Table of Contents:
November 14th 2023
Hi,
My name is Josh, and I don't think that you're going to believe me. Hell, I'm pulling my own leg just by thinking anyone will read this. It's more for my sake than anyone else's, kind of like shouting into the void, if that makes any sense. Maybe some of you horror junkies will stumble upon this. At the very least, I hope you find my plight entertaining… back to the point; something strange is going on and i'm going to hope that if it reaches anyone that they reach out, maybe let me know what to make of this situation.
It was two weeks ago, when it all started, Halloween night when they first arrived (I know very cliche, stay with me) . I wasn't expecting anyone. I live in the woods, my driveway is a mile long which does me a lot of good when it comes to keeping the Mormons and the Jehovah's witnesses and the girls scouts out of my way. No offense to any of those groups, I just want to be left alone. I'm not a big cookie or organized religion kind of guy (sorry). It also means no Trick-or-Treaters . Every year is the same. I watch some horror movies, eat the candy I bought for said absentee Trick-or-Treaters and go to sleep. I've Lived here for five years so I had expected a calm night and it was calm, until about ten . That was when I heard my dog Winifred start growling. Then I heard it, the knocking. I probably would have opened the door right then and there. If my dog wasn't as worked up as she was. So I told myself that it was UPS or something, they saw that my lights were on and started knocking to let me know that there was a package (post people do that right?) I wasn't about to let Winnie trample this person just because they spooked her. So I stayed on the couch, and continued watching Lifetime. But the knocking didn't stop. It got louder and louder and louder rapidly drumming on my door for twenty minutes while my dog barked and barked until I couldn't take it any more.
“Just leave it at the door!” I called. The knocking and barking stopped for maybe a solid minute before it started back up again. I didn't know if this was a prank but with how late it was I was starting to feel uneasy . I don't own a gun or any weapons for that matter but at that moment I felt like I needed one. I preface now that I'm not a violent person and I've never felt the need to defend myself while I've lived here, but This was starting to get fucking creepy. So I grabbed a knife from the kitchen block. I wasn't expecting the person at the door to have my best interests at heart. so, knife in hand went to the door and stood there for a moment hesitating, as the knocking stopped. (Not a surprise considering all the lights were on in the house they probably saw my shadow.)
I finally got the courage to open up the door.I cracked it open hiding my body behind it. What was standing on my doorstep at first was a relief, kids. Impatient kids! A girl who looked to be about ten with shaggy bangs that covered her eyes. She wore a light pink sweatshirt and jeans that looked dirty. Holding her hand was a boy who looked to be about seven, maybe eight. He had on a green tee shirt with green shorts and a bull cut. He was looking at his feet.
“Can we come in?” the girl said before I could muster anything. The relief left as quick as it came. This pit in my stomach grew, not necessarily because of her question but rather the peculiarity of it all. I looked over the kids shoulders. There wasn't a parent in sight. I don't have kids but I have never understood letting children go out alone on Halloween at least not in my area. It just doesn't seem safe. Not only that, but if I haven't said it enough yet, it was ten-ish at night and my driveway is ONE MILE LONG UPHILL. Meaning; that these kids would have had to without a parent climbed up my one mile driveway, uphill, in the dark, all for a fun-size pack of m&m’s. They also weren't in costume–
“Can we come in?” she asked again
“No” I said a little more blunt than I intended “but I can get you guys some candy” without really waiting for their response I closed the door and went into the kitchen to get the candy. I looked down at the knife in my hand as Winnie snarled at the door. This was weird but despite my nerves they were just children. At the moment I felt awful for even grabbing the knife to begin with. So I put it back in the block grateful that no one got hurt. If only I knew what I know now I might have acted differently. As I got the candy the knocking started again as impatient as before, loud and rapid . I told myself that they were probably just excited to get a treat. As soon as I opened the door the girl said through gritted teeth in a voice that I've never heard a child use said
“We do not want your candy.” then she and her brother and I stood there for a second-maybe two. Until in that same tone
“We want to use your phone. Can we come inside and use your phone?” she asked firmly in a kind of tone that made it clear that this wasn't really a question. I can't tell you why (because I still don't know,) but something inside of me felt more wrong than before. Like the pit in my stomach had become a gaping hole.
“Why do you need to use the phone?” I asked with a nervous quiver in my voice. It felt hard to move in that moment.
“To phone our mother. We are lost.” The girl responded with the same nails- on-a-chalkboard voice.
“I left my phone inside. You can give me her number and I can call her for you” I responded I wanted them to leave, I just wanted them to leave. To stay out of my house and leave.
“No. it would be easier if we just came in and called her ourselves.” I'd never seen kids so eager to get into a stranger's house. Whoever their mom was, she certainly hadn't told them about stranger danger. If it were any other circumstance I would have let them in but something in my gut told me not to.
“Well I can bring my phone out to you if you want.” I offered
“No” she said I was starting to get frustrated, if they really needed the phone wouldn't they be okay with just using the phone outside?
“I can bring my phone outside for you or you two can leave.” I said. putting my foot down. I felt a flush of guilt as I said it as if I was engulfed in a strong current. What if there was someone else outside and they didn't want to be alone? What if they really needed help? If they needed help they would have told me right? It had been silent for a while. We were all just staring at each other. I think I had waited because even if I didn't feel comfortable I would feel much worse if something bad were to happen so I asked again firmly “Should I get my phone?”
“No.” she said again “can we come in?”
“No” I closed the door. I promise that I'm not this blunt normally and if I truly thought that these kids were in danger that I would have let them in. They looked well, calm, almost menacingly so. I know that they were just kids but I still locked, dead-bolted the door, and turned on the outdoor light more for my sake than theirs so I could see them if they decided to outstay their welcome any longer. They did. It was silent for a while, Winnie standing at the door no longer growling but still protective.
“It's okay, it's okay ”I said while petting Winnie. I turned out the lights near the doorway so that if they were still outside they wouldn't be able to see me. I found myself checking to make sure all of the doors and windows of my house were closed and locked as Winnie followed close behind me. I decided it was time for bed. I went upstairs, got ready and went to sleep Winnie on my feet.
It was roughly 4 AM when I abruptly woke up to Winnie growling at my bedroom door then I heard it. The sound of knocking had come again rapidly, again impatient and again louder. Winnie let out another low growl while pawing at my leg. I thought it might have been a dream until I looked out the window and it became real.
“Holy shit” I muttered they were still out there. I decided this had to be a prank someone had put them up to. That was the only logical explanation and it was the one I clung to oh so dearly. I didn't feel like sleeping, couldn't sleep actually because that wretched knocking continued for the rest of the fucking night.
Winnie stood alert ceaselessly responding to the knocks with barks. I knew all of the doors were locked but something compelled me to stay in my room, as if I was safer there. I stayed there until daybreak. By then it had become too much so I went downstairs and shouted through the door that I was going to call the police unless they left my property. They didn't. Yeah, instead of leaving, the knocking became ceaseless for the next hour. So, I called the police.
Needless to say, these kids were deeply disturbing me. obviously. There was however this feeling, the kind of feeling you get right as you're caught in a lie, the adrenaline rush that makes you feel like you're falling for a split second. I was shaking as I dialed the number. Before there was even a reply I felt that there was some kind of futility to the call, I felt as if I knew that nothing would come of it.“911 what’s your emergency?”
“Hello” I said “there are two kids on my doorstep, they’ve been standing there all night asking to come in when I said no but they’ve refused to leave and they’ve been knocking on my door all night” the operator asked what my address was and told me that they would send some officers over to see what they could do.
I stayed on the phone with the operator, locking myself in my bedroom once more as we spoke. Although it was silly, it brought me the slightest tinge of relief. The operator spoke with me for a while. I kept reiterating that it didn't feel safe, but, I don't think that they were taking me that seriously, they must have thought that they were listening to the ramblings of a madman whose mind was unfurling on the other end of the line, I think that the operator was just trying to calm me down. It took about 30 minutes for the police to find my house. I heard the sound of wheels on gravel. I listened. Silence. The din of that effervescent pounding drum on my door was gone. It had stopped for the first time since it had started again. I unlocked my bedroom and slowly came down the stairs. The creaks under my feet felt as if they were booming, thundering, and blaring, as if it were the sound of gunfire loud and menacing. But what came next must have been an atomic bomb in comparison; the slew bangs on my door. I swear I almost had a heart attack right then and there. I crept to a window peering through the blinds, to my relief there were the officers. I came to the door and opened it, Let them in, and told them my story again.
“Well sir ” one of the officers said “there wasn't anyone at your door when we got here,”
“-that doesn't mean-” I started to protest but I was cut off
“-I’m not saying that they weren't here, I'm just asking if you would have any idea where they might be.” he continued “this is probably just some kind of joke, but you said they were young ”
“Yes” I responded “they were really young”
“And they were knocking all night?”
“Yes”
“And there was no way for them to get inside of the house?”
“Not that I know of” (I had made sure of that.)
"If these were teenagers it would be a different story, but kids as young as you're describing, someones probably missing them. May we search the woods?." I told the officers that they could look, I gave them a better description of the kids and they were off. They told me that they'd let me know if they found anything. I wish they had.
Some time after the officers had vanished into the woods the knocking began again. pounding. It was combated with a chorus of barks from Winnie. I couldn't exactly call 911 again and there wasn't anything I could do until the police got back. I peered out the window and there they were, the same two kids. I knew they were there before I had looked but something about my eyes' own conformation made my heart pump faster. As before I took Winnie by her collar and went back to my bedroom. locking myself in. the knocking kept going and going and going and going. When the police came back the noise stopped and I told them what had happened. They told me that they hadn't seen any children, but to call them if I needed anything else. It's been two weeks since then and in that time I've called the police over fifty times. I think they have my name on a list now because every time I call they ask me to stop. The reason is because as soon as the the police left, the last time they visited, one week ago (right before I got fucking blacklisted), the knocking started again and it hasn't stopped since. I haven't slept since it started, and I don't know when or if it will ever stop or how to get them to just leave. I am truly and sincerely asking for anyone whoever reads this to give me some way to get through it.
please,
help.
November 17th 2023
So,
It's been a few days since I last posted here and …
I did something really fucking stupid. I opened the door. (No, I did not let them in) and right now, as a result; I am freaking the fuck out.
For the last couple of days the knocking has been intermittently stopping for a few hours and then starting back up again. I've been sleeping when I'm able, but it's becoming increasingly more difficult as I hope you can imagine. I think when a person loses enough sleep they also lose all sense judgment and self preservation, I think that that's what happened to me. Early this morning (around 2AM) I woke up to a cacophony of thuds. In my muddled frustration-clouded state I trudged down the stairs where I saw Winnie, she had planted herself in front of the door a few days after they arrived. She's stopped eating. She won't leave the door no matter what. I think she's more scared than me.
As soon as I stood in front of the door the knocking became louder and louder and louder like a throbbing. Winnie let out a low growl. Many of you thought that these things could be vampires because it seems like they need to be invited in. This morning I was following what can only be described as vampire logic. Many of you recommended getting garlic cloves. I don't have garlic cloves, but I did have garlic powder. Without thinking I went to the cupboard pulled out a big bottle of garlic powder, and took off the lid, as I swung open the door. Winnie scrambled away. almost knocking me over as I proceeded to douse the little fuckers in garlic powder! And then- NOTHING HAPPENED, by that I mean literally NOTHING. No reaction whatsoever. I don't know what I expected to happen. I guess I expected something.
Then the girl spoke as if she hadn't just been dredged in seasoning “ Can we come in?”
“ What do you want?” I stammered.
Then for the first time the little boy looked up and spoke. At that point I was sent out of whatever trance I was in, whatever fantasy that made me think getting rid of them would be easy. his eyes, no. its eyes were the darkest things I have ever seen. There was not a sliver of white. They looked like they were holes in his head. I say this because there was no glare, no reflection of any light on them. It stared as if it were pulling me apart piece by piece (As if I were some ghastly thing.) Then it spoke. As it stepped forward, I stepped back- out of the door frame.
“Why do you not let us in? We cannot come in if you say no.” its speaking patterns were strange and unnatural as if it hadn’t spoken for a very long time.
At this point I fully came back to my senses, slammed the door, and locked it. Since this started (almost three weeks ago) I haven't left my house. Some of you said I should, but in all honesty I think I have this fear of breaching the threshold of my front door. I think it's more of a fear of the unknown. What would they do if there was nothing between us? What could I do?
I'm going to keep you updated.
-Josh
November 23rd 2023
Hi,
It's been a few days since I last posted here and things have stayed relatively the same .. they still haven't left.
I wanted to apologize for the- unpropitious nature of my last post, I feel like I should explain the dumbassery I pulled. I had read some of the comments, and I learned a few things; the first thing I learned is that reddit is not the place to go if you want to be told that everything's going to be okay, it is however, the place to go if you want to be told that the children outside your door are most certainly without a doubt extremely dangerous, and that they may or may not kill you.
The general consensus in the comments was that these kids are not human, but there was a divergence in what exactly they are. Some of you thought they were vampires, which is what prompted the garlic powder altercation of November 17th. Thus the vampire theory has been disproven thanks in part to the garlic powder altercation of November 17th and the realization that vampires can't be in the sun ( I've seen these fuckers in the sun.)
The other theories were: fae, demons, ghosts, and the black eyed kids. After what happened I believe that they are black eyed kids. Although I'm still not sure what to do about it, for the most part I don't know what black eyed kids are. I know you're not supposed to let them in but that's it. In all the stories I've looked into it seems like they just… go away…eventually. These two, however, seem to be staying put. I've ordered a security camera, and some earplugs to tide me over while I find a more permanent solution to this problem.
Winnie is still sitting by the door, so I moved downstairs to stay by her side. I set up a sleeping bag and moved her bed, and food next to the door. As a result she's started eating again. As I write this I’m leaned up against the door next to her. Winnie is sleeping, for the first time in a couple days. There has been a lull in the knocking in the past few hours and now it's silent. Of course they're still out there. I can see their silhouettes in the window. I feel like they're watching me.
I don't know if any of you have ever had a shelter in place or clear the hall drill in school, but being here, this situation- it kind of feels like that. For those of you who don't know; clear the hall drills meant that class continued as normal with the one caveat that you couldn't leave the classroom. There was the phenomenon, every time we had one of these drills without fail everyone spontaneously needed to; use the bathroom, or get water, or see the nurse. we all inexplicably needed to leave as soon as we knew that we couldn't. Because we suddenly felt trapped. That's what this situation feels like.
I didn't get out much before they arrived, I just didn't feel the need to. I used to like being alone. I liked the quietness of the forest. I had created my own private world where I could just be. I felt safe in just existing on my own. I never used to jump at the slightest noise or fear breaching the threshold of my front door. I used to be independent (I'm clinging to the hope that I still am.)
This has been the first time in years that I've seriously asked for help. The first time in years that I've felt I needed it. Thank you for all the responses, some of them have been extremely helpful, some of them helped lighten the mood. Altogether they've helped me feel less alone. I'm going to try to sleep before the knocking begins again. I hope you're all safe.
Goodnight,
-Josh
P.S.
To the people who told me that I should let them in to “just see what happens”
why?
Just why?
December 3rd 2023
Hey,
So you know how in my last entry I was somewhat calm, needless to say I had gotten somewhat used to the idea of them being on my front stoop. Well, I think that level of desensitization has dissipated because, Something happened, and I know most of my entries here start with some version of “something happened” but SOMETHING HAPPENED. I got a doorbell camera for one.
Long story short; they don't like to be filmed! In fact they fucking hate it! To make a long story long I hung the camera on my door. It opens inward so I didn't have to step outside to put it up. As soon as I opened it they started with what has become their typical spiel.
“Can you let us in?”
“Nope”
“You have to let us in”
“No I do not”
“Why do you not let us in?”
“Let me think, oh yeah, because, you're fucking creepy“
“We need to phone our mother”
“Yeah,I think you've exhausted the mom lie by now”
“Let us in”
“You've been here two months try a different fucking house!” I slammed the door at that point. As soon as I did the knocking started again the drumming felt as though it was on the back of my skull. I stayed near the door. In all honesty I haven't (for the most part ) left my doorway since last entry winnie is planted there and I don't want her to be alone. I don't want to be alone. All that is to say I was next to the door when it happened so I heard the knocking fade as it was usurped by a
C
R
A
C
K
The sound of the camera breaking, crushing plastic and breaking screws. It lasted a long time. Then the knocking resumed as if it hadn't happened. All I could do was sit there and listen. My heart started going fast pounding out of my chest as if it had become synchronized to the pounding at the door.
I gave it a day before I checked to see the damage and as expected the camera was completely destroyed. bits of plastic, glass, and wire a strew across my front stoop.
“Can we come in?” they asked again and again and again as I just stared at the mess. And then I shut it again. Sense then the knocking has not stopped, the lulls of the last few weeks are gone.
All I can do is sit here and listen to this endless thunder.
I need to leave.
I need to leave tonight. I can't take it anymore. I can't live like this anymore. I need to leave. Everyday I feel weaker and more tired. I feel as though I'm dying, I sound dramatic but I swear they’re taking my life from me. It's hard to explain but If I don't leave soon I know, one day, I won't be able to. I'm leaving tonight. I don't know what they’ll do when I step outside. I guess I'll find out.
I’ll keep you updated.
-Josh
Update;
First I want to apologize for the frankly ominous nature of the last entry. I was freaking out and I thought that I could get it out of my system if I wrote about it. Needless to say, by the time I was done writing I was still FREAKING THE FUCK OUT. So I did something very stupid.
I said a while ago last time that I think my lack of sleep has affected my judgment and well, it has!I made an attempt to leave the house which was, admittedly, a bad idea. A poor decision if you will. I thought if I could just get to my car then I could drive away. It's been two months and as stated previously, I haven't left my house.
It's been hard to do anything. Most of my days are filled with nothing more than ennui, that is until the front door comes into my line of sight. That's when the boredom fades and I start to focus on the knocking and the silhouettes in the window. The two small shadows. I know they can see me and I know they're waiting. For the past week I had this thought in the back corners of my mind,
“What would happen if I left?” I thought, “they can’t come into the house they can’t touch me if I took a bag and Winnie and just ran for my car I might be able to leave” so that’s exactly what I did (despite the fact that the can't-come-in and can't-touch-this theories have not been proven).
I filled a backpack with the essentials and carried Winnie bridal style as I reached for the door. There they were just staring. I stared back for a while. It was like I was a deer frozen in the otherworldly glow of headlights. Then the moment was gone. I booked it, pushing past them half expecting them to lurch after me to follow to grab at my ankles and pull me back to hell.
But, they didn’t. They just stood there watching me leave. Winnie barked and kicked the entire time. I got into the car and locked it. I was breathing heavily my heart pounding out of my chest
“holy shit”
It was cathartic! I was finally free, finally safe. I wish I could say that that feeling had lasted and that Winnie and I left and never came back, and that we never saw those monsters again.
If that were the case I wouldn’t be writing to you. This would be the last thing I’d be doing (no offense.) Instead I looked back to the porch before pulling out. The kids were gone.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
all sides of the car were vibrating with the noise. The sound of contorting metal. instantly I turned on the headlights and there were their dark empty eyes staring back at me. Those eyes reflected no light there was no shine, no reflection whatsoever they were just dull. Like they were holes.
I just sat there in the car staring at them. I just froze. I knew that they weren't people. I could just stomp on the gas and go far far away, But they looked like people, they looked like kids. So I sat there until morning. Until I saw the sunrise. I didn't have the guts to go out of the driveway so at 6:00 AM I scooped up Winnie and ran inside.
The door to hell opened and I stayed.
I stayed
I feel like an idiot.
If you have any advice, please,
help.
(this series is ongoing)