Trapped in the Pitch Black: A Claustrophobic Supernatural Thriller "Shadows"

0:00 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Winslow.

0:01 Speaker 2: This is Crimson.

0:03 Speaker 1: And if you like what we're doing, hit that like button. And if you want to hear more, subscribe.

0:21 Speaker 3: With this key, you unlock the world to your dreams. What lies beyond could be the doorway to nightmare. Come in. Welcome. I'm your host through the doorway to nightmare. Edgar Allan Poe once asked, is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream? Dreams are but shadows of our subconscious mind that only come to light when we are asleep. But what lurks in the shadows when we are awake?

1:27 Speaker 2: I swear. I swear that I saw something over there in the corner.

1:32 Speaker 4: Did you see it?

1:33 Speaker 5: Elizabeth, it's only a shadow. Nothing more or less. The moonlight simply shining on that old bookcase and making a rather weird shadow on the wall.

1:42 Speaker 2: No, Jason. I saw something moving in there. And I think it saw me.

1:52 Speaker 5: Maybe it was a spider or perhaps a mouse.

1:56 Speaker 2: No, the shape was larger than that. And when it looked at me, I felt sick inside like it was something.

2:06 Speaker 3: Evil. Our Mystery Drama Shadows was written especially for Doorway to Nightmare by Winslow Swan and edited by Crimson McKenzie. Our cast includes Ezra J.D. Emmons, Will Dorman, Madeline Lane, Crimson McKenzie, and William Stafford. It is sponsored in part by Swanage Press. I'll be back shortly with Act One.

2:36 Speaker 2: Hi, it's Crimson.

2:38 Speaker 1: And Swan.

2:39 Speaker 2: You want to hear some more episodes?

2:41 Speaker 1: Join our YouTube channel at Doorway to Nightmare.

2:44 Speaker 2: And don't forget to subscribe. Hit that like button and tell all your friends.

3:02 Speaker 3: Our story begins at the end. In a police precinct where a young woman has stumbled in is currently sitting in an empty office. The officer in charge is talking to his captain on this dark and dreary night.

3:23 Speaker 6: I tell you, Captain, it's the strangest thing I've ever seen. It's raining cats and dogs out there. No telling how long she was out in that storm. She just stumbled in here. I thought it best to keep her in your office. Come with me.

3:36 Speaker 3: The shadow.

3:40 Speaker 4: It's in the shadow.

3:42 Speaker 2: The shadow. It's in the shadow. It's in the shadow. It's in the shadow.

3:47 Speaker 6: Listen to her, Captain. I've already called the hospital, but listen to her. She's completely out of her mind.

3:54 Speaker 2: Don't you see it?

3:55 Speaker 4: It's in the shadow.

3:56 Speaker 3: The shadow. The shadow. Oh, God. The shadow.

4:05 Speaker 2: You're actually spending money on this place?

4:08 Speaker 3: Nope.

4:09 Speaker 7: I paid in chickens. Of course I spent money. What's wrong with it?

4:12 Speaker 4: Well, Andy, would you like me to list an order? Or just start with A?

4:16 Speaker 7: Very funny, Terry. Come on, guys. This is supposed to be a holiday. Beth, you don't think it's that bad, do you?

4:22 Speaker 2: Oh, what's not to like? A cabin out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the woods.

4:29 Speaker 5: Sounds like the movie Evil Dead to me.

4:31 Speaker 7: Not being helpful, Jason.

4:32 Speaker 4: Please, for all that is holy, tell me that there are lots of running water.

4:36 Speaker 7: I would have had to give them an extra chicken for that. Yes, Terry, you and Beth will have hot water, and yes, there are lights.

4:46 Speaker 2: I don't see any lights coming on.

4:48 Speaker 7: That's because I haven't started the generator yet. It's on the side of the house.

4:52 Speaker 5: So that's what the extra gas is for.

4:54 Speaker 3: Be prepared.

4:54 Speaker 7: That's my motto.

4:56 Speaker 4: No, that's the Boy Scouts'. Which you never were.

5:00 Speaker 3: Oh, yes, I was.

5:01 Speaker 2: For one day.

5:04 Speaker 4: One whole day.

5:05 Speaker 5: Okay, Andy, you go start the generator and I'll help the girls bring the supplies in.

5:16 Speaker 7: Dinner was fantastic, Beth.

5:18 Speaker 2: Aw, thank you. Just a little something that my grandmother used to make.

5:22 Speaker 7: By the way, how is your grandmother?

5:24 Speaker 2: Oh, you know, still has her potions and spells. If it's a full moon tonight, she'll be out there dancing naked.

5:32 Speaker 7: That will get the neighbor's hearts a thumping.

5:34 Speaker 4: Come on, you two. She's a sweet lady who still makes cookies and homemade biscuits.

5:39 Speaker 2: So, Jason, how are things doing down at the law office?

5:44 Speaker 5: Oh, you know, same old, same old.

5:47 Speaker 4: Don't let him fool you.

5:48 Speaker 5: Come on, Teresa, not now.

5:50 Speaker 4: Why not?

5:51 Speaker 7: What's going on?

5:52 Speaker 4: Jason has been named the lead attorney on that Vasquez case.

5:56 Speaker 2: You're kidding!

5:58 Speaker 5: It's just a little case. No big deal.

6:00 Speaker 7: That's not what the news department at the radio station is saying. I hear it's the biggest drug case in the city. Oh, my.

6:08 Speaker 2: How can you defend someone like that?

6:10 Speaker 5: Everyone is presumed innocent until found guilty by a.

6:13 Speaker 7: Jury of his peers.

6:14 Speaker 4: That and the $ 100, 000 retainer that the farm got.

6:18 Speaker 5: All right, let's change the subject, please. Andy, how are things at the radio station?

6:22 Speaker 7: Oh, you know, same old, same old. I'm the boss jock at the boss station, spinning the boss records that my boss told me to play.

6:34 Speaker 4: What was that?

6:36 Speaker 5: I don't know. Probably some animal outside.

6:38 Speaker 3: We are in the woods, you know.

6:39 Speaker 4: Didn't sound like any animal that I've ever heard.

6:43 Speaker 5: Coming from the girl who was born and raised in the city.

6:46 Speaker 4: Hey, what's going on with the lights?

6:49 Speaker 7: Generator probably needs more gas.

6:50 Speaker 3: I'll go out.

6:51 Speaker 5: Hey, you started the thing, so it's only right that I go out and fill it up.

6:54 Speaker 7: Hey, sounds good to me. The flashlight's by the door.

6:58 Speaker 4: Please, be careful. Aren't I always?

7:07 Speaker 8: Oh boy, glad I got this flashlight. No moon, so I guess Beth's grandma won't be dancing tonight. Okay, Andy, where did you put the extra gasoline?

7:23 Speaker 6: Uh, Andy?

7:25 Speaker 3: Is that you?

7:26 Speaker 5: I mean, don't you think I can handle pouring some gas into a generator? Hey, who's out there? Hey, who are you?

7:39 Speaker 7: No, no, no!

7:40 Speaker 3: No! Stephen Hawking once said that there could be shadow galaxies, shadow stars, and even shadow people. My question would be, what would these shadow people want? I'll be back shortly with Act 2.

8:09 Speaker 2: Mystery.

8:11 Speaker 4: Horror.

8:12 Speaker 2: Thriller. Suspense. Novels and short story collections from Winslow Swann, now available from Amazon.com.

8:34 Speaker 3: Four close friends are spending the weekend in a remote cabin miles from anywhere. Jason has gone outside into the dark of night to refuel the generator and has yet to return.

8:51 Speaker 4: Shouldn't he be back by now?

8:53 Speaker 3: Oh, you know Jason.

8:54 Speaker 7: He's probably trying to sneak around and come in through the back door.

8:58 Speaker 2: Andy, why don't you go out and see if you can find him?

9:01 Speaker 3: Come on, Beth.

9:02 Speaker 7: He'll be back.

9:02 Speaker 4: Maybe he fell and got hurt or there's something really wrong with the generator. That's true.

9:08 Speaker 2: The lights haven't came back on yet. Good thing we brought those candles.

9:12 Speaker 7: The other flashlight is in the car. And besides, Jason is.

9:15 Speaker 3: A big boy.

9:16 Speaker 4: Well, if you won't go.

9:17 Speaker 7: I didn't say I wouldn't go. I'm just saying... Maybe we should all go.

9:22 Speaker 2: You know, in case he's hurt or something.

9:25 Speaker 4: Good idea.

9:26 Speaker 7: Bad idea. You two just stay here. I'll be back in a minute.

9:31 Speaker 3: Hey, Jason.

9:38 Speaker 7: Jason. Come on, man. It isn't funny.

9:41 Speaker 3: Where are you?

9:43 Speaker 7: You could have at least started the generator again. Hey, you in here.

9:50 Speaker 3: Okay, man.

9:51 Speaker 7: Get up, you lightweight. You don't pass out from just one beer.

9:56 Speaker 3: Hey, what happened?

10:00 Speaker 7: Happened?

10:02 Speaker 3: Your head. Oh, my God.

10:07 Speaker 7: Your head.

10:10 Speaker 4: Jason?

10:11 Speaker 7: No, Terri, it's me.

10:13 Speaker 2: Where's Jason? Well, come on.

10:17 Speaker 4: Where is he?

10:18 Speaker 3: Terri.

10:19 Speaker 7: I'm sorry, but he's gone.

10:21 Speaker 4: What do you mean, gone?

10:23 Speaker 2: No, we didn't hear the car start.

10:26 Speaker 7: No, not that way. He's... He's dead.

10:33 Speaker 2: Wait, what?

10:34 Speaker 1: No.

10:34 Speaker 4: No, no, no, no, no. He's playing a prank on us.

10:37 Speaker 7: This is not a prank.

10:40 Speaker 2: What happened, Andy?

10:41 Speaker 7: I don't know what happened.

10:43 Speaker 4: I'm going to go find him, and when I do.

10:46 Speaker 7: Don't go out there.

10:47 Speaker 4: I swear, he is going to regret it.

10:49 Speaker 3: Andy?

10:50 Speaker 2: What's going on?

10:52 Speaker 7: I found him in the shed where the generator is. His head.

10:58 Speaker 4: What about his head?

10:59 Speaker 7: It was like someone had twisted it completely off.

11:07 Speaker 2: Beth, it's Jason.

11:10 Speaker 4: His head is.

11:11 Speaker 2: is....

11:18 Speaker 7: Is she going to be okay?

11:20 Speaker 2: How would you be if you just found your boyfriend with his head twisted off?

11:24 Speaker 7: I didn't mean... Yes.

11:27 Speaker 2: Yes. She's going to be okay. She's sleeping. What about the generator?

11:32 Speaker 7: After I found him, I didn't think and try to start it.

11:35 Speaker 2: Oh, God. Then we just used candles. You are definitely not going back outside. Any idea what... What?

11:44 Speaker 4: What could have done that?

11:46 Speaker 6: None.

11:46 Speaker 3: None.

11:49 Speaker 2: What is that?

11:50 Speaker 3: I don't know.

11:52 Speaker 2: Andy? What's that over in the corner?

11:56 Speaker 7: Where?

11:57 Speaker 2: Just beside the door.

11:58 Speaker 7: How can you see anything? It's so dark over there.

12:02 Speaker 2: No, Andy. This is a definite shape. Like within the dark.

12:07 Speaker 7: Hand me the candle.

12:08 Speaker 2: No.

12:10 Speaker 7: Don't.

12:11 Speaker 2: Just stay here by the light.

12:12 Speaker 7: It's only a shadow. Here, I'll show you. See?

12:18 Speaker 3: See?

12:19 Speaker 7: Nothing over... Hey! Andy?

12:21 Speaker 2: What happened?

12:23 Speaker 7: Something knocked a candle out of my... Andy!

12:29 Speaker 3: Andy! No!

12:40 Speaker 5: Beth?

12:42 Speaker 4: Where's Andy?

12:44 Speaker 2: It's gonna be okay, Terry. It's gonna be okay.

12:46 Speaker 4: Why do you have so many candles burning? Just be quiet now.

12:51 Speaker 2: We're gonna get to the car and get the heck out of here.

12:55 Speaker 7: No.

12:56 Speaker 4: We can't leave Jason. He'll be back soon. You'll see. The lights will come back on and Jason will jump out and scare us and we'll all have some more to drink.

13:05 Speaker 2: And... And.

13:08 Speaker 4: He's really dead, isn't he?

13:10 Speaker 2: It's okay.

13:11 Speaker 7: It's okay.

13:11 Speaker 2: We're gonna go get help.

13:14 Speaker 4: The candle! What happened to the candle? Another one. One knocked into the floor. It's getting darker in here. Let's get out of here.

13:25 Speaker 2: No!

13:26 Speaker 8: Teresa!

13:27 Speaker 2: Don't go in the damn dark! Stay in the light! Stay in the- Come on.

13:32 Speaker 1: We can't get to the car.

13:33 Speaker 4: And- and- Teresa?

13:39 Speaker 3: No! No!

13:41 Speaker 1: No!

13:42 Speaker 4: No!

13:45 Speaker 3: Of all of the things that go bump in the night, it is the unseen that terrifies the most. Of course, there is nothing in the dark that isn't there in the light, you say. But can you be so sure? Be sure to be back here shortly with Act 3.

14:11 Speaker 1: If you're enjoying these stories, come over to our YouTube channel. Doorway to Nightmare.

14:19 Speaker 2: Where we add a few pics to color your imagination.

14:22 Speaker 4: See the faces behind the voices, too.

14:25 Speaker 2: Come on, you know you wanna.

14:40 Speaker 3: Sitting alone, next to four candles, Beth shakes with fear. Her eyes try to adjust to the ever-growing darkness that is surrounding her.

15:02 Speaker 2: Andy!

15:04 Speaker 7: Why did we come here?

15:06 Speaker 2: Why? Why am I alone? I don't like being alone. I was always left alone when I was growing up. I always had the hatred of the dark. I have....

15:26 Speaker 4: I have to get out of here, somewhere. Somehow, there has got to be a way to beat you!

15:38 Speaker 2: Just shut up! You're only a shadow! You're not real!

15:45 Speaker 1: I can hear you!

15:45 Speaker 2: I don't know what you.

15:48 Speaker 4: Are, but I hear you.

15:50 Speaker 2: I can see that dark shape in the shadows!

15:55 Speaker 4: What do you want?

16:00 Speaker 2: There is substance to you. There is substance to you. Otherwise, you couldn't knock the candle off the table. So that means.

16:10 Speaker 2: That means you can be hurt as well. Only two candles left. Gotta think of something. Wait. Those old curtains on the window. If I could just get a flame to them, maybe. Just maybe. Now or never!

16:40 Speaker 3: Got it! See?

16:44 Speaker 2: The flames are glowing!

16:45 Speaker 4: You don't like the light, do you?

16:50 Speaker 2: There's something that you're afraid of. I've gotta get out of here.

17:05 Speaker 4: What do I tell people? Who do I tell? No, no, no, no, no, no!

17:18 Speaker 2: They followed me. They followed me? They followed me!

17:32 Speaker 3: The shadows.

17:33 Speaker 2: It's in the shadows.

17:35 Speaker 7: It's bad.

17:36 Speaker 2: It's horrible. It's in the shadows.

17:39 Speaker 7: It's in the shadows!

17:41 Speaker 6: Well, miss, now don't you worry. Doctor's on his way. The hospital will take good care of you. The captain told me to put you in here until the ambulance arrived. Now, why don't you get some sleep?

17:54 Speaker 2: No, wait, wait, wait. Officer, please, please, don't turn off the light.

17:58 Speaker 4: Don't turn off the light.

17:59 Speaker 6: Now, there's nothing to be scared of. Look, I'll show you.

18:03 Speaker 2: Please turn it back on!

18:05 Speaker 3: See?

18:05 Speaker 6: Nothing in the dark that isn't in the light.

18:08 Speaker 2: Please, please don't turn the light off. The shadows!

18:11 Speaker 6: Now look, miss. I've got my own problems. You just get some sleep.

18:17 Speaker 4: Please, don't you understand?

18:20 Speaker 6: There.

18:21 Speaker 3: You see?

18:22 Speaker 6: Nothing in the light that isn't in the.

18:26 Speaker 3: Oh! Oh! When the captain returned, he found the bodies of his officer and the strange young woman. Both of their heads had been twisted completely off. Their souls not in their bodies, but now a part of the shadows. I'll return with a final word.

19:21 Speaker 2: Hi, it's Crimson.

19:22 Speaker 1: And Swan.

19:24 Speaker 2: You want to hear some more episodes?

19:25 Speaker 1: Join our YouTube channel at Doorway to Nightmare.

19:29 Speaker 2: And don't forget to subscribe. Hit that like button and tell all your friends.

19:47 Speaker 3: Our story tonight reminds me of a short poem. As I was walking down the stairs, I saw a man who wasn't there. I saw him again today. Oh, how I wish he would go away. Our cast included Ezra J.D. Emmons, Will Dorman, Madeline Lane, Crimson McKenzie, and William Stafford. The story was edited by Crimson McKenzie, and the entire production was under the direction of Winslow Swan. And now, a preview of our next tale.

20:30 Speaker 2: It's okay. It happens to the best of writers.

20:35 Speaker 7: What?

20:36 Speaker 2: You think we wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with three or more stories already written before we can even consciously breathe?

20:44 Speaker 3: No.

20:47 Speaker 1: No, babe.

20:48 Speaker 4: The only person that.

20:49 Speaker 2: Does that is you.

20:50 Speaker 1: You're awake then, too?

20:52 Speaker 4: Only because I'm curious as to.

20:56 Speaker 2: Never mind, Swan. Dang it. Why you gotta do this to me?

20:59 Speaker 1: I just don't seem to be getting any ideas. I don't know what's wrong with me.

21:06 Speaker 2: You? The one who called me up at two-ish in the morning and said, Hey, guess what? I wrote three plays last night and now says I don't have an idea? Rubbish!

21:20 Speaker 1: That's just it. I mean, what if I'm dried up? What if I can't write another word?

21:28 Speaker 2: That's a whole lot of sh... I mean, don't you dare. You know what? I think I know exactly what you need.

21:39 Speaker 3: Doorway to Nightmare is brought to you in part by Swanage Press. This is your host, inviting you to return with us through the doorway to nightmare for another adventure into the world of your terrifying imagination. Until next time, slumber peacefully. Epilogue. The butler did it.