Nightmare Fuel #21: The Storm
Scared To Death
Deep Dive
WHY is Thanksgiving different in 2024?
A deadly pandemic known as the Red Plague has turned people into murderous monsters, making everyday concerns like Thanksgiving dinner irrelevant.
WHY are the Collins family hiding in their basement?
A heavily armed group, identified as a "Red Gang" due to their blood-red eyes, a symptom of the Red Plague infection, is at their front door.
What is the Red Gang's motto?
"The storm is coming. Do you fear it?"
How does Brent Collins initially respond to the Red Gang?
He pretends to be infected, using their lingo: "Fear is for the sheep. I am the lion, and we are the storm."
What is the Collins family's escape plan?
Brent plans to ambush the Red Gang while his family provides covering fire from the basement. Their ultimate goal is to reach Brent's parents' remote ranch near Whitebird, Idaho.
How does Brent Collins fare in the initial confrontation with the Red Gang?
He manages to kill several of them using a shotgun and handguns but is shot in the ribs.
WHY does Brent lie to Rosie about her mother and stepfather?
He believes they are likely dead, given their location in Liberty Lake, which is overrun by Red Gangs, and their lack of weapons.
What are the symptoms of the Red Plague?
Initial symptoms include brain fog, aches, low-grade fever, runny nose, chest congestion, sneezing, and coughing. These progress to extreme fatigue, headaches, and eventual coma. Upon waking, the infected have blood-red eyes and altered personalities, often aligning with aggressive, militarized conspiracy theories.
What are some theories about the origin of the Red Plague?
Theories range from a virus to highly sophisticated nanotechnology, possibly a computer virus that interacts with biological tissue, reprogramming the mind.
How do the Collins family evade the Mad Max-style truck?
They fire shots in the air, honk the horn, and chant Red Gang slogans, fooling the driver into thinking they are allies.
WHY are the Collins family forced off the highway?
They encounter a large Red Gang gathering in Plummer and are pursued by another group in vehicles.
What causes the Collins' Range Rover to crash?
Brent drives over a spike strip laid across the highway, blowing out the tires and causing the vehicle to roll.
Who rescues the Collins family after the crash?
A heavily armed sniper, who calls himself a messenger of God, kills the remaining Red Gang members pursuing them.
What are the sniper's intentions?
He claims to be building a new Eden, populated only by "pure" individuals, and takes a disturbing interest in Rosie.
- A heavily armed group arrives at the Collins' home.
- The Red Plague is turning people into murderous monsters.
- The family hides in the basement.
Shownotes Transcript