Paranormal Horror - Dottie

0:00Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing. Victory Lane? Yeah, it's even better with Chamba by my side. Race to chambacacino.com, let's Chamba. No purchase necessary, VTW Group, voidware prohibited by law, CTNCs, 21 Plus, sponsored by ChambaCacino. Access to affordable credit helps me pay my employees that I don't really need it. Infliction is killing me. Who cares? Big retailers and making record profits. That's why we support the Durban Marshall Credit Card Bill. See, banks and credit unions help small businesses make pay roll. This bill would cut the vital resources they need. While increasing Megastore profits, they deserve it. Don't they? Tell Congress, stop the Durban Marshall Money Grave for corporate megastores, paid for by the Electronic Payments Coalition. Hello, I'm Wilkins' stories all the time. Glad you are here. Let's get into it. Dottie Alexander Lurch forward as her social worker bents the van over the curb.

1:01The social worker, Halley, pulled into the stance field's driveway at 217 Perkbuck Road, having to break too hard and lurching Dottie forward again. Dottie didn't think she would ever get used to riding in cows. Although, after observing other vehicles in the rows for the last four months, she wondered if she might have a better experience riding with someone other than Halley. Neither of her previous two foster families had driven her anywhere. They were both justifiably nervous but introducing her to the modern world. Halley had warned them about Dottie's prior reactions to simple things such as cars, cell phones, and cameras. We just want to help you get more adjusted first. Her previous guardians had invariably said. Dottie inevitably perturbed both couples who also had children of their own, leading them both to ask Halley to find a new placement. The stance fields would be her third foster family as she did not expect them to be her last. She knew Halley did not believe her when she said she was trying to fit in, but how could she expect to fit in when all she had known for 14 years was hard work, discipline, and servitude toward a higher power, and all these people knew was the pursuit of ease and pleasure. Her entire life, Dottie had been raised

2:02to see those types of people as less of a man on earth, consuming God's wonderful bounty and corrupting his beautiful planet. She was beginning to understand that was wrong because she had also seen her kind in understanding these people could be. But now it was they who seemed unable to see the wonderful facets of her. Oops, almost missed the driveway there, Halley chuckled. Her eyelashes were too long and for some reason she didn't have eyebrows, so she painted them on instead. Halley was plagued by the sin of gluttony, but Dottie now understood that was not considered a sin in this new world. She saw many people proudly displaying the burden of its consequences. Halley said, well, here we go. These people are very nice. They are all very nice, aren't they? Ask Dottie. Halley gave her a forgiven smile. She recognized Dottie's particularly dry brand of sarcasm. The stance fields opened their door and greeted Dottie in a quaint Midwestern manner that she genuinely appreciated. I'm Bill, and this is Patrick. The father said, planting his hands on his six of seven-year-old son's shoulders. The mother said, and Monica. You must be Dottie. She extended her hand, but awkwardly retracted it

3:04when Dottie curts it instead, fanning the lacy, hem of her dress outward. The rest of the hand off weddically is awkward, but Dottie still thought she liked the stance fields very much. Halley made sure Dottie was settled while Bill retrieved her single suitcase of belongings, namely to reduplicates that the dress she was currently wearing in a few pieces of everything she needed to wear beneath it. The stance fields lived in an immaculate house. A carving stack is led from the entry-ritcher and exposed hallway above a two doors visible from the ground level. Beneath the bannister, another doorway, this one empty, led to a sunlight living room with an open kitchen to one side, separated only by gorgeous brick fireplace and chimney. The carpet and a poultry were all white and the coffee table made of glass. The only color in the room came from the leaves of two broader leaf plants in the back corners. With the sunlight pouring into the back patio door, the room was almost blinding, but Dottie loved it. The upstairs bedroom designated for her also had white carpet, a white bed frame and white curtains, but her sheets were dark blue, matching the walls. Hers was one of the rooms at the top of the stairs, the one on the left. To the right was the upstairs bathroom

4:05and down the hall were Patrick's and Bill and Monica's rooms. A short time after Halley left, Patrick opened his bedroom door and an orange blow nearly knocked his feet out from under him. The blue street down the stairs, thudding without caution to the bottom, where Dottie was just picking up a suitcase to carry it upstairs. She screamed, hey, what's wrong? Monica asked hustling through the doorway under the banister wearing an apron. There's an animal, Dottie whimpered. What is it? That area Patrick cheerfully announced from above. He named it. Dottie asked. She noticed a fence mile pulling at Monica's lits before the mother turned away slightly. She regained control of her features and turned back to Dottie, implementing a kind smile and soft eyes. Dottie have you ever seen a cat before? A cat like a lion? Dottie asked. This time Monica made no effort to hide her laughter, but Dottie did not feel insulted by it. Her laugh contained too much joy to be offensive. Before she realized it, Dottie started laughing along with her. I'm sorry, I'm not making fun of you. Monica said. It's just, well,

5:06there's obviously a lot for you to learn. Dottie looked away. I'm sorry. No, please don't apologize, Monica said. I'm sorry. I guess I just didn't realize. Did they not have any cats at the arm, the cult? Dottie asked. Both Monica and Patrick suddenly looked very uncomfortable. Sorry, is that a bad word? I keep hearing people say it when they talk about my home. She lived in a cult. Patrick asked, bent at the hips over the banister. No, it's not a bad word at all. Monica said. And Patrick, I'll let Dottie tell you about where she grew up when she's ready, okay? For now, let's get back to this cat thing. Area the cat had started weaving and out of Dottie's legs under her dress. She looked physically uncomfortable, but something deep down told Monica to let her be. Let her adjust. She had almost immediately recognized a barred strength and resilience behind Dottie's eyes when she arrived. Dottie asked. So what is a cat for? We aren't going to eat it. Are we? No way. She's my pet. Patrick explained. That means we play together and she keeps me company and at night she,

6:08he trailed off, looking uncomfortable. You keep an animal in your home for company? Dottie asked. In return, Monica asked, have you ever had a pet before? We only use animals for food, clothes and work-a-home. Dottie said. I've never heard of anyone caring for an animal for pleasure. It can be a lot of work, but it's fun, Patrick assured her. Monica hid another smirk. She guessed her son's idea of a lot of what could pale in comparison to Dottie's. Dottie collected his scot around her knees and stooped to observe the docile animal. Area took three cautious steps backward. She'll let you pet her if you want. It's a Patrick. Dottie held out one hand, hovering in front of area's face. She sniffed at Dottie's fingers, then nuzzled her head into Dottie's palm. Dottie smiled so broadly, her jaw almost fell off. She ran her hand down areas back, all the way down her tail, then started again with her other hand on area's neck. The cat began to pur and rubbed against Dottie's shins. In the back of the house, a door slid shut and Bill's cheery voice declared, burgers are ready. Dottie thought she was going to like staying

7:08with the stands fields. Bill and Monica really made her feel like a part of the family instead of a guest. At the dinner table, they made her feel so comfortable that when Patrick started asking questions about her home, she felt not only willing, but excited to answer. We didn't have any screens or internet, she said, pronouncing internet the way she heard it when people said. Every morning, Merre would give us a message. Then I spent most of my day doing chores, like laundry and tending the gardens or caring for the animals. And in the time left at the end of the day, I read, who's Merre asked Patrick? Merre Walker was our leader, a prophet, from God's center show us how to live a holy life. But what? Patrick asked. Monica quickly changed the subject. What kind of books do you like? You're welcome to see what we have, or I can pick up some at the library she offered. Dottie replied, I'm sorry. Books, what kind of books do you like to read? Monica repeated. Oh, um, my favorite is probably Matthew. I love the poems in Psalms though, and I memorize most of Proverbs.

8:08Dottie said Bill, have you ever read something besides the Bible? Dottie wrung her hands. No, I know. I'd never seen another book until after they took me away. Who took you away? Patrick asked. Monica said, the police honey, the people Dottie used to live with had to go to jail, so that's why she's staying with us. Why? Patrick asked. How about we talk about that another time? Bill said smiling in distance with his imperative tone. In the meantime, Monica get this girl some Harry Potter stat. And while you're at it, well, Dottie, I should probably ask you first. Would you like some more? Ah, modern clothes. Where about the same size said Monica. You're welcome to try on a few of my things. Dottie had been eyeing the comfortable looking shirt, Monica was wearing. Her scratchy homemade dresses were all she'd ever known, and the previous family she had stayed with never pressed her to try anything else. She was already over the shock of seeing women wearing pants, some so tight you could see the outline of their buttocks. Dottie had no desire to display her rear end.

9:08She could not comprehend why anyone would, but she thought some of the bagger pants she had seemed looked both practical and comfortable, which she had to remind herself to not make them sinful. Yes, she said, allowing the faintest of smiles to grace her lips. I'd like that very much. But please, could you tell me, what is a Harry Potter? The first clothing Dottie borrowed from Monica was a set of faux-salt pajamas. She had already grown somewhat accustomed to soft mattresses and plushed blankets more when people used. She felt like she was drowning in them for the first few nights away from home, but on her first night at the Stance Fields, she found a bed comfortable and inviting, and the pajamas added an extra layer of comfort. She drifted off with relative ease. Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing. Victory Lane? Yeah, it's even better with Chamba by my side. Race to chambacacino.com, let's Chamba. No purchase necessary, VTW Group, voidware prohibited by law, CTNCs, 21 Plus, sponsored by Chamba Casino. Hi, this is Alex Cantrowitz. I'm the host of Big Technology podcast, a long time reporter and an on-air contributor to CNBC. And if you're like me,

10:09you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives. So each week on Big Technology, I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech and outsiders trying to influence it, asking where this is all going. They come from places like Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and plenty more. So if you want to be smart with your wallet, your career choices, and meetings with your colleagues, and at dinner parties, listen to Big Technology podcast wherever you get your podcasts. In the middle of the night, Doddy walked to a commotion sheet in her foggy state could not immediately make sense of. I thought vibrated her door, which she kept a jar in the way she had been required to in her previous life and caused it to swing open. A dark shape load to the ground darted through the door, aimed at her bed. Before she could sit all the way up, the dark shape pounced onto the mattress right next to her leg, then lapped at her, landing on her chest. She added a small sheet before realizing that dark shape was only area of the cap, but her fright was never given a chance to settle. Because down the hall, she heard Patrick scream. A visitor in a strange house, Doddy waited and observed in silence.

11:11The hall were light turned on and someone went into Patrick's room. Doddy heard Monica's soothing voice. She did not sound alarmed, so Doddy decided not to be either. She waited for the next expected sound they called, Totskin of Monica's palm snapping against Patrick's soft, warm cheap, but it never came, Doddy reminded herself that children were cuddled in this new world, no. Not coddled, she reminded herself also that she needed to reframe her views of punishment because she rather liked the modern version of parents as caregivers, educators, and, yes, disciplinarians were necessary, but always were smart and relevant punishments, not censor speutings. Even when Patrick yelled something, Doddy could not decipher, Monica did not raise her own voice. Fist-up proceeded a long shadow in the hall. Doddy knew it must be Bill Cumman to check out her open door and perhaps find out where area went. Oh, he said, filling her doorway. I wondered if he woke you up. Actually, it was her, Doddy said, transplanting area from her lap to the floor. The cat padded out of the room. Bill said, well, sorry about that. On, don't worry about Patrick. He gets these night terrors, I guess you called him.

12:12He thinks he sees monsters. You know, like a lot of kids. Doddy flashed to a memory of her best friend being held down by her mother and father, as Mara woke up her fond and exorcism on her. The reason for this display was due entirely to the girl claiming to have seen a monster climbing out from beneath her bed. The girl's claim was immediately prosecuted as a symptom of demonic possession. Mr. Arm, please just call me Bill. Okay, Bill. Is Patrick? I'm not really sure if it means the same to you, but is he pure? Of heart? Bill looked down the hall and said, ah, he's a good kid. Not sure if that's what you mean though. Essentially, Doddy replied, but is there any chance that evil spirits might be interested in him? Straight to evil spirits, huh? Bill echoed, clocking dismissively. No, Doddy, there's no such thing as evil spirits. Or monsters for that matter. I'm sure you've been taught otherwise, but it's okay, said Doddy. I'm still realizing just how much of what I was raised to believe his false will set. Must be tough. All right, well, good night then. But before he completely shut the door,

13:14he paused and pushed it back open. Heep at the inside of his cheek and thought, then carefully said, hey, this thing with Patrick, could you please just let Monica and I handle it on our own? We have a bit of a strategy we've been working with, and we've seen some good progress here and there. I'd really like to keep the momentum going, you know? It's nothing personal, it's just. I think it would be better if he didn't discuss this topic with Patrick, okay? I understand, at Doddy replied. She did understand. She'd had the same conversation using different words with two sets of false to parents already. Hey, we really love having you, but please don't interfere with our family dynamic. We are perfectly happy as we are, thank you. Bill said, thanks, and shut the door. The following morning, everyone behaved as if nothing had happened, which informed Doddy that Patrick's midnight upburst was a common occurrence. All day, Doddy watched him for signs of spiritual corruption, but she detected none. Not that she was an expert on corruption. Not like Mara Walker, profit leader of the Moravian Christians. He was able to sus out someone with a demonic attachment before they even displayed harmful symptoms.

14:16Doddy always believed in his gift as an asset from God. However, throughout her second day with the stunts fields, she began to think more about Mara's exos and realized he never sent women away from the group, only man. Specifically, Doddy could only recall him bettishing married man. He always provided for their wives by taking them into his own home. She had been living in Moro's constructed world, seeing everything through his framing. Now outside, she realized what might have actually been going on. The stunts fields did what no other family had done for her yet and took her out in public. Both parents had taken the week off to help thaw to settle in. They only went to an apple orchard, but still there were modern people walking around, driving trucks and tractors, eating snacks from the little shop. Unbeknownst to Bill and Monica tending the fruit trees was one of Doddy's chores back home. When she shared this with them, Bill recoiled and Monica put loving hand on her shoulder. She sounded like she might cry as she said, we thought it would just be a fun way to get out without being around too many people. I'm so sorry. We didn't mean to trigger any bad memories. No, just the opposite, Doddy assured her.

15:17It reminds me of the good pass of home. Bill recovered and said, well, here's to making new memories. Back at the house, Monica listed Patrick and Doddy's help in baking some of the apples into a crisp. She was impressed, albeit slightly uncomfortable with Doddy's baking knowledge and skills. She guessed the girl had been trained in a kitchen her entire life. They baked the crisp and enjoyed his after dinner while watching tour story. It was only the second movie Doddy had ever seen, having watched the Lion King at another home and Bill insisted she must see it immediately. The day ended on this happy note and everyone went to their rooms in good moods. Doddy sat on her bed, reading the first pages of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone with the door cracked open as always. It took her a few minutes to shed the guilt she felt for reading words written for no purpose other than enjoyment, but once she'd programmed herself, she found the book quite enjoyable. She heard Patrick leave his room and go to the bathroom next door. After he washed his hands, he opened the bathroom door, flooding the hallway with yellow light. Doddy could see his shadow across the floor as he stood in the bathroom doorway. Over 10 seconds passed without Patrick turning off

16:18the bathroom light or making any movement whatsoever. Doddy closed her book and went to check on him. She found him staring at his dark bedroom down the hall with his back to her, so he did not notice her approach. Patrick, she whispered. He flinched and turned around. She saw he had either been crying or perhaps was a butt stirred. Puffy redness encircled his eyes. Whispering, she asked, what's wrong? His test heaved before he said, I don't want to go back to my room. If I fall asleep in there, the nightmare monsters are going to come out. Nightmare monsters, is that what you were screaming last night? Doddy asked. Yeah, I always see them when I wake up at night. Sometimes I try to just stay awake, but I always fall asleep. Then they come, thought his forehead and arm but suddenly felt sweaty. She recalled Bill's entry to her knot to discuss the thing with Patrick with Patrick and to let his parents handle it. But Bill and Monica were closed up in their room and Patrick was standing right in front of her with tears in his eyes. What was she supposed to do? Patrick continued, they started my head, then they come into my good dreams

17:19and turn them into nightmares. And when I wake up, they're here. Oh, this is serious, daughtery thought. He needs spiritual protection, but his parents don't believe in it. What do the monsters do then? She asks, keeping her voice as low as humanly possible. They move really slowly when they're not in my dreams, said Patrick. I always try to run to mom before they can get me. Sometimes they block the door, so I have to scream like last night. He looked down, ashamed, and said, sorry if I woke you up. Doddy got down on one knee, eye to eye with a boy. She placed her hands in the sides of his shoulders, looked into his eyes, then drew him in for hug. She whispered in his ear, I believe you. And Patrick hugged her back. He pushed off of her after a few seconds and said, I have an idea, but can you come with me? Okay, but let's be quiet in case your parents are already sleeping. Doddy said, really just not wanting Bill and Monica to know she had involved herself in the thing with Patrick. He led her down the hall to his room. She turned in the light for him as he hurried over to a large chest next to his closet. After digging a run for over a minute, he finally pulled out a strange looking phone.

18:21Of course, all phones look strange to Dottie, but this one in particular was unlike any she had seen yet. After a little more digging, Patrick pulled a matching device out and closed the chest. These are called walkie talkies. Do you know what those are? Walkie talkies. Doddy repeated. She might have laughed at the silly name if she hadn't been so afraid of catching Bill and Monica's attention. Patrick said, yeah, I know it sounds sound, but they're really cool. We can use them to talk to each other. Like this, he turned a small dial at the top of both devices and a red power light lit upon each. An evil screech came out of both of them, thought he quickly closed the door, stopping before it latched. Whoops, Patrick said, moving the devices away from each other. As soon as they were separated, the screeching stopped. Here, he handed a walkie to Dottie who put it to her ear the way she had observed people talking on cell phones. No, no, you hold it in front of your mouth like this. He demonstrated. When you want to talk, you push the button and just talk. Just make sure you let go when you're done

19:22because otherwise my voice won't go through. Dottie pressed the button indicated by Patrick, raised the walkie to her lips and asked, can you hear me? She heard her own voice come from the walkie in Patrick's hand, rough and full of static and grinned. Well, she said, pretty cool, right. You take that one to your room and I'll keep this one here. That way I can talk to you. But why can't we just talk like this? Dottie asked, oh, say Patrick, I meant the nightmare monsters come. I can call you to come help me. Oh, and one more thing. He went to his bed, stuck a hand beneath his pillow and pulled out an unused glow stick. I always keep a few of these under my pillow because the monsters can turn off the lights. It's really scary. Anyway, if you need to use this, you just bend it like you're going to break it. It'll make a bunch of awesome cracking sounds then it'll glow. They're super bright. Here you go. He gave her the glow stick. Dottie dropped her knee again to give him a compassionate look. She said, Patrick, I think you need to talk to your parents about this. Your dad told me they'll never believe me, he interrupted.

20:24I've told them over and over again that the monsters are real, but they won't listen. I'm pretty sure Mom even saw them once. Dottie stayed at the walkie-talkie in her hand. Accepting it also meant accepting partial responsibility for Patrick's safety and full responsibility for disobeying her foster parents. She could be putting herself on the fast track to another home and she liked living with the stunts fields. But still, looking into Patrick's fleeting eyes, she could not turn him down. She helped him settle into bed, then returned to her room, walkie-talkie in hand. Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing, another checkered flag for the books. Time to celebrate with Jamba. Jump in at JambaCasino.com. Let's Jamba. No purchase necessary, BTW Group, Voidware Prohibited by Mom, CCNC, 21 Plus, sponsored by JambaCasino. Hi, I'm Alicia, and I'm Stacy, and we make trashy divorces. Everybody's favorite good podcast about bad relationships. Looking for something true crimey without the gore or the body count? We've been churning out funny, feisty, feminist episodes since 2019. So if you're looking to put some scandalous stories

21:27told well into your ears this summer, check out trashy divorces. Wherever you listen to podcasts, trust us, we've covered someone you love or someone you love to hate. The same thought against her door, which had to walk in her the first night did so the second. This time, Doddy anticipated Erie jumping on her bed and moved out of the cat's way. She listened carefully to the silence, searching for any slight disturbance which might indicate happenings down the hall. She heard nothing coming from down the hall, but the walkie-talkie next to her bed was to life, starting her. The static crackled and hiss, masking any words being spoken. Thought he picked it up and turned the volume dial back in order to listen for Patrick's voice through the walls. She could not tell whether he was trying to speak to her or not, but even with the volume down, listening for her foster brother with her naked ear, Doddy did not hear him. At a break in the transmission, Doddy depressed the talk button and put the device to her lips. Patrick is that you? She asked. Silence lingered for five, six, seven seconds before the walkie-crackled to life again. This time, Doddy heard breathing coming through.

22:27Long, rattling breaths, which sounded much too deep to belong to Little Patrick. She slipped off of the bed, looking back to see if Erie would follow her. Area state put, nested in the warm covers Doddy left behind. But Keck clearly wanted nothing to do with whatever was happening down the hall. Doddy treaded to her door and peaked out at Patrick's, which was closed. Midway through breath, her walkie stopped transmitting and silence returned. Now, standing in the hallway, Doddy raised again and asked, Patrick, are you awake? Through his door she heard herself echo faintly. It sounded like Patrick had turned his volume up quite high. Hearing her echo also made a think she should definitely be able to hear Patrick's voice through his door if he really was trying to talk to her. Her walkie hissed again, she heard more deep breathing coming through. This time it proceeded a harsh whispering voice, which said he's still sleeping. Dropping the device in alarm, Doddy ran to Patrick's door. She turned the knob, but found it locked. Why would he lock his door if he wanted me to come help him? Doddy wondered. This question was just one of a dozen

23:28which raised her mind like frames of a film strip blurring into a single image. In this case, instead of an image, her thoughts and questions amalgamated into a single imperative. Weat Patrick up. Patrick. Patrick. Doddy yelled, slapping her palm on his door. She heard disturbances in Bill and Monica's bedroom as they were startled wake. However, she could not hear any sounds coming from Patrick's. She yelled for him again. What's going on? Monica asked emerging from her room, still tying her road shut. There's someone in there with Patrick. I heard him talking, Doddy explained. Move, move, Bill ordered, ushering her aside with firm hands on her upper arms. Patrick, are you awake? He asked. Patrick, can you hear me? His door is locked, said Doddy. Bill immediately tried to knob to confirm this. Bill, he would never lock that door, said Monica. I know. Um, do you have your phone? Now, can you go get it? I want somebody ready to call 911. What's that?

24:29Doddy asked. Not now, Bill replied. He flattened his ear against the door to listen for any sounds from within. He said somebody's in there. He asked urgently. Doddy nodded. How do you know? Doddy shoot in the walkie-talkie and said, he gave me this and somebody talked to me through it. That's it, said Bill. He rammed his shoulder into the door. It barely rattled. Bill stepped back, raised his right foot in the air and kicked forward, connecting right beside the door knob. Though as a dry splitting sound, but the door remained standing. Patrick answered me, Bill yelled before his next kick. This time, the knob bent inward. It returned to its normal position as the door settled back in place, but Bill quickly followed up with a third kick, which broke the wood around the knob. The door slammed against the stop inside Patrick's room. He's not here, Bill yelled to Monica, who had just returned with her phone in hand. She gasped. What? Okay, I'm calling. Patrick, Bill yelled. He yanked the covers off of the boy's bed, revealing an empty mattress.

25:30Doddy shrunk back, terrified and unsure where she fit in the situation. Monica, phone raised to her here, said check into the bed, Bill, and tried it over to Patrick's closet. Yes, hello. I'm at 217 brickback road. We can't find my son. He's seven and, oh my God. Monica had just opened Patrick's closet. Oh my God, he's here. I found him. It's okay. No, we don't need you to send any money. I'm so sorry. Yes, yes, it is. Thank you. Goodbye. Monica lowered the phone and embraced Patrick, who she had found standing in his closet with his back to the door. Even as she hugged him, the boy stood completely still, facing away from them all. Hey, could you maybe go back to your room? Bill asked Doddy. What about the voice I heard? Doddy asked. I'm sure we'll find an explanation, but for now, please just go back to bed. Is he going to be okay? Bill started to sound frustrated now. Yes, Doddy, he'll be fine. Do you remember what I said to you last night

26:30about letting Monica and I handle this? Now would be the time. This final night sprung tears into Doddy's eyes. She turned away before Bill would notice and returned to her room without another word. Doddy slept in the next morning, having not been able to return to sleep quickly the night before. She noticed Patrick staring at her, clearly wanting to tell her something. The bill on Monica was always close by like they were guarding him. Finally, there came a moment in the kitchen, just after Bill left to pick up everything he needed to repair Patrick's door when Monica received a phone call. She excused herself to take the call outside in the porch. Please tell me what happened last night, Doddy finally begged. Patrick's eyes drifted over her shoulder to the patio door. Deciding it was safe to talk, he whispered. They almost got me that time. For some reason, I kept dreaming until. If Mon didn't open that closet, I heard it, Doddy said. I heard its voice and the walkie thing he gave me. When I tried to call you, it said he's still sleeping. Doddy, I'm really scared. I know. I'm trying to decide what to do next.

27:31I don't think your parents. She paused. Sure, she had just heard her name through the kitchen window, which had been left open to crack. Monica must not have noticed. She was standing right below the window, speaking into her phone a conversational volume. Doddy's not over to listen. No, it's not that we don't like her. In fact, we really do. It's just I'm worried about how Patrick is adjusting. His night terrors have been off the charts since Doddy got here. No, I understand. But also she's been trying to undermine us. And I'm not being paranoid. She's convinced that Patrick is, like, haunted or something. But then he's screaming or locked in his closet and does she come get us? No. She just talks to him behind our backs afterward and plays into his delusions. I don't know, Halle. It just might not be good for Patrick to have her ear. Doddy's step back shocked to hear these unfair and exaggerated accusations leveled against her. It challenged her entire idea of who she was, which was already quite malleable due to her upbringing which heavily discouraged personal identity. Bill and Monica essentially ignored the children for the rest of the day. Bill spent most of the afternoon working on the door,

28:33and Monica secrested herself in various rooms throughout the house in a manner which suggested she was intentionally avoiding Doddy. She kept Patrick with her much of the time as well. If Bill wasn't working on the door, and Monica wasn't with Patrick, the two of them would hide themselves away for private discussions. Doddy spent most of the day reading Harry Potter, reaching a third book in the series. The salsa is stone and the chamber of secrets turned out to be much lighter reading than Ezekiel and Leviticus which allowed her to consume them effilously. That night Doddy went to bed, were. She feared what would happen if Patrick was attacked again. She now knew Bill and Monica held contradictory expectations for her and could not decide how to handle them. On one hand, Monica had complained about her attempts to understand Patrick's affliction and help him through the best way she knew how. But on the other, she was disappointed in Doddy's lack of action. So which was it? Was she supposed to help her stay up? And what if Bill and Monica were wrong? What if Patrick's life really was being threatened by creatures that emerged from his nightmares? Wrestling with this confusion tired her and after some time sweating on top of the sheets, she got up and went to her bedroom door.

29:34She held the knob in her hand, twisting the lock back and forth between her thumb and index finger. She thought about how her misofencers in the middle of the night always began with the cat running and unwaking her up. Maybe it was time to try sleeping with the door closed. She shut it gently so as not to be heard down the hall. She pinched the lock, hasted it, then turned it. Determined to sleep through the night to keep herself out of the situation with Patrick and hopefully work her way back into favor with Bill and Monica before they had her removed. Doddy went back to bed. This time she was awoken by a needy scratching at her door. This faint sound did not have the same startling effect as the cat dotting in and jumping on the bed so Doddy wook slowly. At first she forgot where she was. She had just woken from a dream about home and expected to see the plane. Brown walls of her old room when she opened her eyes. Instead she saw the blue walls of her room at the stance fields, which looked pitch black at night. Aerys scratched at the door again and Doddy came fully into the present. She heard the cat mewing outside her door and fearing she might wake the rest of the family rose to let her in. When Doddy opened the door,

30:35Aerys back was arched, her tail stiff and her first standing on end. Doddy crouched next to her and pet her into silence, then listened for any sounds coming from down the hall. She heard only one faint sniffle and that only barely. She picked Aeria up and tried it carefully toward Patrick's door. The closer she got, she could hear more sounds of his crying. He whimpered and sniffled, breaking Doddy's heart. She thought she had felt alone, but now she imagined the feeling of isolation Patrick must have been experiencing and could no longer pity herself. She knocked gently on his door, which was somehow closed, despite Aerys gaping through it. She whispered Patrick and the whimpering ceased. Hold on, his small voice replied. Doddy heard his sheets rustle, then the soft thud of his feet hitting the ground. He padded over to the door. Doddy heard the door in a brattle when he grabbed it, but before Patrick could open the door, he screamed. Doddy dropped Aeria and tried to open the door herself, but in his terror, Patrick had fallen against it. She couldn't push it open. Patrick, get out of there she yelled. Based on his screams, she knew he had slid down the door all the way to the floor.

31:35She could picture him cold up and a bull there is some dark thin cold out of his closet. Bill, Monica, Doddy screamed, now turning to bang on the bedroom door. Maybe she thought Bill would be strong enough to push his way in. She didn't care if they was sent her away anymore. Her only concern was for Patrick. Aeria began scratching at Patrick's door and Doddy returned her attention there. Please Patrick, you have to move she yelled. The master bedroom door opened. Bill and Monica both in bathrobes emerged. Move out of my way, Bill bellowed. He shoved Doddy so hard her back he'd the wall behind her. He shouted Patrick's name as he tried to open the door. His initial attempts failed against Patrick's weight, but he planted his shoulder into the newly repaired door. It braced his bare feet in a carpet and shoved. The door opened slowly as Bill pushed Patrick out of the way. Aeria scared away and Doddy tried to peer inside to catch a glimpse of the terrible monsters which had plagued her foster brother so. Doddy stepped over here out of the way, Monica instructed. She gestured to the space in front of herself and Doddy moved into it. Bill reached out through the opening he'd managed to create.

32:38He grabbed Patrick's pajama shirt and pulled him sideways until he had moved him enough to open the door the rest of the way. It was too dark inside for Doddy to see anything. Patrick's net light had gone out. Got him, Bill grunted, heaving Patrick up into his arms. Doddy felt relieved, but only for less than a second. For no sooner had Bill stepped away from Patrick's room embracing the scared child, then Monica shoved Doddy forward, sending her tumbling into the docus. Without a word, Monica slammed the door shut. No help, Doddy cried throwing herself into the door. Her hand searched and located the door-nub. It wouldn't turn. Horrified, Doddy realized Bill had replaced the door-nub with one which flopped on the outside. And for some reason Monica had locked her in. She yell, what are you doing? Why? Why? Please help me. A crackle of static sounded behind her as she turned. All she could see of the walkie-talkie on Patrick's nightstand was its red pearl light. Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing. Victory Lane? Yeah, it's even better with Jamba by my side. Race to chumpacaceno.com, let's Jamba.

33:40You don't purchase necessary, VTW Group, voidware prohibited by law, CTNCs, 21 plus, sponsored by chumpacaceno. This is Mike Voilo of Lexicon Valley. And I'm Bob Garfield. Are you one of those people who sometimes uses words? Do you communicate or acquire information with, you know, language? Hey, us too. So join us on Lexicon Valley to true over the history, culture, and many mysteries of English, plus some ice cracks. Find us on one of those apps where people listen to podcasts. The static hiss louder and louder until the device reached its full volume. Dottie shrunk down against the bottom of the door, just as Patrick had. They had traded places, but more damningly, had traded fates. Dottie's trained helplessness helped her in place, even as she began to sense the shadows moving. She heard the air coalescing in front of her felt its creeping druff on the backs of her hands and the bottoms of her feet. They were coming. The nightmare monsters. Please, Monica Bill Patrick, somebody opened this door.

34:42She reached up and tried to open it again, but it was still locked. Stay still, a deep voice commanded through the walkie-talkie. What are you? Dottie yelled into the air, which continued to twirl in front of her. She slapped at the door, again pleading with the stance fields. Let me out, please. I'm sorry, please let me go. She could hear them out there now, bickering. Adrix voice was knowing explosive pitch. The main argument seemed to be between him, Monica, though Dottie could not spare much attention to try to make out what they were saying. Suddenly, the static hiss ended, and the walkie-talkie still read light, the only light in the entire room, went out. The air stopped moving. Dottie held her breath, not wanting it to give her away. She could sense something now looming in front of her, examining the room with senses unknown. To her left, near where Patrick's bed should be, she sensed another presence. This one seemed smaller, yet equally sinister. She could see them all at the same time with her eyes open or shut, here, then despite the family arguing outside the door, and sense the movements on her exposed and covered skin. They were everywhere, including in her mind.

35:42They were not reaching for her, they were reaching for something inside her. They were, it seemed, clueling for her very soul. Was this the reckoning her parents had warned her about? Was this how God was punishing her for disobeying the teachings of his prophet, Mara Walker? Her soul would be devired, nashed by demons. Was this the price everyone paid for watching movies for reading Harry Potter? But it was more than that. She had conspired against Bill and Monica with their son. She had plotted with him against the direct wishes. She had disobeyed. Perhaps this was the most serious crime for what she had been sentenced. But no, she simply could not believe that. She observed her own habitual pattern of thought as a ticked through her brain, but she could not internalize it. It was too discordant, too dissonant from the reality she'd experienced. Dottie had never known such internal comfort before, and for the first time impossibly her entire life, she broke out of dintrench roots in her mind. She reached up for the light switch, but was not surprised when it did nothing. There was a window on the other side of Patrick's bed. If she could get to it, it could share some light on the creatures and possibly offer a route of escape.

36:44If only the bed was all that stood in her way. I'm not who you want, she shouted at the invisible monsters. Standing, she pounded again on the door several times, yelling, the child you want is out there. While you're at it, take his parents too. A snile projected from the smaller creature and Dottie's mind froze her momentarily. Evidently, she was not the only one who heard it. Hearing the beast triggered Patrick Tiel from outside the door. Quick Dottie, they were going to get you. An invisible hand called from the darkness and Grip Dottie's wrist almost instantly numbing her hand with its strength. Help. She screamed as the hand yanked her forward into the obscure blackness. The creature released her after flinging her down on all fours. Her shoulder brushed against the foot of Patrick's bed and she clambered onto it. The curtain was only a couple of feet away. If she only knew exactly where it was, she could surely reach it. She needed light, but everything the stance fields owned required electricity. A home, she knew where to find a gas lamp at any given moment. Down this modern society. Maybe they are not really sinners, but they are really stupid.

37:45She let this Vichail fuel her thoughts. It had the unexpected effect of clearing her mind, plowing roads to allow ideas to flow more freely. And that was when Dottie remembered the glow stick Patrick gave her. She did not have it with her now, but she remembered where he retrieved it from. I keep a few of these under my pillow at all times because the monster can turn off the lights. She'd off forward, but her hand only grazed the pillowcase before one of the powerful hands caught her left ankle and tugged her back. The second monster made a pass at her arm. She swung the arm at the creature instead. She felt it recoil, but it recovered quickly. The big one holding her ankle tried to grab her other leg, but Dottie lashed out with a kick. She felt it connect, but since she could only sense the beast and not see it, she didn't know where her blow landed, only that it made the monster release her ankle. They all, it's taking too long. You need to get in there. Dottie heard Monica say as she dove for the glow sticks again. This time she found one. She sat up and pulled her legs and clothes. They all and Monica were now arguing again. While they were distracted, Patrick yelled,

38:45go out the window, Dottie. Dottie heard the sharp smack of Patrick paying the price for a sound she could never mistake or forget. Get in there, Monica snarled. It was now or never. Dottie struggled with the glow stick at first, twisting it instead of bending, but finally she heard a pop and saw a vein of neon pink light appear. She bent it further, felt a crackling in her hands. It emitted a saturating pink glow, banishing some shadows and darkening the rest. The two dark shapes Dottie had most feared and expected to see retreated into corners. The big one into Patrick's partially opened closet and the smaller one under the bed. She saw only the form of the silhouettes of each before they disappeared. They left vacancies in Dottie's mind as well. She no longer felt them invading her thoughts. All the same, she turned her attention to the window. She pulled away the curtain. Moon and Starlight spilled in. They opened the door. Dottie unlocked the window. They rushed forward. Dottie cranked the window open. They lunged. Dottie tabbed at the screen, but before she could pull it away, she was dragged, kicking and screaming back to the doorway.

39:47Put her in her room, said Monica. Already on it, said Bill. Patrick tried to follow him, but Monica held him back. Dottie would never speak to Patrick in person again. The following morning, Monica let Dottie out of her room. She said that Patrick would be staying upstairs because he didn't feel well. Dottie assumed his parents had told him to stay there so they could try to brainwash her and to believe her memory of the night before it was wrong. Fortunately, Dottie would be spared their cruel lies by a surprise visit from Halley. She had a police officer with her. Yes, Halley, thank you, thank you. Dottie cheered as Bill let the social worker and police officer in. How did you know? Who told you? That's her, the officer asked Halley. Halley was sorrowful eyes nodded. Thought he asked, what's going on? I called her this morning, said Monica, entering through the doorway under the stairs. I told them how you've been making threats to her Patrick. We're here to take you back into state custody while your case is examined. Halley explained. Dottie will you please come with us and cooperate? Of course, said Dottie.

40:47But that's a lie, they're liars. I would never say I would hurt Patrick. Data was them who tried to hurt me. They're just trying to shut me up, see what I mean. Bill asked Halley. Was she like this before? Halley refused to say anything, but the officer muttered a kid with a background is going to have some issues. Halley shot him a look. Just go with them, please said Monica. If you go easy, maybe we won't press charges. Dottie skewered her with her eyes. Halley said this officer is only here to make sure this goes smoothly, Dottie. Can we make that happen? Werdestly, Dottie left the stands feels house. Over the course of the next day, Dottie gave Halley her version of events. It saddened her to admit it, but Halley understood what had word Bill and Monica. Dottie sounded out of her mind. However, something about the way Dottie told the story was so much conviction and consistency made Halley believe the underlying truth of it. Something bad had happened to her in that house. Plus, Dottie described in detail a phone call Monica had with Halley about potentially removing her from the home. That phone call Halley assured her had never actually happened.

41:48But why would Dottie lie about it? She wouldn't. So, did Monica fake it for some reason? The next time Halley received an order of replacement at the stands feels she by chance discovered a clerical error in their renewal paperwork, which invalidated their license until the error could be resolved. Halley never heard from them again. As for what happened to Patrick, he was fine, it turned out. He wrote an email to Dottie when he found her college email address in a university directory when he Googled her. He spent some of his message apologizing for a small role in trapping Dottie with the monsters, but he also explained how his parents had only been trying to save him. They had conveniently been registered as a foster home before everything with Patrick's nightmare monsters began and let the license lapse. After his torment began, they simply renewed their license and accepted their first placement. Dottie, he wrote, my parents pretended not to believe in the monsters. They wanted me to convince you to help me so they could sacrifice you in my place. That night, when they pushed you into my room, they tried to make me think I would be carried off to be tortured for eternity. If I didn't go along with the plan and let you get taken, he wrote.

42:49Dottie could identify with that part. It's some dope why she had gone along with everything she had at home too. He continued, they were just going to pretend you ran away. I know it's a lot to ask and I don't expect you to forgive them entirely, but please don't think of my parents as evil people for what they did to you. They didn't want to hurt you. They wanted to save me. I don't agree with how they did it, but I can understand why. I hope you can too. Finally, he provided some closure. You're probably wondering what happened with the monsters after you left, right? I mean, not to sound like a narcissist, but you must have wondered if I made it, right? Well, obviously I did. Because of your bravery and I'm not just saying this, those shadowy things didn't ever have the same power over me again. Don't get me wrong, they still scared the crap out of me, but I had enough courage to get away after that. I started going into the room you used and sleeping in your bed. I just remembered you and how strong you felt. It was almost like still having you around. Anyway, eventually the monsters just stopped peering. I'm not even sure when exactly it stopped. They became an afterthought, then nothing at all.

43:50That's all for now. Hope life has treated you fairly since you left. Did be about time. Take care, Patrick. Dottie smiled. She had forgiven Patrick long ago and couldn't wait to tell him. She wrote a long and touching letter and viewing every nuanced emotion she felt during the process. But at the end, she had to add one quick line to thank Patrick for a small role he had played in helping her feel-breaver at night, too. I almost forgot she wrote. Thanks to you, I've got a pack of glow sticks waged under my pillow now. Haven't needed them yet, but it's good to know they're there. Take care as well, Dottie. And that is the end. Thank you for listening, and I will see you in the next one. It is Ryan C. Crest here. There was a recent social media trend which consisted of flying on a plane with no music, no movies, no entertainment. But a better trend would be going to chumbacacino.com.

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