1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Sanny and Samantha. I'm welcome to stuff 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: I never told you productive I hurried you, and welcome 3 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: to another edition of Sminty Fiction, which just a once 4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: a month thing we do. It's lightly edited on my end. 5 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: Christina puts amazing sound effects in there, so huge shout 6 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: out to her. We love doing these And if you 7 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: have any suggestion for something else we can do in 8 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: this realm that's in the public domain, we'll get us 9 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:45,239 Speaker 1: in trouble please, that's fine, we can't afford it. We 10 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: can't afford it, but that would be fun, especially because 11 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: we're moving into Halloween time. But that being said, this 12 00:00:55,200 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: is the final chapter of Terminus. This is part two 13 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: of Terminus, which is also called Big Things Start Small, 14 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: And this is the chapter you get where the title 15 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: came from till the end. 16 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 2: I like it. 17 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: My ex boyfriend used to hate that. He was like, 18 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:13,960 Speaker 1: that's how you can tell a piece of media is 19 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: bad if they say the title in it. I was like, wow, 20 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: the title is in here. It's had a lot of 21 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: opinions that you did. Really very unhappy. I can go yes. 22 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: But yeah, So this is the final chapter we are 23 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: splitting it into because again, I'm terrible at chapter length, 24 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: and I'm really really excited. I'm really really excited because 25 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: the ending is a cliffhanger and I'm just happy because 26 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: I'm a monster, I guess, and I like torturing people. 27 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: But we'll move into Part three soon after, and Part 28 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: three is much shorter, and then we'll get to the 29 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: end of the terminus. Sokka. This is something I wrote 30 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: for National Novel Writing Month, I believe in twenty eleven. 31 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: But I have got to tell you, Samantha. I know 32 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: I said, I say this and everyone, I swear to god, 33 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: I wrote this before I played The Last of Us. 34 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: But there is literally a place called like Firefly Winery 35 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: in here. It's wild to me, like what was going 36 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: on Firefly? Oh yeah, what was going on in my brain? 37 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 3: Which I'm mistaken to be like a mixed drink fire vodka, 38 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 3: but it's just straight vodka. 39 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: And I just gave it to in front of the 40 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 1: show case. 41 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 2: She took it like a She was like, do you 42 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 2: mind if I get a mixer? 43 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 4: Yes. 44 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: This is when we were doing our Last of Us 45 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: watch parties and we were doing theme drinks and Fly 46 00:02:51,600 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: vodka which we brought. Yeah, yes, somehow don't know or remember. 47 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: Firefly is a big It's like a big It's like 48 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: the Resistance in the Last of Us. So I was 49 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:13,239 Speaker 1: reading this, like what predictions? She just knew predictions or 50 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: maybe I'm just way off about the date. That is 51 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:17,239 Speaker 1: entirely possible, But I could have sworn I wrote the 52 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 1: first one in twenty ten, and I wrote the next 53 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: one the next year. Oh no, someone's gonna come and 54 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: like debunk this. She wasst this is like my worst fear, 55 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: and I'm so embarrassed by it that I'll say something 56 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: minorly wrong and someone we'll be like, we can't trust anything. 57 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: She said, anyway, Yeah, I mean the game came out 58 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: in twenty thirteen. I don't know, Okay, okay, whatever. Anyway, 59 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: it's it's so content warning for disease aftermath of violence 60 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: into the world, stuff, internalized shame, and discussions of infertility. 61 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: Here is a brief summary. There is a disease called 62 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: HSV five that has decimated the human population, has made 63 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: having children incredibly difficult. The state, which is essentially the 64 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: government institution, alongside the religious organization, arm to control of 65 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: every part of reproduction. Our protagonist, Tilda escaped with her 66 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: illegally conceived child, Madison. They've been on their run from 67 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: enforcers of the government for seven years. She encounters the Resistance, 68 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 1: who claims that there is a vaccine, only to be 69 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,039 Speaker 1: betrayed by them, and learns that there is a vaccine, 70 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: but ARM has destroyed all but two samples of it. 71 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 1: Tilda ventures with Madison into the heart of DC and 72 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: learns that the leaders of ARM are Madison's grandparents. In 73 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: a violent confrontation, Madison receives the last vaccine. Untilda broadcast 74 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 1: out over the national system what ARM and the state 75 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: has done. They then flee and have been on the 76 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: run since then, not knowing who to trust. They have 77 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: braved harsh Weather, heard a broadcast from the leader of 78 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 1: the resistance trying to convince them to come back to DC, 79 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 1: and survived a brutal attack. After a tense conversation and 80 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:10,839 Speaker 1: some recovery, they are setting out once again. So that 81 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: is where we are. Let us get into both she 82 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: and Madison rose. 83 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:28,919 Speaker 4: Early. 84 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: Tilda felt like a set of badly screwed together bones 85 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: in a much abused suit of skin. They followed their 86 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: regular morning routine pop tarts. This day strawberry flavored and 87 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: bottles of water. Tilda found a pan and poured some 88 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: water for Scalp, who drank it thirstily. The pop tarts 89 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: stuck painfully, and Tilda's throat she fought valiantly to keep 90 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 1: her pain from showing on her face. Without much said 91 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: between them, they packed up, collected the flashlight from the table, 92 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 1: zipped jackets and tied boots, adjusted hats and gloves, and 93 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: exited the farmhouse, Madison leading Scout by the reins. Tilda 94 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: passed a mirror, her step faltering at the sight of 95 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: her face, her throat decorated with hues of reds, purples, blues, blacks, 96 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: her eyes bloodshot, her face puffy in red, angry red 97 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 1: welts and specks of red cuts, purple bruises, wringing her neck, 98 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: and red scratches from fingernails. A cocktail of anger and 99 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: shame flared up within her, and she looked away, unable 100 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: to face the ugly, damaged creature wearing her face. The 101 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: air outside was brisk and chilly, but not the brutal 102 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: cold they become accustomed to over the past few weeks. 103 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: She shut the door behind them, and they stepped down 104 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: the stairs where they both mounted Scout, Tilda struggling more 105 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: than usual with the soreness of her joints. The sun 106 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: was still middling near the horizon, so early was their start. 107 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,279 Speaker 1: As they passed through the rows of papery dried out 108 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: corn husk, they took the right on Seneca Hollow Road, 109 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:05,359 Speaker 1: heading southwest. A few rusted skeletons of cars were abandoned 110 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: on the side, one of them with little sprouts growing 111 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: out the hubcaps. Not too long after they had left 112 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: the farmhouse behind, they crossed over a small river on 113 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: a rickety wooden bridge that Tilda was afraid would collapse 114 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: underneath them. Though it creaked and wriggled with each of 115 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: scouts steps, the wood held. Tilda released the breast she'd 116 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 1: been holding. When they reached the solid ground on the 117 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: other side. She was just as relieved that Scout kept 118 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: up the quicker pace Tilda had been pushing her to 119 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: maintain the road. Beard sharply left and Tilda followed it, 120 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: her eyes darting from side to side, the pain pulsing 121 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 1: through her body making it difficult to focus. She needed 122 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: something else to anchor her. What were you dreaming about 123 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 1: last night? Mouse, She felt him tense. Did I wake 124 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: you up? Was his response. A moment later, Recognizing the 125 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: diversionary tactic, Tilda responded with I was already awake. I 126 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: had a bad dream myself. What did you dream about? 127 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: Tilda chuckled humorlessly, I asked you first? Another pause. I 128 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: don't remember. You don't have to tell me if you 129 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: don't want to, but I think it might help. Tilda 130 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: new talking about these things wasn't easy for either of them, 131 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: but she didn't want Madison to suffer in silence if 132 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: she could do something to help. Madison waited for another 133 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: long minute, his shoulders tense. I jumpte couldn't find you, 134 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: he relented quietly. I didn't know where you were. I 135 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: was all alone. Tilda didn't press, even though she could 136 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 1: tell there was more. She was sure that that was 137 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: what it boiled down to. Most of her nightmares, reduced 138 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: to the bare bones of the fear that they played on, 139 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:58,079 Speaker 1: were essentially that as well. I don't know what i'd 140 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 1: do if you weren't here. I think i'd die, he 141 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: admitted quietly. Tildo's heart clenched. You're stronger than you think, 142 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: she told him, just as quietly. He shook his head, 143 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: but she spoke over him before he could say anything. Yes, 144 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: you are. You're stronger than you know. He didn't respond, 145 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: but it was obvious he didn't believe her. What'd you 146 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:28,640 Speaker 1: dream about? He asked, the same kind of thing. Tilda 147 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: tugged on the reins, pushing Scout to speed up, but jumped. 148 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: I'd lost you and I didn't know where I was. 149 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: All I knew was that I had to find you again. 150 00:09:39,679 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 1: Did you find me, Madison asked, No, she thought to herself, 151 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:52,679 Speaker 1: she never did. It was just a dream, she intoned. 152 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: Scanning the tree lines a head, she could make out 153 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: what looks like a major highway intersecting the one they 154 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:03,559 Speaker 1: were following. But if I ever lost you, Mause, I'd 155 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: never stop looking for you. I would never stop until 156 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: I found you. You know that, right, Madison sniffled. I 157 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:18,120 Speaker 1: know you won't be alone, not as long as I'm alive. 158 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: She couldn't be sure why these words were tumbling from 159 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: her lips, but she felt it was important for him 160 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: to know. Okay, Madison said, in a watery voice. You 161 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 1: believe me, she pressed. Yes. Madison's whisper was almost lost. 162 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: You'd find me. That was different than she'd never stop looking. 163 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: But she wanted to believe that too, that no matter 164 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: how lost Madison was to her, no matter how well 165 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: she was to herself, she'd find him again. She'd never 166 00:10:53,800 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: stop looking. She wouldn't know how. Signs begin to pop 167 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: up for Interstate eighty one. The closer they came to it, 168 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: the more nervous Tilda grew six thirty six road they 169 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: were on ramped over it the inner state, passing under 170 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,199 Speaker 1: Scout gambled up the cracked slope, and the tree line broke. 171 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: They were out and open. Tilda hunched in on herself, 172 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: glancing down the length of the highway from their vantage 173 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: point above it, a jungle of abandoned trucks, RVs, sedans, SUVs, 174 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,319 Speaker 1: a maze, crammed into each other at different angles, stretching 175 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: as far as her eyes could make out. In the 176 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 1: distance to the north, she could make out pinpoints of 177 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: figures people making the journey to DC. Tilda hoped they 178 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: were too focused on the hardship ahead of them to 179 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: look behind them and see the woman and child crossing 180 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 1: on horseback. A chunk of the bridge had crumbled away 181 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 1: on one side, slabs of asphalts of varying sizes hanging 182 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 1: from cables, and bent metal rods dangling like vines. Tilda 183 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,200 Speaker 1: gave the gap a wide berth, afraid it collapsed if 184 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: they put too much weight near it. The highway sloped 185 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: down and back to solid ground, once again, ensconcing them 186 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: in pine trees. Tilda relaxed the tiniest bit, glancing over 187 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: her shoulder, suddenly afraid she'd see the corpses of Ellis 188 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 1: and Jake mindlessly shambling after them. It was a brighter 189 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: day than it had been in a long time. The sun, 190 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: in sharp contrast to the crisp blue sky. Six thirty 191 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: six curved to run parallel with the interstate, but a 192 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 1: clump of trees shielded them from view, giving them a 193 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: small measure of security. Six thirty six forked, branching off 194 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: into eight twenty one. Tilda slowed scouted, but quickly decided 195 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 1: to skew right and thus more westerly on eight twenty one, 196 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: in order to put more distance between them and the 197 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: highway and the bodies they'd left behind in Lafayette, along 198 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: with a camp of people surely looking for them. Eight 199 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: twenty one was an even smaller highway than six thirty six, 200 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: all the back roads connecting to it containing hollow and 201 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: knee Ginger Hollow, Dark Hollow, Apple hollow. The stream ran 202 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 1: on either side of them, gurgling water. When they reached 203 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: another fork, Tilda coaxed Scout into a convenience store parking lot, 204 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: avoiding a string of street lights hanging from a post. 205 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: She and Madison dismounted. A quick perusal of the convenience 206 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:25,439 Speaker 1: store returned nothing useful. Scout meandered over the short distance 207 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 1: to the stream for water. Tilda kept an eye on her, 208 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: but doubted Scout would run from them. Now can I 209 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,959 Speaker 1: feed her? Madison asked, as Tilda pulled out two granola 210 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: bars and two small bottles. Yes, after we eat. Madison 211 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: nodded his consent. Munching on his granola bar. Tilda took 212 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: a bite, then immediately regretted it as it grated down 213 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: her throat. Madison watched her like a hawk, so she 214 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,839 Speaker 1: forced the rest of the unappetizing, dust tasting bar down, 215 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: chasing every bite with water. Scout had wandered back and 216 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: was watching them alternately. Madison popped up and gathered a 217 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,199 Speaker 1: handful of the pellets from her pouch and fed them 218 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: to her. She ate them hungrily and tilted neew a 219 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:10,840 Speaker 1: flash of guilt. She'd been pushing Scout harder and harder, 220 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: but there was not much to feed her with or 221 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,760 Speaker 1: in the way of water either, But she'd just have 222 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: to make de like the rest of them. They packed 223 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: back up and set off again following eight twenty one. 224 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 1: At the fork, a roaring sound grew gradually louder. A 225 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: river ran along the road, white capped with melted ice. 226 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 1: They traveled against its current for a couple of miles 227 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: before they crossed over it, the white noise loud in 228 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: their ears. The road continued north for another mile and 229 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: then turned sharply south, dead ending into six zero three, 230 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: which followed closely along the river in the opposite direction 231 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: they'd just traveled. 232 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 3: This time. 233 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: Tilda didn't even hear the click are the static, just 234 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, her mother's voice, quiet and close. 235 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: At first, she thought she was hallucinating, but Madison alted 236 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: as if electrified, telling her he'd heard it too. Till 237 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 1: the my child, it's your mother, she implored wetly. She 238 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: was near tears, her words textured with emotion. 239 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:19,280 Speaker 3: Again but this time under very different circumstances. 240 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: A pause and the transmission. Tilda looked around wildly, causing 241 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: Scout to stamp in a semicircle. Confused, you understood. 242 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 4: The code I gave you in my last transition. 243 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: You must have another laugh. A lump lodged and tiled 244 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 1: his throat. 245 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 4: I reminded you where you came from. I told you 246 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 4: to fight, and you did. You were stronger than I 247 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 4: ever did have imagine it. 248 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: Tilda's vision was blurry with tears. She corrected course, determined. 249 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 1: Masen tried to spin and look at her, but couldn't 250 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: on Scout's back. 251 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 4: You don't have to fight any more, baby, You've done 252 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 4: your part. 253 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 3: We're working on manufacturing vaccine a mass pucing it from 254 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 3: the one. 255 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 5: We recovered from the vaults of arm Headquarters, members of 256 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 5: Armor and custody. As a leaders of the state, we 257 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 5: have formed a transient governments with members of the existence 258 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 5: other civilians. 259 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 4: We hoped to hold elections soon. 260 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 2: More and more people flood in every day, more than 261 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 2: I thought was still a lot. 262 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 3: Children will too, It's been so long since I've seen one. 263 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,239 Speaker 1: Tilda wondered if her hair was gray and her face wrinkled. 264 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: The image she pulled up of her mother was blurry, 265 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: fuzzy edges she could barely remember. 266 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 4: I want to meet mass, my grandson. I want to 267 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 4: see my daughter again. 268 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: I want you to know how her voice broke, how 269 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: proud your. 270 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 4: Father and I am with you, and how much I'd 271 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:06,199 Speaker 4: love you. But I know that the last time I 272 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 4: sent a message like this to you, it was a chap. 273 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 3: I know he'd been betrayed and hunted and almost killed. 274 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 3: Right here. 275 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 4: And DC, your child was always taken from you. Trust me, 276 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 4: and I know what that's like. 277 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:30,199 Speaker 1: Tilda remembered suddenly herself screaming for her mother as the 278 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:33,000 Speaker 1: enforcers led her from her child at home. The look 279 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: of shock and horror on her mother's face. She'd always 280 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 1: assumed it had been due to the realization that her 281 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 1: daughter was pregnant. She'd never thought about how her mom 282 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: must have felt afterwards, barred from seeing her daughter, her 283 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: only child. Her mother continued, the day they took you. 284 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 4: From me, if I could go back, i'd fight harder. 285 00:17:56,359 --> 00:18:00,360 Speaker 3: I fight everything I had to keep you, just as 286 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 3: you've done, per son. I understand you can't come back now. 287 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 3: Trust comes with time. And the healing of blues. 288 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 2: But just know your father will be worried for you 289 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:18,440 Speaker 2: when you're right. We're building a better world for Madison, 290 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:20,680 Speaker 2: wherever you are. 291 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 3: I hope that you can hear this and that you're safe. 292 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 3: That you know that I love you and Madison. 293 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: Madison whipped his head around so quickly she was worried. 294 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: He twisted right off his shoulders. 295 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:40,080 Speaker 4: I love you too. I can't wait to see you. 296 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: On other pause and then please stay safe. The transmission 297 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: cut out. Tilda stared at the speakers as if she 298 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 1: could see through them to their origin, if she could 299 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 1: see her mother's face. A tear trickled down her cheek, 300 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: and she took a gasping breath. She was more confused 301 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: than ever. She turned her mother's words over and over 302 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 1: again in her head, clanging around in her skull, unable 303 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 1: to suss out if it was another trap. The words 304 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: behind the words, her mother understood, though they were remembers 305 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: of the same club now, the club where your needs 306 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 1: were almost exclusively tied up in the needs of someone else, 307 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:28,119 Speaker 1: in the need to keep them safe. Her mother understood. 308 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: It was strange, but she never thought that her mother 309 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,360 Speaker 1: must view her in this way as well. She never 310 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: imagined she could feel the level of love she felt 311 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 1: for Madison, much less that someone could feel such an overwhelming, 312 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 1: powerful emotion of love for her. Tilda wiped at her 313 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: cheeks and pulled at their reins, pushing scout forward. What 314 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:55,479 Speaker 1: do we do, Madison asked? We keep going, Tilda said, roughly, 315 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: marveling that this was the second time her mother had 316 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: sent her a message over the universal broadcast system. But 317 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: your mother will understand, Tilda cut in. Madison waited, restless. 318 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 1: Will I ever meet her? I want to meet her 319 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: and your dad. You will one day. Mouse. We just 320 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:24,400 Speaker 1: have to let things settle down and become safer. Then 321 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,440 Speaker 1: we'll go back and I'll introduce you to my parents. Deal. 322 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: After considering the terms, Madison agreed. Deal. Do you think 323 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 1: they'll like me? Tilda laughed, kissing the top of his head. 324 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: They'll love you, baby, and they'll like you too, I hope, so, 325 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 1: Madison said, wistfully. I know. So. They lulled into silence, Tilda, 326 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: still on edge that they were being watched. Hearing her 327 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 1: mother's voice had sent her heart galloping, electrified her nerves, 328 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 1: but she was so tired that it was morphing into 329 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:09,360 Speaker 1: a pounding headache in a sort of adrenaline. She couldn't 330 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: keep still, which aggravated her soer muscles. She could tell 331 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: she was putting Madison on edge with her nervousness. Every 332 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,359 Speaker 1: time they passed a speaker mounted on a pole, she 333 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 1: stared at it as if it could see her, at 334 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 1: being waiting to speak to her, to tell her that 335 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: they were coming for her. A train whistle blew in 336 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: the distance. Untilda badly jumped, startling scout into a brief 337 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,120 Speaker 1: running start. It was some ways away, by the sound 338 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: of it, north, but Tilda felt as if it were 339 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:41,880 Speaker 1: chasing them, the howl of a ghostly specter bearing down 340 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: on them, refusing to let them forget the machinations of 341 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:50,479 Speaker 1: a dying race. As the sun sank lower and lower, 342 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,679 Speaker 1: the river sneaking along next to them, Tilda spotted a 343 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 1: wood wash sign that read firefly Vineyards. By the looks 344 00:21:57,640 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 1: of it, there was nothing else for a good thirty 345 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 1: minute by horseback. What's a vineyard, Madison asked, stuttering over 346 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 1: the new word. Tilda corrected the pronunciation and then explained, 347 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: it's a place. It used to be a place where 348 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: people grew grapes to make wine. What's wine, Madison followed 349 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 1: up innocently. Tilda smiled, it's sort of a juice made 350 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: from fermented grapes. Fermented, Madison parroted, bewildered, it's an aging 351 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 1: process that turns the sugar and foods to acid, or, 352 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: in the case of wine, into alcohol. Alcohol, Maison repeated, 353 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 1: it's a chemical that makes people feel funny. Adults used 354 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 1: to drink it as expected. Madison asked, why for fun 355 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:02,040 Speaker 1: to feel better? To make things easier? Sometimes forget it 356 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: makes things easier for some people. It makes you less afraid, 357 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: are easier to talk to other people. Madison shook his head. 358 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: She knew that he had a lot more questions, but 359 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: was refraining from asking them. Tilda was sure the topic 360 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: would re emerge later. The road up to the vineyard 361 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 1: was steep and unpaved. Scout had to labor carefully up it, 362 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: the dirt and gravel treacherous beneath her hoofs. Large twisted 363 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:37,439 Speaker 1: trunks lined the winding path whethered stone statues peeked through 364 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 1: the trees, Bears and hawks and other wildlife. Elaborate cursive 365 00:23:41,520 --> 00:23:44,719 Speaker 1: letters carved into the stone are rendered illegible with time. 366 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: The light dimmed rapidly as they reached the top, a 367 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:52,879 Speaker 1: mansion looming on the hill's peak. All around them, grapevines 368 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:55,960 Speaker 1: had grown wildly from their trellis, dead with frost, but 369 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: waiting to bloom again. Did they still grow grape? She 370 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: wondered from the spring, with no one here to eat them, 371 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: was there still wine? A quaint stone bridge crossed over 372 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,920 Speaker 1: a small stream and passed a crumbling fountain. Tilda hopped 373 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,440 Speaker 1: off on the stone path on the other side, helping 374 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 1: Madison down and letting Scout drink from the stream and 375 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 1: graze on the grass. Hand in hand, she and Madison 376 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 1: approached the large oak double doors with ornate handles. They 377 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: looked at each other before Tilda reached out and grasped 378 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: the handle, leveraging her weight to pull it open. The 379 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: wooden panel was thick and heavy. Tilda grunted, ushering Madison 380 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,719 Speaker 1: inside and slipping between the gap behind him, doing her 381 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:42,280 Speaker 1: best to keep it from slamming heavily into place. What 382 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,719 Speaker 1: would have been allowed bang was muffled to a quieter 383 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: one little victories. Inside was a wide open space, windows 384 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 1: making up the walls on all sides with the one 385 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:55,439 Speaker 1: behind them, so that they could see the blue mountain 386 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:57,639 Speaker 1: range to their north and a lake nestled in the 387 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: vineyards below them. At one time time, firefly cellars as 388 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 1: the plaque above the mahogany bar red, must have been beautiful. 389 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 1: Now it was gloomy in the dusk, orange and pink 390 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 1: smuted through the windows and against the dull wood and cobwebbed, 391 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 1: dusty empty A place like this needed to be full. 392 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:21,920 Speaker 1: A wooden porch lined at the mansion, with an outdoor 393 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:25,399 Speaker 1: seating area. This must have also been a restaurant as well. 394 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:29,359 Speaker 1: A double staircase spiraled around both edges of the open room, 395 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 1: leading to a second story. The lights were industrial lanterns 396 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:37,040 Speaker 1: and wooden candle holders. The floor was dark stained wood, 397 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: but mostly covered with dusty heavy rugs and shades of 398 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:46,920 Speaker 1: bread and purple colors of wine. Tilda guest. A quick 399 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,639 Speaker 1: check behind the bar revealed nothing other than glasses and 400 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:55,440 Speaker 1: empty containers, some corkscrews and bottle stoppers. Tilda continued her inspection. 401 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:00,080 Speaker 1: Two bathrooms and a wide open door descending into the darkness. 402 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,520 Speaker 1: From the pink light of the quickly fading sunset, Tilda 403 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: could make out an iron candle holder mounted into the wall. 404 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 1: Tilda fished out her lighter from her backpack's side pocket 405 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,359 Speaker 1: and lit it. It flared to life, only managing to 406 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:17,880 Speaker 1: light about half the staircase. Tilda glanced back toward the door, 407 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: deciding to check on Scout before descending into the creepy basement. 408 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:25,600 Speaker 1: She braced herself and yanked the door open. Madison slipped 409 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:30,200 Speaker 1: out and grabbed Scout's reins, leading her inside. Thanks mouse, 410 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:34,879 Speaker 1: Tilda stroked Scout's neck. Scout looked around, seemingly bored. As 411 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 1: Tilda and Madison returned to the staircase. Tilda took the 412 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 1: first few stairs, listening intently. Each stair whined loudly in protest. 413 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 1: She lit the next candle at the mount halfway down, 414 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:51,200 Speaker 1: which illuminated the rest of the way. At the bottom 415 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:53,919 Speaker 1: of the stairs was a floor made of stones. A 416 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:57,639 Speaker 1: chilly draft made Tilda shudder. She lit the final candle, 417 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:01,600 Speaker 1: and its orange glow painted the cellar. Enormous wood oaked 418 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 1: barrels lined both walls, fitted with spouts. The wood was 419 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:09,360 Speaker 1: rotting in some places, giving the room an earthy, sweet smell. 420 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 1: At the opposite wall was a wine wrack, a diamond 421 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: patterned wooden apparatus holding what Tilda estimated to be over 422 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 1: one hundred dusty bottles of wine. Curious, Tilda inspected some 423 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: of the bottles, looking for vintages. She vaguely remembered that 424 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:28,159 Speaker 1: wine was supposed to get better with age, but she 425 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 1: doubted that wine this ould would still be good or 426 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: even safe to drink. Nevertheless, she turned the bottles in 427 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: her hands, looking at the labels, off white with black ink, 428 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:44,400 Speaker 1: the mountains and bobbles of light fireflies. Is this wine, 429 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 1: Madison asked in a hushed tone, Yes, Tilda answered equally soft. 430 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 1: Can we drink it? He asked eagerly. No, I don't 431 00:27:56,240 --> 00:28:00,639 Speaker 1: think so. Why not want to make us feel better? 432 00:28:01,600 --> 00:28:07,640 Speaker 1: Tilda smirked, No, or dehydrated, and this is really old. 433 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: It would probably make us feel much worse. Madison frowned, 434 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: sliding the bottle of wine he'd been eyeing back into place. 435 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:23,920 Speaker 1: A loud thump reverberated from above them. They both froze. Scout, 436 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:28,119 Speaker 1: Madison asked. Untila shook her head silently, she didn't know 437 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: another sound, creaking, Gesturing for Madison to be quiet, she 438 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:37,200 Speaker 1: crept toward the stairs. Knowing there was no way she 439 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,760 Speaker 1: could ascend them without making creaking sounds of her own. 440 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 1: She weighed their options. They could wait down here, hiding 441 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:47,479 Speaker 1: and hoping that it was just an old creaking house, 442 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 1: or scout, and if it wasn't that whoever was here 443 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: would not find them. But this option seemed highly optimistic, 444 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 1: with Scout resting upstairs. Yes, if this was people making 445 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:02,320 Speaker 1: these noises, they come looking for them. Tilda spared to 446 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:04,640 Speaker 1: glance from Madison, pulling the rifle from where it was 447 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:07,160 Speaker 1: slung across her shoulder and adjusting it in her grip. 448 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 1: Her hands were shaking. What was she becoming? Were events 449 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: like these going to become a regular thing? How many 450 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 1: tally marks was she going to earn? How many bodies 451 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 1: would she leave behind? If her mother knew, what would 452 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 1: she think? Could she still love Tilda the murderer? Would 453 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 1: she still welcome her home with open arms? Tilda crept 454 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:35,200 Speaker 1: up the stairs, pausing at each one, listening, wincing with 455 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,320 Speaker 1: each creek. The gun pointed out in front of her 456 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 1: much too long, she could hear something from upstairs, something 457 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 1: so soft it could be a figment of an anxious imagination. 458 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:48,400 Speaker 1: All the stretching and warping of wood and pipes. At 459 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 1: the top of the stairs, Tilda took a deep breath 460 00:29:50,400 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 1: that somehow felt like more oxygen than she was used 461 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,720 Speaker 1: to and made her light headed. She blinked back stars. 462 00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:01,160 Speaker 1: Steadying herself, she rounded the corner, her weapon aimed. She 463 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: looked left, pivoted, squared her shoulders right. Nothing. She edged 464 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:08,840 Speaker 1: along the back side of the wall, her heart and 465 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:11,840 Speaker 1: her throat. The floor above her creaked, and she caught 466 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: someone whispering. Tilda's finger instinctively tightened on the trigger. Hello, 467 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:23,160 Speaker 1: someone called, a male voice from the second story. Someone there. 468 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 1: Tilda trained her gun on the foot of the stairs footsteps, 469 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:32,080 Speaker 1: patting down the right staircase. Her nostrils flared, her eyes narrowed. 470 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: Everything else fell away, but the foot of the stairs. 471 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 1: Is that a horse? A female voice quiet? From above? 472 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 1: A man appeared at the foot of the stairs, tall 473 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 1: stained khakis and orange bubble jacket and blue beanie pulled 474 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 1: tight around his head, big brown boots. His back was 475 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:55,920 Speaker 1: to Tilda, surveying the open room. She had the perfect shot. 476 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 1: Her face broke out in a cold sweat, her breath quickened, 477 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: her finger twitched over the trigger, but she couldn't pull it. 478 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:09,840 Speaker 1: She couldn't. Her aim jerked, the butt of the gun 479 00:31:09,960 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 1: jammed painfully against her shoulders. The man turned slowly around, 480 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 1: coming to face her and Madison. He shouted at the 481 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:18,560 Speaker 1: sight of the gun aimed at him, almost dropping his 482 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 1: electric torch. He stumbled back several steps, almost falling, but 483 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 1: managed to regain his footing wide eyes with specs of 484 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:30,440 Speaker 1: blue light bright, never leaving Tilda. What the what is it? 485 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 1: What do you see? A woman shouted frantically from the 486 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:36,719 Speaker 1: second story. The man's mouth worked silently, Tilda using her 487 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 1: peripheral vision to seek out Scout. His eyes darted to 488 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:43,400 Speaker 1: the second story. Shaking his head fiercely. He held his 489 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:46,840 Speaker 1: hands up slowly, Tilda following his every move with her gun. 490 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,400 Speaker 1: We don't mean you any harm, he said, his voice steady, 491 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:55,200 Speaker 1: a deep, oddly comforting rumble, but Tilda did not waver. 492 00:31:56,040 --> 00:32:00,560 Speaker 1: Madison huddled behind her, trembling. No stay up there, the 493 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:03,400 Speaker 1: man called, his gaze, sliding upstairs and then back down 494 00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:06,520 Speaker 1: to focus on Tilda. Scout wandered into the front room 495 00:32:06,560 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 1: behind him. Look, we didn't know anyone else was here. 496 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 1: We can leave, we can, he broke off, catching sight 497 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:19,840 Speaker 1: of Madison his brown furring, Tilda steadied her aim, preparing 498 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:26,800 Speaker 1: to pull the trigger once again. Wait are you Tilda? 499 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 1: Tilda and Madison, And that brings us to the end 500 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 1: of this penultimate addition of Spinty Fiction, Terminus Part two, 501 00:32:56,760 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 1: Dun Dum Dum cliff a lot of the cliffhangers, Oh 502 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:04,880 Speaker 1: my gosh. Also, as I said, this is very time 503 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 1: and place. I can tell where I was when I 504 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: wrote this. This is when I was discovering Dalanago wineries. 505 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 1: That like the description of the winery at the end, 506 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I know 507 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:18,600 Speaker 1: what you were doing. I know where you were at 508 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:22,680 Speaker 1: I remember, I remember, you know, it's quite possible there 509 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:28,920 Speaker 1: is a firefly winery. I don't know. Also, the names 510 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:33,040 Speaker 1: are definitely references of this group that they encounter at 511 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 1: the end, are deffinitely references to my survivalist neighbors. So 512 00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:42,360 Speaker 1: take that as you will. And yeah, this message that 513 00:33:42,440 --> 00:33:48,800 Speaker 1: Tilda gets from her mom, I've always this is apparently 514 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 1: something I really like to do when I write. I 515 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:53,720 Speaker 1: still do this, but kind of feel like dramatic, it's 516 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 1: broadcast to everybody message, but just this sort of heartfelt like, 517 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:03,880 Speaker 1: please trust me and please come back. This was inspired 518 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:06,280 Speaker 1: in part by a story I read that really impacted 519 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 1: me when I was a kid, where, uh, the child 520 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:15,839 Speaker 1: in question just goes off and parties and causes all 521 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 1: this trouble and all this stuff, and then at the 522 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,960 Speaker 1: end he returns home and he thinks his parents are 523 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:24,360 Speaker 1: going to be so angry with them, and they're just 524 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:27,000 Speaker 1: happy he's alive. So that's definitely what the inspiration was 525 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:32,720 Speaker 1: for that that section. That is something else going on. 526 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:36,440 Speaker 1: I don't know. I don't know, but we will find 527 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 1: out in the last chapter of part two coming next month, 528 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:44,720 Speaker 1: so please keep a lookout for that. I'm really excited 529 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:49,040 Speaker 1: for that one. As always, you can contact us if 530 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:52,319 Speaker 1: you have any theories about this, or if you have 531 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:55,279 Speaker 1: any suggestions with something else that we could do in 532 00:34:55,320 --> 00:34:57,920 Speaker 1: the fiction realm. You can email us a Stephanie mom 533 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 1: Stuff at iheartmeta dot com. You can buyse on Twitter 534 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:02,440 Speaker 1: at mom Stuff podcast, or on Instagram and TikTok at 535 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:04,760 Speaker 1: stuff and we Never told you for us on YouTube. 536 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:06,279 Speaker 1: We have a Tea Pup bookstore, and we have a 537 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 1: book you can get wherever you get your books. Thanks, 538 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:12,040 Speaker 1: as always to our super producer Christina, are Expected producer Maya, 539 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:14,920 Speaker 1: and our contributor Joey. Thank you and thanks to you 540 00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:17,520 Speaker 1: for listening. Stuff Never Told You is production by Heart Radio. 541 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from my Heart Radio, you can check 542 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:21,319 Speaker 1: out the heart Radio app Apple podcast wherever you listen 543 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:22,520 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows,