August 31, 2024 • 22 mins
The Haunting of Hollow House," the Winters family moves into a suspiciously affordable Victorian mansion, hoping for a fresh start. Instead, they find themselves trapped in a nightmare as the house's dark history and ghostly inhabitants threaten to claim them forever. Sarah Winters must fight to save her family from the malevolent forces that lurk within the walls of Hollow House. This chilling tale explores the horrors that can lurk behind the facade of a dream home and the lengths a mother will go to protect her children from both supernatural and psychological terror.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome, dear listeners to a tale that will send shivers
down your spine and keep you up long into the night.
Prepare yourselves for echoes of fear, The Haunting of Hollow House,
a chilling journey into the heart of a home where
the walls whisper secrets, and the past refuses to stay buried.
(00:21):
As you settle in, perhaps with a warm blanket and
a cup of something comforting, remember, in this story, home
is where the haunt is. So lock your doors, check
under your bed, and join the Winter's family as they
discover that some dreams of a new beginning can quickly
become nightmares. Are you ready, then let's begin our descent
(00:43):
into the shadows of Hollow House. The old Victorian mansion
loomed before them, its weathered facade a stark silhouette against
the fading light of dusk. Sarah Winter suppressed a shiver
as she gazed up at the imposing structure, her hand
instinctively tight around her husband Mark's arm. Their two children, Emily,
(01:04):
aged ten and Tommy, seven, stood wide eyed beside them,
their excitement palpable in the crisp autumn air. Well, here
we are, Mark said his voice, tinged with forced enthusiasm.
Our new home, Sarah nodded, trying to muster a smile.
The house had seemed like such a bargain, a sprawling
(01:24):
historic property at a fraction of what they'd expected to pay,
but now standing before its towering spires and shadowy windows,
she couldn't shake the feeling that they were making a
terrible mistake. As if sensing her unease, Mark gave her
hand a reassuring squeeze. It just needs a little t LC,
(01:47):
that's all. We'll have this place shining in no time.
Sarah wanted to believe him. They had poured their life
savings into this move, Desperate for a fresh start after
Mark's company downsized and they were forced to leave the city.
Hollow House, as it was known locally, represented a chance
(02:08):
to rebuild their lives in a quiet, rural setting. Can
we go inside now, Emily asked, practically bouncing with anticipation. Yeah,
I want to pick my room. Tommy chimed in. Mark chuckled,
fishing the ancient iron key from his pocket. All right,
all right, let's go explore our newcastle. As they approached
(02:31):
the front door, Sarah couldn't shake the sensation of being watched.
She glanced up at the second story windows, half expecting
to see a face peering down at them, but there
was nothing, just dusty glass reflecting the dying light of day.
The key turned with a reluctant groan, and the massive
oak door swung inward on protesting hinges. A gust of
(02:54):
stale air rushed out to greet them, carrying with it
the musty scent of a neglect. Wow, Emily breathed, stepping
into the cavernous foyer. It's huge. Sarah had to admit.
The interior was impressive, despite years of abandonment. Hints of
the house's former grandeur remained. Ornate moldings adorned the high ceilings,
(03:20):
and a sweeping staircase curved gracefully up to the second floor.
But shadows clung to every corner, and the fading wallpaper
was peeling in long, mournful strips. Nothing a good cleaning
won't fix, Mark said, his optimism seemingly unshakable. Why don't
you kids go pick out your rooms while your mom
and I bring in some of the boxes. With excited whoops,
(03:44):
Emily and Tommy raced up the stairs, their footsteps echoing
through the empty house. Sarah watched them go, a nod
of anxiety forming in her stomach. Mark, She said softly,
are you sure about this? He turned to her, his
expression softening. Hey, I know it's a bit overwhelming right now,
(04:05):
but think of the potential once we get settled and
fix this place up. It'll be amazing. Trust me. Sarah nodded,
forcing a smile. She did trust Mark. It was the
house she wasn't so sure about. As they unloaded the
moving truck, Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
(04:26):
More than once she caught movement out of the corner
of her eye, only to turn and find nothing there.
And the silence it was oppressive, seeming to swallow up
every sound they made. By the time night fell, they
had managed to set up beds in the master bedroom
and the kid's rooms. Exhausted from the move, the family
(04:48):
gathered in the kitchen, eating pizza off paper plates by
the light of a camping lantern. So what do you
think of your rooms, Sarah asked, trying to inject some
normalcy into the strange setting. Mine's awesome, Tommy exclaimed, through
a mouthful of cheese. It's got this cool secret closet
(05:09):
behind the bookshelf. Sarah exchanged a glance with Mark, A
secret closet. Emily nodded enthusiastically. Yeah, we found it while
we were exploring. There are all sorts of hidden spaces
in this house. It's like it was made for hide
and seek. Just be careful, okay, Sarah cautioned, Some of
(05:30):
those old floor boards might not be stable, as if
on cue a loud creak echoed from somewhere above them.
All four winters froze looking up at the ceiling. Probably
just the house settling, Mark said, after a moment, Old
places like this make all sorts of noises. Sarah nodded,
(05:51):
but she couldn't help noticing how tightly Emily was now
gripping her slice of pizza. That night, as Sarah lay
awake in the unfamiliar bedroom, she listened to the house.
There were the expected sounds, the wind whistling through cracks
in the windows, the occasional groan of ancient timber. But
there were other noises too, ones she couldn't quite place,
(06:15):
whispers that might have been the wind, but sounded unsettlingly
like voices and footsteps, soft padding footsteps that seemed to
pace the hallway outside their door. She was about to
wake Mark when a child's laugh drifted through the darkness.
Sarah sat bolt upright, her heart pounding. That was definitely
(06:37):
Emily's laugh, but with an oddly echoing quality, as if
it were coming from very far away. Sara slipped out
of bed, patting barefoot to the door. The hallway beyond
was pitch black, the shadows so thick she could almost
feel them pressing against her skin. Emily, she called softly Tommy,
(07:02):
no response. Sara fumbled for her phone, using its dim
light to illuminate her way down the hall. Both children's
doors were closed. She opened Emily's first, relief washing over
her as she saw her daughter's sleeping form curled up
under the covers. Puzzled, Sara checked on Tommy as well.
(07:22):
He too was fast asleep, one arm dangling off the
side of the bed. She stood there for a long moment,
listening intently, but the house had fallen silent. Once More,
shaking her head, Sara returned to bed. She was just overtired,
she told herself. The stress of the move was playing
tricks on her mind. Tomorrow, in the light of day,
(07:45):
things would seem less unsettling, but as Sara drifted into
an uneasy sleep, she couldn't shake the feeling that something
in Hollow House was very, very wrong. The next few
days passed in a blur of unpacking and settling in.
Mark threw himself into repair work, patching leaks and replacing
(08:06):
rotted floorboards. Sarah focused on cleaning, trying to banish the
layers of dust and cobwebs that seemed to cling stubbornly
to every surface. The children, for their part, treated the
entire house as one giant playground. They spent hours exploring
every nook and cranny, delighting in each new secret passage
(08:28):
or hidden cubby hole they discovered. Sarah tried to temper
her anxiety, reminding herself that kids their age thrived on
this sort of adventure, but as the week wore on,
Sara began to notice subtle changes in her family's behavior.
Mark grew increasingly absorbed in his restoration work, often staying
(08:48):
up laid into the night, pouring over old blueprints of
the house he'd found in the attic. When Sarah expressed
concern about his obsession, he brushed it off, insisting that
he was just excited about the project, Emily, usually so
bubbly and talkative, grew quieter, spending long hours alone in
(09:09):
her room. When Sara asked what she was doing, Emily
would just shrug and mutter something about playing with her
new friends. Sarah assumed she meant imaginary friends, a coping
mechanism for the stress of the move, but something about
the way Emily said it sent a chill down her spine. Tommy,
(09:30):
on the other hand, became more agitated. He complained of
bad dreams and strange noises in his room at night.
Sarah did her best to comfort him, but she couldn't
deny the growing sense of unease. That are you ready,
then let's begin our descent into the shadows of hollow
House for a bit. I've got some work to do
(09:51):
in the basement. Sara nodded, deciding that some fresh air
and normalcy was exactly what they all needed. But as
she ushered the children out to the car an hour later,
she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.
She glanced back at the house, her gaze drawn to
an upper window. For just a moment, she could have
(10:13):
sworn she saw a pale face peering down at them,
but she blinked and it was gone. The trip into
town did little to ease Sarah's growing sense of unease.
As they walked down the quaint main street, she noticed
the strange looks they were getting from the locals. When
she smiled at an older woman outside the grocery store,
(10:34):
the woman quickly averted her gaze, making the sign of
the cross. Finally, Sarah's curiosity got the better of her.
She approached a kindly looking man tending to a display
outside the hardware store. Excuse me, she said. We've just
moved into the old mansion on Hollow Hill. I was
(10:56):
wondering if you could tell me anything about its history.
The man's friendly expression faltered. You mean hollow House. Folks
around here don't talk much about that place. Why not,
Sarah pressed. The man glanced around as if making sure
no one was listening. There's been a dark cloud over
(11:17):
that house for nigh on a century, he said, in
a low voice. Started with the Crawfords back in the
nineteen twenties. Whole family died there under mysterious circumstances. Since then,
no one's been able to live in that house for
more than a few months, always end up leaving in
a hurry. If they leave it all, Sarah felt her
(11:38):
mouth go dry. What do you mean if they leave
it all? The man shook his head. I've said too
much already. Just be careful up there, and if you
start seeing or hearing things that ain't right, don't ignore them.
That's usually when it's too late. With that ominous warning
ringing in her ears, Sarah gathered the children and headed home.
(12:02):
As they drove up the winding road to Hollow House,
she found herself studying it with new eyes. In the
bright afternoon sun. It looked almost beautiful, a grand old
dame fallen on hard times. But there was something else too,
a sense of watchfulness, of patient malevolence. They found Mark
(12:24):
in the study, surrounded by stacks of old newspapers and
town records. He barely looked up as they entered, engrossed
in whatever he was reading. Mark Sarah said tentatively, can
we talk? He grunted non committally, still not meeting her eyes.
Sarah took a deep breath. I think I think there
(12:46):
might be something wrong with this house. That got his attention.
Mark's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with an intensity
that made Sarah take a step back. There's nothing wrong
with the house, he said, his voice low and dangerous.
This house is perfect, It's ours, and we're never leaving.
(13:09):
Sarah stared at her husband, shocked by the vehemence in
his voice. This wasn't like Mark at all. It was
as if something had taken hold of him, twisting his
usual easy going nature into something dark and possessive. Mark, Please,
she said, fighting to keep her voice calm. I'm worried
about the kids, about you. I think we need to
(13:32):
consider no, Mark roared, slamming his fist down on the desk.
The sound echoed through the house like a gunshot. We
are not leaving. End of discussion. Upstairs, Tommy began to cry.
Sarah backed out of the study, her heart pounding. As
she turned to go comfort her son, she caught a
(13:52):
glimpse of Emily standing at the end of the hall.
The little girl was smiling, but there was something off
about it, a vacant, glassy eyed expression that sent chills
down Sarah's spine. It's okay, mommy, Emily said, in a
sing song voice. The house loves us, It wants us
to stay forever. That night, as a storm raged outside,
(14:14):
Sarah lay awake, listening to the sounds of the house.
The wind howled through the eaves and rain lashed against
the windows. But beneath those natural noises there were others.
Whispers in the walls, the soft patter of phantom footsteps,
and occasionally, horrifyingly, the sound of children laughing. She turned
(14:37):
to wake Mark, only to find his side of the
bed empty. Panic rising in her throat, Sarah got up,
wrapping herself in a row before venturing out into the
darkened hallway. Mark. She called softly, kids, no answer, but
she could have sworn she heard movement from downstairs. Heart pounding,
(14:58):
Sarah made her way down the grand stairs case, following
the sound to the living room. What she saw there
stopped her dead in her tracks. Mark stood in the
center of the room, staring at the far wall. But
it wasn't the blank wall, Sarah remembered. It was now
covered in a massive oil painting. In the flickering candlelight,
Sarah could make out the figures of a family, a
(15:20):
stern faced man, a sad eyed woman, and two children
with unnervingly blank expressions. Isn't it beautiful? Mark said? Not
turning around the Crawfords. The house showed me where it
was hidden. Sarah felt her blood run cold. Mark, what
are you talking about? That painting wasn't there this morning?
(15:41):
He turned to her then, and Sarah had to stifle
a scream. Mark's eyes were completely black, like empty sockets
in his face. When he smiled, his teeth seemed too sharp,
too numerous. The house has chosen us, Sarah, he said,
his voice a rasping parody of her husband's. We're going
(16:02):
to be a family forever. From upstairs came the sound
of children laughing, Emily and Tommy, but with an echoing,
unnatural quality that made Sarah's skin crawl. In that moment,
Sarah knew with bone deep certainty that if she didn't
get her children out of Hollow House right now, she
never would. She turned and ran, taking the stairs too
(16:26):
at a time. Emily, Tommy, she screamed, Oh, we have
to go now. Sarah burst into Tommy's room first, finding
it empty. Panic rising, she rushed to Emily's room, flinging
open the door. Both children stood there, hand in hand,
staring at her with blank expressions. Come on, we have
to leave, Sarah cried, reaching for them, but Emily shook
(16:49):
her head slowly. We can't leave, Mommy. The house won't
let us, As if in response, a violent tremor shook
the entire building. Pictures crashed from the walls, and Sarah
heard the splintering of wood as furniture toppled down stairs. Please,
Sarah begged, tears streaming down her face. Please, we have
(17:10):
to go for a moment. She saw a flicker of
recognition in Tommy's eyes. Mommy, he whimpered, his small hand
reaching out. Sarah snatched him up, then grabbed Emily's wrist.
We're leaving now. She half dragged, half carried them down
the stairs, trying to ignore the way the house seemed
to groan and shift around them. The front door loomed ahead,
(17:34):
their last hope of escape. But Mark stood there, his
form flickering like a bad TV signal, between her husband
and something else, something with two long limbs and a
face that was all sharp angles and shadows. You can't
leave us, he growled, his voice, overlapping with others, men, women, children,
(17:56):
all speaking as one. The house needs you, We need you.
Sarah felt a surge of determination. This thing wasn't her husband,
it had taken him, taken her children, and she would
be damned if she let it win. We don't belong
to you, she snarled. Then, summoning all her strength, she
(18:17):
charged forward. The thing wearing Mark's face reached for them,
its fingers elongating into curved talons, But at the last second,
Sarah fainted left, then ducked right. She felt those claws
graze her back as she barreled past, slamming her shoulder
into the front door. For one heart stopping moment, the
(18:40):
door held fast, then with a sound like a scream,
it burst open. Sarah stumbled out into the storm last night,
her children clutched tightly to her. Behind them, hollow house wailed,
its fury, windows shattered, shingles tore from the roof, and
the very foundation seemed to heave sarahr her bare feet
(19:01):
slipping in the mud. Not daring to look back, they
made it to the car, Sarah fumbling with shaking hands
to unlock it. As she strapped the eerily quiet children
into the back seat. She finally chanced a glance at
the house. It was transforming. The once stately mansion now
(19:22):
twisted and writhed. Its architecture becoming something alien and wrong,
and in every window, faces pressed against the glass, generations
of trapped souls, their eyes filled with a terrible hunger.
Sarah threw herself into the driver's seat, jamming the key
into the ignition. The engine roared to life, and she
(19:45):
floored the accelerator, tires spinning in the mud before finally
finding purchase. As they sped down the winding driveway, Sarah
saw Mark in the rear view mirror. He stood in
the doorway, his form orm no longer even pretending to
be human. He raised a misshapen hand as if in farewell.
(20:07):
Then Hollow House and all its ghosts vanished into the
storm shrouded night. Epilogue. Three months later, Sara sat in
a small apartment in a new city, watching as Emily
and Tommy played together. They were laughing, real laughter, not
the hollow echo she'd heard in that cursed house. The
(20:31):
recovery hadn't been easy. For weeks after their escape, the
children had been like shells, barely speaking or showing emotion.
But slowly, with love and patience and more than a
little therapy, they had come back to her. There was
no sign of Mark. Sarah had filed a missing person's report,
but deep down she knew they would never find him.
(20:55):
He was part of hollow House, now, another soul added
to its twist collection. As she sipped her coffee, Sara's
gaze fell on the local newspaper. There in small print
was an ad she had dreaded, seeing historic Victorian mansion
for sale, perfect for a growing family inquire about hollow
(21:17):
House to day. Sarah closed her eyes, saying a silent
prayer for whatever unsuspecting family might be tempted by that
siren call. Then she turned back to her children, determined
to fill their lives with so much love and light
that the shadows of Hollow House would never touch them again.
(21:39):
But sometimes, in the dead of night, she still heard
echoes of that other worldly laughter, and she knew that
somewhere in a house that was more than a house,
the ghosts were waiting, waiting for the next family to
make Hollow House their home. The end. Thank you for listening.
(22:02):
We hope you enjoyed this spine chilling tale. If you're
hungry for more terrifying stories, please don't forget to subscribe
to our channel. This haunting experience was brought to you
by Quiet Please podcast networks where silence speaks volumes until
next time. Sleep tight, and don't let the ghost bite
Welcome, dear listeners to a tale that will send shivers
down your spine and keep you up long into the night.
Prepare yourselves for echoes of fear, The Haunting of Hollow House,
a chilling journey into the heart of a home where
the walls whisper secrets, and the past refuses to stay buried.
(00:21):
As you settle in, perhaps with a warm blanket and
a cup of something comforting, remember, in this story, home
is where the haunt is. So lock your doors, check
under your bed, and join the Winter's family as they
discover that some dreams of a new beginning can quickly
become nightmares. Are you ready, then let's begin our descent
(00:43):
into the shadows of Hollow House. The old Victorian mansion
loomed before them, its weathered facade a stark silhouette against
the fading light of dusk. Sarah Winter suppressed a shiver
as she gazed up at the imposing structure, her hand
instinctively tight around her husband Mark's arm. Their two children, Emily,
(01:04):
aged ten and Tommy, seven, stood wide eyed beside them,
their excitement palpable in the crisp autumn air. Well, here
we are, Mark said his voice, tinged with forced enthusiasm.
Our new home, Sarah nodded, trying to muster a smile.
The house had seemed like such a bargain, a sprawling
(01:24):
historic property at a fraction of what they'd expected to pay,
but now standing before its towering spires and shadowy windows,
she couldn't shake the feeling that they were making a
terrible mistake. As if sensing her unease, Mark gave her
hand a reassuring squeeze. It just needs a little t LC,
(01:47):
that's all. We'll have this place shining in no time.
Sarah wanted to believe him. They had poured their life
savings into this move, Desperate for a fresh start after
Mark's company downsized and they were forced to leave the city.
Hollow House, as it was known locally, represented a chance
(02:08):
to rebuild their lives in a quiet, rural setting. Can
we go inside now, Emily asked, practically bouncing with anticipation. Yeah,
I want to pick my room. Tommy chimed in. Mark chuckled,
fishing the ancient iron key from his pocket. All right,
all right, let's go explore our newcastle. As they approached
(02:31):
the front door, Sarah couldn't shake the sensation of being watched.
She glanced up at the second story windows, half expecting
to see a face peering down at them, but there
was nothing, just dusty glass reflecting the dying light of day.
The key turned with a reluctant groan, and the massive
oak door swung inward on protesting hinges. A gust of
(02:54):
stale air rushed out to greet them, carrying with it
the musty scent of a neglect. Wow, Emily breathed, stepping
into the cavernous foyer. It's huge. Sarah had to admit.
The interior was impressive, despite years of abandonment. Hints of
the house's former grandeur remained. Ornate moldings adorned the high ceilings,
(03:20):
and a sweeping staircase curved gracefully up to the second floor.
But shadows clung to every corner, and the fading wallpaper
was peeling in long, mournful strips. Nothing a good cleaning
won't fix, Mark said, his optimism seemingly unshakable. Why don't
you kids go pick out your rooms while your mom
and I bring in some of the boxes. With excited whoops,
(03:44):
Emily and Tommy raced up the stairs, their footsteps echoing
through the empty house. Sarah watched them go, a nod
of anxiety forming in her stomach. Mark, She said softly,
are you sure about this? He turned to her, his
expression softening. Hey, I know it's a bit overwhelming right now,
(04:05):
but think of the potential once we get settled and
fix this place up. It'll be amazing. Trust me. Sarah nodded,
forcing a smile. She did trust Mark. It was the
house she wasn't so sure about. As they unloaded the
moving truck, Sarah couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
(04:26):
More than once she caught movement out of the corner
of her eye, only to turn and find nothing there.
And the silence it was oppressive, seeming to swallow up
every sound they made. By the time night fell, they
had managed to set up beds in the master bedroom
and the kid's rooms. Exhausted from the move, the family
(04:48):
gathered in the kitchen, eating pizza off paper plates by
the light of a camping lantern. So what do you
think of your rooms, Sarah asked, trying to inject some
normalcy into the strange setting. Mine's awesome, Tommy exclaimed, through
a mouthful of cheese. It's got this cool secret closet
(05:09):
behind the bookshelf. Sarah exchanged a glance with Mark, A
secret closet. Emily nodded enthusiastically. Yeah, we found it while
we were exploring. There are all sorts of hidden spaces
in this house. It's like it was made for hide
and seek. Just be careful, okay, Sarah cautioned, Some of
(05:30):
those old floor boards might not be stable, as if
on cue a loud creak echoed from somewhere above them.
All four winters froze looking up at the ceiling. Probably
just the house settling, Mark said, after a moment, Old
places like this make all sorts of noises. Sarah nodded,
(05:51):
but she couldn't help noticing how tightly Emily was now
gripping her slice of pizza. That night, as Sarah lay
awake in the unfamiliar bedroom, she listened to the house.
There were the expected sounds, the wind whistling through cracks
in the windows, the occasional groan of ancient timber. But
there were other noises too, ones she couldn't quite place,
(06:15):
whispers that might have been the wind, but sounded unsettlingly
like voices and footsteps, soft padding footsteps that seemed to
pace the hallway outside their door. She was about to
wake Mark when a child's laugh drifted through the darkness.
Sarah sat bolt upright, her heart pounding. That was definitely
(06:37):
Emily's laugh, but with an oddly echoing quality, as if
it were coming from very far away. Sara slipped out
of bed, patting barefoot to the door. The hallway beyond
was pitch black, the shadows so thick she could almost
feel them pressing against her skin. Emily, she called softly Tommy,
(07:02):
no response. Sara fumbled for her phone, using its dim
light to illuminate her way down the hall. Both children's
doors were closed. She opened Emily's first, relief washing over
her as she saw her daughter's sleeping form curled up
under the covers. Puzzled, Sara checked on Tommy as well.
(07:22):
He too was fast asleep, one arm dangling off the
side of the bed. She stood there for a long moment,
listening intently, but the house had fallen silent. Once More,
shaking her head, Sara returned to bed. She was just overtired,
she told herself. The stress of the move was playing
tricks on her mind. Tomorrow, in the light of day,
(07:45):
things would seem less unsettling, but as Sara drifted into
an uneasy sleep, she couldn't shake the feeling that something
in Hollow House was very, very wrong. The next few
days passed in a blur of unpacking and settling in.
Mark threw himself into repair work, patching leaks and replacing
(08:06):
rotted floorboards. Sarah focused on cleaning, trying to banish the
layers of dust and cobwebs that seemed to cling stubbornly
to every surface. The children, for their part, treated the
entire house as one giant playground. They spent hours exploring
every nook and cranny, delighting in each new secret passage
(08:28):
or hidden cubby hole they discovered. Sarah tried to temper
her anxiety, reminding herself that kids their age thrived on
this sort of adventure, but as the week wore on,
Sara began to notice subtle changes in her family's behavior.
Mark grew increasingly absorbed in his restoration work, often staying
(08:48):
up laid into the night, pouring over old blueprints of
the house he'd found in the attic. When Sarah expressed
concern about his obsession, he brushed it off, insisting that
he was just excited about the project, Emily, usually so
bubbly and talkative, grew quieter, spending long hours alone in
(09:09):
her room. When Sara asked what she was doing, Emily
would just shrug and mutter something about playing with her
new friends. Sarah assumed she meant imaginary friends, a coping
mechanism for the stress of the move, but something about
the way Emily said it sent a chill down her spine. Tommy,
(09:30):
on the other hand, became more agitated. He complained of
bad dreams and strange noises in his room at night.
Sarah did her best to comfort him, but she couldn't
deny the growing sense of unease. That are you ready,
then let's begin our descent into the shadows of hollow
House for a bit. I've got some work to do
(09:51):
in the basement. Sara nodded, deciding that some fresh air
and normalcy was exactly what they all needed. But as
she ushered the children out to the car an hour later,
she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.
She glanced back at the house, her gaze drawn to
an upper window. For just a moment, she could have
(10:13):
sworn she saw a pale face peering down at them,
but she blinked and it was gone. The trip into
town did little to ease Sarah's growing sense of unease.
As they walked down the quaint main street, she noticed
the strange looks they were getting from the locals. When
she smiled at an older woman outside the grocery store,
(10:34):
the woman quickly averted her gaze, making the sign of
the cross. Finally, Sarah's curiosity got the better of her.
She approached a kindly looking man tending to a display
outside the hardware store. Excuse me, she said. We've just
moved into the old mansion on Hollow Hill. I was
(10:56):
wondering if you could tell me anything about its history.
The man's friendly expression faltered. You mean hollow House. Folks
around here don't talk much about that place. Why not,
Sarah pressed. The man glanced around as if making sure
no one was listening. There's been a dark cloud over
(11:17):
that house for nigh on a century, he said, in
a low voice. Started with the Crawfords back in the
nineteen twenties. Whole family died there under mysterious circumstances. Since then,
no one's been able to live in that house for
more than a few months, always end up leaving in
a hurry. If they leave it all, Sarah felt her
(11:38):
mouth go dry. What do you mean if they leave
it all? The man shook his head. I've said too
much already. Just be careful up there, and if you
start seeing or hearing things that ain't right, don't ignore them.
That's usually when it's too late. With that ominous warning
ringing in her ears, Sarah gathered the children and headed home.
(12:02):
As they drove up the winding road to Hollow House,
she found herself studying it with new eyes. In the
bright afternoon sun. It looked almost beautiful, a grand old
dame fallen on hard times. But there was something else too,
a sense of watchfulness, of patient malevolence. They found Mark
(12:24):
in the study, surrounded by stacks of old newspapers and
town records. He barely looked up as they entered, engrossed
in whatever he was reading. Mark Sarah said tentatively, can
we talk? He grunted non committally, still not meeting her eyes.
Sarah took a deep breath. I think I think there
(12:46):
might be something wrong with this house. That got his attention.
Mark's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with an intensity
that made Sarah take a step back. There's nothing wrong
with the house, he said, his voice low and dangerous.
This house is perfect, It's ours, and we're never leaving.
(13:09):
Sarah stared at her husband, shocked by the vehemence in
his voice. This wasn't like Mark at all. It was
as if something had taken hold of him, twisting his
usual easy going nature into something dark and possessive. Mark, Please,
she said, fighting to keep her voice calm. I'm worried
about the kids, about you. I think we need to
(13:32):
consider no, Mark roared, slamming his fist down on the desk.
The sound echoed through the house like a gunshot. We
are not leaving. End of discussion. Upstairs, Tommy began to cry.
Sarah backed out of the study, her heart pounding. As
she turned to go comfort her son, she caught a
(13:52):
glimpse of Emily standing at the end of the hall.
The little girl was smiling, but there was something off
about it, a vacant, glassy eyed expression that sent chills
down Sarah's spine. It's okay, mommy, Emily said, in a
sing song voice. The house loves us, It wants us
to stay forever. That night, as a storm raged outside,
(14:14):
Sarah lay awake, listening to the sounds of the house.
The wind howled through the eaves and rain lashed against
the windows. But beneath those natural noises there were others.
Whispers in the walls, the soft patter of phantom footsteps,
and occasionally, horrifyingly, the sound of children laughing. She turned
(14:37):
to wake Mark, only to find his side of the
bed empty. Panic rising in her throat, Sarah got up,
wrapping herself in a row before venturing out into the
darkened hallway. Mark. She called softly, kids, no answer, but
she could have sworn she heard movement from downstairs. Heart pounding,
(14:58):
Sarah made her way down the grand stairs case, following
the sound to the living room. What she saw there
stopped her dead in her tracks. Mark stood in the
center of the room, staring at the far wall. But
it wasn't the blank wall, Sarah remembered. It was now
covered in a massive oil painting. In the flickering candlelight,
Sarah could make out the figures of a family, a
(15:20):
stern faced man, a sad eyed woman, and two children
with unnervingly blank expressions. Isn't it beautiful? Mark said? Not
turning around the Crawfords. The house showed me where it
was hidden. Sarah felt her blood run cold. Mark, what
are you talking about? That painting wasn't there this morning?
(15:41):
He turned to her then, and Sarah had to stifle
a scream. Mark's eyes were completely black, like empty sockets
in his face. When he smiled, his teeth seemed too sharp,
too numerous. The house has chosen us, Sarah, he said,
his voice a rasping parody of her husband's. We're going
(16:02):
to be a family forever. From upstairs came the sound
of children laughing, Emily and Tommy, but with an echoing,
unnatural quality that made Sarah's skin crawl. In that moment,
Sarah knew with bone deep certainty that if she didn't
get her children out of Hollow House right now, she
never would. She turned and ran, taking the stairs too
(16:26):
at a time. Emily, Tommy, she screamed, Oh, we have
to go now. Sarah burst into Tommy's room first, finding
it empty. Panic rising, she rushed to Emily's room, flinging
open the door. Both children stood there, hand in hand,
staring at her with blank expressions. Come on, we have
to leave, Sarah cried, reaching for them, but Emily shook
(16:49):
her head slowly. We can't leave, Mommy. The house won't
let us, As if in response, a violent tremor shook
the entire building. Pictures crashed from the walls, and Sarah
heard the splintering of wood as furniture toppled down stairs. Please,
Sarah begged, tears streaming down her face. Please, we have
(17:10):
to go for a moment. She saw a flicker of
recognition in Tommy's eyes. Mommy, he whimpered, his small hand
reaching out. Sarah snatched him up, then grabbed Emily's wrist.
We're leaving now. She half dragged, half carried them down
the stairs, trying to ignore the way the house seemed
to groan and shift around them. The front door loomed ahead,
(17:34):
their last hope of escape. But Mark stood there, his
form flickering like a bad TV signal, between her husband
and something else, something with two long limbs and a
face that was all sharp angles and shadows. You can't
leave us, he growled, his voice, overlapping with others, men, women, children,
(17:56):
all speaking as one. The house needs you, We need you.
Sarah felt a surge of determination. This thing wasn't her husband,
it had taken him, taken her children, and she would
be damned if she let it win. We don't belong
to you, she snarled. Then, summoning all her strength, she
(18:17):
charged forward. The thing wearing Mark's face reached for them,
its fingers elongating into curved talons, But at the last second,
Sarah fainted left, then ducked right. She felt those claws
graze her back as she barreled past, slamming her shoulder
into the front door. For one heart stopping moment, the
(18:40):
door held fast, then with a sound like a scream,
it burst open. Sarah stumbled out into the storm last night,
her children clutched tightly to her. Behind them, hollow house wailed,
its fury, windows shattered, shingles tore from the roof, and
the very foundation seemed to heave sarahr her bare feet
(19:01):
slipping in the mud. Not daring to look back, they
made it to the car, Sarah fumbling with shaking hands
to unlock it. As she strapped the eerily quiet children
into the back seat. She finally chanced a glance at
the house. It was transforming. The once stately mansion now
(19:22):
twisted and writhed. Its architecture becoming something alien and wrong,
and in every window, faces pressed against the glass, generations
of trapped souls, their eyes filled with a terrible hunger.
Sarah threw herself into the driver's seat, jamming the key
into the ignition. The engine roared to life, and she
(19:45):
floored the accelerator, tires spinning in the mud before finally
finding purchase. As they sped down the winding driveway, Sarah
saw Mark in the rear view mirror. He stood in
the doorway, his form orm no longer even pretending to
be human. He raised a misshapen hand as if in farewell.
(20:07):
Then Hollow House and all its ghosts vanished into the
storm shrouded night. Epilogue. Three months later, Sara sat in
a small apartment in a new city, watching as Emily
and Tommy played together. They were laughing, real laughter, not
the hollow echo she'd heard in that cursed house. The
(20:31):
recovery hadn't been easy. For weeks after their escape, the
children had been like shells, barely speaking or showing emotion.
But slowly, with love and patience and more than a
little therapy, they had come back to her. There was
no sign of Mark. Sarah had filed a missing person's report,
but deep down she knew they would never find him.
(20:55):
He was part of hollow House, now, another soul added
to its twist collection. As she sipped her coffee, Sara's
gaze fell on the local newspaper. There in small print
was an ad she had dreaded, seeing historic Victorian mansion
for sale, perfect for a growing family inquire about hollow
(21:17):
House to day. Sarah closed her eyes, saying a silent
prayer for whatever unsuspecting family might be tempted by that
siren call. Then she turned back to her children, determined
to fill their lives with so much love and light
that the shadows of Hollow House would never touch them again.
(21:39):
But sometimes, in the dead of night, she still heard
echoes of that other worldly laughter, and she knew that
somewhere in a house that was more than a house,
the ghosts were waiting, waiting for the next family to
make Hollow House their home. The end. Thank you for listening.
(22:02):
We hope you enjoyed this spine chilling tale. If you're
hungry for more terrifying stories, please don't forget to subscribe
to our channel. This haunting experience was brought to you
by Quiet Please podcast networks where silence speaks volumes until
next time. Sleep tight, and don't let the ghost bite
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