0:03

Dissonance Media. Me

0:06

Other Stories presents.

0:17

Step into. The Abyss of After

0:20

the gloomy Gothic Fiction Podcast

0:22

The Doze into the depths

0:24

of human emotion, unyielding love,

0:27

revenge, internal struggles and restless

0:29

souls. A way to and

0:31

nine haunting episodes where dread,

0:34

fear and bring glimpses of

0:36

eerie happiness linger. Dear

0:39

to listen on your

0:41

favorite part. Catcher after

0:44

the gloaming beckons. Searched

0:46

now. but beware. innocence.

0:48

Will be left behind. A

1:02

lot can happen in three years, like

1:04

a chatbot may be your new best

1:06

friend. But what won't change? Needing health

1:08

insurance? UnitedHealthcare Tri-Term Medical Plans, underwritten by

1:10

Golden Rule Insurance Company, offer flexible, budget-friendly

1:12

coverage that lasts nearly three years in

1:14

some states. Learn more at uh1.com. Or

1:17

your team struggling to find the

1:19

latest plans with dishonor. The enterprise

1:22

work management platform, tasks and company

1:24

wide goals are in one place

1:26

so your team's understand how their

1:28

day to day work can next

1:31

to those goals in everyone's aligned

1:33

a son and a smarter way

1:35

to work. Tried for free today

1:37

at a summer.com that's A As

1:40

Say and A.com. These

1:45

are the stories your mother

1:47

told. You know these body

1:50

of a stories. They

2:03

the third of the of stories,

2:05

A Strange Bedfellows written by Gustavo

2:08

Been Dhoni and narrated by James

2:10

Bonnet aka Tim Yours. Lucius

2:14

leaned against the door, pretending to need

2:16

to support from the frame. The

2:19

room was a much a bit

2:21

won't carpets, peeling paint, But

2:24

it had its good points. The guy

2:26

the desk hadn't even blinked when he does to be

2:28

given a room and left alone for the night. He

2:31

could tell that one of them women was obviously faking

2:33

it. Hoping to get herself a

2:35

little bonus or some repeat. just. The.

2:38

Other actually was drunk. He

2:40

smiled. Jokes. Good. Drunk.

2:43

Would keep the screaming to a minimum. It

2:46

was better than he expected. Money: Pick them up.

2:49

With. Professionals. Both dressed

2:51

in day glo mini skirts tops of

2:53

left very little to the imagination. Not

2:56

the type of woman who lose control

2:58

after a few glasses of champagne, but

3:00

you never knew. Sometimes lock just came

3:03

your way. Maybe

3:05

she'd had a rough patch and there was nothing

3:07

in estimate. Maybe the

3:09

bubbly? It's simply reacted badly with whatever else

3:11

she was on. Who. Knew.

3:15

The other was a hard case. Curry

3:17

straight prostitute. It

3:19

was visible in a flat dead eyes

3:21

and in the way she laughed outrageously

3:23

at all he silly little lines but

3:25

demanded a cash up front. Row

3:28

helplessness there. But

3:30

she wasn't the only one faking it. Is

3:33

eyes as he let them on a zigzag

3:35

pattern towards the bed the clear and a

3:37

would. Be free to

3:40

collapse and Betty, the drunken one,

3:42

fell on top of it, the

3:44

fingers working of the buttons of

3:46

his shirt not so fast he

3:48

chided, slipping her hand gently. briefly.

3:52

He pulled fire. That was the

3:55

only name the woman a given down onto the

3:57

bed as well. The planted a kiss on her

3:59

mouth. After a slight

4:01

hesitation seem to shrug and return

4:03

it. Passionately. Smoothly.

4:07

Distracted in this way he let Betty

4:09

remove his shirt one button that a

4:11

time of his hands when over the

4:14

years ago he caressed and neck. Squeezed

4:16

her breast. He responded with

4:19

plain mearns. Swan.

4:22

Newer stuff, well enough to avoid laying it on

4:25

to sick at the beginning. The

4:27

other girl was doing a credible job of it

4:29

as well, kissing his bare chest and nipples as

4:31

if she really meant it. Burrow.

4:33

A new baby. She did. Taco.

4:36

Sauce. Lucius.

4:38

Knew it was time, decided to

4:41

start with Betty, who would surely

4:43

be more malleable. Once.

4:45

She was subdued. He could deal with

4:47

the most cynical fire these leisure. Pushing

4:50

the other girls away from his face and

4:52

down towards he still buttoned pants. He

4:55

called Betty die. Elder

4:57

gaze. He. Focused all

4:59

of his will, Thousands of

5:01

years of life and experience on the

5:03

girls red rimmed and overly wide eyes.

5:06

She. Went limp in his arms and almost immediately

5:09

began to moan and whisper. Such.

5:11

Pretty eyes, She. Said

5:13

interrupted by a marine and

5:15

then continued Lights in the

5:18

eyes. Pretty lights,

5:21

She. Reached out to touch his face.

5:23

redoubled effort of his will center into

5:26

throes of ecstasy. Almost

5:28

too easy to sort. Turning his attention

5:30

towards the other go Fired and Done

5:32

is Fly and was becoming a huge

5:34

distraction As she kissed him through his

5:37

boxer shorts, he could feel the bomb

5:39

witness of her mouth surrounding him the

5:41

even through the clock. He

5:43

pulled or up thinking you wanted a

5:45

kiss she slid towards his face, rubbing

5:48

your body against his. And pushed

5:50

her away. You want to talk

5:52

into her eyes? Was the

5:54

only way he could exert is will

5:57

at least until he had are under

5:59

control. Their. He got enough

6:01

separation and turned to face him.

6:03

He gathered his will help the

6:05

power building up inside him. Lucius

6:08

gaze deep into her eyes and

6:10

suffered a nasty shock. All the

6:12

power he'd accumulated seem to bounce

6:14

of an invisible walls. He

6:17

lost control of Betty stops moaning

6:19

and touching a and lay still

6:22

look of confusion on her face.

6:24

Direction disappeared. He knew he must

6:26

be staring at her with a

6:28

look of slack imbecilic. Looked

6:31

of mirror to earn it was obvious that

6:33

is powered come as a shock tours well.

6:36

I sat there for a few long

6:38

moments, each unsure of what to say,

6:40

what to do, each to staring at

6:43

the other. They had

6:45

forgotten completely about Betty, who liberated

6:47

from his will, had stopped writing

6:49

and was looking around with a

6:51

worried expression hooking much more sober

6:54

than she had just minutes before

6:56

she stood and headed for the

6:58

don't. Lucius reacted asked. He.

7:00

Stood in front of a blocking the easy path to

7:03

the exit. Where do

7:05

you think you're going he asked. I'm

7:08

out of here. I'll

7:10

double the money if you stay

7:12

suck your money says we'd have

7:15

never. So she left hanging to

7:17

shook her head and went on.

7:20

Work a know might sound stupid to you.

7:23

But in this line of work you get a feel for things.

7:25

And I don't like the way it feels. To

7:28

different. Different is

7:31

never good. She. Stared

7:33

defiantly into his eyes. and he

7:35

had or again. the

7:37

i and seem to go out of her as the

7:39

ecstasy return. And she

7:41

fell to the floor. seated with her

7:43

back to the bed, legs splayed, pushes

7:46

ignored or and turned back to file.

7:49

So. Who you

7:51

should I ask? What?

7:53

eyes? She glared

7:55

at him a moment, but then shrugged. I

7:58

know, I know. Actually, Will

8:01

abandon the burst and always need of

8:03

something different about me. What

8:06

what makes you different he

8:08

asked he doing. Is.

8:11

It possible. Could they be another

8:13

like him? Just

8:15

things. I'd rather

8:17

not talk about it. Things

8:20

like this: He pointed a single

8:22

finger at the girl on the

8:24

floor and she out back morning

8:27

and pushing against the for pulled

8:29

the finger back and she relaxed.

8:31

Painting Five shrugged. I

8:34

guess never needed to use it

8:36

that way I can get along

8:38

on natural talent mainly I'm more

8:40

worried about getting them are worth.

8:43

More for. So I

8:45

can feed on. She

8:47

turned her head away, ashamed but

8:49

unafraid. Out tell

8:51

me how you feed on them

8:54

He took her hand food or

8:56

toward him hoping be on hope

8:58

to discuss what he'd been waiting

9:00

for all these centuries. Couldn't remember

9:02

the last time it felt this

9:04

this wild abandon. Hope He knew

9:06

that if she disappointed, if she

9:09

was just some regular human with

9:11

a sick cannibalistic streak, it leave

9:13

her intestines wrapped around all the

9:15

furniture. Me: do it while she

9:17

was alive. She

9:19

tried to pull the way. But didn't

9:21

make much of an effort. Does

9:24

if she had a death wish and wanted

9:26

to tell someone about his strangeness. It's

9:29

hard to explain. Slack.

9:32

And energy that surrounds people. Can

9:35

take that energy and it. Gives

9:38

me a high a heroine only

9:40

more so he could have cried

9:43

out enjoy a new he was

9:45

pressing a fingers. much to heart

9:47

but he didn't care what you

9:49

do with the bodies afterward. bodies.

9:52

I don't kill them. I always

9:54

leave enough energy for them to

9:56

go on living before eating them

9:59

out. I. Was given the money's

10:01

worth. He be surprised at how many

10:03

of these due to repeat customers. She

10:06

shook her head that seemed relieved that

10:08

he made no derisive com into better

10:11

delusions. But he did

10:13

laugh. At

10:16

my dear sweet child. He

10:18

said. How old are

10:20

you? I'll be twenty two in August.

10:24

He laughed again. Louder party

10:26

at that? That. You've

10:29

got so much to learn.

10:31

She became God it again,

10:33

street tough. not watching his

10:35

condescension. No

10:37

idea. What about? About

10:40

your power that you're

10:42

feeding. About how

10:44

you get twice community when you eat

10:46

the flesh is still alive that how

10:49

your abilities will make you immortal. You

10:52

laughed again. She.

10:56

Seemed to deflate street toughness dissolving

10:58

in the face of his last.

11:01

Immortal? Don't worry about that

11:04

now. Let me show you

11:06

something. Lucius pointed

11:08

at the girl on the florence

11:10

began moaning again softly now, but

11:12

as if climaxing unmistakably with each

11:15

breath. He took one

11:17

of her hands and pulling a jack

11:19

not out of his back pocket, opened

11:21

a small cotton or finger. Instead of

11:24

protesting, the woman on the floor reacted

11:26

as if it was the most erotically

11:28

pleasurable thing that it ever happened to

11:30

her. She rides Todd pushing forward with

11:32

her hips and Lucius had to fight

11:35

to keep a hand in his. Here

11:38

he beckoned for fire to a

11:40

page. Succumb

11:42

This stuff. Just

11:44

know, flight. But

11:47

she didn't back away. The

11:49

disgust he could see was

11:51

tinged with fascination. Do it

11:53

Now he brought. Can't keep

11:55

a climax in forever. Hot

11:57

go at any moment. He

12:00

doubted it. Those things Young and

12:02

healthy enough to take it for a while. But

12:05

he wanted to reinforce the command. Couldn't

12:08

loser now. She

12:10

stepped forward, reluctantly went down and

12:13

presto lips against the open world.

12:15

Tentatively, hesitantly and suddenly she pulled

12:17

the hand out of his grasp

12:20

and began to suck on the

12:22

blood as if possessed, opening the

12:25

wound further with a t. Lucius

12:28

smiled. Don't forget

12:30

to take the Aura to. Sit

12:33

mildly. Betty screamed

12:35

one last time, the sound of

12:37

pleasure unimaginable. A

12:40

torrent of what from her hands. Despite

12:43

the slurping is sucking the

12:45

fire subjected to lucius pull

12:47

far away gently and cradled

12:50

or any zones. Says if

12:52

he whispered caressing her hair.

12:55

The first one is always the hardest. He'll

12:58

soon learned that you can enjoy it much

13:00

more. You make it last. She

13:02

looked up at it now stained with

13:05

blood she's framing of the corners of

13:07

Arise. When you

13:09

take me she pleaded. Of

13:12

course Idea replied. Hellish.

13:15

Get out of he quickly. The

13:17

body will eventually be found in a

13:20

while. She face. We

13:22

running. Or know

13:24

regular people can hold us.

13:28

For just avoiding the hassle. And

13:31

besides, you need another girl? Was

13:34

planning to eat a pair of you tonight.

13:36

No, I haven't even got one. I'm

13:39

hungry. She nodded

13:41

understanding. Understanding like no

13:43

one else could. Is

13:46

hop, faith, Knowing that

13:48

at last he found his other

13:50

half after all these lonely years.

14:02

Ib got tired of the

14:04

of stories strange written. Like

14:07

Starve About Only narrated and produced

14:09

by days by that Ak, Timmy,

14:11

Horace himself, The Media by Tim

14:13

Cool Egg and Blair Moon and

14:15

some Robson The sound effects Abide

14:17

by Free Sailed the of the

14:20

Of so illustration was vida by

14:22

Loot Spooner. Carry on has. A

14:24

quick sites like you he manages so she

14:27

be shaped in jazz me nuts and to

14:29

just be shape helping bus and mission reading

14:31

of course the bed Aronson, the social media

14:33

chameleon. The social media

14:35

comedian. Changing. His color,

14:38

size, smell and internet browser depending

14:40

on what platform is using elsa

14:42

the hide from there by predators.

14:45

Gustavo. About Donate is a novelist

14:47

and short story writer with have

14:49

a four hundred stories published in

14:51

fifteen countries in seven languages. Is

14:53

a member of Codex and a

14:55

full member of S F. To

14:57

be A, He's publish six science

14:59

fiction novels, including one trilogy, four

15:01

Months to Bucks and A.military Fancy

15:03

and a Thriller is short Fiction

15:05

is connected and Pay We're Fighting

15:07

for. Twenty Twenty Off the Beaten

15:09

Path, Twenty Nineteen, Tenth Orbit, and

15:11

of A Faraway Places Twenty Ten

15:13

and virtuoso and other stories. Twenty

15:15

Eleven interested I think. Gustavo was

15:17

awarded second place in the Jim

15:20

Boehm contest and it's with eighteen.

15:22

He received a judge's commendations. And.

15:24

Second place in the James that

15:26

would. Is also a twenty

15:28

nineteen finalists in the Writers of the

15:31

Future contest. His website is debbie

15:33

to be divvied up. Gustavo been Dhoni.

15:37

Days. But it is a producer the

15:39

nights and podcast and as that a

15:41

calming search for them wherever. hey, podcasts

15:43

and he gets a voice. Visit: Jays

15:45

bought a creative.com. Give. Stories

15:47

as a production of Search To the

15:49

A Hook and Cleaver that has brought

15:51

you have a Creative Commons attribution noncommercial

15:53

Know Gems His license them instead. change

15:55

it. Don't sell it, Buy All Me

15:57

said. I Love it. So.

16:01

Until. Next time. Or

16:08

your team struggling to find the

16:11

latest plans with the sauna. The

16:13

enterprise work management platform, tasks, and

16:15

company wide goals are in one

16:17

place, so your team's understand how

16:19

their day to day work connects

16:21

to those ghosts. And

16:23

everyone's aligned son and a

16:25

smarter way to work. Try

16:28

for free today: amazon.com as

16:30

A As say and A.com.

16:34

To see cheese ourselves in

16:36

them. on and on. Soft,

16:39

Or overtime. That's what you

16:41

feel with bowl and Branches organic

16:43

cotton seats. In a recent customer

16:45

survey, ninety six percent replied that

16:47

bottling plant seeds death soft or

16:49

with every wash, start getting your

16:52

best night's sleep in D C

16:54

that get softer and softer for

16:56

years. To com trying your seats

16:58

with a thirty nine guarantee plus

17:00

get fifteen percent off your first

17:02

order at Bolland branch.com Code: Buttery

17:05

Exclusion Supply see site for details.

17:07

The clouds. Remodel Family from Anthropic is

17:09

your one stop shop for Enterprise ai.

17:12

With models at every point on the

17:14

price performance curve, he no longer have

17:16

to make trade off between intelligence, speed

17:19

and cost caught. Three Opus sets new

17:21

industry benchmarks for Intelligence son. It strikes

17:23

the perfect balance between skills and speed,

17:25

and Haiku is the fastest and lowest

17:28

cost model in the markets. Perfectly designed

17:30

for high volume, high speed use cases.

17:32

Joined the thousands of enterprises who trust

17:35

Anthropic to keep them at the front.

17:37

Visit Anthropic to come.

17:40

To the.