Scary Horror Stories by Dr. NoSleep - Two Stepping With the Devil

Episode Date: August 8, 2025

A desperate man battles the torment of a devilish doppelgänger urging him to leap from a rooftop before sunset—where the price of delay is a soul lost forever. Author: Jake Bible * * * CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content not limited to intense themes, strong language, and depictions of violence intended for adults. Parental guidance is strongly advised for children under the age of 17. Listener discretion is advised.  #drnosleep #scarystories #horrorstories #doctornosleep #horrorpodcast #horror Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talk to nice sleep. With the evening sun at his back and the heat of the day still radiating up off the tar paper, Kevin takes slow steps around the stray bits of gravel and grit that coat the building's roof, heading toward the rusty, crumbling railing. Oh, come on now, Kevin. Let's pick up the pace, shall we? The little devil on his left shoulder nags. The sun is almost set, and the deal was that if you jump before sunset,

then your soul will be all the better for it. Jump after sunset and, well, I don't know what's going to happen to you in the ever after. Kevin lets out a quiet whimper. The devil smiles. The devil is about as cartoonish a devil as they come. Red from head to toe. Black eyes and black horns. A tiny pitchfork in one hand, while a long, pointed tail whips about,

like an angry cat behind its back. The not-so-cartoonish part is the disturbing fact that the little devil has Kevin's face. Looks just like him except for the little black, cliche of a mustache, and pointy beard that sit on his upper lip and sharp chin. Stop, Kevin mutters. I don't want to... Oh, come on now, Kevin. Of course you do. It's not like your life is going anywhere.

Your girlfriend left you because you are such a loser. That was six months ago. and I'm not a loser. I feel better about it now. Oh, Kevin, you can't lie to me. You know that. You're miserable. I'm better. I swear. No, Kevin, you are not better. You are worse. Exasperated. Kevin glances at his right shoulder and the spot where the angel stood only a week before. It stands no more. All that's on his shoulder is a corpse. A dead and desisting

an exocated angel that is quickly decayed, leaving a husk of a skeleton inside a soiled white robe with long bones sticking out of the back. The feathers fell off the wings on Tuesday. If the face wasn't nothing but a shrivelled and stretched piece of skin with empty eye sockets, it looked like Kevin as well. Now it looks like a sad cat toy that's been left out in the sun for way too long. That guy ain't going to be much help to you anymore, Kevin. The little devil says. Not that he was much help before. What a tool, am I right?

Nothing but virtue this and virtue that. He didn't care about what you needed. He didn't care about all the pain you are in. He wanted you to suffer, Kevin. He wanted you to continue on with this pitiful, pointless path so that all you'd know in life is hurt and disappointment. Shit, Kev. If I could stab and kill that little bitch again, I would.

I did it for you once, Kevin, and I do it for you again. But if I do what you say, I won't have a life, Kevin says and pauses. Whoa, whoa, whoa, what you doing, Kev? Keep on walking now. No need to slow this roll. One foot in front of the other. Kevin stays still for a few seconds, then takes another step. There we go. Let's get this chew, chew, chug, chug, chugging along. One step, two step. Come on now.

Let's try a second step. Ah, there we are. Can we go for a third step? How about a fourth? Perfect. We are back on track now, Kevin, my boy. I don't want to jump. Yes, you do.

That's all you want. It's going to hurt. Is that what you're worried about? Pain. How about the pain your mother causes every time she calls to tell you what a disappointment you are. How about that pain, huh?

The way she laughs at your plans. The way she tells your friends lies about you so she isn't embarrassed by what a loser you've turned into. Mother, I'm not the one saying you're a loser, Kevin. I mean, yeah, I did just say that. But I was coming at it from the point of view of others. Those words aren't mine. They're your exes.

They're your mothers. Me? I think you're a winner. W-I-N-N-R-winner. And the only way to win against your mother is to show her you're in charge. You make the decisions about your life. Not her. You. Come on, Kevin. You're 28 years old. Time to nut up and make some hard choices on your own. Choice. What? Choice. If I jump, it's one choice. I won't be much. making any choices after that.

See? You're a thinker. You thought it through. Good for you, Kevin. Good for you. Now, all you have to do is climb over that railing onto the ledge. Close your eyes and swarm dive your ass into the hereafter. Kevin pauses again.

Kevin? Why are you stopping? We're making progress here, Kevin, me boy. One step, two, step three, step four. Just do that a couple of times and you'll be at the railing. You're so close. I thought it was the Ever After? Kevin asks.

Huh? What's that now? You called it the Hereafter just now. But you've been calling it the Ever After all this time. Did I? Have I? It's hard to keep track. Many things have many names, Kevin. I mean, the Inuit have like a billion names for Snow.

No one needs a billion names for Snow, Kevin. because in the end, it's just fucking snow. So what if I called it the ever after, the hereafter? Same place, man, same place. Kevin swallows hard and looks back at the roof access door several yards behind him. Oh, no, Kevin, no, just no. We aren't going backwards. You've come so far, my man.

Think of all the effort it took just to get dressed today. Get your ass in your car and drive to work. Then you spent all day being ignored by your co-workers. They don't even notice you, Kev. You go back through that door, and all you are doing is returning to a place that doesn't respect you, doesn't value you. They barely know you exist, Kevin. Is that the life you want to lead? I could quit. Get a different job.

Oh, yeah, do that. I'm sure your mother would approve. The little devil laughs and laughs. Can't you just see the look on her face? when you tell her you quit? I can, and it's hilarious in a grotesque, horribly cruel sort of way. Yes, you should totally go back down to the office, tell your boss you quit, and then call your mother immediately.

Good plan, Kevin, good plan. I wouldn't have to tell her. Not right away. The little devil sighs. Kevin, Kevin, Kevin. You face time with your mother when you go buy new socks in order to get her approval. Sox, Kevin. Sox.

And you're telling me, you are going to quit your rather lucrative job and not tell her about it? I'd tell her. Just not right away. Oh, that makes it better, sure. She'll love that when she finds out. She wouldn't find out. She always finds out, Kevin.

Always. Kevin doesn't respond. You know I'm right, Kevin. And isn't that what this is really about? You being free of her? All that nagging and belittling. Her casual comments that cut like a knife. They cut deep, don't they, Kevin?

She doesn't love you, Kevin. No one does, except for me. I'm the guy with your best interests at heart. Always have and always will. Now, how about we get them feats of moving again, huh? One step, two step, here we go. The air isn't very warm, but Kevin breaks out in a sweat.

He glances down at his right shoulder and the dead angel spayed out there. Kevin, what are you waiting for? Obviously, that guy can't help you. He never could. It's just you and me, pal, you and me. And I promise you that if you walk to that railing, hook your leg over, then your other leg, step on to that ledge, then just let go. All will be well again.

Kevin's eyes stare at the railing. He takes a step. There we go, Kevin. How about another? Kevin slowly lifts his foot and takes another step, then another. Oh man, you were doing me so proud, Kevin. So proud! Three more steps.

There you go. Doesn't it feel good to have someone proud of you, Kevin? Yes. Yeah. Kevin is only a couple steps away from the rusty, barely hanging on railing. I see him. Yes, Mrs. Carlisle. I'll call you back as soon as I can.

Kevin whirls around to see a man standing at the roof access. door, a cell phone to his ear. Dr. Mel? Kevin, don't take another step. The man focuses on the phone again. Let me call you right back, Mrs. Carlisle. He hangs up the phone, shoves it into his back pocket, then holds out his hands, palms facing Kevin.

Kevin, I am so glad I found you. Now just stay where you are, okay? With a pained and puzzled look on his face, Kevin asks. That doesn't matter right now. I said goodbye to my coworkers. One of them even saw me get into my car before I slipped back to the stairs and came up here. Ignore this doucheback, Kevin. You know what you need to do?

Don't let him stop you. Not a guy like this. Is that a cardigan he's wearing? It's June, Kevin. Only douchebags wear cardigans outside in June. Stop calling him a douchebag. Dr. Mel is nice. Who are you talking to, Kevin?

Dr. Mel. the man of the cardigan in June asks. No one. How'd you find me? Dr. Mel keeps his hands held out and takes a step toward Kevin. Kevin takes a step backwards. Hold on, hold on. Just stay right there, Kevin. Let's talk. How'd you find me, Dr. Mel? You missed your last two therapy appointments, Kevin.

And when I texted you about it yesterday, you didn't respond. So, you did what? You called my mother? Oh shit, Kevin. You can't trust this guy? I swear if he says yes, then you need to grab that railing and just jump right over. Fuck the ledge, Kevin. Your feet don't even need to touch that. Just jump over that railing and fly, my man, fly! Shut up!

Are you telling me to shut up or someone else? Dr. Mal asks. Yeah, I wouldn't answer that, Kevin, the little devil says. And I hate to remind you. But the sun is setting. It's kind of a do-or-die situation. The little devil laughs. Nope. More like a do-and-die situation.

Am I right? You called my mother? You know what she's like? I've told you what she's like. Why'd you call her? Why? Because of this right here, Kevin. You are feet away from the edge of a very tall building.

You've talked about this stuff before. So when you didn't respond to my texts or my calls, I called your mother. You listed her as your emergency contact. Oh, Kevin, you did? You listed that banshee of a bitch as your ICE? My what? What's that, Kevin?

Your what-what? Dr. Mel asks. Your ICE, Kevin. In case of emergency, I-C-E. The little devil shakes his head. I can't believe you did that, man. She can't help you. She never has, and she never will.

Look what she did. She got your therapist to join forces in her campaign of tournament. Kevin. Psychiatrist. He's a doctor. Yes, I am a doctor and yes, I am your psychiatrist, Dr. Mel says. And I really have to ask again, who are you talking to, Kevin? Don't tell him, Kev. Don't you dare. Taking a deep breath as he looks down at his shoes, Kevin says, the devil. The devil? As in hell? That devil? Dr. Mel asks. Satan? Is that who you think you were talking to? Kevin nods. Yeah, he's, uh, standing on my shoulder. Damn it, Kevin, I told you not to tell him. Now you messed it all up.

I did? Yes, you did. It doesn't matter if the sun sets or not. Your soul is screwed. Picture this. It's late at night. You're scrolling, and suddenly you find exactly what you've been looking for. You add it to your cart, maybe browse a little more, then head to checkout, only to realize you don't have your wallet. But then you see it, that purple shop pay button. And just like that, you're done in seconds. That's the power of Shopify. It supports millions of businesses and drives 10% of all e-commerce in the U.S.

From major brands like Mattel and Jimshark to entrepreneurs just getting started. With Shopify, everything you need is in one place, from customizable store templates to built-in AI tools that help write product descriptions and enhance your images. It also makes marketing easy with integrated email and social can't. And if you get stuck, Shopify's award-winning customer support is there for you 24-7. See less cards go abandoned and more sales go with Shopify and their shop pay button. Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at Shopify.com slash DNS.

Go to Shopify.com slash DNS. That's Shopify.com slash DNS. What? No, I can still jump. I can. No, Kevin! Dr. Mel shouts and take several steps forward. Kevin backs up quickly, his ass only a couple steps away from bumping into the rusted railing.

Sorry, stop! I didn't mean to yell at you. I'll stay right here. But please, don't move anymore, okay? Please, Kevin. Can you do that for me? Stay right where you are. How'd you find me? Kevin asks.

Dr. Mel frowns, then nods and says, Your mother? When I called her to see if she'd heard from you in the past couple of days, she said she hadn't. But she did say she can track your phone. She what? She can track my phone? I guess so. You didn't know that?

No, I didn't know that. It's a setting on your phone, so you would have had to authorize it yourself. I didn't! Kevin, his hands shaking, pulls at his hair. She did it on her own. She got in my phone and said it that way. so she could track me. Oh, God.

Hey, now, no need to bring that guy into this, the little devil says. Shut up! Kevin roars. I'm sorry, Kevin. I can't shut up, Dr. Mel says. We need to talk. We need to work this out. How about you walk over to me and we go get a cup of coffee or something?

I wasn't talking to you, but you can shut up too. Yeah, you tell him. The little devil says and laughs. What a douchebag, right? Now, what you're going to do is ignore this. little bitch take a couple steps backward and throw yourself over the rail got it a couple steps throw yourself it's an easy plan and no okay Kevin no coffee dr. Mel says we can stay here and talk if that's better but I need you to walk over to me you can't say no to me

Kevin the little devil says with a chuckle we are way past that I can say no I can say it at any time you can't boss me around that's right Kevin, you can say no at any time, Dr. Mel says. That is your choice. And I'm not trying to boss you around. I'm only here to help. You're in control, Kevin. All I want you to do is think this through.

Take some time, think this through. I'm not talking to you. Can't you get that? There is a devil standing on my shoulder, and it wants me to jump. It! Yes, I am sure you believe that, Kevin, Dr. Mel responds. Human minds handle distress in many ways.

Some people turn to drugs, and some people turn to sex or food or high-risk activities like bungee jumping or skydiving. Your distress is manifesting in a different way. I am only here to help you manage that distress in a way where no harm comes to you. Dr. Mel's phone rings. I bet I know who that is, the little devil says. Take two guesses. The first one doesn't count. The phone keeps ringing.

going to get that? Kevin asks Dr. Mel. Of course not, Dr. Mel says. I'm here for you right now. All that matters is you. I'll call whoever it is back. What if it's another patient in distress? Right now, Kevin, you are my only patient. The phone stops ringing. See, now it's only me and you. He gestures for Kevin to come towards him. Now, it would really make me feel better if you could take a few steps in my direction. Can you do? do that. Just one step, then another. One step, two step, Kevin mutters. What was that, Kevin? I can't quite hear you from over here. One step, two step. Kevin shouts. You're no different than he is. He? He? He who? The devil? Yeah, the devil. One step, two step. Kevin, please, I'm not the devil. There is no devil. He's not real. But I am. I am.

Listen to me. Not whatever voice is talking to you in your head. It's not in my head, God damn it. It's on my fucking shoulder. I am, and I'm getting very impatient, Kevin. Sun is setting. Time is taken by. Your last chance is about to run out, Kevin.

The sun goes down, and your soul is lost. Ignore this cardigan wearing dip shit. You're only a payday to him. He doesn't care if you die. He only cares about that sweet, sweet insurance money he gets. My insurance doesn't pay for therapy. Well, shit! That makes him even worse! Insurance? Dr. Mel asks.

Is that what you said? Is this about money? Are you struggling to pay your bills? You never mentioned that before. But if your distress is financial, then we can work out a payment plan. It's an easy fix. Dr. Mel's phone rings again. Mommy's calling.

The little devil hissed. Not only does she have you buy the balls, Kevin. She's got your doctor by the balls too. Oh, and now that he's made contact with her, she'll get her hooks in him faster than a sailor's pecker goes in a tie whore. Not to be crude. Stop. Please just stop.

The phone keeps ringing. He'll start off as a call to him once a month asking how you're doing. He won't answer, because that's illegal. And he'll lose his precious license if he just hands out info like that all willy-nilly. But you know how your mother is? She can get information from size. I said, stop. Then she'll call every other week. He'll resist. He will. But your mother can only be resisted for so long. Isn't that right? Kevin, is it talking to you now? The phone rings and rings.

Kevin nods his head. It's her, Kevin, the little devil says. She won't stop calling him. He screwed up. All that education and training, he couldn't see that the real devil is your mother. He's not a doctor. He's a sucker. The phone stops ringing. She'll be calling right back, Kevin. You know she will. She's already called once, and now has a taste for it.

Oh, I can smell the dopamine rushing through her veins. She lives for this, Kevin. She lives to torment you and control everyone around you. There's only one way to stop her. I could kill her, Kevin whispers. Well, shit. That's an interesting thought. The little devil replied.

Hmm. Let's workshop this some. How exactly could you do that? You'd have to get out of this situation first, which isn't going to be easy. Dr. Dushbag here will most likely want you committed. He'll say it's just for observation. But then observation becomes treatment, and that treatment becomes permanent residency. I'm not crazy. Well, you are talking to an eight-inch devil on your shoulder that no one else can see. You're real. I know that. You know that, but this guy doesn't know that. In fact, he literally said the devil isn't real. Capital D.

If he can't believe in the big guy below, then he's definitely not going to believe in the little guy on your shoulder, right? Kevin, Dr. Mel asks, whatever you hear, it isn't real, okay? See, what did I tell you, Kevin? He sighs. No, unfortunately, as much fun as killing your mother sounds, I don't think it'll be doable. There are only two ways off this roof.

You go with them and end up institutionalized for the rest of your life. Or, you do what I'm suggesting, and you take control of your own damn future for once, and show all these assholes that Kevin Carlyle can't be pushed around. Dr. Mel's phone rings again. Oh, for fuck's sake. Tell him to answer it. Answer the phone! Kevin roars. That's a boy! Kevin, I'd rather not answer the phone and just,

I said answer it! Answer the damn phone! It's my mother, right? She's checking on me. She can't stand it that she's not here controlling everything. It's driving her nuts that she has to wait to find out what happens. Mother hates waiting. So answer the damn phone! Oh yeah, you tell him, Kevin. You're the man, not him. This is your life to throw away. Throw away? What? No, no, not throw away. The little devil clears his throat. I meant, liberate. steps and to jump and you will have liberated yourself throw away no never not you you've got too much to die for your death wouldn't be a throwaway at all you're babbling why are you babbling Kevin glares down at the little devil oh my god this is

all wrong what am I doing I can't kill myself this is insane I don't want to die I just want my mother to leave me alone for a change that's all The phone stops ringing. Yes, Kevin, you don't want to die, Dr. Mel says. You want to live. And you can. You can live a long and fruitful life. All you have to do is step away from that railing.

Come over here and we'll talk. We won't leave. We'll stay up here and talk until you are ready to go downstairs. Bullshit, you go to him. And you can kiss your freedom goodbye. You'll be locked up and then your mother will visit every week. There won't be a thing you can do. about it. You'll be in your lunatic pajamas with drool dripping off your chin, and she'll sit across

the table from you. Her lips pursed that way she does when she really, really disapproves of you. That's what's going to happen, Kevin. That is your future. Kevin shakes his head. No, no, you're lying. I don't need a dead angel to tell me that. Not anymore. Well, a dead angel can't tell you shit, because I see what you're coming from. The little devil says and sit there. down cross-legged on Kevin's shoulder. You know what, Kevin? If you don't care about your soul, then neither do I.

Go ahead. Walk on over to Dr. Cardigan, McDork there. Let's see where that gets you. The phone rings again, and Kevin groans. No, no, you know what? Dr. Mel says.

Here, look. He pulls out his phone and holds it up. See, it's not your mother calling. I know that's what you think, but it isn't her. He laughs. It's actually my wife. I'm supposed to meet her for dinner and up late.

That's why she keeps calling. But I don't care about that. Right now, you are my only concern, Kevin. Bullshit! The little devil says. Kevin squints against the setting sun's glare. I can't read that from here. Come closer.

You can see the screen better. You'll see it's her. It's my wife. Sure, Kevin. Go ahead. The little devil says. Walk on over there and have a look. See what I care. A war rages in Kevin's head, and he wants to pound his fists against his temples.

Then, as the heat from the setting sun warms his face, he nods. Okay, I'm going to take a few steps to you. But you don't move. I won't, I promise, Dr. Mel says. The little devil just sits there and pouts. Kevin takes one step forward. As soon as his foot touches the tarpaper, Kevin's shoe slips on a mess of grit, and he quickly loses his balance.

Careful, Dr. Mel says. Kevin, be careful. But it's too late. Kevin's foot slips and he falls backward. Instinctively, he reaches behind him and grabs on to the rusty nailing. The ancient metal collapses under his grip, and Kevin immediately finds out he's holding on to nothing except for a handful of rust. One step, two step.

Kevin is suddenly stumbling backwards, not forward. Then there's no stumbling, no slipping, no nothing. Only open air. Sunset! I win the bet. Gogolov can eat it! The little devil shouts before disappearing just as Kevin hits the pavement below. No! Dr. Mel screams, but Kevin is already gone.

The doctor falls to his knees and hangs his head in his hands. Oh, God! No! God? What's God got to do with this? A little devil that looks just like Dr. Mel asks, appearing on his left shoulder. This is all your fault, Doc? Not his head. is. No, it is not. A little angel that looks like Dr. Mel says from his right shoulder. Do not listen to this. The little angel's words are cut off by a pitchfork landing squarely in its mouth. The little angel's eyes roll up into its head and it collapses dead on Dr. Mel's shoulder.

We don't need that guy. The Dr. Mel little devil says. But you do need someone because you are in quite a pickle. Kind of like that time with that girl about four years ago. You remember her, don't Doc, you don't know what you're talking about. Oh, really? How about you bring her up with your wife at dinner? Let's see how that goes. I'm not listening to you. You're not real. Right, not real. But you know who is real? Or was? Kevin. Maybe he's not dead. You fell apart so fast you never went to check. How about you get up and walk over to that edge and have a peek, huh? The little devil waits. And when Dr. Mel stands up, he can't help but chuckle. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ah

Ah, there you go doc. That's it. Just a little closer. One step two step