Creepy Short Stories for Eerie Nights

"Scary Story Podcast," hosted by Edwin, revisits three chilling tales. The first story recounts a family's eerie encounter on Cedar Lane, where a mysterious old woman instills fear during a late-night drive. The second narrative reveals a college student's mortifying experience of accidentally entering a neighbor's house, leading to a moment of self-reflection. The final tale, "Ruby Dragon Ride," describes strange sightings of a ghostly boy at a theme park, with employees sharing their unsettling experiences. These stories blend family dynamics, personal growth, and supernatural events, creating a captivating and spine-tingling episode.

• The family had distinct roles and dynamics, with each member having a specific behavior pattern.
• The narrator’s mother was a worrywart, always concerned about safety and preparedness.
• The father was quiet and involved in a side business with animals, maintaining a strict rule about not going past the treeline.
• The sister was a typical rebellious teenager, sneaking out and having a job at an ice cream shop.
• The family didn’t communicate much about problems, leading to tension and arguments.

"Growing up, I remember my family not being like the ones we saw on TV. Not that we were dysfunctional, but we didn't speak much to each other about problems."

• The family had a unique dynamic, different from typical portrayals on TV, with minimal communication about issues.

"My mom was a typical worrywart, wanting to know if my homework was in my backpack every morning before school, giving me extra jackets and snacks."

• The mother was overly concerned with the narrator's safety and preparedness, reflecting her worrywart nature.

"Dad was different. He was quiet. He would sometimes wake me up early in the morning to come with him to check up on one of the animals that he was taking care of."

• The father was reserved and involved in an animal care side business, creating a bond with the narrator through these activities.

"My sister, though, was the oddball of our family. Now she was as close as you can get to a TV show teenager."

• The sister was rebellious and independent, often sneaking out and engaging in typical teenage behavior.

• A major incident involving the sister at Cedar Lane caused a significant change in the family.
• The sister returned home late at night, crying and mentioning Cedar Lane.
• The father immediately took action, involving the narrator in the situation.
• The mother was upset and concerned, reflecting the family’s tension and differing parenting styles.

"It was around eleven at night and mom was not happy. She was yelling at my dad for not caring enough."

• The mother’s frustration and concern for the sister’s safety led to an argument with the father.

"Dad was out by the car, I think, when I heard him yell out for my mom. She came running toward the kitchen and yelled for something before rushing out into the front driveway."

• The father discovered something alarming, prompting immediate action and involving the mother.

"It was my sister. I could see the headlights as my room's window faced the road and part of the driveway. My sister was crying."

• The sister’s distress and mention of Cedar Lane indicated a serious incident that required the family’s immediate attention.

• The parents made significant sacrifices and had differing views on parenting, leading to tension.
• The mother missed her old life and often expressed her dissatisfaction.
• The father was strict about not tolerating fear and emphasized practical lessons from his upbringing.

"Mom would sometimes start crying, and other times she would call her sister to complain about what was going on, to which she would always mention that she missed her old life."

• The mother’s dissatisfaction and longing for her previous life contributed to the family’s tension.

"Dad was always very strict with this kind of thing. He would bring up how he grew up and how Grandpa would teach him that being afraid was not something he would tolerate."

• The father’s strict approach to fear and practical lessons from his upbringing influenced his parenting style.

"It didn't make sense to me back then, but today I think about that a lot, about the sacrifices that parents make for their children."

• The narrator reflects on the parents’ sacrifices and how they shaped the family dynamics.

• The incident at Cedar Lane was a pivotal moment that the narrator had blacked out until recently.
• The sister’s distress and the father’s immediate action indicated a serious situation.
• The family’s response to the incident highlighted their roles and dynamics.

"My sister confessed. We were out by Cedar Lane. Dad stepped inside and by now I was standing in the hallway. He saw me. He said, put on your shoes. Let's go."

• The sister’s confession about being at Cedar Lane prompted the father to take immediate action, involving the narrator.

"Why is he going with you? Mom asked, angry and reaching for my jacket that was hanging by the door, quietly giving her permission."

• The mother’s concern about the narrator’s involvement and the father’s quiet permission reflected their differing parenting styles and the seriousness of the situation.

• The narrator's father is determined to protect his family despite the risks involved.
• The story highlights the fear and tension experienced by the family, particularly the narrator's sister.
• The father’s decision to handle the situation himself instead of calling the police reflects a sense of personal responsibility and skepticism toward authorities.

"My sister was still crying by the front porch, struggling to breathe and shaking with fear, my mom's arms around her trying to nudge her to come inside."

• Demonstrates the immediate emotional impact of the situation on the family, especially the sister.

"Daddy, don't go out there, please," she said.

• Emphasizes the sister's fear and concern for their father's safety.

"He told me of a newspaper article he read where they said that these guys would set up traps along the dark roads and use different scenarios for passersby."

• Provides context for the father's fear and cautious behavior, showing the real dangers present in their environment.

"Why would they call the police and expect them to believe that a teen, my sister, had been driving along a road and had seen someone trying to get her to stop in the middle of it?"

• Highlights the father's distrust in the authorities and his belief that they wouldn’t take their situation seriously.

• The narrator experiences a mix of fear and excitement about the late-night drive with their father.
• The drive is filled with tension and suspense as they search for potential threats.
• The father's instructions to the narrator indicate the seriousness of the situation and the need for vigilance.

"It was a strange excitement to be out late at night in a car with my dad. It felt like an adventure."

• Illustrates the narrator's conflicting emotions of fear and excitement.

"I need you to keep an eye out for any movement. Alright, he told me, staring straight ahead."

• Shows the father's focus and the importance of the narrator’s role in the situation.

"We were driving so slowly along that dirt road with a truck wobbling along the dips and bumps from the rocks."

• Describes the tense and cautious nature of their drive, enhancing the suspense.

• The narrator and their father encounter a mysterious old woman on the road, heightening the fear and tension.
• The father's cautious approach and the narrator's fear underscore the uncertainty and danger of the situation.
• The old woman's eerie behavior and the strange sounds contribute to the atmosphere of horror and suspense.

"I started crying and yelling, dad, don't. There's an old woman there. She doesn't want us."

• Reflects the narrator's fear and desperation to avoid the encounter.

"An old woman hunched over, looking out toward the field, completely ignoring us."

• Describes the unsettling appearance of the old woman, contributing to the eerie atmosphere.

"It was then when I heard shuffling in the grass and the sad, deep groan of something that up to this day I have never heard before."

• Emphasizes the strangeness and horror of the sounds they hear, adding to the suspense.

"I tried not to look, but without anywhere else to turn, I saw the old lady in front of the car crawling toward us at an unnatural speed."

• Describes the disturbing and unnatural behavior of the old woman, heightening the fear.

• The father and narrator eventually manage to escape the situation, but the experience leaves a lasting impact on the narrator.
• The narrator reflects on their father's reasoning and the decision not to involve the police.
• The memory of the event continues to haunt the narrator, especially when revisiting the location.

"Tears rolling down my face, he eventually put the car in drive and we kept going until we got back to the railroad tracks."

• Shows the relief and emotional toll of the escape.

"For some reason, I thought we would be making a turn toward the police station on the way home, but I remembered his reasoning and why we went straight to the house instead."

• Reflects on the father's distrust of the police and their decision to handle the situation themselves.

"My dad's voice came to mind as my friends and I were in the car a couple of months ago when we drove past Cedar Lane one night."

• Indicates the lasting impact of the experience on the narrator and how it continues to affect them.

• The narrator reflects on a period of their life in college, expressing regret over the choices they made.
• The narrator's association with certain groups and lifestyle changes led to dissatisfaction and a sense of being lost.
• The story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of trying to fit in and losing oneself in the process.

"Back in college, I started hanging out with some of the girls that my friends from back in high school would have made fun of."

• Introduces the narrator’s shift in social circles and the beginning of their regret.

"In short, I ended up joining their sorority and I eventually moved out and we ended up moving to a house inside of a complex."

• Describes the changes in the narrator's living situation and social environment.

"I didn't like anything of how my life was going, and honestly, I was just too young to see it."

• Reflects on the narrator's dissatisfaction and lack of self-awareness during that time.

"And my dresses got more colorful, the shoes got a little taller, and more and more often my weekends would start a day early."

• Illustrates the superficial changes the narrator made to fit in, highlighting the theme of personal growth and regret.

• The narrator describes a night out at a popular social spot known as the fire pit.
• They detail their feelings of isolation and discomfort despite being in a social setting.
• The experience includes being left alone late at night and feeling overwhelmed by solitude.

"I started losing myself. I guess you could say it was a Thursday night and some guy I had been talking to had picked me up to go to an area we all knew as the fire pit."

• The narrator felt a sense of losing their identity and control over their life.

"At the fire pit, we met up with some of his friends, and midnight turned into almost 03:00 a.m. when we were finally on our way back."

• The night extended late, contributing to the narrator's feeling of being overwhelmed.

• The narrator mistakenly enters the wrong house, leading to a frightening and embarrassing situation.
• They describe the eerie feeling upon entering the house and realizing something was wrong.
• Encountering a little girl in the wrong room escalates the tension.

"I grabbed onto the door handle of the sliding door and squeezed it shut. Once I was inside, the place smelled different, and I got a bad feeling crawling all over me right away."

• The narrator immediately sensed something was off upon entering the house.

"I could see this little shadow twisting and turning around in the bed. I dropped my purse onto the carpet and stared at the silhouette of this little creature moving from side to side, groaning, almost crying."

• The narrator's fear and confusion peak upon seeing the silhouette of a little girl.

"A little girl was staring at me, wide-eyed and her mouth wide open. That's when I noticed that the bed wasn't mine. There were dolls and board games on the floor."

• Realization dawns that the narrator is in the wrong house, leading to a confrontation with the homeowners.

• The homeowners confront the narrator, leading to an awkward and emotional exchange.
• The narrator explains the mistake and is escorted back to their actual home by a neighbor.

"A man in his pajamas looking right at me, yelling, 'Who are you? What are you doing here?' All I could do was stare at him, confused."

• The confrontation with the homeowner is tense and confusing for the narrator.

"A woman came over to the room asking me who I was, and I did my best to explain what had happened, that I had just gotten into the wrong house, that I lived nearby, that the houses looked the same, but I was sorry."

• The narrator tries to explain the situation to the homeowners, leading to a resolution.

"The woman, our neighbor, helped walk me to the front door and then said that she would stay outside until I got to my own home, which I was thankful for."

• The neighbor's assistance helps resolve the situation, though the narrator continues to feel embarrassed.

• The narrator reflects on the incident and its impact on their life.
• They recognize the need for personal change and take steps to improve their situation.
• Moving out and focusing on school leads to positive changes.

"I never told anybody, but I knew that I needed to take a better look at myself. I moved out and things started turning around for me at school and overall, really."

• The narrator acknowledges the need for self-improvement and takes action to better their life.

"But I still think back on that little girl and feel terrible for scaring her the way I did."

• The incident leaves a lasting impression, prompting ongoing reflection and a sense of guilt.

• The narrator shares their experience working at a theme park during high school.
• They describe the job's simplicity, perks, and the types of people they encountered.
• The story sets up for a specific incident on the Ruby Dragon ride.

"I used to work at a theme park during high school, and it was an easy job compared to what I do now. Of course, the pay was terrible, but we would get free passes and free food most days, so we had a good time."

• The narrator reminisces about the simplicity and perks of their theme park job.

"The ride I was at had two operators and a supervisor. It was called the Ruby Dragon ride, and it was one of the bigger coasters that we had."

• Introduction to the Ruby Dragon ride, setting the stage for the upcoming story.

• Importance of pre-check procedures before starting a ride.
• Visual checks for seat belts, selfie sticks, loose hats, and arms sticking out.
• Ensuring the ride is clear to start by pressing a button.

"There was a pre-check button where you would make a visual check to ensure that every seat belt was engaged on both the monitors and the actual train cart."

• Explanation: This quote highlights the initial step in the pre-check procedure, ensuring all safety measures are in place.

• Operators' experiences during late-night shifts.
• Encounter with a young boy in the line area when the park was nearly empty.
• Initial disbelief and subsequent realization of the sighting.

"I found it so strange to see a young boy, about nine years old, going through the line dividers, not under or over them, but through them."

• Explanation: This quote describes the unusual sighting of a boy, indicating something out of the ordinary during the night shift.

• Introduction of Vicki, a new employee, and her adherence to rules.
• Vicki's sighting of the same young boy, leading to a shared experience.
• Spread of the story among employees, leading to the legend of the ghost boy.

"She had also seen the little boy. She described him just like I had, with blue pants, white shirt, and black hair."

• Explanation: This quote confirms that Vicki saw the same boy, adding credibility to the initial sighting and spreading the story among employees.

• Older employees sharing their encounters with the ghost boy.
• The story of "grandma," an attendant who interacted with the boy ten years earlier.
• The boy's name was Billy, and he had vanished after being taken to the office.

"Supervisors, especially the older ones, started telling us about how many encounters they've had with that boy."

• Explanation: This quote shows that the ghost boy's sightings were not isolated incidents, but a part of a larger legend among park employees.

• Speculation that the ghost boy was a child who died in an accident on a ride called Final Splash.
• The accident led to the closure of Final Splash and the construction of the Ruby Dragon ride.

"Nobody knows who he was exactly, since the park was known to keep some of the accident reports hidden."

• Explanation: This quote suggests that the boy's identity and the details of the accident were not fully disclosed, adding to the mystery.

• The podcast is written and produced by Edwin Colarruias.
• Encouragement to check out another story called "The Beep."

"Scary Story podcast is written and produced by me, Edwin Colarruias. Up next, check out another one of these stories that quickly became a favorite. It's called the Beep."

• Explanation: This quote provides information about the podcast creator and promotes another story in the series.

• Advertisement for Fabuloso cleaning products featuring classic telenovela tropes.
• Promotion of Fabuloso's two times concentrated formula.

"Fabuloso's two times concentrated formula provides two times more active ingredients versus non-concentrated Fabuloso. Original used as directed."

• Explanation: This quote is part of an advertisement and is not included in the study notes.