Scary Stories For A Rainy Night - Ep. 220

He Was In The Bushes | September 6, 2025
Podcast: Scary Stories and Rain
Host: Being Scared

Overview

Episode 220 of Scary Stories and Rain delivers a chilling collection of true, listener-submitted stories centered around unsettling encounters, eerie home invasions, and the steadfast loyalty of pets—set against the soothing backdrop of rain. Each story is told in the signature calm cadence of Being Scared, inviting listeners to both shiver and relax as they slip into the uneasy ambiance where ordinary nights morph into real-life nightmares.

Main Stories & Key Discussion Points

1. Sunny the Protective Labrador (00:32 – 06:40)

• Narrator: Female, 38, recounts an incident from 11 years ago.
• Sets the scene: Autumn night, no streetlights, walking through a housing estate with her black Labrador mix, Sunny.
• Sunny’s behavior: Normally sweet but very protective; starts circling the storyteller unusually.
• Suspense builds:
  • Sunny silently circles, grows agitated.
  • Sudden realization: footsteps close behind, not belonging to the narrator.
• Climax:
  • Sunny appears, growling and then barking ferociously at a hooded man, who is startled and drops a large branch—implying malicious intent.
  • The man flees after Sunny confronts him.
• Aftermath: Realization that Sunny’s odd behavior was vigilant protection, not random energy.
• Notable Quote:
  • “My blood froze because it couldn't be a good thing.” (04:16)
• Insight: Highlights the intuition and loyalty of dogs, and the fact that sometimes their strange behavior is actually a lifesaving warning.

2. Rowan Senses Danger (06:41 – 11:49)

• Narrator: 26-year-old female in the UK.
• Backstory: Walks her Rottweiler, Rowan, through a nearby farmer’s field.
• Encounter:
  • Notices a solitary man in a tracksuit with his hood up (unusual for the warm weather).
  • Man disappears into bushes along a commonly used unofficial path.
• Dog’s Response:
  • Rowan becomes unusually alert, standing protectively and growling—a rarity for his gentle disposition.
• Escalation:
  • The man whistles, apparently to lure Rowan.
  • Narrator’s fear rises—she retreats, calling her fiancé, who immediately comes to the field.
• Resolution:
  • The man emerges, watching but not approaching. The couple leaves safely with Rowan.
• Aftermath: Rowan is praised and rewarded.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Rowan was having none of it though, and I definitely took that as my cue to trust my Stranger danger instincts.” (09:55)
• Memorable Moment:
  • The narrator’s internal battle between rationalizing “overreacting” and trusting her gut, mirrored by her dog’s instincts.

3. Stalked by the Father’s Ex (11:50 – 12:05)

• Narrator: Young adult.
• Situation: The father’s tumultuous breakup with his business partner leads to unhinged behavior.
• Escalation:
  • After being spurned, the ex becomes increasingly hostile and threatens the narrator and their father.
  • She invades their home at 3 a.m., standing over the narrator’s bed, screaming threats of revenge.
• Aftermath: Police arrive and arrest her after she attempts violence.
• Notable Quote:
  • “That was the scariest thing I have ever been through and I am glad I will never see her again.” (12:03)
• Insight: Conveys the terror of personal vendettas crossing boundaries into direct confrontation, with the lingering trauma of such events.

4. Someone Living at Home – With You (12:38 – 29:50)

• Narrator: Gender unspecified, moves into a rundown, infamous house with family.
• Setting: Old house previously owned by biker gang, many hidden areas, no security.
• Unsettling Patterns:
  • Strange noises (burps, footsteps) outside windows, frequent missing possessions.
  • Strong sense of being watched; disturbing incidents in the backyard shed and crawlspace.
• Creepy Confirmations:
  • Finds missing items moved, weed and bong used by someone else, and burnt tin foil (drug use) in the crawlspace.
  • Witnesses an unknown man lurking, suspicious vehicles circling, and direct attempts to lure the narrator (with a softball).
• Parental Dismissal:
  • Father's refusal to take security seriously, attributing each event to coincidence, animals, or even accusing the narrator of drug use.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Every night I felt eyes watching me sleep.” (14:37)
  • “...this house has a mouth and it's always eating everything of importance.” (19:51)
  • “After six years of noticing someone squatting at your house and six years of being told that you're crazy... you start to actually believe that you are crazy.” (28:21)
• Insight:
  • The psychological toll of being gaslighted by one's own family when real danger or intrusion is suspected.
  • Frustrations of not being believed and the normalization of fear in unsafe households.
• Memorable Moment:
  • The discovery of burnt foil squares beneath the bedroom window, confirming someone is actively using drugs under the house.

5. The Motel Window Stalker (29:51 – 37:48)

• Narrator: 16-year-old, on a California road trip with family.
• Setting: Motel room in beautiful Santa Barbara, deceptive in its tranquility.
• Sinister Encounter:
  • Notices a man across the street, illuminated under a streetlamp, making intense eye contact.
  • The man repeatedly performs a throat-slitting gesture.
  • Each time the narrator peers through the curtain, the man is closer and still signaling menace.
• Psychological Impact:
  • The narrator cycles through curiosity, fear, and self-reproach for continuing to watch.
  • Parent reassures them (falsely, as revealed years later) that the man is harmless; in reality, even the motel staff considered him dangerous.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “A sense of dread invades my whole being.” (30:18)
  • “His gaze like a laser beam I can feel all the way down to my kidneys.” (30:37)
  • “He starts in a slow clockwork motion, sliding his index finger sideways across his throat...” (31:04)
  • “Luckily, I never see the man again for the duration of our stay there.” (37:25)
• Memorable Moment:
  • Years later, father admits the real danger, having previously lied to avoid frightening the narrator.

Notable Themes & Insights

• Protective Animals: Dogs play a recurring, vital role as guardians, detecting danger before their owners and acting decisively.
• Unseen Dangers: The most unnerving threats are those that lurk just out of sight—silent footsteps, invisible eyes in windows, or ominous figures waiting in the dark.
• Disbelief & Gaslighting: Many narrators struggle with not being believed by family or authorities, intensifying their fear and isolation.
• The Power of Instinct: Stories repeatedly illustrate the value of trusting one’s own instincts—and those of loyal pets—over simply rationalizing away danger.

Timestamped Highlights

• Sunny the dog’s heroic intervention: 04:16 — “My blood froze because it couldn't be a good thing.”
• Rowan refuses to be lured, owner’s gut reaction: 09:55 — “Rowan was having none of it though…”
• Face-to-face with a vengeful stalker: 12:03 — “That was the scariest thing I have ever been through...”
• Living with a squatter and chronic gaslighting: 14:37, 19:51, 28:21 — “Every night I felt eyes watching me sleep… this house has a mouth… you start to actually believe that you are crazy.”
• Paralyzing dread of the window stalker: 30:18, 30:37, 31:04 — “A sense of dread invades my whole being… his gaze like a laser beam… sliding his index finger across his throat…”

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode’s narration is measured and soothing, underscored by the persistent sound of rain—a stylistic juxtaposition that amplifies the horror. Each story maintains a conversational, intimate language, often recounting terrifying moments with a kind of calm disbelief that heightens their authenticity. The overall mood is one of quiet, creeping dread interrupted by moments of bright relief (loyal pets, quick thinking) and raw vulnerability.

Conclusion

Episode 220 is a testament to the very real fear that can haunt everyday life: a silent figure on a darkened walk, a presence lurking just out of sight, or a home that’s not as empty as it seems. The stories underscore the importance of vigilance, the power of intuition, and the profound bond between humans and their animals. For late-night listeners, it delivers equal measures of comfort and chills—the very essence of Scary Stories and Rain.