A (15:29)

That's so crazy, by the way. I can't believe you let her in. That's on you.

B (15:33)

Well, I was like, she's old. Like, I don't know. It was creepy. But I was like, what's she gonna do? She didn't seem, like, violent. So I was like, I gotta just find out why she's been following me because it was just so weird. So that time was full of little weird things happening, but nothing that I would, like, consider to be, like, supernatural or something that really was just too weird until it kind of like, I guess, like, culminated on this one night where it was, like, the most intense supernatural thing that I've ever experienced. The day that this happened was just like, a very average day. Like, I don't remember exactly what I did, but it was probably just like went to work, came home, like, made dinner, chilled with my friends. And like, at that time we'd usually like hang out and stay up pretty late, like just talking or whatever. So around 10pm, me and my friend Marnie were just hanging out at the house and then we kind of decided, why don't we go for a walk? Because you could walk from our house to the beach in like 35, 40 minutes. Victoria is like surrounded by the ocean and beaches, so it's easy to get to the beach and it's really beautiful. So we decided to go for a walk. We were chatting a lot about this like, photography project idea that we had that we were really hyped on. We're in like a good mood, normal night for us. We walk through town, we get to the beach. It's like a quiet, beautiful, clear, warm night. We're walking along like a beautiful bluff with like the moon out over the ocean. It's like incredibly pretty. And we're so engulfed in this conversation that we were having. And we were both really excited about this idea. So, I mean, we're in a beautiful place, we're taking that in. But we were more so focused on like our conversation, I guess. And so we're just like walking along, chatting. There might have been a few other people out and about, but like, there's not a lot of people. It's like very quiet and like peaceful. We are like, it's like really nice out, Beautiful, clear, warm night. So we're like, well, let's just keep walking, because you can. There's like a path that runs along the beach and then it goes out to like a point. And then if you keep going, then there's a graveyard. And it's a beautiful graveyard right on the ocean. And like there's. It's full of like tall trees. It's just like this little mini secluded place in the city. It's a place where we would go often to just like have picnics, chill, because it was just very peaceful and beautiful there. And been there like hundreds of times probably. And even at night, never a bad vibe. Like we were never going there looking for anything spooky, but also like, nothing spooky ever happened. So it was like a peaceful kind of like escape spot for us, I guess. So that night we decide, well, why don't we just keep walking along the beach and go sit in the cemetery? Because you can literally sit in the cemetery and look out at the moon and the ocean. It's like so beautiful and so we get to the cemetery, and it's probably, like, just after midnight at that point, we walk into the cemetery. We walk to the end almost of the cemetery, like, the farther end from town. And there's, like, a railing that separates the cemetery from, like, a little embankment that goes down to the beach. There's, like, a fence that you could sit on if you wanted. But we're kind of just, like, leaning on the fence, looking out at the ocean. And you're kind of looking out at the ocean through a few branches. And so we're, like, looking out at the water, appreciating how nice it is and just, like, really enthusiastic about, like, developing this idea. I start to hear, like, a rustling sound, like something in leaves moving around. And this graveyard, like, has a huge deer population that just live in the graveyard because they've been pushed out of everywhere else in town. And there's also, like, there's squirrels, raccoons. There's actually a lot of wildlife in this graveyard. So I'm hearing this, and I'm looking to be like, is there a deer right near us? Or, like, is it a squirrel? Or whatever? Like, I was, like, not afraid of this sound. I guess I was just, like, wanting to know, like, what's making this sound. Like, what is. Where is it coming from? Like, where's the animal type thing? Like, not scared. I keep hearing it, and it was weird because I was hearing it, but I couldn't, like, decipher what direction it was coming from. It was just, like, I could hear rustling, and I couldn't figure out where it was coming from tomorrow. I'm like, do you hear that? And she's like, yeah, whatever. It's probably, like, a deer or whatever. So I'm like. And she's not really giving a shit about that. We're, like, talking about our idea. So I'm kind of going in between, like, being like, okay, whatever, talking about the idea and then hearing it again and being like, what is that? And, like, it increasingly was starting to really piss me off. And I don't know why. Like, usually I wouldn't be, like, irritated by that type of thing. I was just getting so, like, mad about not being able to find the source of the sound. Increasingly, it was taking me out of, like, the conversation that we were having, because I was just getting, like, so pissed. I was like, what is this sound? And then it kind of just repeated for, like, 10, 15 times where I was, like, looking around me, being like, what is making this sound? Not finding the source of it, looking back out and just getting increasingly annoyed by, like this sound happening.

A (22:13)

Okay, we have to take a quick break, but we'll be right back with the rest of the story. This episode is brought to you by 20th Century Studios New film Springsteen Deliver Me From Nowhere starring Golden Globe winner Jeremy Allen White and Academy Award nominee Jeremy Strong. Scott Cooper, the director of the Academy Award winning movie Crazy Heart, brings you the story of the most pivotal chapter in the life of an icon. Springsteen Deliver Me From Nowhere Only in theaters October 24th. Get your tickets now. Are you looking for a podcast about pro football that doesn't put you to sleep with an avalanche of analytics or insult your fandom with brainless hot takes? Well, hi, I'm Dan Hanzas. And I'm Mark Sessler.

B (23:07)

Oh, hi Mark.

A (23:08)

And we're the hosts of Heed the Call, the NFL podcast you've been waiting your whole life for. Heed the Call covers every game, every.

B (23:14)

Storyline, everything that matters.

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Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by I'm like, on edge now and, like, annoyed, but I'm not scared. I'm just. I hear the sound again and I, like, whip around because I'm like, what is it? Like, I need to see what the. Like, what is this? And I whip around again for, like, the 20th time. And, like, immediately I see this thing in front of a grave that's like 8 to 10ft away moving towards me. It was a creature that was the size of a human, but it's not a human being. It wasn't an animal. It was like something else that I couldn't tell you what it is, but it wasn't. It was inhuman. Was completely emaciated, gray, all gray skin pulled, like, tightly over its bones and hunched over. I could see its spine. Like, I was looking at it long enough to, like, see its spine, its, like, ribs. And it had these, like, disgusting long arms, arms that were way too big for the rest of it. And it was like, dragging its arms, like, behind itself on the. On the ground because it was close to the ground. Like, it was on all fours, I guess. I don't even understand how it was moving because its arms were just, like, flat against the ground, dragging. Like, I don't know how it moved. It's, like, totally disturbing and freakish and horrifying. So I was kind of just, like, briefly just frozen in shock, being like, I can't believe what I am seeing right now. Like, what is happening? And I remember looking to try to find its face. Like, it. I couldn't see any face. Like, there's no features that I could make out. It was almost like a blur. I didn't know what the hell I was seeing. Like, I didn't. I don't know what it was. Seeing it in general was like, you're perceiving something new. It's just, like, impossible to really relay that to someone. It's, like, very hard to describe something that you barely have, like, the language or, like, knowledge of to begin with. So I'm looking at it. I'm going through the shock of just having seen it. Very soon after that, I'm horrified and know that we need to get out of there, like, as fast as possible because this is unnatural. We shouldn't be seeing it. I don't know. Like, maybe it's how you feel if you're being hunted or something. But it was, like, the worst, most sick feeling and I've ever felt, like, ever. So I grab my friend and I'm like. She, like, talks to me about, like, how my voice sounded Where I was just sounded so serious. Where I was like, we have to get out of here now. And I, like, grab her and we start running. And because we had walked to nearly the end of the graveyard, we have to run through the whole graveyard to get out. As soon as I started running, I was like, I am not looking back. I could not look back. So I'm looking at the graves, and then you can see on the far end of the graveyard, there's a street light. So I'm just looking to the lights and booking it. And the craziest part of this whole, like, seeing it obviously, is insane, but the thing that really, like, stuck with me about the whole experience was the experience of running away. Because it was like, okay, now we're in, like, flight mode, running away. But it was, like, one of the hardest things I've ever done for some reason, was like, get out of that graveyard. We're running. But it felt like I was having to pull on literally every part of my will to get out. It felt like running in, like, quicksand. Energetically, I was being, like, dragged down, being sucked back as I'm trying to, like, run forward. Like, this deep thing. Horrible despair, hopelessness. Like, the worst feelings ever were, like, just, like, latched onto me. And, like, it felt like it was, like, pulling me, like, down into the earth almost. And I was, like, having to fight this feeling with, like, everything I had. Foreign. I've gone through tough things in my life that have not felt good, but, like, this feeling was just completely overwhelming. It was like being engulfed in despair. The worst sickening feeling. I actually felt like I was like, if I don't, like, tap into some deeper power that I was not gonna get away. Because it's almost like when I was running away, it was like. Like, the first bit was just experiencing this pure, like, despair feeling that was overcoming me increasingly. So I'm realizing this is the craziest feeling I've ever felt in my life and the worst. And I'm thinking about getting away, but then this feeling is, like, pulling me back in. I felt like I needed help, and I tapped into some, like, greater power. And I don't know whether it's, like, my will, which is a greater power, or if it was, like, a greater power, like, outside of me. But as soon as I. I, like, felt it, like, happen. Like, I felt the shift from, like, being, like, so overwhelmed by the darkness to, like, feeling the shift into, like, oh, I actually have a greater part of me, or is that is, like, helping me get out of here. And then I felt like I knew, okay, I can get away. But it was very hard to, like, unlock that. I just, like, was given the energy that I needed to get away from that feeling and to, like, keep going. And it's really. Because it's not like, oh, I. Physical energy. It wasn't like, oh, I needed physical energy to, like, keep running. It was nothing like physical. It was like, some type of very strong sense of self at the same time as, like, protection. I felt like I had to, like, believe in my own ability to get out of there and my own strength and that I was, like, protected. As soon as I was able to, like, tap into that, I could feel like it was getting, like I was being protected. The dark energy was having less power over me. And I just stayed locked in on that feeling and, like, kept running. You know, it was just such an overwhelming feeling where, like, I don't think I could have said a word or, like, had a thought. It was like a completely, like, emotional experience in my mind. It feels like actually, like, slow mo. Running, being dragged the whole time. But I think in reality, we were just, like, running normally out of there. Finally, we stop running. So we're literally standing, like, on the side of the street and there's, like, street lights now. And I remember looking back at this point and, I mean, the feeling like that dark feeling had left me. And so I say to Marnie, like, what the hell just happened? She's, like, just. She was, like, so scared, and she's like, did you see that? I told her exactly what I saw. And she had seen it too, but she had just seen, like, a dark, like, black shadow mass moving in the same way that I had seen the gray thing moving. I don't think I thought about it in that moment, but when I think back to that now, I think about the differences in perception dictating a lot of, like, what supernatural creatures look like to people. And it made me think of, like, how I couldn't make out the face of this thing where I thought, well, then maybe for her, it's like I couldn't make it out. Like, beyond, just, like, blackness. Slowly, the adrenaline is, like, coming down. We're, like, standing in the street and I, at this point, I look at my phone and it's like, almost 4 in the morning. And I remember being, like, totally shocked because we got in that graveyard around midnight. We knew we were just going on a short little walk and going back home to go to bed by, like, a decent hour, like, ideally before 2 in the morning, to me, it felt like we were speaking for 45 minutes, like, max, an hour, and then see the thing run. It was just impossible for that, though that meant that amount of time to have passed. If I looked at my phone and it had said like two, I would have been like, okay, I guess that's still weird. But like, okay, but like, almost 4 in the morning, I was like, what the fuck? And Marnie was like, what the fuck? We were not in there for that long. Seeing that, that time jump, I feel like, was this another confirmation of just like, like the strangeness that was happening? And I, I think that that time, I mean, because for me, the longest period of time felt like when we were running away from the thing. It didn't feel like a long time. When we were chatting, the time in there that felt long was the, like, running. So, like, I don't. I don't know what to, like, make of it at all. But the time was gone. After realizing it's super late and we lost time, we're just like, we just need to get home because this is all way too crazy and way too weird. We make it home, and I think we ended up staying up just talking about what had just happened even more before. We were like, okay, we just need to go to bed. And I remember it was hard to go to bed because I was still just, like, reeling from everything that just happened. Maybe in, like, I was a little bit worried, like, oh, what if, like, that thing knows where I am or something? But I mean, nothing else happened after that. After, like, waking up the next day, you know, it's like with anything that happens, you kind of just have to get back to, like, your normal life. So I just got back to things as usual, and life was still intense. You know, I'm dealing with my mom's, you know, health and that whole thing and other work stuff. It was just like, I was very distracted by life where I wasn't really, like, thinking about what had happened all the time. Like, I was. I kind of just moved on and I was like, okay, that happened. I have no explanation. I don't think I'm going to find an explanation. So I kind of just, you know, leave that there and just kind of went back to, like, business as usual. The one change in lifestyle after was I was not going to that cemetery ever. I was, I had a. Like, in my head, I was like, there is something deeply dark and evil in there and I want nothing to do with it. I didn't even want to Go there in the day. Like, I avoided that cemetery for. For a good six to eight months, where I didn't, like, even if my friends would, like, be going there for maybe a walk or a picnic or hangout, I'd be like, nope. And I was, like, starting to tell people. I was like, you should actually be careful. There is something there and it's not cool. I'm not hanging out there ever again, especially at night. So my mom time at this point is so weird because she passed away. She ended up passing away from cancer in September of 2019, and this happened in 2018. So, like, the year or two or whatever it is in between there. I was lucky enough to spend, like, a lot of really good quality time with my mom. And it was almost like her passing away wasn't real until it actually happened. Because it had been so long of this, like, possibility in my head that I was so used to. And then it just felt like, fake until, like, she actually passed away. Super, super intense thing that, like, definitely changed my whole life. It changed my perspective on a lot of things and changed what I wanted to take seriously. And it changed what I, you know, believe in and what matters to me. And, like, really clarified a lot of stuff that I was ready to not care at all about anymore, which I'm grateful for because, like, it cut out all the bullshit in my life. Basically, six to eight months later. I remember it was spring, and spring in Victoria is really beautiful. And it was a warm, sunny day. And I was walking by the cemetery for some reason, and I'd been avoiding it for so long at that point where it, like, was this thing. And I, like, remember thinking, it's a beautiful day, middle of the day, there's going to be other people in the cemetery. Like, I can just go in just to, like, prove to myself that I could go back there, I think. So I walk in from a different, like, point than I had, like, the night that it happened. I walk in from, like, a different entrance. And I walk in and there's, like, flowers everywhere, and it's, like, super, super beautiful. And I see a deer lying underneath a tree in the grass with flowers all around it and the sun coming through. And I was like, oh, my God, it's so pretty. And I wasn't scared at all. I didn't feel scared when I went back in there. And then so I took out my phone to take a picture of this deer lying in the grass. And I, like, take out my phone and open up the camera. And as soon as I Like, open up the camera. Like, my phone just starts totally glitching out. The colors of everything were, like, changing to, like, bright blue and yellow. It was, like, doing multiple exposures of, like, the vines on the tree. And, like, it was flipping the gravestones into the. Upside down into the sky, like, above the. It was, like, doing some crazy shit. And I was like, what the hell? I thought, like, my phone screen was, like, dying or something for some reason. So for 10 minutes, my phone was going crazy to the point where, like, I couldn't use it. And I was like, okay, I have a broken phone now. You know, I don't know what's happening with my phone. I just take some pictures, and it's, like, working to take pictures. So I'm like, okay. I keep walking through the cemetery, and this time I leave the cemetery from, like, the beach side. So I, like, run down the embankment. As I'm walking out, looking at my phone, like, glitching out. Like, I kid you not, the second that I walked down the little hill out of that graveyard onto the sidewalk, my phone, like, stops glitching completely. It's like, nothing. It's, like, normal now. Like, the second I stepped out of there, it was back to normal. I'm like, I'm going to look at the pictures I just took of this deer. And I look, I bring up the pictures, and the pictures are, like, they still have, like, the crazy glitch anomalies, like, are in the picture. Like, the pictures look insane. And I'm looking at these pictures being like, how did this happen? Because I'm a photographer. I just know that, like, this doesn't just happen with photos. I wouldn't even know how to do it if I wanted to. Later on during COVID there was, like, a Facebook group for, like, haunted Victoria that I was, like, lurking because, I don't know, out of curiosity and because I had this experience, and so I'm, like, lurking this Facebook. And then this lady posted these pictures in the Ross Bay Cemetery she was visiting this famous artist. Emily Carr's grave is buried there. So a lot of people go to visit her grave. And she was taking pictures of Emily Carr's grave. And her pictures looked quite similar to, like, the flipping and the color that I had in my photos. So I was, like, just, like, super surprised that someone else had had, like, a similar thing happen. Like, her glitches weren't as intense as mine, but it was still, like, the, like, flipped into the sky image and, like, the same blue color that was in mine. So Then I, like, commented my pictures and I was like, oh, that's crazy that, like, this has happened to both of us. And, like, I do wonder, like, who else maybe other people have had similar photo anomalies happen. I did, like, share this story in the comments on that Facebook group. It's a mixed, you know, reaction, whatever. Like, that's just what you're going to get. So, like, I'm comfortable sharing this story. I guess, like, being in the comments online is a lot less vulnerable in person. I'll only really talk about it, you know, with people that I know aren't going to, like, laugh in my face, you know, or, like, totally write it off. Like, I'll bring it up if it's like, the right moment and the conversation is kind of like, going there. But otherwise, no. It's been such a long time since this happened. Now where I think I don't. I don't think about it a whole lot, but, like, when I do, I do kind of realize how this has, like, changed my perception of things because before I wasn't, like, closed off to anything, but I also wasn't, like, an active believer. And just having this happen just made the supernatural feel so much more real. I think I've taken it a lot more seriously ever since. Anytime that, like, people might be casually playing around with the idea of, like, trying to tap into the supernatural or even do spiritual practices, I really want to take it very seriously and have, like, a lot of respect for it and to treat it like it is completely real. Because, I mean, to me, it is.

A (45:44)

Thank you so much to Sierra for sharing her story. I have to say she sent me the photos that she tried taking of the deer when her phone was glitching in the cemetery, and they are very weird. I've been doing photography and video work for most of my life. Obviously, lots of people show me photos that they think might be paranormal, and I hate to disappoint people, but it's almost always some kind of strange camera behavior that I instantly recognize with Sierra's photos, though I genuinely have never seen a photo glitch out in this way. It's kind of hard to describe. There's a lot going on in them, and I'm not really sure how it could have happened. Even if there is an explanation, which maybe there is. I don't know everything. It's very weird that it only happened to her phone in the cemetery and then never happened again as soon as she left. And the fact that it also seemed to happen to another person at that same cemetery. Maybe the phone glitching is totally unrelated, maybe it's not, but either way, it added to an already very strange and unsettling series of events that happened to her in this story. So thank you once again to Sierra. This episode is called Ross Bay Cemetery and you've been listening to Otherworld. Otherworld is executive produced and hosted by myself, Jack Wagner. Our theme song is by Cobra Man. The soundtrack of this episode is by Juice, Jackal and North Americans. This episode was edited by Theo Krantz and engineered by Theo Schaeffer. Our associate producers are Nikki Kate Delgado and and Haley Pearson. Our artwork is by Cul de Sac Studios. If you want to hear bonus episodes of Otherworld, you can become a patron@patreon.com Otherworld Please show us your support by subscribing, leaving a five star review and telling your friends about the show. Our social media is otherworldpod. Thank you to the team at Odyssey. Leah Rhys Dennis, Rob Barandi, Eric Donnelly, Maura Curran, Kate Rose, Colin Gaynor, Michael Lavey, Josephina Francis and Hilary Shuff. Follow and listen to Otherworld now for free on the Odysee app or wherever you get your podcasts. And finally, if you or somebody you know has experienced something paranormal, supernatural or unexplained, you can send us your story@storiesotherworldpod.com.

B (48:43)

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