Scary Stories and Rain

Episode 227: Scary Stories For A Rainy Night - "A Bag of Knives"

Host: Being Scared
Date: September 13, 2025

Overview

In this episode of Scary Stories and Rain, Being Scared shares two true, unsettling personal accounts, expertly wrapped in atmospheric rain ambience. The episode’s purpose is to both chill and soothe: giving listeners immersive, real-world horror stories told in a calm, reflective tone. Tonight’s tales explore the thin lines between kindness and safety, trust and threat, all under the comforting cover of a rainy night.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. The Panhandler Named Wendell

(00:47 – 32:10)

Premise

A college student befriends a homeless man named Wendell, perceiving their connection as meaningful and progressive. Over time, unsettling events reveal the fatal error in underestimating boundaries—and the dangers of naive empathy.

Notable Segments and Analysis

• Introduction to Wendell

  • The narrator explains why she breaks her rule against giving money to panhandlers: "This one panhandler, though, he always sang opera music quite beautifully… I always thought it was admirable that he was trying to perform a service in exchange for the money." (01:40)
  • Occasional friendly exchanges and awkwardly personal confessions spark a superficial friendship.

• Advisor’s Warning & Student Defiance

  • Her academic advisor, typically “compassionate and progressive,” warns that “the chronically homeless… tended to have criminal or addictive histories.”
  • The narrator feels emboldened by the warning to continue her interactions:

    "If anything, I felt fortified by the warning, like it was a confirmation that I was a radical, doing the right thing, leading a new path..." (05:20)

• Behavioral Shift & Red Flags

  • Wendell’s mood abruptly worsens when he mistakes her advisor for a boyfriend, only brightening once he’s assured otherwise.
  • Wendell begins giving her gifts, like flowers and “metal machine pieces.”

• Escalation and Stalking

  • The pandemic separates them, but the sense of unease grows when she hears Wendell’s opera singing—far from campus, in her much smaller, distant hometown—on a friend’s Instagram story. (11:30)

• Disturbing Coincidences & Direct Encounters

  • A high school acquaintance reports a beggar (Wendell) asking specific questions about the narrator.
  • After returning to campus, Wendell is back in his usual spot, intensifying her unease.

• The Confrontation at Her Brother’s

  • The real horror hits when Wendell shows up at her brother’s house, several states away, presenting himself as her boyfriend and intimately detailing her life.
  • Quoting the narrator as she glimpses through the peephole:

    “Sure as hell, it was Wendell standing on my brother's doorstep, hundreds of miles from his original corner. I was so scared, I couldn't speak. My heart was pounding like I was slipping under deep water...” (22:30)

• Violent Outburst and Aftermath

  • Wendell, increasingly disconnected from reality, bangs on windows, screams, and ultimately punches through the glass, injuring himself.
  • The situation ends with police intervening, while Wendell still insists the narrator is his girlfriend and hauntingly sings opera as he’s taken away.

    “Probably one of the most haunting memories of the whole event is as they carted Wendell away for a rest. He started singing opera music.” (31:40)

Insights

• This story questions the boundaries of compassion, stressing that “all the opportunities to prevent it… [proved] that our friendship was never the wholesome thing I thought it was.”
• The narrative exposes the complex, sometimes dangerous, realities behind acts of kindness towards strangers with unknown histories.
• The tone throughout is introspective, tinged with regret, and ultimately cautionary.

2. The Dangerous Go-Kart Night at Miller’s Fun Park

(32:14 – 48:40)

Premise

A reminiscence from the narrator’s youth: a thrilling night go-karting in a remote, dilapidated fun park turns into a harrowing encounter with a predatory stranger.

Notable Segments and Analysis

• Setting the Scene

  • The narrator describes her isolated hometown: “A forgotten little beach town in the middle of nowhere…” and the run-down fun park “practically on the moon.” (32:45)

• First Encounter with the Stranger

  • After go-karting, a creepy older man confronts the narrator and her cousin, staring with a “creepy smile playing on his cracked lips as his dark eyes gleamed.”
  • He aggressively questions their presence, asks if their parents know they’re out, and offers to escort them to their car.
  • Cousin Emma tries to defuse the situation:

    “‘Her boyfriend is going to meet us there,’ she says harshly… The guy’s face immediately changes. His smile disappeared and he was now glaring down at me…” (38:10)

• The Escape Plan

  • The girls hide in the arcade, realizing they have no phones and minimal support.
  • With the park now deserted, they hatch a plan to run to their car, despite fears the man may be waiting.

• Terrifying Pursuit

  • As they near the car, the narrator freezes, worried it’s unlocked.
  • Suddenly, the man charges at them from the woods.

    “My head whipped around instantly and there he was, sprinting at us at full speed out of the woods. I screamed bloody murder and broke for the car…” (44:20)

• Narrow Escape

  • The girls manage to get in the car, lock the doors, and drive off as the man pounds on the windows and chases them.
  • They don’t tell their parents, but in hindsight recognize: “there was something seriously wrong with that guy.” (47:55)

Insights

• The story plays out common themes of vulnerable youth, dangerous strangers, and the importance of trusting one’s instincts.
• The calm, detailed pacing intensifies the suspense, making the listener feel the dread and relief alongside the narrator.

Memorable Quotes

• On misplaced trust and naivety:

  “I think my brother was almost as surprised by the sudden outburst. He was rolling up his sleeves like he was preparing to go out there and I was trying to make my voice work to beg him not to, but I was so anxious, scared, embarrassed and sad that I had missed all the signs leading up to this.” (29:55)

• On fear and trauma:

  “My heart was beating out of my chest. What if he's in there? What if he jumps out? Or what if we get in and he asphyxiates me like in the movies? All these thoughts almost drown out the unmistakable sound of shoes slamming against the pavement…” (44:00)

• On regret and hindsight:

  “Looking back, I wish we had [told our parents], because there was something seriously wrong with that guy, but we were too scared of what they might say or do.” (47:55)

Final Thoughts

This episode is a masterclass in suspenseful, realistic horror storytelling, exploring the dark side of chance encounters and misplaced good intentions. Being Scared’s narration style remains calm and intimate throughout, making the terrifying moments even more haunting. For those who crave psychological chills with a touch of regret and rainy night ambience, this episode is unmissable.

Timestamps Recap

• 00:47 – Story 1: The Panhandler Named Wendell begins
• 11:30 – Unsettling coincidences in the hometown
• 22:30 – Confrontation at brother’s house
• 31:40 – Police intervention & opera singing finale
• 32:14 – Story 2: Miller’s Fun Park begins
• 44:20 – Pursued to the car
• 47:55 – Reflections and lessons learned

Note:
All dialogue in these stories is reconstructed from memory for narrative effect (per host), but faithfully captures the tone and escalation. The rain soundscape remains a comforting counterpoint to the terror throughout.