Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign I'm Ben and welcome to the.
[00:00:07] Speaker B: Show where you and I gather around this campfire to hear some of our fellow campers scariest experiences. So whether you're a new or returning camper, I'm happy to have you.
[00:00:16] Speaker A: I would like to thank you all.
[00:00:18] Speaker B: For the kind words following last week's episode. Whether you left me a comment or dm, it was wonderful to hear that many of you thoroughly enjoyed my story and want to hear more of these small horrors that live inside my mind.
I am writing more stories for you all, but tonight we're headed to western Tennessee to hear a story sent in by my sister about the night she saw glowing red eyes outside of a window and visiting my family. As always, before we begin the show, you want to check out our camp's monthly bonus episodes, head over to patreon.com do you want to hear Ghost Story? You also gain early access to AD free episodes, get a shoutout at the end of one, and much more. Now without further ado, do you want to hear a ghost story?
[00:01:03] Speaker A: I grew up believing in magic. As a child of seven, visits to my grandparents ranch in Tennessee were nothing short of enchanting. Their small ranch house sat nestled within acres of dense, untamed forest, a wilderness that seemed to stretch indefinitely in every direction. The woods were a living, breathing entity, filled with the rustling of leaves, the whispers of the winds, and the secret lives of the creatures within. My sister and I spent countless hours weaving together tales of unicorns and the other mythical beasts that we were certain roamed within the shadows of the trails. Armed with walking sticks and a boundless imagination, we embarked on grand quests to find those elusive beings. Convinced that the magic was around the next turn.
The ranch was a haven for animals, both wild and domesticated. Our grandparents had a penchant for adopting strays, so the property was a mosaic of cats lounging in sunbeams, dogs chasing after rabbits, horses grazing lazily in the pastures, chickens clucking about, and even a few donkeys hee hawing around.
It was impossible to step outside without a furry or feathered companion, which only added to the charm of the place. Those animals were our companions, our guardians, and our willing audience for all the stories we told one balmy summer evening, curiosity tugged at me a little bit stronger than usual. The sun had dipped below the horizon, but the allure of the night was irresistible. The forest beckoned me, its mysteries amplified by the night. I decided to venture out alone, a brave explorer in my own right. While not entirely alone, I suppose a couple of dogs, ever faithful, trotted beside me as I stepped into the carport and inhaled the scent of dew and pine. The moon cast a silvery glow, illuminating the familiar path alongside the house. The master bedroom occupied the side, its expansive glass windows offering a glimpse into the warmly lit interior. Tonight the lights were on and I could see our parents cat perched regally on the windowsill, her eyes fixed intently on something outside. She seemed entranced, her tail flicking with restrained excitement. I turned around, following her gaze, looking at the steps leading up to the front porch. There, bathed in that pale moonlight, was a figure unlike I had never seen.
It sat hunched, its form obscured by the shadows, but unmistakably foreign. My breath hitched as I strained to make sense of it. The dogs beside me began to growl softly. Their ears pinned back, a sound I had never heard them make before.
The creature shifted, and as it did, two glowing eyes snapped in my direction. They pierced the darkness, locking onto me with an intensity I have never known before or since. Time seemed to stretch thin. The air grew heavy with only the nocturnal symphony of crickets and the rustling leaves. In that moment, the features of this creature became clearer. It was small but menacing, with leathery wings that folded neatly against its back. Its skin had an unnatural hue, and when it barred its teeth, they glinted sharply like needles in the moonlight. It was as if the shadows of the forest themselves had given birth to a nightmare. The dogs whimpered and bolted back towards the house, tails tucked firmly between their legs. Their sudden departure jolted me from my paralysis. Fear surged within me, hot and visceral. My legs moved before my mind could catch up, propelling me towards the safety of the garage door. The world blurred around me as I sprinted, drowned out by just the sound of wind going past my ears. I reached the door and grappled with the handle, my fingers fumbling uselessly. It wouldn't budge. Panic clawed at my throat as I pounded at the door, my screams tearing through the night behind me. I could feel the creature's graze searing into my back. The door suddenly gave way and I tumbled inside, collapsing into a heap at my mother's feet. Her face was a mix of confusion and concern as she helped me up. Words failed me as I tried to explain, my mouth opening and closing without a sound, the warmth of the house enveloping me, but it did little to quell the chill that had settled deep within my bones.
What on earth happened? My mother said, her eyes searching for an answer. I saw something outside it. It had red eyes.
She exchanged a glance with my father. Who had appeared out of nowhere in the hallway. Was it a raccoon? An owl? A bat maybe? He said, you know that sometimes shadows can play tricks on you at night? I shook my head vehemently. No, it wasn't an animal. It was different.
My parents shared a knowing smile. You know, the kind of smile that adults often wear when indulging a child's overactive imagination.
Maybe it was one of those flying monkeys from the wizard of Oz, my father teased as he ruffled my hair. Frustration and fear bubbled within me. I'm not making it up. It was real. But no amount of pleading could convince my parents. That night I laid awake in bed, imagining those red glowing eyes as they were burned into my memory. The following days turned my terror into the latest family joke. My sister would flap her arms and cackle, pretending to be the flying monkey that had frightened me so. Look, a flying monkey's behind you. She would tease.
My grandparents would sit there and chuckle, good naturedly, of course, assuring me that there were no such creatures in their woods. Even the dogs seemed unaffected, returning to their playful selves as if nothing had ever happened. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The forest that was once my sanctuary now felt ominous. The shadows beneath the trees stretched longer, darker. I stopped venturing outside alone. And when I did go outside, I stayed close to the house. One afternoon while helping my and grandmother in the garden, I mustered the courage to ask her, gammy, have you ever seen anything around here like animals that don't belong?
She paused, her hand still in the soil.
Is this about the red eyes you saw the other night, dear? Yes, I know I saw it. I know I saw something.
Her gaze drifted towards the treeline and for a fleeting moment I thought I saw a shadow cross her face. She smiled gently. The woods can play tricks on young minds, but it's important to respect them. There are stories of course of forests, but they're just that. Stories.
What kind of stories?
She stood up, wiping her hands on her apron. Oh, oh, just the legends of spirits and creatures that. Well, never mind. They're just stories.
That evening my curiosity overcame my fear. I sifted through the dusty shelves of my grandparents library, searching for any mention within folklore. Hidden among the worn books I found a leather bound journal with yellowed pages. It seemed to be a research entry talking about ancient beings tied to forests. Guardians that watched over the land and all its creatures. And that's where I stumbled upon the description of a small winged entity with eyes like embers. They were said to appear to those who ventured too deep, who were venturing into areas of the woods they shouldn't be.
Had I encountered one of these guardians? And if so, why had it appeared to me?
That night, sleep once again eluded me, and I began hearing a tapping at my window. Summoning every ounce of courage, I walked over and pulled the curtain back. There, perched on the windowsill, was a small bird with eyes that reflected the moonlight. It tilted its head, observing me with an almost thoughtful gaze, before fluttering away into the darkness. Perhaps not all the shadows of the forest are dangerous. Maybe some do carry messages or warnings. And perhaps I was right, that the forest was alive and it held secrets, and that I was just a small part of its story.
The years have passed, and my memory of that night has remained vivid. But it's lost its air of terror. It's just become a puzzle piece of my childhood, a fragment of the larger tapestry with threads of mystery. I continue to seek answers to everything I don't understand and to everything I've witnessed. Now, as an adult, I don't get to visit the ranch often, but when I do, I walk those same paths. They now hold a blend of nostalgia and reverence. And those woods or other woods no longer frighten me, but they do command my respect. I've also come to accept that many of the questions I've had growing up I'll never get clear answers to. But I can't help but wonder. Was it my imagination, or did I glimpse something truly extraordinary that night? If you ever find yourself wandering the woods of Tennessee and feel eyes upon you from the shadows, know that you might not be alone. Perhaps you've seen these eyes, too. Perhaps you've seen them too, the watchers with eyes of fire. If so, I'd be intrigued to hear your tale.
[00:10:29] Speaker B: Thank you, Meredith, for allowing me to share your story. While this happened well before I was born, growing up, I've heard all the renditions of the story. In fact, it's one of the earliest stories I remember hearing around a campfire. Funnily enough, on the very same property. And with that, I will leave you here for the night. If you want early access to ad free episodes, head over to patreon.com junior ghoststory and as always, I'm glad to have you all as campers on this journey. Please keep sharing the show with anyone you think might like these stories or someone you're just trying to scare. If you are enjoying the show, please leave a review. I would love to hear from you. Until next time.
