1 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:06,040 I barely made it home in time. One minute I was singing along to 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:11,080 the radio, and then next I was staring slack jawed at the most menacing 3 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:16,000 storm clouds I had ever seen as someone born and raised them for a month. 4 00:00:16,719 --> 00:00:21,559 I was no strange as the snow squalls, but there was something foreboding 5 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:27,480 about the dark clouds blowing in over the mountains. After reaching my house, 6 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:32,840 I opened my car door and stepped out into a cold evening. The wind 7 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:37,560 lashed at my face and made a terrible howling in my ears as I raced 8 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:42,960 up the steps and slipped through the front door to my house just in time, 9 00:00:43,679 --> 00:00:48,479 Luke said to me and greeting. My husband was staring in front of 10 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:53,799 the living room window, surveying the mountains beyond our city. By the time 11 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:59,119 I walked over to him, I could barely see two streets down. Seemed 12 00:00:59,159 --> 00:01:03,120 like we would be spent the evening inside. Came out of nowhere, I 13 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:08,000 commented. Before I so much as set my bag down, I heard the 14 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:15,959 doggy door open. We didn't own any pets, but we often entertained visits 15 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:23,079 from a neighborhood cat, whom Luke had called RIGATONI sure enough an old orange 16 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:26,879 cat soon appeared in our living room, leaving a trail of muddy, poor 17 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:32,760 prints as he trotted over to Luke. Ah, the serial couch surfer returns 18 00:01:33,359 --> 00:01:37,200 too cold out there for you, he asked, the cat currently rubbing her 19 00:01:37,239 --> 00:01:42,519 head against this shin, whom he owed as if in affirmation. Tony wasn't 20 00:01:42,599 --> 00:01:49,079 terribly fond of most people, but Luke had away with animals. He reached 21 00:01:49,079 --> 00:01:55,359 down to Petter, eliciting a melody of purs from the contented cat. Come 22 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,959 on, he said, standing, I'll fix you some dinner. Thanks, 23 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:05,680 Thank god, I'm starving. I wasn't talking to you, Luke said, 24 00:02:05,719 --> 00:02:08,199 with a warm laugh, walking into the back of the house to vetch some 25 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:14,560 cat food for Tony. Half an hour later, just as Luke and I 26 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:19,639 had finally sat down to eat, we heard the doggy tour open once again. 27 00:02:21,319 --> 00:02:25,400 I raised the brow at my husband. Tony was our only regular four 28 00:02:25,439 --> 00:02:30,919 legged visitor. I wondered who else could have let himselves inside our home. 29 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:38,520 I didn't have to wonder for long. Seconds later, a border Collie tore 30 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:44,360 into the dining room, barking and whining with urgency. Luke and I rose 31 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,280 sharply to our seat to the table, watching the dog as it came to 32 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:53,280 a stop in the corner of the room. I realized as the poor creature 33 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:58,520 lowered its head and tucked its tail between its legs that I recognized it. 34 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:05,560 Hey that's missus Johnson's dog, I said, rounding the table to check if 35 00:03:05,599 --> 00:03:10,400 the dog was hurt. Tucker, Yeah, I'm pretty sure I see her 36 00:03:10,439 --> 00:03:16,000 walking him all the time. I crouched down next to Tucker and slowly reached 37 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:23,400 out my arm. To my surprise, the usually sweet tempered Border Collie pulls 38 00:03:23,439 --> 00:03:28,400 its lips back in a snarl, lunging forward slightly and snapping his teeth. 39 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:34,199 It was a warning, not on an attempt to hurt me, but I 40 00:03:34,319 --> 00:03:39,400 backed off all the same. Luke shot me her worried look, he's a 41 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:45,879 usually more mild mannered I'll give her a call and let her know he's with 42 00:03:46,039 --> 00:03:51,759 us. Luke left the room to grab his phone while I studied Tucker from 43 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,840 a safe distance, looking for signs of injury. His frantic barks had been 44 00:03:55,879 --> 00:04:02,479 replaced by occasional mournful wines. He was no longer racing around, seemingly content 45 00:04:02,599 --> 00:04:08,080 with his place in the corner, but his posture remained fearful and defensive. 46 00:04:09,759 --> 00:04:13,080 It was hard to tell with the way he was carrying, but I saw 47 00:04:13,159 --> 00:04:17,839 no visible wounds on him. Do you have signal, Luke shouted from another 48 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:23,800 room. I took my phone out of my pocket to check, and to 49 00:04:23,879 --> 00:04:30,079 my surprise, I didn't. We had generally reliable coverage, and I couldn't 50 00:04:30,079 --> 00:04:34,600 remember the last time I'd lost cell service. I tried restarting my phone, 51 00:04:34,959 --> 00:04:40,120 walking around at different spots in the house, and turning airplane mode on and 52 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:46,519 off. Nada. Unfortunately, if it was affecting both of us, it 53 00:04:46,639 --> 00:04:51,279 was probably an issue with our service provider, meaning there was little we could 54 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:56,399 do. I was about to ask if he still had WiFi on his phone 55 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:02,040 when a light, but urgent tapping sound filled the I listened for a moment, 56 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:06,839 trying to place the origin of the sound, and soon traced it to 57 00:05:06,879 --> 00:05:15,160 the bathroom, or more specifically, the bathroom window. When I got there, 58 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,680 I saw a small, fuzzy animal standing on the window sill and scratching 59 00:05:19,759 --> 00:05:27,519 fervently at the glass. What in the world the little creature didn't seem to 60 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,519 notice my presence. I took another step forward into the bathroom, and I 61 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:36,199 realized as I approached that the animal had torn right through the window screen. 62 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,600 No cell service, no Wi Fi, no nothing. At least the lights 63 00:05:42,639 --> 00:05:46,759 are on. Luke trout off as he entered the room, looking over my 64 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:53,639 shoulder at the frantic creature. Is that a weasel? I asked my resident 65 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:59,959 animal lover, who shook his head. Pretty sure, there's a Martin neat. 66 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:06,160 I was about to compliment his identification skills before I looked over and saw 67 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:11,600 the look in his eyes. Don't ask me what I think you're about to 68 00:06:11,639 --> 00:06:16,199 ask me. Please, they're endangered. You know this isn't Noah's Ark, 69 00:06:16,319 --> 00:06:21,639 Luke, we can't shelter every animal in Vermont. I swear the rodent took 70 00:06:21,639 --> 00:06:26,800 a break from ripping through my window screen to glare at me. Ay glared 71 00:06:26,879 --> 00:06:31,560 right back. Besides, this little thing here looks rabid. Luke and I 72 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:36,759 spent a couple minutes arguing. I wasn't keen on taking in any more impromptu 73 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:42,879 guests, but Luke was adamant on saving it from the storm. There's something 74 00:06:42,879 --> 00:06:46,120 off about how desperately he's trying to get in, he said. It might 75 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:50,920 be on the verge of freezing to death. Or something. After a while, 76 00:06:51,319 --> 00:06:56,560 he convinced me to take pity on the Martin. I had to admit 77 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:02,120 the way it was throwing itself against the glass was little unsettling. Reluctantly, 78 00:07:02,519 --> 00:07:06,240 I opened the window and allowed it to squeeze through the hole in the screen. 79 00:07:08,439 --> 00:07:12,839 However, I didn't realize that the marten wasn't the only creature waiting to 80 00:07:12,879 --> 00:07:17,720 get inside. Before I could shut the window, a flurry of about twenty 81 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:23,399 mice searched into the bathroom from the hole. They must have been sitting on 82 00:07:23,439 --> 00:07:27,680 the sill as well, but I guess I overlooked them, mistaking their fluffy 83 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:32,319 white bodies for snow. I jumped backwards, swallowing a shriek as one of 84 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:38,839 them landed right on my foot. Eventually I managed to shut the window without 85 00:07:38,839 --> 00:07:43,600 stepping on any mice, but not before a red bird, a cardinal I 86 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:48,120 think, squeezed this way in as well. Stunned, I hurried after the 87 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:53,720 animals as they made a beeline for the center of the house. When I 88 00:07:53,839 --> 00:07:58,399 entered the dining room, I saw not only Tucker and the animals who had 89 00:07:58,519 --> 00:08:01,680 just burst in through the bathroom, but also a cat and two dogs that 90 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:07,800 I didn't recognize cursing. I realized that they must have entered through the doggy 91 00:08:07,839 --> 00:08:11,639 door, so I yelled out to Luke to lock it. As I tried 92 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:16,319 to make sense of the scene in front of me, the animals gave each 93 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,399 other a wide berth. The cat didn't so much as look at the mice, 94 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:26,560 nor did the dog seem at all interested in the cat. All of 95 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,360 them were carrying, shivering as they pressed themselves into corners or squeezed into whatever 96 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:37,399 hiding spot they could find. The dogs whined, the mice squeaked. Even 97 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:43,320 the cardinal was making a strange, almost mournful sounding chirping noise. The only 98 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:50,120 one who was behaving normally was RIGATONI, who I had to show away from 99 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:54,960 the trooper mice hiding under the china cabinet. The hell is going on? 100 00:08:54,600 --> 00:09:01,480 Luke asked, and I had no explanation to offer. We didn n ast 101 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:05,799 these storms before, but never had I seen one inspire such desperation in our 102 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:13,600 local wild life. After another failed attempt at coaxing Tucker out of his corner, 103 00:09:13,159 --> 00:09:16,679 I made my way to the living room and stared out the large window. 104 00:09:18,919 --> 00:09:22,240 A total whiteout stared back at me. I could only see a few 105 00:09:22,279 --> 00:09:28,200 feet out in every direction before the world was swallowed up by darkness and snow. 106 00:09:28,879 --> 00:09:35,960 It was hereye, but it was beautiful in a strange way, hypnotic. 107 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,960 It was easy to loose myself in thought as I watched the snow fall. 108 00:09:41,639 --> 00:09:46,360 What could have spooked the animal so much? I wondered? Could it 109 00:09:46,399 --> 00:09:52,600 really be the cold alone? The weather hadn't seemed all that bad. Sure, 110 00:09:52,639 --> 00:09:56,440 I'd been cold outside, but not a blizzard cold. When I had 111 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:01,080 opened the bathroom window. I'd been distracted the mice, But when I thought 112 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:07,360 about it, I didn't remember a freezing cold wind sweeping into the house alongside 113 00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:11,360 our animal guests. I raised my arm, pressing the back of my hand 114 00:10:11,399 --> 00:10:18,759 against the glass, and then stilled. Loo, I quietly called out. 115 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:24,639 He appeared around the corner. Seconds later, Tony cradled in his arms. 116 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:33,000 Is it just me? Or it's the glass warm? Luke stepped closer, 117 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,200 shifting to hold the cat in one arm and placing his free hand against the 118 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:41,720 pane. He didn't respond, but the way his mouth set into a thin 119 00:10:41,879 --> 00:10:48,360 line told me that he felt the same thing. What does this mean? 120 00:10:48,759 --> 00:10:56,759 I don't know. We both stood in silence for a while. The wind 121 00:10:56,799 --> 00:11:01,240 howled outside, but either said that if I opened a window and stuck my 122 00:11:01,279 --> 00:11:07,559 hand out, it wouldn't feel cold. I didn't want to find out, 123 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:11,759 though, opening any windows or doors at that point seemed like a bad idea. 124 00:11:13,039 --> 00:11:16,919 In fact, I was about to check that all entry points to our 125 00:11:16,919 --> 00:11:26,360 house were secured when Luke pointed at something outside. A large black mass ambled 126 00:11:26,399 --> 00:11:31,919 its way towards us. At first, I didn't understand what I was looking 127 00:11:31,919 --> 00:11:35,559 at. Its shape and gait were so strange that I thought I was looking 128 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:41,240 at a brand new animal, But once it stepped fully into the faint glow 129 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:46,519 emanating from the porch light, I realized that it was a black bear. 130 00:11:46,759 --> 00:11:52,879 Its lower jaw on one of its hind legs had been ripped off, and 131 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:56,720 from the trail of blood it had left in its wake, it was clear 132 00:11:56,799 --> 00:12:03,000 that the wounds were fresh. The bear stumbled closer, stopping only inches from 133 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:07,720 the glass, and with every wary step I could make out another laceration on 134 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:13,679 its body. I watched in horror as the massive creature stared directly at us, 135 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:18,080 with a look in its eyes that it could only be described as pleading. 136 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:24,559 I held its gaze for a few seconds, and then the creature collapsed 137 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:28,200 onto its side. A puddle of dark red pulled outward from its body, 138 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:37,960 and soon the strangest expansions and contractions of its rib cage ceased. Never once 139 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:43,759 did it look away from us as it bled out and died. There was 140 00:12:43,799 --> 00:12:50,799 a long silence before Luke and I dared to speak. You think, Luke 141 00:12:50,879 --> 00:12:58,200 began. You think that's what the animals were afraid of. I hoped so, 142 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:03,559 but something in my gut told me that it wasn't. After all. 143 00:13:03,279 --> 00:13:07,279 Even if that was the creature that had been running from, the question still 144 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:13,039 remained what could have inflicted that level of trauma on a black bear of that 145 00:13:13,279 --> 00:13:20,360 size. I think we should get away from the windows. As we made 146 00:13:20,399 --> 00:13:24,679 our way to the middle of the house, the lights flickered once twice, 147 00:13:26,399 --> 00:13:31,480 and then abruptly went out all together. We were plunged suddenly into darkness, 148 00:13:33,159 --> 00:13:37,639 and it seemed to put the animals even more on edge than before. The 149 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,759 squeaks and wines increased in volume. As I procured two flashlights from our kitchen 150 00:13:41,799 --> 00:13:46,919 cabinet, I handed one to my husband, and then the two of us 151 00:13:46,039 --> 00:13:50,919 tug to the dining room, sitting on the floor with our backs against one 152 00:13:50,919 --> 00:13:56,799 of the walls. Luke was calm on the surface, but I could tell 153 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:01,120 that the strangeness of the situation was causing him to say stress. At least, 154 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:05,799 Tony's presence seemed to bring him some peace of mind. For some reason, 155 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:13,039 she was unaffected by whatever ailed the others. I studied her as she 156 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:18,039 relaxed in loose lap, her eyes closing, as he absent mandily stroked her 157 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:24,159 fur. Why was it that she was unafraid? She had come to our 158 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:28,799 house right before the blizzard set in, whereas the rest of the animals likely 159 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:33,279 had been outside for longer. Had they seen something out in the storm? 160 00:14:33,399 --> 00:14:37,799 If they had, could it have been the same thing that killed the bear? 161 00:14:39,919 --> 00:14:46,679 Hey, Luke's shaky voice broke through my thoughts. Do you hear that? 162 00:14:48,519 --> 00:14:52,879 I didn't hear anything? And then I realized I didn't hear anything. 163 00:14:54,080 --> 00:15:00,440 No wailing of the wind, no sounds from the animals. Nothing. It 164 00:15:00,559 --> 00:15:05,480 was like the whole world had suddenly gone quiet. I looked around the room. 165 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,120 All of the animals were so still, it was as if they were 166 00:15:09,159 --> 00:15:15,799 afraid to move. I clicked my flashlight off wanting to attract as little attention 167 00:15:15,919 --> 00:15:22,200 as possible, and Luke followed suit. For a moment, we just sat 168 00:15:22,279 --> 00:15:33,600 there in the dark, listening, and then I heard a voice. Hello, 169 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:41,720 clear as day, the voice of a person was calling to us from 170 00:15:41,759 --> 00:15:48,840 outside our house. Hello, anyone in there, it asked. It's tone 171 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:54,159 far too nonchalant with someone weathering the full brunt of a blizzard. I need 172 00:15:54,200 --> 00:16:00,440 some help out here. Next to me, Luke shifted as though you were 173 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:04,639 about to stand up. I reached out and grabbed a hold of his arm, 174 00:16:06,039 --> 00:16:11,279 grabbing Tony and pulling Luke back down to the floor. There wasn't a 175 00:16:11,399 --> 00:16:15,360 chance in hell I was about to let him investigate the voice. It was 176 00:16:15,399 --> 00:16:21,000 so strangely quiet that I could hear the crunching of footsteps in the snow as 177 00:16:21,039 --> 00:16:27,320 the person moved outside. Please, the voice said, it had gotten closer, 178 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:33,480 like it was circling the house. Please, I really need help. 179 00:16:33,039 --> 00:16:37,519 Can I just come in for a minute. It's so cold out here. 180 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:45,519 My grip tightened on Luke's arm, the complete lack of emotion in the voice's 181 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:51,519 tone sending a chill up my spine. He reached over, holding my hand 182 00:16:51,639 --> 00:16:56,679 in his as the source of the voice moved even closer. Come on, 183 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:03,039 now, don't you have room for one more? It was right outside the 184 00:17:03,119 --> 00:17:08,000 dining room window. I closed my eyes like a coward, not wanting to 185 00:17:08,039 --> 00:17:15,319 see whatever it was about to step into view. Next to me. There 186 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:22,680 was a single, sharp intake of breath for what felt like an eternity. 187 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:27,119 Neither of us moved, and then there was a light chuckle from outside the 188 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:33,960 window. There were more footsteps, but this time they were moving away from 189 00:17:33,039 --> 00:17:37,960 us, and they seemed to be taking the silence with them. The wind 190 00:17:38,039 --> 00:17:45,519 remembered itself, returning with a howling vengeance in the visitor's absence. Luke's hand 191 00:17:45,599 --> 00:17:48,920 had gone slack in mind, but I held on to it for a long 192 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:53,279 time, sitting there with my eyes shut tight. It must have been an 193 00:17:53,279 --> 00:17:59,680 hour before I dared to open my eyes and breathe normally. Again, Are 194 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:06,480 you okay? I finally asked. No response. I tried asking again, 195 00:18:06,839 --> 00:18:15,880 a little louder, and still my husband didn't respond Luke. When I clicked 196 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:21,240 on the flashlight, I saw Luke staring at the window. His face twisted 197 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:26,480 into an expression of horror I'd never seen before. His skin was pale and 198 00:18:26,559 --> 00:18:32,960 his body was rigid as a corpse, and try as I did, I 199 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:37,880 couldn't get him to respond to me in any way. His look of sheer 200 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,680 terror never once changed, even as I carried him to the car and drove 201 00:18:41,759 --> 00:18:48,559 us as fast as I could to the hospital. The doctor said it was 202 00:18:48,599 --> 00:18:55,200 a stroke. Of course, I was incredulous that such a thing had happened 203 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:59,759 to my fit, non smoking, twenty nine year old husband, but no 204 00:18:59,799 --> 00:19:04,319 one could offer me a better explanation. For the next few days, I 205 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:10,720 waited for a recovery that never came. Then the days turned into weeks, 206 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:15,599 the weeks into months, and the months into years. While Luke regained some 207 00:19:15,799 --> 00:19:22,799 very minimal motor control, blinking and twitching his fingers, it was clear that 208 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:29,079 he would never be the same. I became his full time caretaker, spending 209 00:19:29,079 --> 00:19:33,480 my days attending to all of his needs and my night's praying that he would 210 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:40,039 make a miraculous recovery. As of this evening, five years have passed since 211 00:19:40,079 --> 00:19:45,200 the storm. Old Rigattoni is still alive and kicking somehow, and her visits 212 00:19:45,319 --> 00:19:51,319 always seemed to make Luke perk up just a little bit. She's sleeping on 213 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:55,319 his chest as I tell this, taking care of him in her own way. 214 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,559 I'm glad to have her around, but even though I try not to 215 00:20:00,599 --> 00:20:06,880 be superstitious, her presence always brings me back to the night of the blizzard. 216 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:11,920 I think about Tucker, who ran away after the storm passed and was 217 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:15,119 never seen again. I think about the Martin and the mice and the bear, 218 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:21,039 and the way all of them acted like they were fleeing from something terrible. 219 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:26,119 I think about the look on Luke's face, and I can't help but 220 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:32,519 wonder if they all saw the same thing. Maybe Luke saw something he wasn't 221 00:20:32,559 --> 00:20:40,039 meant to, something that his brain had destroyed itself trying to comprehend. I 222 00:20:40,079 --> 00:20:44,279 look at my husband, the love of my life, and can't help but 223 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:48,279 mourn what was taken from me that night. If I had opened my eyes, 224 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,880 if I had been brave enough to look, would I have met the 225 00:20:52,920 --> 00:21:00,279 same fate. What did you see? I asked him, like I have 226 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:07,799 a thousand times before. I never get an answer.