1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha. I'm not going to 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: stuff I've never told you protection iHeart radio and welcome 3 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: to another edition of Smindy Fiction. Yes, yes, yes, yes, 4 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: um as always easier or once a month, so if 5 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: it's not your thing, which I totally get, uh, you 6 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: can skip it. Also, this is ongoing. We're currently in 7 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: a continuing story. We are on a chapter six. I 8 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: believe I do this every time. UM. But yeah, it's 9 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 1: a continuing story, so you'll definitely want to go back 10 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:50,480 Speaker 1: and listen to the chapters before this because we're getting 11 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: into some of the action now. I think there's been 12 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: a lot of build up, but now we're getting into that. 13 00:00:55,640 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: As I said before on these um, this was a 14 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: part of my first time doing National Novel Writing Month. UM, 15 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:09,399 Speaker 1: so it's not I don't really edit it. Uh. And 16 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: this was in so it's kind of it's just kind 17 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: of interesting to see what I was thinking about writing 18 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: about back then. Um. And we did because we just 19 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: got out of November. I know it's like the end 20 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: of December when you hear this, but our recording schedule 21 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: as bonkers, So we did just get out of November, 22 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: and I've loved hearing. We asked some of you if 23 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: you did Nanaimo right in, and I got some great 24 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: facts because I I had been like, oh, I think 25 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 1: people might be cheating. Um, but people people wrote in 26 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: and they corrected me and and told me about their stories. 27 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 1: Keep that up because we love we love hearing about 28 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 1: that kind of stuff. Um. And I'm just curious. I 29 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: love this idea, Nanta. I'm also interesting because it's kind 30 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: of like some people do plan it. Don't get me wrong, 31 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: but if you're like me and you're just like write something, 32 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: it's just what is going on in your mind. It's 33 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: kind of like a psyche, like a look into your sky. 34 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: It is. But I would love to see like people 35 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: have done, like rom comms or or I don't know, 36 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: I would. I would just very much appreciate you letting 37 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: us know. Also, as always, thanks to the people who 38 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: have already written in two and thanks to Christina who 39 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: makes these happen, and for the people have written in 40 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 1: and recognized that Christina is the amazing person who makes 41 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: these happen. We do appreciate that as well. But also, 42 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: as I always say in these, this is one of 43 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 1: those things where I also get if this is totally 44 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: the worst time for this to come out for you 45 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: because the content warning I have here a little bit 46 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: of like aftermath of gun violence in this chapter, illness, 47 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: threat of violence and child separation, hunger, cood language, um, 48 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: child danger, heavy child danger, infertility, stigma around sex and illness, 49 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: stigma around infertility, lack of agency around your body. Uh. 50 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 1: This chapter has some able is um or internalized able 51 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: ism ideas as well. So if you're hearing that and 52 00:02:57,919 --> 00:02:59,519 Speaker 1: you haven't heard the rest of them, be like, what 53 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: is this? Yeah, here's the quicker recap. So the global 54 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: population has been decimated by this virus that causes infertility. UM. 55 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: The government, along with a religious organization called arm A 56 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,959 Speaker 1: r M. It determines where, like when a child is 57 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: actually born, where that child will go. UM. That's determined 58 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 1: by the Board of Better Parenting as well. And so 59 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,239 Speaker 1: Tilda has her child and is unwilling to be separated 60 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: from him, her child, Madicine. So she ran away from 61 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: these conception centers and government centers and they've been on 62 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: the run for seven years. Uh. And it's winter, winter 63 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: is coming. Oh, Madison has this cough that is very concerning. 64 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: Their goals aren't good. Their supplies aren't good. Like nothing's 65 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: looking good. Uh. And then they were finally cornered by 66 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: these enforcers who worked for the government, who have been 67 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: searching for what they call Priority number one case, which 68 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: is Tilda and her son. And Tilda and Madison narrowly 69 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: escape the enforcers. Uh. And Tilda is shot in the 70 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: leg as they steal a car. And that is where 71 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: we are. So it's not good. I mean a lot 72 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: of bad things are happening. Or Tilda put her through 73 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: some things. I did put Tilda through some things, And 74 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: to be honest, it's not gonna get a lot better 75 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: very soon. But on that very cheerful note, and let 76 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: us get into the story. Tilda took a moment to 77 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,239 Speaker 1: evaluate the situation. They couldn't stay in this car for long. 78 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: It would draw too much attention. Blood poured from the 79 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 1: hole in her left calf. It shook uncontrollably, simultaneously hot 80 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: and cold. It hurt, but not nearly as much as 81 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: it should adrenaline network. But it would fade eventually, probably 82 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: sooner rather than later. And then what their whole world 83 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: consisted of walking, of being mobile? How could they carry 84 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: on with her leg injured. She didn't know how to 85 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: properly heal a bullet wound. The damage would most likely 86 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: be permanent. She cut that thought off before it could 87 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 1: fully form, horrified at the prospect of it and what 88 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: it would mean. Ringing filled her ears. Her uneven gulpen 89 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: gasp muted. Oh, yes, they were in trouble. Tilta took 90 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: her eyes off the road for a moment to study Madison. 91 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 1: Apart from being pale, shaken and sick, he looked otherwise 92 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: all right. He stared at her, eyes round and gleaming. 93 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 1: His lip trembled. Directing her eyes back to the asphalt, 94 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: she asked, you are right, baby, no answer. She could 95 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: feel his gaze unwavering and heavy. Did you hear me, 96 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: she prodded. His ears must be buzzing too, He sniffled, 97 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: you're bleeding. An odd tingling was slowly spreading through her, 98 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: leaving in its wake a more disturbing numbness. It's fine, 99 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: she deflected, and if not for the tremor in her voice, 100 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: it might have passed for normal. Madison, intelligent and perceptive, 101 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: saw right through the lie. The tears collected at the 102 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: corners of his eyes spilled over. She took a gasping breath, 103 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: stomach clenching as the first heart wrenching sob broke free. 104 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: It's okay, we'll be fine. We just a wave of 105 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: pain flared up her leg and she broke off for 106 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 1: a moment. Swallowing, she picked back up, stars in her eyes. 107 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: Just gotta get to town and then get some bandages 108 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,720 Speaker 1: on it and get you use some medicine and we'll 109 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: be fine. Towns don't fix everything, madisone hiccuped Tilda would 110 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:43,919 Speaker 1: have laughed at the situation. Wasn't so severe. His bawling 111 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: turned into a fit of coughs. No, they don't, she agreed. 112 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: But it's all we've got. And I'm so sorry for that, 113 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 1: she thought, but didn't say. Just try and on, calm 114 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: down and we'll be there soon. Mass And curled up 115 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: in the seat, watching her as if she disappear, if 116 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: he looked away, and his gaze could pin her. There. 117 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: Outside their window was a tableau of yellow and blue 118 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: smudging into each other like broad brushstrokes. It gave Tilda 119 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:14,840 Speaker 1: the odd and impression that they were in a painting, 120 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: always moving but going nowhere. Time faded in and out 121 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: every blink seeming disproportionately long. Tilda kept catching herself forgetting 122 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: to breathe, and would suck in a whistling gasp that 123 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: somehow made her feel more oxygen deprived. Blurry road signs 124 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: cropped up more and more frequently, but she couldn't make 125 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: them out. When she started to ask Madisone to read 126 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: them to her, she found her tongue too dry to 127 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: speak properly. Chastising herself for her weakness, she blinked until 128 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: the letters crystallized. Topeka eleven miles. Time to ditch the car, 129 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: she decided grimly. The idea sent a thrill of terror 130 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: up her spine. It would draw too much attention. Possibly 131 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: it was even equipped with a tracking device. They'd have 132 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: to take their chances, and to pick up as much 133 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: as she tried to refuse herself the luxury of the thought, 134 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: she kept wondering what would happen to Madison if she died. 135 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: It might be only a leg wound, but blood loss 136 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,720 Speaker 1: could be deadly, not to mention infection, and there was 137 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: the possibility she would be left unable to walk. What 138 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: would they do then wait for the enforcers to catch 139 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: up with them. They'd have to find a place to 140 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: hide so she could recover, so they could both recover, 141 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 1: she admitted, as Madison coughed. The longer they stayed, the 142 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: greater the chance the enforcers were discovered them. But there 143 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: was always the chance, however slim, that they'd give up 144 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: move on. She could hope, even though there was only 145 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: the ragged edge she had to keep going. Tilda flipped 146 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: on the turn signal, as ridiculous as it was, taking 147 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: the first exit for Topeka. Rows and rows of houses 148 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: sprung up on either side of them, all of them 149 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: fading and similar and average in every way. Tilda assessed 150 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: their surroundings through billery vision, searching for a place to 151 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: ditch the car. As she weaved slowly and evenly down 152 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 1: the road, looking for a parking garage or a lot, 153 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: or any air where a car would not draw attention, 154 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: a huge red arrow caught her eye. She fought against 155 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,559 Speaker 1: the haze encroaching upon her, stringing together enormous, dull yellow letters, 156 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: one at a time, car wash. She mouthed the words silently, 157 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: her foggy brain gripping to the car and car wash 158 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: like a lifeboat. Wosily and without conscious decision, she followed 159 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: the arrow of a slight incline and navigated the car 160 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: into what appeared to be a garage. The hanging strips 161 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: of cloth a dark portal that obscured the vehicle from view. 162 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: She powered the car down and pulled the keys out 163 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: of the ignition. They slipped from her fingers and jingled 164 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: to the floor and Tiltal's world tilted dangerously when she'd 165 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:42,080 Speaker 1: bent over to retrieve them. It took her several sitting 166 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 1: breasts before she was able to pull herself upright and 167 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: deposit the keys into her carrier bag. Nauseated, she fumbled 168 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 1: with the handle, falling out of the car and scraping 169 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 1: her knees on the concrete. Using the side mirror for leverage, 170 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: she heaved herself to her feet, doing her best to 171 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: ignore the red and black stand covering most of her 172 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: left calf, who's slowly a distress cry sliced through her 173 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: blood loss induced apathy. She turned towards it, masson, eyes 174 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,839 Speaker 1: huge and hands clapped over. His mouth gaped at her. 175 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:13,320 Speaker 1: Clearing her throat, she tested her left legs ability to 176 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:17,319 Speaker 1: hold her weight. It wobbled warningly, but held Tilda knew 177 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 1: it wouldn't last for long. She limped over towards medicine, 178 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: dismayed and irrationally stung when he took the tiniest step 179 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: back as she approached with her hand held out for him. 180 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: But then he rushed to her side, crying quietly, wrapping 181 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: an arm around her waist to do what he could 182 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: to help her. He murmured comfortingly to her. Untilda felt 183 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: her love for him swell, a temporary remedy for the pain. 184 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,199 Speaker 1: Her steps became sure as they exited through the back 185 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: of the car rush and started down a residential street. 186 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: They walked for several minutes and unnatural silence pressing against 187 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 1: Tilda's ear drums. She couldn't tell if there was no 188 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,839 Speaker 1: sound or if her body had diverted all energy from 189 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: hearing to her throbbing leg. She didn't know where they 190 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 1: were going. All she knew was she had to keep going. 191 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: With every step, she waged a battle, the world increasingly 192 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: small as it was consumed with agony. Her vision tunneled 193 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: and she dropped heavily to her knees. So great was 194 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 1: the pain in her legs she barely felt the pebbles 195 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: digging and cutting into her skin. Madison sobbed loudly, attempting 196 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: to pull her to her feet. Tilda's body was unresponsive. 197 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: Her effort to stand failed. Miserably. She started to crawl, floored, 198 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: feeling the color drained from her face. Her only thought 199 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: was to keep going, to get Madison to safety before 200 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:33,760 Speaker 1: she passed out. His crying was distant in her ears. 201 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:37,679 Speaker 1: She saw a movement at the corner of her eye. 202 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 1: She turned her head sluggishly to the left of look, 203 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: collapsing on her right side. The world spun sickeningly. Small 204 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 1: hands tugged at her, trying to pull her up. Tilda 205 00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 1: thought she heard a woman far away as Madisone's weeping 206 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:55,439 Speaker 1: faded in and out, sharpening and blurring, and everything drifted 207 00:11:55,440 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: from her, leaving her in darkness. M It was March. 208 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: Madison was four years old. They've been on the run 209 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: for almost three years. Tilda thought it would be easier 210 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: now that Madison could walk on his own and keep 211 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: up with her fairly well, and it was in most ways. 212 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: His natural inquisitive nature made him prone to start and 213 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 1: stop and wander and pick up things, which Tilda adored 214 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: in him, but it certainly presented some challenges to a 215 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 1: life on the run. Now it was night, the full 216 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 1: moon shrouded by clouds, silver rays of light shining through 217 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: and dotting the landscape. Two enforcers had spotted them. They 218 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 1: always seemed to come in a pair. Tilda, exhausted, saw 219 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:50,720 Speaker 1: them on the road ahead, too late. They were heading 220 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: towards them. Tilda scooped Madison up, tearing off into the 221 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 1: woods and tumbling into a ditch in her hurry. She 222 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: shot back up and ran as fast as she could 223 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 1: lift her legs, dodging trees and jumping over roots, the 224 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: soggy leaves catching at her feet, but she ran, her 225 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:09,199 Speaker 1: lungs burning and her heart pounding wildly. Soon her legs 226 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: would collapse under the strain. Raised roots snagged her foot, 227 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: sending her crashing into the forest floor, Panting harshly, the 228 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 1: beginnings of despair starting to take hold. She pulled herself 229 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:22,359 Speaker 1: up to her knees when she caught sight of an overhang, 230 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: almost completely obscured by leaves, moss, and hanging roots. With 231 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 1: Madison still in her arms, she crawled over as quietly 232 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: as she could, trying to disturb the leaves as little 233 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,839 Speaker 1: as possible. She could hear the loud footsteps of the 234 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: enforcers getting closer. The space underneath the overhang was small. 235 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 1: They had to slide underneath it, Tilda curling up to 236 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: keep her feet from view. They lay in the dark, 237 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 1: damp space, wet leaves clinging to them, doing their best 238 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: to breathe quietly. Madison, too young to understand, wasn't scared. 239 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 1: It was more of a game to him. He didn't 240 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: have to ask. He knew that they didn't want to caught, 241 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: but he knew it in the way of a game 242 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: of hide and seek, the danger not yet real to him. 243 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: Tilda draped an arm around him, willing him to be 244 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 1: still and silent. The footsteps of the enforcers slowed just 245 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 1: outside their hiding space. Please, Tilda beg silently, please. A 246 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 1: mouse poked his head out of a small hole in 247 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: the dirt near their heads, brown fur lighter than the 248 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: leaves around it, ears swiveling and tiny nose twitching out. 249 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: It crawled, paying no heed to the humans hiding near it. 250 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: Madison opened his mouth. Untilda clapped her hand over it, 251 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: muffling his exclamation. He jumped, startled, but did not react. 252 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 1: Beyond that, the enforcers, now about ten feet away, paused, 253 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: listening before continuing their search in the area in front 254 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: of the overhanging, but gradually they moved away from it. 255 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: Turning slowly, Madison freed himself from the hand over his mouth, 256 00:14:53,960 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 1: I serious, leaning to whisper n Tilda's ear. Mouse. Tilda 257 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 1: didn't comprehend it, first, watching the enforcers as their footsteps faded, 258 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: but then Madison pointed at the creature working his way 259 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 1: through the leaves, stopping to dig in the dirt. Incredulous, 260 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: she half grinned, nodding but gesturing for him to be quiet. 261 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: He smiled, focusing his avid attention on the road. They 262 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: remained hidden long after the mouse and the enforcers had gone, 263 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,239 Speaker 1: until Madison fixed her with a gaze of pure boredom. 264 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: Fidgeting carefully, the two emerged out of their nature provided 265 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: hiding space, like two creatures birth from Earth itself. Without thought, 266 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: she pulled Madison to a fierce embrace, laughing and crying 267 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: hysterically into his neck. He allowed it, surprised and confused, 268 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: mouse he'd whispered, she loved him more than anything. Sometimes 269 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: in her worry and doubt she lost track of that. 270 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: She took it for granted, but she do anything to 271 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: protect him and would fight for him as long as 272 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:57,960 Speaker 1: she could. For that one night in the cold and 273 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: dreary dark of March, she was glory, sleep at peace 274 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: with her decision to take Madison. Tilda lifted the now 275 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: drowsy child and walked away from the enforcers and out 276 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: of the forest. And that brings us to the end 277 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: of this chapter of Terminus, and it's still looking pretty grim. 278 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: I did have I kind of just wanted to mention 279 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff I write. And I don't think 280 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: this is just me. I think everybody does this, but 281 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: I'm such a huge nerd. I put references in there, 282 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 1: and they're they're like the most like you know, you 283 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: really have to know deep cut references. So it's not 284 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: like you're reading it like, oh, she's talking about Star Wars. 285 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 1: I mean that Jimmy World one was pretty on point. 286 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: But other than that, But this chapter I was reading 287 00:16:57,880 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: and I was like, I know exactly what horror movie 288 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 1: I'm talking about, even though I haven't seen it in 289 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: quite a long time. But and I know this is 290 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: going to sound like a completely random question. Samantha, what 291 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: are your thoughts on automatic car washes. I like them. Yeah, 292 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 1: I didn't go through one until I was an adult 293 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: because and when I say adult out of college, because 294 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 1: we didn't have any of those at n l J. 295 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:26,320 Speaker 1: We had the self wash and it didn't pop up 296 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:28,880 Speaker 1: like it has now. And even now, I think they're 297 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: more in the suburban areas and they are like metro 298 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: areas because you can get hand washes and like custom washes, 299 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: but those are expensive. But the automatic car washes, like 300 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: it was rare. So but I'm a fan because I'm like, yeah, 301 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: five dollars rints off my rints off my car, thank you. 302 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:48,080 Speaker 1: That's nice. See I am terrified of them. Why I 303 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: bring it up. Yeah, I'm really scared of them. I 304 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: was as a kid too, but they're They're featured in 305 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: a lot of horror movies. Um, it's a big like 306 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: jump scare moment if you don't know what's happening in 307 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 1: the car wash because it's like everything is moving, it's 308 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 1: dark and like all that stuff. So that's where the 309 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 1: car wash thing counture. I haven't. I was just funny 310 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 1: when I was going back over reading it because I 311 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 1: haven't read this in a while, I was like, oh, yeah, 312 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:17,360 Speaker 1: I remember I'm afraid of car washes. Yes, yeah, well 313 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 1: hopefully hopefully this has been I come down from that 314 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: pretty tense chapter. It was. It was going back over it. 315 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 1: I had a lot of moments of like, wow, this 316 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: is really I mean, it's Graham, but also this whole 317 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: idea of like what what would you do if you've 318 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 1: been shot and you can't walk? And and that's where 319 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 1: I was like, this kind of able us. Like the 320 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 1: way I was describing it, like oh, she's she might 321 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:42,639 Speaker 1: as well be dead, but it is it's such a 322 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: grim like you don't have medicine and the like infection 323 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 1: sets in and that could be it. But it was 324 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,400 Speaker 1: just something I was kind of like, huh, okay, that's 325 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 1: it's good to know. I'm glad I've made I've broke 326 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: this's been growth. Recognize that you gotta you gotta note 327 00:18:57,320 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: the past and then moving on. But yeah, as always, 328 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: we love doing these. We hope that you enjoyed listening 329 00:19:04,920 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: listening to them. Uh, and it'll be back next month 330 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:14,280 Speaker 1: and you'll see what happens. Yes, if you have any 331 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,879 Speaker 1: theories or any as we always say, anything in the 332 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: public domain that we could do to take like a 333 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:21,880 Speaker 1: little mini Breit because we do love doing these. They're 334 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: really fun. Please I'll let us know. You can email 335 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:25,919 Speaker 1: us a stuff in your mom Stuff at ihart mea 336 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: dot com. You can find us on Twitter at mom 337 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: Stuff podcast or Instagram and Stuff I Ever Told You. 338 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: Thanks as always to our super producer Christina magic Maker Yes, 339 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 1: and thanks to you for listening Stuff I Never Told 340 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:38,639 Speaker 1: The Protection by heart Radio. For more podcasts from my 341 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 1: heart Radio, you can check out the heart Radio app, 342 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 1: Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.