1 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:08,640 Click, I excelled sharply as I lowered the revolver from my temple. Today 2 00:00:08,839 --> 00:00:15,160 marks the fifth anniversary of Nardia's disappearance. How to believe it's been that long. 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,679 We had so much time left, so much life to live together, 4 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,800 but that all came to a screeching halt half a decade ago, and the 5 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:31,719 day we found those stairs without her, I have no purpose. I've got 6 00:00:31,719 --> 00:00:35,799 no family, no friends, no one to keep me tethered to this world. 7 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:42,200 So every year and the night that Nardia went missing, I stumbled out 8 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,920 to the spot that it happened, with my six shooter in hand, half 9 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:50,840 way drowned in a handle of vodka, and I let the forest decide if 10 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:55,439 I'm going to live for another year or if I'm going to be reunited with 11 00:00:55,560 --> 00:01:02,520 her wherever she is. Now that it's determined that I have at least one 12 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,920 more trip around the sun, I'll tell you how I ended up here at 13 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:11,239 rock bottom. I need to get this out while I still have the guts 14 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:15,120 to tell this story. Don't know why, though, I'm going to wake 15 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:22,400 up sometime tomorrow afternoon with a massive headache and no recollection of tonight's events. 16 00:01:23,159 --> 00:01:27,840 I'd better tell you while I still can. I've lived on the outskirts of 17 00:01:27,879 --> 00:01:34,319 Bear Creek National Park for my entire life. Don't bother looking it up. 18 00:01:34,879 --> 00:01:38,400 It's a fake name, so nobody tries to seek out the evil that lurks 19 00:01:38,439 --> 00:01:44,200 here. It's safer that way. As I was saying, I used to 20 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:49,120 live out here in a cabin with my dad. I miss him so much. 21 00:01:49,319 --> 00:01:57,760 He passed away eight years ago, leaving me all alone. Cancer sucks. 22 00:01:57,519 --> 00:02:02,480 That was before Nadia and I I started dating. It's funny how things 23 00:02:02,519 --> 00:02:07,599 work out. I actually met her at a coffee shop on my way back 24 00:02:07,599 --> 00:02:12,560 from visiting Dad's grave. When she approached me and asked if the seat across 25 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:17,080 from me was taken. I was instantly smitten. Her deep blue eyes shimmered 26 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:23,639 like the ocean, long brown hair cascaded down to her shoulders in waves, 27 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:30,719 and that smile. When Nadia smiled, it was as if time stopped just 28 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:35,039 for a moment, so that the whole world would soak in its breath taking 29 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:40,759 beauty. We were inseparable after that day. In a month, we were 30 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:46,719 dating. In nine more, we were living together in my cabin, and 31 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:51,719 in another year we were set to get married. Had a date and a 32 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:57,520 venue picked out. In everything, I was on cloud nine, but that 33 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:02,080 was all torn from me in an instant. God, I wish I never 34 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:07,199 would have taken her out there. I had my first experience with the stairs 35 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:13,159 when I was seven. Dad had always warned me never to climb them. 36 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:20,000 That wasn't a problem for me, though. The stairs exuded a malevolent presence, 37 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,599 like anyone who dared to walk up their steps would be eaten alive from 38 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:30,280 fear alone. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was playing in 39 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,520 the woods near the cabin when I saw it, a black, winding set 40 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:40,639 of metal stairs that stretched maybe a story. They didn't lead anywhere. They 41 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:47,319 just kind of ended. All the stairs are like that. They vary in 42 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:53,120 size and shape and model, but the one thing they all have in common 43 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:59,560 is that they don't lead anywhere, and they're never in the same place twice. 44 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,800 They just sort of materialize. No one knows how or why, and 45 00:04:04,879 --> 00:04:10,919 truthfully, we don't want to know, most of us. That is, 46 00:04:12,479 --> 00:04:18,959 Nadia wanted to know, and that knowledge cost her everything. Come on, 47 00:04:19,079 --> 00:04:24,399 baby, just a little further. I want to see the sunset. Nadia 48 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:29,560 wind in protest and my proposal to head back. Nadi. I know you, 49 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:33,160 but we didn't bring flashlights and our phone batteries aren't worth crap. I 50 00:04:33,199 --> 00:04:38,000 don't know about you, but I don't feel like smacking into trees every few 51 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,800 feet on our way home. How fine, you win. I'll go back 52 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:46,519 this time, but promise me we can come back tomorrow, she requested, 53 00:04:46,959 --> 00:04:50,920 puffing out a lower lip and gazing up at me with her best puppy doug 54 00:04:50,959 --> 00:04:58,079 eyes. I'd be lying if I said they hadn't worked. All right, 55 00:04:58,439 --> 00:05:04,399 I'll take you back out here tomorrow, but only if you um. I 56 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:11,480 trailed off, entranced by the sight of them. Nardia's brow knitted together in 57 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:18,040 confusion as she traced my gaze. Then her jaw fell open. Directly before 58 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:24,839 us stood a polished cedar wood staircase. I got a sinking feeling in my 59 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:29,800 gut the moment I laid eyes on that thing. It looked so out of 60 00:05:29,879 --> 00:05:33,680 place, like a rat in a fish tank. What is that thing? 61 00:05:34,519 --> 00:05:40,639 Nardia muttered, gazed still fixed to it. It's nothing. I'll tell you 62 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:45,639 later, I said, snatching her hand and leading her in the opposite direction. 63 00:05:46,759 --> 00:05:48,519 Oh, Jason, let go. Why are you making such a big 64 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,439 deal out of this. Tell me what's going on. I'm not going to 65 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:59,079 move another in inch, Nardia protested, crossing her arms defiantly, I sighed. 66 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,439 There was no point in hiding it any longer. She was going to 67 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:11,000 find out eventually. Okay, so this is going to sound completely unhinged, 68 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,879 but please bear with me. Ever since I've lived here, ever since anyone's 69 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:21,160 lived here, really, people have been finding random staircases in the forest. 70 00:06:23,079 --> 00:06:27,160 They appear and disappear all the time, and you'll never find one in the 71 00:06:27,199 --> 00:06:32,240 same place twice. The stairs are a bad omen. Something awful happens if 72 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:38,439 you climb to the top, but no one quite knows what. All I 73 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:42,839 know for certain is we need to stay far, far away from them. 74 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:49,040 Nadia rolled her eyes in response. Come on, Jay, do you really 75 00:06:49,079 --> 00:06:54,279 expect me to believe that a bad omen? May you some kind of spiritual 76 00:06:54,319 --> 00:06:59,639 medium? Now? Ooh, A staircase so scary, she said, waving 77 00:06:59,639 --> 00:07:03,639 her hands in a mocking gesture. Nadea, do I look like I'm joking. 78 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:10,240 I know it sounds crazy, but I wouldn't lie to you. She 79 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:15,360 softly took my hands into hers and met my gaze. Baby, you know 80 00:07:15,399 --> 00:07:18,519 I wouldn't accuse you of that. It's strange, but if it really irks 81 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:24,600 you that much, I won't press it. Okay, thank you. Now 82 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:31,519 let's go home. I'm starving. Once we're out of sight of that wretched 83 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:36,720 thing, I could sense the tension starting to disperse. It was as if 84 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:42,800 a veil had been lifted. I fell asleep that night with a stomach full 85 00:07:42,839 --> 00:07:46,800 of dumplings and not a thought in the world besides the batitue girls snuggled in 86 00:07:46,839 --> 00:07:53,120 my arms. The stairs had vanished from my brain, just like they always 87 00:07:53,199 --> 00:08:01,279 did until the next day. We both had the entire day work, and 88 00:08:01,399 --> 00:08:05,240 before I knew it, Nadia was pulling me back down the same path as 89 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:09,879 the day prior to watch the sunset. Butterflies danced to my stomach as we 90 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:16,439 approached the spot that we'd seen the stairs the day before. Even so Nadia 91 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:22,279 noticed it first. Hey, isn't this the same place you pulled me away 92 00:08:22,279 --> 00:08:28,680 from yesterday? Those stairs that are gone? See? I told you they 93 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:33,000 were a bad omen Now do you believe me? I never said I didn't. 94 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:37,480 It's just a strange phenomena, you know, like seeing a unicorn. 95 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:41,000 You don't really expect to find it, or in this case, not find 96 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:48,759 it. It's a lot to process. I didn't know what to say. 97 00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:54,559 Should hit the nail on the head with the analysis, except the staircases were 98 00:08:54,559 --> 00:09:03,320 no unicorns. No, there was something far more sinister. We continued our 99 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:09,960 walk in silence until we finally reached our destination. That evening we'll always stand 100 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:15,240 out in my mind. The sky looked like a painter's canvas, a gorgeous 101 00:09:15,279 --> 00:09:20,919 amalgamation of purple and pink and orange melded together behind a smattering of light, 102 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:28,279 wispy clouds. I'd never seen anything so picturesque. We stayed there well past 103 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:33,200 the sunset, staring up into a sea of stars illuminating the night sky. 104 00:09:33,919 --> 00:09:39,559 Thank you for keeping a promise. Today was perfect, Nadia yawned, sleepily, 105 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:45,039 resting her head on my shoulder. Every day with you is perfect. 106 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,960 Thank you for dragging me out of the house. This really has been incredible. 107 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,519 I love you so much. You're welcome, bonehead, I love you 108 00:09:54,600 --> 00:10:01,679 too. Nadia giggled quietly, her eyes struggling to stay over. All right, 109 00:10:01,759 --> 00:10:05,480 sweetheart, I think it's time for us to go back. You can 110 00:10:05,519 --> 00:10:11,759 hardly stay awake just a little longer. You're so comfy, she protested, 111 00:10:11,279 --> 00:10:16,720 bearing her head into my chest. My heart felt so full in that moment. 112 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,080 What had I done to deserve such an amazing girl? All right, 113 00:10:22,399 --> 00:10:26,960 hope we go, I said, hoisting my weary girlfriend into my arms. 114 00:10:28,879 --> 00:10:33,399 If your legs won't move, I've no choice but to carry you. Oh 115 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:37,120 no, how terrible. Whatever shall I do? She quipped, wrapping her 116 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:45,120 arms around my neck. Nothing, just stay still and let me My froze 117 00:10:45,159 --> 00:10:48,840 mid stride, I swallowed a dry lump in my throat, and sweat began 118 00:10:48,919 --> 00:10:54,639 to beat atop my brow. In the darkness among the foliage, my flashlight 119 00:10:54,679 --> 00:11:03,240 beam fell upon a large, bulky object. They were back, Jason, 120 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,320 what's wrong? You look pale, Nadia said, following the ray of light 121 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:13,799 until she realized what I was looking at. A wide set of weathered concrete 122 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:22,039 steps ascended to nowhere. They called to me, begging me to climb them. 123 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:28,080 Just one step, just one, that's all, Jason. I feel 124 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:33,559 it now what you were talking about yesterday. I feel it. It's all 125 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:41,080 wrong. They shouldn't be here, Nadia whimpered, fear jolting across the pupils. 126 00:11:41,639 --> 00:11:46,120 Yeah, yeah, you're right, I said, ripping my gaze from 127 00:11:46,159 --> 00:11:52,720 the awful thing. Just don't look at it. We're going to be okay. 128 00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:56,320 This time, I was in as relieved once we'd escaped the staircase as 129 00:11:56,360 --> 00:12:03,480 a lowering pull. I'd never see the stairs two days straight before. They 130 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:07,519 were always more sporadic in their appearance, never showing up with any rhythm or 131 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:16,080 consistency, so to see them twice made me feel a bit uneasy. Nadia 132 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:22,039 and I didn't mention the stairs again that evening. We were both absolutely exhausted 133 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:26,360 and we were itching to get some much needed rest. I'd be damned if 134 00:12:26,399 --> 00:12:33,360 I wasn't going to let some stupid staircase ruin a good night's sleep. Nadia 135 00:12:33,519 --> 00:12:37,519 was already snoring when I joined her in bed, and I was out the 136 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:41,759 second of my head hit the pillow. If only we could have made it 137 00:12:41,879 --> 00:12:50,840 until morning, maybe then she'd still be here. I awoke in a pitch 138 00:12:50,919 --> 00:12:56,600 black room. Nadia was missing from her side of the bed. I didn't 139 00:12:56,639 --> 00:13:01,159 worry at first. It was an abnorm more for her to sneak off to 140 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:05,200 the bathroom in the middle of the night every once in a while. I 141 00:13:05,279 --> 00:13:09,960 didn't want to drift back off until I had her beside me, though I 142 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:16,279 waited and waited to no avail. Then, after what felt like an eternity, 143 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:20,679 I finally called out, hey, babe, are you coming back to 144 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:28,919 bed soon? I received no response. That was when the panic set in. 145 00:13:30,399 --> 00:13:35,399 Nadia would never ignore me like that. I leapt out of bed and 146 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:41,399 beelined for the bathroom. It was empty. My heart began to pound against 147 00:13:41,399 --> 00:13:45,720 my rib cage like a jackhammer. Sirens were blaring in my head, telling 148 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:50,039 me that something was wrong, and I felt helpless to silence them. I 149 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:56,600 turned the whole cabin inside out with no results. Nadia was nowhere to be 150 00:13:56,639 --> 00:14:01,519 found. Then, amongst all the chaos, an idea flickered in my head. 151 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:07,279 Why hadn't I thought of it sooner? Nardia's phone was missing from the 152 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:13,440 bedside, but I could track a location and find my friends. I fumbled 153 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,279 to unlock my own phone and opened the app. I had to know that 154 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:24,279 she was okay. I loaded up the app and located Nadia's icon. She 155 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,919 was close. The app said that she was only a few hundred feet from 156 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:33,360 the cabin. I threw on a pair of shorts and darted out into the 157 00:14:33,399 --> 00:14:37,960 frigid night air. I raised barefoot across the leaves and rocks and acorns. 158 00:14:39,799 --> 00:14:43,559 I didn't have time to grab shoes right then. I didn't care if my 159 00:14:43,639 --> 00:14:50,480 feet would taunt of ribbons, as long as Nadia was okay. I eventually 160 00:14:50,559 --> 00:14:54,720 reached the point where a phone should have been. I frantically called it, 161 00:14:54,919 --> 00:15:00,480 praying that she would pick up. This time, I saw something ill illuminate 162 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:05,159 amongst the leaves, and not far beyond it, I found who I was 163 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:11,320 searching for. But instead of being overcome with joy upon finding the love of 164 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:18,440 my life, my blood turned ice cold. Nardia's face was partially illuminated by 165 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:24,480 the moonlight trickling through the canopy. She was gazing down at me, with 166 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:33,679 tears streaming down her cheeks. Below her feet sat a staircase. This time 167 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:39,320 it was ornate, white, glassy marble stairs gleamed even in the darkness. 168 00:15:41,039 --> 00:15:45,840 Topped off with the pristine red carpet. The stairs looked as if they would 169 00:15:45,879 --> 00:15:52,399 lead straight to Heaven itself, and that terrified me. Dread crashed over me 170 00:15:52,559 --> 00:15:58,080 like a tidal wave. As we stared at each other. I wanted to 171 00:15:58,159 --> 00:16:02,360 move. I wanted to sprint up to her and sweep off those god forsaken 172 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:08,200 things, but I couldn't. I was rooted in place, forced to watch 173 00:16:08,559 --> 00:16:15,159 as the girl of my dreams ascended the final step. Jason, Please, 174 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,879 I don't want to go. I love you and I want to stay with 175 00:16:18,919 --> 00:16:22,559 you forever. I had to know. I could feel them calling to me. 176 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:32,320 Please don't let them take me. Nadia sobbed uncontrollably, reaching out a 177 00:16:32,399 --> 00:16:36,720 hand toward me. I wanted to grab it, to pull her into my 178 00:16:36,879 --> 00:16:41,759 arms, to tell her that everything was going to be okay, but I 179 00:16:41,799 --> 00:16:48,759 was stuck. I was forced to watch in abject horror as Nadia involuntarily took 180 00:16:48,159 --> 00:16:53,519 that one last step to the top. It felt as if time had slowed 181 00:16:53,519 --> 00:16:59,480 to a crawl. One second I was paralyzed, eyes locked, and Nadia 182 00:16:59,759 --> 00:17:07,960 and is vile stairs, and the next I was alone. Nadia and the 183 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:14,720 staircase had vanished into the cool night air, like they never existed at all. 184 00:17:15,599 --> 00:17:22,400 The burden of that night will stay with me until the day I die. 185 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:26,960 I wailed, I screamed, I pounded the earth, and to my 186 00:17:26,039 --> 00:17:32,559 fists were bloody and my throat was hoarse. Nadia had been taken from me 187 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:41,799 right before my very eyes, and I did absolutely nothing. I blame myself 188 00:17:41,839 --> 00:17:45,640 for a long time after that. Hell, I still do. I don't 189 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:52,720 think I'll ever be able to move on. That's my punishment, I suppose, 190 00:17:52,839 --> 00:17:57,720 living out a dull, meaningless life while images of my lost girlfriend run 191 00:17:57,759 --> 00:18:06,240 through my head day in and day out. That's why I drink. Strangely 192 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:11,440 enough, I've never seen the stairs again. Very really the only reason that 193 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:18,680 I'm still here because maybe if I just give in, maybe if I convince 194 00:18:18,759 --> 00:18:25,920 myself to climb that one last looming step, then there might be a chance 195 00:18:26,599 --> 00:18:33,920 that I'll be reunited with Nadia. And for me, that's the chance that 196 00:18:33,039 --> 00:18:34,359 I have to take.