Nature Takes Over: The Last Man's Warning "Ashes To Dust" | Scary Stories Podcast

0:05 Speaker 1: It lies in wait amidst your dreams, where nothing is ever how it seems. It is a portal to a terrifying world beyond the doorway to nightmare. Nightmare. Come in. Welcome. I'm Artemis Black. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground, for out of it wast thou taken, for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. From the book of Genesis. Describing the eventual fate of everyone.

1:13 Speaker 2: I saw it. I really saw it. But I still can't believe it.

1:18 Speaker 3: What did you see, Doctor?

1:21 Speaker 4: Well, come on, what happened?

1:24 Speaker 2: Everyone just disintegrated.

1:31 Speaker 1: Our mystery drama, Ashes to Dust, was adapted from the novel by Winslow Swan and edited by Crimson McKenzie. Our cast includes Crimson McKenzie, Nick Davis, William Stafford, and Winslow Swan. I'll be back shortly with Act One. Marcus Aurelius once said, Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back. Ah, sweet death. That cloaked figure that befriends.

2:24 Speaker 4: All of us.

2:26 Speaker 1: Eventually.

2:31 Speaker 5: It is so nice to be in the country. Thank you, Joe, for taking me.

2:36 Speaker 4: You know, I didn't think that you liked to go camping.

2:41 Speaker 3: Well, you never asked now, did you?

2:44 Speaker 4: No, I guess I didn't. I wonder what other questions I should be asking.

2:51 Speaker 3: Now, now. A girl has to keep some secrets from her husband.

2:58 Speaker 4: Cindy, you mean you are keeping things from me?

3:06 Speaker 5: Only how much I truly love you, Joe.

3:10 Speaker 4: Oh, Cindy, I love you too.

3:16 Speaker 3: So, where are we heading on this great adventure?

3:21 Speaker 4: Oh, I thought I would stop by and see Uncle John and Aunt Millie.

3:25 Speaker 6: Oh, yes, let's do.

3:27 Speaker 3: We haven't seen them since last Thanksgiving. Remember? Your uncle said, don't worry about the turkey.

3:35 Speaker 2: I'll get it.

3:38 Speaker 4: Who would have thought he would have bought a live turkey?

3:42 Speaker 5: And then couldn't bring himself to kill it.

3:47 Speaker 6: Do you think they still have it?

3:49 Speaker 4: Knowing my aunt and uncle, I wouldn't be surprised if they had it living in the spare bedroom. Anything on the radio?

4:05 Speaker 3: It's not picking up anything.

4:07 Speaker 6: Just statics.

4:08 Speaker 4: Maybe the antenna's messed up.

4:11 Speaker 3: I hope that's the only problem. Where are we, anyway?

4:16 Speaker 4: Yeah, um, I'm not sure.

4:20 Speaker 3: I thought you grew up around here.

4:23 Speaker 4: I did, I did. I just don't recognize anything.

4:28 Speaker 3: Have you noticed? No signs?

4:31 Speaker 6: No business or gas stations?

4:34 Speaker 3: Nothing but the woods.

4:36 Speaker 4: Yeah, there should have been a turnoff up here somewhere, but....

4:41 Speaker 3: What's going on, Joe?

4:43 Speaker 4: I'm really not sure. I think the town is up ahead. At least, I hope it is.

5:04 Speaker 3: Joe, where is everyone?

5:08 Speaker 1: I don't know.

5:10 Speaker 4: It's like a ghost town.

5:14 Speaker 1: Look!

5:15 Speaker 6: Over there in the park.

5:17 Speaker 3: At least someone is around.

5:19 Speaker 4: Excuse me. Excuse me, sir. Sir, could you possibly tell us.

5:26 Speaker 1: Sir?

5:29 Speaker 4: Hey, are you all right?

5:31 Speaker 1: Joe?

5:32 Speaker 3: Wait. Look at his face. Um, sir? Is there anything that we can do?

5:41 Speaker 2: Everyone just disintegrated.

5:45 Speaker 4: Cindy, what did he say?

5:46 Speaker 3: I'm not sure.

5:47 Speaker 5: Um, I'm Cindy, and this is my husband Joe. Is there somewhere we can drive you?

5:56 Speaker 2: Everyone was having such a wonderful time. Children were in the playground. Families were having picnics. Everyone was happy.

6:06 Speaker 6: What happened?

6:08 Speaker 4: Uh, Cindy, maybe we should just... Sir?

6:11 Speaker 6: What happened?

6:13 Speaker 1: It was.

6:14 Speaker 2: it was the wind.

6:18 Speaker 4: The wind? What about it? What are you talking about?

6:22 Speaker 2: There was.

6:23 Speaker 4: a wind.

6:27 Speaker 2: So hot, like a blast from a furnace... Everyone began screaming. They were frozen in place. I watched them. Everyone began to disintegrate and turn into dust, screaming the entire time.

6:46 Speaker 1: The world ends not with a bang, but a whimper, wrote T.S.

6:51 Speaker 5: Eliot.

6:52 Speaker 1: And while nations continue to create more brutal ways to destroy, the Earth simply waits. Wait for me here for Act 2 shortly.

7:13 Speaker 4: Act 2.

7:24 Speaker 1: Joe and Cindy have found someone in the deserted town. They still cannot fathom what he is telling them.

7:35 Speaker 4: Come on, Cindy, he's out of his mind.

7:38 Speaker 3: No, Joe, I don't think so.

7:40 Speaker 2: No, young man, I'm not insane. My name is Henry Hammond, a doctor of psychology and parapsychology. I am as lucid as you are.

7:50 Speaker 4: Then tell us what really happened. Was it a bomb of some kind?

7:55 Speaker 2: If it were a bomb, then how was I spared? Look at the buildings. Their cars. Do you see any destruction at all?

8:02 Speaker 3: Then please, Dr.

8:04 Speaker 5: Hammond.

8:05 Speaker 3: What do you think happened?

8:11 Speaker 4: What the hell is that?

8:14 Speaker 1: Look.

8:14 Speaker 2: The buildings. They are crumbling into the ground.

8:19 Speaker 6: We better get out of here.

8:22 Speaker 2: Look, the trees, the grass.

8:26 Speaker 4: That's impossible.

8:29 Speaker 6: The buildings are getting covered in them. Let's get out of here.

8:40 Speaker 3: Did you see?

8:40 Speaker 5: Even the cars were being covered, disintegrating by the trees and the grass.

8:50 Speaker 4: We were lucky our car started.

8:52 Speaker 2: Perhaps luck didn't have anything to do with it.

8:54 Speaker 4: Doc? What do you mean?

8:57 Speaker 2: Didn't you feel that wind? A hot wind blowing? Like a breath from hell itself?

9:04 Speaker 6: Joe?

9:05 Speaker 3: What are we going to do?

9:09 Speaker 1: Joe!

9:10 Speaker 2: Drive faster!

9:11 Speaker 4: The wind! I've got my foot to the floor now!

9:18 Speaker 6: Joe!

9:19 Speaker 4: The road behind us!

9:20 Speaker 6: It's being covered by... The trees! It's getting closer!

9:26 Speaker 4: Joe!

9:27 Speaker 3: Hang on! Where are we going?

9:39 Speaker 1: West.

9:40 Speaker 4: Everything behind us has been....

9:44 Speaker 5: Been.

9:47 Speaker 1: No.

9:48 Speaker 4: It's just not possible.

9:50 Speaker 2: Perhaps we should find a place to rest for a bit.

9:54 Speaker 4: I'm afraid to stop.

9:56 Speaker 3: Everything looks okay behind us.

9:58 Speaker 6: Just the road.

10:00 Speaker 3: Nothing happening.

10:01 Speaker 2: Joe, why are we stopping here?

10:08 Speaker 4: I don't know about you, but I'm getting hungry.

10:11 Speaker 3: But this house? It's in the middle of nowhere.

10:15 Speaker 4: Exactly. There's only one road. We can see in all directions if. If what, Joe?

10:23 Speaker 2: In case someone else happens along.

10:25 Speaker 5: But I thought we were looking for other people.

10:28 Speaker 4: Look, Cindy, if what Henry said is true about the wind killing people, then there may not be anyone else left.

10:39 Speaker 6: Oh, come on, Joe.

10:40 Speaker 5: Just because it happened in that town doesn't mean it is everywhere.

10:44 Speaker 4: Look around you. Have we passed any other cars on the road? Have you seen anyone else?

10:53 Speaker 2: No.

10:55 Speaker 6: But it still doesn't mean that.

10:56 Speaker 2: Why don't we go inside and see if there's anything we can use?

11:03 Speaker 4: Anything on the TV, Henry?

11:05 Speaker 2: Only a test pattern.

11:06 Speaker 4: What about the radio, Cindy?

11:08 Speaker 3: Just static. What are we going to do?

11:14 Speaker 4: We are going to sit down and have a very nice, pleasant dinner. That's what. I found steaks in the freezer. I got them thawing out now.

11:25 Speaker 2: I believe that a good meal and some rest is what we all need.

11:29 Speaker 3: I suppose you're right.

11:32 Speaker 6: How do you like your steak, Henry?

11:36 Speaker 2: Oh, just run it through a warm kitchen.

11:39 Speaker 4: I'll take my medium.

11:40 Speaker 1: I like mine.

11:43 Speaker 4: Well done.

11:45 Speaker 6: Joe!

11:48 Speaker 4: Look, I'm sorry that we came in. You see, we've been traveling for quite a while. We're trying to get away from the wind.

11:55 Speaker 2: You know what's going on?

11:58 Speaker 1: Not directly.

11:59 Speaker 4: I know it's bad, and it's not over.

12:02 Speaker 6: I'm sorry, is this your house?

12:05 Speaker 1: It is now.

12:08 Speaker 4: Just like you are mine. Hey, whoa, whoa, I don't... I don't think that.

12:15 Speaker 1: You, old man.

12:17 Speaker 4: Tie them up, and I mean good and tight.

12:19 Speaker 2: Friend, you don't have to.

12:21 Speaker 3: Hey!

12:23 Speaker 1: The next one goes into your head. Now tie them up.

12:32 Speaker 3: What do you want from us?

12:36 Speaker 1: Does it really matter?

12:38 Speaker 4: The point is, I've got you. I can do anything I want with you. So help me if you even think about touching her, I'll... You won't do anything. Now shut up. Joe! Look out!

12:55 Speaker 2: Son, you may want to put the gun down and step away from the window.

12:59 Speaker 1: Shut up, old man. You actually think I'm scared of a little.

13:03 Speaker 4: wind? You might want to do what the doc says.

13:07 Speaker 1: Um....

13:11 Speaker 4: We don't even know your name.

13:12 Speaker 1: No point in knowing that anyway. However, it's Charlie.

13:18 Speaker 4: Now then, you said something about steaks. I'm getting a mic package.

13:32 Speaker 6: Joe, look outside.

13:33 Speaker 4: Yeah, I see it. Doc, while he's out, untie us, but just leave the ropes.

13:39 Speaker 5: And hurry! Hurry!

13:41 Speaker 1: There we are.

13:43 Speaker 2: Look at the wind. It's getting stronger.

13:47 Speaker 1: Hey, get back over there.

13:50 Speaker 2: I really don't think you should be standing by that window.

13:54 Speaker 1: Oh, yeah? Then why not?

13:57 Speaker 4: Look around you. Don't you see what's going on outside? I don't see any... Hey, that's weird.

14:04 Speaker 6: The grass outside on the lawn, it's already covered up the driveway.

14:08 Speaker 2: You're crazy.

14:10 Speaker 1: Grass doesn't grow that quick.

14:12 Speaker 2: Young man, I'm warning you.

14:15 Speaker 1: You had better just shut up.

14:19 Speaker 6: Joe!

14:21 Speaker 1: Hey, what's going on? Come on, Doc.

14:24 Speaker 2: Let's get out of here.

14:26 Speaker 1: I can't move.

14:29 Speaker 4: I feel... I'm on fire.

14:33 Speaker 2: Help me!

14:36 Speaker 1: Oh, God!

14:38 Speaker 2: He's turning into a statue!

14:42 Speaker 3: The blinds!

14:43 Speaker 6: The trees!

14:45 Speaker 4: They're covering him! Run!

14:53 Speaker 1: As the three watch Charlie disintegrate, they run for the car. They see the foliage beginning to cover the entire house. I'll be back with Act 3. It has now been almost a week since our trio began their journey. With each passing hour, they see the landscape.

15:40 Speaker 3: Everywhere, Joe.

15:42 Speaker 6: Everywhere.

15:44 Speaker 5: No matter where we go.

15:47 Speaker 3: No matter what.

15:49 Speaker 6: It's... It's happening. It's affecting everything.

15:54 Speaker 1: I know.

15:56 Speaker 4: What I don't know is what is happening.

15:59 Speaker 2: I've been pondering on that very question. Perhaps, and this is only speculation, I may be able to give you an answer.

16:06 Speaker 3: So you do have an idea?

16:07 Speaker 5: Yeah.

16:07 Speaker 2: Possibly an insane idea at best.

16:10 Speaker 4: At this point, even a crazy idea is better than nothing at all.

16:14 Speaker 1: Very well.

16:15 Speaker 2: I'll ask you a question. Who owns the land?

16:19 Speaker 4: Depends on who you ask.

16:22 Speaker 5: Are you talking about now? Or centuries ago?

16:26 Speaker 2: You missed my point. Who originally owned this continent that we have called home for so long?

16:34 Speaker 1: I don't know.

16:35 Speaker 4: I suppose the Indians were here first.

16:37 Speaker 2: Wrong. Now before you start regaling me with history, think about what I'm going to tell you.

16:45 Speaker 3: Nature.

16:46 Speaker 1: What? Cindy?

16:49 Speaker 5: Think about it, Joe. Think about what we have seen.

16:53 Speaker 3: What has happened.

16:55 Speaker 5: We watched as grass grew over a house, leveling it. We've seen the road behind us be swallowed up by the surrounding trees.

17:04 Speaker 2: Cindy is correct, Joe. Before there were ever any human beings here, there has always been nature.

17:11 Speaker 4: Okay, so fine. So what does it mean?

17:13 Speaker 2: I believe that nature is simply taking back its domain.

17:24 Speaker 3: Wow. The ocean has never looked so... so beautiful.

17:33 Speaker 4: Well. The car is gone.

17:36 Speaker 2: What happened?

17:38 Speaker 4: The grass covered it up and then it just disintegrated.

17:46 Speaker 3: No point in asking what we do now.

17:49 Speaker 4: So, this is it. But why us? Why were we spared?

17:58 Speaker 2: Have we been spared? Or have we just been running from the inevitable?

18:02 Speaker 3: What are you saying?

18:04 Speaker 1: Doc?

18:05 Speaker 6: Are you all right?

18:06 Speaker 2: I'm afraid, my dear, that I am not, as you put it, all right. The wind is like fire on my skin. Doc, you're... I'm going to walk down the beach. Please, don't follow me. I don't want my friends to see what happens.

18:34 Speaker 3: Did you find him?

18:35 Speaker 1: No. He's gone.

18:38 Speaker 3: Then that just leaves us.

18:42 Speaker 4: At least the grass didn't cover the beach.

18:45 Speaker 3: Which leaves us in the middle.

18:48 Speaker 1: Oh.

18:49 Speaker 4: It'll be alright.

18:51 Speaker 2: Oh, Joe.

18:52 Speaker 4: At least we have each other. One last sunset. That's all I want.

19:04 Speaker 1: Joe, look.

19:05 Speaker 6: Over there.

19:06 Speaker 4: Wow.

19:08 Speaker 2: Come here.

19:09 Speaker 4: Come here, boy.

19:10 Speaker 6: Come here.

19:11 Speaker 3: Looks like he wants us to follow him.

19:13 Speaker 1: Come on.

19:13 Speaker 4: Let's go. Oh, what is it, boy?

19:17 Speaker 3: Oh, Joe.

19:20 Speaker 6: It's actually a sheep.

19:23 Speaker 4: How do you know? Look. Look.

19:25 Speaker 2: Look.

19:26 Speaker 6: In that space between the rocks.

19:28 Speaker 4: Well. How about that?

19:29 Speaker 2: Oh, look, Joe.

19:32 Speaker 1: Good girl.

19:34 Speaker 6: Look, Joe. The tide is starting to come in.

19:37 Speaker 4: Quick, grab the pups. We'll head further down the beach.

19:39 Speaker 1: Are the puppies okay?

19:43 Speaker 4: Resting right now.

19:47 Speaker 3: Oh, dang. Good thing we found this hut.

19:51 Speaker 1: Weird.

19:52 Speaker 4: It was like it was waiting for us. There's plenty of food in here, thankfully.

19:57 Speaker 5: I wonder what her name is.

20:01 Speaker 4: Well, she's wearing a collar. Maybe there's a name printed on it. Here, let's have a look.

20:07 Speaker 6: Is there a name?

20:14 Speaker 4: Oh, you bet there is. Here, see for yourself.

20:20 Speaker 2: No.

20:21 Speaker 6: No way.

20:22 Speaker 4: Hope.

20:24 Speaker 6: Her name is Hope. Oh, my gosh.

20:30 Speaker 1: Yes. Desmond Tutu once said, Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.

20:59 Speaker 1: I'll have a few final words when I return shortly.

21:14 Speaker 1: It seems to me that today, hope is a dying commodity. However, I remember the words of Emily Dickinson. Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tunes without the words and never stops at all.

21:40 Speaker 1: Our cast included Crimson McKenzie, Mick Davis, William Stafford, and Winslow Swan. The story was edited by Crimson McKenzie and directed by Winslow Swan. And now, a preview of our next tale.

21:57 Speaker 6: Let me.

22:03 Speaker 1: Out.

22:04 Speaker 5: If you are what I think you are, There is no way that I'm going to let you out of that box.

22:11 Speaker 2: But I need you.

22:15 Speaker 6: Why do you need me?

22:17 Speaker 3: Revenge.

22:20 Speaker 2: And a new body.

22:26 Speaker 1: This is your host, Artemis Black, inviting you to return with us through the doorway to Nightmare for another adventure into the world of your terrifying imagination. Until next time, slumber peacefully. Epilogue. The butler did it.