1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Anny and Samantha. Welcome to stuff I've 2 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:20,239 Speaker 1: never told your production of iHeartRadio, and welcome to another 3 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: edition of a Sminty fiction. As always, this is a 4 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: once a month thing that we do. It is ongoing, 5 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: so we're technically in the second part of a trilogy, 6 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 1: and all of them are multi chaptered. You can listen 7 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: to whatever you want, but I suspect you'll be confused 8 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: if you haven't listen to those other things. Yes, and 9 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: once again, as I've talked about before, this chapter is 10 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: split in two because it was just too long. It 11 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: definitely was meant to go together, though, so if you 12 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: are listening, you're like, oh, that was sort of now ending. 13 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: The next part is already recorded and on the way, 14 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: and it's a doomzy I have to say, we're getting 15 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: to like the action section. Yeah, the ending I've been 16 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: teasing that is pretty good. I like it. A lot 17 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: of you probably won't because it is a cliffigger mother rah. 18 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: As I said, we'll just move right into the third part. 19 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:29,400 Speaker 1: You won't have to wait that long. But yes, this 20 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: is something that I wrote. I believe this one is 21 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,919 Speaker 1: in twenty eleven. I wrote it as part of National 22 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: Novel Writing Month, and it was a direct sequel to 23 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: the last one. I'm calling it Terminus Part two for simplicity, 24 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 1: but the original name is Big Things Start Small. So 25 00:01:50,640 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: CW content warning, violence, disease, threats of violence, violence, storage children. Yes, yes, 26 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: I don't think anything's too in depth, but just put 27 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: that out there. This is a very like apocalyptic dystopian story. 28 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: And I get if that's not your thing right now, 29 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 1: but if somehow you're like me where it gives you 30 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: some relief during dark times, then welcome, welcome, all right, 31 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 1: So quick recap. Humanity is dying out because of a 32 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: disease that has impacted pregnancy and how people get pregnant, 33 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,360 Speaker 1: and that led in the United States to the collapse 34 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: of the government and the forming of a new government 35 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 1: called the State that is ran alongside a very very 36 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: conservative religious organization called arm and they control all aspects 37 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 1: of pregnancy, including who you can be with and where 38 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: a child will go if a child is born. Our 39 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: main character, Tilda, got pregnant outside of a conception center 40 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: illegally and escaped with her son. Madison. Has been on 41 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 1: the run for about eight years at this point from 42 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 1: the government and It turns out that the leaders of 43 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: ARM are Madison's grandparents, and they destroyed the vaccine because 44 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:21,399 Speaker 1: they think that humanity is getting punished for their sins, essentially, 45 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: but they kept one and gave it to Madison. Tilda 46 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: has escaped and broadcast out to the resistance that there 47 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: is a vaccine and everybody's lying to you. Essentially, they're 48 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: on the run. There's a mysterious man on the horse. I've 49 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: been hinting at him for a long time. The winter 50 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 1: is coming, their supplies are depleted, and they're just trying 51 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: to find their way away from DC, which is where 52 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 1: everyone is going, because that's where they heard the vaccine was. 53 00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: But yes, they are currently trying to find their way 54 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: away from the man on the horse, although they did 55 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: steal his horse, So now I guess he's just a man, 56 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: a man without a horse. He's a man looking for 57 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: his horse. He's a man looking for his horse. Well, 58 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: that is where we are. Let's get into it. Reluctantly, 59 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: Tilda shouldered her backpack on and untied Scout's reins from 60 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: the pipe. Madison climbed up without a word from Tilda, 61 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: and Tilda followed after him, her arms still weak, She 62 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: directed the scout out from under the gas station, awning, 63 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: and back out onto the road. Madison settled back against 64 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: her torso in a way that indicated he intended to nap, 65 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: which suited Tilda just fine. The more he slept, the 66 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: less energy he'd need in the form of food, The 67 00:04:57,839 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: less he'd be reminded about how he was still there 68 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: even though he'd just drank, the less he'd worry. The 69 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 1: more Tilda thought about the questions, the more Tilda realized 70 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,679 Speaker 1: how deeply he thought about things, how deeply he felt things, 71 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: how much he worried about Mark, who had betrayed them, 72 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: about the man on the horse who had been tracking 73 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 1: them for who knows what about Darla, who would have 74 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: happily separated them and seen Tilda rot about all those 75 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 1: people heading to DC in hopes of a vaccine following 76 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: in Tilda's footsteps. Tilda had always assumed she was the 77 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,359 Speaker 1: worrier of the two, but the more she tumbled it 78 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: around in her head, the more she thought that Madison 79 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: must entertain more worries than she'd thought. A sign revealed 80 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: that they were on four sixty West, a relatively flat, 81 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: straight slab of worn asphalt, the paint chipped away. They 82 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: passed a dead animal on the side of the road. 83 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: Tilda suspected it was a coyote. Crows squawked angrily as 84 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 1: they passed by, giving the carcass a wide berth. Tilda's 85 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 1: stomach roiled, Madison's head lulled forward. Tilda would place a 86 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: hand on his head and gently guide it back to 87 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: her shoulder, where it would almost immediately droop forward again. 88 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:17,239 Speaker 1: Pine trees lined the side of the road, bandguards to concrete. Still, 89 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:21,839 Speaker 1: they didn't pass anyone. As the afternoon waned on, Madison 90 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 1: stirred against her as she began looking for somewhere they 91 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: could stay the night. Darkness fell so early as the 92 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: winter fast approached, a specter growing in strength, eating warmth 93 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: and light. The air grew steadily colder. Most of the 94 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,920 Speaker 1: exits they passed looked quite barren, no buildings in sight. 95 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: Most likely these were exits to campgrounds or connectors to 96 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: other roads that led to more civilization. They were very 97 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: far from everything. Madison began shivering against her The breeze 98 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: cut through their clothes, slicing cold, whistling in her ears, 99 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: whipping her hair across her face. The mantra of war, 100 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: what are we going to do again again? At a 101 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:07,720 Speaker 1: steady cadence, they came upon an exit that slaked downward 102 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: in between the trees. Tilda could see a clustering of 103 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: wooden houses with thatched roofs. The light grade as they 104 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: followed the exit downward a ramp that descended parallel to 105 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: the main road. When they reached the intersection at the 106 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: end of the exit, Tilda veered to right, and then 107 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: the first the left. The grouping of cabins ash colored 108 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: or in a fenced in enclosure. There was a lake 109 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 1: behind the houses and the complex itself, separated by a 110 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: stone bridge. On the left was a barn like structure, 111 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: an open wooden frame. Tilda guided Scout to the cabin 112 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 1: furthest from the exit. It was shuttered, the windows boarded up, 113 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 1: making it impossible to see inside. For the first time 114 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 1: in a long time. Tilta word that someone might be inside, 115 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: still living, ready to defend their property, meager though it 116 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: may be, with their life. She clumsily dismounted from Scout, 117 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: instructing Madison to wait for her on Scout's back in 118 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: case they needed to make a quick getaway. While she 119 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: checked out the cabin. The door swung open, easily, creepily silent. 120 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: The air felt heavy. Inside was swallowing darkness, with only 121 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: stripes of light coming through the slots of wood over 122 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: the windows. There stood some rickety barren furniture. It was 123 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: one story, with an arched roof interspersed with thick beams 124 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: avoid There was a plain kitchen, small and square, a 125 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: combined dining and living area, a closet with rough and 126 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: brightly colored moth eaten blankets, and a bedroom with a 127 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: squat queen bed and a chest of drawers. Attached to 128 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 1: it was another tiny closet and a bathroom. There was 129 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:49,679 Speaker 1: no back door. Tilda re emerged outside. The wind had 130 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: picked up considerably, snow flirring around Madison and Scout, who 131 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: was pawing the ground nervously tilted to a quick survey 132 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: of the house and found no generator to be expected. 133 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: She still could barely believe they'd found a working, still 134 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: fueled up one at the last cabin they crashed in. 135 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 1: She circled around the other side of the house to 136 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: be sure, but found nothing of use. A blast of 137 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: wind nearly knocked her off her feet as she rounded 138 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 1: the corner. Scout shuffled a bit to the side, and 139 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: Madison pressed himself against her neck to minimize the chance 140 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: of getting blown off his feet. Hopefully this wind was 141 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 1: that and nothing more. They didn't need another snow storm 142 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 1: on top of everything else. Tilda grabbed Madison around the waist, 143 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: waiting for him to steady himself before gesturing for him 144 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: to go inside. He yelled over the gale, what about Scout? 145 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: Tilda wavered. They couldn't leave Scout out here. The cold 146 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: was too biting, the wind too strong. There was what 147 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: looked like a barn, but it was on the opposite 148 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: side of the pasture, while not too far. Tilda would 149 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: like to have Scout closer by in case they needed 150 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: to make a quick getaway, and she didn't fancy drapesing 151 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: over there in the weather. Did horses stay in houses? 152 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: This one did, apparently. Inside, Tilda shouted, She'll stay with us. 153 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: Madison nodded, not wasting another second, and pounding up the 154 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,079 Speaker 1: stairs and inside the door, vanishing within the darkness of 155 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:19,840 Speaker 1: the house. Tilda negotiated a reluctant Scout up the stairs 156 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: and through the doorway, releasing the reins and forcing the 157 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: door shut behind them and toombing them in darkness. Tilda 158 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: twisted the lock, but it still wouldn't slide home. She 159 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: jiggled the door in the frame, braced her hip against it, 160 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: until finally it clicked into place. It was very nearly 161 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: pitch black, with only the last stregs of light shining 162 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: meekly through the boarded up windows. The Scout remained unmoved 163 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 1: to watching Tilda. Tilda gripped the reins and led her 164 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: into the living area, which was bare save for a 165 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: square dining table with four chairs and an oval red rug. 166 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 1: Once Tilda let go of the reins, Scout lowered herself 167 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: to her knees. Tilda spotted two candles on the fire 168 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: placed mantle on the far left of the room. She 169 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,679 Speaker 1: stepped around Scout to fetch them, placing their tarnished gold 170 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: candlelabras on the dining table and setting her pack down 171 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: in one of the chairs. She then zipped the front 172 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: pocket and dug around until she located her matches with 173 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: her teeth. She tugged off her gloves to better grip 174 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: the box and the match, and struck it along the side. 175 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: It flared till life, but almost immediately extinguished. Tilda held 176 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: the wick of the candle up to the match, where 177 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 1: it oh so slowly caught, and then did the same 178 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: for the other one. Orange light flickered along the barren 179 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 1: wooden paneling, offering meager luminance. Tilda replaced her gloves and 180 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: held out her hand for Madison, who rushed to grasp it. 181 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 1: They crept into the kitchen, hold this please. Tilda passed 182 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 1: the candle to Madison, who took it with a careful reverence. 183 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: Tilda opened the refrigerator, but it was absolutely empty. She 184 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: shut it, turning her attention to the cabinets. Nothing not 185 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: a pot, ort, pan, cup, mug, bowl, plate, nothing. With 186 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 1: growing concern, Tilda checked under the sink. Nothing. The wind 187 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: howled outside, follow me. Together they explored the closet, finding 188 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,679 Speaker 1: only the blanket Tilda had discovered earlier, and a broom 189 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: a couple more candles, which Tilda gathered into her hands. 190 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: There was nothing in the bedroom apart from the bed, 191 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: not even artwork or a bible, as Tilda had grown 192 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: accustomed to finding. The bathroom yielded a thread worn towel, 193 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: at washcloth, a comb. This house was empty. She turned 194 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: to look at Madison, his face illuminated with dancing orange 195 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: and yellow, watching her solemnly. We'll sleep in the breadroom 196 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: to night. Scouts already found a place. What if she 197 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: gets cold, Madison whispered, the light flickering with his breath. 198 00:12:57,559 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 1: We'll give her that blanket we found in the closet. 199 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,679 Speaker 1: Tilda reopened the closet door and pulled out the scratchy blanket. 200 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: She could see why. It was one of the few 201 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 1: things that whoever occupied this space before them had left. 202 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: Madison followed her a morbid specter. As she draped the 203 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:17,079 Speaker 1: blanket around Scouted. She glanced again at the boarded up windows. 204 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: It did not bode well that someone had clearly tried 205 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: to make a last stand here and had to board 206 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: up their windows against marauders or something of that nature, 207 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: and then had packed up and left the place entirely. 208 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 1: Tilda could only speculate if it had to do with 209 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: the lack of resources or something more sinister. The candle 210 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,439 Speaker 1: they'd left on the table shivered. Tilda took a seat 211 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: in one of their rickety chairs it creaked under her weight, 212 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: and scanned what she could see of the darkness outside. 213 00:13:45,679 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: But she couldn't make anything out, just the dark shapes 214 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: of tree branches bending and swaying in the wind. Madison 215 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,480 Speaker 1: took a seat opposite her, his legs dangling above the floor, 216 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: and he placed his candle carefully in front of him, 217 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: his face swathed and shadow. Tilda pulled out two short 218 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: bottles of water and some peanuts and pretzels as an 219 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: offering for dinner. They crunched away, Tilda trying to summon 220 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: any information she had on marauders. Things had surely gotten 221 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: more desperate in the seven years since she escaped with Madison. 222 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: Her parents had protected her from most of the news 223 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: broadcast about them while she was growing up, though next 224 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: to none of them occurred in cities with Conception centers, 225 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: including her hometown of Atlanta and d C. But she 226 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: did remember the ring of land around Conception centers being 227 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: particularly rife with them, especially DC, since most of the 228 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: resources were focused there, robbing those traveling to and from 229 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,840 Speaker 1: the city had a higher probability of yielding something useful 230 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: than those out wandering the roads. In the Midwest, they 231 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 1: were even known to hold up trains and vehicles. Tilda 232 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: had always been far more concerned with enforcers in the 233 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: state and arm to give marauders much thought. As far 234 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: as she knew, they never encountered any not in a 235 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:06,960 Speaker 1: pack anyway, A couple of stragglers, roadside thieves, but not 236 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: the roving group that planned train robberies. She couldn't imagine 237 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: they'd be out there, she thought, the pretzel like dust 238 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: in her mouth. But then again, they were relatively close 239 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: to d C. The voice in her head reminded her, 240 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: perhaps they'd moved on. Whatever had happened here most likely 241 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: had happened years ago. If the dust was anything to 242 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: go by, and it could be nothing. Maybe there was 243 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: no food. Maybe the previous residents had decided to give 244 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: a city a chance. After all, she was reading too 245 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: much from boarded up windows, that's all. Nevertheless, she doubted 246 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: she'd be getting much sleep tonight once their meal was done, 247 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: but not with it their hunger were they ever going 248 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 1: to be truly satiated. Tilda had it back on her 249 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: pack and took both the candles. Madison huddled in the 250 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: ring of light forming like a bubble around her. As 251 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: they made their grim procession back to the bedroom. The 252 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: house shuddered around them with another gust of wind. Tilda 253 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: set a candle on each bedside nightstand and sat on 254 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: the edge of the mattress to rest off her boots. 255 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: She could hear Madison doing the same beside her. Tilda 256 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: wriggled and stretched her toes that were starting to feel 257 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: like webbed, wrinkled, deformed parasites attached to her feet. She 258 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: just wanted them to feel like toes again. She hand 259 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: zipped her out her jacket and hung it on the door, 260 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: and switched out her socks, handing a fresh pair to 261 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: Madison as well, Doing her best not to draw Madison's 262 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: attention to it. She took the gun from her waistband 263 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: and placed it on the nightstand table, putting a good 264 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: distance between it and the candle, just in case. She 265 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: checked earlier, making sure it was fully loaded. She hoped 266 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: with everything she was she wouldn't have to use it, 267 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: but she knew better than to not take precautions. Everything 268 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 1: else she left on, pulling back the starchy blanket and 269 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: bedsheets and wriggling beneath them back on the hard mattress, 270 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,879 Speaker 1: her eyes closed, automatically exhausted, even if her mind was 271 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: an electric wire of dull fear, the kind that plaques 272 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: you so persistently, you almost forget it's there. Madison climbed 273 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 1: under the covers after her, pressing himself against her side. 274 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:21,199 Speaker 1: The wind howled and whistled outside, till to swore she 275 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: could hear the cold of it. She fell into a 276 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: half sleep of poorly formed images blown away and re 277 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: formed with the sounds of wind, worry that was almost 278 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:36,680 Speaker 1: a corporeal presence, whispering, a shadow darker than darkness, corroding 279 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: her nerves. The dim light of the candles danced against 280 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 1: her lids, hankering her to the edge of wakefulness. She 281 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: felt trapped just beneath the surface of consciousness. She was 282 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,160 Speaker 1: flat on her back like a corpse, unable to move. 283 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:58,640 Speaker 1: Her blood thundered in her ears. The blankets somehow remained cold, 284 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 1: resistant to her body heat. Madison was huddled against her 285 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: The candles faded and flickered out. She finally relinquished her 286 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: hold on consciousness. When she next became aware, she was 287 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 1: staring at weathered wood in a way that made it 288 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 1: impossible to know how long she'd been awake, and staring 289 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 1: aimlessly at it. She blinked. Her eyes were dry. The 290 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 1: wind had died down, The room was simulate till it 291 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: exhaled fuzzy. Her whole body was stiff. When she twisted 292 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,399 Speaker 1: her neck to face the ceiling, it criacked. It was 293 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 1: disconcerting to have no idea what time it was, to 294 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: feel like you'd got no sleep, even though you'd just 295 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: woken up from who knows how long a stretch of unconsciousness. 296 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: She blinked again, remembering a vague dream she'd had that 297 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: when she woke and made to leave this cabin, she'd 298 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 1: opened the door to a shrieking nothingness, as if everything 299 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: had been eroded away by the howling winds, just dirt 300 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: like ash as far as the eye could see. Are 301 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: you awake? Came a soft voice in her ear. With effort, 302 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 1: Tilda turned her head again to face Madison, who was 303 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: curled up on his side, watching her with wide eyes. 304 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: How long have you been awake? She returned as an answer. 305 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: Madison shrugged, biting his lip his stomic growled. Tilda pushed 306 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: herself up into a sitting position, scrubbing her face a beat. 307 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,199 Speaker 1: She heard a snort of breath from Scout in the 308 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 1: living area. Then she swung her legs over the edge 309 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: and out from beneath the blankets, the wooden floor cold, 310 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: even through the fabric of her socks bracing She heaved 311 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 1: herself up to her feet, slid the gun back into 312 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:50,240 Speaker 1: its place in her waistband, in clothes that felt like 313 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: they'd molded to her body as a second skin, and 314 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: collected her jacket, boots, and backpack, carrying them down the 315 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 1: hall and depositing them next to the chair. She collapsed 316 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: into her body, sore. Scout was in the same position 317 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: she'd been in when Tilda had last seen her. Judging 318 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: by the light filtering through the boards, it was on 319 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 1: the cusp of mid morning, the latest they slept in 320 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: a while, which figured given their restless night. Tilda retrieved 321 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: the customary two bottles of water and a pack of 322 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: pop tarts, which they split blueberry flavored. The refrain of 323 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:26,640 Speaker 1: fear had picked up, not missing a beat. It made 324 00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:28,679 Speaker 1: her not want to finish eating her pop tart, her 325 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: churning stomach overpowering the hunger. She gazed through the gaps 326 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,160 Speaker 1: between the wood watching, looking for some sign that would 327 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 1: confirm the crescendo of anxiety rising with each beat of 328 00:20:39,200 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: her heart, Anticipating what Madison's first question would be Tilda 329 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 1: cleared her throat and said, we'll check the barn before 330 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,439 Speaker 1: we leave. There may be something there for Scout to 331 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: eat besides the grass. Madison nodded, and they began the 332 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 1: process of cold proofing themselves as much as possible, relayering 333 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:00,640 Speaker 1: and zipping and buttoning and tying. The mele of horse, 334 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 1: combined with the stuffy air in the room, made Tilda 335 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: a little lightheaded. As they geared up, Scout, probably sensing 336 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 1: they were about to leave by all the movement, hoisted 337 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: herself up, with her hind legs out of place, standing 338 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,959 Speaker 1: next to the fireplace, Ready, Tilda asked, wiggling her fingers 339 00:21:16,960 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 1: in her gloves, prepared to set out and leave this 340 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 1: place behind them, Madison nodded quickly, apparently as eager as 341 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,440 Speaker 1: she was. While this place had offered shelter, it had 342 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: not offered a sense of safety. Taking a breath, the 343 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:33,680 Speaker 1: image in her dreams flashing in her mind's eye unwanted, 344 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 1: Tilda swung open the door, practically sagging in relief at 345 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 1: the side of the trees and cabins and a whole 346 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:43,159 Speaker 1: wide world of not nothing. But it was short lived. 347 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: She spun on her heels to fetch Scout's reins, but 348 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: Madison had beaten her to it. The straps of leather 349 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:52,199 Speaker 1: clutched in a small fist. Tilda gave her son a 350 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: smile and stepped into the cold and down icy stairs. 351 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 1: Scout's hoofs pounded behind her. Tilda crossed her adjusting to 352 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: the cold from relative warmth was always the most difficult part, 353 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,920 Speaker 1: and forged a horizontal path across the field, stopping next 354 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:11,239 Speaker 1: to the stone bridge to allow Scout to lap up 355 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: some of the freshly unfrozen stream water. Feeling incredibly exposed 356 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 1: in the whiteness of the snow and the openness of 357 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 1: the field, Tilda's scanned assessed her neck, swiveling her eyes, 358 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 1: darting this way and that. When Scout was satisfied, Tilda 359 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,040 Speaker 1: took the reins and led her across the stone bridge, 360 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:33,359 Speaker 1: Madison not far behind, traversing the rest of the distance 361 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:38,120 Speaker 1: to the barn. Inside were massive wooden beams and basic stables. 362 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: Against one wall were tools hung by tool racks and hooks, 363 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 1: and a pitchfork. Tilda released her hold on the reins 364 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: and peaked in the stables, finding nothing but buckets and troughs. 365 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: A pair of discarded stirrups and a horse crop, nothing 366 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:58,200 Speaker 1: of use. She turned her attention to a wooden tool 367 00:22:58,240 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: bench jutting from the wall. Up at her there was 368 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 1: what looked to be a large metal fishing hook on 369 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 1: the table. Inspecting under the table revealed nothing, as well, 370 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:13,119 Speaker 1: I found something. Madison's decoration caused Tilda to shoot up, 371 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:16,520 Speaker 1: banging her head into the table with the thunk, Stars 372 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:18,479 Speaker 1: blinked in and out of existence in front of her. 373 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: Fireworks of light concurrent with the throbbing pain. She hissed, 374 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: rubbing the spot and straightening much more carefully. She turned 375 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:30,879 Speaker 1: to face him. He was biting his lip guiltily. What 376 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: is it? Mouse? He held out a leather satchel that 377 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 1: was tied underneath a scout's saddle by a cord. Tilda 378 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: furrowed her brow. They'd been riding Scout for several days 379 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 1: now and she hadn't noticed that. Where'd you find it? 380 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: She took the back from him, turned it over in 381 00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 1: her hands. It was under the saddle. Tilda loosened the pouch, 382 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 1: opening it. Inside was a hefty amount of pellets horse food. 383 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:02,959 Speaker 1: Tilda assumed. A thrill of anticipation shot through her. What 384 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 1: if there was another one, hold out your hands. Madison 385 00:24:07,240 --> 00:24:11,119 Speaker 1: cupped his hands dutifully, and she filled them with pellets. Confused, 386 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: he looked up at her. It's food for Scout. Go 387 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 1: feed her. Let her eat from your hand. She'll come 388 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: to you. Madison bounced around to Scout's front, offering out 389 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: his hands. The horse immediately started eating, somehow, taking what 390 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 1: appeared to be only a few pellets at a time. 391 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 1: Tilda had worried she'd eat them all in one massive chump. 392 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:36,879 Speaker 1: Tilda pulled the strings of the pouch tot and re 393 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: secured it under Scout's saddle, investigating underneath as she did so. 394 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: Finding nothing else, she turned her attention to the other 395 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:48,160 Speaker 1: side of the saddle, finding a smaller pouch with enthusiastic fingers, 396 00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: she opened it and reached inside, pulling out a lighter, 397 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: a pocket knife, and a golden pocket watch. Tilda stared 398 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,359 Speaker 1: at it, wondering why the man on the horse would 399 00:24:57,359 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: have had this time, had no real mis anymore apart 400 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:04,199 Speaker 1: from how many hours of daylight lefts how many more 401 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: days of winter and it was still ticking. It had 402 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: been such a long time since she'd read Roman numerals, 403 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 1: much less a clock face that it took Tilda a 404 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:18,360 Speaker 1: minute to discern the time eight forty seven. Tilda ran 405 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:20,639 Speaker 1: her fingers along the side, pushing in the knob at 406 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:23,560 Speaker 1: the top. It opened with a click, the clock face 407 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 1: detaching from its back. Tilda used her thumb to swing 408 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:31,880 Speaker 1: it open, revealing a tarnished golden inside a locket, an 409 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: empty one. She looked over at Madison, his face shining 410 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 1: as he watched Scout nibble her mystery horse pellets. She 411 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 1: snapped the locket shut, slipping it back into the pouch 412 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: and closing it along with the lighter. Again. She wondered 413 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:48,160 Speaker 1: about the horse's previous owner. Why would he have this? 414 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: Was it possible that he'd stole them Scout, who had 415 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: had an owner who called her by a different name, 416 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:57,400 Speaker 1: and this locket belonged to that person, Or going back 417 00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 1: even further, Scout could have passed hands multiple time. Horses 418 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:03,840 Speaker 1: were extremely valuable out in the wilderness that was much 419 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:07,880 Speaker 1: of the abandoned former United States these days. Tilda regarded 420 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:11,680 Speaker 1: Scout warily, fully appreciating for the first time not only 421 00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:15,120 Speaker 1: the situation she'd left the previous owner in, but also 422 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 1: what a target it made them. Yet she didn't think 423 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 1: they'd be better off without Scout, especially not with the 424 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 1: winters so rapidly descending on them. All done, she asked, 425 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:29,880 Speaker 1: and Madison hummed affirmatively, clapping his hands together to get 426 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:32,919 Speaker 1: rid of the crumbs. I want to give you this. 427 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,680 Speaker 1: She held out, the plastic encased pocket knife. What is it, 428 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:42,639 Speaker 1: Madison inquired, It's a knife. He looked at her, waiting 429 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:47,760 Speaker 1: for the punchline. Tilda chuckled. See this button on the side, 430 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: She indicated with her gloved finger. You slide it up 431 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: and swished to clack. The knife swung out in a 432 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 1: quarter circle. Madison gasped, eyes wide. It was decently sized, 433 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:03,679 Speaker 1: a little long, then Tilda's pointer finger. Then you just 434 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:08,439 Speaker 1: slide it back in place, carefully so you don't cut yourself. Click. 435 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:13,879 Speaker 1: The blade returned to his plastic sheath. Madison took it 436 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 1: from her cautiously, Why, he asked, holding the knife in 437 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: his hands like an offering, just in case, try it 438 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:27,679 Speaker 1: out nervously. Madison pushed the button and slid it forward. 439 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:32,639 Speaker 1: The blade arcd out. Madison watched wide eyed. Tilda told 440 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 1: him to snap it back into place, and he complied slowly, 441 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 1: his gloved hands quivering. Don't use it unless I tell 442 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: you to keep it in your jacket pocket. He obeyed. 443 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:48,120 Speaker 1: It won't pop out and stab me, will it, No, 444 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:52,679 Speaker 1: Tilda assured him. Now, come on, let's get going. It 445 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:56,680 Speaker 1: was almost nine after all. She helped Madison up onto 446 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:00,159 Speaker 1: Scouts back and then followed suit, pulling hard right on 447 00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: the rains. They returned the way. They came up the 448 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: icy ramp and back into the highway. Heading west. It 449 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 1: was yet another and a long line of cloudy days. 450 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: These clouds were pillowy, like tufts of cotton, all connected 451 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 1: and blocking out the sun. They passed a couple more exits, 452 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 1: none of them looking promising in terms of food or 453 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: water or shelter. Most everything she could see from the 454 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:28,200 Speaker 1: highway it looked ransacked, whether by nature or humans. As 455 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:30,639 Speaker 1: a rule, she didn't venture too far down roads. I 456 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 1: add no sign there would be anything of value down them. 457 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:39,480 Speaker 1: Barring extreme circumstances, she didn't wander. In other words, she 458 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 1: didn't explore. They didn't have the resources to take the risk. 459 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 1: Sometimes you could get a good gauge of an exit 460 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 1: by the signs depicting the lodging, restaurant and gas options. 461 00:28:50,040 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 1: Even when you couldn't see these things from the main 462 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:55,920 Speaker 1: road if the signs were still legible. But most of 463 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 1: the signs they were passing today just had a heading 464 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,719 Speaker 1: with no options underneath. Not that the sign had been 465 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: stripped away by weather, but that there had never been 466 00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 1: anything other than the heading in the first place, not 467 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:09,840 Speaker 1: for the first time till to wish she had a map. 468 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: It probably wouldn't do her a whole lot of good, 469 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 1: but at least she could check if the road she 470 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 1: was taking lead anywhere connected to anything. Madison jolted against 471 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:23,520 Speaker 1: her immediately. She was on highlert. What she demanded, half 472 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 1: reaching back for a pistol, her eyes searching the tree line, 473 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 1: the asphalt ahead of them. Nothing. I just thought it 474 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: was nothing. His stuttering response did not calm her fears. 475 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:40,440 Speaker 1: She scammed the trees again, looking for anything moving against 476 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 1: the white, snowy backdrop between dark tree trunks. Jerkily, she 477 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: retook scouts reins. The horse snorted till to push her 478 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: into a quick trot unnerved. The day warmed as it 479 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 1: progressed the warmest it had been in a while. Signs 480 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 1: began popping up, semiregularly, announcing their increased proximity to a 481 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 1: city called Roanoke. Tilda debated with herself about venturing into 482 00:30:05,960 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 1: the city, but decided against it. They were still too 483 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 1: close to DC. Maybe if they passed a promising exit 484 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 1: on the outskirts. Maybe. And that brings us to the 485 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 1: end of this chapter. I hope that you enjoyed it. 486 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: And again I've talked about this before. It is very 487 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:48,880 Speaker 1: comical to me rereading these because I just remember so 488 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: clearly where I was when I wrote it right, and 489 00:30:53,440 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 1: I once again was fascinated with directions. I can tell oh, 490 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 1: I was looking up the maps. I was like worried 491 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 1: about getting it right or wrong. And a part of 492 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 1: this is, interestingly, as the Fallout TV show has become 493 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:15,160 Speaker 1: really popular. I was playing Fallout at this time and 494 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:19,320 Speaker 1: they in one of their games, they have the map 495 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 1: of Washington, DC and it's accurate, and I used that map. 496 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:28,200 Speaker 1: The part of this is Fallout at bast even though 497 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 1: it still scraps the Last of Us to me funny 498 00:31:30,800 --> 00:31:32,880 Speaker 1: the Last of Us hadn't come out yet, but very 499 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:36,160 Speaker 1: similar in a lot of ways. Also, the names. I'm 500 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 1: just so amused by the names I use because I 501 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 1: know exactly who I was thinking about what I write them. 502 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:48,360 Speaker 1: But in this chatter like things like Roanoke come up, 503 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 1: which clearly, if you're someone like me who is big 504 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: into horror, you've heard the story of Roanoke, Like, oh yeah, yeah, 505 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:01,640 Speaker 1: a bunch of things like that. I will say a teaser. 506 00:32:01,680 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 1: We don't normally do teasers, but in the next chapter. 507 00:32:05,320 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: The next chapter is pretty intense. It's got that action. Okay, 508 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 1: it's got some some things happening, things were happening, but 509 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 1: you'll have to wait a month to find out, which 510 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 1: I know some people cannot stand, but I like the anticipation. 511 00:32:24,280 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 1: All right, well, listeners, I hope that you enjoyed it. 512 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: As always here shout out to Christina who makes these 513 00:32:30,280 --> 00:32:34,000 Speaker 1: amazing amazing. We do enjoy doing these. So if there's 514 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 1: anything like this that you would like us to try, 515 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 1: please send us a suggestion. You can email us. Its 516 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 1: Stephanie mom Stuff at iHeartMedia dot com. You can find 517 00:32:42,080 --> 00:32:44,160 Speaker 1: us on Twitter at mom Stuff podcast, or on Instagram 518 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 1: and TikTok at stuff I Never told you. We are 519 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:49,760 Speaker 1: also on YouTube, and we have a Tapeltic store, and 520 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:51,280 Speaker 1: we have a book you can get wherever you get 521 00:32:51,320 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 1: your books. Thanks, it's always too, our super producer Christina 522 00:32:54,680 --> 00:32:57,120 Speaker 1: are excited to Pruser Meyer and our contributor Joey. Thank 523 00:32:57,200 --> 00:32:59,600 Speaker 1: you and thanks to you for listening. Steffan never told 524 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 1: me his books of iHeart Radio. For more podcasts from 525 00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 1: My Heart Radio, you can check out the Heart Radio 526 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:05,280 Speaker 1: Apple podcast wherever you listen to your favorite shows