1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and welcome to Stuff 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: I've Never told you Production by Heart Radio, and welcome 3 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: to another edition of Spinty Fiction. It is once a 4 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: month a thing that we do. It is an ongoing 5 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: story called Terminus the Depopulation Event that I wrote for 6 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: Nano Ramo and twenty ten and Christina makes amazing. However, 7 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: if it's not your thing, that's cool. It's only once 8 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: a month. We are halfway there. We are halfway through. Yeah, yeah, 9 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: and we are getting to the part where I can tell, 10 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: because again I wrote this for National Novel Writing Month. 11 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: I can tell I was tired. 12 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: Trying to get through. It is the last part that's 13 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 2: what happened to water for Elephants. It was a Nano 14 00:00:59,280 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 2: Ramo book. 15 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: Oh really. 16 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 2: The beginning is amazing, and then the ending You're like, 17 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 2: what happened? 18 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: I feel better? 19 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 2: I was like, oh, okay, yeah, I get it. 20 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, I could tell. I had to, so I didn't. 21 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 1: I didn't really edit this too much before doing it 22 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: because I thought it'd be more interesting to sort of 23 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: see what I was going what was going on in 24 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: my head in twenty ten, But this one I had 25 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: to edit some just because of the mostly just I 26 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: could tell I was tired and just like typing words 27 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 1: like no, no, no, that doesn't make sense. Also, as 28 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 1: I said in the last one, I did spend an 29 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: embarrassing amount of time trying to make the roads, trying 30 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,680 Speaker 1: to get the roads correct in this because they're kind 31 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,199 Speaker 1: of traveling across the US, and I think that comes 32 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: through and here as well, because I'm talking about like 33 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: which side they enter the road from. 34 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, the research alone is hard. I had a 35 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 2: hard time it was writing finding names, so I would 36 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 2: go through years of the most popular names and pick 37 00:01:59,080 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: it out. 38 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: Oh wow, yes, yeah, that's good. That's a good way 39 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: to do it. That's a good way to do it. 40 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: We are getting to a part I'm very very excited about, 41 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: just because now that i'm more I know more about 42 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: my sexuality. I struggled with this part so hard, and 43 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: I can't wait to talk about it. I think it's 44 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 1: gonna be interesting anyway. That's like in the next coming chapters. 45 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: In this one content warning, there's threat of violence, there's 46 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: feelings of inadequacy, especially around motherhood, very brief mention of 47 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: loss of childs. The recap is a sex based a 48 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: sex based disease has killed off most of the population 49 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: and the state that formed after that, and they're enforcers, 50 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: alongside a religious group named a arm. Arm now control 51 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: reproduction and children. Main character Tilda broke the law by 52 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: stealing her baby, Madison. They've been on the run for 53 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 1: seven years. They are what is called a priority number 54 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: one case for recapture. The winter is coming. They are hungry, 55 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 1: they are cold. They just were almost captured by enforcers. 56 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: Tilda was shot by one. They managed to escape and 57 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: they met this kind young woman named Lynn. Lynn helped 58 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 1: Tilda recover. But with enforcers closing in and rumors of 59 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 1: a resistance that might shield them and may even have 60 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: a cure, Tilda has decided that her and Madison need 61 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: to venture out into the cold, dangerous night. All too soon, 62 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: the sounds of Lynn preparing food emanated from the kitchen, 63 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: signaling dinner and their last meal. Here, Lynn popped her 64 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: head into the entryway to the sitting room. Peanut butter 65 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: and jelly are lettuce, tomato and cheese sandwich. Madison opted 66 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: for the peanut butter and jelly, while Tilda chose the 67 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: lettuce and tomato and made of soup is okay with everyone. 68 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: They both nodded, and she disappeared again. Tilda could tell 69 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: she enjoyed caring for people, and was struck again by 70 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: the thought of how good a mother she would have made. 71 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: Ten minutes later, they once again sat around the table, 72 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: eating slowly to prolonged the time before they would have 73 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: to start getting ready to leave. Lynn, sensing their hesitation, 74 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: instructed them to eat as much as they could. Though 75 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: the food was delicious that Tilda found she couldn't enjoy it. 76 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 1: She kept glancing out the window, nervously imagining in foresters 77 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: slowly encircling the house, creeping ever closer. Madison managed all 78 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: but the bottom crest of a sandwich and half of 79 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 1: his soup. Tilda forced down all of hers, despite the 80 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 1: nerves turning her stomach to stone. After the plates were cleared, 81 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 1: Alyn led them back to her bedroom, a wide space 82 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: with a king sized bed, a cushioned bench, a dresser, 83 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: a wardrobe, a closet, and a bathroom. A picture of 84 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,919 Speaker 1: Lynn with a wiry man with wavy brown hair streaked 85 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: with gray, his smile full of light, Lynn's husband. They 86 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: had looked so happy together. Tilda looked away inside, swirming, 87 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,839 Speaker 1: there were some clothes laid out of the flowery sheets. 88 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,480 Speaker 1: These are yours, Tilda. You start getting dressed and I'll 89 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: help Madison with his. As one being led to his execution, 90 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: Madison complied. Tilda pulled on a pair of black exercise 91 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: leggings and some baggy green pants over them. She tugged 92 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: off her baggy t shirt and replaced it with a 93 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 1: long sleeve black shirt and a black jacket. A pair 94 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 1: of dark gloves and a gray scarf followed, and lastly 95 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: a pair of black lace snow boots. At the corner 96 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: of her eye, she saw the darkness ascending, and with 97 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: it the cold. She turned to Madison, now outfitted in 98 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: with Lynde's help, a pair of dark jeans, in a 99 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: navy hoodie, a black hat, gloves of a scarf, and 100 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: a similar pair of boots. His pale face peered out 101 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: of his layers. Solemnly. Lyne smoothed the fabric over his 102 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: shoulders with restless energy. An uneasy silence fell, all of them, 103 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: too scared to break it. When she couldn't bear it 104 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: any longer, Tilda stepped forward and slung the pack over 105 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 1: her shoulders, stealing herself. She turned to Lynn. Thank you, 106 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: we talked about this. Your gratitude is unnecessary. It was 107 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: lovely to have has guest again. Tears shone behind the glasses, 108 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: but Lynn's voice was strong. Madison turned to her, tears 109 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: running down his cheeks silently. I'll I'll miss you. Lynn 110 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 1: bent down, pulling him into a tight embrace. I'll miss 111 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: you too, baby, so much. I'm so happy to have 112 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:45,479 Speaker 1: met you. Now. Her voice shook. She kissed Madison's temple 113 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: and released him. You do as your mother says now, 114 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: and stay safe. I will, Madison said, bravely, fighting for composure. 115 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 1: I'm glad to have met you too. Lynn shared an 116 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: intense look with Tilda, a command to protect Madison at 117 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 1: all cost. Tilda almost flinched at her ineptitude, her unworthiness, 118 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: but instead she took Madison's hand and led him down 119 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: the hall. Take the back door, Lynn directed, less chance 120 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: being seen. Where is sixth Tilda asked. She thought she knew, 121 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: but figured she should double check. When you go out 122 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: the back, take a right, stick to the line of 123 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 1: houses until you get to Monroe. Take her right there 124 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 1: and I'll write again when you get to sixth. They 125 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 1: reached the door, and they all stopped, staring at the 126 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:35,559 Speaker 1: pain of voids separating them from the cold and dark. 127 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: Tilda groped around for something to say, but came up 128 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: with nothing. She reached for the knob and Madison took 129 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: hold of her arm. Goodbye, Tilda said, and Lynn responded 130 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: and kind with a note of finality. The door swung open, 131 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: letting in a draft of cold air, cool enough to 132 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: turn each breath to fog. The rain had tapered off 133 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:00,080 Speaker 1: to a drizzle. Tilda perked her ears, blinking to a 134 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 1: to the darkness, looking for any sign of the enforcers. 135 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: Grasping each other's hands, Tilda and Madison stepped outside. Behind 136 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: them the door closed. Keeping it open too long would 137 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: draw unwanted attention. Shivering, Tilda led them to the right, 138 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: her muscles cramping a bit at the sudden change in temperature. 139 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: She heaped at the bag further up her back, adjusting 140 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: the straps. Already, their stay at Lands felt like a dream, 141 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: fading away with waking. Tilda quickened her pace, looking from 142 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:36,440 Speaker 1: left to right, the sensation of eyes tracking their every 143 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: movement pressing down on her. They slunk from house to house, 144 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: the sound of rain masking their footfalls. They came to 145 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:46,199 Speaker 1: a house with a fenced in backyard, and they had 146 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: to leap around the puddles splashing around their boots. The 147 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: sight of so many empty houses unnerved her. Tilda stopped 148 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: at the house right before the intersection so she could 149 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 1: examine the sign, the flaking white letters Monroe. Tilda glanced around, 150 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 1: looking for an alternate route to cross. She didn't see 151 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: one that looked any more secluded. We're going to run across, okay, 152 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 1: she whispered to Madison. They jogged along the crosswalk and 153 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 1: didn't stop until they reached the first house on the 154 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: other side. For a moment, they stayed completely still, listening, 155 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: but the only thing they could hear was the rain. 156 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: Come on, she whispered, pulling Madison along, trying to visualize 157 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: the map folded neatly in her back. She'd feel so 158 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: much better. When they reached the highway, a light drew 159 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 1: them up short so abruptly it was as if they 160 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:42,480 Speaker 1: slammed into an invisible wall. Quickly they hid alongside the 161 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: closest house. Tilda scammed the darkness, mind racing. The light 162 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 1: was in the distance, still a straight away, but moving 163 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: toward them at a relatively fast pace. Tilda started in 164 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 1: a crouching run down the rows of houses, towing Madison 165 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: along behind her. She was grateful to Lend for picking 166 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: up dark clothes for them so that they blended into 167 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 1: the night. Her senses were hyper alert as they ran. 168 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: A set of headlights swerved a few intersections down, turning 169 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: on the row and heading towards them. Tilda and Madison 170 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 1: dove to the side, flattening themselves behind the house nearest 171 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: to them. The soft rumble of an engine could be 172 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: heard over the rain, growing closer and closer, the light 173 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 1: brighter and brighter as the car approached. Tilda held her 174 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: breath as the vehicle lumbered by sleek black coat, making 175 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:31,599 Speaker 1: it somehow monstrous a predator in the darkness. It was 176 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: a safe bet that it was enforcers. The only working 177 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 1: cars Tilda had seen this far, outside of a handful 178 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: of cities with our nearby conception centers, were driven by 179 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 1: enforcers or state affiliated. The sooner they got off the street, 180 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: the better. Once the car had disappeared, Tilda peeked her 181 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: head around the corner of the house to make sure 182 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 1: no one else was coming before striking out again at 183 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 1: every intersection. Her nervousness spiked, heart rate increasing until they 184 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: were safely to the other side, where it died down again, 185 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: only to peek up at the next crossing, a vicious 186 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: cycle of crested falls and fear. She had taken to 187 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: counting the streets that they passed, willing the next one 188 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: to be I seventy, the next one, the next one. 189 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: The temperature dropped steadily, Tilda's lungs burning in her chest 190 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: as she breathed in the cold air. Her neck hurt 191 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: from twisting it around to look behind them and to 192 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: either side, so frequently beside her, Madison was flagging. The 193 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 1: sight of a sign in the shape of a shield 194 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: gave her a surge of strength. From what little light reflected, 195 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: she could make out a white seventy. So caught up 196 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: in relief at finding the highway, Tilda almost didn't notice 197 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 1: the black vehicle parked at the entrance of the exit. 198 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: She sucked in such a deep breath that lights popped 199 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: before her eyes. She yanked Madison to the right so 200 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: hard that he whimpered, the weight of her pack, almost 201 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: knocking her from her feet. At the sudden change in direction, 202 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: ran taking shelter under a covered gas station, decking through 203 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: the pumps, shaking, tiled a crouch down, faced a void 204 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: of all color, waiting for a light to shine on them, 205 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: for the car to red and chase them down. She 206 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: tightened her grip on Madison's hand as the seconds passed, 207 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: fearful anticipation mounting. Once she'd gotten her fear under control, 208 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: she stood slowly, her muscles tight. Rain collected on the 209 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: roof and poured off in sheets, making it difficult to hear. 210 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: She crept to the opposite side of the station, trying 211 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: to locate another route onto the highway. There was no 212 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 1: indcline or decline. Like most everything else in this region 213 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: of what used to be the United States, the roads 214 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: were flat. The highway itself curved away from them, making 215 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 1: following alongside it on smaller streets difficult. They needed to 216 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 1: get to it now. She pulled her hood up and 217 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: then did the same for Madison, bending down. We're going 218 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:58,400 Speaker 1: to cross. The wind whined around them. They are enforcers 219 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 1: at the entrance, so we'll have to cut through some grass. 220 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: We're going to move very fast, but they'll see us. 221 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 1: Madison despaired. It's really dark right now, and we're wearing 222 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 1: dark colors, Tilda pointed out. And maybe they're bored and 223 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: not paying attention, she thought to herself. Or maybe it's 224 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 1: just an abandoned car that happened to have died right 225 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: at the entry ramp. We need to get on. We 226 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: just need to be quick, that's what she said aloud. 227 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: Madison nodded, looking sick. We'll be fine, Tilda assured him. 228 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: Nauseated herself, she led him by the hand to the 229 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 1: edge of the building, closest to the highway but farthest 230 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: from the entrance to it and farthest from the enforcers. 231 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: She could hardly make out the black car from here, 232 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: but she knew it was there, ready to pounce on 233 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: its prey. Maneuvering around a thick sheet of frame, they 234 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: stepped out from under the cover of the station, Tilda 235 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: plodding their path, anticipation building in her stomach, her heart 236 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 1: thudding painfully. She glanced down at Madison to check that 237 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: he was ready, and together they tore off for the highway. 238 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: Tilda didn't stop, didn't turn her head, laser focused on 239 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: reaching I seventy east and nothing else to her. Their 240 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 1: coughing steps sounded incredibly loud, and she felt horribly exposed. 241 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: Time seemed to slow, the trip, taking longer than she 242 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: would have guessed or hoped. They both nearly crashed face 243 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: first when the ground beneath their feet changed from slick 244 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: asphalt to treacherous grass and underbrush, but they kept running, 245 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: their pace hindered by tangled vines gripping at their boots. 246 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: Madison did slip thin, taking Tilda down with him, but 247 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: she surged back to her feet and pulled him up, 248 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: half glancing over his shoulder for the first time. The 249 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: car hadn't changed positions, but it could flare to life 250 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: at any second. Their feet slapped back up to the 251 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: concrete of the entry ramp, and they turned to follow 252 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 1: it onto the highway, the rain picking up, suddenly dousing 253 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: them in cold water, and then receding just as quickly. 254 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: The road curved, and they curved with it, jogging as 255 00:14:55,840 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: they merged onto I seventy East. Tilda beat back her hope, 256 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: afraid that by allowing herself to feel it, she'd be 257 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,840 Speaker 1: in biting bad luck. Allowing herself to relax too soon, 258 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: they slowed Tilda's back, aching from where the packets smacked 259 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: against it while they ran, making sure to stick to 260 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 1: the white line at the edge of the road. Tilda 261 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: turned her head to look behind her once more and 262 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: saw nothing. No headlights bearing down on them, not even 263 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: the moon or stars. All around them was treacherous darkness. 264 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: As one, they stopped to catch their breath, cold fire 265 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 1: burning in their windpipes and lungs, rain collecting like crystal 266 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: beads on their faces. Okay, Tilda gasped out, watching his 267 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: Madison's thin chest heaved up and down rapidly. He gave 268 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: her a quick nod, half bent over and clutching at 269 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:49,600 Speaker 1: her hand almost painfully. Let's go, she panted. We can 270 00:15:49,640 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: walk from here, but keep your eyes peeled right. Tell 271 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: me if you see anything. He murmured his ascent, and 272 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:00,080 Speaker 1: they stepped forward, both their legs shaking and watery. The 273 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 1: dark around them gave them the impression that they weren't 274 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 1: moving at all. When she wasn't looking around foreign forcers, 275 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: she kept her gaze pinned to the white line. She 276 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: could barely see her compass in the heavy night. It 277 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: was strange to have a destination. It gave her an 278 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: added layer of purpose, a renewed sense of time, she 279 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: walked faster, ignoring the throbbing in her calf. The rain 280 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: tapered away, a few of the clouds parted, revealing a 281 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 1: handful of stars in the black velvet night. Madison's feet dragged, 282 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: scuffing the pavement, but there was nowhere for them to stop. 283 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: He declined her offer for food, but did accept some water, 284 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 1: taking three big gulps. She took a few swallows from 285 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: her own bottle throat. Parched from their sprint to the highway, 286 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: he perked up a little, but not enough to alleviate 287 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: Tilda's concerns. The pack on her shoulders made curing him problematic, 288 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: her lower back already sore from the weight, she settled for, 289 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: letting him lean into her and swearing to herself to 290 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: stop what she found somewhere safe for them to stay. Gradually, 291 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: the black around them lightened to an indigo blue. Tilda 292 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 1: was growing desperate, her own legs on the verge of 293 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: betraying her, Madison hanging on to Tilda's arms to keep 294 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 1: himself upright. The last sign they'd passed read Kansas City, 295 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: thirty nine miles. Given that nothing went wrong, that amounted 296 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: to about thirteen hours of walking. Squinting, she could make 297 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: out the next sign, Lawrence, next to the exits. Too 298 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 1: tired to feel much relief, she assured Madison that they 299 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: would stop soon. He didn't respond, his steps scuffing the asphalt, 300 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:38,400 Speaker 1: eyelids drooping. No cars blocked the exit, and abandoned tolbooth 301 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: stood at the entrance. They passed under it, the bars 302 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,400 Speaker 1: preventing entry until the toll had been paid. Long since destroyed. 303 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: Signs posted on the side of the road gave directions 304 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 1: and distances to restaurants, hotels, and gas stations. Moldy, orange 305 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 1: and white striped construction barrels were strewn across the road, 306 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: Tilda and Masson weaving through them and other debris. Sagging 307 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,880 Speaker 1: gastations and decrepit hotels could be seen on either side 308 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: of the exit. Broken windows and swinging signs, doors of 309 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: motel rooms ripped off their hinges. Tilda supposed this area 310 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: had been hit by at least one tornado, and no 311 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 1: one nor reason remained to fix it. Trying to gauge 312 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: their best option in close proximity to the highway, Tilda 313 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: landed on the motel with the least amount of outward damage. 314 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 1: The blue and red sign now hung completely upside down, 315 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: paint stripped off the walls, but it otherwise looked mostly intact. 316 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: They crossed the street and into the parking lot. The 317 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: exit ramped to the highway on their left, Her skin 318 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 1: numbing in the chilly air, Tilda located the main office 319 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 1: on their left. The glass door was busted, the bar 320 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: handle lying uselessly on the blue and gray patterned carpet, 321 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: so they stepped through it careful to shards and dust, 322 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 1: ignoring the peeling wallpaper and stains on the overturned or 323 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 1: slumping furniture. Tilda pulled a now dragging Madison down the hall, 324 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,439 Speaker 1: taking the last door on the left, which experience had 325 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 1: taught her would be the largest bedroom. The door no 326 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,640 Speaker 1: longer fit in its frame, but it opened easily after 327 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 1: the initial push on the rusted hinges. Inside, a large 328 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: bed took up most of the room, shoved up against 329 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: the far wall. There was a small bathroom across from 330 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: it in a broken desk and tilted wardrobe on the 331 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: opposite wall, but those didn't concern her. The window was 332 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 1: thankfully still whole, other than a large crack down the center. 333 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: She closed the door behind them as well as she 334 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 1: could anyway, and extracted her hand from Madison's fingers, crossing 335 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 1: over to the window and closing the navy curtains. Then 336 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:38,640 Speaker 1: she turned to the bed that Madison stared at longingly, 337 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:42,720 Speaker 1: grimacing at the browning sheets. Taking off her gloves clumsily, 338 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:45,200 Speaker 1: she pressed down on the brown spot, finding it dry. 339 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: At her nod, Madison stumbled forward and climbed onto the bed, 340 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: immediately curling up into the fetal position and shivering on 341 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 1: a whim Tilda tride. Turning on the heat. It came 342 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:01,879 Speaker 1: to no surprises her when nothing happened. Sighing, she returned 343 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,439 Speaker 1: to Madison as she started to strip him up his 344 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 1: damp clothes. His limbs limp as she maneuvered them, He 345 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 1: protested quietly as she tugged off his jeans and boots. 346 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: She hung the clothes over the radiator and disappeared into 347 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: the bathroom for a moment, rifling through the towels until 348 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: she found the cleanest one. Sitting on the edge of 349 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 1: the bed, she toweled off Madison's hair and skin, slipping 350 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: the bag from her shoulders with a sigh of relief, 351 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 1: she pulled out the extra set of clothes Line had 352 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: packed for Madison. Thankful that the fabric of the pack 353 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: was waterproof and the clothes blessedly dry, she eased them 354 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: onto the already sleeping child, including the jacket and the socks. 355 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,119 Speaker 1: Then she reached deeper into the bag, pulling out the 356 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:44,199 Speaker 1: fluffy blanket rolled up at the bottom. She shook it 357 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 1: out and wrapped it around Madison, rearranging him so his 358 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: head was nested on the pillow. Onceing as she stretched 359 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: sore muscles, Tilda pulled off her own clothes, the damp 360 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 1: fabric clinging to her skin. She laid them next to Madison's, 361 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: picking up the towel and drying herself off, and reaching 362 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 1: in for her own clothes and sloppily pulling them on. 363 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: She wiggled, wrinkled toes in dry socks. Already a little 364 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: bit warmer, she collapsed on the bedneck to Madison, snuggling 365 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 1: under the blanket, sleep overtaking her as soon as her 366 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:32,439 Speaker 1: eyes closed. And that brings us to the end of 367 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: this month's edition of Fiction Spinty Fiction. I hope that 368 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: you enjoyed it. I will point out that this ends 369 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: up taking place in Lawrence, Kansas, of supernatural fame. But 370 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:46,439 Speaker 1: also that happens because I went on a road trip 371 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 1: and I had to take shelter from a tornado in Lawrence, Kansas. Okay, 372 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 1: So a lot of this is drawn from my experience 373 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: road tripping across the US and what I encountered in 374 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: all of that. I'm sure it's not very accurate in 375 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: terms of what would still be around, but hey, we're 376 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 1: going to go with it. But yeah, we're getting to 377 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:12,119 Speaker 1: some action and some pluck that I'm very, very excited about. 378 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,120 Speaker 1: So I hope that you tune in for the next installment. 379 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 1: In the meantime, special thanks is always to Christina who 380 00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: makes these happen. He's amazing. If you would like to 381 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 1: contact us, you can our emails Stephanie Momsteph at iHeartMedia 382 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:28,239 Speaker 1: dot com. You can find us on Twitter at mom 383 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,400 Speaker 1: Stuff podcast, or on Instagram and TikTok at stuff One 384 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: Never told You. You also find us on YouTube. We 385 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 1: have a book coming out which we did not write 386 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:42,199 Speaker 1: during an arrival. Nope. You can pre order it at 387 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 1: stuff You should read books dot com and yes, thanks 388 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: as I always too, our super producer Christina, our executive 389 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: producer Maya, and our contributor Joey. Thank you all, and 390 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:54,359 Speaker 1: thanks to you for listening. Stefan never told your protection 391 00:22:54,359 --> 00:22:56,439 Speaker 1: of iHeartRadio more podcasts in My Heart Radio. You can 392 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 1: check out the Ieart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, Regulus and 393 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:03,439 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.