Haunted, A Love Story Part 4 of 4

0:09 Impala Films presents Haunted the Audio Drama. Season 3. Episode 9. Haunted.

0:19 A Love Story.

0:21 Part 4 of 4. Written by Jamie Evans.

0:38 You were right. An hour later, the exact same haunting repeats.

0:44 Fascinating. Like a record on loop, over and over and over again.

0:50 Are they.

0:51 the spirits, I mean... are they... conscious?

0:55 Why do you ask?

0:56 Well, I was just thinking... bound to repeat the same horrible tragedy every hour for the last hundred or so years? I don't know if I can imagine a fate worse than that.

1:09 It's awful, isn't it?

1:11 So I guess our next steps are finding out what happened.

1:14 I think it's at least partly clear, don't you?

1:16 It is.

1:18 When you were channeling Henry Harris and we heard the gunshots, Henry was crying about his wife having died. She's buried in the basement. I think it's a fairly safe bet that.

1:30 He shot her.

1:31 But why?

1:33 He said, damn you witch.

1:35 Perhaps that's something to do with it.

1:37 Like? A witch forced him to do it?

1:41 Or perhaps a case of mistaken identity?

1:45 He thought he was killing a witch?

1:47 He also said they'd made a mistake. Like they'd offended the witch somehow. But what could they have done?

1:54 Maybe we're jumping the gun assuming it's an actual witch. It could have just been a name he was calling someone.

2:00 Is there anything you're not telling us, Lauren?

2:02 What do you mean?

2:04 Well, your organization has had this place scoped out for a while. There's a whole contingent of you beneath us doing lord knows what.

2:12 I only know what I've been told.

2:14 Which doesn't sound like very much.

2:16 Well, no, I'm not very high up. Actually, I'm sort of the bottom of the totem pole.

2:24 Bottom of the totem pole?

2:25 This is sort of my first field assignment.

2:30 Oh.

2:31 They offered it to me and I jumped at the chance. I've been so keen to get into field work for the longest time.

2:37 Well, that's okay.

2:38 Everyone starts somewhere.

2:40 Lucky us, I say.

2:41 Getting to work with someone as cool as you.

2:44 Thank you.

2:45 Though it does feel a little insulting.

2:48 In what way?

2:48 I can't be the only one that's occurred to that the real interesting stuff is probably happening down below ground, in whatever base camp they've set up. It sort of feels like this is a glorified babysitting assignment, to be honest. No offense.

3:04 None taken, but like I said, it's my first assignment. Babysitting or not, I was happy to do it. Usually, I just cook and clean back at HQ.

3:15 Well.

3:17 Who's there?

3:18 It's me, Eliza. Don't freak out or anything.

3:22 Hi, Eliza.

3:23 How's it going downstairs? I mean, how are you?

3:27 Subtle, Lauren.

3:29 Oh, great.

3:30 Teacher's pet is looking after us. Hey.

3:34 How is your mission going up here, Lauren?

3:36 Okay, we've determined that the haunting repeats every hour, like clockwork. We think it's a stone-tape style haunting.

3:43 Well done.

3:45 Abigail was the one who solved it, really.

3:47 Well done, Abigail. Still, lots to get on with. Don't let me keep you waiting. I was hoping to have a word with Dan, though.

3:56 Me?

3:57 Did I stutter?

3:58 No, but.

4:00 Well, you've already got James and Cassandra down there. What more can I add?

4:03 Don't sell yourself short, Dan. Don't look at me like that, Abigail. I'm not going to hurt him.

4:09 You say that, but Dan always seems to end up in danger when you ask him anything.

4:13 No more than he does by following you.

4:15 Okay, I think we may be getting a bit off track here. We all agree what's happening to the poor souls here is tragic. Let's not lose sight of it. Miss.

4:25 Woo.

4:27 Miss Woo, I can't help but feel we'd get faster, not to mention better results if we... Had better equipment up here. Could we perhaps come downstairs into your.

4:37 No.

4:38 But if we could see the heart of the operation, we'd have more of an idea of what.

4:42 We're... If you mention coming into the Inner Sanctum one more time, I will erase you from the project, John. Memory wiped, all relevant assets destroyed and dumped in an old folks' home somewhere between here and Florida Keys.

4:54 Eliza?

4:55 I don't like your tone, Eliza.

4:58 Oh, and I suppose you're going to fight me, are you? I thought we were friends, Abigail.

5:03 We escaped danger together in Fortune, but don't think I haven't noticed how one-sided this arrangement is.

5:08 Hmm.

5:10 Well, run along.

5:12 Get back to your little tasks. I need to talk to Dan.

5:15 Come on.

5:16 Abs, perhaps.

5:18 Now, Dan.

5:20 Yep, just a second.

5:21 Go, Dan.

5:22 Just find out whatever you can.

5:25 Can you really wipe people's memories?

5:28 After a fashion?

5:29 What does that mean?

5:31 We've found a method before. It's... inelegant, but it gets the job done.

5:38 You know Carl can wipe memories too.

5:41 Of course.

5:42 That's one of the reasons we've been developing it. If we are to combat the Indigo Children, we need to be able to match their power.

5:50 What the hell are you talking about?

5:52 What did you think the Indigo Children and their gifts were, Dan? Just a bit of fun. They are the warriors of Karonzon. We need to be prepared for them. Should the war ever come.

6:03 What?

6:04 Shit!

6:05 Sorry, you've got to give me a moment here, Eliza.

6:08 Why?

6:09 Why? One moment we're discussing a haunting of some dead World War I soldier, and now you're talking about some sort of apocalyptic war with a bunch of super-powered orphan kids. It makes the haunted house seem normal. That can't be what your lot think is going to happen.

6:27 We don't think it. We know it. It's what the Church of Unity has been working towards.

6:33 Well, they're not going to have much of an army, are they? There's only three indigo children left and two of them are on our side.

6:39 Are you sure?

6:41 What?

6:42 Eliza, what are you even... Yes, yes, I'm sure.

6:46 Are you really, though?

6:48 Eliza, what is it? What are you really asking me?

6:52 Are you sure, 100%, that James and Cassandra are on your side? That they're out to stop the Church of Unity... Alexander Lingard and Caronzon.

7:03 Why are you asking me this?

7:05 Would you stake your.

7:06 Life on it?

7:07 Yes, I would.

7:09 Even you who hates James?

7:12 I don't hate James.

7:14 But you'd benefit if he were out of the picture, wouldn't you?

7:17 How would I.

7:19 Abigail might agree to go back to Grainville. Settle down and you don't have to be dragged up and down the country and across the Atlantic chasing danger and demons. You stand to gain more. By him being gone.

7:31 I'm not that sort of person. I won't lie to benefit myself.

7:36 Oh, are you?

7:37 So you told Abigail that you lied to her after Forsham, have you? She knows that James only went with Carl to lead him away from her and to find Cassandra.

7:47 I'm going to.

7:49 Well, I wouldn't wait much longer. Secrets destroy relationships, Dan. Just ask poor souls who died here.

7:58 Wait.

7:59 What does that mean?

8:00 What?

8:02 Hello?

8:05 Is somebody out there?

8:07 Is everything okay?

8:09 Yeah.

8:12 What were you looking at?

8:14 I think somebody was out here listening to my conversation with Eliza. I heard something and looked down there. Cigarette butts.

8:22 They could be old.

8:23 Maybe.

8:26 But I think I can smell them.

8:28 Should we go and take a look?

8:30 Let's send Lauren and John. Eliza gave me the impression their group knows more about what's going on here than they told us. I'd like a few minutes to look around without Lauren and John.

8:39 Okay, let's go tell them.

8:42 What else did she want?

8:44 She kept asking me about James and Cassandra. Wanted to know if I thought they were really on our side.

8:50 Really?

8:50 Yeah.

8:52 She asked me if I'd stake my life on it. That's weird.

8:56 Yeah.

8:57 I thought so too.

8:59 I wonder what's going on down there.

9:12 Ah, is our hour up already?

9:14 Almost. I see they brought you some food and drink.

9:16 Yes, I'm not impressed. I did ask if they had anything stronger than tap water and the lady said, oh, what was it?

9:22 Not for you, devil scum.

9:24 Oh, yes, that was the delightful turn of phrase.

9:27 It's quite the devout band of psychos you've got here.

9:30 They're protecting the world from the forces of evil. Some of them are a little overzealous. Besides, is there any way to talk to the person that could let you out of this cell right now?

9:39 Are you going to?

9:41 I haven't decided. Dan swears to me that the two of you are the real deal. On the side of good. Renounced all evil. He said he'd stake his life on it.

9:51 Good old Deputy Dan. Always said I liked him.

9:54 Why do you want out so badly? If you're already on the side of good, why not help us?

9:59 Carlos Cruz!

10:00 But maybe we just don't like being locked in cages.

10:03 It's a matter of choice, Eliza. You can't force somebody to do good deeds.

10:09 Everything our scriptures tell us say that the Indigo Children are the army of the demon.

10:14 Well, I'm sure that was Marwood and Lingard's intention to Too bad it hasn't worked out for them.

10:20 Could you at least explain to us what you want us to do and why? We might be a lot more cooperative if we knew what we were actually doing.

10:29 It's an experiment. Elaine designed it. Marverna signed off on it. As you know, we have the artefact known as the needle, which Arthur Corlington was using to play the part of Fortune Maker. We also have, thanks to you, the artefact known as Hell's Ember, which you unearthed in the Californian desert.

10:46 Which should prove we're on the same side, shouldn't it? The fact we gave it to you voluntarily.

10:52 For what it's worth, none of this is my idea.

10:56 Oh, what a comfort.

10:57 Anyway, Elaine noticed that both artefacts seemed to show a reaction when in the proximity of human emotions. The stronger the emotion, the stronger the reaction.

11:07 Let me guess. Negative emotions?

11:10 To be fair, you wouldn't expect something called Hell's Ember to react to joy and excitement, would you?

11:15 What are you planning on using this for?

11:17 We don't know what the application would be yet, but understanding what the artefacts respond to could clue us to why the Church of Unity wants them, and it could give us an idea of how to neutralise them.

11:30 So what is the actual experiment?

11:32 The house above us has a tragic history. An entire family died there. We've rigged the entire home with sensors connected to the artefacts down here. When Abigail and Dan... Solve the mystery of what happened. Those senses will pick up on negative emotions.

11:49 That's disgusting. You're deliberately provoking suffering to test these artefacts.

11:54 It's worse than that.

11:56 That's why you want me to connect to the woman buried in that chamber, isn't it? She's something to do with this, and you think she'll provide an extra boost to the negativity.

12:06 Yes, that's right.

12:07 Who is she?

12:09 How does this relate?

12:10 It doesn't matter. Cassandra can't do it.

12:13 Why not?

12:14 She just can't.

12:15 That's not your choice, James. Don't speak for me.

12:18 Cassandra, how long will they want you to keep the connection open for to prove their theory?

12:22 I'm aware of the risks.

12:24 What risks?

12:25 You didn't think opening a connection to the Abyss was safe, did you?

12:28 I just assumed, since you were Indigo.

12:32 That Caronzon wouldn't want to come after her? That she'd be protected from him? Well, you thought wrong. That's what you're asking, Eliza. You and your order and your grand experiment... You're asking Cassandra to risk her life, her very soul. Is that what you envisioned when you set out to fight evil? Thank you.

12:55 So, will you help us with the experiment or not?

12:59 What exactly makes this house tragic enough that you think the artefacts will react?

13:04 This house is steeped in tragedy and has been replaying itself every hour for hundreds of years. Early tests show that the artefacts are getting some kind of reaction.

13:13 So what exactly happened here?

13:23 I found something, Dan.

13:26 A book?

13:26 I think it's a diary.

13:27 I think Adelaide wrote this.

13:31 Does it say anything about what happened to her?

13:33 Let me see.

13:34 So it looks like they were together for a few years and were trying for a baby. She talks about how desperate they were for a child, but By some black joke of the universe, every time we were blessed with pregnancy, our joy soon.

13:49 Turned to sorrow.

13:51 What does that mean?

13:52 I think she suffered several miscarriages and started to think it was some sort of will of the universe or God that she shouldn't get pregnant.

13:59 But they did end up having a baby eventually, right?

14:02 Oh shit, listen to this.

14:04 Four weeks have passed since my beloved Henry was sent to Europe to fight in a foreign war. My heart has not stopped aching a day since then. I know that what he is doing is brave and he is helping the.

14:16 Friends of our country and I mustn't be selfish. But I feel lost without him. This house is far too big to be on my own. When we moved here, we envisioned the cries of a plump and healthy baby would fill this space. It only breaks my heart the more that we have not yet been so blessed. I have taken to long strolls through the woodland that surrounds the property. The silence of the lonely house has become deafening.

14:48 I prefer being outside in the woods, where there is a cacophony of sound. Wind in the leaves, twigs cracking underfoot, and birds. Oh, so many birds, twittering and singing the happiest tunes. For a time, it quiets my loneliness. Today is the happiest day of my life. The Lord has answered my prayers, spoken so desperately into the night, and has answered them. I have a baby, a beautiful little boy.

15:23 I shall name him Joshua. I must write to Henry right away. But, well, I think it might be simpler for everybody if I don't tell him the truth. It will be easier for him to believe I fell pregnant just before he left. It will be easier for him that way.

15:43 What does she mean, not telling him the truth?

15:47 I think.

15:49 I think she found the baby.

15:51 Found it?

15:52 She doesn't describe being pregnant at all. One moment there's no baby, and the next her prayers are answered. She probably thought Henry would feel better believing the child was his, rather than an abandoned or orphaned child.

16:05 Okay. So where did she find the baby? Out in the woods?

16:09 Yes.

16:10 How certain do you think she was that it was really abandoned? She must have.

16:16 I mean, she can't have. You don't think she took somebody else's.

16:21 Baby, do you?

16:23 Does the diary say anything else?

16:25 Um.

16:26 Henry wrote back saying he was excited. When he returned from the war, she told him that baby Joshua had been born whilst.

16:33 He was away.

16:34 And Henry didn't question it?

16:36 He was probably so happy to have a child after they suffered so many miscarriages... He didn't question it. Perhaps he thought examining it too much would destroy their happiness.

16:45 Yeah, I can imagine that. What?

16:49 Nothing.

16:50 So, what happened after that?

16:53 Okay, listen.

16:54 As surely as a dream must end when the dreamer wakes to a cold, harsh morning, I feel that I have been dreaming for the last year and have now woken up. A woman came to the house today. She wants to take Joshua- But I can't. I can't let him go. He is my son.

17:13 My son.

17:16 What sort of a parent would leave their baby abandoned in that filthy house? God wanted me to be Joshua's mother.

17:24 It devolves pretty rapidly after that. There's only a few more entries, but it's largely just scribble.

17:31 And this.

17:32 It's sort of a rough sketch that seems to show a woman standing in the forest.

17:37 She looks sinister.

17:39 Indeed.

17:39 Indeed.

17:40 I wonder who she was. I think that means we're getting close.

17:48 Abigail, over there.

17:49 What?

17:50 I can't see anything. For just a moment, there was a woman standing there. I think it was Adelaide. Look at this. It's burned into the wall.

18:05 Thief.

18:06 That looks the same as the scorch mark that runs all through the house.

18:10 I think whoever this woman in the woods was, she was very bad news.

18:23 Can you see anything?

18:24 No.

18:26 Not that I know what I'm looking for. I'm more of a city guy. Not one for the great outdoors, really. Do you think there even was anybody out here?

18:36 You saw the cigarette butts.

18:39 It wouldn't be the first time teenagers or unsavory characters hung around smoking and drinking somewhere their parents wouldn't see them.

18:49 Maybe back in the city, but not out here. Trust me, nobody comes out this way. Not anymore. They're too scared of the house.

18:58 Well, whoever it was is probably long gone by now.

19:01 Maybe.

19:01 Okay, let's split up and do one more walk around the perimeter. We'll meet up at the back of the house.

19:08 Okay.

19:11 Ugh.

19:12 Get away, stupid bug. This is ridiculous. Wandering around the forest when we should be inside, working out how those spirits got trapped.

19:21 Life is often disappointing, isn't it?

19:24 Shit! Who are you?

19:27 Just a fellow traveler, searching to unlock the mysteries of this house.

19:31 You're British. Are you with those other British folks?

19:35 After a fashion, they know me. Sadly, I do not think they'll be happy to see me.

19:42 Okay, mister.

19:43 You can just put that gun down. I don't want any trouble, okay?

19:48 Oh, trouble is inevitable at this point, my friend.

19:50 Man.

19:50 As to, I'm afraid, is this.

19:57 You shot me!

19:58 Very observant of you. You know, a gunshot to the stomach is supposedly one of the most painful ways to die. There's a lot of nerve endings in the abdomen, and if the bullet has perforated your stomach... then all of your digestive acid will be leaking out.

20:14 Why?

20:14 I just want you to know that it's nothing personal. I don't actually like drawing out people's suffering. Usually I'm much more of a shoot-them-in-the-face type of guy. But I'm afraid the house demands suffering.

20:28 What are you talking about?

20:30 Just be a good puppet and go back inside.

20:42 John?

20:44 John, oh my god!

20:45 John, what happened?

20:46 There was a man. He was just there. He shot me.

20:50 What?

20:51 I can't see anyone.

20:53 Please, help me. Okay, okay.

20:56 One second.

21:03 A witch. That would explain why the body didn't decay after all this time. It's long been a belief that witches' bodies remain preserved after death.

21:13 So this woman stole a baby from a witch in the woods.

21:18 Why?

21:20 As far as we've been able to glean, the witch had left the baby alone in a small shack in the woods. Adelaide obviously thought she was protecting the baby.

21:28 But didn't want to give it back when the time came?

21:31 We don't know with certainty what happened, but we do know that something terrible occurred, which ended with all of those involved dying. The spirits of Adelaide, Henry and young Joshua were trapped in the house and every hour they were forced to relive the moments leading up to their deaths.

21:47 So you thought waking up the witch would increase the negativity so you can get the results you're looking for?

21:53 You don't need to tell me how disgusting it is.

21:56 Yet I think I just might anyway.

21:59 Right.

21:59 We need to decide how we're getting the two of you out of here with nobody seeing. We need to get you back to the surface and then get you away from here.

22:06 What will you do?

22:08 I don't know.

22:09 I can't imagine Malverna will be happy with you.

22:11 I will be punished. Probably demoted.

22:15 We need to get back to the house first.

22:17 No, we can't do that. The sensors and cameras they've hidden in there would see you.

22:21 I need to try and help the family in the house.

22:24 See if I can help them move on.

22:26 We don't have time for that.

22:28 They've been trapped like that for a hundred years, living the worst moment of their lives over and over for all that time. How can I walk away if there is a chance I can help?

22:38 At the risk of your own health.

22:39 Yes.

22:40 Even though it means the Order will catch us again.

22:42 I learned it from you.

22:46 It's opened my eyes, travelling with you like this. Tell me you wouldn't do this if you were in my position.

22:52 You two are crazy.

22:54 Or maybe we really are the good guys, like we've been telling you.

22:58 How do you feel about climbing?

22:59 Huh?

23:01 There's only one door out of here, and we can't use it without everyone seeing. But there is an old coal chute in the chamber with the witch.

23:08 We could tell everyone you're just taking us there to examine the body again. Say it's part of Cassandra's prep for making contact.

23:15 It's paper thin, but I can't think of another excuse.

23:18 Let's do it then. Better late than never.

23:21 Do you think you could take these collars off of us first?

23:24 If I take them off, the others will know something is wrong. I can deactivate them though, I think.

23:30 Ow!

23:31 Sorry, I pressed the wrong thing.

23:33 Very comforting.

23:35 Okay, that's you done, and... That's yours as well, Cassandra.

23:40 What a relief.

23:41 You're not out of the woods yet. Come on, follow me and don't.

23:44 Say a thing.

23:51 Where do you think you're going, Eliza?

23:53 I'm taking the prisoners back to see the body. Cassandra needs to establish psychic baseline before she can attempt to make contact.

24:01 Really?

24:02 She's right.

24:03 Shut up, scum.

24:05 I didn't ask you.

24:06 Ma'am!

24:07 What is it, Elaine?

24:09 Eliza is trying to take the prisoners to the chamber. What is the meaning?

24:14 Cassandra needs to establish a psychic baseline before she can make the connection. It takes several minutes, so I thought I'd get it out of the way whilst you're preparing.

24:22 Well, I'm quite ready now.

24:25 Yes.

24:26 Perhaps we should all go.

24:27 That would be.

24:31 What's happening?

24:33 Look in that case there. The artefacts.

24:36 It's the censors!

24:37 They're spiking. What's going on in the house? Switching to video feed now.

24:44 That's John. He looks like he's hurt.

24:47 What happened? We haven't detected a spike in activity. It can't have been the spirits in the house. Maybe one of their friends did it.

24:57 Abigail and Dan wouldn't hurt somebody like that. How do we know it wasn't your agent?

25:02 Lauren wouldn't do that either.

25:04 Well then, that only leaves you one option, doesn't it? There's another party mixed up in all this.

25:19 This hurts like a bitch!

25:21 On the couch!

25:23 What happened?

25:25 Help me with his legs!

25:26 We need to lay him on the couch!

25:28 John, are you okay, John?

25:30 There was a man in the woods. He shot me.

25:33 Did he say who he was?

25:35 No.

25:36 Said he Knew you. He was British, too. Said you wouldn't be happy. To see him. Carl. Trevino?

25:50 He's found us.

25:51 We need James and Cassandra right now.

25:53 They're in the underground base camp.

25:55 Then get them. Now.

25:57 Bring them and whatever medical supplies you have.

26:00 Something. I can feel something.

26:03 Try to stay calm, mate, okay?

26:05 I can't hold it off. Too weak.

26:12 Help us.

26:14 Please, if you can help us. Please.

26:17 John?

26:18 It's like in the basement.

26:20 Henry?

26:21 Please. In dark moment. I beg of you.

26:26 Henry, please, we're trying to help.

26:29 Can you tell us what happened? What happened with baby Joshua?

26:34 I was so happy when I got the news. The letter for my Adelaide to say she was pregnant again. I could hardly let myself believe it, but there she was. The day I came back from the war, waiting there on the dock. My beautiful Adelaide and a beautiful, giggling son we named Joshua. There was everything I ever wanted.

26:59 The perfect family. But then, it couldn't be. was all a lie Adelaide lied to.

27:10 Me what happened Henry please tell us.

27:17 The baby wasn't ours Adelaide found it in the woods abandoned so she took the baby only then she showed up Cordelia she's a witch A powerful witch, but we didn't believe her. He told her we couldn't bear to give up the baby, that we'd been raising him. She threatened to damn us for eternity. My stomach, it hurts.

27:51 Please, just hold on.

27:53 Lauren's coming back with help.

27:56 She played mind games with us, made us see and hear things. She kept showing up at the house. She drove us insane. We were on the edge constantly. Nerves frayed, unable to sleep. Then one day she broke into the house. Stole Joshua. I caught her in the basement. I wasn't thinking straight. I hadn't slept in days. I grabbed my shotgun and I fired. But, oh God. Oh God, it wasn't her. It was a trick. An illusion. It was my wife. My beautiful wife and son. I killed them.

28:39 I killed them. I hunted her down after that. This time there wasn't a mistake. I shot her and I buried her underneath the concrete and the coal storage beneath the house. Then I came back in here and I wanted to be with my family.

29:03 You committed suicide?

29:06 Yes. Yes. Only to discover that Cordelia had one more cruel trick up her sleeve. She had cast some infernal spell that kept our spirits trapped here, forcibly separated by a magical barrier that keeps us from being able to interact with one another. Except for five minutes in each hour where we were forced to relieve that nightmarish day over and over and over That's evil.

29:38 Pure evil.

29:40 How do we fix this?

29:42 How do we get you out of this misery?

29:45 Cordelia. I buried her in the coal storage. She's still there. She won't let us move on as long as she's there. Oh. Oh God. Oh, God.

29:59 Oh, God.

30:03 Henry?

30:04 It's me. He's gone for now. I. I don't think I'm going to make it.

30:12 Don't say that you will. Lauren, hurry up!

30:16 Dan. Dan, listen. Secrets tore Henry and Adelaide apart. The secrets killed them. Don't be like them. No secrets. Don't be like them. No secrets. He's gone.

30:46 He's dead.

30:49 I'm sorry, John.

30:52 What does he mean, no secrets?

30:55 Dan?

30:55 Dan?

30:58 Abigail, there's something I need to tell you.

31:09 It's working. The levels are rising.

31:12 Is he dead?

31:14 I think so.

31:16 Are we getting readings from the artifacts, Elaine?

31:19 Only minimal. We need another boost. Now is the time to wake Cordelia.

31:25 Yeah.

31:26 So you can torment them further.

31:28 James, no. She's right. You heard what John said. Cordelia needs to leave this place before the curse can be broken.

31:37 You think you can do that?

31:39 Trust me.

31:40 Okay. Let's get this show on the road, people.

31:44 Chop, chop.

31:45 Sister Elaine, you would do well to remember your place.

31:49 Sorry, ma'am.

31:54 What do you need, Cassandra?

31:55 A little space, please? The more people who are in here, the harder this is.

32:01 How convenient. Get us to leave you alone so you can escape?

32:06 I'm trying to connect to the faintest psychic signal coming from a realm beyond ours. The more psychic threads there are in the room, the harder that becomes. Like finding a needle in a haystack.

32:18 I will stay with her. Don't you need to be monitoring your machines, Elaine?

32:23 Mm-hmm.

32:24 I'll be watching on the cameras. I will join her.

32:28 James, come with me.

32:30 I want to stay.

32:31 I didn't ask you.

32:34 Are you sure you want to do this?

32:36 Yes.

32:38 I have a plan.

32:39 What do you need me to do?

32:41 Just stand back, and if it looks like I might die, pull me away from the body before, if you can.

32:48 Okay.

32:49 I call out to you, Cordelia. Cordelia. I know you're still there, Cordelia.

32:55 Still connected to this body somehow.

32:59 Reach out to me. I'm making a connection.

33:04 Ah, I feel you.

33:07 I think I've got her. She's there.

33:10 Already.

33:11 At last, I will return.

33:15 Cordelia, you orchestrated the death of Adelaide and Henry and their young son Joshua, didn't you?

33:24 My son.

33:25 They stole him from me.

33:27 You left him alone in the woods.

33:31 He was protected by my enchantments. Witches have raised children like this for hundreds of years. We do not wrap our children in wool.

33:41 Was it worth subjecting that family to a hundred years worth of torment, though?

33:46 Absolutely.

33:48 And they will suffer for a hundred years more.

33:52 It's working! The sensors are moving!

33:54 I'm not going to let you torture them anymore, Cordelia.

33:59 It's time for you to leave.

34:03 Leave?

34:05 Now why would I do that when there is so much fun to be had here?

34:10 Whoa, the body just twitched.

34:12 She's trying to reanimate.

34:14 Will that give us what we want?

34:17 It'll give you a very dangerous witch on the loose.

34:20 Yes.

34:21 Keep the connection open, Cassandra. Let her get back to her body.

34:26 Once again, I will walk the earth. I will feel the rain and the wind and the sleet. I will taste and smell and I will revel in the suffering I have imparted upon those who stole my child.

34:42 No, you won't.

34:44 I'm not letting you back into your body.

34:47 You are foolish to resist.

34:50 You are not strong enough to stop me.

34:53 Don't underestimate me.

34:56 Cassandra, your nose is bleeding.

34:58 Should I separate you?

34:59 No.

35:01 A little longer.

35:03 Yes, yes. The meter is rising. Just a little further.

35:09 Stop trying to resist me. You are too frail and weak to stop one as powerful as I.

35:17 I'm not trying to stop you. Just hold you. Long enough for.

35:32 What was that?

35:32 Another wandering soul here in my head.

35:39 What is that?

35:41 What is that thing?

35:42 Did you bring this here?

35:44 That's the big old shark that's been following me.

35:47 Come now.

35:49 And let me take away the pain and futility of this existence. Stay away from me! You stay away!

36:00 You can try and move on from this earth, Cordelia.

36:03 You can try and move on to whatever's next, but I think this will be your last chance.

36:09 Never!

36:10 I will not be separated from the spirit of my baby, and I will not give up my revenge!

36:15 Cassandra!

36:17 Cassandra!

36:18 I'm coming!

36:19 No, you don't.

36:20 Elaine!

36:25 I knew you'd go soft, Eliza. That's why I made sure I had an override switch for the collars, in case you tried to deactivate them. You didn't consult me about that, Elaine. Oh, shut up, will you, you old bat? How dare you? We're almost at the threshold. The artifacts are reacting! Don't ignore me.

36:48 James, James, are you okay?

36:52 Stay with Cassandra.

36:53 I can't hold her much longer.

36:56 Yes.

36:58 Yes, I will live again.

37:03 You cannot escape my grasp.

37:11 No! No!

37:12 We're losing the signal.

37:14 What happened? What did you do?

37:17 Are you okay, Cassandra?

37:19 She's gone.

37:21 She won't be coming back.

37:24 Cassandra, you didn't.

37:27 It was the only solution I could think of.

37:30 What?

37:30 What did she do?

37:31 Seeing as there is a shark swimming in my wake, I thought I'd put it to good use.

37:36 What?

37:37 Caronzon.

37:39 You fed her to Caronzon?

37:41 Yes. Yes.

37:43 Now Adelaide, Henry, and Joshua will be released from their curse.

37:50 Cassandra!

37:51 You idiots!

37:53 You ruined everything! Why isn't it working? I may not be the most tech-savvy, but I figured your machine couldn't work without these wires. Why did you- Who are you? Excuse me? Elaine would never disobey my orders like that. She would never dare tell me to shut up. I got caught up in the excitement. A likely story.

38:19 Girls, take Elaine to one of the cells.

38:22 Not so fast.

38:29 No!

38:32 The men burst through the door. A tactical team of well-trained mercenaries. And within seconds, they had taken out the other researchers in the lab. Only Malverna and Elaine were standing in the main lab, whilst I lay crumpled and reeling from the shock collar against the doorway of the chamber where Eliza and Cassandra were. The men surrounded Malverna, each of them pointing their weapons at her. Malverna, to her credit, didn't so much as flinch. In fact, she didn't take her eyes off of Elaine, who was smirking back at her.

39:03 Is Elaine dead?

39:06 Of course.

39:06 That does tend to... be a side effect when I take up residence. Howdy, folks. You know, I must say, with how much Marwood used to bang on about you lot, I really thought the sisterhood of Babylon would be a more formidable organization. But I've been right under your noses for two weeks now.

39:41 Why?

39:42 You had the artifacts. And I know dear deceased Elaine had already theorized about their reactive ability... Why steal them when you had so kindly already set up the experiment for me?

39:57 You won't get away with this.

40:00 I already have. I will admit, I did not see such a bold move coming from Cassandra. Feeding the witch's soul to the Unmaker?

40:11 Oof.

40:14 That was cold. You have my respect.

40:21 Go fuck yourself.

40:28 Oh, look at that. Did I miss all of the fun?

40:31 And of course. I couldn't have done this without the help of Mr. Trevino here.

40:38 Let me go!

40:39 Let me go!

40:42 Fine.

40:44 Get over there.

40:47 Carl, you shot Baldwin, didn't you?

40:51 James? Looking a little worse for wear, my friend. Carter, is it time to end this charade?

40:58 Unfortunately, the clever Cassandra here pulled the plug before we collected enough negative energy. So, we don't have a baseline yet.

41:08 So, we should take the artifacts anyway and worry about that later.

41:11 Hang on. We're already picking up energy again.

41:16 No.

41:17 I broke the curse. The spirits are released.

41:20 Look.

41:20 On the monitor.

41:21 What are you saying to me right now?

41:23 Abigail, please let me explain.

41:26 What is there to explain? You lied to me.

41:29 Yes, I did.

41:30 But please, Abigail.

41:32 You told me James attacked you. You told me he said he was going with Carl and never coming back. You let me believe that he ran off and only came back because Carl turned on him again. But now you're telling me that the entire time he was doing it to protect me.

41:46 Yes, he heard part of some prophecy. And he thought it related to you, so he wanted to lure Carl in a different direction.

41:53 So what you're telling me is I can't trust my boyfriend or my best friend?

41:58 Abigail, we were trying to protect you! Oh my god, Dan! Just stop! Stop! Just stop! I cannot keep having this argument with you.

42:09 What do you mean?

42:10 I mean it's the same argument! Over and over and over again!

42:15 In Greenvale, in Forsham, everywhere we go, everything we do, you keep lying to me under this guise.

42:22 Of protecting me. I'm not made of glass, Dan. I'm not going to break. I know what I can and can't handle.

42:31 In my defence, James could have told you the truth at any time.

42:34 And I'm mad at him too. But that is not the point. You are my boyfriend.

42:43 My oldest friend. You are supposed to be the one person I can trust more than anybody. And you won't stop treating me like I'm some precious doll you have to wrap in cotton wool.

42:58 Abs.

42:59 And then you try and pass the bug to James. I can't do this anymore, Dan.

43:05 I know.

43:07 I'm sorry.

43:09 It won't happen again.

43:10 I don't want any more sorries, Dan. It's over. I'm done with this. Don't say that. You don't mean that. I do, Dan. You see, I don't tell lies.

43:29 Yes.

43:30 We're reading huge negative energy again.

43:33 Now? He picks now, to be honest?

43:37 It's still not enough. Look, the Hell's Ember is reacting, but not enough for what you want.

43:42 Then allow me to boost the signal.

43:49 Carterstone, still inhabiting the body of Elaine, released a swarm of those fat, pestilent flies that were his true form. They covered Malverna, and when they dissipated seconds later, a skeleton fell to the floor, picked clean.

44:04 Ma'am, no!

44:07 Lauren!

44:08 Eliza grabbed Lauren and half-dragged her into the witch's chamber. Then she was grabbing my arm and pulling me in there as well. Although she may have locked us up and treated us with nothing but mistrust, In that moment, she chose to try and protect us. That was her final action in this world. She grabbed the heavy metal door and began to close it. At the same time, the thing posing as Elaine made its move. Eliza, no!

44:34 You have to survive this.

44:36 Get Lauren out of here and stop them.

44:42 Yes!

44:42 It worked!

44:45 Look!

44:46 These are the readings we needed!

44:48 So the artifacts will work for our plan.

44:51 They will.

44:52 Little pigs, little pigs. Let me in. What's going on?

45:05 Oh my god!

45:07 They're dead! They're all dead!

45:11 We need to try and stay calm. Cassandra, are you okay?

45:14 I'm... fine.

45:17 Just tired.

45:20 Well, too bad. I don't have time to hang around. Enjoy your time in there. Everyone, let's move on. Carl, you know what to do.

45:32 I'm sorry it had to end this way, James and Cassandra. But at least you'll be going out with an explosive finale.

45:40 What does he mean, explosive finale?

45:43 Move, now. We need to get as far away from the door as we can.

45:54 Secure the two artifacts.

45:55 You, there.

45:57 Call in the chopper. It's time to get out of here.

46:01 The bomb is set.

46:03 Fantastic. Will it get through the metal door?

46:08 Even if it doesn't, the entryway will collapse. They'll be sealed down there.

46:13 Excellent.

46:14 We have achieved what Mother Merewood never could. We have killed James Hunter. I can't wait to get out of this meat suit wait what.

46:29 Oh my god.

46:32 Oh no you don't.

46:35 Come on get off me i don't think so you're coming with us it seems i may have underestimated how useful you are men burn the house to the ground.

46:50 No!

46:51 Dan!

46:53 Dan!

46:53 No, Dan!

46:56 What is that?

46:58 Abigail?

46:59 Abigail! Shit! Shit, Abigail!

47:05 Babs!

47:06 Are you out there?

47:07 Are you okay?

47:09 Abigail!

47:13 Pilot, get us out of here. You've got a long journey ahead.

47:22 As the Carter & Co. Industries helicopter rose into the sky and Abigail glared at me with hatred in her eyes, I looked down at the burning house where young Mr. Cowell burned to death. When the explosion from the underground bunker went off, it appeared like a blooming flower of dust and dirt and ash which erupted from the ground.

47:42 Was that the smallest twinge of sadness I felt in my heart as I watched my two oldest friends be sealed into their makeshift tomb?

47:50 I do believe it was.

47:52 Amusing to think I could still be trifled by such things. Amusing and perhaps a little worrying. I shifted my gaze over to the woman whose corpse was currently inhabited by the ancient creature we knew as Carterstone, but whose.

48:06 True name was....

48:09 So I had been told, unpronounceable in any human language. Our alliance had proven fruitful thus far, and he had helped me come closer than ever before to my long-sought revenge.

48:21 Still.

48:22 I wondered how much longer our alliance might continue.

48:26 Cheer up, Trevino. You look like somebody... What's the expression? Shit in your conflicts.

48:35 I was just... reminiscing.

48:40 The time for reminiscing is past, my friend. Now is the time for looking forward to a new world. New possibilities. is the time of victory.

49:09 Starring Jamie Evans as James Hunter, Isabella Barbieri as Abigail Corbin, Luke Hunter as Dan Cowell, and Cherie Hendry as Cassandra D'Angelo. Also featured Rajni Kedar, Megan Carol Haas, Mike Toms, Naomi Richards, Hannah Schooner, Shayla Tharp, Misha Bakshi, David Gardner, Peter Wicks, David Jervis Green, Thank you for listening to this audio presentation.

49:43 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 support. Come back next week for the next exciting chapter of Haunted, the audio drama.