The moon hung low over the sleepy town of RidgeWater Creek, its faint glow barely penetrating the dense forest on the outskirts. As I stepped out of my car, my boots crunched against the gravel road, carrying me toward the cordoned-off crime scene. The red and blue strobes of police […]
I’m a Cop, and My Town Is Dying in Ways No Autopsy Can Explain Read More »
I sleep with my window closed now. Not out of habit, out of fear. There are monsters in the world, real ones. Serial killers, rapists, the kinds of things we can name and lock up. But the supernatural? That’s different. It’s older. Quieter. Easier to keep secret. It hides in
I Sleep With My Window Closed Now Read More »
After it all happened, I could never explain just what about the little wooden jewelry box had caught my eye. It was simple and unornamented. When questioned about what was inside it, Maggie, the antique shop’s keeper, hesitated before speaking. “That’s a collection of old silver, mostly jewelry and coins.”
All the riches in the world Read More »
The following are a collection of journals and reports pertaining to a series of strange and tragic occurrences befalling the Carter Archaeology Institute. Journal of Arnold Higgins, Archaeologist: July 7th, 2025 Today is a major day for our beloved Institute. We recently translated an ancient journal of an Egyptian royal
The Black Sarcophagus Read More »
On a night of fun, full of laughter and colorful lights, Aaron and his girlfriend, Anna, walk through all the displays at the circus. Their best friend, Brandon, was tagging along and being the comedian of the trio. The autumn air carries the scent of caramel apples and cotton candy,
Creatures From The Tree Line Read More »
My stomach rumbled as we approached the edge of the woods. It was nearly midday, but I hadn’t eaten in hours. Supply troubles and nerves had left me with little food and next to no appetite. A combination that was less than ideal heading into my first taste of combat.
The Arm of Antietam Read More »
1 – The Train I can’t say why I was chosen to ride the shadowlands express. Why me, and not the countless others who have sinned during their mortal lives? Perhaps all will be forced to face their demons in the end – I can’t say for sure. But clearly
The Shadowlands Express Read More »
When Jacob Housley turned up dead, it didn’t take long for me to hear about it. Just about everyone knew everyone, back in the old town, and I was more than familiar with the Housleys. Well, I used to be, anyway. Jacob was one of my fathers closest friends–almost an
Read part one here This is Inspector Arthur Knight and the truth is I do not know why I am writing this. Perhaps it is the long trained need to document everything, perhaps it is for some greater reason. All I know is I know I need to get this
“Jesus Christ!!!!” Penny coughed as the dust swirled up around her feet. She looked around the attic, wondering who would keep all this stuff lying around. Just within her field of view, she could see old boots, a mannequin in a faded black dress, and an old chest with several
What was lost in the fire Read More »
I used to draw spirals in the margins of my notebooks when I was a kid. I don’t know why. They made me feel calm, like if I just kept the line turning, nothing bad could happen. Sometimes I’d go through an entire page without lifting my pen just loops
I remember my grade 11 English teacher once said that death was the greatest mystery of life. We don’t know what exists on the other side of the curtain of life but we have spent eternities trying to figure it out. For me it was never much of a mystery.
I should’ve died. I was driving back from a friend’s house; admittedly, it was far too late, and I was far drunker than I should’ve been. But with the ride home at just under 20 minutes and the expectation of an open road at 3 AM, I figured it was
I Saw God. He’s Nothing Like We Expect Read More »
The envelope was thick, cream-colored, and addressed to me in elegant, unfamiliar script. It arrived on a day like any other – a Tuesday, rain slicking the windows of our tiny apartment, the air inside smelling faintly of stale cooking and damp laundry. Lily was colouring at the chipped Formica
Her Horrific Inheritance Read More »
Authors Note: This story serves as the final chapter of the Northridge saga including: Village in the Shadows, Return to Northridge, The Awoken Dead and Traveler in the Dark. While I feel this story functions as a stand alone story, to get the full experience I do recommend reading the
Only in the spiraling depths of the infinite shades of black behind my eyelids do I ever feel at peace. The near constant pressure behind my eyes fades, and the constant weight that bears down on my shoulders eases. And it is here, in the garage of the old asylum,
My favourite teacher at high school was Graham Milner. He was my Head of Year throughout the five years I was there and taught me for Religious Education in Year 9. At that point, I had little interest in RE or any of the humanities subjects and had in fact
Mr. Milner’s Ghost Story Read More »
Monday:This was supposed to be my one day off. But, when you have a skeleton crew and someone doesn’t show up, you get called to come in. Not by the manager or a coworker, you sort of just… know. I can’t explain it- like a lot of things around here.
My family has an odd history of tragedy—at least, that’s what my grandma would always say.“It comes in waves; it comes when it wants to,” she would ominously say, but we all knew she was superstitious and generally odd. According to my mom, who has a much-strained relationship with her,
It screams when it doesn’t whisper Read More »
My name is Brother Arthro but I am told that I no longer need to use that name if I wish. I am to understand that my childhood has been anything but ordinary; however in this strange world of colored lights and deafening noise I no longer know what is
Children Of The Sacred Gate Read More »
“My dear, are you awake?” Nikki Chambers had fallen asleep on her best friend’s tombstone when she heard those strange words from a woman with an airy, almost velvety voice. She lifted her head from the granite to see the woman’s low vamp, tawny slippers, and flowing green skirt. She
Follow the Green Lady Read More »
I woke up sweaty and in a daze. Most nights this is normal for me but not tonight. Something about my bedroom was odd, something wasn’t right. I felt around next to me and grabbed my phone and checked the time – it’s midnight. Seven more hours of sleep before
The Front Porch Light Read More »
Colt was only thirteen years old when he rowed as fast as he could away from Benji and Caleb, the most menacing boys in Troop 0172. It was the dead of night and only the faint orange moonlight lit the narrow path for Colt’s tiny canoe, which was starting to
I remember the day I found it as if it were yesterday. The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the flea market on the outskirts of our quaint little town. It was the kind of day where everything seemed still, the heat lingering, pressing
The Blood Moon Rising Read More »
