CreepCast - Turn It Off | CreepCast

Episode Date: January 18, 2026

A harmless night of camping quickly becomes filled with terror. But first, some juice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Visit medcan.com slash moments to get started. Great cast. Welcome, my friends, to 2026. Isaiah, tell us what we'll read today. And I'm going to start the year off very strong. Can I start it off strong? For them, it's already been 2026. There's been like two or three episodes uploaded before this one. But this is the first actual, the first actual recording. Aren't they, aren't they getting the, aren't they getting Marple Hornets 3 before this? Yes, but that's Creep TV. That's a completely different property that we don't own. So I think we do on that. There's like two other recordings we've done before it too. I don't think you know what you're talking about. Anyway, this is the first one. And I want to start off the year extremely strong.

And that's why I want to say, I'm going to, I'm going to throw a curveball out there. And I'm going to take a risk because that's what good men do. And I'm going to say, this is going to be the scariest fucking story that we've ever read. Okay. Would you describe yourself as a good man? Well, absolutely. Well, Isaiah, it's open up to, it's open to interpretation. That's telling.

I'll tell you what, today we're going to be reading a story in viewers. I really for this is mostly whoever, if you're watching this podcast on YouTube right now or on Spotify or something, please close your eyes for this section. Audio listeners do what you do best and just listen. We're reading a story today and I really want you to think about this. It's called Turn it off. Turn it off. Isaiah.

Hidden with the author information. I don't like this. No, no, just. ASMR voice. This is my natural voice. This is my natural voice.

Why don't you tell him about the author? Yeah. So the author is called Pallum Chill or Polem chill. Chill, don't do that he's only posted this story to the creepypasta wiki in 2016 and as far as i can tell nothing else um and no one like i'm looking for more information about him i don't not seeing any is this a link to a i fucking love you know what i love about these kind of authors dune these are what i like to call the babe ruths all right this motherfucker took his bat he pointed it at center field and

hit a home run and then he's just like I'm good you know like I this is going to be a fucking scary story like I hope you realize that this is going to be this is going to startle you you're going to be afraid the one hits the one hits are either incredible or abysmal well my boy mr. chill fucking dropped this drop this log 10 years ago and he said drop this log Yeah, he dropped his fucking log in the in the bowl. And it's not a, you would think, oh, is that a turd in there? And it was absolute fucking gold because that's what he was shitting. Okay.

And I'm excited like that. Okay. Well, anyway, um, Pallam Chill has written this nothing else in 2016, but this story seems very highly beloved online. I hear a lot of people talk about to see people make fan art for it, which you see out a lot of the recurring characters in stories, but not the one-off. So I'm interested in what all the hype's about, so to speak. I've never read this one before, but I've heard of it before.

As our first recording of 2026, we're back. We're recording now. I want us to do something for that. We need to make some rules for this year. I think it's a new year. We should have some new rules. And I think one would be at the beginning of the episode, because a lot of these, we're getting into territories now or even Isaiah has not read the stories, right?

We've covered almost all stories that I have not read before. Well, yeah, but I'm saying that before it was like, oh, I've read this one or I've heard about it. Like, blah, blah, blah. I'm saying now you're getting just said I've heard about this one. Yeah, but you didn't really know much about it. Just fucking let me talk for a second. How does that sound? Can I do that?

Can I breathe? Can I breathe? I don't have a choice. I don't have any other choice. Go ahead. I want us to do a thing. We're starting right now until the end of the year. We can change.

This is a yearly thing. We don't have to do it forever. but we're going to guess what the story is about based off the title alone. And we guess. And whoever's the most right at the end, you get a point. And at the end of the year, we'll tally it up and we'll see who wins. Try to tell me that isn't fun. Sure.

Sure, we can do that. Do you want me to keep track of it in here? No, we'll have the editors and the fans, the editors. We will have ways we don't have to worry about it, all right? The scores, I don't want to fucking think about it until the end of the, year when it's presented to me because I will forget. But I'm going to have to keep this alive. I have to keep these rules alive.

And I already have a kind of an idea of what I think this is going to be about, which I think would be scary. But I'm curious to hear what do you think this is going to be about off of a title called Turn It Off. Okay. Why don't you go first since this is your game? I just told you I wanted to hear yours first. I want to hear yours first.

I feel like whatever I say, you're just going to piggyback that. I'm not going to piggyback off your fucking idea, dude. What it, I presented you this question. What off the hip? What are you thinking this is going to be about? I think this is going to be about two kids like teenage age in the woods who discover something strange while they're out camping. You know what I like about your answer is that you did nothing to solidify the mean like this turned.

they're turning nothing off in your thing. They could, they could turn it off. Turn it off could be a flashlight or like something they're holding in their hand. They have to turn off. So no, nothing sees them. Mine,

I'm thinking it's going to be more literal. I think that they found. And I don't know if this is real or not, right? This is just, this is me shooting a three. This is me shooting for the first points of the year is, I think that they're going to find some mysterious tape.

And it's going to be children. We're going to find mysterious tape. and it's going to be one of the people, if they're not related, it's like one of the parents or whatever. And it's like, it's like their dad, like,

uh, there's someone, not a sexual tape, mind you, right? Cause I know you think I'm going there. But I do think it is something where it is like a dad, massaging,

like what would be something weird that you can massage? It's not sexual because it massages are, what are you talking about? What are you talking about? What are you talking? about what are you talking about i'm saying that they're going to find something where the dad is rubbing something down it's not sexual so get that out of your brain like a ham like a like i like he's rubbing a ham and they they watch it and the guy's like turn it off that's what that's then that's my

that's your prediction for this story is that two kids are going to find a video of their dad rubbing a am you try to tell me and I want you to be I want you to be completely honest because you're I know I understand that you like to bully me and that's becoming your news you're like to bully you yes that's what you think the dynamic of the show is that is that is a dynamic of the show you you put me down and I have to fucking scrape my knees and get back up yeah that's what that's what it is so you try to tell me right now that if you're like oh let's play this tape he's play the tape it's your dad candlelit room he has a massage table it's like your dad practice You keep changing. Is he rubbing a ham or is he like massaging the ham?

It has not changed yet. I'm saying that he's still massaging the ham. I'm giving more details, which would be the dad. It's like think of like a massage room, candles, something that you know, like the music. Remember like an ocean sound? The dad is intensely digging into this ham like a full, like a full Christmas ham on the table. And try to tell me like actually finding that tape you're first you'd be like yeah sure whatever but if it kept popping up that would be a little fucking freaky if I'm being honest

I mean I could be completely wrong but that's I mean and I'm not saying it's the most creative it's I'm you know this is just my first thing so we'll see and we'll see who's closest I don't know I don't know are you done with your warm up

the what are you done getting into character and everything I'm sorry I say am I disappointing you with my performance of me trying to conversate with you on a podcast. So before, before every,

before every, uh, episode, Hunter's like, Hey, uh, can you give me a minute here? And I'm like,

sure, buddy, whatever. And he's like, yeah, just, uh, I just, uh,

I just, uh, I just, uh, I've been thinking about a skit for, uh, for the tallest episode and we're going to see how it goes. And I'm like, yeah,

man, sure, go ahead. And I regret it every time. I don't know why I let him do it. Okay, hurtful. I'm just trying to bring a little bit of light into this crazy dark world of internet horror stories. So I apologize.

And I won't do it anymore. There you go. I won't do it anymore. And you've already in for our creepcast listeners, this is mom and dad fighting immediately at the beginning of the year. So congratulations, Isaiah. You're splitting the family apart. Thank you for that. You know what?

You're welcome. I don't care anymore. I can't do this. I can't. Hey, audio listeners. Last year, last year for our first story of the year, it was. was my best friend tried to ruin my life. So what's that tell you?

Thank you for listening on Spotify and Apple Podcast. And for all of our YouTube viewers as well, thank you for sticking with us on the third and possibly final year of this show, depending on how Isaiah wants to keep ruining this friendship of ours. Because I am a beacon of support to him. A lot of people, I see this in the comments too.

A lot of people say I'm the kind one. one who lifts him up, that kind of stuff. And to be met with this constantly is like that of a single, like a single mom. 50 minutes ago, you texted me and said, almost ready, daddy. All right. Well, pookie, pookie needs to get stuff too sometimes, dude. Oh, my gosh. Okay.

What? What, man? Okay. If you're coming at me and you're air in my dirty laundry, then let's just fucking lay it out between the ham talk and the massage and everything else you're you're beating around the bush you're a little steamy already but there's no need to there ain't no beating around the bush i am in the bush okay okay i am the bush okay okay all right turn it off by paulam chill thank you to all of our audio listeners thank you so much to our patreon supporters we love you guys

a lot appreciate all the support that you guys have been giving us uh got a little lot of cool new projects on the way that we'll be announcing very soon hopefully so stay tuned for that but thank you guys um said it is that it anything else we need dad hunter do you think that this is going to be a scary story you didn't really i i'm thinking this is going to be a scary one do you think this is actually scary i think it'll be creepy i'm trying to go into this year and i'm going to tell you guys right now i am raising the bar of excitement i am too negative too quickly and that's that's my new year's resolution is i'm going to be more positive and i'm going to try to enjoy these stories more and I'm going to get into it.

You know what I mean? I'm making that fucking promise right now. Because I saw the ending of Stranger Things and it's just, it's turned me for the better. Was it good? Did it end well? I thought everyone hated it. No. It ended it very well.

I'd feel like there's some sarcasm there, but whatever. No, man. All right. are you ready? Yes. Turn it off. I rested my arms behind my head, skim reading the credits of a movie I just watched.

After seeing them through about halfway, I lifted myself from the sofa and walked to the kitchen. Stretching my arms out above me. I opened the fridge door and found a full carton of juice. So I sat down on the kitchen counter by the window, cracked open the lid, took several long, noisy gulps. When I couldn't drink anymore,

I gas to let in new air wipe my mouth on the back. heck of my hand. Jesus. All right. Okay. First, I, okay, I'm not, this is not me, I'm not going to immediately be negative, but I will say, this is some David King energy of who the fuck raids halfway through the movie credits?

Can I just say it? Who's like, oh, key grip, okay. Awesome. Yeah, that's great. Who the fuck is doing that? And it's also to immediately go to the fridge and slam down Sunny D. And be like, like you're drinking so much.

God. Three sentences in, you know, maybe. I know. I'm just saying it caught me. Sorry. That's like some little kid energy though,

isn't it? That is like a four year old thing to do where they grab drinks. Like while they're drinking, they're afraid they'll never be able to breathe again. The death has never tasted so good. All right. My evenings were uneventful around this time in summer.

It was 9.15 on a Saturday in July. School was out for the holidays. My parents had gone to visit my aunt and uncle who lived by the coast. It would still be gone for two more weeks. What? They left a child for like three weeks. Okay. So I think that this is, no, no.

I think that this is going to be like a high schooler. And I like how he's like, my, my evenings are uneventful. It's a Saturday during, it is a Saturday during summer break and your parents are not home. I mean, they are saying that this is a fucking loser. Can we at least say that? I think that's the idea. I think the idea is he doesn't have friends. He's not like partying hanging out.

Yeah. Get it all. I declined the invitation to join them. I didn't dislike the place where my relatives, but we usually stay there so long that I'd miss out on most of summer break, and I'd truthfully rather spend it with my friends in town. I was a good kid who knew how to wash clothes and use an oven, generally not an idiot, so they let me stay at the house so long as I kept it clean. As I sat, looking out into the garden to check for anything scary in the dark, it was empty and black. I kind of wished we had a pet. A dog or a cat would be nice about now,

but their hair always made me sneeze and my eyes go red and itchy. With that in mind, my dad said no, even though I wouldn't mind it. At 9.22 p.m., I put the rest of the juice carton back in the fridge door and went back over to the window. Hoisting myself onto the counter again, I glanced out to the garden and identified the shadows one by one to make sure everything was in its place. Bushes were their usual shape. Two small trees stood together by the back fence and metal table with four chairs set casually on the patio. They have not said how old this person, this child is, right? Right. Okay. The hoisting up on the counter did make it seem.

It's, it's jumping between 19 or eight. That's, that's the brilliance of, uh, chills. That's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, uh, if I had to guess this kid's 13. I think that's fair. He has a healthy split between the two. Yeah, yeah, I think it's 13. He's a, he's a very short, or are we saying he's like a, 13 year old. a dwarf. Yeah. Okay, I don't know about that. Like a 13 year old dwarf.

Okay. I like to check these things, which is largely while I wasn't scared of the dark. I'd always get up to investigate small noises in the night, and I hated sleeping with my face to the wall. If someone was in my room at night, I'd rather know about it, so at least there was the faintest chance of getting away somehow. This meant that my worries were quickly put to rest as I either found nothing downstairs, but the radiator, popping with the heat, or open my mind.

eyes to see an empty bedroom. Not knowing what could be making the odd noises coming from the kitchen or on the stairs or in my room, it's what makes my skin creep. At 9.30 p.m., I got down from the counter and wandered back into the living room to turn off the TV. It decided

to take the rest of the juice upstairs. Man, this... He's about this juice. I was going to say... I'm drunk so hard not to jump in. I just was like, he drank juice for seven minutes without doing anything else. which if you think about it

shadows he counted shadows which if you think about it is a long time and then he sat on a counter he was able to jump up with dwarven strength look and he was counting shadows for another seven minutes before proceeding to grab

the juice and go downstairs or upstairs so this is I don't know it's good I like this I bet you do also I like how specific the time sorry that 922 p.m. at 9.15 and at 9.20 we got this is the first story of 2026 we got to at 947 and 12 seconds we got to rate it in got to keep it together yeah we can't let last year happen

again no no no I'm not and I'm just it was I was having fun good okay I went back into the kitchen open the fridge door it stopped turning my head to focus outside I could see someone was standing in the car garden. Shut the fridge door and turned off the light so they couldn't see me so easily, then moved slowly, clinging on the kitchen counter to get a better look. All the doors were locked and all the neighbors were home. Took a moment to remind myself this. Still, my heart quickened a bit as I stood there straining to see his or her shape in the

darkness at the end of the garden. I had to keep glancing away to keep their fuzzy outline clear in my vision. They were standing very still and were a little bit of the dark. little thin. That's all I could see. I couldn't tell anything else. Oh, I said out loud. It was the garden umbrella leaning up against the back fence. I forgot that we used it for barbecues. I smiled at myself, pleased that I didn't get too worked up and went upstairs to my bedroom. I laid on the bed and propped my head up on a pillow, opening my laptop on my stomach to see if anybody was online. Apparently, someone else was

bored and saw my name pop up. Hey. Hey, you okay? Yeah, bored. Are your parents still away? For a couple more weeks. Why don't I come around? I don't want to be rude, but I kind of can't be bothered to hang out tonight,

L.O.L. Thanks, though. What? Why? You're just drinking juice. You said your night was unavifficful. You've been drinking juice for 10 minutes and counting shadows. Sorry, buddy. This is a... This is a...

whole night for me. He's laying on his bed, like, typing in the juices next to him, and he glances over at the juice, and he's like, I've got plans this evening. And then also, like, amongst this talk of juice, he's also like, and I don't like sleeping face to the wall. Did I mention I count shadows? I got a long Friday night of counting shadows and drinking juice. I don't like sleeping with my face to the wall because if someone tries to break in and murder

me, I at least want to see their eyes. I want to see that hatchet flying at my face while I'm drinking juice. Do it. Do it. To it off. That's what he says to the murderer. Talk it off.

Yeah, he's the freak. He's the monster of the story. So far, he pretty much fucking is. I'll just get me some sunny D before you kill me. He breaks into people's houses and kills them for their juice. Like he raised the fridge. The end of the story, like he goes back home and he opens the fridge and there's like 40 juice boxes. Like he's been doing this for years.

He's getting strangled on his bed. And then under the covers, he's like feeling around under the covers. And he grabs a giant Wilches grape juice thing and props open and dumps it on his face. I know what you mean. It's cool. What about tomorrow? Yeah, that sounds better. Cool. I'll be round about one.

I've got some family stuff to do the morning. Okay. You still have a tit, by the way? We can camp at the garden or something. Aw, a slumber party. I love you too, bro. Whatever. You got the tit, though? Yeah, somewhere.

Let me check, BRB. I got up for my bed and headed to check the cupboard under the stairs. I didn't know where the tent was, but it seemed a good place to start. I opened the cupboard door and started shifting coats aside. Some cardboard boxes were stacked up at the back and might be hiding it. So I started unstacking them. Why give us that level of detail? It's like I moved my I opened my arrays of juices.

There was some cardboard boxes. They were stacked up. Maybe the tent could be behind those. Who's to say? I unstacked the boxes. Like it is important to show the level of juice boxes. and boxes of juice in the house. Yeah, I imagine this is like Costco pallets of juice.

It's going to be like the ending of creep where he goes to open the cabinet and there's like hundreds of VHS tapes. But just thousands of bottles of juice. Yeah, just all the choose boxes. Which one today? I took out a couple of the easy to reach ones and had a stroke of good luck as the tent bag came into view. I leaned over the other boxes and picked up the back.

bag and took the big garden umbrella that's set beside it too, just in case it rained tomorrow. I paused. I put the tent down. Took me a couple of seconds to get back to the kitchen window and focus on the darkness outside. My eyes weren't yet adjusted to the dark, so I couldn't see all the way to the back fence. Oh! Oh, okay, that actually, you know, I was making fun of it. But that actually worked pretty well.

because like the level of detail I wasn't thinking when he mentioned that he moved the garden umbrella but my head did go oh is it like the one outside but I had the realization the same time the author did like oh if the umbrella's in here then what was that out there that's pretty good turning off the kitchen light I leaned on the counter and continued staring at the same point

the other garden features began to fade into view one by one but in my previous middle image I wasn't sure what I wanted to see. The darkness gave way to the familiar forms I knew. But after a while, I was certain there still stood a figure against the back garden fence. It hadn't moved. I stood there for 15 minutes looking at it. I couldn't tell it shaped properly, but it did look like someone standing there.

I decided it wasn't a threat. I thought, if I was in any real danger, it would have been a lot more worried by now. That thought kept me calm. but I also wanted to find out what it was. I couldn't stand there forever. Jogged upstairs, picked up my laptop, brought it down to me with the counter. Could you come around now? Uh.

Yeah, I think I can see something in my garden. What is it? An animal? No, it's tall. I thought it was an umbrella. Now you're sure it is it? I don't know. I thought it was someone, but now I'm sure it's not a person.

It just looks weird and I don't think it was there before. Before when? I don't know. Earlier today maybe. I can't remember. Are you scared? I'd feel better if someone else was here. Well, I did offer to come around and I'm bored.

So yeah? Yeah, I'll come soon. Cool, thanks. Use the front gate. I sat there watching the black shape leaned against the fence for another ten minutes. Eventually, the doorbell rang. I opened it. Chris ran in.

Bear hugged me. It's been too long. Chris Mock cried. Yeah, it must have been a whole day. The torment. He replied, pretending to ignore me. Look, come over here, I said, pushing him off and walking to the kitchen. I switched off the light and pointed in the figure's direction.

Look. Give me a sec. Can't see properly. see it properly. A minute later, he noticed. That black thing? Yeah. Um, we both stood there looking at it for a while. I have expected it to be gone when he looked. He leaned over the counter. It's just a big plan or a plague of water or something. Let's go watch TV. Will you check with me to make sure? Do you have a torch? Oh, gross. Oh, he's British. They're British. Oh, I don't know if we can continue this story in good conscience.

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Well, we could check if we keep the kitchen light on and open the back door a little. I thought for a second and agreed, but said we should stay right by the house. The, it's amazing that he has a tent and he knows where that is, but there's no flashlight in the house. And also, I was so right with my prediction at the beginning. Like, I was cheating a bit with the camping thing because Harry had mentioned it. I said, I don't know, maybe turn it off like a flashlight or a light so they don't get spotted. And with the mention of the light switch going on and off, I think I was correct. So, well, we're not done with the story yet.

There could still be a tape of some kind or there's no tape. There's no ham tape. It might not be a ham tape, but there might be a hand, there might be some kind of tape or ham still involved in this. I don't think so. Now, also, the figure that's standing out there, which is kind of creepy, you have a guy standing out there for fucking 25 minutes to an hour by this point. He specified it doesn't look like a human. Right. Or something.

Something's out there, right? Leaning against the fence. Right, right. What makes you so much creepier to me is that the casualness of it, it's leaning on the fence. Mm-hmm. It's like a, it's like the Marlboro Man or something like that, you know, just like chilling out there. Do you think that it's like eyes are just looking right at it or is it just pure black silhouette? He said at first that it looks like a human, but now he's not so sure.

So I think it's just kind of like a tall. shape. I don't think he sees eyes or anything like that. I think it's just so white. Because they're both in denial that's even a person. They're like, is it like a giant board or something? Yeah, well, they're definitely doing that kid thing where it's like, it's just like, it's probably like a shrub. Because in the back of your mind, you're like,

I'm so scared right now. Yeah. There's like three jackets piled on top of a horse. You know, it's fine. Everyone starts, dead sprinting at you. It's just jackets. That's a horse. That's a horse with jackets.

That's what they do. It starts immediately chugging juice. through this whole conversation. Like he just has juice running down his shirt. I have not. I have not. I have not pictured this boy,

this child, however old this child is, without a carton or glass of juice somehow in his vicinity or if he's just been holding it the whole time. As they go to open the door, he's like shaking the lid's open, juice is spilling everywhere.

Yeah. Come on in, Chris. You guys are juice? No, it's okay. I'll take water. He just like starts throwing up. Yeah, Chris is talking to his friend. He's like, yeah, my mom says I should hang out with him more because he doesn't really, doesn't get a lot of friends. So we slipped on our trainers and opened the back door. Stepping onto the patio, I felt the air was heavy and warm that night.

Chris walked behind me. We stood very close to the door, peering at the back fence. Should we? I had just started to speak when he quickly stepped into the house again, still looking at the fence. What? I asked following him in. I turned and realized that the figure was gone. It was obvious from the light coming from the back door, but the fence and the rest of the garden was just as it always was.

Where is it? If it was leaning against the fence, it probably fell over into a bush or something. I tried to convince us both. He stared out for a few seconds longer and decided that we were too nervous to go and check. I don't usually give in to my night tears, but now they were just beginning to click into my head.

Can you stay over for the night? I asked Chris. Uh, yeah, sure. It didn't sound like he really wanted to. Kept his eyes on the fence. We both went inside and locked the door before going up to my room. I got out of sleeping bag for Chris and drew the curtains without looking outside into the garden again. Talked about stupid stuff for a couple of hours to take our minds off the garden.

I fell asleep. I really like the Vita juice and the pomegranate. What about you? What's your favorite? Chris is, I gotta say, respect gain from Chris, right? If it was me, I would be gone. You would not fucking stay.

You'd leave me and Harvey. I think a lot of people would be like, no, I don't think it's a good idea. Why don't we go to my house? Instead, Chris is a fucking, what a good friend. Plus two points for Chris. It's also in that weird place where it's like,

why don't they go to Chris's house, but they're both 13 and they don't know they saw something. So maybe it's the idea of like, well, I don't want to bother my parents and you come over and like make it a whole deal. So it's just plausible enough that they would stay there, I think. Because it's not like they saw a giant guy with like bloody teeth or whatever. Yeah.

It's just maybe they saw shape. They still don't really even know what they saw. So there's still plausible deniability on their brain. Right. But yes. If I, the reason I think that they don't leave to is that once again, it's the thing where it's outside to be able to leave is outside.

They're probably, I wonder if it's some psychological thing where like if we go outside, it's going to get us. So why are we just, you just want to stay here tonight? sure, you know, that kind of thing. Yeah, yeah, I think so. In the morning, I found Chris's sleeping back empty.

I called out to Chris and he said he was downstairs. So I threw on a t-shirt and went down. Sleep well, I asked. Yeah, pretty well. But I kept thinking about the garden and stuff. Hey, did you find that tent? Yeah. Er, er.

Yeah. I think I found that tent. Er, Chris, you're going to want to see this, and it's just another fridge full of juice. We got to go to the store, I get more juice. Yeah, I got more juice. I answered, remembering that shape, which I had forgotten about until now. Well, I was thinking about the camping thing, and thought maybe we could bring the tent to my house. It would just make a change, you know?

Didn't have to ask him why. I wasn't too keen on staying in my garden after last night. Wait, last night. Come to think of it, the sun was up and I wanted to check the garden while it wasn't pitch black. I asked Chris and he hesitantly agreed. We put on our trainers and stepped out into the garden. I don't know what we were so worried about. It was bright and colorful.

The plants and bushes around the edges of the garden smelled good, and there was a bird in one of the small trees singing out for its mate somewhere. We walked to the back fence to find nothing out of place and looked over the bushes in front of the paneling to check if anything lay behind them. We found nothing. I walked around the edge of the whole garden once more while Chris tried whistling to the bird.

Cocked its head from side to side trying to figure him out. It was a warm day, perfect for camping that evening, I decided. We talked as we filled a couple of rucksacks with sleeping bags and some food from the kitchen. We didn't want to set up a fire, so we packed some tinned hot dogs, bread, a pack of tomatoes and chocolate. but as well as some bottles of water. There's a forest just next to my house, which is actually pretty good.

Our garden backs to the edge of it. I stayed to tit there once with my dad for my first little camping trip when I was like seven. And I remember I was so excited at the time. I thought we were really roughing it like some hardcore mountaineers. If we get too colder and need some more food, we can just go to my house. My parents are out, so we'll have a free run of the place anyway. yours are away too that is suspicious is it not

interesting it's their anniversary so they're out for the night they're staying in a hotel the next town over we'll be back in the morning apparently leaving your kids behind was in fashion this summer it seems like uh I wonder if

it just seems to plan to calculate well I think what it may be is this creature shows up when kids parents are away um or the parents are like well, it's time for the yearly child sacrifice. That's what I want to believe, dude.

I want to believe the fucking they're just like, well, we'll see what the, we'll see with the juice goblin who he wants to pick up tonight. Yeah, we'll see who the goblin comes for. We've been fattening our son up with juice for months at this point. So that's actually such a sweet idea. It's like all the kids in the town are forced to,

yeah, drink juice and stuff. Get all plump on you. So it's a tasty tree like that where the parents are fattening up the kids for something. I think I'm thinking of handsome and Gretel or something Well I mean yeah but

I mean probably There's probably some like feeder horror movie Yeah At about noon we left my house with the two rucksacks Sleeping back for each of us And the tent Made our way to Chris's house It was fairly close by

And a part of the same place at neighborhood Talked and joked a lot Walking side by side nodding and greeting a couple of familiar neighbors As we went It was a crazy nice day some was almost too much. It was hot on our necks,

and the trees by the sidewalk seemed to glow green from underneath as the sunlight passed through the leaves. The sprinkler offered us some water as we walked by one house, and it felt good on my hot arms. I was already sweaty by the time we got to Chris's place. We'd have been walking for more than 20 minutes. We didn't go inside his house immediately because it was so hot, so we went straight to his garden and dumped our bags in the shade.

He wasn't joking. The gate of his garden, straight on to an impressive forest. Very tall, thin tree stood high above the house and continued as far as I could see. Some bushes and shrubs littered the forest floor, but most of it was either grass or fairly smooth sections of dirt.

I didn't see how this forest was classed as small. Looks good, right? It's awesome, I admitted, opening the gate and surveying the area. I also like this. This explanation works better because after that first night, I was like, there's no way

they would reasonably camp in that backyard. But now it's like, oh, we're going to my friend's house, so that's more reasonable. We also didn't see anything. But this is a way where they saw something suspicious that still made them want to go out into the woods. So like the setups make sense. I walked out in between the trees and found a flat spot for the tent. I turned around to ask Chris's opinion and paused, a little disappointed. Didn't feel like real camping when his house was so obviously in our faces. Let's go a little further in so it at least feels legit. I said and walked back to pick up my bags.

Chris objected to carrying his, quote, heavy shit any further. We walked in a straight line from Chris's house and kept checking behind us until the house was just about obscured by trees in front of each other. We had only gone a very short way in, but the forest was already thicker and greener. There was even a long rope swing hanging from one of the trees, but it looked too old to hold our weight, so we decided to keep our spines unbroken and given a miss. I unpacked the tin and set it up with Chris's help, and we threw our sleeping bags inside.

I lay down inside to test it out. It was so warm and humid I had to adjust my breathing for a second. I stepped out again and asked Chris if he had a torch for the evening. I could do better than that. Was his response, and he took off towards the house. I was too hot to run after him, so I opened my rucksack and cracked open a bottle of water, down in half of it and putting the rest back in the pack. took a lot of restraint for that to not be juice, by the way.

It's, it was juice at one point. And then someone was like, hey, cool it with the juice. Cool with the juice thing. Have a really good. Have a hydrate like a new boy. You need to, after the second paragraph, you need to drop the juice thing. Why do you mean? Why?

What's wrong? Lips chapped. Lips completely covered and stained from grape juice. What do you? Why? What do you mean? Why? Why would we not?

Are you thirsty? No, I'm not thirsty. I laid down on a patch of grass and looked up at the canopy. The leaves were shifting gently in a breeze I couldn't feel from down here. I watched them sway and mesh together until I heard Chris return. Did you get a torch? I asked, close my eyes. The sun shone through my eyelids and colored my vision red.

I listened to the soft sound of his footsteps on the grass as he walked past me towards the rope swing. That's not going to hold you. I think I know this is going. For sure, not Chris, by the way. Yeah, yeah. It's not going to hold you. I warned as I heard him tugged the branch with a small creek. He tugged it.

It creaked in response. I listened. He tucked it once more and again. There's a moment of silence as I guessed he was still waning it up and then another tug. He continued to tug a few more times and the creaking followed each one. I was sure wouldn't hold his one. wait and I smiled predicting one big creek in a snap as the rope with the branch broke. I waited as some final tugs were made.

Creek Creek. I waited still. Creek, Creek, Creek. Yo! I heard Chris's voice coming from his garden. Man. I sat bolt upright, almost sprained my neck as I snapped my head sideways to face his house. He was jogging through the trees holding in a large. electric lantern. I switched my gaze in the other direction towards the rope swing. It was hanging still, nothing nearby. I stood up and turned full circle, nothing in any other direction. I love that little payoff. What? I mouthed to myself walking towards the rope. I tugged it gently. It didn't

creak. I pulled it harder. It didn't creak. My mouth went dry. I jumped up, grabbed hold, and yanked it down. The branch bent a little as my feet touched the floor, and still it didn't make a sound. I kept holding of it as I stared up towards the branches, but eventually the rope gave way under my weight, somewhere in the middle, and a soft thud fell on my ears as the thick rope fell in front of me. Chris was rattling the lantern as he came by. I've never used this before. I got it for Christmas for my cousin. She buys some weird presents. Ah, I see the swing is dead.

Let's have a proper barely a memory of all the joy I gave us. The main character is like fighting demons right now, scared to death. he's like, I got this for Christmas and um, my cousin got it, but she always gets weird gifts. And I love that idea, though, of, uh, like you're sitting there. I love whenever it's just a thing of you assume it's the person you know behind you, making the sounds that are all familiar of like playing at the swing that they've been on before. And I love the kid like approach of coming back and, you know, and being like, oh, you, the thing snapped.

Like, not understanding the weight of like how fucking creepy the thing just happened was. it really it really just helps sell the idea of like just innocent kids just like trying to camp mm-hmm the um the the it's such an easy play but doing the whole i think this is something but it's something else standing next to me it always works always i i at least for me i always gobble that shit up i'm sure some people are like eh because it's it's kind of like you know i mean obviously you see it coming but i just it's still fun i don't know i like yeah i like the i like that i like that i like the idea of the creaking too. Yeah.

Because it's like bending or not bending but like stretching and stuff. It's just a fun. Well, it almost sounds like it was the thing making the creaky noise because the rope never made the noise, right? He assumed it was the rope or the branch, but it wasn't either. So it's like whatever this thing is, it makes creaky noises when it moves. I love the idea of like a monster too, getting on like something that's like a rope. Ropes have such a straining, almost like bone breaking sound that like I like to think

the creature just in his moment, just in his movement makes that kind of sound too. So it's like this weird like almost like stacked auditory like sensory fucking overload of like just this stretching

breaking sound kind of sick. Pretty hard. You know some of my complaints from the beginning I apologize. Pretty good. Pretty good. I didn't respond. I continued looking up the branch

with half a rope swing tied to it. Hey. Are you good? I just followed my gaze. I thought you'd already come back. Said immediately. I wasn't the time to let things slide with an, oh, it's nothing. What?

Someone walked by me and was messing around with the rope swing. Who was it? I don't know. Are they still around? I don't know. I had my eyes closed and I was laying just there. Then I heard you shout so I looked around and there was nothing here. I heard them walk by my head.

I felt a bit sick. Look, calm down for a second. It's the middle of day with 30 food from my house. And even if there was a person, so what? It's just a public woods. Anyone can come through here. All right, Chris. I thought you were based before,

but this is you're a little, you're being a little too carefree. You're being a little too care for me, Chris, all right? Yeah, I thought you were based in red pill. I thought you were Chad. I thought I thought he was. Really, you're just virgin cell. I thought that he was Gigga Chad for sure.

but now I'm like you're hanging a little too loose there, brother. Also, like, just be like it's a public, it's a public forest. It's 30 feet from your house. Sir, how about you don't walk in my back, my literal backyard. Please and thank you. It's a public forest. That's why they come and touch our walls and like, you know, look into our bedrooms.

It's a public forest. That's why they tuck me in every night. Because it's a public forest. It's a public forest. That's why they drink all of our juice. go ahead. You're about to say he comes in and gives you what gives me gives me kisses on my forehead. Kisses on the what? On the head.

Oh, okay. You wrap belly kisses into a lot of stories. So that's where I figured that was coming from. Give him a raspberry. Yeah. Chris is kicking and giggling in his room. Like, Jury off.

Got like their 12 year old in the bedroom. It's like some neighbor comes into the bedroom. And the parents are just like, oh, he's that way. Public forest. you know what can you do yeah where's chris he's down in his room good night chris whatever he he turn that off i just think that's the whole thing the mom and dad are watch the tv and they can hear it they're just like oh damn it public forest what can you do that made some sense and he was right about it being public but then where were they glanced around one more time

however the trees quickly layered up and i couldn't see far at all i guess it was possible for me to lose track of someone here in a short distance. Okay. Man, I can stay alone in the house for weeks on end, but I can't handle a short walk through the woods on a summer's day. That's why you bought some muscle. Declared Chris, wielding the lantern above his head, and I laughed. We spent the day walking around the forest and returned to the tent to get some water when we were too hot. We talked about school and what our plans were for the future.

Talked about dreams we'd had and ghosts and creatures that looked in the dark. Neither of us were too scared of things like that, but they made for good camping stories. Chris told a particularly good one of a woman who lived in the woods. She had the head of a cat, and if you heard her raspy meow... I read raspy as raspberry for a second. She had the head of a cat, and if you heard her raspy meow, that meant she was trying to find you. If she stopped meowing, signified you were found, and she was quickly making her way towards you. made my skin crawl a little

and we stopped telling stories soon after that. I just want to say I wish, a woman with a head of a cat. I wish that was the fucking monster. Like, you know, something like I love those just kind of like folk taily, Grims fairy tale kind of creatures. Yeah.

If she stops meowing, it's like, yeah. Also, how fucking creepy is that? You start hearing a cat and you're like, what the fuck? And then it goes silent.

That actually reminds me. So the most scared I ever was of a goosebumps episode. what was it called cat scratch it was about a cat or no it was a dead cat you know you know the one I'm talking about Shirley right I'm trying to think I don't think so it's about a cat that if it's the cat got ran over by a car

cry of the cat that's what it was cry of the cat yeah the cat got hit by a car but it kept coming back and it's like if it scratched you you caught like the zombie plug it had anyway at the beginning of a story there's a woman who gets scratched by it and starts to

transform into a cat person and you don't see what she looks like till the very end of the story. Now I'm about to send you this picture, Hunter. When I was, I think I watched this when I was eight, maybe nine. I did not sleep for weeks. I saw this

image and lost my mind. Hold on where that picture go. Hold on where those I just saved it to my desktop. Where did you go? Okay, that is fucking haunting. For people that don't know, it's like, it's like a regular cat.

It's like a fucking like dying. It looks like a 25 year old cat. If they stretched out and gave it like human appendages, it looks haunting. This is, this is the first shot of it too. She steps out of a dark hallway like this. Bro,

I was free out, man. Yeah, I was losing my mind. And then the act. actual zombie cat shows up at the end, but I didn't care. The zombie cat didn't bother me. I don't get the fuck with the zombie cat now.

I've seen the face of hell right here before this. Hold on. Here's the zombie cat that shows up at the very end of the story. Didn't bother me. I was like, yeah, that's a cat monster thing. Who cares? God, the effects on the show are so sick, did. Goosemumps went hard.

Duespumps was super hard. They did great. But, man, I tell you what, that face freaked me out. Anyway, so, but that's what they're talking about the woman with the head of a cat. That's what I thought of, that thing in the woods. The light of day eventually faded, and it was getting hard to see, so we headed back to the tent for the night. The impressive heat during the day killed our appetites, so we left the food for now and decided we'd eat it at the night if we got hungry. Chris hung the electric lantern at the front of the tent, flicking it on as he did so.

He was surprisingly bright, spilled a yellow light onto the ground and onto the trees that faced us. The warm glow looked dramatic, but whatever was beyond the light had hidden in blackness. Our immediate area was clear, but after a few paces, the light seemed to stop dead. It looked weird. Chris ducked under the tin opening and I followed him. Sleeping bags looked inviting as the heat from earlier had gone and it was too cold for shirts and shorts. We got inside and took the lantern with us. Can you hear meowing? I said, I'm so bro.

I said my head tilted as I strained. to hear. Yeah. I can hear some bullshit too. That would be you. That's 100% of you response. No, I'm too much of a pussy. I'm telling you. I'm too much of a like Chris, Chris is, he is actually doomed-pilled. He is black-pilled Chris, for sure. This little motherfucker wants to die. Why, why are you smiling? Are we not afraid, Chris? Hello? We're out here all alone and people walk with this public force all the time and

give me belly kisses at night. Yeah, what's so weird about it, dude? There's like a line of people outside of the tent coming to give him belly kisses. Yeah, maybe get with the times, dude. Maybe open up a little. Chris. Chris smiled and zipped up a sleeping bag.

Damn, I thought I had him. No, well, I zipped up my own bag, and we lay there talking for a little while. And then the exhaustion of such a hot summer hit us and we fell asleep. All right, thank God. It was just a joke. So Chris is really teeter in the line. I can't tell.

But yeah, he was just doing a little glee for the gas. Yeah, he was best around like, can you hear me. And he's like, yeah, I can hear some bullshit too. Like yeah. Yeah. This episode sponsored by Hexclad. At the beginning of the new year, there's lots of talks about eating healthier. But before we talk about cooking, we need to talk about your pan.

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Let us eat. Thank you to HexClad. Now back to the episode. I had a dream that we were walking to Chris's house again. But there were more trees than before. And it was getting dark very quickly. I blinked suddenly it was night. The forest sprawling in every direction.

The rope swing hung in front of me. I turned around and Chris was gone. I heard a creek behind me. A feeling came over me like I'd missed a step on the stairs. For some reason, I couldn't turn around. I started walking straight ahead and the rope swing soon came into my view again. I was aware I was in a nightmare. The rope swing slowly lifted itself up into the trees and I watched it disappear.

I walked over and stood beneath where it had been and there was a rustle above me. As I lifted my eyes to the canopy, a black figure with the head of a cat came hurtling downwards with its mouth open, horrifically wide. One of its teeth touched my left eye, and I tore myself awake, gasping as I set up in the tent. My back was damp with sweat and Chris was asleep next to me. The lantern was still on and I could see our backpacks at the end of the tent. Took a moment to breathe and then let myself lay back down. I had thumping on the floor a little too hard.

I winced and reached for the bottle of water to my side, down in a few mouthfuls. I couldn't fall asleep with the glow of the lantern on my eyelids, so I set up and searched the tent for it. Quickly realized the light was coming from outside. Ooh! Chris, I said, still confused from sleep. Mumbled something and replied. Chris, where's the lantern?

He said slowly and sleepily before turning over. Looking around again, the light was obviously coming from outside. I weighed up the options. Either some murderer had snuck into our tent and done nothing but take the lantern outside, or we didn't actually bring it into the tent and I had remembered wrong. That sounded more convincing, so I knelt by the tent door and unzipped it. From the opening, I looked around. It wasn't immediately obvious where the glow was coming from.

Why couldn't I see it? I looked up. The lantern was resting 20 feet in the air and even the dark. Goosepubbs swept across my skin and I zipped up the door before shaking Chris. That's pretty good. I do like that. That's pretty solid. Yeah.

Something's taken the, uh, the lantern and like tied it to the rope swing it was testing earlier. Uh, Chris, please wake up. He heard the urgency in my voice and set up. What's wrong? Chris said rubbing his eyes. The lantern's hanging outside.

But I probably did. I felt sick as my reasoning broke. We both looked at the front of the tent. We should go back to the house, I said. My resolve buckling. I was just a kid in a forest whose parents were away. I'm not walking to the dark. He replied.

Chris was now looking worried. We've got a lantern. I stopped myself. We looked at the front of the tent again. Couldn't sit there forever. We were getting scared as we were. We sat there doing nothing. So this was the plan.

We weren't going back to sleep. We would get the lantern back somehow, leave everything here, and spend the night in Chris's house. I hated being the one to go first. I wanted to turn back even just crouching by the tent entrance, unzipping the fabric doors I looked around. Nothing.

I peered over at the tent behind us. Nothing in sight. Literally, nothing. Everything was black outside of the light. I took a step out and it was, cold. Chris said the same as he stood right by my side, looking over his shoulder. He turned back and saw the lantern in the air. Oh my God. We stood there looking at it for a few seconds. It seemed to crawl by. Eventually I worked out which tree it was hanging from. The broken rope swing at my feet

confirmed it. Way up out of reach, the lantern hung above our heads, tied to the other end of the rope that still dangled from the darkness. I couldn't work it out. It was high. It was high. up, too high up for even a ladder. The trees were thin and bare besides the leaves that made up the canopy. There was nowhere to climb. Picking up the length of rope that had snapped off earlier, I bundled it up and tied a knot and aimed it at the lantern. I took a step back and jumped, tossing it into the air.

It caught the lantern on its side and sent it swinging through shadows rocking around us. I suddenly wished it hadn't hit it. The light made the shadows lean from side to side with the lantern. The horrible, unnatural swaying made me panic, and my eyes became wet as fear took a solid hold of me. I picked up the rope again and lobbed desperately at the lantern. I missed, and the bundle of rope sailed off into the darkness. Helplessly, I turned to Chris who had already grabbed his backpack. He spanned around and threw it with a yelp, and it hit the lantern dead on.

and fell and thudded to the floor with a crack but the light was still on and I ran to pick it up. I turned to Chris and almost cried with relief. Okay, go, go, go, let's go. I urge and he started jogging quickly towards his house as I followed. Bro, that idea,

the image of it hanging up in the tree and like as it sways, all the shadows of the near trees are like swaying back and forth. Yeah, just like dancing. Yeah, really creepy. And also the, idea of like whatever

did this did it to mess with them by hanging it up in the tree and it's almost made them like they're in a fish bowl right like they're not going to step out in the darkness so they're stuck to this like this chosen area that's so creepy it's literally becoming like a shark in open water

kind of thing but I do like the use of that shadow it makes the threat feel like bigger and it makes it feel like they're like they're actually dwarfed in size and they're like something had to read there's nowhere to climb, something had to reach up that big to tie the piece tall as a tree. If you just think of the light, the shadows are going to make, it just makes everything,

it makes you feel small like you're trapped in a cage or something with the way that's swinging. But yeah, just really, really cool. Yeah. We half ran half stumbled off into the dark. Checking over our shoulders and working ourselves up as our thoughts were consumed by everything that may be waiting in the trees for us. I don't know how long we were moving, but it soon became apparent that Chris's house wasn't in this direction.

For God's sakes! Where is it? Chris said, tension taking hold of his voice. We'll have to fight the tent and try again. A couple of tears were forming at the corners of his eyes. They were probably on mine too, but my heart was thumping so hard I didn't notice. Okay. I took a breath and we turned around. It ended in a straight line directly behind us.

Wait, okay, so what happened there? I don't know. Oh, they were running the wrong way. I see. They've been going further into the woods. Yeah, because they don't have the, they don't have the lantern. So they're just like, oh, man. Wait, no, they got it. They knocked it on the ground. Remember?

And they grabbed it. Okay. They grabbed it, but they're going the wrong way. Yeah. What if we didn't find the tent? I couldn't stop myself thinking that over and over as we retraced our steps. We walked for what seemed like twice as long before the light finally fell on the side of the tent. We ran up and stood close to its side, looking at, around to try and figure out which direction we should go. The silence was like the build-up of a nightmare,

right before some horrible thing lurches out at you, screaming. The comparison made me gag and I scratched my eyes shut, the hair on my skin lifting. My temples were so hot it felt like my brain was thudding against the inside of my skull. I could have began to guess where the house was. We could see about ten feet from the lantern, and then pitch black. There were no clues. Every direction looked wrong. Chris took the lantern from me and walked in a small circle, straining his eyes to try and see. I stayed putt. Chris, turn it off. I whispered to him hurriedly. What? I stepped quickly and quietly towards him, bringing my face to his. There's something in the tent. Okay, for one, bear trap. Because at the beginning of the story I said, perhaps they're in the

woods and there's afraid there's something out there. So the turn it off's in reference to a flashlight. I was right. Also, oh my gosh. I'm very curious to know what this thing is. Yeah. We may not get a direct answer and that's fine because they've given us so much to work with, but man, his gaze shifted past me towards the tent and he stood there staring. We were standing on the left hand side of the tent. From this angle, I could just about see the unsyped door hanging open. But I remember leaving it that way. So that wasn't what was making me clinch my teeth together. A few feet away, my rucksack sat outside on the dry earth, the food I'd packed, now neatly arranged trailing from it. Our sleeping bags were also nicely laid out, end to end, making the line of belongings

lead straight into the mouth of the tent. Dude. Oh, it's like breadcrumbs leading inside of the tent. I do love this is like the way that this keeps kind of coming back to that grim fairy tale thing is really fun yeah yeah

it really is like a child's like just tail you know what I mean yeah it's like a giant trapdoor spider like something's in there waiting yeah oh nothing in here I promise just

just candy and juice come on in I took a careful step forward so the light could pass more easily through the fabric couldn't have been a trick of the light something big

and dark was obviously crouched with what I guessed was its front facing the open door. I hated myself for not seeing it sooner. It didn't move at all or seemed to breathe. It just sat, waiting for us to investigate the display it had made. Turn it off.

I whispered again. Chris continued staring, deaf to me. I've pleaded in a whisper. A voice from nearby joined in. Chris That's fine That's sick dude

That's awesome We both heard it And the blood fell in our veins It came from the tent A slow, strained Rasp of a voice That sounded like a parrot Copying a new word

The sound clicked Across my skin And crept into my ears The light flicked off With a click that was too loud Chris grabbed my shoulder And I clenched my fists closed painfully tight. We stood there in complete darkness. I didn't want to move.

I didn't want to stay. My brain fought for control as my legs waited for a decision, rooted in place. We breathed shallow, quiet breaths, blackness pressing on our eyes like water. Sweat ran down my neck. I couldn't see the tent. My stomach flipped inside out as the thing in the tent played with my words. I quickly grabbed Chris's hand, yanking him in the opposite direction. I ran like I never had before. Chris's legs thudding alternately with mine. The sprint continued for about a minute. We lost ourselves as we ran through absolute darkness.

I forgot where we were and I couldn't see what was in front of my face. I read hand out into a tree and my forehead struck its side with a sickening hollow knock. Sparks lit up inside my eyes and I choked back the pain. It hurt so much I couldn't breathe. Chris tried to pull me on, but I buckled to the floor on my knees and threw up. As I collapsed onto my back, my head went numb. Chris lifted me up. Please, no stop, please, please.

He begged. I couldn't reply. Please, please keep going. I forced my legs to take my weight as I locked my knees upright, leaning on Chris. My body felt empty and a little blood rolled down my forehead and into my brow. I wiped it away as I tried to grasp the situation again, but the pain was too much. Wait, I can't. Just wait, just wait. We stood together in the inky woods, but we could have been anywhere. I couldn't see Chris as he huddled next to me.

It didn't feel like darkness. It felt like someone had wrapped my head in a blanket. Neither of us said a word as we waited, but our breathing was loud, and I wondered from what distance it could be heard. Reality began to return to me, and the pain was now just about bearable. I straightened up, grasping at what was happening. The pins of fears sank into me a second time, and I started counting in my head. One minute passed without any sound in the world.

The wind was dead, and the birds might be two. Another minute went by. I continued counting. Three minutes. We were still alone. Is it even looking for us? I reached for Chris's arm in the dark. He jumped when I touched it, but I steadied him with the other.

He was still holding the lantern. Good. We had light on our side. now if only we could use it. I went over the events hurriedly in my mind. The lantern was hanging from a tree. We got out of the tent, then couldn't find our way home. By the time we returned to the tent, something was in it,

but then why did it take the lantern and do nothing while we slept? If it was sheer luck that we were alone when we were trying to get the lantern, I wondered just how small the possibility was, of us getting a second chance. I stayed silent for a moment and then whispered as best I could. We need to turn on the lantern. We need to get away from here and we make a run for your house, but we need to see. No, please.

We have to stay here. We can wait for morning if we have to. You can't turn it on. I got hearing his voice that a sob was breaking through. Just keep quiet. You fucking have to, please. Part of my lips to try again, but as I did, I heard something. A very faint clicking sound from somewhere in the dark.

It was almost an audible, but it was there. An irregular, stuttering, clicking sound. It sounded like fingernails on a wooden table, and it was moving. It came from in front of us. I was sure of it. A steady, click, click, click. Filled my ears as we tried to gauge the distance. It was drawing closer.

Click, clack, click. Stopped. I was glad for the first time of my life that I couldn't see what was waiting in the dark. Perhaps that meant we were also hidden. As my thoughts fired off in every direction, I gave the thing in the darkness the image of the cat-headed woman. And it terrified me. I was just waiting to hear that meow, but my ears were met with something else. I tinsed my throat and tried not to cry.

It said his name twice, and I cupped my hand over my mouth. The horrible, scraping dialogue sounded a few steps away. The words were said oddly, with no meaning behind them. There were just sounds that this thing had picked up and was now using them to catch us out in the dark. Chris let go of my hand and I heard his foot plant softly on the grass behind me as he prepared to run. Don't you dare, I try to project into his mind. Don't you make a sound. It sounded so wrong, drawn out like a door slowly opening.

Chris let out a whimper as it called him. I froze and waited for something, anything to happen. There was a long silence and I held my breath for as long as I could. I couldn't wait anymore. Very slowly I reached out to Chris and put my hand on his shoulder and very carefully, we both lifted our feet and managed to step without making a sound. We back stepped away from the voice and didn't stop moving, but ever so carefully, so, so slowly.

I didn't care how long it would take us to get somewhere. If it took us an hour, every step we were going to get out. Chris backed into a tree and gasped audibly. The clicking started up immediately. It rolled on. Consistently moving towards us. I didn't know what to do. All I could think of was to screw my eyes shut and try not to scream.

As we stood there, the clicking came to a stop and arms lengthed the way from where we stood. Silence. Fear took over. Chris switched on the light and tore off in the other direction without looking behind him. I wheeled in place and held the lantern in my sight like nothing else existed. We didn't dare look at that thing, but we could hear it. Our footsteps thudded on the grass and the thing pursued us with the tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. Now like scurrying little claws on hard earth.

As I ran desperately to catch up to the light, the sound suddenly rose up behind me and over our heads in between the trees. this wasn't happening. It was going to drop down on us. Turn! I screamed. I didn't care anymore. If we were going to get out with our lives, we were going to have to run for them. We suddenly changed course. The tapping stopped for a moment, long enough for us to gain a few feet before it came in our direction again. My legs were cramping horribly and Chris was gasping hard. We couldn't keep this up. But where were we? I saw the light from the lantern come to an abrupt halt up ahead. I didn't have time to stop. Embrace myself to thump into Chris. But the light passed beneath my feet.

You dropped the lantern. I turned my head and watched it recede into the darkness. It was immediately too far for me to go back. The thing would be on me in a second. Chris! I was crying and swiping tears from my cheeks as I ran, preparing for my face to connect with a tree at any moment. Keep going!

I heard Chris from up ahead. There's a light! My vision was bleary from tears, but could see it an orange glow hanging in the air in the distance. Another one? What was happening? I wanted to scream at him. to avoid it, but I realized it was a streetlight. My legs felt like I was running through water,

but I pushed them harder with a goal in sight. Gradually and painfully, the light drew closer, as did the clicking. This thing could move like nothing I knew. I saw Chris's figure pass underneath the streetlight, and then he was gone again. Don't stop! I yelled as I approached the edge of the forest, and my legs adjusted as the forest floor gave way to his solid footing. I could see a row of more streetlights leading off to the right, and Chris's figure was passing regularly, underneath each. When I was sure I was completely out of the trees, I didn't stop. I ran under several more streetlights, putting as much distance as I could manage between us and the edge of the woods. I realized after a while that the clicking had stopped. I needed to see we were okay.

I turned my head and looked back along the row of lights, giving my gaze on the first light. My pace slowed as the pain in my head and legs came back. There was silence once more, and the lights revealed an empty pathway. I jogged on and kept my eyes on the glow, expecting to see something at any minute. It lit up nothing but concrete at the edge of the road. Is it there? The question pulsed my mind over and over. As I turned my head to continue catching up to Chris, I caught sight of something passed under

the first street light. An almighty shock went through me as my fears were confirmed. I let out a cry and picked up the pace once more, sprinting between the lights. The image was burned into my mind. I hardly caught a glimpse of the thing, but it was white and massive. Almost brushed the street light as it went under it. It had a long, upright body full of kinks like it had just unfolded itself. That's all I was able to tell.

Must have had a face and limbs, but I didn't have time to see. I didn't look again. The path gave way to more lights, and soon I could see the glow of windows and some houses on either side of the road. I recognized where we were close to my house by some miracle. A little further and we would be there. My house! I yelled and Chris listened.

Turning left onto a side street and dashing down. To panic on my side, I reached the turn and looked down the road to see Chris jumping the fence into my garden. Hurry up! I heard him scream. Reaching the fence, I planted my hands on top, hoisting myself over and shredding my elbows

in the process. My ankle stung as I thudded into the garden. and sprinted towards the kitchen door. Chris stepped aside, gasping for errors, I fumbled the key under the lock and rushed it sideways. We both flew into the kitchen and slammed the door behind us. I locked it from the inside and we both sprinted upstairs into the bedroom, locking it behind us. What was that? I managed to say in a panicked whisper, wondering if it would get in.

Did you see it? No. Chris crouched under the window, letting tears roll. It was so tall. It was... I couldn't. Don't tell me. Do tell me.

Chris cut me off. I molded over again and again as we sat there. Minutes slowly ticked by into hours. My head was fizzing all the while, and I could still hear its voice. A disgusting voice. My elbows and forearms were sticky with blood and we both looked at the floor. The occasional sob coming from the two of us. Our hearts banged in our chest and we spent the night that way.

Light streamed in from the window, but we didn't unlock the door. the bathroom door until noon. We crept downstairs. Kitchen door was still locked. Nothing was in the house. Looked out the living room window. Another perfect day. No people walked by.

The sprinklers were on and I could hear birds again. It helped calm our nerves. That tent can stay there. I said at last. Yeah. Chris agreed. We stayed in the living room with the TV off all day. We didn't know what to do.

Talked about if we should call the police or something. The day crawled by as we tried to rake our thoughts together and think of what to do next. But all that went through my mind was what had just happened. Not what we should be doing. By the time it was dark at about 9 p.m., phone rang. Chris's parents asking if I had seen him as they were getting worried. He just got back from out of town. I let them know he was okay and asked if they could come and pick us both up from my house because something had happened.

They wanted to know what, but I said we'd both tell them when they get here. He said they'd be here soon. Relief watched over us as adults were on their way to make everything all right. They would believe us. We didn't lie about these things. Even if they were skeptical, they'd at least believe that some dangerous animal was in the forest and that was good enough for us. I went into the kitchen to get some juice from the... Of course.

Of course. It began with juice and with juice. It's only... It only makes sense with our main character. this point. Motherfarner loves juice. Motherfucker cannot get not cannot go a day without juice. Good Lord.

Bro, I've been so locked in. I know. And then I said. And then. And then Mr. Mr. Chills was like, and juice.

We can't forget what the story is all about. It's just to push juice. Yeah. I went into the kitchen and get some juice from the fridge and realized, I had a drink all day. I could hear water dripping in the sink, so I turned the faucet tighter and clug some juice. So I headed towards the living room,

the water started to tap again. Uh-oh. I flicked the light on and realized it wasn't coming from the sink, or anywhere in the room for that matter. It sounded like it was coming from further away. I looked out into the garden, could just about see a fuzzy, tall silhouette

leaning up against the back fence in the dark. Actually, tapping sounded more like clicking. The figure slowly moved away from the fence and clicked across the grass towards us. That's the end. That's the end. That was good. That was solid. I think it's interesting. I was going to say there's,

there's so many stories out there that I feel like are just a person who's like understands what it takes to just make something kind of spooky, right? right. I do like these stories, every time we read one of these kind of stories where it's like a really fun little spooky hook, because that's, you know, it is what it is. It really doesn't give you anything besides being like it was pale, blah, blah, blah. But you almost like these are the stories where I'm like, fuck, I wish this was like the length of, you know, a barasca or like something kind of long where you could get into these characters and had these kind of like big swinging moments and stuff. Do you think that those that can exist in the same realm of like some of the other like longer stories we read? I feel like whenever we read, I feel like whenever we read a longer story, it becomes a character drama, which you have to have a character drama for the length of things and develop characters and have payoffs and all that kind of stuff. But do you think that you could, would it just have to be basically a like a series of vignettes between these, like, you know, a series of spooky vignettes that happen in between all of these

character developments and stuff? Wait, ask that question one more time. Basically, what I'm saying is, sorry to if I'm saying it weird. I guess what I'm saying is that these stories, there's so many stories where it's like a shorter story like this where it's punchy, probably because the person had an idea of like, hey, you're out in the woods, you don't know what it is and this thing chases you. Even if it's something like that and you kind of like you branch off on that. What if we read something like Barasca or something or, you know, even like Stolen Tongues? Stolen tongues is probably the closest thing to this in the realm of like on a longer story, you have to have things where there's conflicts with characters. there's arcs to a character.

A character starts here and it goes and the character is fundamentally changed by the end of the story. But I don't think that we ever get like these like big pounding moments. I mean, not always. Like I said, stolen tongues has its moments as well. But I guess like you have to sacrifice one for the other.

You know, like do you have these big exciting, fun chasing moments? Or in these longer stories. Or is it because that there's, it's so ambiguous that it becomes something like when it's short it can be ambiguous and quick and because of that it takes on whatever scary things in your mind because there really is no description and stolen tongues it's kind of it's very descriptive right you know in these longer stories the more that you're with it the more that the character is going to see it to have it

just be this long drawn out story would be not silly but it would just be like you'd want to like you're you're it's a payoff like you want to see the monster you want to know what it is all that kind stuff. But the shorter ones have the advantage of it being this kind of like... I think so I think it's far more common to get these punchy powerful moments

out of short stories. And this isn't a discredit to shorter stories. No. But it's because you don't, you can build a story around the punch in a short form, right? You can have like because I mean, man, you want to talk about a punch the light dangling

above the tent. Well, it's coming back to see the food like into the 10 all time incredible yeah you can tell the that moment because that's how you can tell too for people that are like I guess trying to like get into writing and stuff because we've been seeing a lot of people writing on our on this new subreddit we have called Tales from the Creeps uh which is all of our it's like a new subreddit that we're doing that's just all stories um and it's awesome but I see a lot of people asking like how I just don't know how I'm supposed to get into it. I would say all of these start with like that. That moment is probably the first thing that was the hook where the person was like, oh, that's fun. And then they

build a story around that, which is why you have some things, which it's fine. For short stories, having stuff that's like, yeah, the kid, he's fucking obsessed with the juice thing. And there's like an over excessive amount of like, from 922, I do this from 930. I did it. Like, whatever. These are just like filler things that you could tell the person just like maybe just didn't care about it. much and they're just like get me to that part that I want to do or you're building backwards, you know, you set it up and you build backwards and then forward. You're kind of just building the entire story around this thing, which is the fun point. But, you know, like you're saying, that doesn't discredit the short stories because it's

the same thing of like critiquing a short film the same way that you would critique a feature like film. They're just two different things, you know, like that's the, they're objectively different. Even though they're still telling stories, they're just fundamentally doing a different thing. they have a different purpose. But I just think that's kind of just kind of interesting because it's just you really get nothing out of these characters. There's really no kind of arc. It's just a fun, spooky, like rip off the Band-Aid kind of thing.

And I feel like we get these a lot, but I don't know why it just kind of hit me where it's like, I wonder, I wonder like it's nice as a palate cleanser, but I do wonder if there's something where it's like, is there something more to the story? you know, can't, how ambiguous can you be through these stories, uh, versus just focusing solely on character, you know, like you can't just go through a whole story and not give away the, the creature, right? Am I, am I wrong? I guess that's kind of one of more.

Have you ever read a story where it's like the, it's like a feature, it's like a, uh, I want say feature length because I'm thinking of film, but I guess I mean like, like a, uh, full narrative book where you just don't even see the thing. Like it's just kind of ambiguous in the shadows. The whistlers. The whistlers. I guess that's true. The Whistler's really long and they never revealed what they look like.

There was the dog thing that it turned out was the thing hunting them, but the greater Whistler that was using humans as bait to hunt that thing. We never see what that looks like. I guess that's true. I also like the description we get of this monster where it's like it folds itself up to be smaller, but we don't get any more than that. Like it's a giant white lanky thing, but that's all the description. I don't know if you felt the same.

Whenever they said that it was large and white, it made me think of the moth for that story. The guy has sex with like the giant moth mother. I thought of long course. Oh, is that what you? Okay. Yeah. I think as soon as I heard like large white, I just thought of like a giant pillow body, which kind of fucked me up of like this giant insect.

I was kind of hoping in the story that the creature would hold onto the light and it would be like moving through the forest. Almost like it's like a giant lightning bug or whatever. just like floating through the forest and like you know like just that that that shadow play is so fun and picturing that you're like oh fuck it's almost like a spirit because then it takes on a new form where it's like yeah it's a monster but now it almost feels like a ghost or something floating through this forest um it's a lot of fun I think that like you know once again it's it's fun whenever these stories are on the shorter side that have like a fun hook to them versus it really sucks when we read a story and it's like six hours long and you're like what the fuck even

like there's no no it's certainly punchy i will say i think it's more impressive when someone can have that level of i guess quality or punchiness and they do it for longer i think that's more of a feat um oh it is the first example that comes to mind is pin pal yeah because pin pal had several little vignettes like that that all connected and each one was like strong kidding, satisfying. I feel like that's more impressive, but that's not to say like the setting of the lantern

and the tent and stuff like that wasn't incredible. Wasn't worth the story. Didn't work so well, flow so well together. The difference and the reason why it's so satisfying is because pen pal's all about character. You have to have strong characters. Like you care about the characters.

These I don't, I could care less. Like I really don't. Sure, sure. There's nothing. But at the same time, the, like the moments in,

pin pal those individual punches i think worked on their own like the scene no i think they do going down the river yeah yeah or getting hit by the car outside of the theater and stuff like that they just works so much better because we do care about the characters exactly i think that they do they they are their own and you could have them be their own but it's so much more effective when you're rooting for this character like you're really you're with them you're like you want to see where this is going you'd establish a relationship with them but then i think that's also just writing something that's real it's understanding that like this character is changing things are unfolding that's just so hard it's a very hard thing to do so whenever you do come across stories that kind of like move you in that way it's almost

always because the care like the the author is writing good characters and that's like that's the backbone in my opinion of i mean just story in general is conflict in characters and stuff so these are nice too though i mean like don't be wrong like i said i love the like peel the bandaid off kind of uh stories like this where it's just like i don't fucking know it's a stupid kid you who likes juice. Let me get you to where I want to get you. I think is a fun way too. So I think it's just a, the reason I want to say that too is just people who are writing this or going to things differently. It's like, it's not that like one diminishes the other. It's just a completely different approach, you know, and that you shouldn't, you shouldn't look at it like,

well, I have to have X, Y, and Z. It's like sometimes it's just nice to be on the ride. So. But that's our episode, guys. We appreciate you. Thank you for listening on our audio platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcast and give us a nice rating there. It helps. And consider signing up to our Patreon for bonus content. And if you just want to support the channel, we got some fun stuff playing for this year. And Isaiah is getting ready to be a dad. So if there is any kind of gap in the future. I've actually never addressed that publicly before. So thanks for out of me. Do you have?

I have not. Well, well, we can edit it out. No, no. No, this is this is a good way for it to announce you. Okay. Well, everyone throws it out there completely. Sorry. Well, I thought that it was public knowledge. I apologize. Kayla has mentioned it. Oh, okay.

We can still. We can still. No, no, I think that's a perfect way to just leave it at the end of an episode with you without consulting me, bringing it out loud. I think that's a good. All righty.

Well, his wife's getting ready to shit out a baby here pretty soon. Not you. Gross. Oh my gosh. Shit out of baby. Isaiah is going to be in dad mode for a while as well. so this year is going to be very,

it's just interesting. I'm very excited for you guys and also excited just to see how this channel, you know, it just explores that new feat in your life and stuff. I'm just curious to see how it changes you and see how maybe even it,

you look at stories differently or something just from the perspective of being a, like a new dad. I'm about to reread the road, which, you know, the core thing if that's like a father and son. So I'm about to, reread that and I'm going I fully expected to put me into a coma so are you going to read the is it

the the gift I got you that one you to dive into that one actually I will say so as much as I make fun of Hunter hold on we show this off hunter sent me this is an incredible gift for Christmas a first edition copy of the road like in the original like 80s publication title with uh cormic mccarthy signature who is now who is not only my favorite author but he has now passed way. So this is incredibly an incredible gift, very incredible gift. So I appreciate it very much. When you go to the front where it says also by Cor McArthur, if you look at any modern publication, it's his whole bibliography. But since this was published then, it stops at the orchard keeper because that was the most recent thing he did before the road. So that, yeah, this is really,

this is a spectacular. So Hunter did quite well. I appreciate that very much. It's his favorite book. It's the thing that got him into reading. I listen. Well, that's actually very impressive. It's very impressive. I appreciate that. Of course. But also, I think that like this year, too, it'd be interesting to see if we could try to get. We tried last year, you know, to the best of our ability to try to get in and like read published work.

I know there's kind of a weird debate of people online. They're like, well, I want them to check out publish works or people are like, I'll just stick to the online internet stories. We're going to try whatever. You know what I mean? I think you just, some people don't know what they want until they actually get it. But there's things where we would like to read some longer stories just because, I mean, you know, we've been reading creepypossos for so long in these internet horror stories. It would be cool to kind of get like a big longer chunk of something recorded. So that's in the future.

The only reason I say that too is that just, you know, new episode or new year, new episode kind of thing. Just thinking about it. So if you have any suggestions below, feel free to let us know. otherwise stay beautiful. You guys are the best fan base on earth. And we appreciate you. So thank you so much, guys. We will see you in the next one.

Bye bye. Bye, everyone. Stay creep. That was just a really good story. And then watch goosebumps. And, oh yeah,

funny mention, what did I get Hunter for Christmas? Absolutely nothing because I'm a great friend. Yep. So, all right, yeah. Yeah,

all right. Bye.