Listeners, Please note the following is an immersive audio
drama that includes strong horror themes and potentially
upsetting scenes for some audiences.
For those with specific phobias, please view our show notes or
episode bio for a list of content warnings.
For everyone else, you've been warned.
Thank you and good luck. This is 187.3 WLKV and it is a
bright and early 8:00 AM. What a way to kick off the start
of a week, AL. You know it.
Ice cream for breakfast? You'd think we were 6.
Did that power outage get to you too?
Hardly noticed except for how quiet it got.
Glad to hear things were fixed quickly though.
Driving in this morning was just like any other day, except for
two gummed up tires. One of the quirks of living in
the country. Nature's everywhere, even when
you wish it wasn't we. Got those special trees too.
Like that SAP is no joke. Almost like motor oil.
Black, I tell you. Thick as molasses if ours
touches something though. You best kiss goodbye.
At least you made it in on time. The changing of the guard
happens rain or shine, or a missed alarm and radio waits for
no man. If you early birds haven't heard
our evening broadcast yet, let's give a big round of applause for
our interns who cover that long stretch over midnight.
That's right, for those of you who haven't heard the tunes,
don't stop when the sun goes down.
We keep them rolling all night long.
Our night jockeys Marty and Hannah used to be counsellors
over at camp Want to tell. We were lucky enough to bring
them on board last year and from what I hear, they know how to
spin a good campfire story. Late, late into the night,
they're burning the oil, keeping you fine folks passing through
Lockeville entertained. Now, I'm not one for scary
stories, but I bet they're great for keeping you up if you got to
keep your eyes on the. Rd.
The night is still, the forest dark, a distant screen a Lantern
spark. Through tangled woods you make
your way where unseen eyes observe their prey.
A creaking branch, a whispered name, a chilling wind, an Epping
flame. The path ahead is cold and
frail. Secrets weave through night's
thin veil. Old legends speak of spirits
near, of those who vanished, drowned in fear.
Moonlight fades and shadows swell on the trail.
To wanna tell. The.
I don't see any birds anywhere at all.
Sarah, these binoculars are broken.
Well, first of all, you're doing it wrong.
You have them backwards. Try now, dork.
Oh. Oh, I see a Robin.
And you scared it away. Quite the bird watcher You are
All right everyone. Remember what we talked about at
the cabin rules? The team that brings back the
most unique items from our scavenger hunt wins a special
prize from the canteen. Second, you must stay with your
buddy at all times. If you lose track of your buddy,
blow your whistle and stay put. 3rd, no wandering off the trail.
You each have a map and the trails are very well marked.
Stay on the path. Last, when you hear us call,
what's the sweetest kind of bear you'll answer?
I'm coming. Bear now Cassie and I will be
playing against y'all so you get a 2 minute head start ready set.
Go, go, go. They always get so excited for
this. I remember when my counselors
did the same thing. I didn't end up winning, but it
was seriously so fun. And you've been competitive ever
since. It's a good distraction I think.
He's going to be OK, right? Andrew.
I meant Thomas, I don't know why they aren't talking about what
happened more. It's been 3 days.
I know they said they found him and sent him home for the prank
he pulled on the campers, but you didn't see Thomas's face.
At least Tiffany's stomach bug wasn't contagious.
I thought we'd never get out of that bathroom.
Were the rest of the kids OK? They.
Stayed in the cabin at least. Mark says Toad Cabin is freaking
out. Half of them want to go home.
When I asked Thomas about his campers, he didn't even look at
me. He's a space cadet right now.
Seriously. Maybe they should all cut back
on their ghost stories. Mark was talking about leaving
too. Kenny's little sister is getting
picked up tomorrow. She wouldn't stop crying and
Mark called her parents. Are they getting someone to fill
Andrew's spot? We can't fit more kids in our
cabin. Blueberries.
I don't know. There's a handful of kids in
Tiger Cabin that want to leave, too.
I still can't believe Andrew pulled something like that.
Pretending to get eaten by a bear isn't cool, especially at
night. Do you think he killed the
power? No clue.
Jen found an old storm Lantern near the breaker, so maybe.
This fight, Andrew was so dreamy.
Don't even start, he's not so dreamy.
If he was terrifying campers on purpose, that's a tool move.
Come on. I know there's some of those
huge white feathered birds that have their nests on the ledge up
there. Wait up.
Oh man, this view is crazy. Where's the nest?
I saw them over here a couple of days ago.
Hold on. Just over here.
What types of birds are these? Not a goose, right?
A goose bit me one time. That's because geese are
assholes. No, I think they were egrets
maybe? Don't those live closer to the
lake? I could have sworn they were
around. Here, we should get back to the
kids. I'm not hunting down your
mountain bird because you want to beat some 5th graders.
Competitive 5th graders. And that doesn't change the fact
that you're trying to beat them in the game that you organized.
I'm challenging them. You're right.
Let's see what else we can find, Sarah.
No hospital trip in your future? How are you?
Feeling everything hurts? That's good, right?
Well, in this case, that's great.
Nothing looked broken when they brought you in.
Can you move for me? I don't want to.
Huh, Not as bad as I thought it would be.
Your campers will be glad to hear you're OK.
They thought you were going to be sent home too.
You and Cassie did a great job training them for an emergency.
Half of them came back to camp to get help and the rest stayed
right where you fell. How high was it?
High enough, no more walks up that trail until the ground
dries out a little bit more. Too much rain in that area.
Think you're OK to get back to your campers?
Any symptoms to let me know of besides the bumps and bruising?
I don't think so. Maybe kind of a ringing in my
ears. If anything starts feeling
worse, come right back and let me know.
Do you want to rest here for another hour or two?
Do I have to? No broken bones, no bleeding.
I think you're good to go. Let's not have any more reasons
to drive back into town this week.
It's not like I was trying to fall to my desk.
Thanks. If anything changes anything at
all, let me know straight away. Sure thing.
Oh my God you're OK. I thought you were a goner for
sure. Don't ever scare me like that
again. Don't scare you like that.
Did you have the mountain suddenly go crushing down on top
of you? No, but neither did you.
Sure felt like I did. The kids are with a couple of
the other cabins. We divided them up so they'd be
distracted. How about we take today easy?
What? Are you sure she's OK?
She doesn't look so good. Well, I don't think she has a
concussion, but it's possible she might be a little out of it
for a few days. Come on, let's get you something
to eat. I'm really not hungry.
Then you'll get me something to eat and you'll steal food off of
my plate. What was that sound?
The Woods. I guess.
Sorry, I thought I heard one of the kids over there.
In the tree line, we'll be lucky if any of them ever want to go
on a hike again. The 5th graders won, by the way.
Pity points. Nope, they found a genuinely
hideous toad. I put it in your bed so you
could see it, baby. You wouldn't dare, we all
thought. You were done for sure.
They did. I knew a little fall wouldn't
take you out. You weren't there, Jen.
Seriously, I don't know how she walked away from that.
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Is there something wrong with the bench?
What? I don't see anything.
I huh weird it sounded like the wood.
Was wondering EW is it? Termites.
I hate bugs. Remember when that kid?
Got ringworm last year. That's a fungus, not an actual.
Worm, do you never pay attention in science?
Not when we talk about. Bugs.
We don't have termites. You seriously don't hear that?
Uh, no. What?
Maybe you do have a concussion. Uh, don't go to sleep.
I heard with a concussion you can't go to sleep.
I've been sleeping all morning. Maybe I just need some air.
You want me to call her? No, I'm good.
Don't hover. If she's possessed, I'm dropping
out of school and moving to California.
Don't be dramatic, she fell. Off a Cliff?
OK, maybe not a. Cliff but.
She's not possessed. Yeah, sure.
And Andrew went home. Speaking of Andrew, I heard that
he didn't get invited. God, get a grip, take a deep
breath and chill. Being sent home would be so
lame. Cassie.
I asked you not to hover. Cassie.
OK, super funny.
I'm going back to the cabin. It's a head wound.
I hit my head and I'm hallucinating and there's no one
out there. It has been two days.
You've got to talk to Nurse Carol.
What? What was that?
Did you hear that? You're freaking the kids out.
You're freaking me out, and I swear if you talk about tree
roots rotting and drowning in the blood from their bark in the
middle of the night again, I'm locking you outside.
Sarah. Sarah, it's like you're ignoring
me. Put your flashlight away.
You don't hear them. They've got to be right behind
us. Ever since your accident, you've
been out of it. Maybe you have brain damage.
Yes, it's getting louder every time I close my eyes it gets so
close I swear it's about to grab me.
What is? It's it's just out of sight.
I blink that I miss it. Where are you going?
I would rather hang out with Thomas than listen to you be
insane for another minute. At least he's talked to the
director and nurse Carol and just kind of sits there.
When you're ready to figure your crap out, then come find me.
Wait, don't leave me by myself. There's people everywhere, God.
Nurse Carol, are you busy? I think something is seriously
wrong with me. Oh, honey, come in.
What's going on? There's some following me or
someone, but I can't really see them.
I look and and they're gone. I, I am all the time and I, I
don't think I'm sleeping. I'm so tired.
But I have to pay attention or they're going to take the kids.
Cassie thinks I'm nuts and maybe I am.
I know it's out there though, it's just waiting.
Let me get you some water. There.
Did you hear that? I'm listening, but I don't think
so. They're not even being subtle
about it. They're stomping around out
there. They're snapping every stick
they can. It sounds like someone stepped
on a branch. Yes, yes, you heard it too.
Have you been hearing this since your accident?
I've tried. I had everything and it won't go
away. Well, it's possible you heard
one of the old stories and that's what you're fixated on.
You had quite the fall. I wouldn't be surprised if it
stuck in there. Everyone is always telling
stories. Some people around here used to
make offerings to the trees. In return, they'd warn him of
danger. It was said if you heard the
sound of snapping branches that the veil of you know what, you
look pretty pale already. Maybe you should sit down.
What's? Following me.
Nothing. I think you're just shaking up
and you need proper sleep. This cabin locks up real tight
so you can stay here if you're that worried.
I bet tomorrow you'll feel better.
Would that really be OK? Of course, you get your pillow
and your PJS. I sleep in that room right back
there. I'll have one of the cots
made-up for you, and I'll let Miss Wade know that you'll be
sleeping here tonight. Thank you.
Esther, come in. Can I have you over on Channel 6
Over? Flopping channels over.
I have Sarah staying in the first aid cabin tonight.
She might need to ride back to town in the morning.
How certain are you? Keeping a little spark of hope
tonight. I'll see if there's something.
I can do to change her mind. What the hell?
Hello. Oh, no, absolutely not.
I'm not sticking around for that.
Get a grip. OK.
That. Oh, that.
That should be sound. That sounds true.
Hello, Cassie. It's not even dark out yet.
Where is everybody? Thomas, Amanda.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Oh, my God. OK, OK, OK, OK.
I'm fine. I'm fine.
Who's there? Show yourself, you creep.
Where are you? Who's there?
Sarah. Sarah, where are you?
Follow the sound of my. Voice.
Andrew, thank God. Andrew, this way.
Sarah, this way. Where are you?
Something's out here. This there's something wrong
with the woods. Andrew, I can't see you.
Oh. Oh, the the roots are are
tearing themselves open. So they can feed on the blood
that weeds from beneath their bark.
Run silly, sad. Don't stop running.
Man, don't stop. Running.
Andrew. Andrew.
Well, you've got more color in your cheeks.
A night of good rest was just a thing, huh?
Yeah, I have a ton of energy. This morning I had a weird dream
about the woods, but I think I finally slept.
We all have those out here. No more weird noises though.
I work with a sort of ringing in my ears, but it's already
fading. I feel more like myself.
Great, no need to go back to town.
Why would I? I should check on the campers
and apologize to Cassie. Thanks.
Did we end up giving Sarah a ride back to town?
No, no, I think she's OK. Are you?
Credits to the cast in order of appearance Tory Dr. as Alan
Wilson Geoff Motts as Johnny Callan Marlin Dance Hooey as the
Narrator and the Monster. MB Lee as Cassandra Nelson M
Cross as Sarah Davies Adele Fizzy Lemon Pie as Nurse Carol
Kelly The Kelhop as Julie Mackey.
Meg McKellar is Jennifer Darwin. Eleanor Hewitt Hill as Esther
Wade. Este Hernandez as Andrew
Sanchez. Socks Sokolowski as The
Monsters. Layers Credits to our crew
Executive producer and associate writer Erin Valentine.
Lead producer and associate writer Seth Breitbelt, Lead
writer Adele King, Script editor and law keeper Eli King, Lead
audio engineer, composer and associate writer Meg McKellar,
Audio engineers SD Hernandez, Jacob Gucci, Yamaguchi and
Joshua Chamberlain. Lead visuals artist Dexter
Valentine Visuals artist MB Lee thank you for listening to 1.7
Miles to Lake Wanatel, a Honeydew Studios production.
We hope you enjoyed. Tune in next Saturday for a new
episode.