mhm I'm Liz Sower and this is ghosts in the burbs, a podcast of ghost stories from Wellesley, Massachusetts, a warning adults who use adult language told me these frightening tales, These ghost stories aren't for kids, the high holy season is in full swing here in Wellesley. The october full moon was so bright that it cast shadows. I just finished reading reprieve by James Hahn Mattson considerate required reading.
I'm gearing up to watch the Lost Boys tonight and I'm listening to the witches of Eastwick soundtrack on my walks all the while, alternately sipping a pumpkin spice latte and chugging moon water. I wish all of you who live in october country year round the Happiest Halloween. This is the second and final part of the estate is the end of this batch of ghost stories for the season.
I intend to put out a couple of listener episodes this week though, they sure do seem to touch a nerve with people I like listening to ghost stories. That's why I started this podcast. I know I'm not great with the whole technical side of this journey, so thank you for putting up with me, I'll be on hiatus again until after the new Year. The holidays in producing this podcast are not a pretty color on me.
A new puppy arrives at our house on the 27th, a baby Westie that I know Artie Walter and Brandi picked out just for us. So I intend to enjoy the hell out of him at the detriment to all else, brace yourselves for a lot of social media photos now, having shared all of that.
In addition to all the fun I've been having this autumn, I've been lighting a lot of sage with pumpkin scented candles and sprinkling black salt at the edges of our property because as it turns out, heather josh and their boys situation was far worse than we ever could have imagined. We're on to the conclusion of ghost story number 62 the estate part two. If you've been listening to these stories for some time now, you know that my family has moved around a lot.
We've had minor renovations done on our homes over the years, but nothing major. Just a wall taken down here, a bathroom reno their new floors, paint, wallpaper, that sort of thing. But we've never taken the plunge and made real structural changes to any of these homes. Our new house is a different story. We're in the process of drawing up plans to add on to it to create some more living space.
And then I had to go talk to heather and josh and I'm second guessing the entire project living in this town and knowing all that I do about how epically strange things are, is enough to make one hit an 11 on the paranoia scale, Hearing and seeing ghosts, notch it up to about a 13. Absolutely devouring hashtag prepper talk content shoves me into the twenties.
You get the point, but with all of that said, I don't think that I'm the only one who feels something coming, something powerful and world shifting like reality bending and I think it's going to be painful. The energy swirling around right now feels so tight, like it's about to snap those sinkhole gnomes showed and visions of the end right In my brief experience, near that sinkhole, I read their vibe is like expectant, they told me no one should be in this area.
Now. I'm wondering if it wasn't so much an admonishment as it was a warning, if something big is coming, whatever it is, then it makes sense to me in a strange way that the beings that haunt the shadows are now emboldened to step out and attempt their worst josh and heather situation is a good example. Why now, why? After so many years did something in their woods begin to stalk them. Sure, they renovated the garage, but as we'll soon hear, that's how it got inside.
What prompted the thing to start harassing them in the first place? I think things are crawling out of the woodwork right now because the conditions are familiar to them, uncertainty, sorrow, anger, fear, anxiety were swimming in a sea of energy that is supercharged right now and these dark entities are emboldened to step out into an atmosphere that's pleasant for them. Again, the vibe.
The energy, the feeling is so tight, like we're all being wound up and we're damn close to the breaking point or maybe it's just me, Maybe I just need to get a good night's sleep and swap the coffee for camel. T, maybe I'm allowing my anxiety to draw connections where there are none. Maybe either way I'm in no position to offer advice, but if I were to offer any, I tell you all to be exceedingly kind to yourselves right now. My crazy nervousness aside, this is a true shit show.
Over the years, we've heard about all the demonic influence in this town and that's scary. But we have traditions to bind or banish that ship and send it back to where it came from. There are some things that can't be bound, things that draw their power, not just from the spiritual realm, but from the earth. These beings are older than old. There's no winning with them. In fact, there's no game, it just is what it is.
So let's check back in with heather and josh and see what that means for a family targeted by such a powerful entity. When we left them, they were about to tell us how the monster got into their home. Here we go. After admitting the renovations, allowed the entity into their home, josh shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. The day the crew came and took down the old structure. Well that night actually, I was at the dining room table. The room shares a wall with the garage.
Now there's a big mud room in between the two spaces. But at the time it was just a wall. I was up late catching up on emails and I heard something knocking on that wall. Initially I thought something had come loose a piece of equipment or a loose wire, something of that sort that hadn't been secured by the construction crew. The electricity had been cut out there, but I didn't want electrical cords flailing about in the wind. So I went out to check.
I looked over and saw that heather was anxiously needing her hands and her eyes were moving between buddy and I as if scanning us for disbelief. Her uneasiness filled the room. It was suffocating. I offered her a reassuring smile and tried to refocus my attention on josh. He was explaining that the old garage had been built on a concrete slab and the guys had swept the debris clean that afternoon before they wrapped for the day. The site was exceptionally tidy.
He said, I didn't find anything out of place, but while I was searching for the source of that banging, I noticed the marks. The Prince, I should say. He held his hand out, fingers folded down as if he were mimicking a paw. They were about the size of my hand, but with six toes and claws. The muddy prints started at the back of the garage. What used to be the garage, I mean, So whatever it was came from the direction of the backyard and came right up to the house. Up the house.
Actually josh rubbed his palms against his thighs up the house. I repeated. Those prints went all the way to the second floor. The builders had to remove a window and it just had plastic over it. That's how we think. He got inside, Heather explained shakily. It climbed up the side of your house. That's what we're saying, josh replied shortly. Have you seen this creature? But he asked. The couple shook their heads.
I checked the entire house that night, Top to bottom, every closet, every corner and under every damn bed josh added bitterly besides a partial muddy footprint beneath the open window. I didn't find a damn thing. And after that night you began seeing shadows in the house. I guessed. Yes. And the voices started to, what do the voices say? But he asked. It's not so much what they say, how they're explained, but how they say it, they sound like us or it sounds like us, I should say.
We hear each other when? That's impossible. I'd be home alone. And I would hear one of the boys calling to me from the top floor when I went to check. No one would be up there. No one is allowed in the house alone anymore, Josh said seriously. Its voice is just too convincing Heather added. That's because it isn't just mimicking them, it's absorbing them clear, interjected. This is really bad, Ask them about their health. Um How have you all been feeling health wise?
I mean, I asked, clunky lee heather and josh's eyes met and she reached for his hand. I'm having some trouble with my heart, josh admitted he had a heart attack in the spring. Chad. Our youngest is getting migraines and I was recently diagnosed with chrome's heather. Explained how about your oldest Derek, josh supplied? Right, Derek, has he had any problems with his health? No confused and depressed. But you said he has been the most affected by the situation here. Right.
His personality, it's josh cut his wife off. We are concerned about Derek's mental health. Claire sniffed. That's an understatement. Our family's physical health has been a concern, josh said, resting his elbows on his knees. But mentally all of us are struggling. None of us are sleeping well. The nightmares have been awful heather admitted you're all having these nightmares that, he asked. I could feel some of the anxiety leave the room as it was replaced with terror.
Don't let your guard down, Claire instructed. I wasn't planning on it, I muttered. three sets of eyes searched my face. What is it? But he asked an edge in her voice. Sorry, just nothing. I shook my head and offered the couple a shaky smile. Were the dreams about anything in particular? Their demeanor changed dramatically. They looked well, I suppose the only word for it would be guilty. Tell them it's not them. Claire insisted that thing is putting those images into their minds.
Whatever you're dreaming about, I said it isn't you? I mean the dreams aren't coming from your subconscious. You're being influenced by something josh huffed. We know that, but it doesn't make them any less unnerving. What are you dreaming about? But he asked bluntly. Murder. Heather admitted. We sat in silence for a stretch. It was obvious that the couple were deeply influenced by whatever the hell it was that was haunting their family.
But for the life of me I couldn't put my finger on what that was exactly and Claire wasn't offering any hints. One thing I knew for certain. I wasn't about to open myself up to the energies in their home, even though I could feel that energy testing me, willing me to recognize them. One thing was for sure, Heather and josh's problem was not demonic. I gathered that the entity plaguing them wasn't just one, but many.
And whenever I tried to sneak a glimpse at it, the forest filled my mind in our dreams. We josh trailed off, staring out into the trees. We murder each other every single night, Heather admitted wiping her eyes in devastating ways. The dreams nightmares are incredibly real vivid. There's no way to tell that you're dreaming when you're in it.
Not until you wake up, I've stabbed the boys strangled my wife, poisoned them all with a meal, shoved them down the back stairs, hit them over the head with a shovel. Every single dream ends with me dragging their bodies through the woods to the lake, to the hole next to the lake like a sinkhole that, he asked, throwing me a significant look. Exactly! Said heather. In our dreams.
We we throw the bodies down that awful hole and here she just shook her head, crunching josh, finished, jesus, have you gone down to look at the lake to check if there really is a hole in that spot? But he asked. Yes, it's there, replied josh. That can't be a coincidence. What do you mean? Asked Heather. You aren't the only ones in our neighborhood with this problem, I explained. I just interviewed a woman on Livingston with a sinkhole in her backyard. She's having nightmares to heather asked.
Hopefully. No, there's something down there that's talking to her telling her things. Great, josh growled. So the entire neighborhoods a problem maybe, I conceded, but it feels more complicated than that. Things are still cloudy, but it's almost like there are pockets of trouble or like breakthrough places, places so thin everything exists at once. Sorry, I don't know what the hell I'm saying, Looking more concerned than I felt comfortable with that, he said. No. That sounds incredibly specific.
It sure does, josh muttered. So what are we supposed to do? What are your ghosts telling you? Heather? Demanded her voice, just this side of shrill. Well, they, I mean, she, there's only one here right now and she's concerned about your sons. Heather's eyes widened. They're at school. I can call the office I suppose. And asked the secretary to pull them out of class. No, no, no, I interrupted. It. Isn't that urgent? Yes it is, Claire corrected.
But if we could meet with them as soon as it was convenient. But he suggested sure tomorrow after school. Um I don't know, I said trying to take in all Claire was saying and still remain present. Are you gonna walk through the house, josh asked, suddenly sounding rather pissed. Um I shot Betty a pleading look. She shrugged. Of course. Where do you want to start the basement heather? And josh said without hesitation that he laughed. That was fast. It seems to be the center of our current issues.
I felt the floor vibrate beneath my sneakers. Oh we think that's where it stays Heather said shakily. Claire was speaking so insistently that I wasn't really paying attention to the conversation around me so I was surprised when everyone stood. We're going now? I said dumb lee. No time like the present. But he replied with what I could tell was forced calm. The floor vibrated. Did you feel that feel what josh? Demanded the floor. It I trailed off. Never mind. Let's see that basement.
We left the once cozy now. Spooky room and walked through the kitchen to a small hall that led to what appeared to be a formal dining room. The hall held two doors, one to a powder room. The other as we saw once josh had unbolted two locks and then slid the chain lock to the basement stairs. Forgive me for not going with you, said heather, backing into the dining room. I just, I hate it down there. Alright then, said Betty taking the lead, we'll be right back. Don't say that! I groaned. Why not?
I just sighed. Down the stairs we went and I couldn't help but flash back to another set of basement stairs, buddy. And I had ventured down and the not so distant past. I was dizzy tents, terrified. I gripped onto a handrail for dear life and held my breath as I stepped off the bottom stair onto a shockingly plush burnt Sienna carpet and took in the finished basement overhead track lighting buzzed. There's a ping pong table and two old school arcade games, Pacman and Galaga.
I know people pronounce that differently, but that's how I grew up saying it. So tomato tomato, a floral sofa set and pink cream and green sat before an old flat screen. The far back corner held a full set of weights, a treadmill and a NordicTrack. I haven't seen one of those in a very long time. The boys used to spend a great deal of time down here, josh offered video games with their friends and as he rambled on my eyes were drawn to the workout equipment.
Who uses this stuff, Derek mostly josh replied, I used to use the treadmill, but I don't feel comfortable doing so now. But Derek feels alright down here. But he said, it's where he spends most of his time. So the two of you and your oldest boy, chad, josh supplied, Thank you chad, but, he continued, are frightened of the space. You think this is where whatever it is that's haunting your family hides out. But Derek spends most of his time down here. Well, that's why we josh began to explain.
I walked away from them towards that back corner, drawn to it while simultaneously being utterly repelled by its energy. Can you see it? I whispered. No, it's not here, Claire replied. This is the energy it leaves behind. How bad is it when it's actually in the house you don't want to know, Claire muttered. Listen, I did as she suggested. I felt the carpet beneath my feet vibrate oddly. The gym area didn't have different flooring. I don't hear anything. Just be quiet.
I close my eyes and try to ignore the intensifying vibrations beneath my feet drifting off momentarily. I was startled when I felt that his hand on my arm. Are you okay? It took me a moment to respond. I'm fine. Listen! I said, turning to josh, who looked absolutely horrified. What the hell have I done? Or said while I was zoned out. You need to move. I'm not going to sugarcoat this. We can push this thing out of the house and back to the woods. But that will not solve your overarching problem.
No one should live here. It's too blurry. Something brought this entity. Fourth, but it's not of as much concern as the don't use that word. They won't understand. Claire insisted cutting me off. Uh It's the location of your house. What are we on? An indian burial ground or something? Josh demanded. No. If that were the case, you could tear down and do your best to make amends and reparations. This is different. This is earth bounds more ancient than ancient. I felt myself slipping again.
Getting a little fuzzy Betty held onto my upper arm and guided me back to the stairs. Come on, we can talk in the kitchen. We went up, made arrangements to keep in touch. I shared my realtors information with heather and assured them that we would get in touch with Judith immediately after explaining how she would be able to clear the house of the ill intentioned entity that had taken up residence in their basement. You let us know and we can meet your sons. But he said, is that still necessary?
Asked Heather. Um Once we get Judith here, I'd like to gauge how affected they've been by the situation, I replied vaguely. But once we get rid of that thing and move, josh began. You don't want anything tagging along with you? But he said firmly. Oh, heather breathed. Oh no, we left them to their heightened worries and anxieties. We can't go straight to my house. We need to walk to like shake all of that off. I insisted as we scurried down the driveway. It's the land, Huh?
Yeah. But so what do you think? Can Judith clear this or do we need to call in a Wiccan too? No, I mean probably if it's not too late, but we are in really big trouble. I said speeding up. I sent some move coming on. But he laughed, matching my pace effortlessly. No, I stopped walking and grabbed her arm. Those people, Yes, they are screwed. They have to move immediately. I'm pretty sure one of their son's possessed, so it's demonic.
No, I don't really know what it is, but it comes from the land. It's like, I think that baker guy woke something up when he created the lake. Those gnomes and an sinkhole gnomes. Yeah, they're like part of it. I don't know if there was a hierarchy. Then they are definitely above the thing, The entity that is in heather and josh's house, but they're also amused by it. They don't care about people unless we get in their way. But all of that is beside the point. They're just waiting for the end.
Whatever happens until then, whatever damage they can do to humanity to pay us back. That's like amusing to them. What in the funk are you talking about? The end like the end, end the end, end I started walking again. We've had it all wrong. The demons, the ghosts, everything bopping along up here. It's all like a game. The earth, those that inhabit the earth, that's who we should be terrified of. They don't go under any law but their own.
The angels and demons, they exist under a set of rules and they play fair. But the earth dwellers, we were fine until we woke them up. They're waking up. They can end it all. We walked along in silence, passing right by my driveway eventually. But he asked. So are we going to talk to their son or fuck no, I spat. I don't think he's human anymore possessed, but he said no replaced forever. I think so, I replied sadly.
I'm beginning to think that maybe we should all move too late, said Claire Judith came and worked what magic she could. The entity was pushed back to the forest and with the help of a Wiccan priestess and a reiki master. It was pulled from the boy. The removal left gaps within him that will remain that must be protected so that other beings can't jump in. He'll never be the same old me would have pulled up stakes without another thought would have started the packing and purging cycle and run.
But I see now that there isn't anywhere to run, nowhere is better or safer or less fucked. My gut tells me we need to brace ourselves and weather the coming storm, but for now we wait. Okay. Mhm, mm hmm. Head over to ghosts in the burbs dot com. For all the links. I've put a pause on collecting your super fun, spooky stories. I don't want there to be too deep of a backlog and I have enough stories for several more episodes. So thank you to everyone who has recorded a story.
As you know, I've made a commitment to keep our space. Excuse me both completely free and ad free. But if you are interested in doing something priceless to help the show, please tell us spooky like minded friend about it, Right? And review it wherever you listen and follow me at ghosts in the burbs on instagram and um now Tiktok, those three things are incredibly valuable. And while you're at it, please do it for other podcasts that you enjoy. That's all for now. Good night, Sleep tight.
And don't forget your nightlight. Mm hmm. Yeah. Mm hmm.