RSM Presents - A Time to Burn (FULL AUDIO MOVIE)

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Every night, Martin Haelstrom has the same nightmare: he runs to save his father trapped in a burning cabin, but never makes it in time. Just like that night all those years ago. Now, Martin returns as an adult to Washington State to rebuild the cabin and beat his time in a 5-mile race. The same time he’s beat all over the world on different terrain, but this time it’s not the environment that will challenge him. Something from the past wants to push him to his limits. Something wants him dead. Haunted by a horrible family secret, Martin must unravel the mystery of the cabin fire before his time is up.

An immersive audio-thriller, this Running Scared Jogcast will motivate and entertain you on your next jog! Best experienced with headphones on a long run.

Contains gory violence and coarse language. Not recommended for children.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:10

Every night, it's the same dream. It's a full moon and I'm running on the beach. I can see the lights of the cabin up on the cliff. The guy at the garage said it was five miles from there. I'd later map it out and find he was eerily precise. At this point, I didn't even know there was a problem. But in the dream, the dread is there, right from the beginning. I hot step it up the path through the woods to the top of the cliff. Sweat gets darkness in my eyes. In the distance, I can hear my father yelling inside the house. And a woman, not my mother. I know something is wrong. I try to go faster, but my legs feel like a hot lid from running up the cliff. I can barely see the birds, I think it's tripping in the darkness. I exit the woods and I can see the cabin. The fire starts. I hear them screaming. I can't get out. The cabin is going to go quickly. I push myself to hard again. Still, I keep running. I can feel the heat of flames on my face. I'm almost there. If I can make it in time, I can save them. But I'm not fast enough. Just like that night. I never make it in time.

SPEAKER_02 2:23

A horror jobcast. Written and produced by Robert Lindrum and Jamie Roberts. Edited by Robert Lindrum.

SPEAKER_04 3:23

Two more days to the race. Gotta hit my time. My body isn't used to the elevation here. Taking some time to adjust, but I'm not quite there yet.

SPEAKER_07 3:46

Around here before. Not for a long time. You're the one rebuilding the old house complete. Yes. You know how that old cabin up there burns down? I'm aware. But do you know how it burns? It exploded. Some say it was active. But others say something much dark was going on with there. Not just anything. People say a lot of things. Not like two things old. Okay, look, buddy. I'm trying to train you. I knew you looked familiar. You're stuck. You stopped at my garage that night.

SPEAKER_04 4:26

That's yeah. You're the mechanic. You're exactly five miles from the cabin.

SPEAKER_07 4:32

But you didn't get there in time, did you?

SPEAKER_04 5:01

Didn't make my time. Only two more days to train before the race.

SPEAKER_06 5:12

I'm Dale Hawthorne. Oh yes, the architect. Yeah, uh good to meet you finally. I think the guys are almost done for the day. I just heard you were staying here, and I want to come and meet ya. Uh you got electricity, as you know, obviously. You've been staying here. Uh but the gas lines are still being installed. And I gotta apologize, we're a little behind. And again, I'm sorry we've built this temporary structure to protect your granite countertop. Uh, we just need to finish the gas lines before we install it.

SPEAKER_04 5:39

Oh, don't worry, uh, I love the cabin, by the way. Beautiful design. You you really outdid yourself.

SPEAKER_06 5:44

Well, thanks. I wanted you to get the most out of this spectacular view. You know, it feels modern, it gives you some green space to look at, and also the kids can run around. Oh, no kids. Uh I'm not a family man. Well, that's a shame. Maybe you just need to meet the right person.

SPEAKER_04 6:04

No, it's not that. Just looking back, my dad was never around and I uh I was just in his way. I travel a lot for work, so uh I don't want to reproduce those circumstances, you know. Uh maybe rubbed off of me. Just don't want to put another generation through that, you know.

SPEAKER_06 6:20

I understand. I actually knew your father not terribly well, but I know relationships can be uh tricky. Hey, I see you're training for that marathon in town. Uh there's a young guy at my gym, he's a big run fanatic. He says he's heard of you. You're like a celebrity runner or something.

SPEAKER_04 6:40

Harley, I keep a pretty low profile.

SPEAKER_06 6:42

But that's what he said. You're one of the fastest runners at this distance. But you only come out every now and again. He said you're at an Olympic level.

SPEAKER_04 6:52

I don't know about that, but yeah, I only come out for a competitive run if it's on a new train. Somewhere with different conditions that might challenge me. And then I try to be my a certain time in all those places. It's my thing. Interesting. Well, I better be going. Hey, Dale, uh, what are these old iron doors in the lawn for? Looks like they're from the original build.

SPEAKER_06 7:16

Yeah. Well, when we were pulling the old pipes out, we realized the pipeline extended out of the house to an underground structure. We think it's an old bomb shelter. Let's take a look. Sounds like sulfur. What's down there? Honestly, Mr. Howstrom, it kind of gave me the willies. I haven't even looked. Here's my flashlight.

SPEAKER_04 7:52

Definitely not a flash.

SPEAKER_08 8:12

What do you see, Mr. Hellstrom? Mr. Hellstrom! Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:24

It's just an empty storage room. I guess. Looks like it got scorched in the fire. Uh don't think so. What do you mean? The back wall's all black and burnt.

SPEAKER_06 8:37

Yes, but uh but it looks like a masonry oven. Although I've never seen one with these shelves before. Maybe a sauna? But the house fire didn't touch this. Maybe they were cooking something in here. Are you sure? The door is wood, so it wouldn't have survived the fire. And there's some interesting carvings here and there. Looks like a bull's head. What's this? What'd you step on? Is that a locket? It looks old. Maybe it's a family heirloom. Open it up.

SPEAKER_04 9:12

It's a picture of my father. I've never seen this one. And a woman. This must be her. This mistress.

SPEAKER_06 9:22

Well, uh, what look? What are the chances of that? Now if you don't mind, let's go look at the house, Mr. Houster. Mr. Halster. Huh?

SPEAKER_04 9:43

Oh. Uh yeah, yeah. It's pouring. Got a train. I'm getting used to the train, but time is improving. Hard to see. It's just a great mess. I stick to the race route since it's already blocked off to traffic. I don't think a car would even stop.

SPEAKER_03 10:20

What the hell? Roads are fucking closed.

SPEAKER_04 10:26

I keep going to field off. I try to repocket. All yours, bud. Just get back away. I don't get more than twenty steps away, or I see a font poking his head out of the bush on the side of the road. Get out of here, baby! Get outta here. Steps back a few feet and keeps looking at me. Get along! Get along! But he just keeps looking at me. For some reason, he's not interested. Gabbage. No way I'm outrunning a mountain line on the open road. I still gotta leave, so I duck into the woods at the opening. That fawn into moving. The fawn is about 20 feet in front of me now. Looking back and wants me to follow. That's fine with me. Where the hell am I going? Legs are burning. Just do it. I look back, I see the line is still kids at me. For a second, it's weird. Gotta get some thing. The file's up looking back at me. What's he want? Look at that. Keep pushing it. Don't look back. Keep pushing. What the I'm at the cabin. The deer led me up the hill to the far side of the property. The lion is gone. Or lost interest. That's time. I might have made it. Some cars taking up the house. Another local weirdo? Seems like coming back here has brought in all the noisy papers. Where'd that deer go? Same dream again. Running up the cliff. Legs are acheken. The fire starts as I clear the trees. Just like always. I can hear the stream. There's a figure in the window. That must be a spinster. Try to open the window. Try to get there. She opens it and something falls into the flower bin. It's a child. But there's no one behind her, is that? Is that that? He grabs her by the hair and drags her back into the fire. I don't care if you work for some running magazine or a podcast, or if you're just another local creepo who has some theory about the cabin fire, I have no comment and I don't appreciate you hanging around my property. And if I see you near my place again, I'll call the authorities. Is that clear?

SPEAKER_01 16:05

Wait, no, sorry. Just wait. Let me explain. I want you to speak to you because there's something I think you should know.

SPEAKER_03 16:16

Well, what do I need to know?

SPEAKER_01 16:25

I don't have a brother. I know this may be hard to use. I don't have a brother.

SPEAKER_04 16:30

Goodbye. I have brother. What is he talking about? Stop calling me. You've got one minute. Oh, for Christ's sake. What is with this town in this video? Save your life. That's a real good story. That smells like horse shit. I'm blocking you now. Good night. Race day. Finally. Came here to do two things. See the new cabin, beat the time. Cabin's almost done. Then I can get the fuck out of this shithole. A lot of eyes on me. I guess my reputation is preceding me. Or maybe just the girly locket I got around my neck. It feels like it's heating up again for some reason.

SPEAKER_00 19:10

Runner's ready?

SPEAKER_04 19:26

Something feels wrong. All this weird stuff has me off my game. I can't let it shake me. There's always a bit of adjusting at the beginning. Control that energy and find the sweet spot. I'm not here for a prize. Just gotta beat the time. Why do I feel compelled to run faster? Can't burn out too quickly. Gotta pace it. I'm way out in front. So why does it feel like someone's breathing down my neck? I look back and I see one guy trailing me, trying to give me some competition.

SPEAKER_06 20:08

You're fast, Martin. But I'm not gonna make it easy on you. Good luck, buddy. I've got good genes, and 50% of them are yours, by the way. Oh Christ! Are you that nutso who called me last night? One in the same. I'm your half-brother, Bersha, remember? What do you want from me, Bersha? Relax. I'm not going to bite. I grew up an orphan in Motherville Martin. No family whatsoever. But ever since I became a father, I've wanted to know more about where I came from. When I discovered who my father was, and that I had a brother who was rebuilding on the property where I was found. Well, I felt compelled to meet you.

SPEAKER_04 20:53

So what? You want to do Christmas at the cabin now? Your mother ripped my family apart.

SPEAKER_06 20:59

I get the feeling that you don't know our dad as well as you thought you did.

SPEAKER_04 21:03

You're right, he was never around, and I was scared of him. And I stopped giving a shit about that guy a long time ago.

SPEAKER_06 21:10

I checked the public records. Our dad had already filed for divorce from your mother before he died. So that night he was gonna introduce me to your mother? Seems like it. But I'm not convinced it was just a family gathering.

SPEAKER_04 21:25

If you think you could sue me for the land title or something.

SPEAKER_06 21:27

I don't want your land, ma'am. This whole area around the cabin gives me the creeps anyway. I swear it calls to me sometimes.

SPEAKER_04 21:35

I'm glad that's settled. Now shut up. I'm trying to run a race here. The sky seems to be changing like a storm sky. The time. Just focus on the time. I take a look back and version of dignity. For a second, his skin looks blue, like he's gonna puke. His eyes close, and when he reopens them, a man with a dead stare right into my heart. He wants to win this as much as I do.

SPEAKER_08 22:16

Here come our first runners! Indeed, we have the victory of Martin Hawstrom, followed by the newcomer, Bershita Amaros.

SPEAKER_06 22:27

From here they will continue across the footbridge to White Island. Folks, let's have all our runners with a round of applause.

SPEAKER_04 22:37

I slammed back a paper covered wall. Is this blood? The thick liquid makes my mouth taste like iron. I look down expecting to see my hands covered in it, but it's just water.

SPEAKER_09 22:52

Wait today!

SPEAKER_04 22:56

His family's here to watch. Kids a spitting image of his dad. Bersha picks up the kid. That's gonna hurt his time.

SPEAKER_09 23:05

What are you doing?

SPEAKER_04 23:06

Now he's handing him off to some creep in the crowd. Hey, isn't that the mechanic? Bersha seems expressionless. Like a robot. I let him catch up to me. I don't know why I'm so concerned. Maybe he knows the guy. Strange choice for a babysitter. What do you care? Fine. Let's run. We cross the bridge to the island, and Bersha isn't showing any signs of slowing down. In fact, he's downright robotic. Every time I try to pull away from him, he seems to match me. Always hanging about 10 steps back. I come around the first bend. A pair of yokels are standing there. What the hell? They're stepping out onto the course, blocking my way. Luckily for me, these two are not in the best shape. Don't let him get away. This backwater moron is trying to sprit me down now. He's got no weapon. Just trying to hold on to me. What the hell do you want from me? He spins me sideways right to the edge of the path. Have he had any strength to him, he might have thrown me down the slope and into the lake. Bersha's coming at me like a bat out of hell. Gotta lose this guy. I'll give him the old school guard trip. Catch me if you can, Bersha. I've never seen a runner so unrelenting. Something is happening to him. Is it drugs? Or some kind of stimulant? The course goes back to the mainland. But first, we have to cross through an underground highway tunnel. I know the course is blocked off to traffic, but I sure as hell don't feel good about getting into a tunnel when I know there's people trying to get me. But what choice do I have? Martin, you cannot outrun your past. You're just not fast enough. Oh Christ, it's not the lights, not now. I can't even see the other end of the tunnel. The ground starts to feel soft. At first I think it's my legs, but no. It's the road. It feels like I'm running in mud. You are up to my weight. It's right behind me. No! Help me! Someone help me! Some kind of yellow light coming towards us. Like a trail of gas catching firing mid-air. They fly around us speedy. It's like a cat and mouse game between them. Mountain? What's going on here?

SPEAKER_06 26:28

Ursha, you okay? No, I feel awful. Must have blacked out before the water station.

SPEAKER_04 26:35

Water station? That was two miles back. Where are we now? He's totally lost and confused. It's like he was a different person. Am I just imagining all this? Did you hear that? Yeah, come on, get up. I put my arm around her should help him up. Can you run? Hunt them all. Come on, you can do it. We gotta get the hell out of here. So you don't remember anything after the water station. Like when you and two rednecks tried to snatch me and take me somewhere. What? No, I didn't do that. You did. Do you remember seeing your wife or your girlfriend? Sarah? No, I don't. Or take in your kid and give them to that sketchy mechanic from the garage. The one that's about five miles from my cabin.

SPEAKER_06 27:55

You mean girls?

SPEAKER_04 27:57

Yeah, yeah. Are you friends with that guy?

SPEAKER_06 28:00

What? No! That guy's one of the biggest creeps in the whole town!

SPEAKER_04 28:05

So he's not the babysitter. I gave him Tyler? I'm afraid so. I can see it on his face. He doesn't remember any of this happening. And the realization is sending him into a panic. Hi. We we gotta Bercia, listen to me. Bersha, we gotta keep moving. There's nothing between here and the town. First person we see, we take their cell phone, we call the cops, but for now we gotta keep running. We keep running. Keep on running. Let's go. This might seem like a bad question at this point, but you said to me that you thought our parents were just some occult stuff. What does that mean?

SPEAKER_06 28:40

Ever heard of the Ammonites? Is that a type of fish? They were people who believed themselves descendants of Abraham. Anyway, there's been some cult shit around these parts for hundreds of years, and whoever they are, they call themselves the new Ammonites.

SPEAKER_04 28:57

You think our parents were mixed up with them?

SPEAKER_06 29:00

Mixed up. Man. Our dad was the leader. What? He sold weapons, right? Well, the Ammonites worship the devil Moloch. He's one of the fallen angels. He lusts for war. How do you know all this? When I found out my birth name was Bersha, which means son of wickedness, let's just say I had a few questions. Do you think the Ammonites took your kid? Good god, I hope not. The Ammonites would sacrifice children to Moloch. They say he's covered in children's blood and the tears of their mothers.

SPEAKER_04 29:35

Then we better get what's that? A yellow flame engulfs the road in front of us. We can't get past. Something's been following us, but it never attacks. It's like it's pushing us forward. We have to go around. Through the bush. Dash off the road and up the hill into the trees. We find a path. The incline is intense.

SPEAKER_06 29:56

The flames are moving up through the forest. It's like a wall of fire. What is going on?

SPEAKER_04 30:00

I can feel the heat of the flames in my face. And that burning sensation around my neck again. I reach up and touch the locket. It scorches my fingers. It wants us to go this way. It's like there's two spirits. They hate each other.

unknown 30:17

That's the other one.

SPEAKER_05 30:18

Look, up the hill. Why is it splashing into that area?

unknown 30:23

Oh shit.

SPEAKER_05 30:24

A landslide! Woo! This way! Look out!

SPEAKER_04 30:34

We've got nowhere to go but wherever it's leading us.

SPEAKER_05 30:37

Ma look! The path splits up ahead! Did you see that?

SPEAKER_04 30:45

The trees just moved and closed off the left bar! Just keep moving! We reach the top of the escarpment and suddenly it dawns on me. Where are we? We're on the far end of the cabin property. Really?

SPEAKER_05 30:58

Is there a landline?

SPEAKER_04 30:59

Yeah, back at the cabin. What's it make good time? What time? Why am I thinking about that now? This race is over as far as I'm concerned.

SPEAKER_06 31:09

But who are all these people outside the cabin?

SPEAKER_04 31:13

What are they doing? That's my architect. Do you hear that? It sounds like Tyler.

SPEAKER_05 31:20

That Earl from the garage. They're laying him on that granite slab. It looks like they're going to. Oh my god! They're the new Ammonites! They're going to sacrifice him! We've got to stop them!

SPEAKER_04 31:37

I try to go faster, but my legs feel like hot red from underneath the cliff. These maniacs are coming for us! The cult is trying to grab us to pull us down, but I gotta head us deep and dodge them. First she breaks a tackle. That slows him down. He's not gonna get to Tyler in time. It's up to me. I made it just in time.

SPEAKER_06 32:17

Damn, Mr. Halstrom, what are you doing? I'm stopping this insanity. Insanity? Is it insane to worship a higher power? A true tangible power like our Lord Moloch?

SPEAKER_04 32:31

Worship whatever nonsense God you want, but leave the kid out of it. Get the hell off my property.

SPEAKER_06 32:36

Tyler! Oh my baby boy. You're alright. Oh Martin! This property has been Ammonite land for years! Your father bought it so that we could carry out the ritual here. You remember, don't you, Martin? The night the first cabin burned to the ground. He had called you here. And baby Bersha, you were here too. All of your father's kin were to be sacrificed to our Lord Malay. The lock it starts to burn again. And now with Martin home at last, we can complete the ritual that was started all those years ago.

SPEAKER_04 33:16

So what happened? The seance candles catch fire to the drapes or something? Oh no, Martin.

SPEAKER_06 33:22

Bersha's mother got cold feet. The portal was opening, but without the sacrifice, they only brought hellfire into their home.

SPEAKER_04 33:30

Something weird is going on in the skies.

SPEAKER_06 33:32

The clouds spiraling the blue and yellow. What's going on? Earl! We must complete the ritual. Moloch must be fed.

SPEAKER_04 33:46

A blue mist passes through each one of the cult members. It's that spirit. The same one that possessed you. There's two of them. One is your mother. The other is Yes, Mark.

SPEAKER_06 34:04

Your father.

SPEAKER_04 34:09

I always knew you were a terrible dad. And a terrible human. But sacrificing children, that's uh that's a new load.

SPEAKER_06 34:16

That's too many of the mutton, and there's nowhere to go except straight down the escarpment. You should never survive all. Your help me will not please the Lord Moller. But with the child, we'll complete the ritual and give him an offering. Hand him over. I'm going to chance at mutton. You with me?

SPEAKER_04 34:34

The locket sears me again, worse than before. An eclipse, a ray of hope. Just wait. Wait for what? Just wait.

SPEAKER_06 34:44

Your mother. Ah, Roman. You bitch! If we don't complete the ritual, we'll be stuck in this for forever. What? Where am I? Was I taken by Lord Marlon? No. Just our idiot died. And this is for taking my son. Russia look. Two spirits are fighting.

SPEAKER_04 35:12

The carpet is on fire. Get back! The gas lines weren't insulated yet! Ah! What is that locket? I found it down in that room. It's got a picture of each of them. Look.

SPEAKER_06 35:30

Button! Those pictures! They're disgusting! Why are they both burnt? What?

SPEAKER_04 35:35

I stared down at the two photos of two young and attractive people from a long time ago, but slowly my eyes start to see their faces melt. Their eyes hollowed out. Skew charge. I swear, it was the two of them. It must be cursed.

SPEAKER_06 35:56

It's green.

SPEAKER_05 36:00

Did you hear her voice? Yeah. If you destroy it, maybe our father will be destroyed as well. And her too. Mother?

SPEAKER_04 36:10

Russia. I think she's ready. She's doing exactly what she did all those years ago. She's sacrificing herself. Save us.

SPEAKER_05 36:19

I she saved us twice. Let's let her go knowing she succeeded. Give me that stone. She's trying to burn us alive, man.

SPEAKER_06 36:42

You did it! They're gone.

SPEAKER_04 36:45

Russia I want to apologize. You were trying to tell me about all this from the beginning.

SPEAKER_06 36:54

I had no idea it was fucking crazy. Uncle Marty, I like that. Sorry about your cabin.

SPEAKER_04 38:06

I know. That was like two million dollars down the drain. Going to rebuild? Hell no. What kind of asshole builds a cabin on a portal to hell? Hey, did I tell you that you chased me with a podcast?

SPEAKER_02 38:23

This has been Time to Burn. A horror job cast. Brought to you by the producers of the Runny Scared Podcast. Written and produced by Robert Landrum and Jimmy Roberts. Edited by Robert Landrum. Find more JOGCAS and horror movie reviews on the Runny Scared Podcast available on your favorite podcast platform.