1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: Before we start today's episode, we're excited to announce the 2 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,800 biggest perk ever in the micro Terrrist fan Club. The 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,519 very first micro Terrors short film, The Dire More Phantom, 4 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:17,079 is now in production. Not only will Spooky and Terrified 5 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,800 fan club members get exclusive access to the movie when 6 00:00:19,839 --> 00:00:22,839 it premieres, but they'll also receive a copy of the 7 00:00:22,839 --> 00:00:25,800 screenplay signed by some of the cast and crew, as 8 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,719 well as a limited edition movie poster. Head on over 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,399 to microterrors dot com and click the micro Terrrist Films 10 00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:34,759 tab at the top to follow the progress, and if 11 00:00:34,759 --> 00:00:37,920 you're a Spooky or Terrified Tier fan club member, you'll 12 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,560 get even more behind the scenes photos and videos all 13 00:00:40,679 --> 00:00:42,359 leading up to the movie's release. 14 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 2: Welcome to micro Terrors, scary stories for kids where it's 15 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:15,799 always the spooky season, full of chills, thrills, and spine 16 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:21,640 tingling spooks. Micro Terrors are family friendly frights for those 17 00:01:21,879 --> 00:01:25,719 ages eight and up, and while our stories are for 18 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:29,480 younger years, we are still talking about things that go 19 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:33,120 bump in the night, and some children may not be 20 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:38,560 able to handle what others can. Parental consent is recommended 21 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,079 now for tonights micro. 22 00:01:42,159 --> 00:01:52,359 Speaker 1: Terror Ron Abbey, an original micro Terror by Scott Donnelly 23 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,400 and the Terrified members of the micro Terrorrist Fan Club. 24 00:02:00,599 --> 00:02:03,280 When I arrived at mister and Missus Wellington's house, it 25 00:02:03,439 --> 00:02:05,680 was pretty much what I thought it would be like. 26 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,240 It was a large, two story home that sat at 27 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,479 the edge of an old, rich neighborhood. I'd never met 28 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,960 mister or missus Wellington, nor had I ever seen their house, 29 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,400 but with a name like Wellington well I had a 30 00:02:19,439 --> 00:02:22,199 gut feeling it would look like a mansion. I'd seen 31 00:02:22,199 --> 00:02:27,280 their ad in the newspaper. Help wanted teenage babysitter, competitive pay, 32 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:32,000 full fridge access. It was spring break and I wanted 33 00:02:32,039 --> 00:02:34,840 some extra spending cash. I used to babysit my little 34 00:02:34,879 --> 00:02:37,240 cousins when they were little, so I figured I had 35 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,479 enough experience. My parents dropped me off in front of 36 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:44,000 the Wellington's home just before seven pm, and I waved goodbye. 37 00:02:44,319 --> 00:02:46,159 I told them i'd call them when mister and Missus 38 00:02:46,159 --> 00:02:48,879 Wellington returned home from their evening out and they could 39 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,800 come and pick me up. As my parents drove off 40 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,080 and disappeared around the corner, I faced the mansion before 41 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,919 me Okay, well, maybe it wasn't an actual mansion, but 42 00:02:59,039 --> 00:03:01,520 it was far large than any house I'd ever been to. 43 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,199 My friends would be jealous if they knew I was 44 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:06,479 going to get to spend a few hours in this place. 45 00:03:07,719 --> 00:03:10,039 I walked up to the door, where a brass lion 46 00:03:10,159 --> 00:03:12,960 door knocker was front and center. I picked it up 47 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,520 by the handle and banged it against the door three times. 48 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,280 I stepped back, and a moment later it opened. Mister 49 00:03:20,319 --> 00:03:23,599 Wellington stood there. He was tall, baby in his thirties 50 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,400 and wore what appeared to be a very expensive suit. 51 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,840 You must be abby, mister Wellington said, with a welcoming smile. 52 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,159 I nodded with what I had hoped was an equally 53 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:38,400 friendly smile. He then extended his hand and shook mine. 54 00:03:38,439 --> 00:03:41,680 His grip was strong and his hand was nearly twice 55 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:46,280 the size mine was. Please come in, he added. I 56 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,800 walked into the home and stood close to the door, 57 00:03:48,919 --> 00:03:51,439 my hands cuffed together in front of me, while my 58 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,680 backpack hung loosely from my shoulder. Mister Wellington closed the door. 59 00:03:56,199 --> 00:03:59,240 We can't tell you how much we appreciate you responding 60 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,639 to our abb he said. Brenda and I were invited 61 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,360 to a party that we just can't pass up. And 62 00:04:05,439 --> 00:04:08,719 obviously having a baby at home now, well, it makes 63 00:04:08,759 --> 00:04:13,000 going out pretty difficult. I smiled again. Well that's where 64 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,240 I come in. I'll make sure your little bundle of 65 00:04:15,319 --> 00:04:19,160 joy is safe and as content as possible. Just then, 66 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:24,000 missus Wellington or Brenda called from upstairs. Steve, can you 67 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:28,319 help me please? Steve Wellington rolled his eyes and laughed. 68 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,839 She can never decide what to wear. I'll be right back, 69 00:04:31,959 --> 00:04:34,199 he said to me with a wink. Take your time, 70 00:04:34,399 --> 00:04:38,000 I told him, I have all night. Steve dashed up 71 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,759 the red carpeted grand staircase and around the corner on 72 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,319 the second floor, where he disappeared. The house fell silent 73 00:04:44,639 --> 00:04:48,040 and still. Somewhere in another room, I heard a grandfather 74 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:52,120 clock chime. It was seven pm. I looked to my 75 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,079 right and saw a tall entrance to another room. The 76 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,079 room was cast in flickering shadows. I noticed a few 77 00:04:58,079 --> 00:05:01,480 candles displayed on a table within it. To my left 78 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,079 was a hallway. It looked long, like it went on forever, 79 00:05:05,519 --> 00:05:08,120 and was lined with doors that all looked identical to 80 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,639 one another. That's when I noticed that only one of 81 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,720 the doors appeared to be open. It was slightly a jar. 82 00:05:15,519 --> 00:05:17,839 It stood out from the rest which were all closed. 83 00:05:18,879 --> 00:05:21,600 Then I saw movement from within the open gap of 84 00:05:21,639 --> 00:05:26,959 the door. Long bony fingers, gray and fragile, extended out 85 00:05:26,959 --> 00:05:29,600 from the darkness within the room. They grabbed the door 86 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,600 and pulled it shut. As soon as the door clicked shut, 87 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,399 a chill ran down my spine. What was that, I wondered. 88 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,279 The fingers didn't look like normal fingers. They were much 89 00:05:40,519 --> 00:05:44,319 longer than normal ones, slow moving in a dull gray color. 90 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:49,399 Skin looked like dead skin to me. I glanced up 91 00:05:49,439 --> 00:05:53,480 the grand staircase. Neither mister or Missus Wellington were within sight. 92 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,439 I couldn't even hear them anymore. So I made a decision. 93 00:05:57,759 --> 00:05:59,879 I had to check out the door in the hall. 94 00:06:01,079 --> 00:06:04,040 I slowly walked toward the hall, careful not to let 95 00:06:04,079 --> 00:06:07,160 my footsteps draw attention to me, and crept down to 96 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,680 the door that had just been pulled shut. I stopped 97 00:06:10,759 --> 00:06:15,240 right outside of it and listened. Something shuffled behind it. 98 00:06:16,199 --> 00:06:19,439 I gently pressed my palm against it and leaned in closer. 99 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:24,120 The shuffling sound stopped. I froze, waiting to hear it again. 100 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,360 My heart stopped and I held my breath as I 101 00:06:27,439 --> 00:06:32,079 awaited any further noises, but there was nothing. No shuffle, 102 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:37,680 no drag, no click, no clack. A hand touched my 103 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,879 back and I recoiled, releasing a startled shriek. I spun 104 00:06:40,959 --> 00:06:43,160 around just as my heart jumped, started back to life, 105 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:44,279 and nearly burst out. 106 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 2: From my chest. 107 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,759 Speaker 1: Ah it was mister Wellington standing there behind me in 108 00:06:48,759 --> 00:06:54,040 the hallway with a curious smile. Okay, he laughed. I 109 00:06:54,079 --> 00:06:56,839 caught my breath and nodded, glancing back at the door. 110 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,519 But with his calm, lighthearted reaction and dis interest in 111 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:02,759 what I was doing, it made me feel like whatever 112 00:07:02,959 --> 00:07:05,000 was behind the door was no big deal at all. 113 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,879 Maybe it was just a family member, a living grandparent, 114 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,319 an old weird aunt. 115 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 2: Something. 116 00:07:11,839 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: I placed my hand on my chest as I calmbed 117 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,639 down from the scare follow me. Steve said, we're about 118 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,240 to leave. I followed Steve Wellington back out to the 119 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,079 bottom of the grand staircase. That was when I first 120 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:28,279 laid my eyes on missus Wellington. She was tall, beautiful, 121 00:07:28,439 --> 00:07:32,000 and wore a striking red dress. Her hair flowed down 122 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,040 over her shoulders, and her diamond ear rings glinted under 123 00:07:35,079 --> 00:07:37,720 the chandelier high up on the vaulted ceiling above us. 124 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:42,360 This is my wife, Brenda, Steve said, introducing us. Brenda 125 00:07:42,399 --> 00:07:46,480 smiled and shook my hand. Abby, I shyly replied, shaking 126 00:07:46,519 --> 00:07:49,680 her hand. Her grip wasn't as strong as Steve's, but 127 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:53,480 her skin was much smoother. It's nice to meet you, Abby, 128 00:07:53,879 --> 00:07:57,279 Brenda said. We can't thank you enough for your service tonight. 129 00:07:57,959 --> 00:08:01,680 It's my pleasure. I said so badly. To look down 130 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,800 the hallway again. All get the cars started while you 131 00:08:04,839 --> 00:08:08,319 explain things to her, Steve said to Brenda. He shot 132 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:11,560 me another smile and wink before leaving through the front door. 133 00:08:12,319 --> 00:08:16,040 Brenda and I stood there alone. So Florence is asleep, 134 00:08:16,399 --> 00:08:19,839 Brenda said, she's bent still cranky today. If I were you, 135 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:22,160 I would try your best to not make much noise. 136 00:08:22,519 --> 00:08:25,279 Trust me, you don't want her to wake up. If 137 00:08:25,319 --> 00:08:28,160 she does, there's milk for her in the fridge that 138 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,879 usually calms her down a bit. There's also food and 139 00:08:30,959 --> 00:08:35,159 drinks for you too, I smiled. I couldn't wait to 140 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:38,440 check out the fridge. Brenda then handed me a small 141 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,879 business card. This is Steve's work card, she said. It 142 00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:44,200 has a cell phone number on it. If there's an emergency, 143 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:46,919 please don't hesitate to call, and we'll be home as 144 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,720 soon as we can. I nodded, stuffing the card into 145 00:08:50,759 --> 00:08:55,159 the side pocket on my backpack. Any questions, Brenda then asked. 146 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,840 Of course, the bony fingers in the hallway were still 147 00:08:58,879 --> 00:09:01,720 on my mind, so oh I had to inquire somehow. 148 00:09:02,519 --> 00:09:06,799 Is anyone else here? I asked, like, do you have 149 00:09:06,799 --> 00:09:12,840 any other guests, old aunts? Anyone? Brenda laughed, No, it's 150 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,320 just the three of us. The house will probably seem 151 00:09:15,399 --> 00:09:18,720 extra quiet while you're here, as long as Florence stays asleep. 152 00:09:18,799 --> 00:09:21,120 That is. There's a TV in the basement if you 153 00:09:21,159 --> 00:09:23,279 want to watch some movies, and a pool table down 154 00:09:23,279 --> 00:09:26,200 that hallway. She pointed down the hall that had already 155 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:30,840 seized my curiosity. The car horn honked outside. I have 156 00:09:30,919 --> 00:09:33,840 to go, Brenda said, Don't want to keep Steve waiting. 157 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,519 She smiled and slung her purse over her shoulder. Don't 158 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,679 hesitate to call if you need something, she reiterated, before 159 00:09:40,759 --> 00:09:44,639 rushing out the front door. Once it closed and clicked 160 00:09:44,679 --> 00:09:48,080 shut behind her, I locked it and immediately realized just 161 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,960 how quiet it was in the Wellington house. Brenda wasn't 162 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:54,799 joking for a moment. I felt as if I were 163 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,279 locked in a soundless room. That was until I heard 164 00:09:58,279 --> 00:10:00,799 the soft ticking of the grandfather clock in the other room. 165 00:10:01,879 --> 00:10:06,279 My stomach suddenly growled, creating disorder in the silent atmosphere. 166 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:10,240 I glanced back down the hallway. All was still, All 167 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,879 was silent. Mister Wellington made it seem as if there 168 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,039 wasn't anything at all to be concerned with down there. 169 00:10:15,639 --> 00:10:17,799 Brenda assured me it was just the two of them, 170 00:10:17,879 --> 00:10:21,320 plus baby Florence that lived in the house. I began 171 00:10:21,399 --> 00:10:23,799 to wonder if I was overthinking what I had seen, 172 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,159 if I'd even seen anything at all to begin with. 173 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:33,279 My stomach growled again, commanding my full attention. The hallway 174 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:36,639 could wait, my hunger couldn't. I needed a snack, and 175 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,799 I needed it now. I walked to the kitchen and 176 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,720 flipped on the light. It buzzed on the ceiling above 177 00:10:43,759 --> 00:10:45,919 me as I trotted across the tile floor and toward 178 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,840 the fridge. I pulled it open and the cool, bright 179 00:10:48,919 --> 00:10:52,440 interior was revealed. The top shelf housed what looked like 180 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,600 Chinese leftovers and bottled drinks. The middle shelf was lined 181 00:10:56,600 --> 00:11:00,039 with cheese, lunch meat, lettuce, basically anything you'd need to 182 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,679 make a sandwich. On the left side of the bottom 183 00:11:02,799 --> 00:11:06,519 shelf were several plastic bottles of milk for Florence. Just 184 00:11:06,559 --> 00:11:08,600 to the right of those was a bowl of freshly 185 00:11:08,639 --> 00:11:11,519 cut berries. That's all I needed to see for my 186 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,320 mouth to water. I grabbed the bowl of berries with 187 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,080 both hands and pulled it out, accidentally knocking one of 188 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,799 the baby's milk bottles out of the fridge. Oh no, 189 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,200 I yelped as I tried to grab it, but I 190 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,360 missed it completely and it hit the tile floor with 191 00:11:24,399 --> 00:11:27,519 a loud crack. I stared down at it, waiting for 192 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:29,480 the milk to burst out from a crack in the 193 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:33,000 side or even out the top. But it didn't. And 194 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,720 even more curious, the milk didn't even move. It didn't 195 00:11:36,759 --> 00:11:40,759 slosh around or settle on its side. It was motionless. 196 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:44,360 I pushed the bowl of berries back onto the shelf 197 00:11:44,399 --> 00:11:48,039 and picked up the milk bottle. I studied it, looking 198 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:52,000 it up and down and all around. It was fake. 199 00:11:52,759 --> 00:11:54,840 It wasn't real milk at all. There wasn't even a 200 00:11:54,879 --> 00:11:58,279 liquid inside of it. I checked the other bottles, all 201 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,799 of which were labeled Florin's milk, and they were all 202 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:06,440 the same. Why wasn't it real? Did that mean Florence 203 00:12:06,639 --> 00:12:10,120 wasn't Just then, the kitchen light flickered and went out. 204 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,120 The cool, bright glow from the fridge was all I had. 205 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:15,480 I turned around to face the kitchen doorway, and my 206 00:12:15,519 --> 00:12:19,600 blood ran cold. A dark, gangly figure, hidden mostly in 207 00:12:19,639 --> 00:12:22,559 the shadows, stood there with its long, bony fingers on 208 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:23,279 the light switch. 209 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,919 Speaker 2: You don't remember me, do you? 210 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:30,279 Speaker 1: It spoke in a low, raspy voice. I was shaking. 211 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,960 Whatever I was looking at, Whatever hid so well in 212 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,440 the shadows of the kitchen entrance wasn't human. The weight 213 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,519 it's bony fingers clicked and fidgeted at the light switch 214 00:12:40,759 --> 00:12:44,320 was unnerving. Why did it shut the light off? Did 215 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,799 it not want to be seen? Was I'm not supposed 216 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:50,360 to see it? Its last words repeated in my head. 217 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 2: You don't remember me, do you? 218 00:12:53,919 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: I was certain I've never met a creepy, shadowy entity before, 219 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:01,679 But there was something about the voice, the rasp, the 220 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,440 low tone, that tickled a core memory. It was buried deep, 221 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:10,759 but there was a flit of familiarity there. I nodded, sure, 222 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,600 I said, my voice just as shaky as my body. 223 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:17,559 I do remember you, of course I do. Aside from 224 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,720 the vague feeling of deja vous, I didn't actually remember 225 00:13:20,799 --> 00:13:24,559 him or her or it, but being trapped in the 226 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,320 kitchen with my only way out blocked, I had to 227 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:32,360 play along good. It said, Then you know why I'm here. 228 00:13:33,039 --> 00:13:38,039 You know why I'm back. I didn't respond. I just 229 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:41,519 stood there, shivering in uncertain fear, gripping the bottle of 230 00:13:41,519 --> 00:13:45,240 fake milk in my hand. You're trouble, abby, it said 231 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,799 from the shadows. That's why I'm here. Did you look 232 00:13:48,799 --> 00:13:54,399 at the card Brenda gave you? The card Steve's work card. 233 00:13:54,879 --> 00:13:56,720 Brenda said it had his cell phone number on it. 234 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:00,320 I stuffed it in a pocket on my backpack, I 235 00:14:00,399 --> 00:14:03,039 padded to the bag still slung over my shoulder. It's 236 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:06,279 in here, I said, feeling a little less threatened and 237 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,240 slightly more comfortable with the shadowy figure. As weird as 238 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,639 that sounded, there's only so much I can do, it 239 00:14:12,799 --> 00:14:17,879 raspfully said, look at the card. I placed the bottle 240 00:14:17,919 --> 00:14:20,000 back in the fridge, but kept the door open for 241 00:14:20,039 --> 00:14:22,960 the light. I moved my backpack around in front of 242 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,519 me so I could try and keep an eye on 243 00:14:24,559 --> 00:14:26,840 the entity in the doorway while I fished out Steve's 244 00:14:26,879 --> 00:14:29,840 work card. I looked at it and the glowing light 245 00:14:29,919 --> 00:14:34,600 at the refrigerator. It said the Life Still Network Steve 246 00:14:34,679 --> 00:14:39,960 Wellington had of recruitment. What's the life Still Network, I asked, 247 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,399 looking back up to the figure in the doorway. However, 248 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:46,480 it was gone. It had vanished as quickly and eerily 249 00:14:46,519 --> 00:14:51,120 as it appeared. Hello, I called out. It didn't answer. 250 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,120 Then I heard a door click shut from somewhere close. 251 00:14:54,919 --> 00:14:57,039 I closed the fridge and rushed out of the kitchen. 252 00:14:57,279 --> 00:14:59,919 I looked left and then right. A door nearby grabbed 253 00:14:59,919 --> 00:15:01,919 a attention. It was close enough that it could have 254 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:04,679 been the one that had just clicked shut. I slowly 255 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,039 turned the knob and opened it. Stairwell descended in front 256 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,960 of me. At the bottom, a tall, gangly shadow appeared 257 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,320 on the wall. It moved away from where it stood, 258 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:19,080 and the shadow disappeared. I gulped. Whoever that shadow entity 259 00:15:19,279 --> 00:15:23,159 was was leading me to the basement. From what Brenda 260 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,039 told me, there was a TV in the basement if 261 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:27,600 I wanted to watch movies, But now I was getting 262 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,080 the feeling that there might have been more down there. 263 00:15:31,279 --> 00:15:34,120 I took a deep breath and slowly began to descend 264 00:15:34,159 --> 00:15:37,919 to the basement stairs. Each step I took my heart 265 00:15:38,039 --> 00:15:41,399 beat faster in my chest. Once my feet touched the 266 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,399 carpeted basement floor, I braced myself for what I was 267 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:47,399 about to see once I turned the corner. But when 268 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,480 my eyes absorbed everything the basement had to offer, my 269 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:55,600 fear quickly subsided. There was nothing, nothing out of the ordinary. 270 00:15:56,279 --> 00:15:59,159 There was a TV just like Brenda said, a long 271 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,399 couch with n tables on either side of it, paintings 272 00:16:02,399 --> 00:16:04,840 on the walls, and two doors off to my right. 273 00:16:05,879 --> 00:16:10,279 More importantly, there was no shadowy figure with long, bony fingers. 274 00:16:11,039 --> 00:16:16,039 The large open basement room was empty. I walked in 275 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,639 cautiously to take a better look, but there was nowhere 276 00:16:19,679 --> 00:16:23,039 for it to hide behind, nowhere for anything to hide 277 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:28,799 unless I faced the two doors along the right wall. 278 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,279 They looked like closet doors at first, tall and more 279 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:36,720 narrow than normal doors, but the more I studied them, 280 00:16:37,039 --> 00:16:40,639 they seemed out of place. One door had a silver knob, 281 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:45,879 one had a black one. Huh Why two different colored 282 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:50,919 knobs with how fancy the wellingtons were? Two different colored 283 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:56,799 knobs didn't seem cohesive unless they were to signify a difference. 284 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,679 And that's when my heart began to race again. I 285 00:17:00,799 --> 00:17:03,799 was led down here for a reason, after all, and 286 00:17:03,919 --> 00:17:06,880 now I couldn't remove my focus from the two different 287 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:12,319 colored doorknobs, one silver, one black. What was the difference 288 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:16,480 between them? What was behind each of them? I stopped 289 00:17:16,519 --> 00:17:19,359 before I worked myself up into a panic attack. I 290 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:21,680 pulled out my phone and tried an Internet search for 291 00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:26,440 the Life Still Network. The first result was their official website. However, 292 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,119 it proved to be as vague and cryptic as possible 293 00:17:29,799 --> 00:17:32,960 against a blue background with white text. There were strange 294 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,240 mentions of life not having to end with death, avatars 295 00:17:36,279 --> 00:17:40,200 for continued living prototypes and their beta phase. I didn't 296 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,240 really understand what any of it was. What I did 297 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:47,039 find weird, though, weird and unnerving, were the colors of 298 00:17:47,079 --> 00:17:50,359 the text used on the website. Every time the word 299 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:54,480 prototype was used, it was in black. Every time life 300 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:58,640 was used, it was in silver. I looked up from 301 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:05,160 my phone doorknobs before me, one black, one silver. Could 302 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:10,000 they have also represented life and prototype? And if so, 303 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:11,480 what was behind. 304 00:18:11,079 --> 00:18:12,119 Speaker 2: Each of them? 305 00:18:12,559 --> 00:18:16,039 Speaker 1: I needed to find out? Just before I reached for 306 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:17,799 one of the knobs. I felt the presence of the 307 00:18:17,799 --> 00:18:21,039 shadowy entity again. It was behind me. It was there 308 00:18:21,039 --> 00:18:25,359 as a guide, a friend, a protector. I remembered what 309 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:27,759 it was now, and it had been a long time 310 00:18:27,799 --> 00:18:30,440 since I had seen it. I was in good hands, 311 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,640 and I found the courage to push forward. But first 312 00:18:34,039 --> 00:18:39,480 I turned around to confront my old friend. He stood there, tall, gangly. 313 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,039 His skin was tightly stretched over his bones. His fingers 314 00:18:43,079 --> 00:18:46,720 were elongated, as were his exposed toes. His head was 315 00:18:46,759 --> 00:18:49,720 tall and stretched back, with dead gray skin hanging from 316 00:18:49,799 --> 00:18:53,680 it like loose rags. His eyes were bloodshot, one larger 317 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,039 than the other, and his teeth were sharp as nails, 318 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,599 with a slimy forked tongue slithering in and out between them. 319 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:07,240 I didn't scream. I smiled. Hi James, I said, Hi, Abby, 320 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,240 he said back to me, his voice still as raspy 321 00:19:10,279 --> 00:19:15,640 as ever. His appearance was startling by design, by my design, 322 00:19:16,079 --> 00:19:18,720 because no matter how scary something was, or how much 323 00:19:18,799 --> 00:19:22,599 danger I found myself in James, the imaginary friend I 324 00:19:22,759 --> 00:19:26,160 created when I was four, would always be much scarier 325 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,480 and more dangerous, and he would be on my side. 326 00:19:30,559 --> 00:19:34,880 You're in danger, Abby, he said, again. I didn't respond. 327 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,119 I just swallowed hard. I could sense danger, but I 328 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:43,240 couldn't put a finger on it. Lawrence isn't real, James hissed, 329 00:19:43,559 --> 00:19:45,759 echoing a thought that had started to manifest in my 330 00:19:45,839 --> 00:19:48,960 own head. James then lifted an arm and extended a 331 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,400 bony finger toward the narrow doors behind me. Shall we 332 00:19:52,519 --> 00:19:58,400 opened them together? I nodded, swallowing another hard gulp of saliva. 333 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,119 I turned and faced the doors, one with a black knob, 334 00:20:02,279 --> 00:20:04,880 one with a silver knob. I reached for the black 335 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:09,400 knob first, the knob I thought might represent prototype. I 336 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:12,960 turned it slowly and pulled the door open. A fluorescent 337 00:20:13,039 --> 00:20:15,880 light buzzed to life inside the narrow walkway before me, 338 00:20:16,079 --> 00:20:19,200 as if were triggered by a sensor on either side 339 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:26,880 of the narrow walkway or shelves. On those shelves were dolls, plastic, porcelain, glass, rubber. 340 00:20:27,480 --> 00:20:30,839 They were all made of something different. Sound began to 341 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,119 creep out from the walkway. In fact, it was a 342 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:38,000 heavy chorus of sounds. Bumps like heartbeats, sniffles like people 343 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:42,200 holding back tears, gasps like startled breaths. I closed the 344 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:46,480 door quickly, check the other one James spoke behind me. 345 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,400 I did as he said. With James there as my support, 346 00:20:50,759 --> 00:20:54,400 my protection, I opened the second door, the wand with 347 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:59,480 the silver knob, the one I assumed signified life. Where 348 00:20:59,519 --> 00:21:03,119 shelves were in the other walkway. Were people in this one, 349 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:06,440 boys and girls within my age group. They were harnessed 350 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:09,480 to the walls and motionless. They didn't look like they 351 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:13,400 were dead, but rather in a state of disconnection. Their 352 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,519 eyes were wide, their lips dry, their bodies as still 353 00:21:16,559 --> 00:21:21,119 as stone statues. You need to leave, James hissed so 354 00:21:21,279 --> 00:21:23,640 closely in my ear that I could almost feel his 355 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:26,839 hot breath on my skin. Get out of here, abby, 356 00:21:27,759 --> 00:21:30,079 I turned and ran back up the basement stairs as 357 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,599 fast as I could. My heart was racing, my mind 358 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:35,839 still plagued by the uncanny sight in the basement. As 359 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:37,960 soon as I reached the foyer of the house, I 360 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:39,880 heard something that set my teeth on edge and made 361 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:43,960 my blood run cold. It was a baby crying from upstairs. 362 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:47,640 Was Florence real after all? Or was it all in 363 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,880 my head? Regardless, I was here for a baby sitting job, 364 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,000 and if there was the slightest chance that Florence was 365 00:21:55,079 --> 00:21:57,720 real and crying. I had to go check on her. 366 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:02,079 It was my responsibility. Dashed upstairs and followed her cry. 367 00:22:02,599 --> 00:22:05,200 It grew louder as I navigated the upstairs of the house, 368 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:08,079 and finally I came to a door with whimsical letters 369 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:10,960 on it that spelled out Florence. I could hear her 370 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,400 crying on the other side of it. I pushed the 371 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,400 door open. The room was mostly dark, but a night 372 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:18,799 light in the corner gave it a soft glow, as 373 00:22:18,839 --> 00:22:21,519 did the carousel like baby mobile spinning above her crib. 374 00:22:22,279 --> 00:22:24,559 I approached the edge of the crib and peered down 375 00:22:24,599 --> 00:22:28,880 into it. That's when I saw Florence. She was in 376 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,000 the middle of the crib, the top of the blankets, 377 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:35,559 and just as I feared, she wasn't real. She was 378 00:22:35,599 --> 00:22:39,240 a doll made of plastic and rubber. But the cries 379 00:22:39,279 --> 00:22:42,680 that came from her, the haunting cries, were real. 380 00:22:43,079 --> 00:22:44,279 Speaker 2: Somehow. 381 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,319 Speaker 1: The bedroom light suddenly flipped on, and I spun around 382 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:49,640 to see mister and Missus Willington standing in the doorway. 383 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:54,200 Steve looked annoyed, while Brenda looked concerned. She charged into 384 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,400 the room and pushed me aside, going straight for Florence. 385 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,359 Is she okay. Brenda asked, did you feed her milk? 386 00:23:00,599 --> 00:23:04,680 I wasn't sure how to respond. I looked back at Steve, 387 00:23:04,759 --> 00:23:07,279 who still lurked in the doorway with a disapproving look 388 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:11,000 on his face. Behind him, a shadow stretched on the wall, 389 00:23:11,079 --> 00:23:14,799 eventually taking the shape of James. You think we're crazy, 390 00:23:14,839 --> 00:23:17,240 don't you, Steve said to me. You don't agree with 391 00:23:17,279 --> 00:23:21,319 my job, my line of work, I can tell, I 392 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,880 swallowed hard. I'm sure of what to say. I I 393 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:28,359 don't know what your job is. I managed to get out. 394 00:23:29,079 --> 00:23:32,400 I work for the life still network, Steve said, taking 395 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,079 another step into the room. We strive to one day 396 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:39,200 create avatars for children and adults who well aren't going 397 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:41,720 to make it in this world for one reason or another. 398 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,319 That way, their conscience can live on in a more 399 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:47,519 permanent form, and their friends and families won't have to 400 00:23:47,519 --> 00:23:51,480 completely lose them. I looked back at Brenda, who was 401 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:54,599 now sitting down in a rocking chair, with Florence softly 402 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:59,599 shushing her. Steve continued, Florence was ours. She was the 403 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:03,920 first one that genuinely worked, Steve said, his voice choking up. 404 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:09,119 The others downstairs. They were test subjects, prototypes, one day, 405 00:24:09,319 --> 00:24:12,000 Florence will grow up and become a young woman like yourself. 406 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:15,720 Steve looked at me now in a more ominous manner. 407 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:18,960 As her conscience and mind grow, she'll need a new 408 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:23,960 avatar wanted to match her growth and intelligence. James's gruff 409 00:24:24,079 --> 00:24:27,880 voice spoke from the doorway as Stephen stepped closer. Run, Abby, 410 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:33,160 He's going to take you run now. After all these 411 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,359 years hiding in the furthest corners of my mind, James 412 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:39,880 had returned to do exactly what I had created him for, 413 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,240 for protection and a friend who would look out for 414 00:24:42,279 --> 00:24:45,039 me in times of fear and peril. I wasn't going 415 00:24:45,079 --> 00:24:48,319 to let his re emergency for nothing. In one fluid motion, 416 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,839 I let my backpack fall down my shoulder and arm, 417 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:53,200 and just as Steve reached out for me, I swung 418 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:55,559 it with all my might and knocked him backwards. He 419 00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:58,160 crashed into the crib and collapsed to the ground. As 420 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:00,920 I took off as fast as I could, James followed 421 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:03,599 me closely as I clambered down the stairs, through the 422 00:25:03,599 --> 00:25:06,599 foyer and burst out the front door. You were never 423 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,720 here a babysit, James said to me. It was all 424 00:25:09,759 --> 00:25:12,519 a ruse they wanted your body to be the basis 425 00:25:12,519 --> 00:25:15,400 for the next avatar. Surely that would come at a 426 00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:18,519 devastating price. We have to get out of here, I said, 427 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,160 looking up and down the street, not sure which way 428 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:23,359 to go. Just then I heard the front door to 429 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:26,720 the Wellington's house slam shut. I turned around and watched 430 00:25:26,759 --> 00:25:29,640 Steve's silhouette appear in one of the side windows. He 431 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,880 stared out at me momentarily before pulling the curtains shut. 432 00:25:33,039 --> 00:25:35,240 Then one by one, the lights in the house all 433 00:25:35,279 --> 00:25:40,359 shut off. I think you're safe, James said, you are 434 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,920 too much of a risk for him. Now we should 435 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,240 report this, I said, all those kids in the basement, 436 00:25:48,119 --> 00:25:53,440 someone must be looking for them. James nodded, yeah, unless 437 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:57,359 they were volunteers. I don't recall a flurry of missing 438 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,880 people in town making the news. Maybe they were all 439 00:26:01,559 --> 00:26:05,359 donated by their parents in hopes the Life Still network 440 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:10,759 could help them. I wasn't sure what to think. The 441 00:26:10,799 --> 00:26:17,799 whole thing was creepy and made me feel sick. Donations, volunteers, captives, 442 00:26:18,079 --> 00:26:20,440 It didn't matter. I pulled out my phone to call 443 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,119 my parents as I ran far away from the Wellington's 444 00:26:23,119 --> 00:26:26,160 house as fast as I could. James was right behind 445 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:30,599 me like a shadow, vowing to never leave again. It 446 00:26:30,759 --> 00:26:34,359 was a big scary world out there, with big scary things, 447 00:26:35,319 --> 00:26:38,880 and now even the simple, innocent sounds of a baby 448 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:55,440 crying set shivers down my spine. The end. 449 00:26:57,839 --> 00:27:00,519 Speaker 3: The house, at the edge of the labor her food 450 00:27:00,559 --> 00:27:04,200 with a lion on the door, shann to leave her 451 00:27:04,279 --> 00:27:08,920 a bu bu and along dark cory door she came 452 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:13,319 the Babysit. Thought the job would be just fine, but 453 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:18,240 something in the hallway made her stop being change her mind. 454 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:22,200 Run Abby, run Abbey, get out while you can't. 455 00:27:23,559 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 4: Don't trust the ell and the woman or maiden. Something 456 00:27:29,559 --> 00:27:35,240 is wrong and you know it is true. Run Abby, run, 457 00:27:36,039 --> 00:27:37,960 They're come in for you. 458 00:27:39,279 --> 00:27:42,640 Speaker 3: There's a card inside of backpack with a name she 459 00:27:42,759 --> 00:27:48,160 doesn't know, and on website full of secrets that was 460 00:27:48,319 --> 00:27:49,640 putting on a show. 461 00:27:49,799 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 4: She heard the baby crying, but the milk wasn't ey 462 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:58,400 real land the deeper that she dug for her, She 463 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:03,559 started up. He'll run at run Abey, get out. Why 464 00:28:03,799 --> 00:28:12,240 you came, don't trust the well turn warman or man strong, 465 00:28:13,519 --> 00:28:17,480 and you know it is true. Run out the run. 466 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,880 They're coming for you. 467 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:26,720 Speaker 3: She wasn't all lonely. An old friend found his way 468 00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:29,200 back from the darkest corners. 469 00:28:28,799 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 4: Of her mind to help her get away. 470 00:28:32,519 --> 00:28:37,799 Speaker 3: She's running down the sidewalks and she won't look back. 471 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,039 Speaker 4: Again, because the scariest things in this world can be 472 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,839 hiding in the plane sight my friend. 473 00:28:43,039 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 3: Run, run at it, get out while you can't. 474 00:28:48,039 --> 00:28:49,519 Speaker 2: Don't shut the way. 475 00:28:50,279 --> 00:28:58,359 Speaker 4: Turn along a man something you know it is true, 476 00:28:59,039 --> 00:28:59,680 Run out of it. 477 00:29:00,839 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 2: There come in. Thank j you. 478 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 3: Jube fend Job. 479 00:29:17,359 --> 00:29:20,519 Speaker 1: Roun Abby was a Choose your Adventure style collaboration between 480 00:29:20,519 --> 00:29:23,440 Scott Donnelly and the terrified members of the micro Terrorist 481 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:26,519 Fan Club, where each week for seven weeks, fan club 482 00:29:26,559 --> 00:29:29,160 members would vote in a poll to determine which twist 483 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:32,599 the story would take next. All the twists, all the turns, 484 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:35,559 It's your choice. If you'd like to participate in the 485 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:38,200 next It's your Choice story, head on over to the 486 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:40,519 micro Terrorist Fan Club, where the first part of the 487 00:29:40,559 --> 00:29:43,720 next story is pinned and waiting for you. Coming up 488 00:29:43,759 --> 00:29:47,000 next week on micro Terror's two young Friends venture into 489 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,960 the woods, where a ghostly local legend is said to haunt. 490 00:29:50,319 --> 00:29:55,119 Beware the ghosts dog. Thank you all for being such 491 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:59,000 dedicated micro Terrorist listeners. I'm your narrator, Darren Marler. We'll 492 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:02,039 see you next week. I'll see you then too. Oh, 493 00:30:02,279 --> 00:30:03,640 forget it, you don't even scare me. 494 00:30:04,039 --> 00:30:12,079 Speaker 2: Well fine, thank you for listening to micro Terrors. Join 495 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:16,759 us each Saturday for another scary story. For more fun, 496 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:21,079 visit our website at microterrors dot com, where you can 497 00:30:21,119 --> 00:30:25,359 get the latest micro Terrors news, read fun facts about 498 00:30:25,359 --> 00:30:29,279 each story, sign up for our monthly newsletter, and even 499 00:30:29,359 --> 00:30:33,480 send in your own scary story for us to tell. Plus, 500 00:30:33,839 --> 00:30:37,480 you can become one of the Terrified by joining the 501 00:30:37,599 --> 00:30:42,640 fan club at microterrors dot com. You enjoy exclusive perks 502 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:47,359 like reading stories a week early, receiving complimentary books, and 503 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:51,960 communicating directly with micro Terrors writer and creator Scott Donnelly. 504 00:30:52,519 --> 00:30:56,240 You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram using 505 00:30:56,279 --> 00:30:59,680 the handle at micro terrors. I hope you'll join us 506 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:04,640 again soon for Microterrs scary stories for kids