Scary Stories and Rain: "Scary Stories For A Rainy Night – Ep. 231 – A Very Dark Night"
Host: Being Scared
Date: September 17, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of Scary Stories and Rain delves into a fresh selection of unsettling, sleep-disrupting true stories—each recounted in a calm, immersive style and accompanied by the ever-present sound of soothing rain. The stories range from chilling paranormal encounters in rural England, through unsolved crimes and frightening real-life close calls, to brushes with danger and the unexplained. The host, Being Scared, maintains a gentle yet suspenseful tone, inviting listeners to safely explore the dark corners of human experience from the comfort of their beds.
Story Summaries & Key Discussion Points
1. The Haunted Cottage in the English Countryside
Story begins at ~04:17
- Backstory: The narrator, traveling through Europe, is invited by a couple—Maggie (warm, bubbly, storytelling) and David (stoic, reserved)—to stay at their remote "cottage" on the Scottish-English border.
- Strange Occurrences:
- The house is old, large, and isolated.
- On the narrator’s second or third night, he hears footsteps "upstairs" despite the house being a single storey.
- Finds a hidden wine cellar—once a butler’s room in the 19th century.
- Supernatural Legends:
- Maggie and David reveal their home is "haunted" by the butler, and more ominously, by "the lady of the house."
- David shares the tragic story: after losing her child and husband, the lady, allegedly, poisoned the butler and was then committed, vowing never to leave her home, even in spirit.
- Quote (David, 13:28): “She swore she would never leave the house, not completely… She vowed one day she would return, and when she returned, she'd be at home for good and forever.”
- Escalating Hauntings:
- The narrator is gripped by fear as nightly supernatural activities increase: footsteps, scratches, knocks, and doors slamming.
- Culmination on Halloween: lights go out, violent poltergeist activity erupts, sobbing and screaming echo in the house, doors slam, and a woman’s voice shrieks, “Get OUT!”
- Quote (Maggie, 28:15): “Oh, she's at it again.”
- Aftermath:
- The narrator flees into the night, traumatized, and never stays at the cottage again. Maggie and David, more surprised than anyone, reassure him that such incidents are rare.
Memorable Moment:
The chilling ambiguity when the narrator, in total darkness, wonders, “What if this isn’t Maggie clutching me in the dark?” (27:40)
2. The Unsolved Lovers’ Lane Murders
Story starts at 32:12
- Case Recap:
- In 1971, Jesse McBain and Patricia Mann vanish after a Valentine’s dance in Durham, NC.
- Their car is discovered abandoned; bodies found two weeks later, tied and tortured in the woods.
- Key Details:
- No robbery or sexual assault. Killer’s intent was pure cruelty.
- Investigations marred by lack of agency cooperation.
- Prime Suspect:
- A doctor from Watts Hospital fails a polygraph test but refuses further cooperation.
- Quote (Detective Horn, 41:56): “No one ever really zeroed in on anyone...and as a result, the case quickly went cold.”
- Cold Case Developments:
- Decades later, DNA extraction from rope yields a sample unmatched to victims.
- Doctor again refuses to give DNA, suspicion remains.
- Unresolved:
- The chilling thought: “...who could be cold and cruel enough to wrench a loved up young couple away… turning a romantic Valentine’s Day night into the very last night that each of them would ever spend on earth.” (47:57)
3. A Stranger at the Door
Story at 48:27
- Situation:
- In a quiet neighborhood, a couple is unsettled by a late-night knock.
- A shirtless, erratic man (possibly high or psychotic) asks to use the phone, then lingers, speaking to the darkness.
- Tension Builds:
- The couple, along with a friend on the phone, monitor the situation, fearing he may not be alone.
- Police are called; the man disappears before they arrive.
- Later, police inform them the man was caught trying to break into a neighbor’s house.
- Afterthought:
- The narrator expresses sympathy but also acknowledges the real threat:
Quote (55:43): “Looking back at it now, I hope that man was able to get some help... but it doesn’t change the danger he could have been to himself or someone else.”
- The narrator expresses sympathy but also acknowledges the real threat:
4. The Man in the Woods—A Childhood Game Turns Dark
Story at 56:45
- Setting:
- Small town in southern Brazil, annual “look for your teacher” scavenger hunt.
- Incident:
- During the event, the narrator (age ~12-13) and friend encounter a strange man in the woods, who tries to engage them.
- Later, a young girl goes missing; it’s discovered she was lured away by the same man and nearly kidnapped.
- Themes:
- Childhood innocence meets real-world danger.
- Quote (58:20): “I can’t help but wonder what would have happened to the little girl if they hadn’t found her. Or even what would have happened to me if I were a little less careful.”
5. Christmas Break-In Close Call
Story at 01:02:11
- Set-Up:
- After all roommates leave for holidays, the narrator remains alone in a creaky old house.
- Walking home very late, she feels watched and senses footsteps.
- Safely inside, she tries to calm down, then steps out to take the trash.
- Climax:
- Suddenly, a man sprints toward her, tries to break in, banging and shouting to be let in.
- She manages to lock the door, grab a knife, and call police.
- Police arrest the man—armed and experienced in break-ins.
- Reflection:
- Quote (01:06:10): “I try not to think of what could have happened that day if I had moved just a little bit slower.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “[The house] is haunted... It’s the other one you gotta worry about.” – David (12:35)
- “What if this isn’t Maggie clutching me in the dark?” – Narrator (27:40)
- “She swore she would never leave the house, not completely.” – David (13:28)
- “Her crying turned into a woeful sobbing... Louder and louder it grew...” – Narrator (28:20)
- “No one ever really zeroed in on anyone...and as a result, the case quickly went cold.” – Detective Horn (41:56)
- “Looking back at it now, I hope that man was able to get some help...but it doesn’t change the danger he could have been to himself or someone else.” – Stranger at the door narrator (55:43)
- “I try not to think of what could have happened that day if I had moved just a little bit slower.” – Christmas break-in survivor (01:06:10)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Haunted Cottage Story: 04:17 – 31:19
- Lovers’ Lane Double Murder: 32:12 – 48:27
- Stranger at the Door: 48:27 – 56:45
- Brazilian Childhood Near-Abduction: 56:45 – 1:02:11
- Christmas Break-In: 1:02:11 – 1:07:36
Final Thoughts
This episode stands as a masterclass in late-night horror storytelling: each tale is distinct, tightly written, and delivered with just the right atmospheric touch. What links them all is not just the presence of rain or the avoidance of jump scares, but an undercurrent of vulnerability—ordinary people suddenly made keenly aware of how thin the barrier between safety and terror can truly be.