Impact Winter · Audible Originals

Pontefract

August 24, 2023·24 min·2 clips

A twenty-something turning up in an apocalypse to claim she's my 72-year-old mother would get a door slammed in her face.

Penelope Chambers, a vampire and security head for a survivor group, travels with Lydia to find their missing friend Darcy. This episode follows their tense journey through a post-apocalyptic Britain overrun by vampire-like "blighters." Their dynamic is fraught with grief and blame over a past tragedy. The pair's car suffers brake damage after running over debris, forcing a stop in Gloucestershire where they narrowly escape blighters. They divert to Pontefract, Yorkshire, to seek repairs from Kilgore Noakes, an ex-military intelligence contractor and trading partner. Kilgore is the ex-husband of their leader, Gussie, and is unaware that Darcy has been turned into an overlord or that Penelope is a vampire. Lydia's carelessness and Penelope's vampirism create constant tension during the visit. Kilgore repairs their brake line with tape and hand soap, offering them a night's stay in his guest house. Over dinner, Lydia's probing questions about Penelope's past and the castle's security incidents nearly expose their secrets. Kilgore shares a story about his mother, who was turned into a vampire and attacked him, explaining the fanged skull on his mantle. Penelope's discomfort with solid food and Lydia's verbal baiting highlight the precariousness of their cover. A private argument reveals Lydia's deep resentment toward Penelope for failing to protect their mutual friend, Hope. Lydia reveals that the vampire Calistrata fed directly from her at the castle, a traumatic experience. The central conflict erupts when Lydia accuses Penelope of knowing about dangerous blighters and failing to warn Hope. Penelope retaliates by mentioning "Emily," a name that visibly wounds Lydia and halts the argument. At a broken bridge, Lydia confronts Penelope with a crossbow, blaming her for Hope's death and accusing her of jealousy over Hope's bond with Penelope. The confrontation turns physical when Lydia fires an arrow, grazing Penelope's neck. In the ensuing struggle, Penelope shoves Lydia, who slips on black ice and falls twelve meters from a ledge onto the rocks below. Penelope is left shouting down at Lydia's motionless body as snow begins to fall. The episode ends with Penelope realizing she, not the external threats, has become the true danger to her companions. The tone is suspenseful and character-driven, focusing on psychological tension and moral ambiguity within a survival narrative. Listeners who enjoy atmospheric, post-apocalyptic drama with complex female relationships and slow-burn horror will appreciate this episode. Those seeking action-packed plots or conclusive resolutions might find the pace and unresolved conflict frustrating.

As heard by us

Roadside danger, brittle banter, and a brutal fall turn the episode inside out.

This episode takes a roadside delay and lets it curdle into something sharper: embarrassment, hospitality, and violence all brushing up against one another.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

A roadside stop turns into blood-scented panic and a fall that changes everything.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Impact Winter