transcript

Speaker 1:
[00:00] In addition to our general show content warnings, this episode contains scenes that some listeners may find disturbing. Please press pause and review a full list of content warnings at the bottom of this episode's description. Listener discretion advised. Thank you for listening to How it Ends. Our show is an independent production. Support from our listeners goes a long way in helping to produce the show and maintain our commitment to pay all of our voice actors, editors and artists industry level wages for their time and talent. If you'd like to support us, join our Patreon at patreon.com/how it Ends Studio. Tears start at $1 and include ad free episodes, bonus mini-sodes, a quarterly zine and more. Shout out to every member of our Patreon community. We're grateful for your support. If you're looking for merch, head to howitendsmerch.com for a curated selection of How it Ends designs. There are plenty of ways to support us without a financial commitment. Join the other How it Ends fans in our community Discord, where we host listening parties, special events, and lots more. Find more info at howitendsstudio.com. Enjoy this episode.

Speaker 2:
[01:14] This show is supported by Odoo. When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up and it gets complicated and confusing. Odoo solves this. It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. Odoo is all connected on a single platform in a simple and affordable way. You can save money without missing out on the features you need. Check out odoo at odoo.com. That's odoo.com.

Speaker 3:
[01:48] LinkedIn is pretty amazing at helping you grow your small business. We cannot stop your new clients from emailing you at 3 a.m. We can help you sell, market and hire in one place. We cannot help you be in three places at once. And while we can't help you organize your calendar, LinkedIn can help you land more clients so you have a calendar to organize. Grow your small business on LinkedIn. Learn more at linkedin.com/smallbusiness.

Speaker 4:
[02:28] Are you there?

Speaker 5:
[02:30] Are you still listening?

Speaker 6:
[02:35] Are you listening? Are you wondering who I am? That's the wrong question. Maybe you should ask how long I've been here. How long you've been talking to me.

Speaker 4:
[02:57] And after all the time, there's so much I don't know, don't understand. But with your help, maybe I'll get there. How it Ends is something different now. I'll see you on the other side.

Speaker 7:
[03:40] We're just about there. We've packed enough to get you through three days easily. A few more, something happens. We don't anticipate any issues, but we can't be sure of anything. They made it so that you're not able to be found. We mean to exploit that for as long as we can.

Speaker 8:
[04:01] No talking. Remember what we said, you need to trust us. We need you to wait the three days to be safe and make sure no one followed us or no one knows you're here. We put security measures in place to prevent that to the best of our ability. If you haven't heard from us in three days, that's 72 hours from now, go to the spot we marked on your map. It's about a three-hour drive from here. There's a car parked in the back of this building. Everything you need is in the glove compartment. The map is in the bag. There's a cell phone in it as well. Actually, there are two additional phones. If you need to dispose of the first one, do it. But do not turn the phone on until you leave here. You will not need fuel. You will not stop for anything. If you have to go to the bathroom, don't. We're here.

Speaker 7:
[04:57] Here's the key. Lock the door behind you. Do not let anyone in, no matter what they say. We have a spare. If we need to come by for any reason, we will let ourselves in and announce that it is us.

Speaker 8:
[05:12] Go.

Speaker 7:
[05:19] No talking.

Speaker 8:
[05:34] Are they in?

Speaker 7:
[05:36] Just walked in and shut the door.

Speaker 8:
[05:40] Where the hell do we go now?

Speaker 7:
[05:43] I think there's only one option.

Speaker 8:
[05:45] Can you navigate the map? I don't know how to get there from here, and we can't use anything that tracks our location.

Speaker 7:
[05:52] We need to lay low for a while. They'll stop looking eventually.

Speaker 8:
[05:56] They never stop until they get what they want. You know this.

Speaker 7:
[06:00] They're not going to get what they want. But what do we do if- Run. Stay moving.

Speaker 8:
[06:05] To where? Do you have an infinite number of secret apartments I'm not aware of?

Speaker 7:
[06:11] Rina.

Speaker 8:
[06:12] Do you realize what you've just done? This wasn't our original plan. This isn't like you, Vallon. It was irresponsible and erratic and-

Speaker 7:
[06:21] And it's the right thing to do. We had one chance. We had to take it.

Speaker 9:
[06:33] Turn right up there.

Speaker 10:
[06:34] Where that white car just went?

Speaker 9:
[06:36] Yep.

Speaker 11:
[06:37] What is this place anyway? Is it like her vacation home or something?

Speaker 9:
[06:41] I don't know.

Speaker 8:
[06:42] She just said it was a cabin.

Speaker 9:
[06:43] I don't know if she's renting it or what.

Speaker 1:
[06:45] It's kind of strange that she asked us to come all the way up here. Why not just wait till she's back home?

Speaker 12:
[06:50] Yeah, I didn't really want to ask.

Speaker 7:
[06:53] But it's a nice drive though, right?

Speaker 1:
[06:55] Yeah, I guess. Micah, do you need a drink? I got some of that watermelon seltzer you like. It's in the cooler.

Speaker 4:
[07:03] No, I'm fine.

Speaker 11:
[07:05] You good, Micah? You barely said two words the whole drive.

Speaker 4:
[07:09] This trip isn't a vacation.

Speaker 10:
[07:11] Come on. I know this is going to be uncomfortable, but you got to suck it up and put on a happy face for her.

Speaker 4:
[07:16] I know. I'm not an asshole. I'll be fine when we get there.

Speaker 8:
[07:19] It's going to be weird and uncomfortable for all of us. We just got to power through.

Speaker 4:
[07:26] I don't understand why she called us. I mean, I'm not upset that she did, but I feel overwhelmed, I guess. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to act. And also, why now? All of a sudden, it's been over two years.

Speaker 1:
[07:39] I mean, you're not wrong, but what were we supposed to do? Say no and just look like a bunch of heartless jerks?

Speaker 4:
[07:46] Yeah, still. What could she want from us? Do y'all have any idea? Because I sure don't.

Speaker 8:
[07:53] We're about to find out.

Speaker 12:
[07:54] Blue house on the right.

Speaker 13:
[08:09] Thank you all so much for coming. I know it was last minute and out of the blue, so I really appreciate it.

Speaker 4:
[08:17] Yeah, sure, yeah, thanks.

Speaker 13:
[08:19] Please. Yeah, so I put together some snacks and things, finger sandwiches, crackers, cheese, charcuterie, biscuits, things like that. There's also some fruit and a couple of salads over on the table over there, and drinks as well. I made a bowl of punch over there and some bottles of water, still and sparkling. I also made some cake and pie for later.

Speaker 4:
[08:44] Wow, this is gorgeous.

Speaker 1:
[08:47] Thank you, Mrs. James.

Speaker 13:
[08:48] Yeah, this is super nice.

Speaker 12:
[08:50] Thank you.

Speaker 13:
[08:51] Please, Elia, Isabel. Actually, I do have one more thing. If you could all just hold on a moment.

Speaker 10:
[09:07] Does anyone else feel like something's up?

Speaker 12:
[09:10] Yeah, this is like very elaborate.

Speaker 1:
[09:13] Why did she say she wanted us to come here again?

Speaker 12:
[09:17] She didn't really say.

Speaker 9:
[09:23] Hey, everyone.

Speaker 14:
[09:39] Malcolm, thank you for meeting me here.

Speaker 15:
[09:42] Yes, fine. Let's get on with it, Leto.

Speaker 14:
[09:46] I'm sorry?

Speaker 15:
[09:47] Well, you must have called me here for a reason. Theatrix, let's see what you've prepared.

Speaker 14:
[09:55] I just want to talk.

Speaker 15:
[09:57] Talk?

Speaker 14:
[09:58] Yes. I understand I've been overstepping a bit lately. However, I am committed to the vitality of the Tenth Order, so I hope you are willing to forgive my eagerness. We are about to undertake the complicated preparation for the Penumbra.

Speaker 15:
[10:18] Of course we are! I was in attendance at the meeting as well. Leto.

Speaker 14:
[10:25] Though it is quite some time away, I wanted to discuss the second ritual, the Vite. Your insight and expertise would be quite a boon to me.

Speaker 15:
[10:37] Well, yes, yes. That's very well. What do you have so far?

Speaker 14:
[10:44] I considered adjusting one of the steps. Reorder them, perhaps.

Speaker 15:
[10:49] Now, Leto, I understand you have your silly little progressive ideas that you think are so charming, but might I remind you, we have traditions. This order has been around for— Please, listen. Must we do this here? It's freezing without the fires going. We could have met in my office.

Speaker 14:
[11:16] This is private. I didn't want to risk anyone interrupting us.

Speaker 15:
[11:19] Really, son?

Speaker 14:
[11:20] You will not condescend to me. No more.

Speaker 15:
[11:24] I beg your pardon.

Speaker 14:
[11:26] I am not your son. I am not your subordinate.

Speaker 15:
[11:31] I have been part of the order for longer— According to our rankings, I very much am your superior— Enough! What are you—. Let me go! What is this? What are you doing?

Speaker 14:
[11:50] Quiet. You did not earn your position. You took it from me. Your successes were mine. You lied. You embellished. You stepped over me and dozens of other members who dedicated their lives, their souls, to the Order.

Speaker 15:
[12:24] Oh, Leto, is that what this is all about? You needn't go to such lengths to chastise me. Let me out of this contraption.

Speaker 6:
[12:34] You cheated.

Speaker 15:
[12:35] Cheated? How? What rules did I break? That's how you get a hag, Leto. Did no one ever tell you that? You're a student of politics, are you not? Don't you know? You're Machiavelli.

Speaker 14:
[12:48] The Jones case belonged to me. I was there from the beginning. I was assigned to the family after decades of work of proving myself. And you, you...

Speaker 15:
[13:02] Well, Warren did seek me out at his university, if you recall. I can't help that he was impressed by my accomplishments.

Speaker 14:
[13:11] Accomplishments? What have you ever done that didn't come from the labor of others? You only wanted the Jones case because you thought it would make you important to the chancellors. You never understood their value, their importance to our...

Speaker 15:
[13:28] I am growing bored of this, Leto.

Speaker 14:
[13:31] Was it really that Warren Jones was taken with you? Or was it the opposite, Malcolm? Did you not see yourself in him? I could never quite put my finger on it. Did you see him as your protégé, or as a threat needing neutralized?

Speaker 16:
[13:52] I...

Speaker 15:
[13:54] This is absurd.

Speaker 14:
[13:55] The Jones case was too important to me to let it slip by, so I went along with it. I found my own resolve. Until you gave him my lab. He destroyed Jeremiah's sanity. He corrupted countless hours of work. He corrupted the formula!

Speaker 15:
[14:14] He enhanced the formula! We use it to this day!

Speaker 14:
[14:17] My formula! He was exactly like you. He credited himself for work he never truly completed on his own.

Speaker 15:
[14:30] And at no point during any of this had you learned— Oh, I learned?

Speaker 14:
[14:36] I will not make the same mistake again. I've been working closely with Jacob. With your guidance, or lack thereof, his work as an echo would have been disastrous. Everything we've worked towards would have been set back by decades once again had I not stepped in.

Speaker 15:
[14:55] By all means, then, let me give you a round of applause.

Speaker 14:
[15:04] You were saying?

Speaker 15:
[15:05] No, no, no, no, stop! What are you doing?

Speaker 14:
[15:10] Call it a trial run.

Speaker 15:
[15:11] No, no, no! No, you can't! You wouldn't!

Speaker 14:
[15:16] I would.

Speaker 15:
[15:17] Please don't! Don't!

Speaker 14:
[15:20] I have work to do. Work that should have been done decades ago.

Speaker 15:
[15:24] Please! No! No, no, no! I'll step down. I'll offer my position to you. Hmm. Please, Leto, please be reasonable.

Speaker 14:
[15:37] You're sure? You'd do all that for the sake of the organization, even if it meant losing your status.

Speaker 15:
[15:44] I would.

Speaker 14:
[15:46] And you remain truly devoted to the cause? To the Luminary.

Speaker 15:
[15:50] Of course.

Speaker 14:
[15:52] Good. All right, then.

Speaker 15:
[15:56] Thank you, Leto. Thank you. I always knew you were a sensible person. Hmm.

Speaker 14:
[16:02] I am. Very much so. Thank you as well, Malcolm. I believe that is the first time you've ever gotten an accurate measure of me. In return, I bestow a reward befitting a devoted member of the Tenth. Thank you for your service, sir.

Speaker 7:
[16:58] Should be up the road a little bit. There's a turnoff before North Husak Road turns into Massachusetts Ave. There's a creepy-ass tunnel up here that locals call the Bloody Pit. Did I tell you that?

Speaker 14:
[17:10] Hmm?

Speaker 8:
[17:11] Oh, yeah.

Speaker 7:
[17:13] Anyway, once we get there and we're settled, we'll use the formula I stole. That will help. If it kept him a secret from everyone, I don't see why it wouldn't work for us. I wish I knew how it worked, though. That isn't my area of expertise, and it isn't like I could have asked without raising suspicion. Turn left up there. That street coming up.

Speaker 8:
[17:55] Holy shit, my back is killing me.

Speaker 7:
[17:59] Ugh, five hours straight of driving will do that to you.

Speaker 8:
[18:03] Was it that long?

Speaker 7:
[18:05] Did you not check the time every once in a while?

Speaker 8:
[18:08] I did. I think. I usually do. I was stuck thinking about Micah talking to herself or to someone else again. I might have just had the longest bout of highway hypnosis ever.

Speaker 7:
[18:23] Well, that's comforting. Pop the trunk, please. I'll grab our bags. This will do. For a while. It's a little farther away from the group than I'd like, but we can get to them if we need to.

Speaker 8:
[18:39] If they ever let us talk to them again.

Speaker 7:
[18:42] They will. They have to after.

Speaker 8:
[18:44] I wish I had your optimism.

Speaker 7:
[18:47] Anyway, what I'm trying to say is no one would ever expect us to be in the Bergsheers. I know we can't stay here forever, but it will give us time to figure out our next move.

Speaker 8:
[18:58] Hey, help me with the bags, please. Instead of standing there and looking around, we can talk about this inside the house maybe.

Speaker 7:
[19:06] Great. Sorry. You coming?

Speaker 8:
[19:12] Yeah. Just making sure we don't have to make two trips.

Speaker 7:
[19:16] My girl.

Speaker 8:
[19:33] Thanks. Is there food in here already, or do we need to go out and get something?

Speaker 7:
[19:38] We're set. I paid for some in the stock to fridge with groceries so we can make something to eat and get some rest.

Speaker 8:
[19:44] Hmm, I love you for that.

Speaker 7:
[19:46] I know. Okay, we're in. Food?

Speaker 8:
[19:58] Yes, please. I'm starving.

Speaker 14:
[20:06] Vallon, Rina.

Speaker 17:
[20:12] Get business done with the new American Express Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card. With unlimited 2% cash back on all eligible purchases, unlimited 5% cash back on flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel Online, and a flexible spending capacity that can grow with your business, you'll have the confidence to keep building. Apply today and earn a welcome offer of $1,500 cash back after you spend $50,000 in qualifying purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership. Terms apply. Learn more at go.mx slash graphite.

Speaker 1:
[20:46] Holy shit, Luke.

Speaker 9:
[20:47] Oh my God.

Speaker 11:
[20:48] What the? Luke. What the hell? How?

Speaker 9:
[20:52] Hey, hey, I'm still pretty beat up. Careful, careful. I'm happy to see you all too.

Speaker 1:
[20:57] Luke, oh my God, I can't believe you're standing here.

Speaker 8:
[21:02] You died. You fucking died.

Speaker 10:
[21:04] We went to your funeral.

Speaker 4:
[21:05] Oh God, Isabel. Isabel, are you okay? I can't imagine what this must be like for you.

Speaker 13:
[21:13] I don't know how it's possible. Luke's told me as much as he can remember, and none of it makes sense. But there'll be time for that. I'm just happy my son is here and he's okay.

Speaker 4:
[21:26] I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry.

Speaker 13:
[21:30] It's not your fault, honey. Please don't apologize.

Speaker 4:
[21:34] Luke.

Speaker 9:
[21:35] Devon, I need to tell you, I thought about you and Aimee so much. The two of you are some of the only truly clear memories I have from all of this. I can still see you in my head leaning over me, and the pouring rain trying to help me. I know what you did that night probably saved my life.

Speaker 13:
[21:55] I didn't think it helped enough because you were gone.

Speaker 6:
[21:58] But you died.

Speaker 9:
[22:01] Turns out I didn't.

Speaker 11:
[22:03] How is it possible? We were at the hospital, they came out and told us.

Speaker 9:
[22:09] I can only tell you what I remembered after I woke up.

Speaker 4:
[22:12] Yes, please tell us everything that you remember.

Speaker 9:
[22:26] Like I said, I remember seeing Aimee and Devon trying to help me. I remember the rain. Next thing I remember was waking up in what looked like a hospital room, except the door was more like a prison cell. There was a small window in the upper half of it with chicken wire glass through it. I was hooked up to this bunch of machines monitoring my vitals. Shortly after, a woman came in wearing scrubs, so I assumed she was an ICU nurse. But when I asked what happened and where I was, she didn't answer me. She just looked at the chart that was hanging off the edge of my bed and left. Then another man came in wearing a lab coat and he said he was gonna give me some meds so I could sleep. I tried to ask him where I was, where all of you were, but he injected my IV with something and before I knew it, I was out again. Jesus. The next time I woke up, I was in a completely different room. This one looked like a college dorm and I wasn't attached to machines anymore. The walls are cinder blocks painted light beige and there were no windows. I started freaking out because I didn't understand what was going on. A few minutes later, two pretty large guys wearing scrubs came in, grabbed me by my arms and started to drag me out of the room. I tried to fight back but I was so weak I couldn't do anything so I let them carry me. They brought me to a large conference room and put restraints around my wrists and ankles and left. I remember thinking like, what the fuck? Am I in a prison? Then this man walks in with this smug smile on his face. I swear if I could have reached him, I would have punched him right in the face. I didn't know who he was but everything about him pissed me off. His features are sort of blurry except that stupid fucking grin. He had an accent though, I remember that. He sat down and greeted me and told me I could call him sir. He said I was going to be very, very valuable to him. I don't remember what happened after that because it blacked out again.

Speaker 4:
[24:41] I'm so sorry, Luke.

Speaker 9:
[24:43] Don't be. I think I was out of it for a couple of days. I woke up again back in that dorm style room and it smelled, it stunk. I desperately needed a shower. I think they were keeping me weak because it was so hard to get myself up from the bed, but I made it to the door and I started banging on it as hard as I could. Finally, somebody came to the window, said I need to use the restroom and take a shower. I want to know where the hell I was. About a half hour later, two different men came in and dragged me down the hall to the bathroom with a row of showers. They waited for me to finish and brought me back to my room. I remember wondering if I was the only person they were keeping in that place because I didn't hear or see anyone else for a long time.

Speaker 13:
[25:37] Are you okay, sweetie? You can take a break if you need.

Speaker 9:
[25:41] Yeah, man. Don't push it. No, no, I'm good. I was just thinking, mom, are you okay?

Speaker 12:
[25:49] Yeah, you look a little flushed.

Speaker 9:
[25:51] Can I get you some water?

Speaker 13:
[25:52] No, no, Aimee.

Speaker 9:
[25:53] I'm fine.

Speaker 13:
[25:54] Thank you. It's been incredible to see you all. Truly. This is all just so overwhelming. I think I'm going to go lie down.

Speaker 9:
[26:11] Do you want me to help you?

Speaker 13:
[26:12] I'm fine, dear. Stay with your friends. You have a lot to discuss. See you later. Okay. Bye.

Speaker 9:
[26:21] All right.

Speaker 10:
[26:22] See you, Erika.

Speaker 1:
[26:23] Bye, Ms. James.

Speaker 9:
[26:27] Yeah. So where was I?

Speaker 1:
[26:30] You said you didn't see anyone else for a really long time?

Speaker 9:
[26:33] Right. I'm going to skip ahead a bit because early on, it was just days or even most likely weeks of the same. I was left to my own devices in the room, but there wasn't anything other than my bed in there. I was too out of it to count the days, so I lost track almost immediately. Pretty sure they drugged my food because I'd pass out and wake up at just different times. I had no idea what was happening. I was terrified, but what could I do? It was like that for a while. Weeks, maybe months. I couldn't tell you. Then a guy. I want to say guy because I want to distinguish him from the one with the accent. He came to visit me. He looked my age, maybe a year or two younger, but he had a very youthful appearance to him. He said I could call him Clark, which made me think it wasn't his real name because of how he said that. I could call him Clark. If it was real, wouldn't he have just said, my name is Clark? Anyway, he said he'd be coming to see me and talk to me occasionally and that if I needed anything or wanted anything, I could tell him and do his best to get it for me. I flipped out on him at first. I screamed, threatened him, but he didn't flinch at all. It's like he knew I didn't have enough strength to do anything. That's how I went for an extremely long time. Clark would come to my room, usually after breakfast, and talk to me.

Speaker 11:
[28:03] So they gave you meals regularly?

Speaker 9:
[28:05] Yeah, I was on a specific schedule. I always had enough to drink or eat. Eventually, Clark started bringing me books to read and music to listen to. But it was all old stuff. Everything was either CDs or cassettes. They gave me a Walkman and a little boombox with a CD player. I think I was there for at least six months before anything strange, stranger than what was already going on happened. One day Clark comes in with two mugs of coffee. Now, I hadn't had coffee at all the entire time I had been there. He passed one to me and I swear to God, it was the best thing that I tasted in ages. He started chatting to me like he normally did, but then, yeah, what happened?

Speaker 13:
[28:49] Brendan, chill out.

Speaker 11:
[28:50] Let him take his time.

Speaker 9:
[28:53] It's just that I feel so guilty.

Speaker 1:
[28:58] Why? None of this was your fault.

Speaker 9:
[29:01] I know, I... It's just Clark started asking me questions about you, Micah. What?

Speaker 4:
[29:10] Me?

Speaker 9:
[29:11] Well, he started asking about all my friends and my mom, but he definitely honed in around you. In retrospect, I think he started asking about everyone else so that I wouldn't realize that his real interest was you. And he was correct. I didn't notice. Not for a while. I missed everyone so much that it all sort of fell out of me. In the back of my mind, I knew I shouldn't have said anything, but it was like there was some kind of force or, I don't know how to describe it. Something inside me made it all come spilling out. I didn't answer anything he asked. And in moments where I felt more like myself, I tried to lie, but I just couldn't.

Speaker 4:
[29:51] What did you tell him about us, about me?

Speaker 9:
[29:54] That's just it. I don't remember. I know I was awake and aware when I was talking, but everything I said had this thick blanket of fog covering it. It's all muffled, just sounds.

Speaker 11:
[30:09] Like the way the parents sound in Charlie Brown cartoons.

Speaker 9:
[30:11] Yeah, yeah, like that. Clark came several times a week for a long time. Then he dropped off for a bit. Again, I tried to keep track of how much time was passing, but it was just impossible. I had no natural light, no clocks, nothing ever helped me discern the time of day. Every hour bled into the next, into the next. I gave up after a while. Clark was the only person that came to see me too. I was desperate for company. But even as he asked questions, deep down I knew I should stop answering. I couldn't, I couldn't fucking stop myself.

Speaker 4:
[30:51] Hey, it's okay, really.

Speaker 9:
[30:52] It's not. I'm sorry, I'm still fuzzy. It's only been about a week since I was there.

Speaker 1:
[31:03] Hey, sorry to stop you in the middle of your story, but I have a question.

Speaker 9:
[31:08] Sure, I'm sort of losing a thread of it anyway.

Speaker 1:
[31:13] Yeah, so how did you get out? And how did you get here? And also, what is this place? Does it belong to you? And how did you even know where to go? Are you safe and are any of us really safe?

Speaker 9:
[31:27] That's like five questions.

Speaker 5:
[31:29] Yeah, sorry.

Speaker 9:
[31:32] It's okay. How did I get out of there? The day it all went down seemed like any other day. Clark had been there to visit me in the morning, so I expected to read or listen to music for the rest of the day. Like I said, he was the only person who ever came to see me. But a few hours later, I was laying down reading and I heard the doorknob rattling, like someone was trying to get in. I didn't get up right away. I guess I just assumed Clark had come back for something, even though that never happened before. Then the door opened. Tall, thin, black person with long locks walked in. They rushed over to me and said I had to come with them. They were getting me out. Oh my God.

Speaker 1:
[32:15] Vallon has to be.

Speaker 9:
[32:18] Yes, Vallon, though I didn't know their name until later. I don't know why, but I followed them. I just did. They led me down the hallway. I'd seen countless times and instead of turning to the left, to go to the only other room I've ever been to, a place where Clark and I would meet when we saw each other outside my room, we turned right and went straight out of the building. It was nighttime, but my eyes still took a while to adjust. I'd been under fluorescent lights for a long time.

Speaker 11:
[32:47] Dears, you've been gone for years.

Speaker 9:
[32:50] I know. I mean, I know now, my mom told me. Vallon rushed me to a car where a woman was waiting. She had a full face, curly hair, really pretty.

Speaker 12:
[33:01] Rina, Katerina.

Speaker 9:
[33:04] Hmm. We got into the car. Vallon handed me a bottle of water and told me to lie down in the back seats. So I did. Within minutes, I blacked out. When I woke up, we were on a back road surrounded by trees. When I sat up, Vallon and Rina started talking a mile a minute, giving me instructions, things I had to do. They had to repeat them several times because whatever they dosed me with was stronger than anything, anything I've been given while in that place. They brought me to this little house, gave me some supplies, told me everything I needed was in the bag. They gave me. The main thing I had to remember was that I couldn't leave that little house for three days. Three days exactly. Then I could go to this place they marked on the map. Nowhere else. The other thing was that there were two numbers programmed into the burner phones they had given me. There was the only people I was allowed to call.

Speaker 4:
[33:58] Who were the people on the phone?

Speaker 9:
[34:00] I only called one of the numbers because it belonged to my mom. I didn't recognize the name of the other person. I haven't decided if I'm going to call it yet.

Speaker 4:
[34:09] What was it?

Speaker 9:
[34:11] Wyll Reginald.

Speaker 13:
[34:12] What the?

Speaker 9:
[34:13] Are you kidding? What the fuck? What? What's the matter? Who's that?

Speaker 4:
[34:17] He's my lawyer.

Speaker 9:
[34:19] My friend.

Speaker 4:
[34:20] What the fuck is going on?

Speaker 9:
[34:21] You know him? How? Wait. Shit. I can't believe. I almost forgot. Fuck. Fuck.

Speaker 10:
[34:26] Fuck.

Speaker 4:
[34:28] What is happening? What is going on, dude?

Speaker 10:
[34:31] Are we even surprised at this point?

Speaker 9:
[34:37] This note was in the backpack along with the bottle. There was a third thing I had to do. When I saw you, because they said I would, I'd have to give you this and you need to drink it. All of it right away.

Speaker 4:
[34:49] What is it?

Speaker 9:
[34:51] As soon as you see Micah, tell her she has to drink this. We don't care how, but you have to make her. She needs to drink all of it, every drop. As soon as she does, give her the phone with Will's number in it and tell her to call him. Make sure she doesn't tell him where she is.

Speaker 4:
[35:09] I'm not drinking that.

Speaker 10:
[35:10] Yeah, dude, there's no way. You just told us you've been drugged by scary ass people for the past couple of years. You can't expect her to willingly go along with that.

Speaker 9:
[35:18] I get it. I do. But Vallon and Rina helped me. They got me out of that place, all right? Why would they hurt you after helping me?

Speaker 12:
[35:29] Luke, you don't know what we know about them. They've done really terrible things.

Speaker 10:
[35:33] Yeah, like fucking putting cameras in our apartments, watching our every move, spying, literally. What? Why would?

Speaker 9:
[35:39] I don't know. I'm sorry. I trust them. They must have had a reason.

Speaker 1:
[35:43] Guys, Wyll said that Cora's grandkid, Alton, said that Vallon was the one who told him to get in touch with Wyll.

Speaker 11:
[35:50] And Vallon and Rina gave us the package with all the information about the disappearances in that ritual.

Speaker 9:
[35:56] Alton, ritual? What are you talking about?

Speaker 11:
[35:59] We'll explain. Promise.

Speaker 9:
[36:02] Micah, please, if you don't trust them, please trust me. I truly believe they wanted to help me. They had a reason I'm standing here right now. Plus, we're all here with you.

Speaker 4:
[36:16] I don't know. Did they say what it would do?

Speaker 9:
[36:19] No, they didn't.

Speaker 10:
[36:21] Micah, don't. That's too big a risk.

Speaker 9:
[36:23] Yeah, I don't know.

Speaker 4:
[36:25] Fuck it.

Speaker 9:
[36:27] Micah. Micah.

Speaker 4:
[36:32] Now we wait. Give me the phone. I'm gonna call Wyll. That's what they wanted me to do, right?

Speaker 9:
[36:39] Yeah, yeah, also, Micah, there's something else. I need to tell you something about one of the few days I remember clearly during my time in that place.

Speaker 4:
[36:46] I'm calling Wyll. Give me a second.

Speaker 9:
[36:48] Micah, wait.

Speaker 16:
[36:57] Micah, where are you?

Speaker 4:
[37:00] I can't tell you that.

Speaker 16:
[37:02] Good, then I know where you are. I'm close, I've been driving for hours. I'll see you soon.

Speaker 1:
[37:13] Um, Micah, do you feel anything?

Speaker 4:
[37:16] Existentially?

Speaker 1:
[37:18] You know what I mean, from the drink.

Speaker 4:
[37:20] No, nothing at all, other than the weird aftertaste that left.

Speaker 9:
[37:25] Can I get you something for that? There's water, juice, some seltzer, other stuff in the fridge.

Speaker 4:
[37:31] Sure, thanks. Where the hell is he? He said he was close by.

Speaker 9:
[37:39] You said he's your friend, so we can trust him?

Speaker 4:
[37:42] Yeah, I think so. He's been working with us on looking into everything.

Speaker 9:
[37:47] Everything as in all the stuff we were?

Speaker 2:
[37:50] Yeah.

Speaker 9:
[37:52] So you really trust him then?

Speaker 2:
[37:55] Yes.

Speaker 4:
[37:56] He has his own story, but for now we have to leave it for another time. I can't even think of where to start explaining any of that.

Speaker 9:
[38:05] I feel like I'm losing it. I'm completely exhausted and my mind won't stop racing. I don't understand what's happening.

Speaker 7:
[38:11] That makes two of us. Will?

Speaker 16:
[38:18] Micah, hey. I'm so sorry.

Speaker 4:
[38:20] Mulder, why do you have my cat with you?

Speaker 16:
[38:23] I know this must seem so fucking strange and scary. It is for me too. I couldn't say much on the phone.

Speaker 4:
[38:30] What the? What is going on?

Speaker 16:
[38:32] Not gonna lie. It's kind of happened in real time for me too. Let me put down the rest of my stuff and I'll tell you what I know. This morning, I got to my office and this was on my desk.

Speaker 4:
[38:46] What does it say?

Speaker 16:
[38:48] I'm meant to read it to you. I will in just a second. You're Luke, right?

Speaker 9:
[38:53] Yeah, I mean, yes, I am.

Speaker 16:
[38:57] I'm Will. I've heard a lot about you and I'm sure we'll get to know each other quickly. There's one part of that letter that I'm supposed to tell you, but I need you to know that at this point, I don't have any information beyond what I'm about to say.

Speaker 9:
[39:10] Okay.

Speaker 16:
[39:13] Warren Jones took Frankie. The letter. Micah and the rest of the group, because I know you're all there. At least we hope you are. We hope you're with Luke. Before anything else, know that we're deeply sorry for the way everything went down. We can't imagine that you'll take that to heart, but we hope that getting Luke back to you is a step in the right direction. We were being honest when we said we were, are, trying to escape. We were being honest when we said that the order is dangerous. There is so much we want to tell you, but we can't put it all in this letter. For now, we will give you what little we can. We showed up to Micah's that day because we were scared for her. She's been experiencing something that we didn't understand, and it's made her do things she doesn't remember. Before you begin to speculate, we know she wasn't responsible for what happened to John and Abby. The night they were murdered, Vallon was following Micah. She wasn't anywhere near them, but she's done other things. Us confessing to you that day was a significant risk, but it was for good reason. Something is coming, and we didn't understand what it was then. We do now. We've taken the necessary steps to help her. We think she'll be okay for a while, but there's no guarantee it will last forever. Micah, Vallon and I were the reason you found Will. In the years of planning, of working in secret, before we could ever be seen together, we discovered information about Cora James. Cora James.

Speaker 1:
[41:20] Oh my god, why didn't I ever consider that? Luke James? Cora James?

Speaker 16:
[41:24] I don't think there is a connection, but yes, that crossed my mind too.

Speaker 9:
[41:29] Who is Cora James?

Speaker 12:
[41:31] Will explain, but let Will finish reading.

Speaker 16:
[41:35] Cora James was taken by members of the 10th Order in 1994. We do not know if she is alive or dead. However, we can confirm she was suspected to be what the Order calls a potential.

Speaker 4:
[41:50] Potential? Warren mentioned that in his recordings too.

Speaker 16:
[41:55] We found surveillance records of Cora's movement right before her disappearance. Lastly, Micah can't stay at her current apartment. She needs to take Mulder and find somewhere else to go. Will will help you with that.

Speaker 4:
[42:13] What? No, why?

Speaker 16:
[42:15] That's all we can say for now. Good luck. We're sorry for everything. We hope we can contact you sooner than later. Know that it may not be in the most direct way, but we'll make sure you know it's us. The last bit of the letter says you're meant to stay here for three days. So I went and got Mulder. Vallon and Rina left me a key to your apartment.

Speaker 4:
[42:39] That's so fucked up.

Speaker 16:
[42:41] Yeah. I'm guessing it's the same key they use when they put all those cameras in.

Speaker 10:
[42:46] So we're supposed to take this letter as evidence of their real intentions?

Speaker 16:
[42:50] I guess so.

Speaker 10:
[42:52] Really? Are you guys buying this?

Speaker 16:
[42:55] I guess. I don't know what else to think. Micah, they said three days, then you can go back to Rhode Island, but you can't go back to your apartment. I'll help you figure that part out.

Speaker 9:
[43:07] That's how long they told me to stay at that little house I was in.

Speaker 10:
[43:10] Oh yeah, you said that too. But why?

Speaker 1:
[43:14] What is she supposed to do?

Speaker 4:
[43:17] My head hurts.

Speaker 9:
[43:19] Yeah, mine too.

Speaker 11:
[43:21] I'm also not feeling great.

Speaker 10:
[43:23] This day is super fucked.

Speaker 16:
[43:26] My head is spinning. I feel like I'm on the verge of getting the worst headache of my life.

Speaker 1:
[43:31] What's going on? Why are you all feeling like shit all of a sudden?

Speaker 10:
[43:35] I feel fine. Maybe it's an adrenaline crash.

Speaker 9:
[43:39] I feel okay, too. But hey, Micah, we got interrupted before. I was trying to tell you something.

Speaker 4:
[43:45] Oh, yeah. Right before I called Wyll, what were you saying?

Speaker 9:
[43:51] I had started to say that there was something I need to tell you about one of the very few days I remember clearly while I was stuck in that place.

Speaker 4:
[43:57] Did we ever figure out where you were?

Speaker 6:
[44:01] I feel really shitty.

Speaker 10:
[44:02] No, we didn't. But I'm guessing it was some place that belonged to the Order. If Vallon and Rina were the ones who broke you out.

Speaker 9:
[44:10] Micah, listen to me. This one day, Clark came to see me and took a walk down the hallway. He was feeling pretty good about something and he said he had made significant progress. I didn't ask what he meant because I knew he wouldn't tell me. About an hour after I was back in my room, I started hearing this heavy banging through one of the walls. And then I heard someone screaming. At first, I thought I was imagining it. But I think I heard your name. Someone's screaming your name. I listened as hard as I could and they said... Micah I think...

Speaker 11:
[44:52] What the is happening?

Speaker 14:
[45:51] Oh, good, you're awake. How are you feeling? Yes, I'm sure you're in considerable pain. When we're finished here, I'll call for someone. I assume they have been monitoring you, but I'm going to record this conversation on my own device. Thank you for your cooperation. I'll admit, I'm a little buzzy at the moment. I just attended a beautiful funeral service. Most people find them maudlin, which I respect, I suppose. But truly, in my opinion, memorials are the most moving event one could attend in a lifetime. I find them fascinating. An incredible time to observe people. You'd be pleased, too, had you been there. So many lovely things were said. And the attendance, the numbers alone. But that wasn't what truly stirred my mood. As I said, observing people in their most intimate moments, specifically those of sadness, is of particular interest to me. What made such an impression was the Stoicism exhibited by the Widow. Her absolute commanding presence, her defiance to be brought to her knees by grief. Obviously, all in service to her young daughter. The two of them a monument to grief, to loss, light and darkness. All in one, well, in two, in the two of them. Yes, anyway, forgive my ramble, and forgive the lack of personalization. I should have phrased it differently. Your funeral service was stunning. All right, I believe I'm ready to get started. I've waited quite some time, though I did think it would be under different circumstances. Nevertheless, I'm Leto Karras. For the record, please state your name clearly.

Speaker 11:
[48:26] Nolan. Nolan Jones.

Speaker 14:
[48:31] This is interview number one. Subject name Nolan Jones. Date December 16th, 1993.

Speaker 12:
[49:21] The Fable and Folly Network, where fiction producers flourish. Thanks for supporting the Fable and Folly Network. Here's another show we know you'll love.

Speaker 18:
[49:33] Last line, rewind. A new anthology horror podcast.

Speaker 5:
[49:41] A grand cacophony begins to fill your ears.

Speaker 18:
[49:46] Where tabletop role-playing games bring the terror of the TV glow to life.

Speaker 5:
[49:52] Critical failure.

Speaker 18:
[49:53] Yeah. No, no, no. From the creators of What Am I Rolling? and realms of peril and glory.

Speaker 5:
[50:01] What the is going on?

Speaker 4:
[50:03] I'm so sorry, I didn't know.

Speaker 18:
[50:06] Search Last Line Rewind. Wherever you listen to podcasts.