1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: Hullo, I'm welcome's stories all the time. Glad you are here. 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:12,720 Let's get into it. April fourteenth, twenty twenty one, marked 3 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,919 the day Rin Harris left Change forever. April fourteenth was 4 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,199 his birthday, and in that particular year, the year he 5 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,359 turned eight, his parents gave him the only present he 6 00:00:20,399 --> 00:00:23,160 had ever specifically asked them for. He had never been 7 00:00:23,199 --> 00:00:26,160 greedy or needy, never one to focus on material possessions, 8 00:00:26,519 --> 00:00:28,519 but he had begged his parents for his very own 9 00:00:28,519 --> 00:00:31,879 metal detector. Neil and Trisha, Quinn's parents, had held a 10 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,759 private discussion shortly before the boy's birthday and decided a 11 00:00:34,759 --> 00:00:37,679 metal detector, although quite expensive, would be a wonderful way 12 00:00:37,719 --> 00:00:39,439 to get their sunnets boring outside in a day and 13 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:41,719 agent which most kids would rather stay in, and most 14 00:00:41,719 --> 00:00:44,159 parents would rather allow voices behind screens to do their 15 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,039 job for them. After every other present had been opened 16 00:00:47,079 --> 00:00:48,759 and Quinn was sitting on the couch force in a 17 00:00:48,759 --> 00:00:51,960 contented and thankful expression despite his seeing disappointment, Neil Harris 18 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,920 brought out a lawn box wrapped in green paper, Quinn's 19 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:58,200 favorite color. Not even heer, Quinn's fifteen year old sister 20 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,079 knew about the metal detector. She thought she had gotten 21 00:01:01,079 --> 00:01:02,960 her brother the premiere present of the year, a digital 22 00:01:03,039 --> 00:01:05,359 watch that read the temperature, showed the moon cycle, and 23 00:01:05,439 --> 00:01:07,920 told the date and time all at once. But she 24 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,000 never see watched her father into the living room with 25 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,239 a victorious grin on his normally placid face. She knew 26 00:01:13,239 --> 00:01:15,040 her watch was about to be buried by whatever her 27 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,040 father held in that box, and she was delighted. Erra 28 00:01:18,159 --> 00:01:19,920 loved her little brother and could tell he had been 29 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,640 disappointed by his gifts. He had never in his life 30 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:25,200 seemed ungrateful, that day being no exception, but ere could 31 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,000 tell something had been missing, and she hoped her dad 32 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,799 was about to deliver it. Her hope was not misplaced. 33 00:01:30,439 --> 00:01:33,280 Quin tore through the paper. Before he had even pulled 34 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,640 the last bits of wrapping away, he was shouting, thank you, 35 00:01:36,359 --> 00:01:38,920 thank you, and bancing up and down on a patent 36 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,640 rug in front of the couch. The dick finder pro 37 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,280 It's exactly the one I wanted. Who knows what I'm 38 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,840 going to find with this, Oh thank you. Quinn would 39 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,040 have gone strayed outside to search for antent treasure's loss 40 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,519 beneath suburbia, but the dick find of prose or chargeable 41 00:01:53,519 --> 00:01:56,760 battery had come out of the box drained. Sorry, kiddo, 42 00:01:57,359 --> 00:01:58,959 we're going to have to plug it in for a while, 43 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,879 Neil said, as he glanced over the user manual. Era 44 00:02:01,959 --> 00:02:04,040 took advantage of the forester lay and sure Quinn had 45 00:02:04,079 --> 00:02:06,719 set up his fancy new watch. By the time the 46 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,560 metal detector charged, the sun was cresting over the horizon, 47 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,560 and Tricia was put in the final touches. On dinner, 48 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,159 Quinn had chosen Hamburger's, his favorite, for his birthday meal. 49 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,159 Quinn downed his burger in a few mad swallows, but 50 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,159 Teresia made him wait to eat his cake until every 51 00:02:20,159 --> 00:02:22,960 one had finished. By the time the birthday song had 52 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,280 been sung, the candles blown out and the cake eaton, 53 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:27,240 the sun had traded places with the moon, and the 54 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,680 temperature had plummeted. It's dark out there, kiddo, Neil told 55 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,400 his crestful and birthday boy. I don't mind, I can 56 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,759 take a lantern. Quinn protested, Yeah, but it's cold now too. 57 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,840 Neil said it was warm enough with the jacket earlier, 58 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:44,000 Quinn argued. Neil smiled ruefully and shook his head. Welcome 59 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,719 to Iowa might have been warm a few hours ago, 60 00:02:46,879 --> 00:02:49,360 but you'll be shivering out there now. You'll get your 61 00:02:49,439 --> 00:02:52,759 chance tomorrow. Trisha said, yeah, I'll go out with ye. 62 00:02:52,879 --> 00:02:56,000 Ere are offered. Quinn said okay, but he sounded far 63 00:02:56,039 --> 00:02:58,840 from it. The sun rose on that beautiful Sunday morning 64 00:02:58,879 --> 00:03:01,479 and walked the lightly sleeping, freshly eight year old boy. 65 00:03:02,159 --> 00:03:05,400 Anticipating a day full of metal detecting, Quinn rose immediately 66 00:03:05,479 --> 00:03:07,479 leaving his room, far before any one else in his 67 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,719 family would stir. His brand new dig finder rested against 68 00:03:10,719 --> 00:03:13,159 the wall in the living room, still plugged into the charger, 69 00:03:13,319 --> 00:03:14,960 but now with a little green light where it had 70 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,639 once glowed red. One pulled out the plug and let 71 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,080 the cord fall to the floor. He stopped only to 72 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,000 open the closet and a free of his winter coat. 73 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,560 It was still cold and would probably stay that way 74 00:03:24,599 --> 00:03:26,400 for a few hours. Of Quinn's eight years had taught 75 00:03:26,439 --> 00:03:29,439 him anything. Once he bundled himself up and slipped into 76 00:03:29,439 --> 00:03:31,639 his tattered tennis shoes, Quinn rushed at the door, dig 77 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,639 finder under one arm. No sooner had he stepped off 78 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,000 the concrete porch into the dry brown grass than Quinn 79 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,759 started to wave the dig finder over the ground. The 80 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,680 heavy device had been designed for a grown adult. Point 81 00:03:42,759 --> 00:03:44,639 was tall for his age, but not quite tall enough. 82 00:03:45,199 --> 00:03:47,439 The metal detector's handle stretched almost to the top of 83 00:03:47,479 --> 00:03:50,840 his head. Still, Quinn may dear. Rather than use the 84 00:03:50,919 --> 00:03:52,840 ergonomic grip at the top of the handle, he clutched 85 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:55,280 the middle of the shaft. He was having far too 86 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:57,240 much fun surveying the yard to notice how quickly his 87 00:03:57,319 --> 00:04:00,479 cold hands were cramping around the cool metal handle. Nearly 88 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:02,639 fifteen minutes went by with nothing but the sound of 89 00:04:02,639 --> 00:04:05,280 the magnet brushing the top of the grass. Snot had 90 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,840 started to evaporate from the edges of Quinn's nostrils, chapping 91 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,599 them and making them glow red and smart. Still, the 92 00:04:10,639 --> 00:04:12,639 boy didn't pay any mind to the cold, nor the 93 00:04:12,719 --> 00:04:15,360 chilly breeze, which only accelerated as the sun aarct above him. 94 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,079 Quinn finished scanning the front yard and began to lose 95 00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:21,399 the battle against disappointment. Of course, it's unlikely to find 96 00:04:21,439 --> 00:04:23,720 anything interesting buried in the front yard of a practically 97 00:04:23,759 --> 00:04:25,759 brand new house, but try telling that to an eight 98 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,839 year old boy with an explorer's ambition in his mind. 99 00:04:28,959 --> 00:04:30,680 He had as much chance of digging up an old 100 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,040 revolver or the spur of some long dead cowboys boot. 101 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,319 As he did a discarded roofing nail, he accidentally scraped 102 00:04:36,319 --> 00:04:38,160 the bottom of the dig finder on the sidewalk and 103 00:04:38,199 --> 00:04:41,439 instinctively pulled it back. The sudden, joking motion made him 104 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,199 look up for the first time since he had stepped 105 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,879 off the porch. He looked across the sidewalk to the 106 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:47,800 patch of grass on the other side and the bushes 107 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:50,639 lining the road. There they stood tall enough to obstruct 108 00:04:50,639 --> 00:04:52,959 the view of the Harris house from the street, which 109 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,480 meant they were technically hedges, but Quinn had never heard 110 00:04:55,519 --> 00:04:58,279 them call that they also obstruct a Quinn's view of 111 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,600 the street from his yard. He he had never liked 112 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,639 those bushes or hedges. He sometimes felt the tickle of 113 00:05:03,639 --> 00:05:05,879 eyes peering through them. He thought of how easy it 114 00:05:05,879 --> 00:05:07,920 would be for some terrible person with sordid motors to 115 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:10,800 spy on him while he played outside. For this reason, 116 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,360 Quinn usually steered clear of the towering plants and never 117 00:05:13,399 --> 00:05:15,800 set frut only unless he was with his parents or error. 118 00:05:16,399 --> 00:05:19,000 But today he had his brand new dig finder. The 119 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:20,920 grown up to he made him feel all grown up. Too. 120 00:05:21,519 --> 00:05:24,839 Something about its sturdy metal bild gave him confidence. Without 121 00:05:24,879 --> 00:05:27,600 any fear or trepidation. Quinn stepped over the sidewalk on 122 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,319 his own for the first time, and he was rewarded. 123 00:05:30,879 --> 00:05:34,079 The dick finder finally whined. At first, the sound came 124 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,839 out scratchy and wheezy, like a mouse dying of pneumonia. 125 00:05:37,399 --> 00:05:39,560 But as Quinn walked closer to the hedges, the wheezy 126 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,439 wine became a high, bulvering. It sounded like a hot 127 00:05:42,439 --> 00:05:45,600 great monitor flat lining, but Quinn's heart was racing. The 128 00:05:45,639 --> 00:05:47,759 indicator light in the top of the magnet changed from 129 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,879 red to orange. He was close, just a couple more steps. 130 00:05:52,519 --> 00:05:55,160 Don't you dare dake k in these bushes, boy? Quinn 131 00:05:55,199 --> 00:05:57,319 loosed a tiny scream and dropped the dig finder on 132 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,920 the grass. The ugly voice had come from the hedges 133 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:02,399 in front of him. He stared into them, searching for 134 00:06:02,399 --> 00:06:06,160 whomever had spoken. His hands trembled. He wanted to shove 135 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:08,399 them into his jacket pockets, but he couldn't bring himself 136 00:06:08,439 --> 00:06:11,240 to move a single muscle. His already racing heart so 137 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,920 light with excitement and anticipation, now beat heavy and fast 138 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:15,399 to drive as much blood as it could to his 139 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,800 legs so he could run, but his brain wouldn't let 140 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:22,519 him move. That's right, dear one, stay back, stay away. 141 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,399 There ain't nothing for you to find here that's worth finding. 142 00:06:25,879 --> 00:06:27,800 The same dick, find a lane in front of Quinn's 143 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,480 tennis She'd begged to differ, but he wasn't going to argue. 144 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,959 Who are you, the terrified voice stammered, Come closer and 145 00:06:34,959 --> 00:06:37,800 see if you like. The gnulled voice rasped, and no, 146 00:06:37,959 --> 00:06:41,000 thank you, Quinn whispered. The voice and the hedges cackled, 147 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,120 and for the first time, quinkerd to Juice's owner was 148 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:47,639 a woman. She sounded ancient and sick. Such good manners, boys, 149 00:06:47,639 --> 00:06:50,439 she said, So, why don't you use them. Be a 150 00:06:50,439 --> 00:06:52,439 good little boy and stay away from the bushes with 151 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:54,720 your marvelous little toy there unless you want it to 152 00:06:54,759 --> 00:06:58,720 disappear forever? Is that what you want? Little boy? Um? 153 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,600 Excuse me and other feetemale voice entered the conversation from 154 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,560 behind Quinn. This one, he recognized, and that it exactly 155 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,560 the opposite effect on his mind and body. Is the 156 00:07:06,639 --> 00:07:09,639 ugly one in the bushes. Ere stood next to her brother, 157 00:07:09,759 --> 00:07:12,040 picked up his metal detector and said, If this thing 158 00:07:12,079 --> 00:07:14,319 goes missing, I'm sending the cop straight to your door. 159 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:16,439 Why don't you just come get at yourself, sweet eat, 160 00:07:16,439 --> 00:07:19,519 the haggard voice asked, and go nearer dump of a house. 161 00:07:19,639 --> 00:07:22,000 No thanks, Now, my brother has every right to be here, 162 00:07:22,279 --> 00:07:24,920 so Ier told the woman in the bushes to go 163 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,759 do something Quinn had never heard of before. The voice 164 00:07:27,759 --> 00:07:30,519 cackled again, but quickly went silent, and after a rustle 165 00:07:30,519 --> 00:07:33,680 of brittle leaves, the woman was gone. Thanks, Quinn said, breathly. 166 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,199 Do you know who that was? Yeah? Couldn't you see her? 167 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,759 Error replied Quinn shook his head as she handed over 168 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,040 the dig finder. Ear said, I guess you aren't tall 169 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,560 enough to see her face over the bushes. That was 170 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:50,199 Shonna from across the street. She's such a creep. Why 171 00:07:50,279 --> 00:07:53,120 didn't she want me looking in the bushes, Quinn asked. 172 00:07:53,759 --> 00:07:56,079 She probably just doesn't have anything better to do than 173 00:07:56,120 --> 00:08:00,519 boss little kids around. Ear extended her hand. She held 174 00:08:00,519 --> 00:08:03,279 a sharp spade, which she handed to Quinn. He thanked 175 00:08:03,279 --> 00:08:05,600 her as his face flushed. Embarrassed. He had not thought 176 00:08:05,639 --> 00:08:08,560 that far head himself. But who knows, Eros said, in 177 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,720 a cheesy, gullish voice. Maybe this is where she baries 178 00:08:11,759 --> 00:08:15,480 her enemies. Quinn smiled broadly, and his sister, whose face 179 00:08:15,519 --> 00:08:17,879 was somewhat of a feminine mirror of quin'son, reflected his 180 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,399 joy back at him. He swung the dig finder toward 181 00:08:20,439 --> 00:08:23,639 the bushes, and the orange light turn green. I've got something, 182 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,439 he shouted, er pointed to the spade in his hand. 183 00:08:27,079 --> 00:08:30,000 Quinn nodded eggerly and dropped to his knees. He dug 184 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,000 into the dry dirt, flinging pebbles and bits of dust 185 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,480 in every direction. During his clumsy excavation, Irera stopped to 186 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,559 turn off the dick finder before its manic wind drove 187 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,360 her insane. After less than a minute of digging, the 188 00:08:40,399 --> 00:08:43,600 siblings heard a metallic scrape. Quinn gave his sister another 189 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,960 joyful grin, then switched to digging with his hands so 190 00:08:46,039 --> 00:08:49,080 as not to damage whatever he had discovered. It's a, 191 00:08:49,639 --> 00:08:51,799 the boy trailed off as he raised a golden pocket 192 00:08:51,799 --> 00:08:54,960 watch from the dirt. Here is jaw dropped. It's a, 193 00:08:55,759 --> 00:08:58,919 Quinn said again, but his fist twisted in confusion. Open 194 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,799 it up. Iras said, still astruck. That's gonna make the 195 00:09:01,799 --> 00:09:04,879 one I gave ye yesterday look like a toy. Puinn obeyed, 196 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,799 Then as jaw dropped open, it's o'clock, he shouted, standing 197 00:09:08,879 --> 00:09:13,080 up in excitement. A watch actually, Ear corrected, it's cold 198 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:16,919 a pocket watch. I wonder if it's real. It's not ticking, 199 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:20,519 so probably not. Quinn said, well, yeah, it probably needs 200 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,320 to be wound. But I actually meant the gold Quinn, 201 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:25,600 if that's real, goal, you just found a real life 202 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:30,200 bar treasure. I did, Yeah you did. Quinn leapt into 203 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,799 the air when is lighter than air. Feet hit the ground. 204 00:09:32,879 --> 00:09:35,360 He lunged forward and threw his arms around his big sister. 205 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,159 He clutched the pocket watch in his dirty fist behind 206 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,440 her back. He pulled away slightly to look up at 207 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:42,240 Err and said, I still like the watch he gave 208 00:09:42,279 --> 00:09:45,200 me better. Iro was about to respond when someone behind 209 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,240 her clamped a dry hand over Quinn's fist. Startled. He 210 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,519 let go of the watch and stumbled backward, shrieking with 211 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,159 terror as he fell on his rear and the whole 212 00:09:52,200 --> 00:09:55,720 he had duck. Eerra looked at him dazed. Then she 213 00:09:55,759 --> 00:09:58,000 saw his eyes were focused over her shoulder and turned 214 00:09:58,039 --> 00:10:00,399 around just in time to see a bony, gray forearm 215 00:10:00,399 --> 00:10:04,159 disappeared through the hedges. A withered hand clutching Quinn's burrowed treasure, 216 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,679 followed the forearm through the green leaves and vanished. Oh hell, no, 217 00:10:07,919 --> 00:10:10,799 Ear shouted. She reached her own arm through the bushes 218 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,679 and grabbed the person on the other side. Give that back, 219 00:10:13,759 --> 00:10:16,840 she screamed. Suddenly, the look on Ear's face shifted from 220 00:10:16,919 --> 00:10:19,960 rage to surprise. She was yanked forward until her whole 221 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,080 body was pressed against the prickly hedge. She squeezed her 222 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,240 eye shut to keep them from being scratched or poked out. 223 00:10:25,799 --> 00:10:28,240 Her left cheek received a long scratch, and she finally 224 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:31,440 let go a was release. Quinn could not tell which 225 00:10:32,159 --> 00:10:34,200 ire did not have the golden pocket watch. When she 226 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:37,200 fell away from the bush, his sister screened another word 227 00:10:37,279 --> 00:10:39,639 Quinn didn't know. Astays of rage filled her now urban eyes. 228 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:42,960 She stormed back toward the house, and Quinn, not wanting 229 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,600 to be left alone near the bushes, followed her. The 230 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,600 siblings went inside, ere sobbing and Quinn's silence by shock. 231 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,720 His little heart could hardly handle the emotional ceasa that 232 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,039 had just rocked him. He had been elevated by his 233 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:56,759 incredible discovery of the pocket watch. Then dumped back down 234 00:10:56,799 --> 00:11:00,600 when it was stolen so shortly after Erer, what wrong, honey, 235 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:04,080 Susia called out from the living room couch. She and 236 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:07,480 Neil were both sitting there staring into their phones. Trucia 237 00:11:07,519 --> 00:11:09,360 didn't even look up when she called to her daughter 238 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,000 as she kicked off her shoes by the door. Erera, yell, 239 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:13,919 we've got to do something about the old hag across 240 00:11:13,919 --> 00:11:17,039 the street. Era. That's no way to talk about the elderly, 241 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:20,600 Neil said. His rectannula glasses slid down his nose slightly 242 00:11:20,639 --> 00:11:23,279 and he didn't bother to push them up. Ere entered 243 00:11:23,279 --> 00:11:25,360 the living room speak to her parents face to face, 244 00:11:25,519 --> 00:11:27,679 or at least face the back of hand wrapped round phone. 245 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,480 Kin almost followed her, but after he had set side 246 00:11:30,519 --> 00:11:32,720 his methyl detector and sat to take off his shoes, 247 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,200 he couldn't bring himself to stand up again. The low 248 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,600 place on the floor felt like were he belonged. Ira said, well, 249 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:41,600 the sweet elderly lady just stole aldgly treasure from your son. 250 00:11:42,159 --> 00:11:44,639 What does that make you want to call her? Neil 251 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:46,960 finally pushed up his glasses, but didn't take his eyes 252 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,679 off the screen in his hands. I'm sure there was 253 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:54,840 some misunderstanding. This understanding, really, she ripped it straight out 254 00:11:54,919 --> 00:11:57,320 of his hands. I don't think there was a whole 255 00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:59,720 lot to I don't like the tonia taking Trishard munished, 256 00:12:00,519 --> 00:12:03,840 Oh my god, you too are worthless. You were a 257 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:05,919 stumped to heel. His fresh tears welt in her eyes. 258 00:12:06,639 --> 00:12:08,360 Both of the phones in front of her with the 259 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:12,799 beady Camerlen's eyes lowered for human eyes now glowerdare. She 260 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:15,120 left the living room, and Quinn saw her return to 261 00:12:15,159 --> 00:12:18,200 the entryway with her joel set in firm determination. Ere 262 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,159 get back here. You can't talk to us that way, 263 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,519 Neil said. Even Quinn heard how pathetic his father sounded, 264 00:12:23,759 --> 00:12:26,720 and it made him mad too. Why weren't his parents angry? 265 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:28,919 Why was it up to his sister to protect him. 266 00:12:29,399 --> 00:12:32,200 Ere was already putting her shoes back on. What are 267 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,559 you doing, Quinn whispered to her from the comfort of 268 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:37,120 the lowly floor. I'm going to get it back, Ere 269 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:41,919 said flatly, Please don't. I don't want it that bad. Really, 270 00:12:42,639 --> 00:12:44,600 Are wiped her tears and pierced through his lige with 271 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,759 her sharp green eyes. O kay, yeah, I want it back, 272 00:12:47,919 --> 00:12:49,720 but I don't want anything bad to happen to you. 273 00:12:50,399 --> 00:12:53,320 Oh please, nothing bad's going to happen to me. She's 274 00:12:53,399 --> 00:12:56,200 just a little old lady. Then, loud enough for her 275 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,759 parents to hear, she added, just a little old tack. 276 00:12:59,279 --> 00:13:01,559 Before Neil she could respond, Iro went out to the 277 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,440 door and slammed it behind herself. Quinn, are you still 278 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,559 over there, Neil asked from the couch. Yeah, Quinn answered weakly. 279 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,960 Is your sister telling the truth? Did you find something 280 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:15,200 out there? Yea, dad, but that lady, good for you, kiddo, 281 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,919 Neil interrupted, apparently hitting his limit for feign interest. Quinn 282 00:13:18,919 --> 00:13:20,639 opened the front door and stepped on to the porch 283 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,279 to watch his sister. She had already gone around the 284 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,600 hedges and was now striding down the sidewalk. At first, 285 00:13:26,879 --> 00:13:29,799 Quinn didn't know where she was going. Shawna mayor's house, 286 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,200 was directly across the street from their room, But then 287 00:13:32,279 --> 00:13:34,639 Quinn noticed Shauna, the old hag, sitting in a rocking 288 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,519 chair under the shadows of her front porch. Her eyes 289 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:40,320 were closed as she rocked back and forth. She held 290 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,120 something small in her hands that she stroked gently. It 291 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:46,120 wasn't the watch, he didn't think. He couldn't really tell 292 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:48,000 from so far away, but the way she touched it 293 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,240 was too loving for an inanimate object. Er continued on 294 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,440 the sidewalk for half a block, then made a sharp 295 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,960 turn and trotted across the street. Quinn realized what his 296 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,759 sister was doing and suddenly felt fraid for her. He 297 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:01,559 got chanced at the old woman in the rocking chair, 298 00:14:01,639 --> 00:14:04,360 then back at his sister, and back again. He really 299 00:14:04,399 --> 00:14:06,879 wished he could see Shaana better. He wanted to know 300 00:14:06,879 --> 00:14:09,279 if her eyes were actually closed because he felt watched. 301 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:13,240 An idea struck him. His birthday present last year had 302 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,360 been a pair of adjustable binoculars. He had uced them 303 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,559 constantly for weeks, then set them upon his calls at 304 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,240 shelf and never touched them again. At least he knew 305 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,360 where they were. Quinn checked on his sister, quickly saw 306 00:14:24,399 --> 00:14:26,879 she was analyzing the tall fence a round Shawn Amir's property, 307 00:14:26,919 --> 00:14:32,480 and went inside. Rower Is that you, Shusha, asked, just me, mom, 308 00:14:32,679 --> 00:14:36,559 Little Quinn replied. His mother said nothing. Quinn ran into 309 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,759 his bedroom, threw open his closet door, and kicked the 310 00:14:38,759 --> 00:14:40,519 small footstool he kept near by in front of his 311 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:43,559 hanging clothes. Even on the footstool. He had to stretch 312 00:14:43,559 --> 00:14:45,519 his arms to their fullest length to reach the dusty 313 00:14:45,519 --> 00:14:47,960 beanos up on the shelf. He knocked and down with 314 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,240 one hand and caught them in the other. Then he 315 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,080 darted back out of the room and at the front 316 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:55,559 door once again. Quinn realized once he was stationed back 317 00:14:55,559 --> 00:14:57,360 in the porch that old chawn A Maier would know 318 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,159 something was up if she looked across the street and 319 00:14:59,159 --> 00:15:01,559 saw a bow pointing out pair of binoculars directly at her. 320 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,240 Then he remembered how well the old woman had been 321 00:15:04,279 --> 00:15:07,440 able to hide herself behind the bushes. He hadn't known 322 00:15:07,519 --> 00:15:10,159 she was there until she spoke to him directly. Quinn 323 00:15:10,279 --> 00:15:13,000 ran across the yard, jumped over the sidewalk, and knelt 324 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:14,559 in the grass right next to the hole he had 325 00:15:14,639 --> 00:15:17,279 dugged to find the pocket watch. He found a good 326 00:15:17,279 --> 00:15:19,440 place where two of the hedges parted near their bases, 327 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,399 and lay down on his stomach, propping himself upon his elbows. First, 328 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,440 Quinn checked on his sister. She had scaled the fence 329 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:28,639 and was now quietly trying to lower herself down on 330 00:15:28,679 --> 00:15:31,320 the other side. It didn't appear to be going well. 331 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,879 Something hidden behind the fence must have been an obstacle. 332 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,679 Era started shimming along the fence to find an easy 333 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:39,879 way down, and Quinn shifted his focus to the old 334 00:15:39,919 --> 00:15:42,320 woman in her rocking chair on the porch. When he 335 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:45,039 swung the beano's back in Shanea's direction, he first landed 336 00:15:45,039 --> 00:15:47,559 on her hands folded in her lap. She was still 337 00:15:47,559 --> 00:15:50,840 stroking a little bird. Quinn recognized the bird, sort of. 338 00:15:51,399 --> 00:15:53,440 He knew what Aniston gulf which looked like because he 339 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:55,480 had learned about the state bird of Iowa in school. 340 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,600 This bird looked exactly like one of those, except from 341 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,679 beak to tail, as feathers were black. The blackfinncher's beady 342 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:04,360 black eyes seemed to be trained on him. Quinn slowly 343 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,879 raised the binoculars until he had shone his resting face 344 00:16:06,919 --> 00:16:10,720 in view. She was indeed closing her eyes while she rocked. 345 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,519 She may have even been asleep, sleeping or not. She 346 00:16:14,519 --> 00:16:16,759 didn't seem to have any idea what was going on. 347 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,559 Just a few yards away in her back yard, Ira 348 00:16:19,639 --> 00:16:22,000 had just jumped off the fence and disappeared back there. 349 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:24,799 Quin's heart sank as he realized he wouldn't have any 350 00:16:24,799 --> 00:16:27,000 idea what was happening to his sister until she came 351 00:16:27,039 --> 00:16:30,279 back over the fence. She had successfully vanished, which was 352 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:33,879 good for her but stressful for her little brodder. He could, however, 353 00:16:34,159 --> 00:16:36,759 keep an eye on the old hag Jana. He swung 354 00:16:36,799 --> 00:16:39,200 the beanos toward the old woman again, and this time 355 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,559 stopped dead on her canyon face. Her eyes were suddenly open, 356 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:45,919 her gray irises, magnified to six times their real size, 357 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,840 felled Quinn's view. He held his breath and decrease in 358 00:16:48,919 --> 00:16:51,600 magnification just slightly enough to see she was looking directly 359 00:16:51,639 --> 00:16:53,840 at him, with a hard, hateful expression that deepened the 360 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,480 wrinkles around her thym mouth. The wrinkles rithed like a 361 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,799 dozen dying worms, until her pale lips were turned up 362 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,720 in an insidio smile. The blackfinch launched out of the 363 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:05,160 old woman's lap and disappeared from the binocular's vignette. Before 364 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,559 Quinn could even lower the binoculars, the bird was pecking 365 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:10,720 at his hand mercilessly while shielding his eyes. Quinn tried 366 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:12,319 to wiggle backward to get away from the bush and 367 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,759 rise to his feet. The bird wouldn't let up. Warm 368 00:17:15,759 --> 00:17:18,039 blood truckled down the back of Quinn's hand, under his 369 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:21,079 jacket's sleeve, down his forearm. The young boy shrieked and 370 00:17:21,119 --> 00:17:23,519 screamed until he heard the front door open behind him. 371 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:27,200 What in the world, Neil's ordinarily monotoned voice rose to 372 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,440 a newly excited pitch. Quinn rolled away from the bushes, 373 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:32,759 and the black finch shot away from him like a bullet. 374 00:17:33,279 --> 00:17:35,599 Neil knelt by his son and examined his bleeding hand. 375 00:17:36,279 --> 00:17:39,680 What was that the boat, Nil asked, his whimper and 376 00:17:39,799 --> 00:17:43,559 child Quinn ignored him. He fumbled around in the grass 377 00:17:43,559 --> 00:17:45,440 for the binoculars and returned to his knees once he 378 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,039 had done in hand. His dad looked on in days 379 00:17:48,079 --> 00:17:50,480 confusion as Qrin scanned the old woman's property for any 380 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,200 sign of his sister. This time he did so from 381 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:54,960 further back, so he wouldn't be as easy to spot, 382 00:17:55,079 --> 00:17:57,799 Or so he told himself. Quinn could find no sign 383 00:17:57,799 --> 00:18:00,480 of his sister across the street. He han't seen her 384 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:03,200 since she dropped off the fence, and she hadn't reappeared anywhere. 385 00:18:03,799 --> 00:18:06,279 As if her disappearance went stressful enough on its own, 386 00:18:06,319 --> 00:18:09,079 the old woman had vanished as well. Her rocking chair 387 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:11,119 continued to roll back and forth on its own, as 388 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:13,200 if the witch. This was the first time Quinn thought 389 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,119 of her as such. It had gotten up in a hurry. Quinn, 390 00:18:16,519 --> 00:18:19,119 will you tell me what's going on? Where is your sister? 391 00:18:19,799 --> 00:18:24,119 Neil asked, Yeah, Dad, where is she? Quinn thought to 392 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,599 himself he had to make a decision about what to 393 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,559 say aloud. If he told his father Warrier had gone, 394 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,960 she would most certainly be punished. This was, of course, 395 00:18:33,079 --> 00:18:35,400 preferable to getting butchard and boiled by the witch, if 396 00:18:35,440 --> 00:18:38,640 that's what Chauna Mayr really was. However, if Shawna did 397 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:40,920 not catch hearer, Quinn had no doubt their father would 398 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:42,920 make her go back and confess her transgression to the 399 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,680 old woman and apologize. Quinn had to give her a 400 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:47,799 chance to get out on her own. It was the 401 00:18:47,839 --> 00:18:49,759 only way to keep the father from getting involved in 402 00:18:49,799 --> 00:18:53,119 something he didn't care to understand. I don't know, Quinn lied. 403 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:55,799 It was the biggest lie he had ever told his father, 404 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,559 and the most consequential lie he would ever tell. I 405 00:18:58,559 --> 00:19:00,920 think she just went for a walk. So what are 406 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,079 you spying on? Neil asked, why do you suddenly care? 407 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:08,400 Quinn silently wondered birds, he replied. Neil said, ha, I 408 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:09,920 would have thought he'd be playing with your a new 409 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,519 toy out here. It cost a lot of money, you know. 410 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,480 He stirred and brushed nothing off the knees of his jeans. 411 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:18,319 Quinn continued to strain his eyes through the lenses of 412 00:19:18,319 --> 00:19:20,440 the beanos, hoping to catch a glimpse of his sister, 413 00:19:21,079 --> 00:19:23,200 a flash of color in the window, a shimmer of hair, 414 00:19:23,319 --> 00:19:26,119 anything that might show him a sign of life. Neil 415 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,440 left his sun there by the bushes. He had his 416 00:19:28,519 --> 00:19:30,440 phone in his hand before he even got inside, and 417 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,960 didn't look back even once. One major disadvantage to peering 418 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,119 through the binoculars as the elimination of peripheral vision. Quinn 419 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:38,839 thought he was doing a good job of scanning the 420 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:40,759 field as he watched for his sister O the Witch, 421 00:19:40,799 --> 00:19:43,000 but a gentle hand on his shoulder caught him completely 422 00:19:43,039 --> 00:19:46,000 off guard. He dropped the binoculars as he twisted away 423 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:49,599 from the hand and shouted, stay back, relaxed, creeper, It's 424 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:53,079 just me. Ear beamed down at him, swinging from her hand, 425 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,680 reflecting the adolescent rays of the sun. Was the golden 426 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:59,039 pocket watch? How did you get it back, Quinn asked, 427 00:19:59,079 --> 00:20:03,400 astonished he had never admired his big sister more. Well, look, 428 00:20:03,599 --> 00:20:05,839 it's not stealing if you take something that already belongs 429 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:09,039 to you. Right and merful, Grin parted her lips slightly. 430 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,200 Iro he stole from the witch. The w earro laughed. 431 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:16,920 That's hilarious. I've always thought she could be a witch too. 432 00:20:17,519 --> 00:20:20,480 I guess if this she fits. What's shoe? Asked Quinn. 433 00:20:20,559 --> 00:20:22,839 Ere rolled her eyes and tossed him the pocket watch. 434 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,359 It's an expression. It just means if you and I 435 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:27,799 both think she seems like a witch, maybe she is. 436 00:20:28,480 --> 00:20:30,799 Quinn looked nervously over his shoulder in the direction of 437 00:20:30,799 --> 00:20:34,039 Shawna's house, and ear laughed again. Come on, let's go 438 00:20:34,079 --> 00:20:37,240 get some breakfast. The moundane Sunday came to an end, 439 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:39,599 and little Quinn prepared for bed as he always did. 440 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,319 He brushed his teeth, filled a glass of water to 441 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,839 keep by his bed, put on his pajamas, and said 442 00:20:44,839 --> 00:20:47,640 good night to his parents and sister. To ear, he 443 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,519 gave a big huggin whispered thank you. They both knew 444 00:20:50,559 --> 00:20:53,200 what for it was. Sitting on Quinns night's done next 445 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:55,599 to the glass of water. He and her had figured 446 00:20:55,599 --> 00:20:57,559 out how to wind it, and now it take delicately 447 00:20:57,599 --> 00:21:01,000 in the dark. Quinn found it soothing he fell asleep 448 00:21:01,039 --> 00:21:03,279 to its rhythm. He awoke to the same with them, 449 00:21:03,799 --> 00:21:06,960 tick tick tick, only now it sounded more like tap 450 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,720 tap tap. The sound was bolder and rounder, and it 451 00:21:09,759 --> 00:21:12,119 was not coming from his bedside, but across the room. 452 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:14,759 The tap and kept perfect time with the ticking pocket watch, 453 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,119 but it was clearly coming from something else. Quinn held 454 00:21:18,119 --> 00:21:21,039 the now cold pocket watch by his ear to hear asticking, distinctly, 455 00:21:21,079 --> 00:21:23,319 unsure he wasn't fooling himself or still in the mucky 456 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:26,200 haze of her dream. No, the tapping most certainly had 457 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:29,480 a unique origin. Quinn slipped out of bed, sliding out 458 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:31,279 of his covers as his feet lined softly on the 459 00:21:31,279 --> 00:21:35,240 bedroom's thick carpet. Tap tap tap. Quinn rubbed his eyes 460 00:21:35,279 --> 00:21:38,920 and looked around as they adjusted. Tap tap tap. It 461 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,319 was coming from the curtain tap taut tap behind a 462 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:46,200 curtain tap tap dap. Too tired, too foggy to really 463 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:49,440 feel afraid, Quin groggily pulled the curtain aside. He only 464 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:51,359 pulled it halfway before being snapped to fall up by 465 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:54,839 a bony finger outside tap tap, tapping a thick, long 466 00:21:54,880 --> 00:21:58,240 finger nail against a glass. The curtain still blocked her face, 467 00:21:58,279 --> 00:21:59,920 but Quinn could see the frizzle of the Witch's hair 468 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,319 glowing in the moonlight like an aura and an ANGELICALO. 469 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:05,440 Don't scream, little boy, chen Emire, the old hac from 470 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:09,319 across the street commanded, don't cry and don't run. Quinn 471 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:11,160 could not have done any of those things, even if 472 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:14,039 he had wanted to. His legs were locked in place trembling. 473 00:22:14,559 --> 00:22:16,559 He could not cry or scream because his froot had 474 00:22:16,559 --> 00:22:18,440 become a narrow tib, only wide enough to let in 475 00:22:18,519 --> 00:22:20,880 enough oxygen to keep him conscious, and even that only 476 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,680 for now. To Quinn, who had never been truly scared 477 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:25,680 for his life before, it felt he had been placed 478 00:22:25,759 --> 00:22:28,279 under some black magic urse. I won't hurt you, she 479 00:22:28,319 --> 00:22:32,039 said earnestly. I only want what's mine. Her finger nail 480 00:22:32,079 --> 00:22:35,359 tapped once more, then remained in place. Shanna slowly dragged 481 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,440 it across the crystalline surface of the glass. The curtain 482 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:41,359 buckled as the witch slid her finger across the glass. 483 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,440 The curtain inside followed it, sliding open to reveal Schennamer's 484 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:48,400 horrible leathery face. Her uneven yellow teeth appeared delminescent behind 485 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,319 the glass as she bit her lower lip and grinned, 486 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:53,480 Her eye shifted from Quinnt to something behind him. He 487 00:22:53,559 --> 00:22:56,200 knew what she was looking at without looking back. Put 488 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:58,039 it back where you found it, and I'll return what 489 00:22:58,039 --> 00:23:01,279 I've taken from you, little boy. With this final instruction, 490 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:03,480 she raised the bony finger with which she had tapped 491 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:05,559 on the gloss to her lips, backed away from the window, 492 00:23:05,599 --> 00:23:09,119 and vanished into the moonlight shadows. Quinn, feeling he had 493 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:11,559 been released from the witch's spell, darted forward and shut 494 00:23:11,559 --> 00:23:14,200 the curtain with one swift tuck. His breath returned in 495 00:23:14,319 --> 00:23:17,480 rapid and even bursts. He ran back across a room, 496 00:23:17,599 --> 00:23:19,599 dove on to his bed, and yanked his covers over 497 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:22,880 his head. There in his cocoon, he sobbed when he 498 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:24,920 had no tears left to cry. He wondered why that 499 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,359 horrible woman was doing this to him. Why had she 500 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,200 buried that pocket watch in the bushes if she so 501 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:31,880 wanted it so bad a what did it mean to her? 502 00:23:32,519 --> 00:23:35,640 One particularly ominous question kept him in sleep, repelling suspense. 503 00:23:36,279 --> 00:23:39,279 What had she taken from him. Somehow, some way, Kuldn 504 00:23:39,319 --> 00:23:42,200 fell asleep. He wasn't aware that sleep had overtaken him 505 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:45,039 until he woke up some night. Framed his dark curtain 506 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,720 looking brighter than usual, Quinn panicked looked at his digital watch, 507 00:23:48,839 --> 00:23:52,640 the gift Fromira. It was nearly eight o'clock. Why hadn't 508 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:55,279 his parents woken him up for school? He shimmered into 509 00:23:55,319 --> 00:23:57,319 a pair of jeans that lay on his floor, pulled 510 00:23:57,319 --> 00:23:59,279 a t shirt off a hanger in his closet without 511 00:23:59,319 --> 00:24:01,400 really looking at her, and grabbed the top pair of 512 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:04,319 socks from his dress. A draw Clothed, he barreled out 513 00:24:04,319 --> 00:24:05,880 of his room and into the kitchen, where he found 514 00:24:05,880 --> 00:24:08,119 his mom, also dressed, sipping a cup of coffee at 515 00:24:08,119 --> 00:24:10,759 the counter. She scrolled on her phone, Mam, why didn't 516 00:24:10,759 --> 00:24:13,839 you wake me up? I'm late for school and bother 517 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:16,200 Tricia glanced up at him, then back down at a screen. 518 00:24:16,759 --> 00:24:19,480 It's spring break, honey, you don't go back to school 519 00:24:19,519 --> 00:24:24,000 until next week, she said. Oh. Quinn stood still for 520 00:24:24,039 --> 00:24:26,960 a moment while this registered. His heart slowed down, and 521 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,400 a feeling like a warm blanket came over him. No 522 00:24:29,559 --> 00:24:32,039 school for a whole week, and he had his bran 523 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:34,680 newdach finder to pass the time. He still had the 524 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:37,920 whole backyuche explore, But then the joyful blanket was ripped 525 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,319 off his shoulders. There was one thing he had to 526 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:43,119 take care of before he could enjoy anything else, but 527 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:45,880 he didn't want to do it alone. He's heer up yet, 528 00:24:46,519 --> 00:24:50,160 he asked his mother. Cursed, she dropped her phone on 529 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,240 the counter and set down her coffee. Sorry, honey, now 530 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,640 I'm goin to be late. You still have to work, 531 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:01,200 Quinn asked, afraid, so what about that he's already gone. 532 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,319 Quinn watched his mother's scurry through the house, gathering her shoes, 533 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,759 her purse, her card again, which she had left draped 534 00:25:06,759 --> 00:25:09,319 over the chair. She took one last sip of coffee, 535 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:11,559 kiss Quinn on the forehead, and hurried out the door. 536 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:14,720 Quinn was left in the quiet house alone besides maybe 537 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,359 his sister. He went back toward the bedrooms to check 538 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,400 on her. If Era had remembered spring break, which Quinn 539 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:22,480 was sure she would have, she was probably sleeping in 540 00:25:23,039 --> 00:25:24,920 He hated to wake her up, but he didn't want 541 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,079 to delay returning the pocket watch, and he didn't want 542 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:29,759 to go outside by himself. He knew that which would 543 00:25:29,759 --> 00:25:32,400 be washing waiting. He knocked on near his door to 544 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,680 see if she was already awake, but she didn't answer. 545 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:38,119 Quinn cracked open the door and peeked inside. His sister's 546 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:40,279 curtains were open and sunlight lit up her empty bed. 547 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:43,440 Her room was a mess, even worse than usual. It 548 00:25:43,519 --> 00:25:46,720 smelt powerfully of nail polish. Quinn always hated when his 549 00:25:46,799 --> 00:25:49,039 sister painted her nails, because the burning scent lingered on 550 00:25:49,079 --> 00:25:52,160 her for hours after, but never this straw before er. 551 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:55,200 He called into the room loud enough for her to hear, 552 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:59,000 even if she was somewhere else. No addswer. Next, he 553 00:25:59,079 --> 00:26:01,799 wondered if maybe she had had already left to Maybe 554 00:26:01,799 --> 00:26:04,039 she had gone to hang out with some friends, but 555 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,680 this early. It wouldn't be like Ear or any one 556 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:09,519 she usually hung out with, to be up before nine plus. 557 00:26:09,599 --> 00:26:11,440 When Quinn went to check by the front door, Ear's 558 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,279 shoes were still there. She had other shoes, of course, 559 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:16,799 but she usually only wore those on special occasions when 560 00:26:16,839 --> 00:26:19,640 she dressed up. Quinn didn't know why his sister would 561 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:22,920 have dressed up before ate him. Then Quinn realized Ear 562 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:24,839 couldn't have gone anywhere, because his mom would not have 563 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:26,839 left him alone if she hadn't thought Ero was home 564 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,079 to keep an eye on him. At the same time 565 00:26:29,079 --> 00:26:31,039 at which he had this thought, he noticed a bottle 566 00:26:31,079 --> 00:26:34,119 of purple nil polish overturned on Ear's vanity. It had 567 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:36,920 spilled all over the surface and down one side. Why 568 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:38,839 she hadn't righted the bottle or cleaned up the mess, 569 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,640 Quin couldn't even guess. He waited and listened for his 570 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,279 sister to show up for almost an hour. As the 571 00:26:44,279 --> 00:26:47,160 morning crept by, Quinn grew nervous, not for Ira, but 572 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,480 about the pocket watch. He worred if he delayed much longer, 573 00:26:50,519 --> 00:26:52,799 the witch might come back to visit him again. He 574 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:54,759 hated the thought of going out to the bushes alone, 575 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:56,920 but he hated the idea that hideous woman coming to 576 00:26:56,960 --> 00:26:59,400 the house while he was all alone, much more so. 577 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,400 Link small and weak, Quinn retrieved the pocket watch from 578 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:05,599 his nightstent, slipped into his tennis shoes, and went outside. 579 00:27:06,079 --> 00:27:08,000 Shann A Mayer was rocking in her chair on her 580 00:27:08,039 --> 00:27:11,200 pouch again. She smiled wickedly as Quinn stepped out onto 581 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:13,519 his She bit her lower lep a sheier behind the 582 00:27:13,599 --> 00:27:16,440 window her blackfinch rested in a cupped hand while she 583 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:19,240 stroked its little feathers with the other. Quinn held up 584 00:27:19,240 --> 00:27:21,880 the pocket watch to show her his intention. The witch 585 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,920 nodded toward the bushes. Quinn found the hole from which 586 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:28,000 he had dug the pocket watch yesterday. The turn dirt 587 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,000 had dried and become gray, His space still lay beside it. 588 00:27:31,519 --> 00:27:34,160 He picked up the spaite and started digging. At first, 589 00:27:34,279 --> 00:27:36,400 the dir came out easily, but then the tip struck 590 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:39,039 something hard like clay. Quinn thought he must have dug 591 00:27:39,079 --> 00:27:40,920 too far, since he hadn't had noted any clay the 592 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:43,440 day before. He pulled the spade from the dirt and 593 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,359 saw the tip was a muddy red color. Easing his hands, 594 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,359 quin scoop loose stirred out of the hole Towards the bottom. 595 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:52,480 His finger brushed something soft and cold, the clay, he thought. 596 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,119 He reached him with both hands for one final big 597 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,160 scoop before he would drop the pocket watching and be 598 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,680 done with it for good. As he pulled up, he 599 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:02,519 heard something snapped, like a twig or brittle root. He 600 00:28:02,559 --> 00:28:05,920 looked into the hole two fingers one the pinky was 601 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:08,759 now sticking out a crooked angle he had broken. It 602 00:28:08,799 --> 00:28:11,599 snapped the narrow bone. The flesh between the fingers had 603 00:28:11,599 --> 00:28:14,759 been sliced. A dark stains spread slowly from the cut. 604 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:18,079 But that was what horrified Quinn the most. What made 605 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:19,799 him sick were the purple finger nails at the end 606 00:28:19,799 --> 00:28:24,359 of both fingers. Quinn stumbled back and vomited across the street. 607 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:27,000 The witch cackled, This was her way of returning what 608 00:28:27,079 --> 00:28:30,000 she had taken from Quinn. She didn't stop laughing even 609 00:28:30,039 --> 00:28:32,519 as Quinn ran back inside and slammed and locked the door. 610 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:36,279 Shane A. Mayer had apparently anticipated that her retaliation against Quinn, 611 00:28:36,319 --> 00:28:38,720 Harris and his burgling sister would unravel the charge she 612 00:28:38,759 --> 00:28:42,240 had constructed around her evil deeds. Along with Ear's body 613 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:45,759 in the Pocket Watch, various other evidences of missing men, women, 614 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:47,880 and children from across the state were unburied from the 615 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:51,480 earth below those bushes, Those bushes grown in blood. But 616 00:28:51,559 --> 00:28:54,720 evidence is of little use without the culprit and Shaneamier 617 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:57,119 the hag. The witch vanished before Quinn even called his 618 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:00,240 mom at work. Perhaps here Harris was her final victim, 619 00:29:00,279 --> 00:29:01,880 one last he wrought to show the wall which she 620 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,960 was capable of or perhaps more likely if you ask me, 621 00:29:05,039 --> 00:29:08,200 she's feeding the bushes somewhere on you, and that is 622 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:10,720 the end. Thank you for listening, and I will see 623 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:14,279 you in the next one.