WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.480 --> 00:00:06.160 Ispet Archives has adult language and violence and is not 2 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:11.080 suitable for children. Listener discretion is advised. Ispet Archives is 3 00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:14.480 a Creative Typo entertainment production. If you enjoy this show, 4 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:18.079 we invite you to support us on Patreon at www 5 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:22.480 dot patreon dot com. Forward slash Creative Typo. All levels 6 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:25.800 of membership include ad free listening and our binge. Here 7 00:00:25.960 --> 00:00:29.679 includes access to this complete season. Thank you for listening. 8 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:14.319 Chapter twenty five, The Hunter and the Anomaly. 9 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:23.439 Natalie White's awakening was harsh and painful. Drenched in bathwater, 10 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:27.480 the faint but rapidly intensifying scent of gas filled the air. 11 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:29.439 She had been crushed under a. 12 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:33.359 Bathtub that had improbably crashed through from the apartment above 13 00:01:33.879 --> 00:01:36.760 and knocked her through the floor of Amberlang's bathroom. What 14 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:41.040 were the odds of that happening? Oh right, the chances 15 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:44.760 didn't fucking matter, because there was a goddamn anomaly slinking around, 16 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:50.000 a powerful one too. With terrifying precision, she redirected Natalie's 17 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:53.319 bullets around a corner and into another room that was new. 18 00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:56.840 Natalie attempted to shift her position under the tub, but 19 00:01:56.959 --> 00:02:00.120 her right arm was pinned. The attempted movement of her 20 00:02:00.200 --> 00:02:03.439 arms sent searing pain that bloomed in her vision. The 21 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:07.159 fallen tub, still heavy with water, pressed down on her wrist, 22 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:11.240 and the rifle beneath her, both likely damaged beyond repair. 23 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:16.520 Trapped and in agony, Natalie realized the bathtub's awkward angle 24 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:19.759 had saved her from being completely crushed most of her 25 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:24.400 at least. With a grimace, she twisted slightly, shifting the 26 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:27.960 tub using her legs and left hand, each movement a 27 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:32.400 torture of its own. The tub budged slightly, exacerbating the 28 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:36.000 pressure on her broken wrist, eliciting a string of curses 29 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:40.800 from her lips. Forcing herself to pause, Natalie took deep breaths, 30 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:46.080 struggling to master the pain and panic. Once steadied, she 31 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:49.199 reached for her radiough, Brown. 32 00:02:49.560 --> 00:02:50.240 Do you read me? 33 00:02:51.479 --> 00:02:52.439 Yeah, White, I read you. 34 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:57.840 I bumped into the prospect in five eighteen. She dropped 35 00:02:57.840 --> 00:02:58.400 a tub on me. 36 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:02.439 Is that a metaphor for something? 37 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:08.159 No? She dropped a literal bathtub full of water on me. 38 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:13.199 Oh Jesus Christ, do you need me to send someone? 39 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:14.319 No? 40 00:03:14.439 --> 00:03:17.240 I need you to listen. I think they came from 41 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:20.759 Marcus when they realized he wasn't there they left. 42 00:03:21.800 --> 00:03:24.120 Who is they? 43 00:03:24.919 --> 00:03:26.879 I saw Hastings with her. 44 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:30.800 All right, Hold on a second, ra Mara was getting 45 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:31.639 something from Riggs. 46 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:40.120 What's happening? 47 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:43.479 Riggs said that Timers is down. 48 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:48.039 The anomaly is on the fire escape. 49 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:52.400 Yeah, the stairs. Timbers was covering. Riggs is on the roof, 50 00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:54.479 but she can't get a good shot at him. She 51 00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:56.039 said that someone shot Timmers. 52 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:00.800 Are there explosives on that stairwell? 53 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:02.319 Yeah, that one is rigged? 54 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:06.120 Blow them now? 55 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:17.800 All right, Romero, a trick of the fire escape. Ah, 56 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.240 it's done. Whatsn't that? I'm sending someone up to the 57 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:23.040 fifth floor to get you. 58 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:23.600 No, don't. 59 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:26.000 I'm not on the fifth floor. I'm on the fourth. 60 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:28.360 Floor, room four eighteen. 61 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:33.920 I assume, but don't send anyone. 62 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:34.600 Why not. 63 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:38.279 Gas? I smell gas? 64 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:39.720 Fuck. 65 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:43.680 I can get out on my own. Leave Romero to 66 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:46.160 hold that elevator. I want you to meet me in 67 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:48.240 the lobby. We need to make sure that none of 68 00:04:48.279 --> 00:04:49.600 the targets survived that fall. 69 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:56.279 Okay, I'll see get down there, all right, nat. 70 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:58.959 Now you just have to get out of here. This 71 00:04:59.000 --> 00:04:59.839 is gonna hurt like. 72 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:07.000 A Emily peered through the fire escape entrance anxiously hoping 73 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:10.160 to spot her friends. Her heart sank as she witnessed 74 00:05:10.199 --> 00:05:13.079 the aftermath of an explosive device that had sent the 75 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:16.519 stairway crumbling down in a chaotic cascade of steel and brick. 76 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:20.600 Just moments before, Marcus had pulled her back into the 77 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:23.560 safety of the hallway, narrowly avoiding the disaster as the 78 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:28.399 landing was violently torn away from the building. Looking up, 79 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:31.439 Emily could see that the entire fire escape structure had 80 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:35.519 been detached from the apartment complex's exterior, leaving a stark, 81 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:40.360 gaping absence where it had once clung below. The metal 82 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:43.879 staircase was missing from both the fourth and third floor. 83 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:48.680 This was meant to kill them. She searched desperately for 84 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:52.920 any sign of movement, seeing nothing but destruction, stretching each 85 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:58.040 second into an eternity. Finally, relief washed over her as 86 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:02.120 she spotted George alive and cautiously navigating through the debris. 87 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:07.079 George, George, Hey, is everybody okay down there? 88 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:10.680 We'll be fine, Maybe a little banged up, but it's okay. 89 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:12.399 You need to get yourself out of there. 90 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:13.639 What about Amber. 91 00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:17.160 Don't worry about us, Just get out of there, all right? 92 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:18.959 You heard him? Let's get out of here. 93 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:21.240 Okay, let's go. 94 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:26.879 All right? Which way? 95 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:27.920 Follow me? 96 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:30.199 The elevator's block, so we'll have to try the stairs. 97 00:06:30.680 --> 00:06:33.759 The stairs, there's probably contra agents there. 98 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:36.120 I can deal with them. 99 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:38.600 I don't know if you should be using your fat 100 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:39.079 right now. 101 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:41.959 It's the only weapon we have. 102 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:46.199 Okay, but what about the blender? You could trigger that. 103 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:50.000 I'd rather take my chances with magic than armed assassins. 104 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:55.920 All right, fair enough, that's true. Any sign of the shifter? 105 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:58.839 No, not yet. We're almost to the stairs. 106 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:02.040 When we get there, should we just charge in? 107 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:05.319 I think that this is a stairwell where September got 108 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:08.279 the rifle. I'm hoping that the agents are already gone. 109 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:12.040 All right, I'll go first. 110 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:13.480 I'm right behind you. 111 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:18.000 It looks like it's all clear. 112 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:20.439 Okay, go down. 113 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:34.839 Oh shit, hang on back. There are men at the 114 00:07:34.839 --> 00:07:35.720 fourth floor entrance. 115 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:45.000 No, we can't go back. The shifter's coming from that way. 116 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:47.160 Fuck, what do you want to do? 117 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:49.600 Move? 118 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:57.519 The two agents directed their weapons at Emily and Marcus. 119 00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:01.399 Amidst the chaos. Emily could bear heard their shouts. With 120 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:05.439 her hands raised, she ran directly toward them, pleading for help, 121 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:08.079 her heart raised with the fear that the shifter had 122 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:10.560 stopped chasing them, and now she faced the risk of 123 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:14.040 being shot by the agents instead. But the two rifles 124 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:18.800 lifted to point above Emily. The shifter, with astonishing agility, 125 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:23.000 vaulted over Marcus, crashing into one of the agents. The 126 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:25.759 second agent, in panic, fired at the creature as it 127 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:28.560 lifted and hurled the first agent down the stairwell gap. 128 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:32.960 Emily flinched at the scream that followed, ending abruptly with 129 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:36.240 a sickening crunch. Not daring to witness the fate of 130 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:39.480 the second agent, Emily burst through the fourth floor access 131 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:44.080 door and sprinted down the hallway, Marcus trailing close behind her. 132 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:47.519 Plan was desperate, but necessary. They would return to the 133 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:50.039 fire escape and jump from the fourth floor to the 134 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:54.360 broken stairwell below. She knew that the ten or fifteen 135 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:57.600 foot drop might cause injuries for her and Marcus, but 136 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:00.480 the potential injuries seemed a lesser evil compared to the 137 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:04.120 looming thread of the shifter inside. As they darted past 138 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:07.840 Apartment four eighteen, Emily noticed the door ajar with a 139 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:11.799 bloody handprint smeared across its center. The print likely belonged 140 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:14.360 to the agent who had fallen from Amber's apartment above. 141 00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:18.399 The air was heavy with distench of gas, presumably from 142 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:22.559 the stove she had earlier destroyed. Glancing back, Emily saw 143 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:26.799 Marcus lagging, his exhaustion evidence. With everything they had encountered 144 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:29.799 over the last few days, she wasn't at all surprised 145 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:32.480 that he was struggling. She slowed her pace to let 146 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:35.960 him catch up. But four eighteen had other plans. Just 147 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.200 as Marcus aligned with Apartment four eighteen, a massive explosion 148 00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:44.080 erupted from within the force of the blast slammed him 149 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:48.399 against the opposite wall. He crumpled to the ground, unmoving. 150 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:52.840 Emily instinctively shielded her face, hiding from the blast of 151 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:57.000 searing heat. Marcus wasn't moving. As she was about to 152 00:09:57.080 --> 00:10:00.519 rush to Marcus's aid, the shifter appeared barely through the 153 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:05.759 flames toward her. She summoned her ipet lines, focusing intensely 154 00:10:05.799 --> 00:10:08.519 on pushing against the maroon thread that connected the shifter 155 00:10:08.679 --> 00:10:13.320 to her ipet Well, the shifter did not slow too late. 156 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:16.080 She remembered that she could not manipulate the hidden in 157 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:18.960 the same way she could humans and material objects. The 158 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:22.240 creatures slammed into her toppling them both to the ground 159 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:25.519 in a roll. As they separated from each other, Emily 160 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:28.279 felt the creature's claw tear through her shirt and skin. 161 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:31.679 Pain flared across her stomach. As she tried to regain 162 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:35.080 her feet, the sound of a man's scream echoed down 163 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:40.000 the hallway. People were fleeing the inferno. Now on her feet, 164 00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:43.519 Emily saw the shifter blocking the path to Marcus. In 165 00:10:43.559 --> 00:10:48.440 its form, still menacingly sasquatch like. The maroon espet line 166 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:52.919 glowed intensely but remained unyielding to her attempts to manipulate it. 167 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:56.360 Slightly slouched due to the wound on her stomach, Emily 168 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:59.720 scanned the rapidly deteriorating area around her for anything to 169 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:02.320 use used as a weapon. A burning chunk of the 170 00:11:02.360 --> 00:11:06.679 doorframe fell from the threshold of Apartment four eighteen. Marcus 171 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:10.600 still lay limp on the hallway floor. The fire wasn't 172 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:14.080 near him, but it was coming closer. Just as the 173 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:19.639 shifter was approaching Emily, the creature jerked forward, claws raised 174 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:25.000 but eerily silent. Emily formed a blue espet line, attached 175 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:27.559 the end of her line to the piece of fallen doorframe, 176 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:31.320 and then pulled as hard as she could. She connected 177 00:11:31.320 --> 00:11:34.080 the blue espet stream with the maroon stream that belonged 178 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:37.720 to the shifter. Just before the creature crashed into Emily, 179 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.720 a fiery torpedo of splintered wood slammed into its head, 180 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:46.080 knocking the shifter to the side. Emboldened, she didn't relent 181 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:49.200 in her assault. She hurled every piece of burning building 182 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:52.480 that she could find at the creature. Picture frames, chunks 183 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.960 of wall, and a portion of the ceiling all fell 184 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:58.000 upon the monstrosity. The shifter fell to the ground, but 185 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:01.399 Emily didn't stop her barrage until that was completely covered. 186 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:05.440 The scent of burning fur and flesh rose from the 187 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:10.039 pile of rubble. Still, the creature made no noise. Emily 188 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:14.440 approached cautiously, her attention divided between the shifter and Marcus. 189 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:18.519 The hallway was rapidly heating up and the fire spread 190 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:22.519 unchecked as the building sprinkler system failed to activate. Maybe 191 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:25.080 the contra turned it off somehow, or maybe it was 192 00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:29.200 vaulted before this all began. Above, she noticed the dormant 193 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:32.480 pipes of the sprinkler system. She targeted a pipe above 194 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:36.039 Marcus and pulled with her espet the metal snapped and 195 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:39.679 water briefly gushed out, soaking Marcus and providing him with 196 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:42.879 a slight reprieve. As she prepared to check on Marcus, 197 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:46.559 the rubble stirred. The shifter rose from the embers, resuming 198 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:51.399 its original nightmarish form, a faceless horror, fixating its ghastly 199 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:55.799 gaze on Marcus. In desperation, Emily tore the door off 200 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:58.879 Apartment four eighteen and flung it at the creature, but 201 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:01.600 it missed, as the doors ispet stream couldn't connect with 202 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:04.720 that of the shifters. She had assumed the demon creature 203 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:08.600 would attack Marcus, but she was wrong. The beast lunged 204 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:12.120 at her, instead, pinning her against the wall. One clawed 205 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:15.799 hand dug deep into her right shoulder, the other encircled 206 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:19.879 her neck. Emily tensed as the shifter's featureless face split 207 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:22.759 down the middle from top to bottom. She closed her 208 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:26.399 eyes and turned her head as the vertical maw filled 209 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.279 with flat razor bladed teeth came within centimeters of her face. 210 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:34.879 The creature paused. Emily looked at the demon that held her. 211 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:38.840 Its face morphed through a series of terrifying visages, as 212 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:41.840 if flipping through a hellish picture book, and finally setting 213 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:45.000 on a horrifyingly clown like appearance that chilled her to 214 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:48.759 the bone. The shifter's corporeal form seemed to shut her 215 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:53.240 with silent laughter, its grotesque body vibrating. It sniffed at 216 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:56.360 Emily like an animal drawing in the scent of its prey, 217 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:00.240 then unexpectedly loosened its grip around her neck. 218 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:03.360 It spoke, what are you? 219 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:05.000 What? 220 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:07.840 I must know your nature? Tell me? 221 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:09.240 What are you? 222 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:11.360 Fuck you? 223 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:15.399 Your end need not be agonizing, but it can be. 224 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:22.000 Please no, truthfully, what are you? 225 00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.639 I'll tell you if you let Marcus go. 226 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:31.279 The boy is irrelevant to me. I will make this deal. 227 00:14:31.919 --> 00:14:34.799 I'm an anomaly. I have chaos magic. 228 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:39.159 I have felt many anomalies before you differ. 229 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:44.879 I don't understand the burning items that you swear me. 230 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:48.559 Other anomalies can't throw things with. 231 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:50.120 There is fad. 232 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:54.840 Oh the more mature anominies. They're able to manipulate objects, 233 00:14:55.919 --> 00:15:01.440 but use it more. The inferno you commanded it assailed me. 234 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:07.799 It's not to invade. It was as if the flames 235 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:11.720 themselves were alive, intent to undervourn you from within. 236 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:14.679 I wish they had such. 237 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:17.600 Cruelty does not befit you cruelty? 238 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:21.279 Are you kidding me? You've been hunting me, trying to 239 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:21.759 kill me. 240 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:25.399 Be bad as it may, but this was your third 241 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:30.559 remarkable execution. It has been an age since anyone made 242 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:32.120 it to three. And challenge me this. 243 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:34.720 What are you even talking about? 244 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:38.960 It matters not now? Please tell me? Are you an 245 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:42.320 evolution to the anomally? Are you simply more potent than 246 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:46.159 you can? Or are you something else? Entirely? 247 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:48.279 I don't know. 248 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:51.720 I don't know. Why are you doing this to me? 249 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.919 Why are you hunting me? 250 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.759 Because I was asked to? 251 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:58.759 Because you were asked to by who. 252 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:04.399 I cannot say. They were disqueezed that it took three. 253 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.200 Yet I hold gratitude. 254 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:09.240 So you're gonna kill me because somebody. 255 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:12.039 Asked yes, and for the dance of death you let. 256 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:13.080 I am thankful. 257 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.399 This is madness. 258 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:16.759 It's hurs the pain you inflicted upon me. 259 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.559 You're a monster. 260 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:22.639 I'm thankful for the hunt you provided. Just let me go, 261 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:26.919 Emily Swanson, my gratitude is yours. 262 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:27.799 Fuck you. 263 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:34.799 The Shifter's visage dissolved from the menacing clown mask back 264 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:38.159 to its featureless form as its grip tightened once again 265 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:43.080 around Emily's neck, cutting off her breath completely. Then it squeezed. 266 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:47.600 As the pressure built, Emily's vision blurred to near blindness. 267 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:52.399 Tears filled her eyes. She could feel the fire burning closer. 268 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:57.039 In a final bid for survival, she focused intensely on 269 00:16:57.080 --> 00:17:02.000 the maroonpet thread connecting her to the shifter, Channeling all 270 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:05.000 her remaining will into a thick ribbon of magic. 271 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.279 She pulled. 272 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:11.440 Suddenly, the shifter's claw released her throat, allowing a rush 273 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:15.119 of oxygen to flut her lungs. The other claw slid 274 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:18.279 out of her right shoulder, leaving behind a trail of pain. 275 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:23.119 Emily rapidly blinked away the smoke and tears, striving to 276 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:27.480 see the monster before her. What she saw was horrifying. 277 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:29.960 A twisted collection of metal. 278 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:34.559 Rods morphed into cruel hooknded bars protruded grotesquely from the 279 00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:39.039 Shifter's torso. They had pierced through its back and emerged 280 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:42.880 from the stomach, curving into large U shaped hooks that 281 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:47.440 re entered the creature, pinning it cruelly in place. While 282 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:51.200 the creature was speaking, Emily had manipulated the remnants of 283 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:54.920 the broken sprinkler system from above them. She had twisted 284 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:58.440 the metal into several rod like shapes, weaving them through 285 00:17:58.440 --> 00:18:00.759 the air and driving them through the reach its back 286 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:05.359 with deadly accuracy. Now free of the monstrous grasp, she 287 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:08.720 pushed her ispet against the eight giant hooks, driving the 288 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:12.720 shifter against the hallway wall. The scene was macabre as 289 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:16.000 the hooks pierced through its arms and legs, anchoring themselves 290 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:19.119 deep into the wall, trapping the shifter despite its frantic 291 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:23.279 struggles to free itself. Seizing this opportunity, Emily used her 292 00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:26.720 ispet to float burning debris and embers directly beneath the 293 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:31.960 Shifter's suspended form. She hungered for vengeance. She wanted to 294 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:34.799 feel every ounce of pain that the shifter had caused 295 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:40.519 her and her friends. She stood back, the flames reflecting 296 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:43.640 in her eyes. She wanted to watch it burn. 297 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:47.079 I hope you wrought in hell. 298 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:06.720 Hastings assisted Detective Bullard in carrying Davis across the street, 299 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:10.319 then gently placed him on the grass behind Bullard's car. 300 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:14.160 He quickly checked Davis for any serious wounds or signs 301 00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:17.160 of distress. Fortunately, there seemed to be none that demanded 302 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:20.839 immediate medical attention. Though the drugs were still tapering off. 303 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:24.480 At the same time, September was attempting to help Amber 304 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:27.359 cross the street. She appeared to have regained some of 305 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:30.119 her composure, and now her face was etched with an 306 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:34.559 expression of pure rage. Clutching Emily's cat tightly to her chest, 307 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:37.559 she looked ready to attack anyone that dared approach her. 308 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:42.279 Hastings offered Amber a comforting smile, an attempt to provide 309 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:46.039 some reassurance amidst the chaos. She responded with a stern 310 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:48.720 middle finger as she strode past him to stand next 311 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:52.039 to Bullard. September shouldered a sympathetic shrug as. 312 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:57.200 He approached September. I don't think Amber likes us very much. 313 00:19:57.720 --> 00:20:01.400 You are dead on with that iss Saise, I smiled 314 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:07.160 at her. I know, Hastings, She'll come around. Are you injured? 315 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:11.000 Nothing serious? Just some gashes from the falling metal. 316 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:14.319 None of us appears to have sustained any serious injuries, 317 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:17.599 which seems very unlikely after such a dangerous event. 318 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:21.759 I assume Emily has something to do with that, possibly, 319 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:24.759 speaking of which I will need you to stay here 320 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:27.359 with them. I'm going back in to get Emily. 321 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:30.559 I would not recommend that September the fire looks to 322 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:33.519 a spread across the fifth floor. I could see places 323 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:35.720 on the fourth floor where it is spread as well, 324 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:38.240 all the more reason that I should go in after her. 325 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:41.519 And there are two Contra agents on the entrance. They 326 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:44.119 have removed their helmets, but they are agents and they 327 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:44.720 are armed. 328 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:46.119 Shit. 329 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:49.279 Maybe I could go around the side. 330 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:53.599 September. I need you to stay here. Emily and Marcus 331 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:56.039 will have to do this on their own, Hastings. I 332 00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:58.279 do not mean to sound cruel, but if they do 333 00:20:58.359 --> 00:21:00.000 not make it out, then I will need your help 334 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:03.680 to find another anomaly. I cannot successfully do this without you. 335 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:06.599 Our goal was to see if we could save anomalies, 336 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.960 not just Emily. 337 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:11.359 I don't like it, Hastings. She's our friend. 338 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:13.839 And how do you think she would feel if you 339 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:17.279 ran inside and were immediately gunned down by Contra while 340 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.160 trying to save her. 341 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:20.400 She'd probably be pissed. 342 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:25.799 She's not helpless. She's incredibly powerful and intelligent. She has 343 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:28.039 better chances of making it out than you or I would. 344 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:37.799 You're right, thank you for listening to my point of view, Hastings. Yes, September, how. 345 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:40.519 Did you get so good at understanding people? 346 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:43.799 I'm not good with all people. I tried to smile 347 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:48.599 at Amber. Remember ignore that your spot on about Emily 348 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:54.680 and that's different. Hmmm, that's interesting and since when did 349 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.039 you use contractions? 350 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:09.039 Emily watched as the flames danced around the shifter. With 351 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:12.160 each of the creature's attempts to escape, she would drive 352 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:15.319 the metal hooks deeper into the wall. Shifters were hard 353 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:18.240 to kill, but she didn't expect it to be this difficult. 354 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:22.880 The blaze intensified rapidly, and the sweltering heat bore down 355 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:26.559 on Emily's face. Inside, Marcus was almost completely cut off 356 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:28.680 from her, and as far as she could tell, he 357 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:32.839 was still unconscious. Forsaking the shifter to its fiery prison, 358 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:37.440 Emily attempted to reach Marcus. The heat was stifling, each 359 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:41.119 step more agonizing than the last. She shielded her head 360 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:43.400 and crouched low as she moved toward him, but the 361 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:47.200 blistering air stopped her just a few steps away. Desperately, 362 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:51.720 she reached out with her ispet, seeking something or someone 363 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.480 that could help. 364 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:55.359 What she truly needed was water. 365 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:58.440 But that was something her ipet could not manipulate, or 366 00:22:58.519 --> 00:23:03.759 even sense for that matter. Then it clicked. Cricket had 367 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:08.400 mentioned something about absorption and transference of powers, concepts that 368 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:13.160 hadn't made sense until now. In Montana, she had been 369 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:16.519 inadvertently draining the heat from her surroundings. That's why the 370 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:18.799 temperature in the house was always colder than it should 371 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:21.839 have been, and why Marcus was constantly freezing when she wasn't. 372 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:25.799 When she tapped back, then her well was warm and comforting. 373 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:30.599 That sensation extended to her physically as well. Once Cricket 374 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:33.640 mentioned it, she focused on not absorbing the heat from 375 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:36.880 around Marcus, but she still was not cold. She must 376 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:40.480 have inadvertently switched and begun absorbing the cold temperatures around 377 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:43.279 her to keep from getting physically cold. That's why her 378 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:46.880 ispat well had changed to the icy temperatures. She reached 379 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:50.359 back into her well and felt the freezing temperatures surrounding her. 380 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:53.480 She pushed the cold back out of her well. It 381 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:56.720 wasn't a directed flow like her healing energy, but more 382 00:23:56.759 --> 00:24:00.480 of an aura that radiated from her, repelling the fires. 383 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:03.920 As the intense heat withdrew as if repulsed by an 384 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:08.400 invisible barrier, and Emily swiftly closed the remaining distance to Marcus. 385 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:11.920 The water she had earlier dropped on him, had shielded 386 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:15.519 him temporarily, but his clothes and skin were now searing 387 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:19.839 to the touch. She shook Marcus, attempting to wake him, 388 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:24.160 but he didn't move. She assumed it was a bad 389 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:28.559 concussion and weighed her options. Carrying Marcus through the inferno 390 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:32.119 was out of the question. She needed him conscious and mobile. 391 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:34.480 She placed her hand on the back of his neck 392 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:37.319 and channeled a trickle of healing into him. The act 393 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:41.279 was straining, but effective. Marcus woke with a gasp. 394 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:44.240 Hey, Marcus, can you hear me? 395 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:46.559 Hey? 396 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:49.640 Yeah? What what happened? 397 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.680 Marcus? 398 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:52.160 We have got to get out of here. 399 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:52.720 It's on. 400 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:55.119 It's on fire. 401 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:56.480