True Scary Stories for Sleep With Rain Sounds | Black Screen Scary Stories to Fall Asleep (Vol. 8)

hello my friend welcome to midnight murmurs if you're here you're probably ready for some spine chilling stories to accompany you as you settle in for the night before we dive into tonight's Eerie Tales don't forget to subscribe to the channel and give this video a thumbs up it really helps keep the spooky Vibes going now I'd love to know where in the world are you tuning in from drop a comment below and let me know your location it's always fascinating to see just how far these midnight Whispers reach all right let's dim the lights get

comfy and prepare for tonight's unsettling Journey ready let's begin I never imagined anything so disturbing could happen in a place like ours the quiet Suburban life I shared with my wife Kate had always seemed like a safe and predictable slice of normality children played in the streets until dusk dogs barked behind fences and neighbors exchanged casual greetings while tending to their lawns it was a routine existence almost monotonous but never hinted at the darkness lurking beneath the surface everything changed that summer it started with the Jenkins family Greg Jenkins his wife Laura and their two

children Max and Ellie were the picture perfect Suburban family Greg worked long hours as a lawyer and Laura was always busy with the kids and neighborhood events they lived three houses down down from us their place always meticulously kept the kind of home you'd expect from people who had everything together that's why it was so strange when they vanished without a trace it was a bright June afternoon when I saw them last Greg was loading the family SUV with suitcases his usual look of exhaustion softened by a rare Smile as he hoisted the last bag

into the trunk Laura was fussing over Max and Ellie making sure they had enough snacks for their road trip family vacation I called out from my porch sipping a glass of iced tea just a short one Greg replied wiping sweat from his brow we'll be back in a week I waved them off as they drove away not thinking much of it but a week passed and then two and their house remained dark the lawn started to grow wild the mailbox overflowing with flyers and letters at first I assumed they just extended their trip maybe they

were enjoying their time away Escaping The Grind of everyday life but by the third week something was clearly wrong shouldn't the Jenkins be back by now Kate asked one evening as we sat on our porch the Setting Sun casting Long Shadows across the street maybe they ran into trouble on the road I replied though I didn't quite believe it myself a gnawing sense of unease had begun to settle in the Jenkins were too responsible to just vanish like that if something had come up they would have told told someone soon the other neighbors started to

talk the Jenkins absence became the focal point of every whispered conversation at the local grocery store in neighborhood BBQs some thought they had moved without telling anyone though that seemed unlikely others feared the worst an accident or Worse Foul Play but no one knew for sure after a month the police were finally called they knocked on the Jenkins door peered through windows and even contacted relatives but there was nothing unusual inside the house everything was in its place just as it had been left there were no signs of struggle no indication that they had planned

to stay away longer than originally intended the police couldn't do much without evidence of Foul Play so they moved on leaving behind more questions than answers the neighborhood buzzed with rumors but after a while people started to move on life had a way of pushing forward even when Mysteries lingered in the background but the uneasy feeling never left me every time I passed by the Jenkins house the growing weeds and empty Windows sent a shiver down my spine it was as if the house was watching waiting for something or someone then The Parkers disappeared unlike

the Jenkins The Parkers were an elderly couple who had lived in the neighborhood for decades their children had grown up and moved away away leaving Mr and Mrs Parker to enjoy their quiet retirement they were the kind of neighbors who kept to themselves but always waved when they saw you walking by they didn't take many trips and their routines were as predictable as Clockwork Mr Parker would mow the lawn every Friday at exactly 3:00 p.m. and Mrs Parker could be seen in the garden early every morning tending to her roses one day they were gone

no one saw them leave and just like with the Jenkins their house became came eerily silent no lights at night no sound of the lawnmower on Friday days passed and soon their yard was overgrown too their mail piling up on the porch this time the unease spread faster people whispered about it at every corner two families Gone without a word without a trace the police were called again but just like with the Jenkins there was nothing to suggest any Foul Play no forced entry no signs of violence it was as if they had just evaporated

after The Parkers things in the neighborhood shifted the Thompsons a family of five who lived across the street started keeping their curtains drawn at all hours the everetts known for their big weekend barbecues stopped inviting people over even the kids who usually played outside seemed to sense that something was wrong they no longer laughed and chased each other down the streets instead they stayed close to home glancing nervously at the empty houses as they passed and then one night I heard the footsteps it was late probably around 2:00 a.m. Kate was sound asleep beside me

but something woke me a soft shuffling sound coming from outside at first I thought it was just the wind but then I heard it again footsteps slow deliberate like someone walking down the street in the dead of night I crept out of bed careful not to wake Kate and moved to the window the street lights cast long Eerie Shadows but at first I didn't see anything unusual then near the Jenkins house I saw them there were six no seven figures cloaked in long dark coats their hoods were pulled low obscuring their faces and they moved

with a strange almost unnatural Grace I couldn't hear their footsteps even though I could see them walking their movements slow and deliberate it was as if they were gliding across the pavement leaving no Trace behind my heart pounded in my chest as I watched them approach the Jenkins house they stopped in front of it standing perfectly still as if waiting for something I stood Frozen unable to tear my eyes away they didn't knock on the door or look inside they just stood there their dark shapes blending into the night watching the house in silence and

then just as silently as they had appeared they turned and walked away disappearing into the darkness at the far end of the street I stayed up the rest of the night waiting for them to return but they never did the next morning I tried to explain what I had seen to Kate but she brushed it off as a nightmare you were dreaming she said you've been stressed with everything that's been happening it's getting to you but I knew what I had seen and as the days passed the feeling of dread only deepened every night I

found myself listening for those footsteps peering through the curtains waiting for the figures to return the neighborhood once Lively and full of laughter had become a ghost town more families were starting to withdraw locking their doors and drawing their curtains as soon as the sun set the sense of community that had once bound us together had dissolved into an atmosphere of fear and suspicion no one wanted to be the next to disappear then came the night when everything changed it was around midnight when I heard the footsteps again this time closer they were unmistakable now

heavy deliberate steps like someone was walking with a purpose I woke Kate my heart racing do you hear that I whispered my voice trembling she sat up eyes wide this time she heard it too we both crept to the window and peaked through the curtains the Figures were back but this time they weren't just standing in front of the Jenkins house they were moving down the street stopping in front of each house as if searching for something or someone their cloaks billowed slightly in the breeze but their faces were still hidden in Shadow they're coming

this way Kate whispered her voice barely Audible my heart raced as I watched them approach our house their silent steps sending chills down my spine there were seven of them just like before their movements slow and deliberate they stopped in front of our house standing perfectly still their heads tilted slightly upward as if they were looking directly at us I froze my breath caught in my throat what did they want why were they here then as suddenly as they had appeared they turned and walked away disappearing into the night once again Kate and I sat

in silence for what felt like ours neither of us knowing what to say what had just happened what were those figures and why were they haunting our neighborhood the next morning I found another envelope on our doorstep just like the first one it contained a single piece of paper with the same chilling message You're Next that was when I knew we had to leave whatever was happening it was getting closer and we weren't going to wait around to find out what it wanted we packed our bags that day not telling anyone and left the neighborhood

behind we drove for hours not stopping until we were miles away from that cursed place but even now in our new home I still feel like we're being watched every so often I'll wake up in the middle of the night convinced I hear those footsteps again I never found out what happened to the Jenkins or The Parkers or any of the others who vanished all I know is that the neighborhood we once loved is forever tainted by the memory of those dark figures lurking in the shadows waiting for their next victim and as I sit

here in this new place I can't shake the feeling that they're still out there that they haven't forgotten us and that one day they will return I know never should have come here that's the thought that keeps running through my mind as I huddle in the corner of this dilapidated cabin my breath coming in short panicked gasps my name is Jack Harmon and I'm a 28-year-old nature photographer who came to the remote forests of northern Maine seeking the perfect shot for my upcoming exhibition now as the wind howls outside and something scratches at the cabin's

flimsy wooden walls I realize I might not live to to see another Sunrise it all started 3 days ago when I arrived at the ranger station near the edge of the vast Wilderness Area the grizzled old park ranger eyed me wearily as I explained my plans to hike deep into the back country for a week-long photography Expedition you might want to reconsider he said his voice grally and low there's been some strange happenings out there lately Hiers gone missing weird noises in the night even the wildlife seem spooked I brushed off his warnings as local

Superstition confident in my outdoor skills and the high-tech gear packed neatly in my backpack how I wish now that I had heeded his words the first two days were uneventful filled with breathtaking Vistas and the kind of pristine natural beauty that I had come here to capture but as I ventured deeper into the forest I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off the birds had gone quiet and I hadn't seen any signs of the usual Forest creatures since that morning an oppressive silence hung over the woods broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath

my boots and my own increasingly ragged breathing as dusk fell on the third day I stumbled upon an old abandoned cabin in a small clearing grateful for the shelter as storm clouds gathered overhead I decided to make Camp there for the night that's when things started to go horribly wrong I was awakened in the middle of the night by a sound that made my blood run cold a low guttural growl that seemed to come from just outside the cabin's single grimy window my hand shook as I reached for my flashlight its beam cutting through the

darkness to reveal a pair of eyes reflecting back at me they were unlike any animal's eyes I had ever seen large unblinking and filled with an intelligent that sent shivers down my spine in a panic I scrambled away from the window knocking over my camera tripod in the process the crash seemed to startle whatever was out there and I heard the sound of something large moving quickly through the underbrush for hours I sat with my back pressed against the far wall straining my ears for any sign of the creature's return as the first light of

dawn began to filter through the trees I decided to make a run for it I hastily packed my gear my hands trembling so badly I could barely close the clasps on my backpack but as I reached for the cabin's door I froze there carved into the wood with what must have been impossibly sharp claws was a crude message I see you my heart pounding in my chest I slowly turned around my eyes darting to every shadow and corner of the small cabin that's when I saw it a dark hunched shape crouched in the rafters above

me in the dim light I could make out long spindly Limbs and a face that was almost but not quite human its mouth opened in a grotesque parody of a smile revealing rows of needle sharp teeth I don't remember how I got out of the cabin everything is a blur of Terror and adrenaline all I know is that I ran crashing through the underbrush with no regard for direction or stealth branches whipped at my face leaving stinging cuts but I didn't slow down I could hear it behind me moving with an unnatural Speed and Agility

through the forest that had become a green hell just when I thought my lungs would burst I broke through the tree line and found myself at the edge of a Steep Ravine the drop was at least 30 ft to the Rocky Creek bed below as I stood there gasping for breath and trying to decide if I should risk the jump I heard a sound that turned my blood to ice that same low growl now coming from multiple directions they were all around me in that moment of paralyzing fear my foot slipped on the loose gravel

at the edge of the Ravine I fell tumbling Head Over Heels down the Steep incline my body bouncing off rocks and tree roots when I finally came to a stop at the bottom every inch of me was bruised and battered but somehow miraculously nothing seemed to be broken as I lay there dazed and in pain I I heard them Whispers on the wind in a language I couldn't understand but that filled me with an instinctive dread I looked up to see dark shapes moving at the top of the Ravine their elongated limbs silhouetted against the

gray sky with a burst of desperate energy I stumbled to my feet and splashed across the shallow Creek my water logged boots making it difficult to move quickly I don't know how long I ran following the course of the creek in hopes that it would lead me out of this nightmare Forest hours Blended together in a haze of Terror and exhaustion as night began to fall once more I spotted another cabin different from the first but just as old and decrepit with no other options I barricaded myself inside using what little Furniture remained to block

the door and windows and that's where I am now huddled in the corner jumping at every Creek of the wooden boards and rustle of leaves outside my phone has no signal my GPS is broken from the fall and I'm hopelessly lost the scratching at the walls has been constant for the past hour punctuated by those terrible Whispers they're out there waiting watching I know it's only a matter of time before they find a way in as I sit here scribbling these words in my Soden notebook by the weak light of my dying flashlight I can't

help but think of all the stories I've heard of people going missing in the wilderness how many of them encountered what I'm facing now how many spent their last moments in Terror hunted by things that shouldn't exist the scratching has stopped the silence is somehow worse I strain my ears trying to detect any sound of movement outside nothing then a soft thud on the roof another they're up there now moving with deliberate slowness testing the strength of the Aging plan ANS above my head suddenly a piercing shriek cuts through the night unlike anything I've ever

heard before it's followed by the sound of splintering wood and thrashing limbs whatever's on the roof is fighting something else something bigger angrier the cabin shakes with the force of the Battle Above dust and debris rain down as the creatures for I'm sure now there are at least two distinct entities tear at each other with Savage Fury I cower in the corner torn between relief that the attention is off me and Terror at what new horror might be revealed minutes pass like hours the cacophony of inhuman shrieks and growls filling the air then abruptly silence

falls again something heavy slides off the roof and hits the ground with a dull thud for a long moment nothing moves I hardly dare to breathe then a new Sound reaches my ears a low rhythmic huffing like the breathing of some enormous Beast it's coming closer to the cabin my hand closes around a broken piece of wood a pathetic weapon but the only one I have as I watch paralyzed with fear the door to the cabin begins to move the furniture I'd stacked against it slides across the floor as if it weighs nothing the door

swings open and I find myself face to face with a bear an enormous Grizzly its fur matted with blood that I suspect isn't its own it fills the doorway its small eyes fixed on me with an intelligence that seems impossible we stare at each other for what feels like an eternity I'm certain these are my last moments that I've merely traded one gruesome death for another but then to my utter astonishment the bear turns and Lumbers away disappearing into the darkness of the forest shaking I crawl to the doorway and peer out the forest is

silent now but not with the oppressive unnatural quiet of before I can hear crickets chirping the rustle of small animals in the underbrush normal natural sounds that had been conspicuously absent since this nightmare began as the first light of dawn breaks through the trees I see something on the ground near the cabin it's the mangled body of something in in the growing light I can make out long spindly limbs in a face that's almost but not quite human it's the creature that had been hunting me now lifeless and broken I don't know what to make

of what happened here tonight was the bear some kind of Guardian of these Woods did it sense the wrongness of the other creatures and decide to intervene or was it just a coincidence a territorial animal that happened to save my life while defending its Turf I don't wait to find out as soon as I'm sure it's safe I gather what's left of my supplies and start walking it takes me two days of hard hiking following the creek before I finally stumble onto a ranger station the search and rescue team they send out finds no trace

of the creatures the battle or the bear if I didn't have the cuts bruises and tattered clothes to prove it I might believe it had all been a terrible dream I've told my story to the authorities but I can see in their eyes that they don't believe me they talk about animal attacks about the hallucinations that can be brought on by fear and exhaustion in the wilderness maybe they're right maybe my mind conjured up those Horrors to make sense of a more mundane if still terrifying ordeal but in my heart I know what I saw

what I heard what I felt and I know that somewhere out there in the deepest darkest parts of of the forest there are things that defy explanation things that hunt in the shadows and whisper in the night and maybe just maybe there are other things out there too ancient powerful Guardians that keep the balance that push back against the darkness when it grows too bold I won't be going back into those woods but as I sit here safe in my home looking at the photos I managed to salvage from my trip I can't help but

Wonder in the background of one shot barely visible in the shadows between the trees is that the silhouette of a bear standing upright or is it something else entirely some Mysteries I've learned are better left unsolved it all started when I accepted a summer job that seemed too good to be true my name is James a 25-year-old college student trying to make ends meet the opportunity was simple house sit a remote property on the outskirts of a small town in the Appalachian Mountains for 2 weeks I was told that the owners a retired couple were

vacationing in Europe and just needed someone to look after the place and water the plants it sounded like a breeze plus the pay was almost double what I usually made I had no reason to say no when I arrived the house stood isolated on the edge of the woods far from any neighbors the air was Heavy with with the scent of Pine and the dense canopy above made it feel as if the house was locked in a Perpetual Twilight inside the place was Immaculate like something out of a home decor magazine the couple had left

me a detailed list of instructions locked the doors at all times never leave the house after dark and most curiously Don't Go Near the basement I chuckled at that last part chalking it up to typical old people paranoia the first few nights were un eventful I spent my time watching TV reading and occasionally stepping outside to admire the Endless Sea of trees but as the days went by strange things began to happen it started small I would hear faint creeks and shuffling sounds which I initially blamed on the house settling but soon those noises grew

louder more deliberate I'd wake up in the middle of the night heart racing convinced that I wasn't alone one night I heard footsteps upstairs heavy deliberate footsteps I lay Frozen in bed clutching the sheets trying to convince myself it was my imagination the next morning I checked the house no signs of forc Entry nothing out of place I told myself it was just paranoia and the isolation Playing Tricks on my mind but the following night things escalated I was lying on the couch trying to distract myself with some mindless TV when I heard a distinct

knock at the front door it was 2 a.m. my skin prickled with unease no one in their right mind would come out here at this hour especially not in the middle of nowhere slowly I crept to the door my heart pounding so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest I peered through the peephole but saw nothing just the dark expanse of the front yard illuminated by a single porch light then it happened to get again Knock Knock Knock Three deliberate Taps I stepped back Panic rising in my throat something wasn't right Gathering

all the courage I could muster I opened the door slightly and peered out the yard was empty no signs of life not even a breeze to explain the sound as I was about to shut the door something caught my eye at the edge of the woods just beyond the reach of the porch light stood a figure it was too dark to make out any details but I could see its outline a tall motionless silouette staring straight at the house I slammed the door shut and bolted it my hands shaking uncontrollably I retreated to the living

room pacing unsure of what to do my phone had no signal and the nearest neighbor was miles away I was trapped the next few days were a blur I didn't sleep I barely ate the figure would appear every night always at the same spot just Out Of Reach of the light watching me I stopped going outside altogether locking myself in the house as soon as the sun set I knew something was out there but I had no idea what it wanted the instructions the couple left me swirled in my mind lock the doors never go

out after dark Don't Go Near the basement but the basement something about it felt important like a missing piece of the puzzle my curiosity grew stronger with each passing day despite the warnings on the fifth night I couldn't take it anymore I had to know what was in the basement grabbing the flashlight from the kitchen I made my way down the narrow staircase to the locked door at the bottom the air grew colder as I descended and the smell of damp wood filled my nostrils the key was hanging on a hook nearby almost like they

wanted me to find it I hesitated my hand trembling as I slid the key into the lock and turned it the door creaked open revealing a dark musty room the air felt oppressive thick with an unnatural heaviness I shined the flashlight around the space my eyes scanning for any sign of what the couple had been so desperate to keep hidden then I saw it in the center of the room there was a large wooden crate it looked ancient with deep scratches along its surface as if something or someone had tried to claw their way out

my stomach twisted something was wrong very wrong suddenly the door behind me slammed shut plunging the room into darkness I whipped around the flashlight beam flickering as Panic surged through me I ran to the door frantically trying to open it but it wouldn't budge I was trapped a sound broke the silence a low guttural growl coming from the crate my breath caught in my throat as the crate began to tremble the wood groaning Under Pressure something inside was moving my mind raced I had to get out now I threw myself against the door screaming for

help but the only response was the continued growling from the crate the air around me seemed to thicken pressing against my chest suffocating me just when I thought I was about to pass out the door flung open and I stumbled into the hallway slamming it shut behind me my heart was racing as I bolted up the stairs desperate to get as far away from the basement as possible but when I reached the top I froze the front door was wide open standing in the doorway was the figure from the woods now fully illuminated By the

Light it was no longer just a shadow it was a man gaunt and pale with sunken eyes that seemed to bore straight through me his lips curled into a Sinister Smile as he stepped inside I backed away my mind racing I was cornered with nowhere to run the man's slow deliberate steps echoed in the house as he moved closer I reached for the nearest object a kitchen knife and held it out in front of me my hand trembling uncontrollably stay back I shouted but my voice cracked with fear the man stopped his smile widening you

should have stayed away from the basement he whispered without warning he lunged at me I swung the knife wildly but he was too fast he grabbed my wrist and twisted it with a strength I didn't expect forcing the knife to clatter to the floor I kicked and thrashed desperate to escape his grip but he held me tight his breath hot on my neck in a last ditch effort I bit down on his arm hard he howled in pain loosening his grip just enough for me to break free I sprinted toward the back door throwing it

open and running into the woods branches whipped against my face as I ran blindly through the forest the sound of footsteps crashing behind me my lungs burned my legs screamed in protest but I didn't stop I couldn't stop after what felt like hours I finally collapsed by a stream gasping for breath the footsteps had stopped the man was gone but as I sat there drenched in sweat a horrible realization crept over me I was lost and somewhere in the darkness of the woods he was still watching I've never been the type to believe in bad

Omens but now looking back I realize how stupid I was for ignoring all the signs my name is Brandon and I was 28 years old when this happened I had just finished a project at work a job that had drained every bit of energy from me I needed a break something to clear my head a road trip seemed perfect just me my car and the open road the plan was to drive from my home in New York to Seattle taking my time and enjoying the journey I had two weeks off plenty of time for detours

and sightseeing the first few days were everything I had hoped for long stretches of Highway the hum of the engine and the occasional stop at quirky roadside diners but everything changed when I decided to take a scenic route through rural Pennsylvania I'd been driving for hours surrounded by nothing but trees and Hills my GPS which had been reliable up to that point suddenly lost signal leaving me with a paper map and a vague idea of where I was going I wasn't worried if anything the isolation was peaceful but as the sun began to set the

peace started to feel more like unease I hadn't seen another car in hours and the road ahead seemed to stretch on forever the trees on either side grew thicker their Shadows stretching across the pavement like fingers trying to pull me in that's when I saw it a small weathered sign pointing to an off-road gas station about 5 mil ahead the tank was half full but I figured it was better to top off now than risk running out in the middle of nowhere so I turned off the main road the asphalt quickly giving way to a

rough dirt path that wound through the woods the further I drove the worse the road became potholes and rocks jolted the car and branches scraped against the Windows like nails on a chalkboard I should have turned back but the gas station had to be close by now and then out of the thick trees it appeared a rundown building with a single pump out front its paint peeling and windows clouded with Grime there were no other cars no signs of life just the faint flicker of a dim light inside I pulled up to the pump and

got out of the car glancing around the air was thick with the smell of damp Earth and gasoline and an unnatural silence hung over the place no birds no wind just Stillness I tried the pump but nothing happened no gas great frustrated I walked toward the small convenience store hoping someone inside could help the door creaked as I pushed it open the Bell above jingling weakly in inside the shelves were sparsely stocked with faded labels and dust covered items the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead casting a sickly yellow glow over everything behind the counter stood an

old man hunched over and staring at a small fuzzy TV screen he didn't look up as I approached his bony fingers drumming lazily on the counter excuse me I said trying to keep my voice steady the pump isn't working do you have any gas the man finally looked up his milky eyes meeting mine he smiled a crooked unsettling smile that sent a shiver down my spine no gas here he rasped his voice like gravel not for Miles I frowned the sign said there was a gas station here sign's old he replied still smiling hasn't worked

in years something about his expression made me uneasy there was a glint in his eyes like he knew something I didn't I thanked him quickly and left the store my heart pounding in my chest as I got back in the car I noticed something strange my car door had been closed when I left it but now it was slightly a jar I stopped looking around there was no one else here or at least no one I could see my mind raced through possibilities had I just not closed it properly was I being paranoid shaking off

off the feeling I got in and slammed the door shut locking it I turned the key and the engine sputtered to life relief washed over me but it was short-lived as I shifted into gear and started to pull away the car jerked violently like I had hit something I slammed on the brakes and got out to check dreading what I might find but there was nothing no pothole No Object just the same uneven dirt road confused and on edge I got back in the car and drove faster this time I just wanted to get back

to the main road and leave this place behind but the road kept going what should have been a 5-minute Drive stretched on the trees closing in around me like a tunnel with no end my phone was still out of service and the map was useless out here my only option was to keep driving that's when the headlights appeared in my rearview mirror bright and blinding coming up fast I hadn't seen another car for hours and now suddenly someone was behind me I felt a surge of relief at first maybe it was just another lost traveler

someone who could help but as the car Drew closer something about it felt off it was an old truck the kind you don't see much anymore with rusted metal and cracked headlights the engine roared As It sped up closing the distance between us I moved to the side expecting the truck to pass but it didn't instead it stayed right behind behind me its headlights burning into my rearview mirror I pressed harder on the gas trying to put some distance between us but the truck matched my speed my hands gripped the steering wheel Knuckles white as

I tried to stay calm maybe it was just a coincidence I told myself maybe they were lost too but then the truck lurched forward its front bumper inches from my rear my heart raced they weren't just following me they were trying to run me off the road I swerved my tires kicking up dirt and gravel as I fought to stay on the path the truck swerved too its headlights dancing wildly in my mirrors I could see the outline of the driver now a dark figure barely visible through the cracked windshield but there was something wrong

with the way they were moving jerky and unnatural like they weren't fully in control Panic set in I couldn't outrun them the road was too narrow too winding if I kept going they'd Ram me off the edge or worse my mind raced for options but none of them were good and then just as the truck lunged forward again something caught my eye a narrow dirt path branching off the road barely visible in the darkness it was a gamble but I had no other choice I yanked the wheel to the right sending my car skidding onto

the path the truck followed its tires screeching as it it struggled to keep up the path was even rougher than the road lined with trees and rocks and I could feel the car bouncing violently beneath me but then without warning the truck's headlights vanished I blinked disoriented as I realized they had stopped following me I glanced in the rearview mirror but the path behind me was empty swallowed by Darkness I slowed down my breath coming in ragged gasps what the hell had just happened was it over had I lost them the relief was shortlived as

I rounded a bend my headlights illuminated something up ahead a small abandoned cabin half hidden in the trees and parked in front of it as if waiting for me was the truck my blood ran cold how had they gotten ahead of me the cabin's windows were dark but I could feel eyes watching from within my hands shook as I stopped the car un sure of what to do I couldn't go forward and turning back meant risking another encounter with whoever or whatever was in that truck suddenly the cabin door creaked open and a figure stepped

out it was the same man from the gas station the same Crooked Smile the same unsettling gaze only now he wasn't alone behind him more figures emerged their faces obscured by Shadows men men women all dressed in old worn out clothes their eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin crawl I floored the gas pedal the tires spinning for a second before the car lurched forward I didn't care about the rough path anymore I just needed to get away the cabin the truck the people I didn't want to know what they wanted

I just wanted to survive but as I sped down the path something terrible dawned on me the road wasn't leading back to the main Highway it was leading deeper into the woods where the trees grew taller and denser blocking out any light the Panic set in deeper every curve of the path felt wrong like it was twisting further into some place I wasn't supposed to be my headlights cast long Eerie Shadows that danced between the trees and soon I began to hear things footsteps running beside the car Whispers too faint to understand laughter that seemed

to come from everywhere and nowhere at once and then just as suddenly as it started the path came to an abrupt stop I slammed on the brakes the car skidding to a halt at the edge of a Steep Ravine there was nowhere else to go I was trapped I looked back down the path my heart pounding in my chest the headlights from the truck were there again far down the road slowly making their way toward me I was out of options the headlights of the truck grew brighter inching closer with a deliberate slowness that sent

a surge of dread through me I could feel the weight of their presence oppressive and inescapable as if the forest itself had conspired to trap me here my heart pounded in my chest and my hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my Knuckles turned white for a fleeting moment I considered reversing turning the car around and speeding back down the path but the narrowness of the trail the trees pressing in on both sides made that impossible one wrong move and I'd end up plummeting into the Ravine I killed the engine hoping that if I

stayed still long enough they'd pass by unaware of where I was but deep down I knew it was a feudal hope they knew I was here they'd always known the truck's headlights continued to draw closer Illuminating the Twisted branches overhead casting Long Shadows that seemed to R and twist in the darkness then the truck stopped it was still far enough away that I couldn't make out the details of the figures inside but I could feel their eyes on me my pulse quickened as I watched the truck idling the engine rumbling like some predatory Beast waiting

for its prey to make a move suddenly the truck's headlights blinked off plunging the road Into Darkness I sat there Frozen in my seat my mind racing through scenarios every Instinct screamed at me to do something anything but I was paralyzed by the unknown who were they what did they want and then the voices began at first it was a low murmur barely audible over the pounding of my own heart but soon they grew louder filling the Silence with a distorted chorus of Whispers And Chuckles they seemed to come from all directions swirling around me

crawling into my ears into my mind words I couldn't understand words that Twisted in my brain like a sickness get out of the car the voice wasn't loud but it cut through the cacophony Like a Knife clear commanding I turned toward the sound my body stiff with Terror and saw them figures emerging from the trees on both sides of the path there were more of them now dozens at least their shapes barely discernible in the darkness but I could see the glint of their eyes reflecting the faint moonlight like animals stalking their prey instinctively I

locked the doors it was a pathetic feudal gesture I knew it wouldn't stop them my heart hammered in my chest as I glanced toward the Ravine there was no Escape that way not unless I wanted to throw myself off the edge and into the black abyss below the figures moved closer their footsteps eerily quiet on the dirt path there was no sound of twig snapping no crunch of leaves just the steady soft shuffling of feet approaching the car and still the truck sat idle in the distance like some silent overseer watching it all unfold I

felt trapped suffocated by the oppressive weight of their presence The Whispers grew louder more insistent pressing against the inside of my skull my hands were slick with sweat slipping on the steering wheel as I tried to come up with a plan anything that could get me out of here alive and then without warning they stopped The Whispers cut off abruptly the figures halted in their tracks for a moment there was nothing but silence the kind that claws at your nerves and makes your skin crawl I stared out at them my breath coming in Shallow uneven

gasps one of the figures stepped forward breaking away from the others he moved slowly deliberately and as he got closer I realized with a jolt of Horror who it was the old man from the gas station his face was illuminated by The Faint moonlight now casting Deep Shadows across his gaunt features that same Crooked Smile stretched across his lips but his eyes his eyes were wrong Hollow empty as if whatever Soul had once lived inside him had long since Abandoned Ship leaving behind only a shell he walked right up to the driver's side window tapping

on the glass with one long bony finger the sound was soft but deliberate like the ticking of a clock counting down to some inevitable horrifying end get out of the car he repeated his voice barely above a whisper I shook my head my throat too tight with fear to speak there was no way I was getting out no way I was going to let them take me whatever their Twisted plan was the old man's smile widened stretching unnaturally across his face and he tapped again there's no use hiding in there son it's already over behind

him the figures began to move again slowly closing in on the car their shapes loomed larger in the darkness an impenetrable wall of Shadows creeping closer and closer I could hear their breaths now raspy and uneven like they were struggling to contain some unspeakable hunger desperation clawed at my chest I had to do something anything my eyes darted to the passenger seat where my phone lay useless without service my hand fumbled for it anyway trying to dial 911 maybe just maybe I could get through but as I raised the phone to my ear a cold

realization hit me the line was dead I dropped the phone my hands shaking violently there was no help coming I was alone a sharp knock on the glass snapped my attention back to the old man his smile was gone now replaced by something darker more Sinister we don't have all night he said his voice low and menacing get out the Figures were almost at the car now their shapes pressing in on all sides the air was thick with the smell of Decay like something rotting just beneath the surface of the Earth it was suffocating invading

my senses until I could barely think straight my mind raced adrenaline surging through my veins as I realized there was only one option left I grabbed the gear shift slamming the car into reverse the engine roared to life tires screeching as I backed up as fast as I could the figures scattered their movements jerky and unnatural like they weren't fully in control of their bodies but as I sped backward down the path I saw the truck's headlights flick on again they were waiting for me blocking the only way out I was trapped with no other

choice I floored the gas speeding toward the truck maybe I could Ram them force my way through but just as I got within a few feet of the truck it disappeared one second it was there the next gone like it had never existed my car lurched forward into the empty space kening wildly off the path I fought for control the tires slipping on the loose dirt but it was no use the car skidded to the side and before I could react the front wheels dipped over the edge of the Ravine the car teetered on the

brink for a heart stop stopping moment and then with a sickening Lurch it plunged downward I braced for impact but it never came instead I was swallowed by Darkness the world around me spinning and twisting in on itself the last thing I heard before everything went black was the sound of laughter low guttural and far too human I don't know how long I was unconscious but when I woke I was lying on the ground my car nowhere in sight the Ravine was gone replaced by an endless stretch of woods I was alone or at least

I thought I was but then I heard the Whispers again soft and insistent calling me deeper into the trees and I knew with a cold sinking certainty that they were never going to let me leave not alive I've always been drawn to the darker side of life which is why I became a true crime journalist my name is Julian Blackwood and I've spent years investigating the most pous crimes in the United States but nothing could have prepared me for the terror I experienced in the depths of the Louisiana bayou it was a chilly Autumn evening

when I arrived in the small town of Ravenswood nestled in the heart of the Bayou the air was thick with the scent of Decay and stagnant water and the cypress trees towered above me like skeletal Sentinels I had come to investigate The Disappearance of a local woman 25y old old Jesse Tibido who had vanished while out on a solo hike in the bayou as I stepped out of my car the crunch of gravel beneath my feet echoed through the Stillness the only sound was the distant hum of a generator and the occasional hoot of an

owl I shivered despite the warmth of the evening and began to make my way towards the local sheriff's office Sheriff borgard a Gruff but affable man with a thick Cajun accent greeted me with a firm handshake Julian Blackwood I've heard a lot about you you're here to investigate Jesse's disappearance I reckon I nodded and he led me to a small conference room in the back of the office the walls were adorned with faded photographs of the bayou's wildlife and a large map of the area hung on the wall covered in red markers and notes as

we poured over the map Sheriff borgard explained that Jesse had been an experienced hiker and had been warned about the dangers of the Bay she knew the risks Julian but she was a stubborn one that Jesse he said his voice tinged with a mixture of admiration and concern as the sheriff spoke I noticed something odd about the map the red markers seemed to form a pattern a spiral that centered on a particular area of the Bayou when I asked about it Sheriff Bard's face darkened that's the Whispering Grove he said his voice barely above a

whisper whisper folks around here don't go there they say the trees they speak and what they say ain't good for Mortal ears I spent the next few hours interviewing the locals but no one seemed to have seen or heard anything suspicious as the sun began to set casting a blood red glow over the Bayou I decided to head out into the Wilderness to search for any signs of Jesse the air grew thick with mist as I made my way deeper into the Bayou the cypress trees seemed to close in around me their branches tangling above

my head like gnarled fingers reaching for the sky the further I ventured the more I felt like I was being watched eyes seemed to peer at me from every shadow and Whispers echoed on the Wind just beyond the edge of comprehension I stumbled upon an old abandoned cabin its wooden slats weathered to a soft gray as I approached I noticed that the door was slightly a jar I pushed it open my heart racing and called out Jesse is anyone here the only response was the creaking of the old wooden floorboards beneath my feet I stepped

inside my eyes adjusting to the dim light the cabin was small with a single room and a loft above I noticed a small leatherbound book on the floor partially hidden beneath a pile of old clothes as I picked up the book I felt a chill run down my spine the pages were filled with handwritten notes detailing a series of strange occurrences in the bayou over the years the writing was erratic with strange symbols and doodles in the margins as I flipped through the pages I came across a passage that made my blood run cold the

trees whisper truths we dare not hear they speak of the old ones those who dwell beneath the murky Waters and in the shadows Between Worlds they hunger for souls for the essence of the living and they are waking suddenly I heard a faint noise coming from outside it sounded like footsteps heavy and deliberate I froze my heart pounding in my chest the noise grew louder and I knew I had to get out of there fast I turned to make a hasty retreat but it was too late the door slammed shut behind me and I was

plunged Into Darkness I heard the sound of rusty hinges creaking and the door was bar barricaded from the outside I was trapped Panic set in as I frantically searched for a way out the windows were boarded up and the door was solid oak I was at the mercy of whoever or whatever had locked me in as I waited in the darkness I heard the sound of footsteps circling the cabin they were light cautious as if whoever was outside was trying not to be seen I strained my ears trying to pinpoint the location of the footsteps

suddenly the footsteps stopped the silence was oppressive and I felt like I was being watched I held my breath waiting for whatever was going to happen next and then I heard it a low menacing chuckle followed by the sound of footsteps moving away from the cabin I was left alone in the darkness my heart racing with fear I knew I had to escape but I had no idea how the cabin was a prison and I was at the mercy of my captor as I waited in the darkness I couldn't shake the feeling that I was

being watched that unblinking eyes were trained on me from the Shadows the hours ticked by each one in eternity I heard the sound of animals scurrying through the underbrush and the distant hum of a generator but I knew I wasn't alone as the night wore on I began to feel a creeping sense of dread the darkness seemed to press in around around me a physical presence that threatened to suffocate me and then I heard it a whisper so faint I thought I might have imagined it Julian my name carried on the Wind barely audible I

held my breath straining to hear more Julian come to us The Whispers grew louder a cacophony of voices that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once they spoke of ancient secrets of power beyond imagination of a World hidden just beneath the surface of our own I covered my ears trying to block out the maddening Whispers but they only grew louder the voices seemed to be inside my head now clawing at my sanity desperate for escape I began to search the cabin again in my frantic State I noticed something I had missed before a

small trap door in the floor hidden beneath a threadbear rug with trembling hands I pulled open the trap door a musty odor wafted up from the darkness below along with the sound of running water I hesitated for a moment but the Whispers were growing more insistent I had no choice I lowered myself into the hole my feet finding purchase on a rickety ladder as I descended the air grew colder and damper The Whispers faded replaced by the sound of Rushing Water at the bottom of the ladder I found myself in a narrow tunnel the walls

were slick with moss and moisture and a small stream ran along the floor I had no choice but to follow it as I made my way through the tunnel the stream grew wider and deeper the sound of Rushing Water grew louder and I could see a faint light ahead I emerged from the tunnel into a vast underground Cavern the stream had become a Roaring River its black Waters churning and frothing and there in the center of the cavern stood an ancient stone structure a temple of some kind its weathered surface covered in strange eldrich symbols

as I stared at the temple transfixed I heard a splash behind me I Whirled around to see a figure emerging from the water tall emaciated with skin the color of Pon scum its eyes were huge and bulbous and its mouth was filled with needle sharp teeth I stumbled backward my heart pounding in my chest the creature Advanced slowly its movements fluid and unnatural and then it spoke welcome Julian it said its voice a gurgling rasp we've been waiting for you more splashes echoed through the cavern as more creatures emerged from the water they surrounded me

their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly hunger who what are you I managed to choke out the first creature's mouth stretched into a grotesque approximation of a smile we are the old ones it said the true masters of this land and you Julian will help us reclaim what is ours I backed away my eyes darting around for any means of Escape but I was surrounded with Nowhere to Run what do you want from me I asked my voice trembling your essence the creature hissed your spirit with it we will open the Gateway and bring our Brethren

into this world as the creatures closed in around me I felt a strange sensation a pulling as if my very Soul was being tugged from my body I tried to resist but the pull was too strong just when I thought all was lost a blinding light filled the cavern the creatures screeched and retreated into the water I shielded my eyes trying to see the source of the light a figure stood at the entrance to the cavern holding aoft a glowing amulet as my eyes adjusted I recognized her it was Jesse Tibido the missing hiker Julian

she called out come on we have to go I didn't need to be told twice I ran towards her splashing through the shallows of the underground river behind us I could hear the creatures recovering their angry hisses echoing through the cavern Jesse led me through a series of tunnels The Amulet lighting our way as we ran she explained breathlessly I found this amulet in an old shop in town she said the owner told me it was protection against the old ones I didn't believe him at first but when I came out here and saw them

I knew it was true we emerged from the tunnels into the Bayou the first light of dawn painting the sky in shades of pink and gold but our ordeal wasn't over yet we could hear the creatures pursuing us their inhuman shrieks growing growing closer we ran through the swamp our feet squelching in the mud the trees seemed to reach for us their branches clawing at our clothes and skin The Whispers returned growing louder with each step stay with us Julian Jesse you belong to us now just when I thought we couldn't run any further we

burst out of the tree line Sheriff borgard was there with a group of deputies their guns drawn get behind us the sheriff shouted as Jesse and I stumbled towards them I looked back the creatures were at the edge of the trees their eyes glowing with malevolence but they didn't Advance any further they can't leave the B you Jesse explained her voice horar from running not without a human vessel the creatures retreated into the Shadows of the trees their Whispers fading away but I knew they weren't gone they were waiting biting their time until another unsuspecting

Soul wandered into their domain in the days that followed Jesse and I tried to explain what had happened to us but who would believe a story of ancient creatures dwelling in the bayou of Whispers that could drive a person mad of a hunger that transcended the physical world the official report stated that Jesse had gotten lost in the byou and that I had found her the strange occurrences were attributed to hallucinations brought on by by stress and dehydration but I knew the truth and as I packed my bags to leave Ravenswood I couldn't shake the

feeling that this wasn't over the old ones were still out there waiting in the shadows of the Bayou and someday they would find a way to break free from their watery prison and reclaim the world that was once [Music] theirs as I drove away from Ravenswood I glanced in my rearview mirror for a moment I thought I saw a tall emaciated figure standing at the edge of the road its bulbous eyes fixed on my retreating car I blinked and it was gone but the Whispers remained carried on the wind a reminder of the horrors that

lurk in the shadows of Ravenswood byou we'll be waiting Julian we'll always be waiting I've always been a bit of a loner preferring the company of books and my own thoughts to the chaos of social interactions that's why when I inherited my great A's old Victorian house in a small town in Upstate New York I saw it as the perfect opportunity for a fresh start my name is Nathan and I'm a 32-year-old freelance writer who's been struggling to find inspiration for my next novel I thought this change of scenery moving from my cramped City Apartment

to a spacious history Laden home would be just what I needed to Kickstart My creativity little did I know that this decision would plunge me into a nightmare beyond my wildest imagination as I pulled up to the house on that crisp autumn afternoon I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease the three-story structure loomed before me its weathered gray siding and intricate gingerbread trim speaking of a bygone era the overgrown garden and unkempt lawn added to the air of neglect that seemed to hang over the property like a shroud still I told myself this

was my chance for a new beginning I grabbed my suitcase from the trunk and made my way up the creaking porch steps fumbling with the old brass key that had been sent to me by the estate lawyer the door groaned open revealing a dimly lit foyer filled with dust Moes dancing in the weak sunlight filtering through the grimy Windows the musty smell of disuse assaulted my nostrils and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was disturbing something that had long been at rest I spent the rest of that day exploring the house opening Windows to

let in fresh air and making mental notes of all the cleaning and repairs I'd need to tackle in the coming weeks as night fell I settled into the master bedroom on the second floor exhausted from the long drive and the day's activities the room was spacious dominated by a heavy four poster bed that looked like it hadn't been slept in for decades I changed the sheets unpacked a few essentials and crawled into bed looking forward to a good night's sleep before diving into my new life the next day it was the scratching that woke me

first a faint persistent sound that seemed to be coming from inside the walls in my groggy State I dismissed it as mice an unpleasant but not unexpected problem in an old house like this I rolled over pulling the covers tighter around me and tried to go back to sleep but the scratching continued growing louder and more insistent it no longer sounded like the scurrying of tiny rodent feet but something larger more deliberate my heart began to race as I sat up in bed straining my ears in the darkness the scratching stopped abruptly replaced by an

eerie silence that seemed even more oppressive then just as I was about to convince myself it had all been a dream I heard it a whisper so faint I could barely make it out but unmistakably the human Nathan it breathed sending a chill down my spine how could anyone know my name I was alone in this house miles from my nearest neighbor I fumbled for the lamp on the bedside table my trembling fingers finally finding the switch as warm light flooded the room The Whispers ceased but the feeling of being watched remained sleep eluded me

for the rest of the night I lay there every muscle tense jumping at every Creek and groan of the old house settling when Dawn finally broke I was relieved to see sunlight peeking through the curtains I told myself that it had all been a product of my overactive imagination fueled by the stress of the move and the unfamiliarity of my new surroundings the next few days passed without incident and I slowly began to relax I threw myself into cleaning and organizing the house hoping that keeping busy would help me forget that unsettling first night I

set up my writing space in the study on the first floor a cozy room lined with built-in bookshelves and featuring a large bay window overlooking the overgrown backyard it was in this room about a week after moving in that I experienced the next strange occurrence I was deep into writing a new chapter for my novel when I felt a sudden drop in temperature the chill was so pronounced that I could see my breath misting in front of me I looked up startled to see that Frost was forming on the inside of the window pane delicate

patterns spreading across the glass like icy fingers my body went rigid with fear as I watched the frost form words get out the message was clear unmistakable and terrifying and its impossibility I blinked hard sure that I must be hallucinating but when I opened my eyes the frosty warning remained I bolted from the study my heart pounding in my chest I ran to the kitchen grabbed my phone and dialed the local police department with shaking hands when I finally got through I tried to explain what I had seen But even as the words left my

mouth I realized how crazy I sounded the dispatcher was polite but dismissive suggesting that perhaps I had fallen asleep at my desk and had a vivid dream feeling foolish and more than a little scared I hung up and decided to go back to the study to prove to myself that it had all been in my imagination but as I approached the room I heard something that made my blood run cold the sound of typing coming from my laptop I distinctly remembered closing the device before leaving the room in a panic with my heart in my

throat I peered around the door frame the room was empty but my laptop was open the screen glowing in the dim light as I watched words began to appear on the blank document I had been working on earlier we've been waiting for you Nathan this house has been lonely for so long but now you're here and we'll never let you leave I stumbled backward my mind reeling this couldn't be happening ghosts weren't real there had to be a logical explanation maybe I was being pranked or maybe I was having some sort of mental breakdown either

option seemed preferable to the alternative that I was trapped in a house with malevolent spirits over the next few days the activity in the house escalated objects would move when I wasn't looking doors would slam shut of their own accord and The Whispers in the walls grew louder and more numerous I could barely sleep constantly on edge and jumping at every sound I tried to leave several times but each attempt was thwarted by inexplicable circumstances flat tires engines that wouldn't start and even a fallen tree blocking the only Road out of town it was on

the 10th night that things came to a head I had barric myself in the master bedroom pushing a heavy dresser in front of the door and huddling on the bed with all the lights blazing The Whispers had been getting louder all evening and now they were practically shouts a cacophony of Voices All calling my name and begging me to join them suddenly the dresser began to slide across the floor inch by inch as if pushed by an invisible force I watched in horror as the door slowly creaked open revealing nothing but Darkness beyond the voices

reached a fever pitch and I could feel hands ice cold and insubstantial grabbing at my clothes and skin in that moment of pure Terror something inside me snapped I realized that whatever was happening whether it was Supernatural or a product of my own mind I couldn't let it win I began to shout back at the voices telling them that this was my house now that they had no power over me that I refused to be afraid any longer to my amazement the hands retreated and the voices began to fade the oppressive atmosphere that had been

building for days seemed to lift leaving behind a silence that was almost deafening in its suddenness I sat there for hours waiting for the terror to return but it never did in the days that followed I explored the house with new determination I researched its history learning about the tragic events that had occurred within its walls over the decades I began to understand that the house itself wasn't evil it was simply a vessel for the pain and loneliness of those who had lived and died here I made a decision then instead of running away I

would stay I would write their stories give voice to The Whispers in the walls and in doing so perhaps I could help these Restless Spirits find peace it wouldn't be easy living with the knowledge that I shared my home with ghosts but I was no longer afraid I had faced my deepest fears and emerged stronger for it now as I sit in my study typing these words I can feel them watching me but the Whispers have changed they're no longer threatening or angry instead they're sharing their stories eager to have their Tales told it last

and I'm here to listen to write and to remember that sometimes the most terrifying things we Face are the catalysts for our greatest Transformations the house is quiet now but it's a comfortable silence filled with the promise of untold stories and the knowledge that I have found my place in this world as the chronicler of Whispers The Voice for the voiceless in this old Victorian house that is now truly my home