NOCTURNUM COLLECTIVE – SEASON FOUR 

Bury the Ashes – Chapter Four

Written by Karl White

NARRATOR (OPEN): There are constants that endure in the known world. Space, time, energy, matter. Physical and scientific laws constraining us to this existence. But there's a current below the surface. Contrary to the explainable, it's where the unknown resides, where meaning and form collide with the abstract, where shadows hold dominion…Enter the Nocturnum Collective.

(MUSIC – opening sequence)

NARRATOR: And now, together with Legends of the Night, The Nocturnum Collective presents -- Bury the Ashes, chapter four. Written by Karl White.

(MUSIC – drone)

NARRATOR: The present, the here and now. Life is a constants state of chasing this very moment to the next. Heartbeats of experience, coursing through our lives, with the convergence of tactile actualities and feelings. Pushing buttons in our brains and shocking our systems to create responses to ever shifting seconds ticking forth. Reality is based on the present, and so too, our instincts to survive and seize the next fleeting moment.

(MUSIC – pulse)

NARRATOR: It’s late afternoon and Doug erratically walks through the forest. He’s gotten himself lost in his attempt to distance himself from the stranger he saw earlier and cottage.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: He stops, glancing around, trying to make sense of his location. Nothing around him looks familiar. He’s never been great with direction…Even looking up, what he can see of the sky, it’s just an expanse of clouds and blue, with no indicators as to his bearings.

(SFX – footsteps in woods)

NARRATOR: A few more misguided steps, and ahead, he spots an orange ribbon tied to a tree. He pulls the keys from his pants pocket, the set he found at the cottage with the orange ribbon tied to it...It means something.

(SFX – mystery sting)

NARRATOR: He spits out of the forest onto another man-made trailway...Doug looks up and down the orange path to try to figure out where this one leads…On the opposite side of the path, a red ribbon is tied around a tree…He looks back and sees a bit of smoke rising in the distance. 

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: It suddenly dawns on him.

DOUG: Red’s the house. Far out!

NARRATOR: Doug turns to his left and proceeds in a hurry, towards whatever lies at the end of the orange path.

 (SFX – whoosh transition)

NARRATOR: Doug emerges at the utility station, more cautious about his approach than at the cottage. He stops, seeing the orange door to the station standing wide open. Danger might be near...

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Doug strips off his backpack and pulls the butcher knife. He steps towards the door, ready for anything…But, something out of the corner of his eye grabs his attention.

(MUSIC – rising)

NARRATOR: There’s a large, burnt spot in the grass and four partially charred, but intact dog paws at the edge of the pile of ashes…Doug shakes his head in disbelief, backing away. 

DOUG: What in the fuck is going on here?

NARRATOR: His concentration shoots back to the door of the station. He moves closer and stands at the edge and peers inside, he makes sure it’s safe.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Inside, Doug tries the light switch, it’s not working. 

(SFX – light switch)

NARRATOR: Cracking the door all the way open, daylight illuminates the small, darkened station. Across from the door on the opposite wall, he notices a breaker, opening it...All of the circuits have been ripped out, except one, labeled “HOUSE”.

DOUG: Shit.

NARRATOR: Doug spots radio station and receivers. He hurries over, puts the backpack, butcher knife on the desk…On closer inspection, the radio is a mess. It’s been ripped apart, smashed up. Pieces are everywhere; wires are cut and frayed. He bypasses the mess for the shelving unit with the array of smaller radio receivers. 

(SFX – knobs and buttons)

NARRATOR: He begins turning knobs, pushing buttons. But none of the receivers seem to be working.

(SFX – Doug sighs)

NARRATOR: Frustrated, Doug pulls a receiver off the shelf and flips it over. The electrical wire in the back has been cut...But he continues testing them all, not giving up.

(SFX – knob click)

NARRATOR: Miraculously, one of the receiver’s lights-up. Doug pulls the microphone from the main receiver and plugs it into the one that’s working.

(SFX – radio static)

NARRATOR: Doug hits the talk button and speaks into the microphone.

DOUG: Can anyone hear me? I need help...Please, my name is Doug Norwood. I was on a cruise to Alaska that sank. I think I’m on an island. I don’t know what direction I drifted, but I need help. It’s urgent...

(SFX – mic click)

NARRATOR: Releasing the button he waits, watching the receiver’s signal needle. It trembles slightly from the radio’s static, but nothing else -- Doug hits the talk button again.

DOUG: Can anyone hear me? 

(SFX – static/mic click)

DOUG: Someone must be out there...

(SFX – tuning dial)

NARRATOR: He tunes the dial to another frequency, trying again.

DOUG: Does anyone hear me? I need help.

NARRATOR: Again, he waits for a response that doesn’t come. He switches to a new channel.

(SFX – tuning dial)

DOUG: S.O.S. Mayday. Emergency. Does anyone read me?

NARRATOR: The receiver’s needle suddenly jumps. There’s more than static from the other end of the radio. 

(SFX – garbled voice over radio)

NARRATOR: Doug adjusts the volume and frequency...

(SFX – tuning dial)

NARRATOR: Suddenly a voice comes through, with a lot of interference and distortion. What he’s saying is indecipherable and in pieces. 

VOICE: (over radio) This is...

(SFX - static)

VOICE: (over radio) ...Coast Guard...Do you...

(SFX - static)

VOICE: (over radio) ...Over.

NARRATOR: The signal then degrades to nothing but static.

(SFX - mic click)

DOUG: You’re breaking up. Come back...

(SFX - heavy static)

DOUG: S.O.S. Help!

(SFX - more heavy static)

DOUG: I’m on an island somewhere. There’s a red house on it. That’s all I know. Send help!

NARRATOR: Doug waits a moment, listening. Still no response, just dead air. He hits the talk button again...

DOUG: I need help, goddammit. Do you read me?

NARRATOR: But the light on the receiver suddenly dims, and the STATIC fades to silence.

DOUG: No!

NARRATOR: Doug tries to re-tune the frequency, turning the dial, but there’s no power…He picks up the receiver, turns it over to find a frayed wire. But it also has an auxiliary power port with two old, corroded batteries.

(SFX - fumbling)

NARRATOR: Doug pulls them out, wiping them, blowing the corrosion off. He loads them back in the receiver and tries to turn it on again. But it’s not responding. 

DOUG: Work, you piece of shit.

NARRATOR: The batteries are dead. Angry, Doug throws the receiver down on the desk.

(SFX – frustrated growl)

NARRATOR: He thinks for a moment, then smiles with unfettered joy.

(SFX – rummaging in pocket)

NARRATOR: But burying his hand in the coat pocket, his face goes blank. The batteries he found earlier, are gone.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: He rips the jacket off and goes through each pocket. Feeling the lining. Turning the jacket inside out. That’s when he sees the hole ripped in the pocket.

DOUG: Oh god, no.

NARRATOR: Frustrated, Doug slams the coat on the ground, taking his anger out on it...But after a moment, he stops. He hasn’t the strength or time to waste throwing a tantrum.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Back to the business of rescue, Doug grabs the small receiver and microphone, stuffing them into the backpack. 

(SFX – zip backpack)

NARRATOR: He slings it over his shoulders, leaving. And in his haste, he forgets the knife.

(SFX – footsteps)

NARRATOR: Back on the orange path, Doug’s eyes search the ground, tracing his steps. Finding the batteries is the only thing on his mind. As he makes his way down the path, back towards the house, his footsteps echo loudly. 

(SFX – footsteps)

NARRATOR: But after a moment, the distinctive sound of someone else walking nearby hits his eardrums. 

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: He stops...hearing branches break, leaves crunch. Someone is close. Doug hurries off the path and crouches, listening. He looks through the bush for the source of the sound but doesn't see anything.

(SFX – footsteps in woods)

NARRATOR: Then, clear, heavy footsteps, coming directly down the path. Doug slinks back, further into the woods and huddles behind a tree, staying out of sight. 

(SFX – footsteps walking by)

NARRATOR: As the steady steps near, Doug stays still as possible, holding his breath, as someone WALKS down the path, past the tree concealing him…Doug tries to peek from his hiding spot but can’t see anything.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Then, through the slivers of tree branches he sees bits and pieces of who he suspects is the stranger he saw earlier, lumbering towards the utility station…Feeling concealed enough, Doug leaves the safety of his cover and creeps towards the edge of the path to get a better look. But as he sneaks, Doug steps on a stick...a loud SNAP reverberates in the otherwise dead silence.

(SFX – stick snaps)

NARRATOR: In the distance, the stranger, who’s now further away, stops...Doug shrinks back behind a tree trunk.

(SFX – heartbeat)

NARRATOR: All is quiet, no sounds of movement, nothing. Doug can only hear his own heartbeat…As Doug peeks again, he sees the stranger standing still. He’s not moving or turning around, just listening...But after a few more tense moments of quiet, the stranger continues on, walking towards the station. 

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Hearing the cadence of the stranger’s STEPS getting further away, Doug breathes a sigh of relief. And from his vantage point in the woods, the coast seems clear…Quietly, he steps back out on the path...but when he looks back, his stomach drops...the stranger is standing about seventy yards away, looking right at Doug. 

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Scare for his life, Doug takes off, running in the opposite direction. He sprints as fast as he can down the path…Over his shoulder, the stranger is in pursuit...not as fast, but not slow either.

(SFX – running in woods)

NARRATOR: Doug takes a sharp turn, cutting into the forest, in hopes of throw the stranger off. He has no idea where he’s headed, but he can’t slow down…Looking back, Doug can no longer see the stranger, but can hear heavy, stumbling footsteps behind him. Ahead, another narrow walking path cutting through the forest…Before he reaches the edge, Doug darts behind a wide tree with a red ribbon tied around it.

(SFX – footsteps approach)

NARRATOR: Footsteps are getting closer...closer. Doug trembles with fear, hoping he isn’t seen. The stranger runs by the tree that Doug’s hiding behind…He continues on and doesn’t stop when he hits the path...Doug waits, listening as the stranger’s footsteps get further away…Against the tree trunk, Doug is exhausted, unsure where to go from here.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: As the timeline for the events unfolding becomes more clear -- A day before Doug stumbled onto the utility station, Fred is following Roy’s instructions. He cuts the wires on the back of each receiver with his pocketknife. And takes the batteries out of the small ones…Opening the main radio, he pulls the circuit board, stripping diodes or other components to make it unworkable.

(SFX – phone sound)

NARRATOR: Fred rips the phone off the wall and pulls all of the circuits out of the breaker box, except for the one labeled “HOUSE”. Shoving them all into his backpack. He grabs the batteries off the desk, putting them in the side pocket of his coat…He then grabs a large fireman’s style ax that hangs over the door, bashing the phone circuits and the rest of the radio.

(SFX – destruction sounds)

NARRATOR: Finally, Fred picks up the “Epidemiology Field Guide” off the floor and exits the station.

(SFX – outdoor sounds)

NARRATOR: Outside, Fred stands over Teddy’s carcass, with several other dead birds and squirrels piled on top, pouring gas on them from a small gas can...and lights a match, tossing it on top.

(SFX – fire ignites)

NARRATOR: The corpses ignite quickly. Fred throws the “Epidemiology Field Guide” on top of the fire and watches it all burn.

(SFX – ocean)

NARRATOR: Flashing back even further into the past...the darkened sea churns as the wind picks up. 

(SFX - storm at sea)

NARRATOR: Doug and Mary are all alone in the middle of the ocean. Remnants of the cruise ship can no longer be seen as it sank hours ago, and the couple has drifted further out into the expanse of the ocean…Both are exhausted. Doug steadily treads water. Mary is having trouble staying afloat, despite wearing the lifejacket.

MARY: Doug, I’m so tired.

NARRATOR: As she finishes speaking, her head dips below the water. She’s starting to give up. Doug swims over, pulling her back up.

DOUG: Put your arms and legs out and lay back.

NARRATOR: Doug prompts her as he cradles the back of her head. Mary complies, laying back in the choppy water.

DOUG: Let the water do the work so your body can rest.

NARRATOR: Mary looks a little calmer as she floats on her back. 

MARY: What about you?

DOUG: I’ll be okay. I can tread water for a few more hours.

NARRATOR: But she wears a worried look...

MARY: I don’t want to die out here, alone.

DOUG: You’re not alone. And we’ve got a lot of life left to live. We haven’t even gotten to the good parts...

NARRATOR: Doug trails off and straightens up, looking past Mary. He squints, spotting something in the distance. His reaction is enough to get Mary to turn...

MARY: What is it?

DOUG: There’s...there's something in the water.

NARRATOR: Mary leans up as Doug points in the distance.

DOUG: Over there, something’s moving.

NARRATOR: They both look, studying the dark horizon...Cresting on a wave forty yards away or so is a bright yellow life-raft.

DOUG: For the love of God, we’re saved!

NARRATOR: Not wasting any time, Doug breaks off, swimming towards the raft. But he stops and turns back...He can see Mary is struggling to swim.

DOUG: We’ve got to hurry, or wind and current could carry it off.

NARRATOR: She tries to paddle. He waits for her to catch up, but it’s counterproductive. 

DOUG: Stay here. I’ll swim to it.

NARRATOR: But saying the words, Doug shakes his head at the bad idea.

DOUG: No, I can’t leave you.

MARY: Go. It’s our only chance.

NARRATOR: Doug nervously looks back at the life-raft, rocking in the waves. But he doesn’t want to leave Mary. Seeing his hesitation, she rips the engagement ring off of her finger.

MARY: Here, take this.

DOUG: What?

MARY: Here’s your reason to swim as fast as you can to get the raft and come back to me. To put this ring back on my finger. What did you tell me? When life seems dim, you push forward and keep fighting.

NARRATOR: He takes the ring.

DOUG: Call out to me. Keep yelling. I don’t want to lose you in the dark.

MARY: Go!

NARRATOR: He breaks off, paddling towards the life-raft as fast as he can. Meanwhile, Mary calls, but she has a hard time fighting against the growing waves.

MARY: Doug...I’m right here.

NARRATOR: Slicing through the water, Doug makes it to the raft. He looks back and can see Mary waving her arms, still yelling.

MARY: I’m over here.

NARRATOR: Doug grabs the side handle of the raft. He fights the wind and the waves to swim back towards his love. Navigating through the choppy water with the raft in tow is difficult. 

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: But the wind is picking up, the waves are peaking higher...Despite swimming towards her, the distance between Doug and Mary is growing. A current is starting to take her and she’s fighting against it, a bad combination. 

DOUG: Mary?

NARRATOR: A big wave washes over her -- she goes under. The wind and water are smacking Doug in the face as he frantically tries to catch up to her...but it’s becoming harder and harder to see Mary as she bobs wildly in the strong tide.

(SFX – storm at sea)

NARRATOR: He keeps swimming forward, fighting the waves, trying to keep eyes on his love...but one moment he sees Mary, the next, she’s gone. 

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Doug stops and looks up over the waves that toss around him. He doesn’t see her.

DOUG: Mary?

NARRATOR: Panicked, he pushes forward, dragging the life-raft behind him.

DOUG: Mary, I’m coming. 

NARRATOR: But she’s stopped calling and is nowhere to be found...Doug’s head is on a swivel as he thrashes around, his eyes searching the dark waters.

DOUG: Mary???

NARRATOR: He sees something ahead. Leaving the life-raft, Doug swims -- Alarm sets in, as floating in the water is Mary’s lifejacket.

DOUG: Oh God. Mary? 

NARRATOR: He dives...and moments later resurfaces, alone.

(SFX – resurfaces)

NARRATOR: He goes under again, and again, coming up empty-handed.

(SFX – come up for air)

NARRATOR: The wind is starting to take the life-raft. Doug’s forced to abandon his hunt for Mary to retrieve the vessel. 

(SFX – life-raft sound)

NARRATOR: As Doug comes over the side of the raft, he immediately looks out, scanning the water around him.

DOUG: Mary!!!!

NARRATOR: He moves to the other side of the raft, gazing out, not wanting to give up.

DOUG: Where are you?

NARRATOR: Emotions start to set in. 

DOUG: Mary....

NARRATOR: Doug opens his hand. He holds Mary’s diamond ring. Tears roll down his cheeks. He’s lost the love of his life. 

(SFX –terror sting)

NARRATOR: To be continued…

(MUSIC – Outro)

NARRATOR: For more killer content, subscribe or go to 

https://www.NocturnumCollective.com 

And for more information about Bury the Ashes and the LOTN universe, go to https://www.LegendsOfTheNight.com