FINAL ACT

We have come to the Final Act of Spooked. But don’t worry: we still want to believe. And we will be back.

S1E13 Stories: 

"Cowboy Ghost" - Valerie is lost in a snowstorm in rural Montana. She thinks she might not be able to get out, when she sees two headlights coming to her through the storm. Help is on the way - she hopes. Valerie’s story comes to us from the book Trucker Ghost Stories, edited by Annie Wilder.

"Flesh-Eating Bacteria" - An apprentice mortician spends his first night alone with a body and finds out how the dead can possess the living. A true story by the writer and performer Kyle Bowen. Kyle Bowen is a real life graduate of the San Francisco college of Mortuary Science, and has worked as a mortician for over 15 years. He now writes and performs in Chico, CA.

"Big Al" - Before he went to medical school, Don Clark worked with developmentally-delayed patients in a group home in Philly. That job opened his eyes, and challenged everything he believed about life, and death.

LOST

They are alone, wandering, calling out for something, someone, some place that used to be here.

S1E12 Stories: 

"Cat Scratch Fever" - A family moves to a new apartment, only to discover that they’re not the only ones living there.

"Invisible Children" - What happens when you spend your life savings on a dream house, and find out someone else’s family already lives there? Explore the full story in Kathleen Mcconnell’s book, Don’t Call Them Ghosts.

"Pastor’s Oil" - Glynn’s friend Jenny is sick. Up in her room, she’s shaking like there’s something inside of her. And Glynn is about to find out what.

KNOCK KNOCK

Whatever you do, don’t answer the knocking at the door.

S1E11 Stories:

"Clown Zombie" – When a carnival in Mexico turns dark, young Oscar Mendoza finds out why he should not have laughed at the clowns.

This story first appeared on the podcast Real Ghost Stories Online. Check them out at RealGhostStoriesOnline.com.

"Polaroid Phantom" – We’ve got a ghost story with photographic evidence. See the pics for yourself: SeeingThingstheBook.com; more pics here.

THE SUMMONING

It's a forgotten name whispered under your breath, an accident, that you can not take back… the summoning.

S1E10 Stories:

"Spirit on the Board" – A group of kids conjure a spirit while using a Ouija board. They can’t tell if he’s good or evil. This story comes to us from Andrea C.K., a Snap listener.

"The Seance" – When friends get together for a little fun, things get real, fast. To hear the original full-length version that first appeared on KCRW’s UnFictional, check out their webpage.

"Dollhouse" – Ali came home one night after foot surgery and was shocked. Her grandmother was waiting in the living room with a gift – a dollhouse. Check out Ali Standish’s website, Facebook, and Twitter.

UNHOLY WATER

Ever feel like there is something in the water? Something sinister, something dark, something more powerful than you?

S1E9 STORIES:

"Devil’s Water" – Attempting to dig the family well in rural Michigan, Glynn's family comes up dry – until Daddy cuts a deal with the Devil.

"Hot Water" – What’s really out there, waiting for you in the dark? Three college girls went camping in New Mexico to relax. What they found will terrify you.

The Black Rose

It grows in the light of the moon and never dies.

S1E8 Stories:

"Great Aunt Rose" – When Christina McKenna’s cruel aunt comes back from the grave to make amends--she’s not sure if she can forgive. Read more about Christina’s childhood in Ireland in her book, My Mother Wore A Yellow Dress.

"Unicorn Prince" – Every year, Maria's aunt bought her a doll for her doll collection. But this year, the doll is unlike any Maria has ever seen. This story comes to you from our Spooked listener Maria Serratore-Gunter.

A friend in the forest

On the edge of Ireland in the deep forest, a young boy makes a new friend that no one in town has seen for years.

S1E7 Stories:

"A Boy Named Thomas" – Shane Dunphy spent years working with kids as a social worker. He’d seen it all until he met a little boy named Gregory.

For more, get Shane Dunphy’s book The Boy They Tried to Hide.

THE SHADOW MEN

We’re asking you not to blink, not to look away – but to come face to face with the shadow man.

S1E6 Stories:

"The Cage" – A woman buys a medieval jail… and tries to make it her home.

Read more in Vanessa Mitchell’s book, Spirits of the Cage: True Accounts of Living in a Haunted Medieval Prison, co-written with Richard Estep. Vanessa’s also written a second book, in her own words. Secrets of the Cage, which delves deeper into the history of the prison, comes out soon.

The Cage Medieval Prison is still up for sale. For direct inquiries, contact Vanessa.

Find out more about Vanessa Mitchell and The Cage on Twitter and Facebook.

"Phantom Border Agent" – When Rocky Elmore became a Border Patrol Agent along the US-Mexico border, he knew it would be a scary job… just not this scary.

For more stories be sure to check out Rocky’s book, Out On Foot: Nightly Patrols and Ghostly Tales of A U.S. Border Patrol Agent,  and his website.

POSSESSION

If an entire village can become possessed, are you next?

S1E5 Stories:

"Indonesian Ghost Show" - When a TV crew shows up to film a ghost show their disrespect angers the gods.

Special thanks to Haryo Bhama, who was a producer on the popular Indonesian reality show, Masih Dunia Lain. Thanks, too, to Arzia Tivany Wargadiredja, who wrote an article for Vice about the show.

"Daikon" - Susan's dog Daikon kept giving signs that an intruder was haunting her old Victorian in New Orleans. Then one night in October, the intruder crossed the line.

THE CURSE

How do you know you’re cursed? And if you find out that you are… how do you remove the spell?

S1E4 Story:

"La Bruja" - How do you remove a family curse? You have to call in la Bruja.

Nestor Gomez is a storyteller based in Chicago. You can find him on Twitter @soloyochapin and at his website.

BORDERLANDS

There are some places where different worlds overlap. Welcome to the Borderlands.

S1E3 Stories:

"Border Boogeyman" - Back in the 90s, Rocky Elmore worked as a border patrol agent, just East of San Diego. He did night patrol—and out there, in the pitch black, he was never sure if he was completely alone. 

Be sure to check out Rocky’s book, Out on Foot: Nightly Patrols and Ghostly Tales of A U.S. Border Patrol Agent.

"The Seer" - The trouble began in Sri Lanka, when Chandra’s aunt woke up one day and couldn’t move her arms or legs. The doctors had no answers, but a mysterious priest led the family on a quest to find the truth beyond medical science.

THE WATCHER

There are times when you are supposedly all alone. And then you see her, him or it out of the corner of your eye… watching.

S1E1 Stories:

"Houdini’s Promise" - Can a pact between two brothers survive death?

"The Night Mother" - It’s the middle of the night. You’re not even 15, and you’re home alone with your little brother. You’re waiting for your mom to come home. What would happen if she didn’t make it?

Janet Larkin actually had several more encounters with the supernatural. Check out her book Surrounded By Ghosts.

"Voice In The Woods" - When the voice says "Stop" you stay perfectly still. And when the voice says "Run!" you had better run.