1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and all come stuff I 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: never told you production of iHeartRadio, and welcome to another 3 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: edition of Spinty Fiction, which is once a month. This 4 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: is an ongoing story. We are at chapter ten, so 5 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: go check out the rest of the chapters if you 6 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: haven't heard them already. These are the work of Christina 7 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 1: Amazing makes them sound so good. This chapter is getting 8 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: split into two again because I'm really bad at chapter length, 9 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: I guess, but it got kind of overly long, so 10 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: we're having this one. I will say for the content 11 00:00:54,960 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: warning child endangerment, disease, pandemic, high panic attack sounds. Oh yeah, 12 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: that's a little cheeser of what's to come. Yeah, like 13 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: I've said in all of these, I get it. If 14 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: that is not you're saying right now or ever, that's 15 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: totally cool. But yes, this is something I wrote during 16 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: Nana Ramo on twenty ten. We are getting to a 17 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: part I'm very very eager to talk about. Like I've 18 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 1: liked talking about all of this, but there's a part 19 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: coming up where I'm like, oh, I see what was going. Yes, 20 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: I also say, as I said in the last couple 21 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,680 Speaker 1: of ones, I spent way too much time worried about 22 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 1: like the maps in the directions, Like it's very clear 23 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: that I did. Apologies for that. Also, I know this 24 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: is not accurate in terms of the stamina of a child. 25 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: Like when I was reading it, I was like, wow, 26 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: So just put it out there. Just put that out there, Okay, 27 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: so quick recap. Humanity is dying out due to a 28 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: sex based disease. A new government has taken control alongside 29 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: a religious group named arm and they control all aspects 30 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: of conception and if a child is born, they control 31 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 1: where the child goes. Our main character, Tilda, has escaped 32 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: with her infant son, Madison, and they've been on the 33 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,160 Speaker 1: run for seven years and now the elements are against them. 34 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 1: The enforcers are hot on their tracks, and after suffering 35 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: an injury from the enforcers, Tilda and Madison meet a 36 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: kind woman named Lynn, who helped Tilda recover and told 37 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: her about a resistance and possible cure in Kansas City. 38 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: So that is where we are. That is where our 39 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: duo is heading, So let's get into it. When Tilda 40 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: woke several hours later, neither of them had moved her muscles. 41 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,119 Speaker 1: Screamed at her as she shifted under the blanket. Madison 42 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: moaned softly in his sleep, rolling over to face her. 43 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: His young face hypnotized her for a long moment. When 44 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:14,959 Speaker 1: she broke free, her eyes roved over to the window, 45 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: but she couldn't get a good read on the time. 46 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: The dark curtains prevented much light from getting in. For 47 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: the first time in a long time, she wished she 48 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: had a watch. She dozed off, the warmth of the blanket, 49 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: slullowing her back to sleep. Madison, moving restlessly next to her, 50 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: awakened her to a darker room. Blinking away the sleep, 51 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: she looked over to the child, whose puffy eyes stared 52 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: into hers. Tilda smiled at him, pushing herself into a 53 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: sitting position, Her back cracked and she scooted off the bed, 54 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: Madison tracking her progress but making no effort to move himself. 55 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: She could understand why, after the warmth of the blankets, 56 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: the cool air ate at her bones. You hungry, she asked, 57 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: voice rough with sleep, Pulling the blanket closer around him, 58 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: he nodded. She joins popping. She first pulled aside section 59 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: of curtain, judging by the light that it was late afternoon, 60 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 1: replacing the fabric. She trudged over to her pack and 61 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: zipping the second pocket and sorting through the provisions Land 62 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: had sent with them. How about a granola bar? Is 63 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 1: there a peanut butter one? Madison turned over to face her. Grinning, 64 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: Tilda pulled out a bar labeled honey peanut butter oat 65 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: for him and cinnamon almond for herself. Pulling the water 66 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: bottles out, she sat at Madison's feet, handing him his 67 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: bar and water bottle. His fingers fumbled with the wrapper 68 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: for a second before it tore open and he bit 69 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 1: off the corner. Tilda's own bar tasted better than expected, 70 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: though the drag granola got stuck in her throat. She 71 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: had to take a swig of water after every bite. 72 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 1: It's good, Madison said, quietly, already almost finished. Do you 73 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: want something else? They could always pick up something else 74 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 1: while they were here or in Kansas City, though she'd 75 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: rather avoid it until they were further from Topeka. Madison 76 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,919 Speaker 1: considered it for a moment, munching on his last bite, 77 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: but shook his head. Tilda finished her own, wiping the 78 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: crumbs from her jacket. How much further, Madison asked, sipping 79 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: at his water, about thirteen hours. We need to get 80 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: ready to leave downcast, Madison nodded, finally shutting himself off 81 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: the blanket. Tilda took their now dry and stiff clothes 82 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: from the radiator, folding them and replacing them in the bag, 83 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: stuffing the blanket on top. Then she started pulling on 84 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: her boots, hat, gloves, and scarf, Madison doing the same 85 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: next to her, Struggling a bit with the laces. Tilda 86 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 1: reached over and tied them for him, Wrapping his scarf 87 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: around his neck. He tucked on his hat and gloves, 88 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: looking up at her for direction. Tilda slid the water 89 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: back in the bag and zipped it closed, swinging it 90 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 1: on to her shoulders. Inspecting Madison one final time, she 91 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: swung open the door, checking down the hallway and finding 92 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: it clear. With Madison's hand once again in hers, they 93 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:54,799 Speaker 1: left the motel. Dusk was falling. Tilda cast a sweeping 94 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 1: glance around the familiar anxiety at being out in the open, 95 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: surrounded by possible hide spots gnawing at her insides. With 96 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 1: quick trotting steps, they took the exit ramp and got 97 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: back on I seventy. Darkness fell quickly. They had slept 98 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 1: away most of the day, and night came sooner as 99 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: ball encroached on them. Gradually her legs loosened, and they 100 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 1: settled into a relatively quick pace. They didn't speak, a 101 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 1: fact tiled a lamented, but figured was for the best, 102 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: both to keep an ear out for the enforcers and 103 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: to not draw any attention to themselves. Tonight, the sky 104 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: was clear, pinpricks of light and a sliver of moon, 105 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: eliminating the road with a silvery glow. She had a 106 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: passing sensation that they were wading through a sea of space, 107 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: an alien world of strange light. The absence of any sound, 108 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: no crickets, no owls, no rustling leaves added to the effect. 109 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 1: For hours, they walked into the night as it grew 110 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 1: steadily darker and then slowly shaded lighter again, a purple 111 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: twilight contrasting with the dark outline of the ground. The 112 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: sun rose where the road on horizon blended together, a 113 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: mirage of fire shimmering on the asphalt. It gave Tilda 114 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: the impression the road went on forever, meeting with vast 115 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: space and stretching even further. But as they kept walking, 116 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: they could touch the sky red and orange lights spread 117 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: like a lifting curtain, the edges of the trees fiery, 118 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: the fingers of warmth touched their faces. Skyscrapers and buildings 119 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: loomed in the distance. The sun, a perfect circle, still 120 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: large in orange from its rising, hung over them. They 121 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: passed a sign that read Kansas City, eight miles. They 122 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: had been walking at twelve hours, only snacking on some 123 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: almonds and trail mics through the night. Masson looked ashen 124 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: with exhaustion, but he kept up with Tilda, uncomplaining. Dull 125 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: senses came back online the open fields on either side 126 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: of the road, making her extremely nervous. Sisst Madison croaked, 127 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: more tired than hopeful. Yes, Tilda replied her steps, growing 128 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: more tentative of their own volition. This whole plan seemed 129 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,679 Speaker 1: stupidly naive. Now she had half a mind to turn back. 130 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: How could she think there would be a way for 131 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: them to sneak in when this whole region of what 132 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 1: was once known as the United States was flat, and 133 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: of course there would be enforcers here they were in Topeka. 134 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: But these thoughts only slowed her steps, her body mostly 135 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: an autopilot. Now the buildings stood like specters forbidding. An 136 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 1: ominous dark squares of broken windows, like eyes watching their approach. 137 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: A river separated them from Pansas City, the bridge spanning 138 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 1: at missing sections towards the middle, slabs of concrete held 139 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: up by cables. The once artistic network of wires connecting 140 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: the road to the metal structure arching over the river 141 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: had almost all snapped or broken away, only a few 142 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: remaining intact. Tilda could not think of a reason for this, 143 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,439 Speaker 1: other than the slow erosion of materials going so long 144 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: without maintenance, and natural occurrences like tornadoes. But even give 145 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 1: in that the damage seemed severe. The air was unnaturally 146 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 1: still and silent around them, as if the whole world 147 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 1: was waiting on the edge of something. Tilda was falling, 148 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: and she couldn't stop her path, a line from which 149 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: she could not stray, not for long. All roads led 150 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 1: to hear they took the closest exit, Tilda reckoning entering 151 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: the city through the suburbs, and I might provide them 152 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: some level of cover. Of course, she'd have to consult 153 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: the map to locate the Liberty Memorial, but the chances 154 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 1: of the Resistance actually being located there were remote Tilda's mind. 155 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:35,719 Speaker 1: She chose to put off thinking about what they'd do 156 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: if and most likely when the Liberty Memorial turned up nothing. 157 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: With Madison so clearly exhausted and she herself running on 158 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: fumes in the last vestiges of adrenaline, she toyed with 159 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: the idea of finding an empty house and resting there 160 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: until night fell, again, offering them some additional protection as 161 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,559 Speaker 1: they searched the city. Now that they were here, however, 162 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,959 Speaker 1: she wanted to find something, some indication that this had 163 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: not been a fool's air, and the lure of somewhere 164 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: they could be safe, of a place that might have 165 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: a cure, was too strong a siren song, keeping Tilda going, 166 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: even as part of her labeledness as dangerously reckless. Houses, 167 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: all similar and build in color, packed the streets tightly. 168 00:10:16,559 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: Tilda had the brief notion that they were in a 169 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,079 Speaker 1: maze of tombstones, those empty houses ready to swallow them whole, 170 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: the rows of them never ending. They walked down the 171 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: thin alleyways between houses, breath puffing in the cold. The 172 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: passages were narrow enough that the two could not pass 173 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: through them side by side, Madison trailing behind Tilda with 174 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: a tight grip on her gloved hand. Tilda wondered fleedingly 175 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: if any of the houses had people in them, but 176 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: quickly squashed that thought. She was on edge enough as 177 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: it was, feeling that she was navigating through a colony 178 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: of slumbering beast that could wake at any moment. Emerging 179 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 1: from what must have been at least the twentieth row, 180 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 1: a green sun caught her eye, glinting in the sunlight. 181 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,679 Speaker 1: At the end of the residential street, where it met 182 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: a maize road, it read twenty third Street Bridge with 183 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,880 Speaker 1: a faded white arrow pointing to the left. Knowing eventually 184 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: they'd have to cross a bridge, Tilda led them across 185 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: the street and further down, planning to follow the main 186 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: road while under the cover of the houses. She hoped 187 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: that this bridge was in better shape than the last one. 188 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: They waded through the fences and debris cluttered in between 189 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: the houses, Tilda, keeping track of the road as they progressed. 190 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,319 Speaker 1: Signs for the bridge let them know that they were 191 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: on the right path. Navigating through the seemingly endless sprawl, 192 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: Tilda began to doubt the bridge's existence. While time held 193 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,679 Speaker 1: little meaning for her, these days, she had become a 194 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: pretty good judge of distance as a result of their 195 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: nomadic life. By her estimation, they'd covered a distance of 196 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 1: about four miles since taking the Kansas City exit. The 197 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 1: sun now almost midway to its highest point, The road 198 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: veered sharply to the right, away from the line of buildings. 199 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 1: It rose steadily, forming a low hill over muddy water. 200 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 1: It wasn't like most bridges Tilda encountered, with no wiring 201 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: or support on the side of it. It was simply 202 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: like the road on either side of it, with a 203 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 1: long sloping ramp to enter and exit. Near it was 204 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: what Tilda guests had once been a railroad, crossing iron 205 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: beams forming a tight diamond pattern of crisscrossing support. But 206 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: the bottom of it had collapsed, the tips of the 207 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 1: bars poking out from the river below like spikes. They 208 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: stopped for a moment, Tilda studying the structure for any 209 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: flaws that a part of her hoped to find. Madison 210 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: mirrored her hesitation. Do we have to cross, he asked 211 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: in a tiny, plaintive voice with a controlled exhale. Tilda nodded, 212 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:40,959 Speaker 1: and he made a small noise at the back of 213 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: his throat, staring up at her pleadingly. He could feel 214 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: it too. Then whatever force propelled them forward in the 215 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 1: deadness in the air, Waiting relentless, they stepped out from 216 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: the cover of the buildings, Madison slightly behind her, and 217 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: onto the road, the soles of their boots gripping at 218 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: the incline. The bridge looked intact, but Tilda knew they 219 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,680 Speaker 1: would have to be very mindful. The ramp was steeper 220 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: than it looked, Arching steadily upwards, Cracks littered the cement, 221 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: but the road felt relatively stable. Still. Tilda chose her 222 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,839 Speaker 1: steps carefully, as did Madison behind her. She couldn't tell 223 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: if the wobbliness was in her knees or the structure 224 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: beneath her. As they ascended, the cracks turned into missing chunks, 225 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: gaping holes in the asphalt for them to avoid. A 226 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: deep indent in the road indicated where the ramp ended 227 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: and the bridge began. The ground fell away beneath them, 228 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: giving way to a steep drop and a muddy river. 229 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:38,520 Speaker 1: The water flowed noiselessly, carving its path, eating away at rock. 230 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,719 Speaker 1: The air that previously had been so still gusted over 231 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: the river, buffeting them massen clung to Tilda, who adjusted 232 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,319 Speaker 1: the straps in her backpack to keep it from catching 233 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: the wind and knocking her from her feet. She couldn't 234 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: make out what awaited them on the other side. The 235 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:58,559 Speaker 1: rise was too steep, the holes grew more frequent cracks 236 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: spider webbing across the length the bridge. Tilda cogitated over 237 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: every step, like one in a minefield. A mighty guest 238 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,439 Speaker 1: of air made both of them stumble, her left foot 239 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: balancing on the edge of a missing chunk. Madison whimpered, 240 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: hunching over to minimize the effect of the wind. Swallowing 241 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: her fear, Tilda pressed forward, squeezing the tiny hand gripping 242 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 1: her own and coaxing Madison forward as well. They had 243 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: almost reached the peak. A large section of road was missing, 244 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: with only thin slivers on either side and a network 245 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: of support bars remaining. Tilda steered them to the right, 246 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: a sturdier looking oshen than the left. The absence of 247 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,240 Speaker 1: railing of any kind made Tilda's stomach to flips and 248 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: quickened her breathing. The slab was narrow enough that they 249 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 1: would have to cross single file. Keeping a hold of 250 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: Madison's hand, Tilda proceeded first, pausing each time after she 251 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 1: planted her foot, testing to see if it would hold. 252 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: Another rush of air buffeted them, Madison nearly falling, Tilda 253 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 1: yanking him upright with what must have been a painful 254 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: grip on his hand. She stole a glance back at him, 255 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 1: ticking in his glassy eyes. Full of exhaustion, but kept 256 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: alert with adrenaline, darting around wildly like a wild animal 257 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: caught in a trap. They needed to get off this bridge. 258 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 1: Once they had steadied themselves, they started again, the tasks 259 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: made harder by the incline. Tilda counted each step, not 260 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: allowing herself to look ahead to think of anything other 261 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 1: than where to plant her foot. Next. Seven exhale regroup. 262 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: Eight She wobbled, her arms outstretched like that of a 263 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: tight rope walker. Nine the wind gusted. She held her breath, 264 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: inching forward the sliver met with the rest of the road, 265 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: till a side and relieve her legs like noodles. When 266 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: they could move away from the edge of the bridge, 267 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 1: her first look down at the other side of the 268 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: river revealed nothing out of the ordinary. The road sloped downwards, 269 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 1: now making it almost more traitorous. A piece of concrete 270 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: crumbled beneath her feet, and she slipped, catching herself with 271 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: her free hand and almost pulling Madison off balance with her. 272 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: Taking a moment to get her bearings, Tilda eased back 273 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: to a standing position, never letting go of Madison. She 274 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,840 Speaker 1: teetered for a moment, but regained her footing, heart galloping 275 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 1: in her chest, pulsing in her fingertips. The descent didn't 276 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: take as long as the hike up. Un Tilda could 277 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: have collapsed in relief when they reached the other side, 278 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: the pavement unfurling before them, smooth of cracks. The ramp 279 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: wound to the right before twisting back again to the 280 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: left with a steady decline. Swollen knees made Tilda's gait jerky. 281 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 1: She felt stilted, as though she were a scarecrow, losing 282 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: straw with each step. Now that they were off the bridge, 283 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: the wind had died away and the air was once 284 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:45,160 Speaker 1: again still. Madison grasped her hand with both of his. 285 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: She could feel him trembling. His breast came showly uneven. 286 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: Tilda ran her other hand through his hair, slowly, hoping 287 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: to calm him. Directing her eyes back to the skyline, 288 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: she searched for any sign of the Liberty Memorial. Scanning 289 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: the outline of the bridges gave no hint. She really 290 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,159 Speaker 1: had no idea what it looked like, but it sounded 291 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:10,119 Speaker 1: like something she'd know once she'd seen it. Madison tripped 292 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: when they reached the first curve, falling to his knees. 293 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 1: Bending over, Tilda helped him up and then hoisted him 294 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,760 Speaker 1: into her arms, almost groaning aloud as the tendons and 295 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: her already sore back protested. She had hoped to avoid 296 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 1: crying him when the threat of enforcers was so real, 297 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: but at this point she'd pretty much have to drag 298 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: him anyway. I can walk, he mumbled, voiced grave with exhaustion. 299 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: You've walked enough, she adjested, her grip pulling her legs 300 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: to with stand the weight as she took her first 301 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 1: shaky steps. It's been almost fourteen hours. I should have 302 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: picked you up earlier. We'll stop soon, I promise. He 303 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:49,920 Speaker 1: nestled his head into the crook of her neck. Sighing, 304 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: she rubbed his back, searching for somewhere they could rest 305 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: until they recovered some strength. It was foolish of her 306 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 1: not to stop when they first entered the outskirts of 307 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: Kansas City. Now they were more suppose than ever and 308 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: too tired to do anything in the case of danger. 309 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: And that brings us to the end of this chapter 310 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: ten point one. We'll get the second half next month 311 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 1: of Terminus. Yes, you could definitely see how much I 312 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: was focused on the directions and the details, and this 313 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,239 Speaker 1: one I would love for anybody from Kansas City right 314 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 1: in and just tell me I'm way off. Did you 315 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 1: say a part of this is in Lawrence. Yeah, the Supernatural, 316 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: which by the way, is named one of the best 317 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 1: Cities to Retire apparently really top twenty list. I think 318 00:18:53,359 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 1: they made it. Well, there you go back. Fun fact. Well, 319 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 1: as I told you, I stayed in LARTs, and part 320 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,320 Speaker 1: of the whole thing is based on my road trip experience. 321 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: So when I was there, it was under a lot 322 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 1: of construction. But I'm sure maybe that's what's going on 323 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 1: right now. Maybe it's uh. I mean, I liked it there, 324 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: but it was under a lot of construction. This is 325 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: also like a chapter where I feel like it really 326 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:27,199 Speaker 1: showcases an idea that I love, which is just like, 327 00:19:28,440 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: if the world is dying out and like aliens come, 328 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: what will they think about like amusement parks, Like if 329 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: you don't know what these things are, right, what do 330 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: you think that they are? So that's certainly that's certainly 331 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: on display here. Also you can tell a thous and percent. 332 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: I was in my walking era. This is when I 333 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: was walking everywhere, and that's why I'd be like, it 334 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: would take an hour to do this, because I just knew, like, 335 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 1: if you walk, that's how long it would take to 336 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:03,439 Speaker 1: get this disc. Could it get do it? No? No? 337 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: But I did not care about that. But yeah, you 338 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: know are used to walking, Yeah, everywhere, like places that 339 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: were way too far away walk. It was just like 340 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: why did you do this? So it take me a 341 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:20,800 Speaker 1: whole day? Yeah, Like, well I finally got here and 342 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 1: you're like why, I was like what it's about to 343 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:29,919 Speaker 1: close and I need head. It was a whole It 344 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:31,879 Speaker 1: was a whole time for me. It's a whole time. 345 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: But yes, hopefully you enjoyed this edition of spanty fiction. 346 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:43,199 Speaker 1: I love doing them. Christina makes them amazing. So we 347 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: will be back with part two of this chapter in 348 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:48,880 Speaker 1: a month's time, But in the meantime, if you would 349 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:50,439 Speaker 1: like to write in, if you have any suggestions, we 350 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 1: could do for pieces like this that are in the 351 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:56,440 Speaker 1: public domain, that'd be really cool. You can email us. 352 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: Our email is stuffandia mom Stuff at iHeartMedia dot com. 353 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: You can find us on Twitter at most up Podcasts, 354 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,360 Speaker 1: or on Instagram and TikTok at Stuff Will Never Told You. 355 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: You also find us on YouTube, and we have a book. 356 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: You can pre order it Stuff You should read books 357 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 1: dot com. Thanks as always to our super producer Christina, 358 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: our executive producer Maya, and our contributor Joey. Thank you 359 00:21:14,840 --> 00:21:16,879 Speaker 1: and thanks to you for listening. Stuff I Never Told 360 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 1: You is production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from my 361 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: heart Radio, you can check out the iHeartRadio app Apple 362 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: Podcasts wherever you listen to your favorite ships.