' lips.

1:07:55

Dog-deaf guns make a certain

1:07:57

sound whenever the lindspill's on.

1:08:00

for mutable chompers. Wolf

1:08:03

has those canines out now, in

1:08:05

his mouth's position too damned close

1:08:08

to my neck. He

1:08:11

sinks those fangs into my flesh,

1:08:13

and I howl. I

1:08:18

don't know how long it takes me to

1:08:20

realize Enryst MacRudded. To

1:08:23

be missed on purpose, he's enjoying

1:08:25

the affair and wants to draw

1:08:28

it out. Maybe

1:08:30

to please our bronze goddess up

1:08:33

there. I

1:08:36

make the call to move my blade,

1:08:38

and offer Wolf a fast elbow to

1:08:40

his groin as a wine gift. He

1:08:44

dances backward, so I lunge

1:08:46

aiming this time for his

1:08:48

throat. All

1:08:52

that pain has to be sublimated,

1:08:55

used to augment the adrenaline

1:08:57

and keep blood pumping through

1:08:59

this tired, foolish body. You

1:09:03

catch a glimpse of Wolf's bloody smile

1:09:05

as I dive. It's

1:09:08

the kind that implies your opponent

1:09:10

just eats something remarkably dumb. He

1:09:15

eludes my cape on, avoids it

1:09:17

by luspin' a cat's whisker. That's

1:09:19

where it lands a solid grip

1:09:22

on my right wrist. Talented

1:09:26

bastard who uses my momentum

1:09:29

to twirl me around, sends

1:09:31

my body westward, aiming for

1:09:35

a rope. That

1:09:37

elbow practically snaps

1:09:39

in two, and that blade

1:09:41

lands somewhere in the dark. I

1:09:46

end up on my back with Wolf's

1:09:48

shoe leather stomping my chest like it's

1:09:50

a bug he wants dead. Lives

1:09:54

snap in written expectations.

1:10:00

I make a grab for the nearest leg

1:10:02

and heave. Wolf's

1:10:05

balance goes wobbly, but he doesn't

1:10:07

tumble until I'm somehow able to

1:10:09

roll over while keeping that leg

1:10:12

is my prize. His

1:10:16

face collides against that

1:10:19

marble base and makes a

1:10:21

hard, wet sound that maybe

1:10:23

leaves me too proud. The

1:10:28

spotlight amplifies glimmers of spit and

1:10:30

something long and sturdy flying

1:10:32

from his mouth. Poor

1:10:35

Wolf lost one of

1:10:37

his canines. Imagine that. My

1:10:43

arm wails in agony as I grab for

1:10:45

the tooth. He's

1:10:48

two-punch drunk to offer much

1:10:50

resistance and I kneel over

1:10:52

his body and press knees down on

1:10:54

his shoulder. Sorry

1:10:58

pal, I guess this

1:11:00

wasn't your night. There's

1:11:04

a pulse of recognition on his

1:11:06

face when he realizes what's coming

1:11:08

next. I've

1:11:10

seen that so many times. I

1:11:15

drive the canines and throw five

1:11:17

inches of it into his right

1:11:19

eye. He's

1:11:22

going until it penetrates his brain. It

1:11:39

wasn't mine, neither. The

1:11:44

adrenaline peters out not so long

1:11:46

after and I flop over, pains

1:11:48

exploding all over, but that isn't

1:11:51

my concern. Concern?

1:11:57

Wasn't I asking for this? There's

1:12:01

a quavering sensation in my

1:12:03

chest, followed by a tightness

1:12:05

that clenches tauter than a

1:12:07

fist. The

1:12:10

light-headed too might

1:12:12

be seeing things. A

1:12:16

blurry figure is coming into the light.

1:12:19

Geb. Geb.

1:12:23

Can you hear me? It's

1:12:27

Anna. With

1:12:29

some woozy delusion that's taken

1:12:31

her form. Hey,

1:12:34

Geb. Look at me. Look.

1:12:40

Can you see this? She

1:12:44

spread her index and middle fingers

1:12:46

apart, directing them at her eyes,

1:12:48

then pointing them back towards mine.

1:12:52

Yeah, girl. I see you.

1:12:58

I lean leftward,

1:13:00

cough of some

1:13:03

red, and my

1:13:06

body screams again.

1:13:08

I don't

1:13:11

know if you're real or

1:13:13

not, but two fingers,

1:13:15

sure. I see that. You

1:13:20

didn't have to do any of this. I

1:13:25

sense her body

1:13:28

shifting, leaning closer

1:13:31

to mine. I'm

1:13:34

worried about you, Geb. No,

1:13:38

no. This is

1:13:40

the kind of foolishness I was looking for

1:13:43

tonight. Warrior

1:13:46

debt, huh? I

1:13:50

hear the derision in her voice. I

1:13:53

hear it. All

1:13:56

over. That's Dr. Smith. I

1:14:00

roll both shoulders back or under the

1:14:03

marble. Her

1:14:05

face is a hovering above

1:14:07

smeared white paint melding into

1:14:09

the evening sky. Better

1:14:13

than months of pointless treatment. Better

1:14:17

than colostomy bags and those awful

1:14:19

little gowns with the peekaboo bags.

1:14:24

It fins my sense of modesty, easy. Her

1:14:30

head barbs over in the direction

1:14:32

of Wolf's lifeless form. Guess

1:14:38

I shouldn't grudge about your foolishness. What

1:14:42

sucks though, is that Wolf won't

1:14:44

be the last. Who?

1:14:49

Who'd want you? Heh.

1:14:54

Yes. She

1:14:58

brushes a dangling strand of hair out

1:15:00

of her alabaster face. Listen

1:15:04

kids, you're

1:15:06

just a teenage rebel. In

1:15:09

your culture that means navel piercings

1:15:11

and tiny skirts. In

1:15:14

mine, it means things like

1:15:17

white magic. You

1:15:19

have to go in here. There

1:15:21

could be some kind of a mission. And

1:15:24

they'd kill you over that? She

1:15:28

would, yeah. Heck,

1:15:31

there's no wood here. No

1:15:34

hypothetical. My

1:15:38

chest is tight as a Scotsman.

1:15:40

My nerves are aflame. But

1:15:43

still I find the gumption to ask. She...

1:15:51

...bend a gesture towards that

1:15:53

wicked sculpture. And

1:15:56

this lady, she's your queen. And

1:16:00

his face breaks. But

1:16:02

I never thought of that. I've had enough of

1:16:06

it to cover mine. I don't

1:16:09

know if my face is too swollen to transmit my surprise, but I do gurgle out some expression of

1:16:11

shock. Anna

1:16:14

has that scrap of wool shirt. Still, she's using

1:16:17

it now to wash her. She's

1:16:20

using it now to wipe the blood from

1:16:24

my cheeks. The

1:16:26

wolf dragged me here for

1:16:28

a reason, you know. It's

1:16:31

not as if she aims

1:16:33

to visit us in person that often. But here, through.

1:16:39

A free hand again just for the first time. And

1:16:44

I'm not afraid of it. A

1:16:48

free hand again just just towards the

1:16:50

sculpture. She

1:16:54

has her eyes. Oh

1:16:57

sure, makes sense. The

1:17:03

statement's more sarcastic than I'd

1:17:05

intended. Anna

1:17:07

studies my mess of a face

1:17:09

for a moment, then she sighs

1:17:11

and takes both my cheeks in

1:17:13

her hands. What

1:17:17

are you? What? Do

1:17:20

you know? Her

1:17:23

palms feel like they just left an oven.

1:17:26

A sensation rushes through them.

1:17:28

A poor tent of some

1:17:31

empathetic, soothing, forgiving.

1:17:37

I know I don't deserve it, but

1:17:39

a voice tells me to shut up

1:17:41

and accept it anyway. I've

1:17:45

caught up in this glow for several

1:17:47

moments, just happy to have

1:17:50

a tiny cognizant presence on

1:17:52

this big floating mud ball

1:17:54

before I realize the pain's

1:17:56

easing from my muscles. You

1:17:59

did this in your day. The release of a

1:18:01

burden, nothing but inexpressible relief. The

1:18:09

stars are twinkling, with souls the

1:18:12

light in Annie's eyes. I

1:18:15

couldn't say which is more beautiful.

1:18:19

She pulls back, studies my pupils

1:18:22

for a second to ensure I'm

1:18:24

okay. And

1:18:26

she turns away with an embarrassed smile.

1:18:31

I'm able to hoist myself halfway

1:18:33

up, but I notice Anna's

1:18:36

gaze is turned back to her

1:18:38

mother, above

1:18:40

my head in the sculpture's direction.

1:18:47

You're doing that here, right

1:18:51

under her eyes. Nice

1:18:54

way to piss the lady off? Her

1:18:58

eyes return to mine, a flicker

1:19:00

of a grin on her lips. Didn't

1:19:04

even occur to me. Right.

1:19:10

I say, with a bigger smile. Massaging

1:19:14

my muscles, still in

1:19:17

disbelief, I say. I

1:19:21

feel... Anna,

1:19:24

I feel better. I

1:19:28

tell her this because it's true. Didn't

1:19:33

expect to see her face suddenly

1:19:35

grow solemn. You

1:19:39

have to understand, Cap. I

1:19:42

can't undo what's eventually coming anyway.

1:19:47

Her eyes shift away from mine.

1:19:52

Can't save you from what that doctor told you. Oh,

1:19:57

you can't make me as exuberant and

1:19:59

useless. as you are, darling. Bodies

1:20:03

break down. It's

1:20:06

a natural process. And

1:20:08

the end can only be delayed for so long. Ultimately,

1:20:12

we have no control over that. What

1:20:15

you can control gives. Her

1:20:20

tone now is, dare

1:20:23

I say it, scolding. It's

1:20:27

how you react to it. You

1:20:30

sayin' I'm a fool lookin'

1:20:33

for an exit like this? She

1:20:36

stands, offers a hand up.

1:20:41

And you disagree? I

1:20:45

take her hand, which is chilly once

1:20:47

again. What

1:20:50

I think is, is that

1:20:53

a teenage rebel who isn't as

1:20:55

independent and Teflon as she thought.

1:20:59

What I think is she could

1:21:01

use some protection. And

1:21:04

a broken down bruiser without a whole

1:21:06

lot else going on, without too many

1:21:09

days left to mark off on his

1:21:11

calendar. I

1:21:13

think he could put those days to good use.

1:21:18

Her eyes bounce northward. She's

1:21:22

considerin' it, at least. I

1:21:26

place a hand on her shoulder and

1:21:28

give a fatherly squeeze. Very

1:21:33

least, that broken

1:21:35

down bruiser could

1:21:38

teach you some things about basic

1:21:40

engine maintenance. As

1:22:21

the coffin closes and once

1:22:23

again the undead return to

1:22:25

their slumber, we thank you

1:22:28

for joining us here at

1:22:30

the No Sleep Podcast for

1:22:32

our Sleepless Decompositions. Join

1:22:35

us next week and be fully

1:22:37

braced for Volume 17. The

1:22:42

No Sleep Podcast is presented by

1:22:44

Creative Reason Media. The

1:22:46

musical composer is Brandon Boone. Our

1:22:49

production team is Phil Malkowski, Jeff

1:22:51

Clement, and Jesse Cornett. Our

1:22:54

editor-in-chief is Jessica McAvoy.

1:22:57

I'm your host and executive

1:22:59

producer, David Cumming. Please

1:23:02

visit thenosleeppodcast.com for show notes and

1:23:04

more details about the people who

1:23:06

bring you this show, along with

1:23:09

hundreds of hours of audio horror

1:23:11

stories in our archives. On

1:23:14

behalf of everyone at the No

1:23:16

Sleep Podcast, we thank you for

1:23:18

listening and for supporting our dark

1:23:20

tales. This

1:23:22

audio program is copyright 2024

1:23:25

by Creative Reason Media Inc.,

1:23:27

all rights reserved. The

1:23:29

copyrights for each story are held by

1:23:32

the respective authors. No duplication

1:23:34

or reproduction of this audio program

1:23:36

is permitted without the written consent

1:23:38

of Creative Reason Media Inc. Hey

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