This episode may contain content that is not suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion
is advised, especially for those under the age of thirteen. Welcome to Endo
the Night. I'm Narri your guide on today's excursion down a twisted path.
Be careful not to get lost. Be it dark or light, it's easy
to lose your way. Are you ready? Then let's begin an ounce of
Prevention Part two. The nurses paused for a moment. Yes, that's what
I mean. I've heard stories on those crime shows about nurses or assistants killing
patients. That's terrible. We could all get in trouble if that's what's happening
exactly. We need to make sure none of this lands on us. I'm
not taking the fall. This is a shitty job at a shitty hospital,
and I'm not having my name dragged through the mud or go to prison.
My world spun. Could Moe be capable of something like that? Could she
kill people? I didn't want to consider it, but she had called it
a special experience to be there when patients died. The nurses stopped talking and
I went back to stacking boxes. My mind played the nurse's conversation over and
over. Some time later, I jumped when a hand touched me on the
shoulder. Whoa, ted, It's just me, most of their smiling.
I didn't mean to scare you. You almost dropped that box. Are you
okay? Uh? Yeah, nothing's wrong. You just startled me. I
looked all over for you before I found you in here. You need something?
My voice had an edge to it, and I saw her flicker across
her face. No, I don't need anything. I want to see if
you wanted to join me in the cafeteria for lunch or whatever eating in the
middle of the night should be called. I looked at her. Her sweet
voice and tender eyes were the same, the same Mo I'd known for months.
The idea of her killing anyone was unthinkable. I'm sorry, Mo.
I didn't mean to sound sharp. I'm in a bad mood and I shouldn't
take it out on you. Nothing you need to worry about either. Yeah,
let's go eat. We talked and laughed as usual, and I pushed
the dark thoughts out of my mind. The next night, the nurses continued
whispering about Mo anytime they had a few moments to talk amongst themselves. What
they said angered me. Not about Mo, but that their only concern was
making sure they didn't get in trouble if Mo poisoned or suffocated or did whatever
they conjure her doing to patients. What about the patients? Didn't they care
that the people were dying? It was no wonder they worked at the worst
hospital in the area. They lacked empathy and compassion. Maybe the trauma of
the job did it to them, or maybe they were just terrible people.
I'm not sure which it was. The string of deaths continued, and each
time Moe was in the room alone when it happened. I needed to get
to the bottom of what was going on, no matter how badly I didn't
want to know the answer. Two nights later, I watched as Moe crept
into mister Crittenton's room. She looked both ways, trying to remain undetected as
she went through the doorway quietly. I walked to the room and stood outside,
listening. The heart monitor beaped but then flatlined. I briskly stepped into
the room and stopped, speechless, Kneeling over Frank Crittinton. Moe held her
face over his, open mouthed and inhaling deeply. When she saw me.
She leapt from the bed, horrified that I'd seen her. Ted, I
know this looks bad beside myself, I yelled, So it's true. She
sobbed. No, what's true? What are you talking about? Ted?
You have to believe me. Please just let me explain. Don't turn me
in. The doctor and nurses ran into the room and tried to resuscitate mister
Crittenton. The nurses glared at Moe, who pressed herself against the wall.
Against my better judgment, I left the room with Moe. We took the
elevator down to the first floor and walked out into the night. We strode
down the sidewalk to a quiet spot near the courtyard. Maureen, you'd better
have some good answers. It sure as hell looked like you killed him.
Are you killing our patients? She shrunk back from me. Furious. I
sneered at her and waited for her response. Ted, I swear I haven't
killed anyone. You have to believe me, She wiped tears off her cheek.
I want to believe you, but it it doesn't look good. The
nurses think you're killing the patients, and after what I just saw, I
tend to believe them. I'm going to tell you something, and I think
it will explain a lot. It's going to sound crazy, but it's the
truth. I sat staring at her, waiting for her to explain herself.
There is a reason why I'm with the patients when they die. It's not
because I kill them. It's because they help give me life. What hear
me out? I sighed, and I rubbed my hands across my face,
trying to make sense of the situation. Okay, I'm old, Ted,
don't lie to me. You're younger than I am. You're what twenty three?
She looked past me as if she recalled memories that she needed to repeat
correctly when she told me the details. Finally, she spoke, No,
oh, Ted, I'm thousands of years old. It's my curse. None
of what you're saying makes any sense. Mo, if that's even your real
name, She reached from my hand. I am, MO, that's the
truth, and I am as old as I said I am. Let's say
you are. What does that have to do with the patients. When I
was the age you see me as, a witch cursed me. I was
young and I did something stupid, and she thought I had to pay what
did you do? I'd meet her husband by the well and he fell in
love with me. You said she cursed you. What's this curse? I
will only remain young and beautiful if I consume an ounce of human souls each
month. If I don't, I'll appear as old as I really am.
That is a lot to believe. Are you sure you shouldn't have a therapist
helping you as your friend? I think you should seek help. I'm not
crazy, Ted, don't you see remember when you wanted to date me?
I nodded. I wanted that too, I really do. But I can't.
I can't ever have anyone love me because the witch's husband fell in love
with me and I let him. I was flattered and foolish. I can
never have someone to love. Why not? If you are able to stay
young, why can't I love you? Because every day I turn old again,
I can only stay young at night. We could never have a life
together. I sat silently, ted, this is my secret. Now that
you know, I'll have to leave, I'll change my name and find a
new hospital to work at. It's too dangerous here for me. Now you
should go back inside before you get in trouble. Goodbye, ted. She
squeezed my hand, then rose and walked away, looking back only once to
wave. She disappeared under the light of the street lamp, and I never
saw her again. So here, I am an old man myself, and
I know I don't have long to live, but you seem so kind to
sit with me night after night, and I felt like now was the right
time to lift this burden off my chest. I've carried it for too long.
There are people, or at least one person, walking this earth who
are cursed to be here throughout the ages. Moe is likely somewhere right now
waiting for someone to die so she can consume a part of his soul.
If you don't mind, would you please sit with me a while longer as
I drift off to sleep so I'm not alone. Thank you for joining me
for this episode of the Into the Night Anthology podcast. Written by Caroline Giamanco,
narrated by Nari Quak, Theme music by Nico Rodriguez, all other original
music, sound design and editing by Omenhawk Studios. You can find our links
in the show notes. Into the Night is on your favorite podcatcher, so
make sure to like, subscribe and leave a five star review to help other
excursionists to join us. I'll see you next time, and remember, whether
in the shadows or in the daylight, all twisted paths lead you into the
night. Into the Night Anthology is a creative typo entertainment production