Haunted, A Love Story Part 1 of 4

0:09 Impala Films presents Haunted, the audio drama. Season 3, Episode 9. Haunted, a love story. Part 1 of 4. Written by Jamie Evans.

0:50 No, no, no.

0:51 Cassandra, I am everywhere you turn.

1:00 No, no. Yes, yes.

1:07 Walk further into your nightmare. Cassandra.

1:15 I can feel you.

1:18 Cassandra.

1:21 Cassandra!

1:23 Bees by bees. Molecule by molecule.

1:29 We are connected.

1:31 No!

1:32 Yes, my child. No! Cassandra.

1:37 Cassandra!

1:38 Cassandra!

1:39 Cassandra!

1:42 Wake up!

1:43 Wake up! What the... James? Where have you been?

1:51 Raise gate three!

1:52 Raise gate three!

1:54 Doing it now. I'm through the door. It's still following me. Dan, are you ready?

2:02 Yeah, I'm ready. How close is....

2:07 Never mind.

2:08 How did it gain so much distance on you so fast?

2:11 I was stuck at door three. I can't talk now. I've got to run. Damn it!

2:19 Dan, get ready with your door now!

2:21 I'm coming in hot!

2:22 Abs, there was supposed to be a bigger gap between you and the creature! I won't have time to drop the first door and open the escape hatch!

2:27 You'll be trapped! Dan, I'm on my way to your position! I'll man the escape hatch! Hurry!

2:32 Damn it! Damn it!

2:34 I'm en route too, guys!

2:36 I'm into the trap chamber!

2:37 Dan, drop the door!

2:38 No! You'll be trapped!

2:39 Yes, but so will the monster!

2:41 I'm not risking your life, Abigail!

2:43 There's no other choice!

2:44 I'm coming! I'm coming! I. No, the radio!

2:53 Shit!

2:54 Shit!

3:04 Dan! Where were you?

3:05 Drop the door.

3:06 Where's the escape hatch?

3:08 Across that walkway.

3:09 I've got it. Go, Abigail, go!

3:11 It's too close to me. It'll come through too.

3:14 Then go!

3:15 We'll think of something else. You can't be trapped in there.

3:18 We can't let this thing out.

3:20 I'll go. This is my fault.

3:21 What are you....

3:24 Hey, you giant lump of Play-Doh. Get over here. Cassandra!

3:29 What are you doing? Helping.

3:31 Get out of the hatch.

3:32 But now!

3:36 Cassandra, what's the plan?

3:38 I didn't have one. Keep going with your plan.

3:40 We don't know what will happen when the counterspell hits. Go for it. Dan, play the recording. Are you sure? Play it. The sun sets and your service is ended.

3:54 May the breath of life be banished from.

3:57 What are you doing?

3:58 Now we're both trapped.

4:00 Rest now and slumber until you are once again called upon.

4:14 It worked!

4:15 Guys, it worked! Guys?

4:26 Oh my god! What happened?

4:29 Oh! Oh my god!

4:31 Jesus, you smell like.

4:33 The sewage monster that experienced a combustive loss of cohesion and was subsequently relocated to every surface of the chamber.

4:40 The monster exploded when we did the counterspell.

4:44 Out of curiosity, how far away is the nearest place.

4:47 With a shower?

4:48 Hopefully somewhere with a bar.

4:51 Oh, thank Christ you're all okay. I was really worried when that thing... Bloody hell, that reeks.

4:57 Yes, we've been over that bit already.

4:59 Please tell me you two aren't getting in the car smelling like that.

5:02 Well, we're not going to walk through the forests of Georgia smelling like this. Lord knows what we'd attract.

5:08 Flies would be the least of it.

5:09 Well, maybe we'd attract the Lord of the Flies. Certainly nothing else seems to have been working.

5:15 Don't lose hope, Abs.

5:17 Under other circumstances, I would be thoroughly enjoying this coast-to-coast journey across America.

5:23 We've been on.

5:24 But there's hardly any time for sightseeing, and it gets very frustrating when Carter Stone... And Carl Trevino always seemed to be at least three steps ahead of us.

5:33 He does seem to be outmaneuvering us at every juncture. Don't forget that whatever Conduit is, it's launching in just a few days.

5:41 Our saving grace is that our side has the Hell's Ember and the Needle, both of the artifacts that Stone needs to launch Conduit.

5:48 That's just an assumption. We don't know that he needs them for certain. He might be able to go without them.

5:54 Not to mention it's a bold assumption that Eliza is really on our side at all.

5:58 That's true. Dan, have you heard anything from her lately?

6:02 Not a peep.

6:03 Maybe we should get in touch. See if her team have been able to find out anything about either artifact.

6:09 I'm guessing that means you want me to go and call her?

6:11 How clever of you.

6:14 Don't need to be a prick about it. Are you okay, Abigail?

6:17 Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

6:18 It didn't hurt me, if that's what you're worried about.

6:22 Good. Could you give Cassandra and I a minute?

6:26 Okay, sure.

6:27 I'll wait by the car.

6:30 Go on.

6:31 Let me have it.

6:33 Are you doing okay? Huh? You dropped the ball in there and that's not like you. I know.

6:39 I'm sorry.

6:41 Don't be sorry.

6:43 Be here.

6:44 The team needs you.

6:46 Hardly.

6:46 What's that supposed to mean?

6:49 You three were fine before I came along.

6:51 You don't need me.

6:53 The three of us were barely scraping by before. We've survived this far on a wing and a prayer more than anything else. Besides, isn't it more important that we want you to be here? Yeah.

7:06 I guess so.

7:08 Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's... I'm struggling to sleep lately.

7:14 I noticed.

7:16 I'm sorry.

7:18 I should have asked what was bothering you before now.

7:21 Nothing. It's fine.

7:22 You know, Abigail told me that when people say that, they never actually mean it.

7:27 How insightful of her. It's nothing, James. Nothing that the rest of you aren't all so worried about. Doomsday, prophecy, evil cult, potential end of the world, all of that.

7:40 It's a lot to take on.

7:42 I've been thinking about conduit as well.

7:46 Yeah?

7:47 It can't be a coincidence that it's called conduit when their whole doomsday prophecy revolves around something called the conduit and the vessel. I keep thinking that Maybe. You know what?

8:03 Forget about it.

8:04 You can talk to me about it, you know.

8:07 I know.

8:09 I just need to sort some things out in my head first.

8:22 Any luck reaching Eliza?

8:24 Not yet. I swear she only ever answers when she needs. Hello, Dan. Eliza!

8:29 You sound surprised. You called me.

8:32 I didn't think you would actually answer, though.

8:34 What can I do for you?

8:35 We've hit a bit of a dead end in our investigation. I was hoping you might have some updates for us about those artefacts we asked.

8:41 You to look after.

8:42 Hell's Ember and Arthur's Needle?

8:44 Yeah.

8:45 Our team are still working on the analysis.

8:47 That's it? That's all you've got for me?

8:49 Surely you understand how our arrangement works by now?

8:52 God damn it, Eliza! We need your help, okay? We're at a loss here.

8:56 I've noticed. You lot have made quite a racket on your journey through the United States. In some circles, anyway.

9:03 I'm glad we're keeping you entertained.

9:05 Oh, don't sulk, Dan. It's really not a good look for you. I'll tell you what. How about a little quid pro quo?

9:14 What do you want this time?

9:16 I could do with a little help on a case. I think you and your friends are perfectly placed to provide that help. It's at an old house in southern Georgia.

9:26 Georgia... In the States?

9:28 Yes.

9:29 We're in Georgia at the moment. That's not surprising at all. You knew where we were, didn't you?

9:36 Isn't life full of funny coincidences? I'm going to text you an address and you and your friend should get there quick.

9:43 Damn it.

9:44 Is everything okay?

9:46 Eliza is here in Georgia. She needs our help.

9:49 That's a coincidence.

9:51 Is it?

9:51 What do you mean?

9:52 I mean, I think she's tracking us somehow. I bet she planted something on us at some point. Probably when she came to collect the ember from us back in Texas.

10:07 Damn it, I should have known!

10:09 Calm down. If she's tracking us, that's not your fault. You couldn't be expected to know that. Nobody can be expected to know anything when it comes to Eliza.

10:20 What's the matter?

10:22 Doesn't matter, James.

10:23 He called Eliza. She's in Georgia as well.

10:25 Oh, what a coincidence.

10:27 What? James. Oh, I see. Not a coincidence. She's tracked me somehow. Probably been doing it for weeks. Ever since we handed over the ember. I see. Go on, then. What? Call me an idiot. A fool.

10:44 Whatever.

10:45 Just tell me I've let the team down again.

10:47 You haven't let me down.

10:49 See?

10:49 See?

10:50 Nobody blames you.

10:51 Oh, come on.

10:52 Did you just hear the way he said that? Yes, and?

10:55 Because I know what he really means by that. I'm not disappointed because I always expected you to screw up.

11:01 That's not what.

11:02 He means at all. Dan, you're being paranoid.

11:05 Oh, yeah, right.

11:06 Do you want to talk about something? Something is bothering you, clearly. Do you want to talk about it? Dan, I'm here to listen. Did I do something wrong?

11:19 No, not at all. I'm just pissed off about Eliza.

11:23 Oh.

11:25 Okay, well, let's just get in the car then.

11:29 I think Cassandra and James should sit in the back with the windows open.

11:32 Shut the hell up.

11:57 Very stylish. When is this old banger from? The 60s?

12:02 It's a rental.

12:03 Still, I'd have sprung for something a little bit more up to date. What is that?

12:13 That's us. Cassandra and me.

12:15 You smell like sewage.

12:16 That's pretty much what this is.

12:19 Sewage. A golem-like creature made rather hastily and very amateurishly, if I say so myself. By somebody trying to keep us from furthering our investigation.

12:29 And what the thing threw up on you both? More like it exploded. I see. Well, let me introduce you to our outside consultant for this task. This is John Baldwin.

12:41 You've got an outside consultant? Just as I was starting to think we had something special.

12:45 I'm sorry you've flattered yourself. John here is a psychic medium.

12:49 Pleasure to meet you all.

12:50 Dan Cowell.

12:50 James Hunter.

12:51 Cassandra D'Angelo.

12:53 Abigail Corbin.

12:54 A truly lovely young woman. The pleasure is all mine. If you don't mind me saying, though, the aroma on your two friends is, uh... Yes, we get it.

13:04 I'll have someone show you where you can freshen up.

13:07 Lauren?

13:09 Can you please show Cassandra and James where they can get washed up?

13:12 Certainly.

13:13 Come with me.

13:13 We have an RV set up with a shower facility.

13:16 So that guy isn't really psychic, is he? Apparently he is. We'll see.

13:21 Skeptical, James?

13:23 After all, we've sinned.

13:25 In my experience, people who call themselves psychics usually aren't. I have never been so thankful for shampoo and running water in my life. James! Abigail! What are you doing here? I'm in a towel.

13:59 Oh, grow up, James. We're adults here.

14:01 Adults who would like to get dressed before they have company.

14:05 Okay, whatever. I'll just go stand over here and look out of the window. You let Cassandra go first.

14:11 I'm a gentleman. And a gentleman deserves a reward. You know, I was thinking we can't have missed them by much.

14:20 What?

14:21 At the factory. We can't have missed Carter Stone's men by much. That creature was put together by very amateurish and sloppy magic. Somebody working quickly, or somebody who didn't know what they were doing. Can't wait till we're back in England. The whiskey over here has a funny taste to it.

14:41 Don't you mostly drink American whiskey anyway?

14:44 I drink whatever I can get my hands on. I like to think of myself as an equal opportunity drinker.

14:50 How very noble of you. So, if we just missed them, that means you think we're getting close.

14:57 Hopefully. I don't know how much time we've got left to catch them, though.

15:02 All dressed?

15:02 All dressed.

15:04 Hmm.

15:05 It looks like Eliza's people have been chasing Carter too.

15:08 Look at this.

15:09 Conduit. Bringing people together. It says the beta launches in a few days. Eliza's been trying to track them as well.

15:17 Hopefully she's gotten further than we have. Come on, let's go.

15:26 How old do you think this house is?

15:28 House?

15:29 It looks more like a mansion. I would guess 1800s, possibly early 1900s. That's not very specific. Sorry, I haven't read up as much on American architectural trends as I have on European.

15:43 I wasn't aware that you had a particular interest in architecture.

15:46 When you don't sleep very many hours a night and your lifespan has been artificially extended, you develop a lot of interests to stop the boredom setting in. I read.

15:57 Do you remember all of it? Or did it get wiped whenever Carl played with your memories?

16:02 I'm not sure. I don't think it's as black and white as that. Carl rewrote my memories many, many times, trying to make me forget all of the terrible things that happened to us at the orphanage. He tried to be selective and only take those memories, but he caught a few other things as well. How do I explain it?

16:23 Some parts of my memory are completely blank. Whatever was there is gone. He removed it permanently. But there's a whole part, who knows how many years, that's sort of like a videotape that's been taped over again and again and again. So many layers on top of one another that I can't really separate anything. I suppose that's how I was able to forget my real age, because those memories all overlap, it condenses the time.

16:52 That sounds horrible. Would Carl be able to fix it?

16:56 Something tells me he wouldn't at this point, even if he could. Nor do I think I'd be willing to let him try. Okay, since you clearly aren't going to volunteer the information yourself, I'll ask you. Did you want to talk to me about something?

17:16 What makes you think that?

17:18 Because you were waiting to ambush me as soon as I got out of the shower. I can only assume it means you want to talk to me about something without the others being around.

17:27 Ambush there was no ambush.

17:30 Surprising anybody when they're here is freshly shampooed should count as an ambush.

17:35 Noted fine i just i don't want it to sound like i'm talking about someone behind their back but have you been getting a i mean have you been picking up a weird vibe from cassandra dan cassandra why are you worried about cassandra.

17:55 Abigail, the whole reason you ended up in danger back at the warehouse was because Cassandra missed her cue. Well, mistakes happen. She's been distracted for a while.

18:05 Has she?

18:06 I mean, I hadn't noticed, but maybe I've been distracted. Maybe we're all too wrapped up in our own problems. For a group that's spent the better part of the last four months in a car together, it does feel like we talk a lot less than we used to.

18:20 Perhaps you're right. What do you think's wrong with Dan?

18:24 I'm not sure.

18:25 I just.

18:26 I have the feeling he's keeping something from me.

18:30 And when did you start feeling this way?

18:32 Around Connerstown, I think. Did he say anything to you?

18:35 Why would Dan say anything to me?

18:39 I don't know.

18:41 Maybe I'm just crazy.

18:43 You're not crazy for feeling the way you feel, Abigail. I realise that relationships aren't exactly an area I have a lot of, or indeed any, expertise in. But it seems to me that if something is bothering you, it would be better to come out and ask him, rather than letting it gnaw at you. What are you afraid of?

19:05 That it's the inevitable thing that will call time on us.

19:08 Inevitable?

19:09 I think Dan and I have very different ideas of what we'd like our lives to be. I don't think they're very compatible.

19:16 Dan wants a family, a paycheck, a normal life.

19:19 And I want to keep doing this. Adventure, mystery, saving people.

19:24 Abigail, in the past I've made the mistake of telling you what to do. Of trying to force you to choose options that I thought were best for you. I won't do that this time. But if I may offer you some advice... Yes? This isn't real life. What we do, we do this because we have to. Because we know that someone... bad is coming down the pipeline and it would be wrong of us not to try and avert it.

19:56 This isn't sustainable long term.

19:58 But you.

19:59 I.

19:59 Had spent two years living as a shut-in before you came and found me, remember? I had my memories erased and my indigo power as well, don't forget.

20:08 What?

20:09 Maybe that made it less of a toll.

20:11 Maybe you're right.

20:12 I think the more important question you have to ask yourself is do you love Dan? Yes. And can you see yourself spending the rest of your life with him?

20:31 Well, I'm pleased to say you and Cassandra smell a lot less off-putting now.

20:35 Indeed.

20:35 I imagine that made for an unpleasant drive.

20:39 Now.

20:39 I'd like to get started.

20:40 Before we do, I have a question.

20:43 Yes?

20:44 You've been tracking us, haven't you? It's no coincidence that you're in Georgia at the same time we are.

20:51 Yes.

20:51 How did you do it?

20:52 Yeah, where exactly did you plant the tracker? I can't find it anywhere.

20:56 It needed to be somewhere I knew would always be with you.

20:59 Yeah, I figured that part out.

21:02 I just can't find it. I thought maybe my coat, but unless you've somehow stitched it into the lining... And I have no idea when you'd have time to do that. Maybe when I slept you could.

21:11 Who said the tracker was on you?

21:13 What?

21:14 I needed something I would be absolutely sure the group would keep with them at all times. There was only one thing I could think of.

21:21 Hey!

21:25 The day I came to get the ember from you, I swiped James' flask and put a small magnetic tracker inside. Huh.

21:32 I thought the whiskey tasted funny lately.

21:35 You'll survive. No harmful chemicals, I promise.

21:39 How did you not notice a tracking device in your flask?

21:43 We all make mistakes. Anyway, Eliza and friends, I believe you wanted our help with a case and we want information about the artefacts you have.

21:52 Yes, I'm going to suggest we'll split into two teams. Abigail and Dan, if you'd like to stay up here with John and Lauren, they can fill you in on what we're researching up here. I think you'll find the tale quite interesting. James and Cassandra, if you'd like to come with me.

22:07 Where?

22:08 We've set up a base of operations in some old tunnels that travel under the property. We've got the artefacts there.

22:14 Will you be okay?

22:15 Yeah, we'll be fine.

22:17 Lauren is very capable of looking after them, James.

22:21 Absolutely!

22:22 Don't fret, Mr.

22:23 Hunter.

22:24 Sure. Are you sure you don't require me down there, Eliza?

22:29 No, thank you, John. Generally speaking, the men do not enter the sanctums of the sisterhood.

22:34 But Mr. Hunter is going down there. Mr.

22:36 Hunter is, uh, uh, Special case.

22:40 Hear that? I'm special.

22:42 Yeah, real special.

22:44 Have fun, guys.

22:52 What is this?

22:53 Some sort of bunker?

22:55 We think it might have been an extended cellar from the old house for storage of grains and vegetables.

23:00 And now it's a temporary headquarters for your organisation. What is your organisation exactly? We still don't even know that.

23:07 We let you know what we want you to know.

23:09 You don't say.

23:19 Oh my God.

23:20 This is.

23:23 I don't know what I was expecting, but.

23:25 James Cassandra. This is the Sisterhood of Babylon. We are the sworn enemies of Koronzon and his worshippers. The last standing against Alexander Lingard and the Church of Unity. And the Indigo Children.

23:43 Eliza, what's going on?

23:45 James Cassandra, you are enemies of the Sisterhood. And you are under arrest.

24:03 Starring Jamie Evans as James Hunter, Isabella Barbieri as Abigail Corbin, Luke Hunter as Dan Cowell, and Cherie Hendry as Cassandra D'Angelo. Also featuring... Roshni Kaida. Mike Toms. Hannah Schooner. David Jervis Green. Thank you for listening to this audio presentation. Haunted is a production of Impala Films and is directed by Jamie Evans and Benton Hodges, with audio engineering by Benton Hodges and Jamie Evans. Haunted theme by James Crow. Haunted is recorded at Free Sprite Media Studios, with special thanks to Duncan Newham for equipment and support. Come back next week for the next exciting chapter of Haunted, the audio drama.

25:15 Thank you.