Episode 196 - Campfire Tales #11: Shadow Man

Hello everybody and welcome back to another episode of the Lunatics Radio Hour podcast. We are sitting here with my friend Alex Coleman. Hello hello. And today we have another installment of Campfire Tales for You, which means we are presenting

two spooky stories for your enjoyment today. Ooh, can't wait to sink my teeth into this batch. I feel like one thing that sort of bonds these two stories in different ways is this child-father relationship.

Different versions, obviously, in totally different plots and storylines. I'm just going to plant that seed before we read these two stories so that we can see how we feel about it after nice Yeah, I'm just thinking about other father horror type things. I guess the thing that comes to mind Oh the six sense. I was gonna say the shining. Oh and the shining. Yeah, but different. Oh, yeah

Again different totally different tellings or even signs. Oh Signs is one of my favorite movies of all time. Oh, I I think I agree with you there Yes, I just feel like it's a perfect film like that sounds dramatic And I there's a lot of people in that movie that I don't love as actors like on a personal level like they're acting is fine

But it's just like this. It's so it like the metaphor works so well. It's legitimately scary It has heart it has humor. I just think it's like a perfect package of a movie. Yeah home run It's a home run. Yeah, and that's relevant to totally Oh man. Alright, well without further ado, Alex, will you read the first story?

I'd love to. Shadows written by John Nagawk, read by Alex Coleman. Daddy? Yeah, honey? Jason briefly glanced at his four-year-old daughter, Sarah, while scrolling through his newsfeed.

The shadow man is back. It's just me she's seeing his wife said as she got ready for work. I always check on her when I get home at night. I still think a nightlight is a good idea.

She'll at least know it's you. If I remember, I'll buy one on my break. Becca gave him a quick kiss before grabbing her car keys. Tonight's the night I'm staying to help with inventory.

I won't be home until after two. Love you. Love you too. Two, dry safe.

The storm is supposed to be bad. He had just finished feeding Sarah dinner when the storm broke. Its arrival heralded by a sudden drop in temperature and a deep rumble of thunder that rattled the windows.

They stood in the doorway watching the rain cascade down in torrents. Gus of wind made the trees shiver and sway, enlightening tore the night sky apart. Each flash illuminated the world with a brief eerie glow. It was like a glimpse of war raging in heaven.

With each growl of thunder, Sarah moved closer to him, and when the lights flickered briefly, she clung to his leg. Okay, time for bed, he said. Read me a book first, please.

Yeah, but just one. Go and get your pajamas on and pick a book out. The lights flickered again. After she went upstairs, he went into the garage and searched the cabinets.

He found two electric lanterns in one of them, and toggled their on-off switches to ensure they worked. As he carried the lanterns into the house, the lights flickered once, twice, and then went out completely. His daughter began calling for him. It's just a power outage, Sarah, he called up the stairs. Stay in your room, I'll be

up in a few minutes. Brief flashes of brilliance lit up the windows and spilled partway in. Once each strike faded, the darkness pressed around him, thick and smothering. The The house was quiet and still, with only the sound of rain drumming against the roof and the occasional rumble of thunder breaking the silence.

He placed one of the lanterns on the dining room table and turned on the other. Cocooned in its soft glow, he made a slow circuit through the downstairs. Only darkness and shadows fled from him, nothing else. When his daughter called for him again, he went up the stairs.

So what book did you pick out? Jason placed one lantern on her dresser and the other on top of her toy chest. The wild things, she held the book up. Sarah climbed onto his lap after he pulled the rocking chair closer to one of the lanterns.

He quickly and perfunctorily read where the wild things are to her, pausing briefly at each page so she could look at the pictures. The sound of the rain had lessened, but gusts of wind caused the tree branches to tap and scratch at her windows, as if something wanted to be let in.

Okay, time for bed. Jason slid her off his lap after he finished the book. You didn't howl. What? At the wild rumpus part, you always howl at that part. Sarah stared at him, her brow furrowed.

Oh, guess I forgot, he said, walking toward the bookshelf. I'll leave the lanterns here so you don't have to worry about the Shadow Man tonight. I'm not worried. I like him. He's nice. Mommy said you told her that. Has he talked to you? He paused as he put the book back on its shelf.

His voice was neutral, but his knuckles were white from how tightly he held the book. He tries, but I can't understand him. His voice is too soft. Well, maybe I'll wait here and meet him. He turned toward her with a smile that had been quickly slipped into place. He sat in the rocking chair, gently swaying back and forth while Sarah lay in bed, cuddling her green

dinosaur. When he could tell from her breathing that she had fallen asleep, he pulled the rocking chair around until it faced the hallway. His smile was stored away like the costume it was. The lanterns had noticeably dimmed, but there was still enough light for his needs. He sat motionless, staring into the darkened hallway. After a long wait, he began to

perceive movement at the end of the hall. A shadow vaguely the shape of a man and Darker than the surrounding darkness approached him. There wasn't a word to describe its color, because it wasn't a color, it was the absence of color.

The figure stopped outside the doorway, just beyond the pale semi-circle of light cast by the lanterns. You're persistent, I'll give you that. Jason stood and leaned against the door frame.

The child must be pulling you back. My life, the figure said.