CAMPFIRE: What Happened In The Woods

Summary

Full Body Chills - Episode Summary: "CAMPFIRE: What Happened In The Woods"

Season 6/6/6 of Full Body Chills presents "CAMPFIRE: What Happened In The Woods," a spine-chilling narrative that intertwines personal horror with supernatural elements. This episode unfolds around a group of friends gathered by a campfire, sharing eerie tales that blur the lines between fiction and reality.

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Setting the Scene

The episode opens with Shannon Hemings setting the ambiance, recommending listeners use headphones for an immersive experience. Shortly after, the main narrative begins with Christopher Swindle introducing a group of friends—Matt, Olive, Jake, and Maya—sitting around a campfire in the woods. The friends are deep into storytelling, sharing unsettling experiences meant to spook each other under the cover of darkness.

Jake's Story: The Haunting of Christina Hadley

Among the tales shared, Jake introduces a particularly harrowing story about Christina Hadley, a young woman who experiences a series of mysterious and disturbing events.

Christina's Strange Phone Calls ([06:02] - [11:00])

Christina begins by recounting the onset of peculiar phone calls she receives over a month. Initially dismissing them as mere scam attempts, the calls become incessant, disrupting her daily life. Unlike typical spam calls, these voicemails contain unsettling static interspersed with what sounds like heavy breathing.

Christina Hadley ([07:23] - [07:25]): "Sure. Yeah."

Jake explains that these calls became more frequent and started to occur at the same time each day—quarter to seven—adding to the eerie consistency.

The Journey into the Woods ([13:47] - [19:41])

Driven by a desire to uncover the truth, Christina ventures into the nearby woods, armed only with her phone and wallet. Her exploration reveals nothing amiss initially, with other campers appearing normal. However, as darkness falls, Christina's sense of unease grows. She notices a distant beam of light—a flashlight—that disappears when she illuminates it with her own phone, heightening her paranoia.

Christina Hadley ([14:55] - [15:04]): "Sort of die off."

The Encounter with Her Doppelgänger ([19:38] - [25:44])

The tension reaches its peak when Christina encounters a figure resembling herself. This doppelgänger mirrors her every move, creating a disorienting and terrifying experience. The presence of her double triggers a frenzied chase through the woods, leading Christina to trip and fall, only to be pinned down by her identical apparition. The confrontation culminates in an altercation with the police, who arrive amidst chaos and confusion.

Christina Hadley ([23:18] - [23:27]): "She was wearing the same clothes as me. Jeans, a plain dark sweater."

Police Investigation and Aftermath ([27:59] - [32:00])

Sergeant Mitchell Fay conducts an interview with Christina, attempting to piece together the events. Despite Christina's detailed account of the supernatural encounter, discrepancies arise. Physical evidence contradicts her claims—no signs of bruising or injury—casting doubt on her sanity. However, Sergeant Fay remains skeptical of her narrative, pointing out the presence of voicemails correlating with the time of her disappearance.

Sergeant Mitchell Fay ([32:00] - [32:06]): "The story was over. And now there was only silence."

Reactions of the Campfire Group

As Jake concludes his story, the friends grapple with its unsettling similarities to real-life incidents. Olive shares a parallel story about a roommate's disturbing experience at a party, hinting at a deeper connection between their tales.

Olive ([33:40] - [33:44]): "But, like, it's just a scary story, right?"

Tension mounts as Jake's narrative induces a sense of deja vu among the friends, suggesting that the horrors shared might not be mere fiction.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a grim warning about the persistent presence of a malevolent entity lurking in the woods. As the friends decide to end their storytelling session, the narrative hints that the supernatural threat remains ever-present, ready to strike again.

Christopher Swindle ([35:54] - [37:08]): "The killer goes hungry. He's always hungry. He's unlikely to challenge this forest again. His hunting ground goes far, from east coast to west, spring through winter. He's always on the prow, always waiting at the edge of light, stalking through your camp at night. So you would be wise to watch your back, because it's quite possible he's watching you too."

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Notable Quotes

• Christina Hadley:
  "[07:23] Sure. Yeah."
  "[14:55] Sort of die off."

• Sergeant Mitchell Fay:
  "[32:00] The story was over. And now there was only silence."

• Christopher Swindle:
  "[35:54] The killer goes hungry. He's always hungry..."

• Olive:
  "[33:40] But, like, it's just a scary story, right?"

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Insights and Themes

"CAMPFIRE: What Happened In The Woods" delves into themes of isolation, the quest for truth, and the thin veil between reality and the supernatural. Christina's journey reflects a common psychological horror trope where the protagonist confronts their deepest fears, only to find that reality may be more terrifying than fiction. The doppelgänger symbolizes internal conflict and the fear of one's own identity.

The episode also explores the skepticism faced by individuals who experience inexplicable phenomena, highlighting societal tendencies to dismiss personal trauma as paranoia or mental instability. Sergeant Fay's conflicting observations serve as a commentary on the challenges of verifying supernatural occurrences within institutional frameworks.

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Conclusion

This episode of Full Body Chills masterfully intertwines storytelling with psychological horror, leaving listeners questioning the boundaries of reality. Through Christina Hadley's unsettling experiences and the friends' reactions, the narrative emphasizes the enduring allure and terror of the unknown lurking within familiar settings.

Transcript

[Shannon Hemings]

This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. This month is all about gratitude, so here's a reminder to send some thanks to the people in your life, including yourself. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give better help a try. It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, flexible and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist and you can switch therapists at any time for no additional charge. Let the gratitude flow with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com fullbodychills today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H E L P.com fullbodychills the holidays bring the world together, and learning a new language can help us enhance our new connections. As the most trusted language learning program for over 30 years, Rosetta Stone immerses you with an enriching experience. My husband and I both signed up together and the lessons have been great. Rosetta Stone has been the best teacher. Start learning today with Rosetta Stone's Lifetime Membership Holiday Special. Visit rosettastone.com fullbodychills for unlimited access to 25 language courses for the rest of your life, available for a Short [e-mail] FullBodyChills this episode was produced with immersive audio. For the best experience, we kindly recommend you listen with headphones.

[Christopher Swindle]

It's easier when they're asleep Matt, Olive, Jake, and Maya held around a pit of ash. They were still awake. Awake and telling stories, passing a flashlight from hand to hand, throwing it over the darkness but looking no further. Above the screaming of crickets, the yawning of trees, and the murder spree of a bat, their voices ran far. Jake had used his air horn on more than one occasion, and Olive, quietly wrapped in her own body bag, was still fighting Matt on every word. Compared to the rest, Maya was mute. Mute but keenly aware. Her eyes rarely left the woods, and more than once she glanced his way. But all she saw was a shadow, an illusion, a tree that looked like a person but surely couldn't be. It's easier when they're asleep, divided into tents, eyes closed, silent. He'd been waiting for hours, and for hours they've sat in a circle, telling stories, staying awake. The knife pressed firmly in his hand. He squeezed, pretending to crush their mouth as he forced the knife through living meat. The fantasy doesn't capture their sudden jolt, nor does he feel the pressure as his blade splits through their neck. From this far back, he cannot see their ey, feel their skin, taste their sweat. It's so Much better when they're asleep. Waking up to a bleeding nightmare so quick they forget to scream. All that emotion, all that fear, concentrated into a single moment. His grip relaxed and he squeezed again. Again and again, reliving the dream, buying time as his patience turned to itch.

[Olive]

Oh, I think I'm tired.

[Matt]

Yeah, me too.

[Jake]

Hold on. Are we really going to end on one of Matt's stories?

[Maya]

What? What's wrong with my story?

[Olive]

Actually, that's a very good point.

[Maya]

My story was fine.

[Matt]

So we're doing another one.

[Jake]

Why not? Like you said, Matt, we're only here once a year.

[Maya]

Yeah, but.

[Olive]

Yeah, but you wanted to go last.

[Maya]

No, I'm fine with another story. All I'm saying is.

[Jake]

Great. Then I've got just the Thriller to send us. Flashlight, please.

[Maya]

Knock yourself out.

[Jake]

I'll compromise and knock your socks off. How about that? Y'all remember my cousin, the one who's a cop? Well, he told me this other story not too long ago about this interview they had and this strange call and this girl who was like full on running for her life and screaming at stuff when.

[Christina Hadley]

Jake.

[Jake]

What?

[Olive]

You're giving too much away.

[Jake]

Oh, oh, oh, yeah. Well, no spoilers. This story involves a patch of woods not unlike our own.

[Maya]

Really? My story involved the woods?

[Jake]

Relax, Mad Matt. This is a whole new slice of nature that's totally un. Nature. All as well.

[Olive]

Oh, Lord, just tell the story before I regret it.

[Jake]

All right, all right. For the grand finale, please gather round and listen close.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

All right? Doing okay. Need anything? Coffee? Water?

[Christina Hadley]

No, thanks.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

All right, well, let's get started here then. I just need to. I. I gotta read this out for the recording and everything. This is Sergeant Mitchell Fay, Weird County P.D. today's date is November 10th, 2023. Friday. The time current time is 2130. I'm here with Miss. Is it. Your full name is Christina.

[Christina Hadley]

Christina Hadley. People just call me Chris. Chris.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Before we start, I have one more thing I need to read to you and I'll have you sign something. Let me just. Ah, there it is. And then we'll get started.

[Christina Hadley]

Okay?

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

All right. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to an attorney prior to any questioning and have them present during any questioning. If you can't afford to hire a lawyer, one will be appointed by the court to represent you before questioning. If you desire one, you may stop questioning at any time by refusing to answer further or by requesting to consult with an attorney. Prior to continuing with questioning or the making of any statements. That all sound good?

[Christina Hadley]

Sure. Yeah.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

And if I could just get you to sign this here. It says, I have read the statement of my rights, and I understand what my rights are. I am willing to make a statement and answer questions. No promises or threats have been made to me, and no pressure or coercion of any kind have been used against me.

[Christina Hadley]

I was threatened.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Pardon?

[Christina Hadley]

I said I was threatened. One of the officers last night, he said if I didn't come in, that you would find me. Then I would be considered armed and dangerous, a danger to myself and the community, and they wouldn't be so nice the next time. He said if I tried to run, they'd let the dogs after me. Let them rip me apart.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Whoa, hey. All right. Is that why you assaulted an officer? Hmm? I saw Officer Lawrence when he came in. You did quite a number on him. That would happen. Self defense. You felt you were being threatened.

[Christina Hadley]

I didn't mean to do that. I was just out of it, and then I was being grabbed.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Hey, hey. It's all right. Listen, let's just have you sign this for now and I'll look into that. But for now, let's get on.

[Christina Hadley]

Yeah. Yeah, fine. Whatever.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Okay. Why don't we work backwards? Can you tell me about the scene the officers found you at?

[Christina Hadley]

Um. What about it?

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

What about it? Uh, well, according to the other officers, it was a pretty upsetting sight. Could you describe it in your own words?

[Christina Hadley]

Yeah, well, it was out by Copper Creek. You know, they've got a few nice hiking trails out there. And I had gone there just to walk around, I guess, and I. There was someone else out there, which, I mean, I guess that isn't that weird. It was a nice evening out. Other people are allowed to walk out there.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Was there someone out there who you believed meant you harm, Ms. Hadley?

[Christina Hadley]

I. I don't know. I don't.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

They said when they found you, you were covered in mud and there had clearly been some sort of struggle. Why was that, Chris?

[Christina Hadley]

I. It. It wasn't. You wouldn't believe me even if I told you.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Ms. Hadley. Chris, you may not believe it, but I have heard a hell of a lot of strange things in my time working here. And I have seen a hell of a lot of strange things. Whatever happened out there, you can tell me.

[Christina Hadley]

You're just saying that. Saying what you think I want to hear to get me to talk. You'll just lock me up, stamp clinically insane on my file, stick me in some mental Hospital somewhere.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Nothing like that is going to happen, Chris. All I want to know is what happened out there so I can figure out how best to help you.

[Christina Hadley]

Fine.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Okay, good. Now why don't we back up a little bit? Can you start at the beginning? Why'd you go out in the woods to begin with?

[Christina Hadley]

I started getting phone calls.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Phone calls? All right, when did they start?

[Christina Hadley]

Like, I don't know, a month or two ago, probably longer. I didn't really pay attention to them for a while, I think, because I just thought they were scam calls. They all showed up as unknown caller and like, I'm not gonna pick up the phone for some random number, am I?

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Was it the same number every time?

[Christina Hadley]

I think they were different. Maybe some of them were the same, but they kept happening. And eventually I started getting them all the time when I was in class or at work. While I was getting ready in the morning. It got so annoying that I started blocking every number that I got one of those calls from. But it didn't really seem to do anything. A couple of other people I knew said they had started getting more junk calls, too. My mom, for one, and my friend Carlos. A couple people I talked to in class. So I figured, hey, must just be a new scam making the round. It'll pass. And I mean, yeah, it did. After about a week, those constant calls just kind of petered out for a few days. Everything was back to normal. And then I got another call. I didn't answer. Obviously I thought it was just another scam. But this one did something the others never did. It went to voicemail. That's not too strange, even for scam calls. Usually it's just some poorly pre recorded message about renewing your insurance or how you're going to be arrested for tax fraud or something. But when I listened to it, it was just static. Or I thought it was just static. But then I could have sworn I heard breathing. Like someone on the other end of the line breathing into a receiver. It kind of freaked me out, to be honest. But it clearly wasn't anything important, so I deleted it. But right as my finger was hitting the delete button, someone started to speak. I only heard the first syllable, but it was like a woman saying hey or hello or something. Look, I don't know. I deleted the message and got on with my life.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

So. And I'm sorry if I'm not making the connection. How are these phone calls related to your incident in the forest?

[Christina Hadley]

I'm getting there. Those calls started happening more, but it Wasn't just sporadic this time. They happen once a day, every day, quarter to seven, and every time they left a voicemail, and every time I listened to them, it was just that silence, that static that almost sounded like breathing. And every time. I mean, every time I would listen to see if the caller ever said anything, some of those voicemails went on for, like, eight minutes. I. I didn't even know messages could be that long. And there was always nothing until this split second before I hit delete, when there'd be a slightly garbled, suddenly plosive syllable of some word that would get cut off. Park, car. I'm. I listened to some of those messages all the way through, and nothing. Until I went to hit delete.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Do you still have any of these voice messages on your phone?

[Christina Hadley]

I don't think so. I deleted most of them, and the ones I didn't would just sort of.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Sort of what?

[Christina Hadley]

Sort of die off.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Die?

[Christina Hadley]

Yeah. Like, I would go into my voicemail app and the screen where one of the little audio players for the message would be sort of glitchy, like I had cracked my screen or the pixels were all wonky or something. Even though the actual screen was fine and none of my other apps had any problems, it was just, like, corrupted or something. I don't know. And over the next day or two, it would get grainier and glitchier until it was just pop, gone. And then one day I picked up the phone and there was. There was definitely someone breathing on the other end. Like, hard, fast breathing, panicked. It was still kind of muffled and staticky, but it sounded like it was probably a woman, just like the other voicemails had been. But this time, every once in a while, I could make out her saying something. It was barely audible, but it was, like, lost. Then. Oh, God. And please. It was still pretty garbled, though, so I couldn't tell if she was trying to make, like, a whole sentence.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Why didn't you call the authorities?

[Christina Hadley]

And tell them what? That I've been getting phone calls from. From ghosts or monsters or something for the past month and a half. They have no evidence to prove it, but trust me, because I kind of heard a woman I don't know breathing into the call. Just don't ask to hear the message because it disintegrated in my phone.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Well, when you put it like that.

[Christina Hadley]

Yeah, that's what I thought. And then in one of the voicemails, I heard copper. And in another creek. I shouldn't have gone into the woods. I don't know what I was thinking, but. But I wanted answers. I wanted something to prove that I wasn't making everything up. I wanted to go into the woods and get scared to death by a bunch of deadbeat teens who had been playing the long con for a YouTube video or something. I wanted to see if I was right. So I went out there. I didn't even tell anyone, didn't bring anything except my phone and my wallet. And you know what? Everything was completely normal. I walked around. It was nice. I saw an old couple looking at birds. I saw a woman with her kids, a few people walking their dogs. Even after it got dark, things were just fine. I mean, I was freaked, obviously. Kept jumping every time a branch rustled, but it was just quiet. When I saw a beam of light in the distance. A flashlight. I figured, like a freaky monster probably wouldn't use a flashlight to get around the woods. I turned on my own phone light so I wouldn't spook whoever was walking around if we ran into each other or in case it was a hunter or something. But when I turned my light on, the one in the distance flicked off, which. Weird, but not that weird. So I kept walking around. I was getting ready to call the night a failure. Or, I mean, a success, I guess. I didn't get murdered in the woods, call that a job well done, but it still. Anyway, I was about to head back to my car when I saw another person. They weren't too far away, but I couldn't really make them out. A smudge of slightly darker shadow in the green black backdrop. So I pointed my light towards them. And it. I saw. Sorry.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

It's all right. Take your time.

[Christina Hadley]

I saw someone. Something. Their back was to me, about 25ft away. And I. I mean, they looked human. Of course they would look human though, right? I mean, it's. Was a human, I think. But when I first saw it, her, I was kind of relieved. It was much less worrying coming across another girl my age and, like, I don't know, a random dude twice my age. And I. God, it was so stupid of me. My first instinct was to talk to her. See if she wanted to walk back to the parking lot together. I barely thought twice about it. I started to walk over, but when I stepped forward, so did she. I stopped. I thought maybe I startled her or she was doing her own thing. I waited, but she didn't move anymore. And she hadn't turned around to see me. So I stepped forward again. And again she stepped in time with me. And like, at this point I figured she had to know what was happening, that maybe it really was some kids fucking around. So I called out to her, you know, haha, very funny. I get it. Can we please all get out of the woods now? But the thing, the girl was just silent. I ran my flashlight over the nearby trees to see if there were any other people, like hiding out, but it all looked empty. And then I got this like this sick feeling in my throat and that tingly sense you get in your back when you're being chased. Like your skin is bracing for being touched, you know? I looked back at the girl and she was just gone. And fuck that. I mean, I'd had enough of the creepy Blair Witch and now there was some weirdo I didn't even know sneaking around the woods. I just, I was done. I kept looking around, figured she'd couldn't have run off far. I almost didn't see her. Looked right by her before realizing what I had seen. There she was, standing a little closer, maybe 20ft off to my right. Now 15. Except this time she was standing so I could see her profile. Just standing, arms at her sides, facing forward. It was then that I realized who she was, that I saw my face. I felt like I was in a dream. Like this couldn't be real, you know, There. Her. I'm sorry, I don't know. Like, how do you even talk about that? Like I could describe it, but I mean, do I need to describe her when you can just look at me and know what I saw?

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Give the details as you remember it for the recording's sake.

[Christina Hadley]

Okay. I mean, she was wearing the same clothes as me. Jeans, a plain dark sweater. Even her hair was the same. I just stood there, shocked. Stupid. And then slowly and smoothly, the other me turned her head to the right to mirror my pose. And I was looking at the back of her. My head again. I tried to leave, walking backwards so I could keep my flashlight on that thing so she wouldn't leave my side again and appear somewhere else. But then she just started walking backwards too, so I couldn't gain any distance on her. One of her arms was outstretched like she was holding something. Just like I was holding my phone. I had to keep glancing behind, behind me, so I wouldn't trip over roots. But looking back meant that she looked back, looked at me, and when I would turn back around, it was like there was a delay in her movements and I would see her face. She looked focused, determined. That was it. I had to get out of there and I wasn't that far away from the car. Car. So I turned and ran over, the blood rushing in my ears. I could hear the crashing of leaves and foliage as she broke into a run behind me, sprinting after me. I was being chased now. And what's worse is that it felt like those woods just went on forever. Like I didn't think I was too far from the car, but I realized that I was so focused on keeping the distance between me and that thing that she must have been staring us through the trees without me really noticing. I. I thought I was going to die in those woods. So I did what you're told since you were a little kid, when there's an emergency, call 911. So I did. Or I tried. I don't know if the call went through. I think I had spotty reception, but I guess they got something because the cop showed up not too long after. After she.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

After she what?

[Christina Hadley]

Well, since I had my phone up to my ear, I didn't have the flashlight pointing up ahead. And the woods kept getting denser. I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings, and I tripped. Slid down this muddy slope that led into a clearing. When my vision settled, I was on the ground, and the damp soil and underbrush bruised and scraped up. And then I saw me walking down the slope. Like she had all the time in the world. I scrambled to get back on my feet, but I twisted my ankle pretty badly in the fall. And then she was just there in front of me. She pinned my shoulders to the ground with her knees, got her hands around my throat and just looked at me. And she just looked like me. I thought maybe up close she'd look like a monster, but it was just me. Pretty sure she was crying. That's. That's when she tried to. I mean, I don't know if you've ever been strangled before, but I kind of don't remember a lot of it. I remember trying to fight. Trying to get her off me, you know? I think I did at one point, but she just grabbed my ankle and dragged me back. Got me pretty good in the nose, but I couldn't breathe. I could barely see. I thought I was going to die. That's. I mean, that's when the police showed up. I guess I was blacking out, so it's fuzzy. I heard shouting, but I didn't really understand what was going on. Then there was just loads of men with guns pointed at me. I. I didn't mean to hurt that officer. I just thought. I guess I Was still in fight or flight. I didn't know why they were there.

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Do you remember seeing the other woman run away?

[Christina Hadley]

No. It was like one second she was there, the next she was gone. I guess she left when she heard the cops come. And they didn't? They never found me. The other one?

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Not yet, no. But evidence of a struggle does lend credence to your statement.

[Christina Hadley]

Okay. So is that it? I. I mean, can I go?

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

We're gonna keep you overnight, make sure everything's in order. Just a precaution.

[Christina Hadley]

Fine. I get a phone call though, right?

[Sergeant Mitchell Fay]

Yeah. Officer Mills here can take you now. Make your phone call and we'll get you set up for the night. Mills. Ms. Hadley certainly appears in possession of all her faculties. Medical already cleared her. No psychosis, no concussion. This with the signs of struggle and Eyewitness accounts placing Ms. Hadley the woods during the time of the incident. I do not believe Ms. Hadley has fabricated the event she's recounted. In fact, it's my recommendation we treat this as a confidential case with all the severity that entails. Now, what I find most notable is that Ms. Hadley shows no sign of bruising, a broken nose, or physical trauma of any sort to her throat, despite her claims of suffocation. I spoke to Lawrence after they brought her in. According to him, Chris was found kneeling in the dirt alone, staring down at her hands. She wasn't responsive when they tried talking to her. Lawrence has got on record himself admitting he got worked up. Adrenaline, he called it. He said he didn't know why he reacted like that. Just that something wasn't right about her. He could just feel it. Emergency dispatch received a call around the same time. Ms. Hadley indicated a was over poor reception, but was definitely made by a person in distress. I avoided this detail in our interview, but the call was placed at 6:48pm Maybe it's irrelevant. Yet I find it interesting that the voicemails placed to Ms. Hadley were done at the same time. There's a lot about this case that REM reminds me of Blair's obsession from 2010. But I'm not so sure. In Chris's case, there's no body, no wounds. And as far as we know, Fort Hayes wasn't getting any calls. I can't find the link. I'll go on record myself to say this. It is my professional opinion we keep Chris under careful supervision until we can get some answers and identify this anonymous caller.

[Christopher Swindle]

The story was over. And now there was only silence.

[Jake]

Uh, you okay? You look kinda dead.

[Christopher Swindle]

He raised his head, startled throughout Jake's story. Matt's mind was somewhere else, lost within a maze of mirrors. Despite the little differences, the tale was tinted with deja vu. Now here he was, thrust within the present, where eyes felt magnified and where he thought, surely they see it too, this stranger sitting before them. He was ready to confess his darkest fears. But he was. Olive, who spoke next?

[Olive]

Where did you hear that story?

[Jake]

I told you. My cousin. If you like that one, you should hear about this doctor.

[Christopher Swindle]

Who.

[Christina Hadley]

No.

[Olive]

Jake. How does he know that story? Was he there?

[Jake]

Maybe. I don't think so. Probably not. These stories are like souvenir shot glasses. They all got one to share and do.

[Matt]

Are you all right?

[Olive]

Yeah. No. Well, I have this roommate back at school who went to a bad party. Or I thought it was, but I don't know. Your story. It sounded just like hers.

[Jake]

Whoa. Shit. Are you being serious?

[Matt]

What happened? Is she okay?

[Maya]

Yeah. What did she say?

[Olive]

It's. Look, it's not my story to tell. She's my friend and it's personal to her. And besides, the more I think about it, it was different. I mean, there was a set of stairs, but no forest. And, like, it's just a scary story, right? I think I've heard my year's worth.

[Jake]

Yeah, me too.

[Olive]

So, are we done for the night, I mean.

[Jake]

Yeah, if you want. It's pretty late.

[Maya]

The sun will be up in a few hours.

[Olive]

Yeah.

[Christopher Swindle]

Huh.

[Jake]

You see that?

[Olive]

See what?

[Jake]

It was right there.

[Maya]

Where?

[Jake]

Right there. Right between your eyes and stuck on your face. That look of fear, Jake.

[Matt]

Not cool.

[Maya]

Yeah, really not cool.

[Jake]

Come on, y'all been living on Elm street too long. When is the Scooby Doo marathon?

[Olive]

What are you talking about?

[Jake]

I'm saying relax. The sun rises in a few hours, right?

[Maya]

Yeah.

[Jake]

Well, that's more than enough time. Come on, let's hear a joke. Or, Maya, what about that handsome stranger showing up in your reels?

[Matt]

What, are you stalking my Instagram?

[Jake]

I'm an OG ig. I stalk everyone's Insta.

[Olive]

Whoa, wait. Maya, are you seeing someone?

[Matt]

It's not like that.

[Jake]

They play pickleball.

[Olive]

Oh, my gosh.

[Matt]

Well, what's his name?

[Maya]

Does he like camping?

[Jake]

Hey, there's an idea.

[Matt]

Well, I asked, but he had to watch his niece this weekend.

[Olive]

She invited him.

[Christopher Swindle]

This is serious, Matt. Olive. Jake and Maya stayed awake throughout the night. Their voices met the sun, bright and early, wholly undisturbed by their hidden fifth member. The stranger had left. Halfway through Jake's story, his patience wore out. For now. The killer goes hungry. He's always hungry. He's unlikely to challenge this forest again. His hunting ground goes far, from east coast to west, spring through winter. He's always on the prow, always waiting at the edge of light, stalking through your camp at night. So you would be wise to watch your back, because it's quite possible he's watching you too.

[Shannon Hemings]

Full Body Chills is an Audio Chuck Production this episode was written by Quinn Newell and read by Shannon Hemings and Christopher Swindle. Intro Outro written by David Flowers and read by Ashley Flowers, Idris Jones, Kirsten Lee, Nathan Noakes and Shy Sheree.

[Christopher Swindle]

So what do you think Chuck? Do you approve?

[Chuck]

Netcredit is here to say yes because you're more than a credit score. Apply in minutes and get a decision as soon as the same day. Loans offered by Netcredit or lending partner banks and service by Netcredit Application subject to review and approval. Learn [e-mail] partners NetCredit credit to the.

[Olive]

People this lasagna was so cheesy my plate was filled with saucy slices. Then a flimsy store brand plate.

[Christina Hadley]

No, no no no.

[Olive]

Ruined it.

[Chuck]

Next time get dixie ultra plates three times stronger than the leading store brand 10 inch paper plate. Dixie make it right.