1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Smitha. I'm welcome to Stefan 2 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: I ever told you a production of iHeartRadio, and welcome 3 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: to another edition of Sminty Fiction. This is a once 4 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: a month thing that we do. It is ongoing, as 5 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 1: in the storyline is continuous. So if you haven't listened 6 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: to the first for the first edition of Terminus, because 7 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: we're in the sequel now, maybe do that first. But 8 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:38,839 Speaker 1: if you you know, again, I know people who just 9 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: watch one random episode of a TV show, so I'm 10 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: not going to tell you what to do. It does 11 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: have sound effects. I have friends if that is really 12 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: an optive thing, so I understand if that's not your thing. 13 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:53,319 Speaker 1: But that being said, Christina does an amazing job, so 14 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: all of the shout outs to her. So if you 15 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: listen to the previous episode that was spenty fiction, it 16 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: got split in half kind of sudden. Suddenly sounds wrong. 17 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: It got split in half after we recorded it, which 18 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: happens sometimes because these are again more work for Christina. 19 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: It was a longer chapter and as I've mentioned before, 20 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: in these, I am very bad. My chapter lengths are 21 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: all over the place. They are all over the place. 22 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: One will be like twenty five pages, and we'll be 23 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: like seven pages. So it got split in half. This 24 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,279 Speaker 1: one is very much a part two of the last chapter. 25 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: It is picking up right right from there, which I 26 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 1: guess is kind of a silly thing to say because obviously, 27 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,279 Speaker 1: but they were meant to be. One is the ultimate point. 28 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: I did listeners. I renewed my contract recently, and you 29 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: would not believe how much I had to have phone 30 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: conversations about this with people because I don't want a 31 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: company to own it, even though I don't particularly think 32 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: they're gonna go anywhere, I just don't want them to 33 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: own it. Important. Yeah, but I was having phone conversations 34 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 1: about this thing I wrote for National Novel Writing Month, like, 35 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: you can't have it. Hello, there's so many books that 36 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: have been published because of that specific program. It is. 37 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: You are completely right, But it is funny. I remember, 38 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: I think it was a tweet and this was a 39 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:34,359 Speaker 1: long time ago, but I remember a tweet where a 40 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: publisher was like, I can always tell after National Novel 41 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: Writing Month how many manuscripts get submitted to me. I 42 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: mean it makes sense. That's kind of the point. Yeah, 43 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 1: it's kind of the point. I remember their tone feeling 44 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 1: to me very condescending, and it actually prevented me from 45 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: submitting mine. Rude. Later I submitted it, and I did 46 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: get with the first one. I got a little down 47 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: the process and then I never heard from them again. 48 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: But I got it passed up to like three rings 49 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: of people. Ooh, three rings, three rungs alas alas so. 50 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: As I mentioned in the previous episode, this is clearly 51 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:19,919 Speaker 1: when I was in my running phase. There's a lot 52 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: about running in this chapter. I will let you interpret 53 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: for yourself about the trauma aspects of its content. Warning, disease, illness, 54 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: end of the world stuff, child endangerment, trauma, death, dead bodies, 55 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: descriptions of dead bodies. Nothing is too in depth, but 56 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 1: it is. There also a note, as I joked in 57 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: the previous one, I know nothing about horses, so just 58 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: give me a pass, please, all right in I also 59 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: don't know about out our phone landlines would work after 60 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: the apocalypse. I would put that out there too quick recap. 61 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: So this is the second part of a trilogy that 62 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: I wrote once a year for Ana Raimo National Novel 63 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 1: Writing Month. It's actually called Big Things Start Small, but 64 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: I figured for simplicity we would stick terminus too, and 65 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: it is about disease. Family. Our main character, Tilda, is 66 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:35,040 Speaker 1: on the run with her son Madison, because she had 67 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: him illegally and she didn't want him to be taken 68 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: away from her. She is discovered that the religious ruling 69 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: sector that works alongside the government, the state that the 70 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: US has become, they made a vaccine and then they 71 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: destroyed it because they believe people should be punished and 72 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: it's sort of God's will. But they saved one vaccine 73 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: for her son, Madison, who got it because it turns 74 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 1: out he is their grandson. But okay, they are on 75 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: the run from the state. Tilda has made this broadcast 76 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 1: announcing to the world, to the country through this broadcast 77 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: system that they have set up what the state in 78 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: this religious organization did and then she ran for So 79 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: now they're on the run. It's winter, things are bad, 80 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: and there's a man with a horse and they don't 81 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: know what he's about, Samantha, though you've talked about man 82 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 1: of the horse for a while. Now he's a menacing figure, 83 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: or is he? But yes, they're on the run from him. 84 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: He seems to be tracking them, and they've they had 85 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: a brief respite in a cabin. They found a generator. 86 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: It was great, but now they've had to go back 87 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: out into the cold, snowy wilderness and try to get 88 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: away from him. So that's where we are. Let's get 89 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:27,799 Speaker 1: into it. As they traveled further south, the snow melted away, 90 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 1: revealing pine green grass under a bed of wet leaves. 91 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: Madison was able to spot a trail uncovered by the snow, 92 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: overgrown but clearly a path. Tilda guided Scout onto it, 93 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: which snaked along southwardly winding but in a general direction 94 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: that they needed to be going. The air warmed as well, 95 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: still cold, but Tilda gaged it to be just above freezing. 96 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,239 Speaker 1: The sun set in the sky like a pale, doleful 97 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: eye holding vigil over their journey. Madison hummed every now 98 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: and then, pointing out wildlife or interesting rock formations or landmarks. 99 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: They passed a thin tree, sharp and jagged, but somehow 100 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: adorned with orange, red, and pink blooms. It felt out 101 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: of place, dream like, surreal and the otherwise colorless landscape. 102 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: They stopped before it for a second, the sun shining 103 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: directly over her head bleachedlike passing through a strange moment 104 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: in space, and time they continued on, Madison knotted off 105 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: against her shoulders, snoring softly. Tilda grew tired herself, her 106 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: eyes heavy as the steady up and down rhythm of 107 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: scout steps were hypnotizing, but she forced herself awake, concentrating 108 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: solely on the path. To her left, she could see 109 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: a range of blue mountains, their crowns wreathed in clouds 110 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: and capped with snow. To the left, a cavalcade of 111 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: dead trees, a forest deep without end. As the sun 112 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: moved further down in the sky, Tilda started looking for 113 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: places to set up camp. She wondered what she'd do 114 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: with Skut. Was it human to tie her up for 115 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: the night. Did she have to worry about the horse 116 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: running away? The path snaked off in several directions, wooden 117 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: arrow signs bearing trail names like Razorback and Blood Mountain 118 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: bypass pointing in all different directions they must be near 119 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: the southern end of the forest. Madison, awake, once again, 120 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: read these with interest, pontificating allowed what each name might 121 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: allude to. Tilda kept south, following a sign that said 122 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: campgrounds and trailhead entrance six miles. Tilda didn't allow herself 123 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: to get too excited at the thought of camp sites. 124 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: It probably just meant swaths of flat dirt with fire 125 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: pits where people could set up tents, but it did 126 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: mean that they must be near the National park's end. 127 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: Then they'd face the same problem that had led them 128 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: to the solitude of the forest. People people heading Ford 129 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 1: d Sea and looking for them. As the sun neared 130 00:08:56,240 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: the horizon, they passed rows of rotting canoes, a row 131 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: of outhouses and bathhouses, all falling apart, then a series 132 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: of squares separated from each other by lines of small rocks. 133 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 1: The trail beneath the scout's hose became gravel, crunching with 134 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: the horses steps Main Office, A wooden sign read the 135 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 1: words carved in whimsical faunt. Tilda followed in the direction indicated. 136 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: As the light faded, twilight settling in around them. The 137 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: trees curved around the narrow road. A lake shimmered through 138 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: the barren trees to their right, dancing the light of 139 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: the rising moon. A wooden shack came into view, small 140 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: but in good shape. A sign reading Main Office in 141 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 1: the same curly lettering planted out front. Tilda could make 142 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:44,199 Speaker 1: out a fenced area in the back, perfect for keeping 143 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: Scout overnight to given there warn't any weaknesses and the fence, 144 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: although granted she could probably just jump over it if 145 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: she really wanted, the temperature had dropped again. Madison shivered 146 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 1: against her Clumsily, Tilda slid down from Scout's back, almost 147 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: losing her footing when her boots made contact with the 148 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 1: hard frosted dirt. Once she'd steadied herself, she reached up 149 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: for Madison and helped him climb down, setting him on 150 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: the ground and reaching out for Scout's reins. Her legs 151 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:14,439 Speaker 1: tingling with numbness, she weaved her way over to the fence, 152 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: happy to see the gate was located right next to 153 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 1: the door of the office, which made sense, but Tilda 154 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 1: had learned on her travels that a lot of things 155 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: didn't make sense in the way they were set up counterintuitive. 156 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:27,959 Speaker 1: She fumbled with the latch and then had to use 157 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: her hip to shove the gate open, a pile of 158 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,360 Speaker 1: dead black leaves piled up on the other side. She 159 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: guided a tired Scout in and pulled the gate ship 160 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: behind her, Searching in the blue light that comes before 161 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: dark for any gaps in the fence. Her precursory glance 162 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: found none, but she would give it a more thorough 163 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: once over when she returned some water of her scout. 164 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: After she and Madison had set up inside the office, 165 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: Scout meandered through the fenced area, giving a backwards toss 166 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 1: of the head that Tilda took to mean you're welcome. 167 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,559 Speaker 1: Tilda slid the lock back in place and took Madison 168 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 1: by the hand, leaking him along a pathway bordered with 169 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: curling green ferns on either side to the office's entrance. 170 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: The blinds were pulled over the windows, blocking their view. 171 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: When she tested the door, it swung open easily. She 172 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 1: supposed there had been no reason to lock it up. Really, 173 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,559 Speaker 1: people just stopped showing up to work, to parks, to camps. 174 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: She stepped inside, alert Madison hidden behind her. It was dark. 175 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: It took several seconds of rapid blinking for Tilda's eyes 176 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,680 Speaker 1: to adjust. The first thing she noticed was the smell. 177 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: It was stale and sweet, like something rotting. While not overpowering. 178 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: It lingered in the nose, in the back of the throat, 179 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: just enough to be unpleasant to make your stomach uneasy. 180 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: Tilda hoped they would not discover a corpse here. It 181 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 1: had been a long time since she and Madison had 182 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 1: stumbled upon a dead body their journey. Occasionally they'd passed 183 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: one outdoors, almost universally, faced down in the leaves, somehow 184 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: absent the flies or any other outward draw or sign that, yes, 185 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: someone died here, someone had their last moments here, and 186 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 1: their shells here. The first time they'd seen one, Madison 187 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,440 Speaker 1: had been too young to understand and had assumed the 188 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 1: woman was sleeping. Tilda let him think that, But when 189 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: Madison was five, they stayed in a small house with 190 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: a shag carpet and obnoxious green and yellow curtains. As 191 00:12:34,520 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 1: they explored the house, they found a man, wrinkled and 192 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 1: pale with gray hair, sitting in a red armchair, eyes 193 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 1: open but unseen. Dead so he'd sat down and never 194 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:51,320 Speaker 1: gotten up again. Failing to see the point, Madison had 195 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: scurried behind Tilda, frightened by his garish appearance and the 196 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: utter finality of his silence and blank stare, and asked 197 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: why the man wasn't moving, Why wasn't he looking at them. 198 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: Tilda had backed them out of the room, afraid of 199 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: the eyes filmed over of the empty husk, sitting in 200 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: a chair, just as he may have done every night. 201 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 1: How long had he been there? What exactly had been 202 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 1: the cause of death? Tilda had to explain then about death? 203 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: Maison watched her stumble through an explanation with wide eyes. 204 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: She couldn't remember if her parents had this conversation with her. 205 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: Perhaps she just intuited or picked it up from books. 206 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 1: The child didn't seem afraid, but more confused. Madison's lack 207 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: of understanding made it more difficult. Where did the man go? 208 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: Why did he have to leave? What happens? After he asked? 209 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: She had tried to explain that she didn't have the answers. 210 00:13:54,040 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: That no one did. Some things, Tilda thought. We never grow, 211 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: We never completely escape our fear of the unknown, the 212 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: desire to go home, wherever that may be. Tilda could 213 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: grow to be an old woman and would crave the 214 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: safety and advice of her parents. Leaving the door open 215 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,479 Speaker 1: both for light and in hopes of airing. At the office, 216 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: Tilda crept further inside, her newly adjusted eyes, tracing over 217 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: the room's contents. A hogging desk, three of them, small 218 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: and simple, adorned with the usual desk things, black phones 219 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,479 Speaker 1: that looked old even to Tilda. Papers, pens, pencils, highlighters, 220 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: safety pins, scissors, the poster of a cartoon owl and 221 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: a green hat with a speech bubble that read give 222 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 1: a hoot, don't pollute in big, blocky yellow letters. One 223 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: wall was covered with the map of Virginia and had 224 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: an inside of the park and with another poster of 225 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: a bear with the ranger hat, one pole pointing sternly 226 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: at the viewer reading only you can prevent forest fires. 227 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 1: Above the desk, immediately to the left upon entering was 228 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: a giant whiteboard calendar. The month at the top red 229 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: August and pretty green cursive. There was no year. Different 230 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: color markers hung by magnets and chains from the bottom, 231 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 1: each color designated for a different type of activity. It 232 00:15:19,320 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: had things like Appalachian trail hikers, supply drop bonfire plus 233 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: ghost stories, white water rafting, camp, start archery practice, horseback riding. 234 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 1: The name played on the desk red Maggie Stevens. The 235 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: floor was a fake wood. Tilda could tell it was 236 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: faked just by the sound it made with each step 237 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: and how it felt underfoot. There was a small cot 238 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: in the back low with sheets that even looked uncomfortable. 239 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: A flag tail to recognized to be that of the 240 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: old United States, was mounted on a gold pole in 241 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: the corner, with another flag dangling just below. Tilda assumed 242 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 1: it was Virginia's, or whatever state they might be. In 243 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: the cot was a wide window that looked out on 244 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: the fenced area. Behind the office, Tilda could see Scout 245 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: at the far corner. Grazing to their right was a 246 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: short hallway with two closed doors. Opening the door closest 247 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: to the entrance, Tilda found an office supply closet, papers 248 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: and pens, and envelopes and staplers. The opposite door led 249 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: to an efficient bathroom. Tilda tested the faucet, flipping the handle, 250 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: but no water came out. Tilda closed the door behind them, 251 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: feeling on edge, The smell dissipated somewhat, and Tilda shut 252 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: the entrance door, locking it. Masson clung to her, scared. 253 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: He could feel it too. Something heavy hung in the air. Here, 254 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: this tiny, creoing office felt menacing, haunted. She forgot her 255 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: resolve to make sure Scout had water and to check 256 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 1: the fence for weaknesses. The horse didn't appear to be 257 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: going anywhere. Tild would take her chances. They didn't have 258 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:00,120 Speaker 1: the water despair anyway, Hopefully they'd find another street in 259 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: the morning. Her Scout was still there. Madison sat uncertainly 260 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: on the edge of the bed, and Tilda sat next 261 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: to him, nervous. With her back to the window, she 262 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 1: half turned to gaze out of it, and pricks of 263 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: twinkling light in the blue velvet sky like flecks of diamonds. 264 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: Scout lowered herself, folding up her legs as she settled 265 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: down for the night, her dark head turning their way 266 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 1: as though she knew they were inside, looking out at her. 267 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: Tilda removed herself from her backpack, un zipping the front 268 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: and pulling out a pack of trail mixed for Madison 269 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 1: and a granola bar for herself, and too many bottles 270 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,960 Speaker 1: of water. They ate and drank in silence, looking around 271 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: as those expecting someone or something to reveal its presence 272 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: at any moment and leap out at them. The room 273 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:49,159 Speaker 1: felt volatile, like it could come alive. Madison finished first, 274 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: curling into Tilda's side, bright eyes darting around furtively. He 275 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 1: buried his head into her jacket, tilt a chewed on 276 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: her granola, Her throat dry. In spite of the water, 277 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: she felt very alone at the same time, very much 278 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: like she was being watched. Tell me a story, Madison 279 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: bumbled into her side. I always tell you the stories. 280 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: It's your turn to tell one. That's because you're so 281 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: good at telling them. Mouse. She ruffled his hair, rifling 282 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: through the stories her parents used to tell her as 283 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 1: a kid in her head, one that she'd never told 284 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: Madison before. Please tell one. This place feels Tilda's side, 285 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 1: stroking his hair. Okay, lay down. She laid back herself, 286 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:38,920 Speaker 1: and Madison did the same, resting his head on her stomach. 287 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: Neither took off their clothes, both silently acknowledging that they 288 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: may have to flee on short notice. Rooting around, Tilda 289 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: began telling the story of a boy he grew up 290 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 1: feeling lonely, dreaming of flying. Her mother read the story 291 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 1: while Tilda was trying to fall asleep as a child, 292 00:18:55,880 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: cozy in bed with a golden light. Massen dropped off 293 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: into slumber, but it took a good portion of the 294 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: first part of the story before he did. Tilda lay 295 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 1: awake a good while longer, and when she finally did 296 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: doze off, she slept fitfully and starts and stops. She 297 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: kept imagining shapes and shadows and unformed fear that felt 298 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: like a presence hovering over them, just behind the corner 299 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 1: behind the desk. She dreamt, and they were dark dreams, 300 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 1: and she couldn't recall the contents, but only the fear 301 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 1: she'd felt trapped within. She woke confused sometime before dawn. 302 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,199 Speaker 1: Tilda furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of what 303 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: had woken her. It was a sound, a shrill ringing. 304 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:46,480 Speaker 1: At first, she thought she must still be dreaming. There 305 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 1: was no way the phone was ringing. Madison sat up hesitantly, fearful, 306 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: eyes latched the foam like it was a creature about 307 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: to attack. Tilda inched to the edge of the bed, 308 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: never took her eyes off the black receiver on the 309 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: desk near the door. As it rang. She waited for 310 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: it to stop, but it kept ringing. She glanced out 311 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: the window. Scout was awake, tail swishing back and forth 312 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 1: as she grazed lazily. Cautiously. Tilda stood, approaching the phone 313 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 1: with bated breath. She answered it, who would be on 314 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 1: the other side? She reached out her hand. Madison hissed, 315 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: stumped behind her, her hand hesitated over the receiver, her 316 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 1: breath smoking in front of her. The ringing stopped. Tilda froze, 317 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: looked around, half expecting someone to be standing behind her. 318 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:49,919 Speaker 1: Everything felt too still. Time felt too still. The phone 319 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:57,919 Speaker 1: started ringing again, loud, brazen, insistent. She jumped coming unstuck, unsettled, 320 00:20:57,960 --> 00:20:59,840 Speaker 1: she strode over to her pack and swung it onto 321 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: her shoulders, pulling Madison to his feet. Someone knew they 322 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 1: were here, someone was trying to contact them. Come on, 323 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:13,280 Speaker 1: she whispered, Let's go. She peeked out the doorway into 324 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,159 Speaker 1: the tree line, but she saw nothing. Tilda turned the 325 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: corner and opened the gate to the fence. She gestured 326 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,600 Speaker 1: a scout, but the horse did not seem inclined to obey. Huffing, 327 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: she made her way for the horse. Madison, trailing behind. 328 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: Scout snorted as the two approached. Up you go, Tilda muttered, 329 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: lifting Madison, who climbed into the saddle. Tilda leveraged her 330 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: boot in the stirb and hoisted herself up behind him. 331 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,880 Speaker 1: Taking hold of the reins, she gave them a flick 332 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:43,919 Speaker 1: and kicked a bit with her boots. Sorry, Scout. The 333 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:47,639 Speaker 1: horse grunted but obeyed, breaking into a fast trot. Tilda 334 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: guided her out of the fence, guiltily, thinking she'd never 335 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: gotten her water. The phone was still ringing inside the office. 336 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: It chased them out of the paddock and onto the 337 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,719 Speaker 1: dirt road leading out of the campsite. The sun peeked 338 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:03,840 Speaker 1: out over the horizon to their left, violent pink and purple, 339 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 1: emitting from an orange nucleus. Neither Tilda or Madison spoke, 340 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 1: the tension palpable in their bodies. The chilly air rose 341 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: like smoke, a thick fog that swirled around scouts hoofs, 342 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: but then enveloped them in a damp embrace, making the 343 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 1: road it had difficult to see and putting Tilda even 344 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:25,120 Speaker 1: more on edge. She pricked her ears, depending now more 345 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: on sound, but knew that if someone had known they 346 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 1: had been in that office and was trying to contact them, 347 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: then they'd be able to guess which way they were 348 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: going and could mount an ambush. Tilda turned her head 349 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:40,119 Speaker 1: left and right, alert, hunted. With all the fogs, she 350 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: could not push Scout to go too quickly. The road 351 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 1: sloped downward, razor back curves, a combination of loose dust 352 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: gravel and packed and frozen layers of dirt. Scouts hoofs 353 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: slid every now and then under the loose top soil, 354 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: especially on sharp turns and downgrades, making Tilda's heart jolt 355 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,879 Speaker 1: into her throat every time and Scout huff and what 356 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: sounded like frustration. It could also be in part due 357 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 1: to Madison, who was gripping her mane more tightly than 358 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 1: strictly necessary and pushing back into Tilda, doing his best 359 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: to escape the sense of sliding that the downward gravity 360 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 1: gave him, and exorably pulling him forward. So dense was 361 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: the fog and canopy of dead tree branches overhead, the 362 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 1: light from the sun reached them only after much diffusion. 363 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 1: Several times Tilda hopped off Scouts back and led her 364 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 1: forward on foot on aple to make out the road, 365 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: staring at each step of her boot, sometimes encountering large 366 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 1: shagged rocks that had been exposed only by weathering. At 367 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,160 Speaker 1: one point they came across an obstacle in the form 368 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 1: of a down tree across the road. Tilda and Madison 369 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: would have climbed it, but it was quite large and 370 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:44,680 Speaker 1: the branches jutting out, sharp and unforgiving. To their right 371 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 1: was a steep drop off. Peering down, Tilda could not 372 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: even see the bottom with the amount of smoky air, 373 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 1: so they circled around the tree on the left, behind 374 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: massive narl roots pulled from the ground, strands of smaller 375 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: roots dangling from them. The powerful smell of earth overtook 376 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: them as they made their way around, avoiding the gaping 377 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 1: maw on the ground left by the tree and stepping 378 00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 1: over sizeable branches sprouting armies of twig like sticks. They 379 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 1: needed to stop, as anxious as it made, Tilda, a 380 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 1: thick ropey saliva had started collecting around Scout's mouth dehydration. 381 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 1: Keeping an eye out for one of the many potholes, 382 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 1: Tilda found one on the side of the road that 383 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 1: looked shallow enough to serve their purpose. She helped Madison 384 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: slide down and shrugged out of her pack. Pulling out 385 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 1: two bottles with a heavy heart, she poured them into 386 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 1: the shallow hole. Scout immediately began lapping up the liquid. 387 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: Tilda supposed they could just leave the horse, but they 388 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 1: were making such better time, and if they needed to 389 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,679 Speaker 1: make a quick getaway, they'd want to be riding scout. 390 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 1: She replaced the empty bottles and pulled out two more 391 00:24:47,480 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: squat ones, one for her and one for Madison, along 392 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: with two meal replacement bars, which she doubted sincerely were 393 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: ever truly meant to replace meals, unless you were going 394 00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:00,240 Speaker 1: for that ridiculous beach body that they read about, because 395 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 1: they always left her hungry. One peanut butter, which she 396 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:06,640 Speaker 1: gave to Madison, and one apple cinnamon for herself. Both 397 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:08,800 Speaker 1: of them looked around as they ate, expecting to see 398 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: a face in the fog. Hear a voice in the distance. 399 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:16,280 Speaker 1: Why is it so foggy, Madison asked between bites. His 400 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 1: voice quavered. I don't know, Tilda said, then, hoping to 401 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: provide him some sort of comfort, added, probably just a 402 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:29,040 Speaker 1: change in temperature. Madison nodded, humoring her. Tilda suspected she 403 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,640 Speaker 1: doubted she'd actually calmed any of his fears with talk 404 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: of weather. She swiped her palms together to free her 405 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:37,880 Speaker 1: gloves of crumbs, taking Madison's empty bottle along with hers 406 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: and putting them in her backpack, trying to ignore the 407 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: pang of panic at how light it felt as she 408 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: replaced it on her shoulders without bidding Madison climbed up 409 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 1: onto Scout's back, who was waiting patiently for them next 410 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,360 Speaker 1: to her improvised water bucket, and then almost fell back down. 411 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: Tilda hovered behind him, ready to assist, but he pulled 412 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: himself back up, panting a little at the effort. Tilda 413 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: stepped up and swung her legs over behind him, once 414 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:03,919 Speaker 1: again taking the reins. She made a clicking sound with 415 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 1: her tongue pulling sharply on the right ring to direct 416 00:26:06,359 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: Scout back to the road. Already she felt more at 417 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: ease controlling Scout, but she still felt very much like 418 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 1: a little girl who could lose that control to a 419 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 1: powerful animal at any moment. The fog became less dense, 420 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 1: but lingered close to the ground. The dirt road dead 421 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: ended into a paved one. Tilda studied each direction, there 422 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: were mirrors of each other. She chose to go west. 423 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: Scouts hos clip clopped on the asphalt as they fell 424 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,720 Speaker 1: into a more steady pace of a fast trot. Now 425 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 1: that they were on a more even surface, Madison finally 426 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:43,639 Speaker 1: breached the silence. I hope the phones were dead if 427 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:47,119 Speaker 1: someone trying to contact us, total thought for a moment, 428 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: could it possibly be just some kind of ghost of 429 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: the system, a discharge of electricity built up and randomly expelled. 430 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 1: Maybe it rang every morning. Maybe it was someone trying 431 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: to find Maggie Stevens. Or hell, maybe it was Maggie 432 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:04,399 Speaker 1: Stevens ghost playing a prank. But Tilda didn't believe in ghost, 433 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:07,400 Speaker 1: and something in her gut told her that call had 434 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: been meant for them. It could have been a surge 435 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:16,359 Speaker 1: of electricity somewhere, but I think someone was trying to 436 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 1: reach us. Madison digested that for a moment. Who I 437 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:24,760 Speaker 1: don't know, Tilda said, thinking it would have to be 438 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:28,440 Speaker 1: someone in arm or an enforcer, someone associated with the state. 439 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 1: What if it was the man with the horse, But 440 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: if he's trying to get his horse back? Tilda stopped 441 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:37,880 Speaker 1: herself from laughing aloud at Madison's innocent question, more from 442 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:41,360 Speaker 1: surprise than anything else. She hadn't considered that, but it 443 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:44,400 Speaker 1: was possible. He was the last person that had seen them, 444 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:47,160 Speaker 1: and he did have a reason to be looking for them, 445 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: But so did a lot of people. How'd they know 446 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:54,560 Speaker 1: we were there? A cold crept up till the spine 447 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 1: that had nothing to do with the chilly air. She 448 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,880 Speaker 1: couldn't stop herself from looking at the desolate road behind them, 449 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 1: but saw nothing. She turned back to Phase FOURD after 450 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 1: a long moment, that's a good question, mouse, Almost in answer, 451 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:12,119 Speaker 1: the whine of a connection establishing surrounded them. Madison clapped 452 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 1: his hands over his ears, and Tilda just stopped herself 453 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 1: from doing the same. Scout faltered uneasily. Tilda looked around 454 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: wildly as something clicked her eyes, landing on a wooden 455 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:26,120 Speaker 1: telephone pole. Following it up revealed the speaker box's arm 456 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: had used to broadcast their messages. Without waiting for the 457 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: broadcast to begin, Tilda snapped the reins and dug her 458 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:35,479 Speaker 1: heels into Scout sides, goading the horse into a steady gallop. 459 00:28:36,240 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 1: A voice said her name, and she almost dropped the 460 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 1: reins and shock. It was not the voice she'd been expecting. 461 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 1: It was not Aaron or Darla Delaine, but a male voice, 462 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:48,080 Speaker 1: one she hadn't heard since escaping the battleground that was 463 00:28:48,120 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: the underground lab in Chicago. It was Mark. In all chaos, 464 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 1: she didn't know who had survived Chicago. She hadn't stopped 465 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:58,480 Speaker 1: to think about the shock of those resistant survivors when 466 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 1: they'd heart. Her voice on the air ways, usually reserved 467 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: for some proclamation from ARM telling the world that there 468 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:09,120 Speaker 1: was a vaccine that ARM had created, HSB five and 469 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 1: affected the global population. 470 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 2: This message is for teld the knowing. Tilda, Knowing needed 471 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:18,760 Speaker 2: to come back to GC. The landscape of the stage 472 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 2: is changing Arms, all grace. If we were to fight 473 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:27,720 Speaker 2: HS five and secure future for our children, you and 474 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 2: your son need to return to GC immediately. You will 475 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 2: be well taken care of and ordered for your service. 476 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:40,480 Speaker 1: This voice, gentle, please Tilda. We can win this, we 477 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:44,440 Speaker 1: can change things. He fell silent, the static of the 478 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 1: connection buzzing around them. Tilda could picture him at the 479 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,240 Speaker 1: console she made her desperate broadcast, and had been shot 480 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 1: at where Aaron or Darla used to sit and administer judgments, 481 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:57,960 Speaker 1: dull up punishments, and call for the capture of criminals, 482 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:02,600 Speaker 1: including Tilda. Punched over, wondering if his message was reaching 483 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: the intended recipient. Scout had stopped without tilt up, pulling 484 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: on the reins till to hatn't even noticed. 485 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:11,800 Speaker 2: We'll be waiting. 486 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 1: The connection clicked off, and that brings us to the 487 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:38,640 Speaker 1: end of this chapter of Terminus two. As you can 488 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 1: tell I am terrified of phones, clearly have been. We'll 489 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: always be Yes, the man on the horse, we will 490 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 1: the mystery remains. I told the story in the last 491 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: episode about the twenty four seconds, which was this thing 492 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 1: that I had back when I was at university where 493 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:00,640 Speaker 1: there's twenty four seconds of darkness when I would walk 494 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 1: home at night and I saw a black horse on 495 00:31:04,120 --> 00:31:05,880 Speaker 1: the night of a tornado. And you were right about 496 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 1: the date, Samantha that you said yeah, because I was 497 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:12,680 Speaker 1: like two thousand and eight. That doesn't it. That feels 498 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 1: like I was in high school still. But no, two 499 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 1: thousand and eight I would have been. That would have 500 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:19,720 Speaker 1: been my freshman year, and that's when it happened. So yes, 501 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: yes points to you. I'm really excited to share where 502 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 1: this is going. I will tease this story has a 503 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:35,920 Speaker 1: cliff hanger. Yes it's a great cliffhanger. But I know 504 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 1: people who hate cliffhangers. I do hope I have. I 505 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 1: hope you stick around even if you don't like, because 506 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 1: we'll just go immediately into the third part. But I 507 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: will tell you I was thinking about it when I 508 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 1: was putting this sgether, and it's like, oh yeah, oh, yeah, 509 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,440 Speaker 1: ou yes, all right, well we love doing these. I 510 00:31:57,480 --> 00:32:00,920 Speaker 1: love doing them. Christina makes them amazing thing. Thank you again, Christina, 511 00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:05,200 Speaker 1: So hope hopefully you enjoy them. And if you do 512 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:09,160 Speaker 1: have any suggestions for something we could do in the 513 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:11,280 Speaker 1: public domain like this, we would love to do it. 514 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:13,400 Speaker 1: We did it once in our Women Writing Horror where 515 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 1: we did Frankenstein and that was really fun. So just 516 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:20,080 Speaker 1: let us know. And yeah, if you got any theories, 517 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 1: I love hearing from people about the theories. You can 518 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:27,720 Speaker 1: write to us at stuff Media, mom Stuff at iHeartMedia 519 00:32:27,760 --> 00:32:30,720 Speaker 1: dot com. You can find us on Twitter at momstap podcast, 520 00:32:30,840 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: or on TikTok and Instagram at stuff I Never Told You. 521 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:34,840 Speaker 1: You have a tea public store, and we have a 522 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: book you can get wherever you get your books. Things 523 00:32:37,400 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: is always to our super produced Christina, our executive producer Maya, 524 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:42,640 Speaker 1: and our contributor Joey. Thank you and thanks to you 525 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:44,760 Speaker 1: for listening. Stuff I Never Told You is production by 526 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:46,600 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, you 527 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:48,480 Speaker 1: can check out the heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or 528 00:32:48,480 --> 00:33:00,680 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.