NoSleep Podcast S25E02

The NoSleep Podcast

The second episode of Season 25 of The NoSleep Podcast delivers a chilling anthology of stories centered on themes of entrapment and psychol

Key takeaways

• The feeling of helplessness and confinement is a core theme across all stories, reflecting real-life anxieties about loss of control.

Main topics

• Psychological horror
• Trapped environments

Notable quotes

"You're listening to the No Sleep Podcast. Thanks for making us part of your horror soundtrack."

"I don't see the harm in letting her ride. I can take her by myself if you don't want to go."

Conclusion

This episode cements The NoSleep Podcast's mastery of audio horror by

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:40) Trigger your body's instinct. You're listening to the No Sleep Podcast. Thanks for making us part of your horror soundtrack. I'm your host, David Cummings. I want to begin by thanking the many people who reached out after the Season 25 premiere last week. We got so many positive comments about the new season and the stories on Episode 1. We're glad you liked what you heard. We hope those positive vibes keep going because, well, let's face it. If you like what we do so much, we're kind of trapped, aren't we? We're going to have to keep doing this week after week. Speaker 1 (2:15) Don't worry, there's nothing we'd rather be doing than sharing audio horror stories with you. But the idea of being trapped within something is a horror tradition rich in history. And even if you have all the freedom in the world to live your life, there are people and things that can leave you feeling helpless and hopeless, confined, controlled, and doomed. And this week... We have tales for you that will leave you feeling stuck deep down a horror hole from which there is no escape. So come along for the ride. You'll never get off it, but hey, at least we'll have some thrills and chills along the way. Welcome to our trap. Now brace yourself for the frequency of fear. Speaker 1 (3:11) In our first tale, we meet Emma, a young girl about to celebrate her 11th birthday. That might seem fun, but Emma is dealing with chronic and serious health problems. And in this tale, shared with us by author K.G. Lewis, Emma desperately wants to go to the local amusement park for her birthday, because it might be her last chance to go. This tale has been produced by Jeff Clement and features performances by Nicole Goodnight, Mike DelGaudio, Marie Westbrook, Jeff Clement, Erica Sanderson, Andy Cresswell, and Atticus Jackson. So live life while you can. You never know how long you have on this rather dark ride. I said to my dad, who was pushing my wheelchair, I want to go on that. Speaker 1 (4:21) I pointed at the large structure we were passing that looked like a real-life replica of the kind of haunted house you'd see in a cartoon. After years of begging, my parents had finally agreed to take me to the local theme park for my 11th birthday. It was the first time I'd been out of the house since I was five years old, when I didn't have to go to a doctor's appointment. I don't think that's a good idea. It looks scary. Mom was looking at the sign outside the ride that proclaimed its name to be Dark Descent in red letters that looked like blood smears. I turned and looked up at my dad. It doesn't look that scary to me. The only reason I got to go to the theme park was because my dad had talked my mom into it. I had overheard them talking one night while they thought I was asleep. Emma's having a good week. This might be the only chance she has to do something like this. Speaker 1 (5:15) He was referring to the myriad of health issues that had plagued me since I was born. What if we go and she has another episode? What if we keep her home and she doesn't? She should get the opportunity to act like a normal kid, even if it's just for one day. There was a brief period of silence before my mom spoke again. Fine, we can go to the theme park. But if anything happens to her, I'm holding you responsible. I barely slept that night. When I woke up the next morning, I thought it was all a dream until my dad asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday. I replied quickly with, I want to go to the theme park. He'd smiled. Then that's what we'll do. Now my dad looked over at my mom. I don't see the harm in letting her ride. I can take her by myself if you don't want to go. Speaker 1 (6:07) I could tell she wanted to protest, but she bit her tongue because she didn't want to make a scene in front of the crowds of people who were walking by. Well, I'm not waiting out here in this heat. My dad returned his attention to me. Do you want to walk, or do you want me to wheel you in? I want to walk. He asked me that at the entrance to every ride, and I said the same thing every time. The wheelchair was my mom's idea. I didn't normally need one. She was just afraid I'd wear myself out quickly and didn't want my dad to have to carry me around if I got tired. I thought it was a waste of money. I didn't feel tired in the slightest. In fact, being at the park made me feel energized. I felt better the few hours we'd been there than I had the entire year. Speaker 1 (6:55) When my mom brought up the idea of renting the wheelchair, I tried to talk her out of it. But my dad pulled me aside while she went into the rental place and told me that it would make her feel better if I just used the wheelchair. Just think of it as another ride the park offers. Then, much to the dismay of my mom, once I was seated in the wheelchair, he started pushing me around like I was on a roller coaster. My mom chided him and told him to be careful, but he saw how much fun I was having and chose to ignore her. Speaker 1 (7:23) After I hopped out of the wheelchair, I rushed into the exterior queue, snaking through the railings of the dark descent ride, eliciting a slow-down warning from my mom, which I, of course, ignored. I didn't slow down until I made it to the part of the queue that was inside the haunted house, where the back of the line was. Welcome, weary travelers. The voice was coming from a creepy-looking animatronic figure of a Victorian woman. She was standing on a balcony above the area of the queue we were in, which was decorated to look like the foyer of an old house. Please make yourselves at home until the storm passes. When she was done speaking, thunder boomed from the ceiling and the lights flashed, mimicking lightning. Speaker 1 (8:07) A couple of teenage girls in line ahead of us screamed when the thunder sounded and then started giggling at how easily they were startled. I was very thankful for the distraction, because it drew my parents' attention away from me. So they didn't see that I was startled by the sudden sound as well. I wasn't expecting that. My dad smiled as he clutched his chest. I think I just about had a heart attack. I wasn't scared. I lied. Speaker 1 (8:36) I could tell from the look on my mom's face that she'd been startled as well, but I knew she'd never admit it. The scene with the animatronic woman repeated a few times before we moved far enough up the line to make it to the next section of the queue. In that section, the room was decorated to look like a library. The animatronic woman appeared through a doorway while sounds of a storm played through the speakers above us. Looks like you're going to have to stay the night. Sounds of the storm increased in intensity. Speaker 1 (9:06) Wait here while I prepare your room. The animatronic was pulled out of sight as the doorway she was standing in closed. There was a brief period of silence before a translucent blue specter of a man appeared a few feet away from us. This caused a few more people in line to jump at his sudden appearance, myself included. It's not safe for you here. You must leave at once before it's too late. The door opened and the animatronic woman reappeared. The man faded from view. The spectral man reappeared out of sight of the animatronic, and he was shaking his head from side to side. That was the end of the scene. The line shuffled ahead into the next section, which was where riders were being loaded into numbered cars that were fashioned to look like beds on the outside. Inside the cars, there was just a bench seat big enough for two people. Speaker 1 (10:07) Looks like each car only holds two people. Do you want to ride with me or with your mom? Can I ride by myself? I saw my mom give my dad a look that said, I don't think that's a good idea. Please? If my mom had her way, she'd make me ride with her. And I didn't want to do that, knowing she'd ruin the experience with her constant worrying over me. I suppose that's okay. My mom grabbed dad's arms and hissed something into his ear that I didn't catch. I did, however, hear his response. It's her birthday. Let her enjoy herself. When we got to the front of the line, the ride attendant stopped us. How many in your party? Three. Rows one and two. He gestured at the partitioned area as he stepped aside to let us pass. My mom and dad walked into row one while I stepped into row two. It's not too late to change your mind. Speaker 1 (11:07) I'll be fine. A moment later, two empty ride cars approached the loading zone and stopped in front of us. When I saw that the car I was going to be riding in was numbered with a big red 13, I got a little nervous. Growing up in a house with a mother who was worried about every little thing I did had made me a bit paranoid. Just a number, I said to myself as I climbed aboard the car. Speaker 1 (11:34) I watched as the ride attendant checked the lap bar of the car my parents were in before giving a thumbs up. A moment later, their car moved forward and disappeared around a curve in the track. The ride attendant walked over to my car, checked my lap bar, and then gave the signal to send me on my way. I was both excited and a little bit scared as the car lurched forward. After the car turned the corner, it stopped in front of a large wooden door. Standing off to the side of the door was the animatronic woman. She was holding a candle which cast a sinister shadow upon her face. I'll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams. There was a boom of recorded thunder followed by the flash of fake lightning, the latter of which caused the woman's face to light up, showing the image of a skull beneath her features. Then the door opened and I was plunged into darkness. Speaker 1 (12:23) The darkness lasted until I was moved through another door into a large, open space that was made to look like an old, fog-shrouded graveyard. The sounds of the storm receded behind me and were replaced by the chirping of crickets, the squawks of a few animatronic ravens, and the ghostly howling of the wind. It was a little bit spooky since I was the only writer in the room. As the car wound its way through the graveyard, holographic ghosts would appear amongst the headstones. Right before the car was about to exit the room, one of the ghosts materialized in the car right next to me. It was a young boy about my age. That is so cool. I reached out my hand and passed it through the apparition. He turned his head to look at me. I would appreciate it if you didn't do that. I snatched my hand back. Speaker 1 (13:16) That is so cool. I scanned the ceiling, looking for the device that was projecting the boy's image. I'm not part of the ride. What? I lowered my head to look at him. I'm not like those other ghosts. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder as the car we were riding exited the graveyard, plunging us into a corridor of darkness. They're not real. Speaker 1 (13:43) As I looked at him, I realized he wasn't dressed the way the other ghosts were. The jeans and t-shirt he had on made him look out of place. It also dawned on me that the car had gotten a lot colder since he appeared. All of that, along with the detail of his image, led me to believe that he was telling me the truth. What are you doing here? I couldn't keep my voice from trembling. I came to help you, or you end up like me. Does that mean I'm going to die soon? Speaker 1 (14:15) A few months ago, I'd overheard my parents talking about making funeral arrangements for me. My mom wanted to get it all sorted before I passed. But my dad wouldn't let her. Ever since then, I'd felt like my expiration date was coming sooner rather than later. In a week? I felt a hitch in my throat as a tear rolled down my cheek. I want to die. The boy waited until I regained my composure before he spoke again. A concerned look on his face. I don't want you to die either. Speaker 1 (14:51) Like this. Like what? He looked like he was going to say something, but then stopped himself. It'll be easier to show you. He reached out his hand and touched my forehead with his index finger. A bright light filled my vision. When I could see again, I found that we were still standing in the car from the ride, but the scenery around us had changed. We were no longer being shown scenes from the haunted house. We were being shown scenes from my life, starting with my death. Speaker 1 (15:26) That's me. I pointed at the animatronic version of me that was lying in bed. It was clear from the way her eyes stared at the ceiling that she was dead. Standing next to her were animatronic versions of my parents, both of whom had fake tears streaming from their eyes. At least I die at home, I thought. The car moved past the