Predation - Chapter Five

The hunter has become the hunted, the predator has become the prey, and the horrible secret Sara has been keeping might save her from a vicious killer IF she can survive her harrowing night -- its the thrilling conclusion of Predation.

Transcripts - https://www.NocturnumCollective.com/predationbonus

*Headphones are strongly suggested for the best audio experience.

Transcript

Copy Transcript Copied

NOCTURNUM COLLECTIVE – SEASON TWO

Predation – Chapter Five

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 – the thrilling conclusion of Predation, chapter five. Written by Karl White.

(MUSIC – tense)

NARRATOR: For a cutthroat killer, the tables have turned. The hunter has become the hunted, the predator becoming the prey. The hungry spider, luring the wounded fly into its web, didn't expect teeth and claws to contend with. But such is the error of a man who has literally gotten away with murder, blinded so much by his affliction, that he failed to know thy victim.

(SFX – sting)

Dr. Keller has made it as far as his neighbor's property, the now deceased Mr. and Mrs. Horn's house, which sits a few miles down the road from his own. He scurries from the back of their farmhouse, after another near-fatal run-in with the beast that is Sara.

(SFX – footsteps on gravel)

NARRATOR: Heading down the gravel driveway towards a country road, the rocks beneath his feet crunching, and an angry wind is picking up again.

(SFX – wind howling)

NARRATOR: Parked out front, a blue farm truck and a small white hatchback, Keller stops, looking at the vehicles. But a light turning on upstairs in the farmhouse dissuades him from further action. So, he continues sprinting down the drive.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: A streetlight sits at the end of the horn's driveway. Beyond that, nothing but the black of night. Dr. Keller doesn't have time to decide whether or not going back into the darkness is a good idea. He must keep moving if he wants to stay alive.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: He's just past the boundary of the light. When he spots a large shape in the middle of the road, it startles him.

DR. KELLER: Oh, God.

NARRATOR: As his eyes adjust to the lack of light, he realizes it's the black quarter horse from the barn.

(SFX – horse snorts)

DR. KELLER: Hey, big fella. You scared me again.

NARRATOR: He's slow to approach, doing what he can not to scare the animal off.

DR. KELLER: Steady? It's okay.

NARRATOR: A few more cautious steps closer.

DR. KELLER: That's it. You can help me get out of here, aren't you?

NARRATOR: Feet away, Dr. Keller reaches out to the horse, hoping somehow, he can climb on and ride away.

(SFX – woman screams)

NARRATOR: But a piercing scream cuts through the night air. The spooked horse gallops off.

(SFX – horse gallops off)

NARRATOR: Keller grits his teeth, upset but also confused…That wasn't Sara. But if it wasn't her, then who was it? He lingers in the middle of the dark road, not sure what to do. Curiosity is keeping him close to the farm. Rationality is telling him to get the fuck out of there.

(SFX – woman screams)

NARRATOR: Another scream echoes…Then the sound of gnashing footsteps in the gravel driveway. Backing off of the road, Dr. Keller hides in the first row of corn. Through the swaying stalks, he watches the farmhouse, trying to figure out what's going on.

(SFX – howl)

NARRATOR: A howl erupts from the back of the house. Lightning crashes. Thunder roars.

(SFX – thunder/wind)

NARRATOR: A gale-force wind starts to blow. The dark sky is opening up, but he also curiously hears a car start.

(SFX – car start/drive in reverse)

NARRATOR: A moment later, racing down the driveway in reverse, the small white hatchback. The car backs onto the road…The Horn's granddaughter, Amy, 19, sits behind the wheel. In her pajamas, a look of terror covers her face.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Without thinking, Dr. Keller rushes out into the road.

DR. KELLER: Hey!

NARRATOR: He bangs on the driver's side window.

(SFX – knock on window)

DR. KELLER: Help me!

NARRATOR: Already in a frantic state, Amy jumps in her seat. And as she turns, seeing the tracing of a bloody man outside her car window in the dark of night, she hits the gas, speeding off.

(SFX – car speeds away)

NARRATOR: Dr. Keller begins to run after her, waving his arms frantically.

DR. KELLER: Stop!

NARRATOR: Watching his last real means of escape drive off…Then, a hundred feet away or so, the car screeches to a halt.

(SFX – tires skid)

NARRATOR: He sprints towards the vehicle as Amy rolls her window down.

AMY: Hurry, get in. We need to get out of here.

NARRATOR: Behind them, from the driveway, a storm erupts as Sara rounds the corner. The wind surrounding her swirls like a cyclone forming. Lightning and thunder crash down around her. The stiff rain begins to fall.

(SFX – storm)

NARRATOR: She is nature's fury, and she's coming right for Keller and the car…He quickly gets in.

DR. KELLER: Go now!

NARRATOR: Amy hits the gas, speeding off.


(SFX – rain/windshield wipers)

NARRATOR: The car is pounded hard with rain and wind…Keller turns, looking out the back window, watching Sara and the storm disappear in the darkness, unable to keep up. Amy, focused on the road, is shaking.

AMY: What the hell was that?

NARRATOR: But Keller, in his own little world, is having a moment. Another close call. His body relaxes in relief. It's the first time he's felt safe all night.

(SFX – seatbelt)

NARRATOR: Dr. Keller snaps his seatbelt, finally looking at Amy.

DR. KELLER: I'm sorry I scared you.

NARRATOR: His ease is interrupted, as he notices she's white knuckling the wheel, holding back tears as she drives.

AMY: I'm here visiting my grandma and my grandpa, but they're gone.

NARRATOR: Her freaked-out mind in shock, trying to process in real time.

AMY: They're both dead. I think that thing killed them.

NARRATOR: Instinctually, Dr. Keller morphs into psychiatrist mode.

DR. KELLER: It'll be okay. You're out of harm's way. We're safe.

AMY: But what was that thing?

NARRATOR: She wouldn't believe him if he told her.

AMY: We need to call the police.

NARRATOR: She hands him her cell phone…But the circumstances don't dictate outside help. So, he pantomimes dialing and holds the phone to his ear.

DR. KELLER: Um, I'm on hold.

NARRATOR: Dr. Keller stalls, thinking things over in his mind. Everything leading up to this moment tonight is his fault. So, the fewer questions he has to answer, the better.

AMY: Where's the nearest police station?

NARRATOR: He turns to Amy, ready to say something…But he notices her scared look, the pounding pulse in her neck, her makeup streaming down her face. He sees her fear. His calm demeanor changes into one of fixation and opportunity.

AMY: Do you know how to get there? I'm not from here. Just point me in the right direction.

NARRATOR: The look in his eyes that was there when he was torturing Sara has returned…He points up ahead.

DR. KELLER: Turn right at the corner.

NARRATOR: Amy complies, awaiting the next direction.

AMY: How far is it from here?

DR. KELLER: Not far at all.

AMY: What are we even going to tell the cops?

NARRATOR: A quiet beat from him prompts her to look over.

DR. KELLER: We're not going to the police.

AMY: Wait, what?

DR. KELLER: They won't believe us.

AMY: Believe what? Where are we going?

DR. KELLER: My house. We'll be safe there. You can trust me. I'm a doctor.

NARRATOR: He gives his charming smile. But as scared as she is, Amy begins to feel uncomfortable with her new companion.

AMY: What were you doing in the road?

NARRATOR: Caught off guard, Keller stops smiling.

DR. KELLER: That thing attacked me.

NARRATOR: Amy looks straight ahead again…Suddenly her eyes grow, her body reacts. Dr. Keller glances forward.

(SFX – wind/rain)

NARRATOR: The storm that is Sara tears through the cornfield on the right. It looks like a small tornado with a red epicenter, Sara's ruby dress, cutting through the terrain. Corn and debris fly through the air. Lightning, thunder, and wind fill the sky. Sara's heading right for the car.

(SFX – brakes)

NARRATOR: Amy slams the brakes. Keller jerks forward. The speeding car slides on the country road's loose gravel, then collides with the berserk werewolf.

(SFX – car crash)

NARRATOR: Sara smashes against the windshield and is flipped over the vehicle. The car itself spins out.


(MUSIC)

NARRATOR: Moments pass. The storm that was raging has ceased, and an eerie silence fills the air as the dust and gravel settles. Inside the car, Dr. Keller sits back, holding his chest. The seatbelt dug into the wound left from the electric fence. He's bleeding pretty badly again.

(SFX –seatbelt)

NARRATOR: He undoes the belt, cringing at the pain. Next to him, Amy is unconscious. He feels for a pulse -- She's alive.

(SFX – car door open)

NARRATOR: Forcing his door open, he gets out of the car. On the road, broken glass and debris from the wreck litter the ground. Dr. Keller looks around, surveying the damage… About 20 feet away from the car, the taillights illuminate Sara's body, which is lying motionless in the middle of the road. From where Keller stands, he can only see the back of Sara. But he knows there's no way, beauty or beast, that she could still be alive. He gives a satisfied smile. It's finally over.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: In the car, Amy is starting to come to. Dr. Keller hobbles to the driver's side. Amy looks up at him.

AMY: What? Where am I?

NARRATOR: With whatever inexplicable strength he has left, he fights with the door, trying to get it open. It sticks, but he's able to force it ajar.

(SFX – car door open)

AMY: We gotta get the cops.

NARRATOR: Reaching in, he undoes Amy's seatbelt.

(SFX – seatbelt)

NARRATOR: Keller grabs her, trying to pull her out, but she resists, her brain trying to catch up with what's happening.

AMY: What? Where are we going?

DR. KELLER: I can't just leave you here for anybody to find.

NARRATOR: Hearing that, Amy remembers.

AMY: No! No!

NARRATOR: Despite being hurt, she struggles.

AMY: Let go of me.

DR. KELLER: Don't fight it, girly.

NARRATOR: Becoming more forceful against her struggle, Dr. Keller savagely pulls Amy from the car. She tumbles out and lands on the ground at his feet.

DR. KELLER: You're coming with me.

NARRATOR: Attempting to scoop her up and take her with him, Amy grips a strip of broken metal from her car. As he grabs her, she buries it into his shoulder.

DR. KELLER: Ah, fuck!

NARRATOR: He stumbles back, gripping the wound, then looks at her, ready to get violent.

DR. KELLER: You stupid little...

NARRATOR: He's interrupted by sounds coming from the direction of Sara's body. Looking over, Sara's not on her feet, but she's trying to get up.

DR. KELLER: You've got to be fucking kidding me.

NARRATOR: Amy clocks the fear Sara strikes in Dr. Keller and calls out to her.

AMY: Help! He's trying to hurt me.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Sara's head snaps in the direction of the cries for help. Her visage is back, closer to the human form of Sara, but her she-wolf-piercing yellow eyes smolder at Keller.

AMY: She's after you, not me.

NARRATOR: His seething glance is directed back to Amy, who's holding the bloody piece of metal she stabbed him with, ready to defend herself again.

AMY: Come near me, and it'll be the last thing you do, I swear on my life.

NARRATOR: Unsteady, Sara pushes herself up. As she sways, shaking off the impact of the car, she bears her fangs.

(SFX – low growl)

NARRATOR: Dr. Keller hasn't the strength or endurance to fight Sara or Amy. But glancing down the road, he sees a line of trees, he knows where he is. His property isn't far. He makes a sudden break for it, running the best he can, away from the scene, into the darkness.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Sara hobbles forward, slower, further behind, but back in pursuit of Dr. Keller…As she passes Amy, the two look at each other. Sara seems more human for a moment, less menacing. Tears stream down Amy's face as she holds the piece of metal she stabbed Keller with, close, just in case…But Sara limps along, leaving Amy be.


(MUSIC)

NARRATOR: Staggering, Dr. Keller keeps looking back over his bloody shoulder. There's no sign of Sara, but in the trees above him, a group of birds begin to chatter.

(SFX – bird calls)

NARRATOR: He thinks nothing of it as he moves along. Then an owl begins to hoot. A fox barks. Crickets chirp.

(SFX – sounds of nature)

NARRATOR: The noises combined becomes a deafening drone.

(SFX – howl)

NARRATOR: In the not-too-far-off distance, a howl echoes out of the night. And it occurs to Keller, the wildlife's calling out his location…Keller shushes the creatures of the night.

DR. KELLER: Shhh! Quiet!

NARRATOR: But out there somewhere, Sara screeches again.

(SFX – howl)

NARRATOR: Keller stops, listening. That sounded eerily close, but he can't tell with the hum of animals sounding off.

DR. KELLER: Shut up!

NARRATOR: The noises stop as his voice rings out…Dr. Keller cringes at how loud he was. And it's all the motivation he needs to take off again, through the woods with reckless abandon.

(SFX – footsteps running)

NARRATOR: But his legs feel heavier. His breath, harder, his strength, starting to wane.

(SFX – heavy breathing)

NARRATOR: He continues on, and after a few more steps, he sees the edge of his driveway.

DR. KELLER: Thank you, God.

NARRATOR: Dr. Keller can see the streetlamp that sits near his house, but he cautiously looks around, knowing what dangers lurk. He picks up a rock as a makeshift weapon.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Hobbling down the long driveway to his car, Keller falls against the driver's side door. He stares at the depressed lock inside the vehicle. Remembering he dropped his keys, he looks around but can't seem to locate them. He's out in the open, exposed, wasting too much time…On the floorboard in the back, light from the streetlamp illuminates a flathead screwdriver. The doctor's eyes brighten. He looks at the rock in his hand and smashes the window.

(SFX – glass breaks)

NARRATOR: Climbing in, Dr. Keller grabs the screwdriver and jams it into the ignition. He makes a face, hoping it will work.

(SFX – engine starts)

NARRATOR: Turning the screwdriver, the engine roars to life.

(SFX – car peels out)

NARRATOR: Wasting no time, he peels out, speeding down his driveway and up the gravel road, hopefully to safety. But the reality sets in.

DR. KELLER: Where do you think you're going, buddy boy? Where can you go? Think...

NARRATOR: His mind racing, but something dawns on him.

DR. KELLER: You gotta go back and kill that girl.

NARRATOR: Driving fast, off to his left, he thinks he spots reflective eyes in the woods. Was it Sara?

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: He looks in the rear view, but it's too dark. He can't tell…Then as his eyes go back to the road, he screams.

DR. KELLER: Oh shit!

NARRATOR: A runaway horse from the horns farm has wandered into the middle of the road. Keller jerks the steering wheel to avoid it. Barely missing the animal, he careens out of control.

(SFX – tires skid)

NARRATOR: The car smashes into a tree.

(SFX – car crash)

NARRATOR: The headlights of the car illuminate the tree it's wrapped around. Steam rises from the radiator…Inside, dazed, Keller comes to his senses. The jarring halt slammed him against the steering wheel, leaving him more injured than before. But with the threat of danger, he knows he needs to keep going, trying to start the car again.

(SFX – car won’t start)

NARRATOR: This mode of escape is exhausted…Looking back, he can still see his house in the distance. It's the only refuge he has left. With the fleeting courage that remains, he grabs the screwdriver and gets out of the car.

(SFX – car door)


NARRATOR: Dr. Keller hobbles as fast as his injured legs will take him. The noises of the night crowd his ears as he hurries back to his safe haven…Reaching the back door and the beacon of a porch light that shines above it, Dr. Keller sees the entryway has been ripped to shreds, busted wide open from where Sara escaped earlier. But he pays no mind to the tattered ingress, pushing what's left of the door open so he can gain entry.

SFX – creaking door)

NARRATOR: Inside, the place is in shambles. Keller wades through the mess and debris from Sara's rampage, looking at all his expensive stuff. The vain doctor's side of him is heartbroken. But the scared killer inside knows this night is not over. He needs safety to ride the darkness out until the dawn, and only one place in his house can afford him the defensive position he seeks…In the living room, as he heads towards the basement door, he stumbles across Donald's gun in the spot it ended up during their fight. Jettisoning the screwdriver, he tucks the weapon in the front of his pants for safe keeping and begins moving broken pieces of furniture to clear a path to the lower level.

(SFX – moving furniture)

NARRATOR: As Dr. Keller climbs over some tattered decor into the darkened basement, he loses his balance but catches himself before he tumbles down the stairwell. But the gun slips from his belt, falling to the dark floor below. When it hits, the gun goes off.

(SFX – gunshot)

NARRATOR: Momentarily lighting the basement, Keller cowers at the loud bang.

DR. KELLER: Way to go, jackass.

NARRATOR: Fearing he's made too much noise, the clock in his mind starts ticking. He hurries down the rest of the steps, scoops up the gun, and retreats to his cellar torture chamber. The large metal door is still intact, but it's bent open from the top, where Sara, with her unnatural strength, made her escape.

(SFX – metal sounds)

NARRATOR: Keller tries to pull it open. It won't budge, so improvising and using the fallen bookcase as a ladder, he climbs and contorts his body to get into his safe room.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: In his underground lair, Dr. Keller surveys the damage caused by Sara. Only a single bulb remains intact, providing just enough light to see that it looks like a bomb went off inside. He's disheartened at the destruction caused to his sanctuary. He's even more surprised to see Donald, still bound and gagged in the chair, alive.

(SFX – lifting chair)

NARRATOR: Keller struggles, pulling Donald and the chair upright.

DR. KELLER: You're like a cockroach.

NARRATOR: He stands over Donald, who keeps his frightened eyes straight ahead.

DR. KELLER: I will say, and this is my professional opinion, you're a survivor, Donald. Your mother would be proud.

NARRATOR: Then a thought comes to Dr. Keller.

DR. KELLER: How'd you get here?

NARRATOR: With a quick pat down of Donald, he finds car keys in his jacket pocket.

DR. KELLER: Where's it parked?

NARRATOR: As Keller goes for Donald's gag, there's a sound upstairs.

(SFX – distant sound)

NARRATOR: Maybe it's the house settling, or it could be Sara? But it grabs Dr. Keller's attention, nonetheless.

DR. KELLER: She's here.

NARRATOR: Glancing around, he knows he needs to fortify the room. He limps to one of the broken shelves and a leg-hold trap on the floor. He can't pick it up in his limited state, so instead pulls it across the floor towards the metal door.

DR. KELLER: This has been an illuminating night for me, Donald.

NARRATOR: On his knees, Dr. Keller grips the trap with both hands and pries it open, setting it.

DR. KELLER: You were right to confront me. I need to stop. It's time I overcome my carnal habits.

NARRATOR: Dr. Keller takes his place in the middle of the room, eyes and gun trained on the door.

(SFX – gun cocks)

DR. KELLER: This is my breakthrough. I'm seen clearly for the first time in a long time. I just need to survive this, clean up my mess, then I can change.

(SFX – distant sound)

NARRATOR: Another noise upstairs, and Dr. Keller focuses all his attention on the door, waiting.

DR. KELLER: I'm ready for you, Red.

NARRATOR: Donald discreetly looks past Keller at the darkened bathroom in the back of the cellar. He watches something move. Keller is oblivious.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Like a true predator, Sara has been in the room the whole-time, lying-in wait, hiding in the shadows. Now in control of her curse, Sara is in full feral form. Her haunting eyes reflect in the darkness as she slowly creeps out of the umbra, careful not to make a sound as she stalks her prey.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: As Donald watches the predator approach, his tic returns. He twists his neck, rubbing it against his shoulder, despite being bound to the chair. Focused intensely on the door, Dr. Keller notices Donald's nervous twinge out of the corner of his eye. And as his mind puts it together, Sara lets out a low growl behind him.

(SFX – growl)

NARRATOR: Keller stiffens, then turns and fires.

(SFX – gunshot)

NARRATOR: But Sara's ready. Her eyes a ghastly gray. Her hands go translucent, creating a wall of air that stops the bullet.

(SFX – rapid fire)

NARRATOR: He fires again and again until the gun is empty.

(SFX – gun clicks)

NARRATOR: The bullets can't penetrate her supernatural defenses and fall to the ground…She rears back and propels the air towards him.

(SFX – whooshing wind)

NARRATOR: The impact is fierce, knocking Keller back and Donald over in his chair.

(SFX – crash)

NARRATOR: On the ground, Dr. Keller backpedals, crawling towards the door. Sara closes her eyes, concentrating. Sounds from the house come from every direction as the pipes begin knocking.

(SFX – pipes knock)

NARRATOR: They strain in the walls against some unseen pressure building. Keller cowers, not sure what's happening. Upstairs, the faucet shakes. The water pipes behind the wall burst, sending liquid gushing out.

(SFX – pipes burst, water rushrd)

NARRATOR: In the cellar, copious amounts of water from upstairs pours through the ceiling, collecting at Sara's feet. The liquid begins to vibrate, turning into vapor.

(SFX – rumble)

NARRATOR: She opens her eyes. They're blue. She directs her stare at Dr. Keller. The water vapor surrounds him, swirling.

(SFX – water swirls)

NARRATOR: It forms a mini-water spout, lifting and spinning him back to the middle of the room to face Sara. As the water dissipates, Keller is soaking wet, woozy with his equilibrium spinning.

DR. KELLER: I'm sorry, Sara.

NARRATOR: But she's not done. Sara closes her eyes again, and the ground begins to tremor.

(SFX – ground shaking)

DR. KELLER: I'm sorry for all of it.

NARRATOR: The foundation and the thick cement walls in the cellar begin to crack.

DR. KELLER: I'm sorry for every woman I've ever hurt.

NARRATOR: Sara opens her eyes. They've changed from blue to emerald. Her hands solidify with tree bark and vegetation. The force of the ground shaking is like an earthquake. Tree and plant roots break through the floor and walls, snaking in from every direction.

(SFX – vines moving)

NARRATOR: Dr. Keller tries to evade their capture, but they're everywhere. The angry roots latch on to him, climbing up his body, squeezing around him, tightening with every fleeting breath he takes…Encased in vegetation, he looks at her, pleading.

DR. KELLER: I was wrong about you, Sara.

NARRATOR: She steps up to him, face to face.

DR. KELLER: You're not weak.

NARRATOR: There's fear in his eyes and strength in hers. Sara bares her teeth and goes for his throat.

(SFX – werewolf attack)

NARRATOR: Keller's frozen look of terror melts away as life leaves his body. Blood dripping from her mouth, Sara bellows out a growl.

(SFX – growl)

NARRATOR: But it's more than just in victory, as the fearsome command calls forth an angry swarm of insects. The vermin creep and slither up from the ground, over the plant life marching towards the body of Dr. Keller…The army of bugs feast on his flesh, consuming his body to send it back to the earth…Donald, covered in dirt and rubble, closes his eyes tight, not wanting to watch.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Sara arches up and lets out one last blood-curdling howl.

(SFX – howl)

NARRATOR: The sound of thunder crackles outside.

(SFX – thunder)


(MUSIC)

NARRATOR: Later, the only remnants of Dr. Keller is a hole in the ground, where the vegetation that helped take his life, retreated. Sara, now back in her human form, walks the cellar with a gas can. She's tired, worn out, beat up. She still wears her blood-stained red dress, tied closed with some rope she's found. Gauze is wrapped around her ankle. She can't find her shoes…She approaches Donald, still tied to the chair. As she undoes his gag, he's skittish. He looks at her wide-eyed, and without any bit of his stutter, speaks.

DONALD: Please, don't hurt me.

NARRATOR: She answers with a friendly smile.


(MUSIC)

NARRATOR: As dawn nears, Sara and Donald stand outside, the gas can at their feet. They look at one another. Neither has a match to strike the fire. But Donald's eyes grow. He points at Sara's hand…She looks down, equally shocked, to see flames dancing on her fingertips. Another ability she was unaware of…Kneeling down, she ignites the gas-stained grass.

(SFX – fire ignites)

NARRATOR: The flame takes off, racing towards the house.

(SFX – house burning)

NARRATOR: Moments later, fire grows in the window as it spreads inside…Looking back at her fingertips, the flame is gone. Donald can't help but ask the obvious.

DONALD: What are you?

SARA: I don't know.

NARRATOR: She notices Donald holding a stack of photos of the victims that lined the walls of Keller's torture chamber.

DONALD: Someone has to tell their story.

SARA: Here, let me.

NARRATOR: He hands them over…She gives him one last smile and walks away from the scene of the crime…He looks at her as she goes and calls out.

DONALD: Your secret's safe with me.

NARRATOR: Donald turns back to watch the fire consume the house.


(SFX – footsteps)

NARRATOR: Leaves and twigs crunch under Sara's bare feet as she makes her way home after her indescribable night. Her mind wanders, questions abound. Living with the stress of repressing her attack and the affliction she was warding off has been difficult. She knows hiding deep inside of her is the curse of the werewolf, and it's not going away. But the other abilities that emerged as she coalesced with her inner beast are a mystery. Maybe it has something to do with being a shapeshifter, the very essence of nature somehow synchronous with the supernatural.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Sara recalls reading of stories from indigenous Crow, Arapaho, and Arikara tribes about the legend of the CHILDREN OF NATURE. An ancient race dating back to the Lithic and Clovis people, who were more than just a mere part of the ecosystem, but instead lived in harmony with nature, able to control the elements themselves. The revelations this night has shown her certainly warrants further investigation and deep contemplation.

(SFX – sounds of nature)

NARRATOR: As the sun peaks over the horizon, Sara takes in the first rays of daylight, and as she walks on, flowers bloom as she passes, vines turn, animals watch. She's one with herself and the world around her.


(MUSIC)

NARRATOR: What a strange juxtaposition to life, who we start out as and who we become. It goes well beyond the ego and the id, components of personality, to the physical and genetic makeup of who we are. A foreign, dominant gene, introduced, causing an error in the way DNA replicates. Rearranging chromosomes, creating something beyond what known science can understand. The aftermath of her run-in with Dr. Keller left Sara with wounds. The cuts he made with his shears, the shotgun grazed to her shoulder, the deep laceration suffered stepping on the animal trap in the woods. But the injuries heal quickly, a side effect of her metaphysical powers. And with that shedding comes a catharsis, helping Sara realize where once her wounds made her feel silenced, she has now found her voice.

(SFX – sting)

NARRATOR: Her first utterance would come in the form of an anonymous letter sent to the Des Moines Police Department, naming Dr. Keller as the horrific serial killer who had been stalking the city, responsible for the deaths of dozens of innocent women. Accompanying the nameless letter were photos of all of his victims, corresponding to the mounting unsolved cases, though the whereabouts of the doctor still remain a mystery to law enforcement.


(MUSIC)

NARRATOR: Back in the basement of the church and the victim support group, all eyes are on Sara as she shares her story.

SARA: For the second time in my life, I'm a survivor. Four years ago, I was attacked and nearly killed. My assault left me with a curse that pitted me against myself. I hid myself away, afraid of who I was and what I'd become. For years I struggled, feeling like the world was closing in. I no longer recognized who I was, so I tried to take my pain away. I was losing the battle with a darkness, I could never defeat. But the fear I'd lived with all that time, boiled to the surface. And the burden I’d been trying to hold back, saved my life...it helped me survive. But not all of us do. And it made me realize I was lucky. From tragedy, I was given a gift that could be my saving grace. For the first time in a long time, I know who I am, and I feel free. I'll never be the same innocent girl I was four years ago, and that's okay. As I stand here before you, I'm no longer a victim, but a fighter, bound to see no one else suffers at the hands of anyone…Thank you.

WENDY: Thank you, Sara, for sharing.

(SFX – clapping)

NARRATOR: Sara gives a humble nod, then her eyes drift across the circle, looking at a familiar face, Tina, who was listening to her share, intently.


(MUSIC)

NARRATOR: After the meeting, some women leave, while others talk in small groups. Sara is at a table near the door, pouring a cup of coffee. Off to the side, Tina shyly tries to get her attention. When Sara sees her, she knows the look Tina's giving all too well.

SARA: Hi.

NARRATOR: Tina steps over, arms folded, guarded.

TINA: I liked what you said. It seems like you have things figured out. What's your secret?

NARRATOR: Sara ponders, unsure how to answer, honestly.

TINA: I mean, how do you feel so in control?

SARA: I used to think I wasn't strong enough to weather the storm. But something made me realize, I am the storm.

TINA: Wow. I wish I felt that way.

SARA: You can. The last time, when you shared…

NARRATOR: Whatever Sara is going to say next, Tina shrinks, not comfortable at the thought of opening up.

SARA: Not to bring up anything sensitive. But you said they never caught the guy who attacked you. What if I said I could find him?

NARRATOR: Head tilted, Tina doesn't quite understand.

SARA: What if I said I could punish him for what he did?

NARRATOR: Tina furrows her brow, unable to fathom the thought.

SARA: What if I said I could help you get your life back?

NARRATOR: Tina quickly answers with an eager nod…Sara grabs a napkin from the refreshment table and jots down her number.

SARA: Call me.

NARRATOR: Tina takes the napkin, gripping it tight. Coffee in hand, Sara heads for the door. There's a confident bounce in her step as she knows her story, her new life as a protector of anyone who's been victimized is just beginning.

NARRATOR: The End.

(MUSIC – Outro)

NARRATOR: For more killer content, subscribe or go to https://www.NocturnumCollective.com. And for more information about Predation and the LOTN universe, go to https://www.LegendsoftheNight.com