WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.319 --> 00:00:08.400 Hey friends. Tisha here from the ISFET Archives team. I hope that you 2 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:15.240 are all doing fabulous. As we mentioned in the previous episode, we are 3 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:20.320 taking a short break. I know it's terrible. I miss you so much, 4 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:27.239 but we are excited to return with season two in January. We already 5 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:32.280 have the first episode all queued up ready to go, and if you're in 6 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:37.039 our bnch here, we have the first five episodes ready to drop. We 7 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:42.960 cannot wait to jump into season two with you. In the meantime, I 8 00:00:43.079 --> 00:00:48.320 wanted to share another project that we are really proud of here at Creative Typo, 9 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:53.880 and that is called Into the Night Anthology. We'll put a link in 10 00:00:54.079 --> 00:01:00.640 this episode's description for you, but this is a series of standalone episode that 11 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:07.840 explore everything from eerie fiction to paranormal to sci fi. It has everything. 12 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:15.359 And the cherry on top of that is that Nari, Yes Amber from isfat 13 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:22.840 Archives does the narrations. So trust me, her voice is going to whisk 14 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:27.560 you away on this story and then the twists are going to bring you back 15 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:34.319 for more, and you'll be like a yo yo getting whisked away by Nari's 16 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:37.959 voice and then getting pulled back in by the twists and then whisked away again 17 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:44.400 and pull back in and you get what I'm saying. So let's check out 18 00:01:44.400 --> 00:02:02.359 this episode Charcoal Drawings and we'll ride the anticipation Yo yo together hand in hand, 19 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.159 High excursionists. I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. 20 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:12.039 We appreciate every single one of our listeners. We do read and respond 21 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:15.840 to all comments on Twitter, Facebook or YouTube, so please feel free to 22 00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:17.560 stop in and say hi from time to time. I want to give a 23 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:22.840 special thanks to Nico Rodriguez for his rating and review on Apple Podcasts. We 24 00:02:22.919 --> 00:02:25.800 are so glad you enjoy our stories. This is a special two episode week. 25 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:30.759 Today's episode of course, and then on Halloween we will be airing the 26 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:34.120 title episode of Into the Night. Be sure to join us to see where 27 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:43.039 it all began, and don't forget bring a friend. Welcome to Endo the 28 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:46.199 Night. I'm Nari, your guide on today's excursion down a twisted path. 29 00:02:47.080 --> 00:02:51.800 Be careful not to get lost. Be it dark or light, it's easy 30 00:02:51.840 --> 00:03:02.080 to lose your way. Are you ready? Then let's begin. This episode 31 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:13.599 deals with themes of supernatural horror. Listener discretion is advised. Charcoal Drawings, 32 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:17.479 the pinks, purples, and golds of an early October sunrise filtered their way 33 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:23.280 through the scattered clouds. Autumn was Mila Kennedy's favorite time of year, and 34 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:28.520 this year was special. After dreaming of becoming an art teacher since junior high, 35 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:32.280 Mila finally had a position at Highland Hills Elementary for the area. This 36 00:03:32.439 --> 00:03:38.240 was a plum job. How she was hired over teachers with years more experience 37 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:43.400 she didn't know, but she wasn't going to question her good fortune. It's 38 00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:46.879 obvious, honey, that your positive attitude and enthusiasm won them over. Her 39 00:03:46.919 --> 00:03:52.800 mother told her, mom, You've always been my biggest cheerleader. I just 40 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:57.080 hope I'm good enough and don't let the school down. Her mother took Mala 41 00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:00.599 by the elbows and leaned in her, green eyes on fire with love. 42 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:04.280 You listen here, You are the best teacher for this job. You've lived 43 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:08.960 for this moment. Everyone loves your spunk. Now go make the world a 44 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:13.520 brighter place for those children. With her mother's pep talk in mind, Myla 45 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:17.040 poured herself into the school year, teaching kindergarten through fifth grade. Art kept 46 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:20.759 her on her toes, but she loved every second of her job. Each 47 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:25.720 grade brought its own challenges, but she did her best to instill the fundamentals 48 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:29.920 and to inspire the love for art. Children. Look at the world around 49 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:33.079 you, she would say, everything you see can become art if you view 50 00:04:33.120 --> 00:04:36.519 it that way. Did you see something today that you think is art? 51 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:42.759 Jimmy Martin raised his hand as twenty other first graders raised theirs. Yes, 52 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:46.040 Jimmy, I saw a bird this morning, a blue bird. It sat 53 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:50.680 on a wooden fence. It was pretty, very good. Who else? 54 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:57.079 Liza Gantry spoke next. My grandmother has a rose bush in her front yard. 55 00:04:57.319 --> 00:05:01.439 It's yellow. Yellow is my mom's favorite color. I'm sure it's beautiful. 56 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:05.839 Liza wriggled and smiled a shy little grin, pleased that her answer was 57 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:11.439 correct. Around the class, Mila or Miss Kennedy, as her students knew 58 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:15.639 her, called on each child my brother's new truck, the red barn at 59 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:19.920 the Klaus's farm, my dog Pixie. Each child had a piece of real 60 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:25.279 world art to talk about. Every day, Mila Kennedy asked her students to 61 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:28.839 think of something they could see that they considered art. It could be as 62 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:31.240 simple as the pencil on their desk, or as exotic as a peacock. 63 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:35.319 After a month or so, she asked her students to picture art objects in 64 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:40.279 their minds. Close your eyes, imagine what it would look like if you 65 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:44.079 drew it on a piece of sketch paper. She could tell by the expressions 66 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:47.439 on their faces that her eager students visualized their art. This is what she'd 67 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:53.199 always wanted. Art became a part of her student's daily lives. One day, 68 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:57.120 mister Reynolds, the principal, stopped her in the hallway. I'm not 69 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:00.839 sure what magic you're casting in your classes, miss Kennedy, but the students 70 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:03.240 love your room. Parents have even told me. When they're driving in the 71 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:06.600 car or taking a walk, their children point out the art they see. 72 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:12.519 Keep it up. Mala blushed, Thank you, mister Reynolds. I'll do 73 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:15.879 my best. We're glad to have you here. With that, Reynolds, 74 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:20.600 always a man on the move, strode down the hallway. His encouraging words 75 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:25.639 fueled Mala to think of innovative ways to teach her young students the fundamentals of 76 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:30.120 art. They'd begun the year with hands on clay sculptures. The children loved 77 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:33.639 feeling the medium in their little hands. Now she needed another engaging project. 78 00:06:34.279 --> 00:06:38.920 One idea had tickled her brain for a few months, and she decided that 79 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:42.560 the time had come to try it Today, class, we are going to 80 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:45.800 put art we see down on paper. Peter, will you pass out the 81 00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:49.040 charcoal pencils for me? Lydia? Will you give one sheet of sketch paper 82 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:54.279 to each student? Smiling, she patiently stood at the front of the room 83 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:58.120 as the supplies were handed out. What I want you to do is close 84 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:00.680 your eyes and imagine something that it is in this room that you would like 85 00:07:00.759 --> 00:07:04.680 to draw. Imagine it as a piece of art, just like we've been 86 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:09.959 practicing. She gave the squirming students a moment to focus on what they envisioned 87 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:14.519 drawing. Now, open your eyes and draw what you could see. But 88 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:19.199 Miss Kennedy, yes, Hannah, we don't have any colors, just black. 89 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:24.800 That's right. I want us to practice the basics first. Later this 90 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:28.319 year we will add color to our drawings. For now, we are going 91 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.560 to work on getting the shapes down. Make sure you give your drawing a 92 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:34.560 title too. We will be practicing these same drawings every day for the next 93 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:39.959 two weeks, improving on the idea you come up with today. Her students 94 00:07:39.959 --> 00:07:43.000 loved her, so they set to work, doing their best to please her. 95 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.279 At the end of class, a few students rushed to put the finishing 96 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:49.079 touches on their creations, as she'd taught them. When the bell rang, 97 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:53.879 they carefully turned their work into their hour slot in the wooden cabinet next to 98 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:58.199 Mila's desk. They placed the charcoal pencils back in the supply box. With 99 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.639 smiles on their faces, they filed out of the room. It was the 100 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:05.439 end of the day and the students hurried off to their home room. Eager 101 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:07.879 to see what her students drew. Mala pulled the papers from the cabinet and 102 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:13.560 flipped through them. She was puzzled. Hmm, the children did as I 103 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:18.199 asked. They gave their drawings titles. But these are all of the same 104 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:24.279 thing people. But these aren't people who were in our room. One boy's 105 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:28.040 drawing was entitled Gregor, a little girl's was named Janno, and another named 106 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:33.399 his Bellsor. Each child's drawing was a version of either Gregor, Janno, 107 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:37.879 or Belzor. Perplexed, the next day, she addressed her class. Yesterday's 108 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:43.080 students we were supposed to draw pictures of something in this room. All of 109 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:46.120 you drew figures of people. You named them all the same three names. 110 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:50.919 I'd asked you to draw something in this room, but we did. Miss 111 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:56.279 Kennedy, Lydia looked at her with wide blue eyes. You asked us to 112 00:08:56.279 --> 00:09:00.200 close our eyes and draw what we saw. Peter shifted in his chair and 113 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:03.399 looked around the room at his classmates for support. They all nodded in agreement. 114 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:07.600 Yes, I did. We always have our friends with us, Miss 115 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:13.120 Kennedy, you do, Billy, Yes, ma'am. She stood in thought 116 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:16.279 for a moment before she realized what her first graders meant. Of course, 117 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:22.320 are these your imaginary friends? Peter looked to his left and whispered something to 118 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:26.720 no one in particular. He paused, then nodded yes, Miss Kennedy. 119 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:30.600 Gregor says, he's our imaginary friend, and he's right here next to me. 120 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:35.559 He's in this room, so we can still draw him. Having imaginary 121 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:39.799 friends was natural for children. Mila didn't want to dash the creativity of her 122 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:43.440 students. This world would have enough chances to destroy their imaginations, and there 123 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:48.200 was no reason for it to start today. In her classroom. I did 124 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:50.720 say we'd practice the same drawings for two weeks, and this is what you 125 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:54.639 chose to draw, so yes, you can continue to draw them. Sighs 126 00:09:54.639 --> 00:10:00.000 of relief swept through the classroom. Jimmy said, Jano says thank you. 127 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:05.960 Mala chuckled and said, tell Jiano he's welcome. Now for our lesson on 128 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:09.360 the board, she modeled how to draw body, legs, arms, and 129 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:13.440 a head. The students went to work. Following her lead, they created 130 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:16.840 new versions of their previous drawings. Each day a new aspect was practiced. 131 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:20.559 At the end of the week, Mila was amazed by how much their drawings 132 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:26.840 had improved. They became more detailed and less rudimentary. For being first graders, 133 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:30.480 they showed a great deal of talent. She marveled at how the children's 134 00:10:30.519 --> 00:10:35.080 depictions of their imaginary friends were so similar. Mala assumed they told each other 135 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:39.200 so many stories about these imaginary figures that they had a common description in mind. 136 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:43.279 She didn't want to brag, but the children were rapidly learning the drawing 137 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:48.240 techniques she'd modeled for them. She left work on Friday feeling invigorated. Her 138 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:52.399 project was coming along better than she had hoped. The air was crisp and 139 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:54.679 the sky was clear. As she walked to her car, Mala pulled her 140 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:58.399 coat closed against her chest as the wind whipped past her. The crimson of 141 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:03.840 the maples mixed with the golden cottonwood trees. How could an artist not love 142 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:07.559 autumn? The palette of colors was laid out across the countryside, and Mila 143 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.519 took the long way home so she could enjoy the sights a little longer. 144 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:16.639 The next Monday, Mala picked up her lessons where she left off again. 145 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:22.000 The children's work was better than the time before. Children. I'm so proud 146 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:26.000 of you. Your artwork is really improving and I am very impressed. Thank 147 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:31.200 you, Miss Kennedy. Shouts of joy erupted in the classroom. Gregor says, 148 00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:35.399 he's glad you like what you see. Peter smiled and nodded at the 149 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:39.600 air beside him as he passed out the charcoal pencils to his classmates. By 150 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:43.559 Wednesday, however, an unusual change in the drawings took Mala by surprise. 151 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:48.519 A darkness enveloped them. The details had improved yet again, but there was 152 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:52.799 an unsettling look in the eyes of Gregor Jano and Belzor. These imaginary friends 153 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:58.519 looked downright well evil. Only two more days to the unit remained, and 154 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:03.559 Mala looked forward to moving on to a happier project. Next week, they 155 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:09.200 would create Halloween decorations for the school hallway. On Thursday, Mila's mind played 156 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:13.279 tricks on her as she looked over her student's work. She could have sworn 157 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:16.279 the eyes of the figures watched her. She heard someone whisper in the back 158 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:20.000 of the room. As she reached the end of the stack of drawings. 159 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:24.200 She jumped, and a sound akin to laughter behind her made her turn. 160 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:28.799 Of course, there was nothing there. She gathered her purse and coat, 161 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:33.240 looked back into her classroom, then shut and locked the door. This project 162 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:37.519 was no longer fun. Friday, of course, brought even more vivid images 163 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:41.080 from the children. Nervously, she paced around the room, checking their work 164 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:46.000 as they furiously drew to finish their masterpieces. Mila was eager for the week 165 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:52.200 and that project to be over. She was exhausted as she made her rounds. 166 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:56.759 Was she losing her mind? Surely Jimmy's eyes didn't flicker black for an 167 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:01.440 instant. No, that couldn't be. Then a deep voice behind her said, 168 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:05.720 missus Kennedy, what do you think it looks real? Doesn't it? 169 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:09.600 Startled? She spun around. Peter had held his picture up for her to 170 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:15.960 see. She forced a smile and said, yes, it does, and 171 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:20.279 it did. The bell rang, but the students didn't place their drawings in 172 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:24.399 the cabinet. Instead, they left them sitting on their tables and rushed out 173 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:28.039 the door, laughing, well, I guess on Monday I will have to 174 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:31.840 remind them what our end of class procedures are, she muttered to herself. 175 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:35.879 As she reached to pick up the first drawing, The piercing glare of Gregor 176 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:39.759 made her blood run cold. Before she could pick up the paper, a 177 00:13:39.799 --> 00:13:45.759 clawed black hand came out of the drawing and grasped her wrist. Greigor cackled. 178 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:48.759 Mala struggled to free herself. A rush of air swept through the room 179 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:54.240 and the paper swirled into the air, spinning frantically in a blur. Gregor 180 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:58.240 continued his hold on her wrist. You cannot escape my hold, Mila. 181 00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:03.320 Can I call you my missus Kennedy? Seems so formal? After all, 182 00:14:03.480 --> 00:14:09.519 we're friends, not so imaginary friends. Isn't that right, my sweet. 183 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:15.720 His other clawed hand reached out and caressed her face. What's happening? This 184 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:20.639 can't be real. Oh but we are real. We just need your help, 185 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:24.919 two voices spoke in unison. Mala turned around to see the incarnations of 186 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:30.320 Jano and Belzar. My help, what do you mean? My help? 187 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:35.679 You can't be real. We are real now, Mila. We've waited so 188 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:39.519 long to be given form, and with your help here we are the children 189 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:45.240 and their drawings brought us into this world. Now our work can be done. 190 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:52.519 Jano's eyes sparkled. The three beings hissed hideous laughter. No, you're 191 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:58.600 nothing more than imaginary friends. I'm dreaming that I see you. Gregor's razor 192 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:01.440 sharp claw slid down my life forearm, and a thin stream of blood flowed. 193 00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:05.559 He placed the tip of his finger in his mouth. This is all 194 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:13.000 real, and I yes, you are indeed, my sweet? What are 195 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:18.720 you? You're no childhood imaginary friend? Belsor took a step forward. You're 196 00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:24.720 a smart one, Mala Kennedy, No, we are not imaginary friends. 197 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:28.879 What are you? Then? Jano and Belsor grinned and gave a nod toward 198 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:33.919 Gregor, who pulled her close to him, she smelled the putrid stench of 199 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:39.399 his breath and the odor of singed hair. My sweet, we are demons. 200 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:43.840 We have waited a long time for a means to cross over. We 201 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:48.879 have hovered in this school for decades. The children were right. We were 202 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:52.320 in this room, and you told them to draw what was in this room. 203 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:58.720 You gave us our avenue to materialize in this dimension. Why don't you 204 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:03.480 going to do? Why are you here? Let go of me. Mila 205 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:08.600 tugged her arm, but Gregor only tightened his grip. Do we are only 206 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:15.480 the first? Others will follow? My sweet, We are going to conquer 207 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:19.799 this world. In a flash, he entered her body. On Monday, 208 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:30.720 it was second grade's turn to draw what was in the room. Thank you 209 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:37.200 for joining me. Into the Night an anthology series written by Caroline Giamanco and 210 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:41.639 narrated by Nari Quok. You can now listen to all new episodes of Into 211 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:45.120 the Night on your favorite podcast directory. Be sure to subscribe so you never 212 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:48.559 miss an episode, and please share with anyone you think would like to join 213 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:52.440 us on our next excursion. If you like what you hear, please leave 214 00:16:52.519 --> 00:16:56.200 us a five star review. It really does help. Feel free to reach 215 00:16:56.240 --> 00:17:00.080 out to us on Twitter at Into the Night pod, or by email at 216 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:06.759 Itnanthology at gmail dot com. I'll see you in two weeks, and remember, 217 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:11.160 whether in the shadows or in the daylight, all twisted paths take you 218 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:26.160 into the night.