Stay Calm
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What is the opening premise and who are the creators of this episode?
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Hey there. Thank you for joining us for this episode of 13. Before we get started, as always, we want to thank our new patrons MJH, Clara Franklin, Skagraw 42, Devin Earls, Delaney Rose, and Five Spiders in My Pocket. Thank you so much for your support, and welcome to the Pod Fam. If you'd like to hear your name in audio, then you should check us out on Patreon. You'll find perks like Patreon exclusive bonus stories and merch too. You can also follow us for free and get updates on the show and anything else we're doing. Head on over to patreon.com/slash pod13 or click the link in the show notes. Today's story is Stay Calm. Written by S.J. Walker. Are you ready? Sit back. Turn down the lights. And now. On with the show.
The commute to shady palms was no small feat. Only one road led there. And it was unpaved. My knuckles were white as I gripped the wheel of my corolla, praying to make it across the dirt byway without incident. My car shuddered violently on the bumps in the road. I had no idea how it stayed intact. A robotic female voice from my GPS told me I still had five miles to go on this road. The partly cloudy sky threatened rainfall, which would only make conditions worse. This isn't worth it. The money might not be worth the expense of repairs, or, if necessary, the cost of a new car. А вот тол моли то канцел. I simply couldn't deal with this road. I drew a sharp intake of breath as I spun the wheel to turn around.
But jerked to a stop as my car dipped. Fabulous. A hole I didn't see. I shifted into reverse. My spinning wheels groaned against resistance. Dread dropped like an atomic bomb, exploding in my chest. I shifted my car into drive again, then back into reverse. The vehicle rocked back and forth, but couldn't free itself from the hole. This was hopeless. I was stuck. And my car was blocking the road. My chest felt too tight, as if my lungs were contracting, and my breathing began coming out in short, uneven bursts. I've lived with my anxiety long enough to recognize an oncoming panic attack. Canceling on Molly would be difficult for me. I've never liked disappointing people. Deep breaths, I told myself. She'll understand.
Still. A rock formed in my throat. I reached into my purse and grabbed my prescription bottle. I unsealed the top and popped a Xanax, gulping it down with water from a plastic container in my cup holder. While waiting for the pill to kick in, I did my breathing exercises. Breathe in. What? Two Three. Four. Five. Breathe out. One. Two Three Four Five. They never worked. Every breath was painfully wetted until the effects of the Xanax kicked in. When a sense of calm settled into my body. Melting the tension. The rock in my throat softened. And I could breathe comfortably again. I grabbed my cell phone and thought about calling my mom first, but I figured my time was better spent researching the numbers of towing companies.
I caught sight of a dusty, Chevy Silverado in my mirrors as it pulled into view. The truck, with its monstrous wheels and mud splattered along the rim, towered over my car. It pulled to a stop beside me. My head sunk between my rising shoulders. What if the driver yelled at me? What if he told me I was stupid for attempting to drive a car like mine across a road like this? I couldn't deal with that. I couldn't because I knew he'd be right. I was stupid for thinking my car could make it. Stupid for agreeing to do a job which, for some reason, nobody else signed up to do. Molly mentioned I was the only one who responded to her ad. But why? Probably because of this godforsaken death trap of a road. I heard the truck's door creak open and slam shut.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the opening premise and who are the creators of this episode?
0:00–6:29
2
How does the narrator’s anxiety build while stuck on the dirt road?
6:29–19:36
3
What happens when a stranger offers a ride and how does the situation change?
19:36–35:50
4
Why do the mannequins come to life and what does the police‑like figure do?
35:50–53:39
5
How does the encounter with Molly’s beach house reveal the town’s secrets?
53:39–55:38