The Memories of The Dead

A drawing emerges as the sun sets.

[thememoriesofthedead]

It’s cetrainly been a while since I posted on here! This one’s 2 months late but here is a portrait of my twin for her 25th birthday!

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 31

Jack O'Lantern

As legend would have it, there once existed a soul that had been denied entry into both Heaven and Hell, a feat not to be taken so light-heartedly without due merit. Turned away by both St. Peter and by the Devil, one would question how it was possible to be denied entry into the realms of both benevolence and malevolence respectively, but if you were to question such a story then I could guarantee that your ears had never met the company of the tale surrounding ol' Stingy Jack.

As the legend goes, in Ireland's late medieval history in a remote, sleepy little village there once existed a drunkard by the name of Stingy Jack. A trickster by mind as well as by nature, Jack had a reputation throughout the lands as a deceiver and a manipulator, a character best kept at arm's length if one wished to maintain a hold over their personal possessions and well-being. On the eve of a full moon, the Devil himself came to learn of Jack's evil deeds and sought to test Jack for himself, believing that no mere mortal could be more malevolent and vile than himself. On the night of the full moon, a drunken Jack stumbled through the countryside until he happened upon a body curled up by the side of the road. Upon closer examination of the body, Jack came face to face with Satan himself which caused him to recoil in fear and wash away his drunken stupor. Jack knew all too well that this fateful encounter was to be his end for all the wicked crimes that he had committed over the years. As a last request, Jack asked Satan to allow him to drink a pint of ale before he was to depart from this world to fiery pits of Hell. Finding no reason to deny Jack of his request, Satan complied and accompanied Jack to the closest pub further along the country lane. Upon satisfying his final request as a man on God's green Earth, Jack insisted that Satan should pay for the drinks that the both of them had consumed. Jack convinced Satan to metamorphose into a silver coin which he would use to pay the bartender. Impressed by Jack's nefarious strategy, Satan fulfilled his requirement and now took the appearance of a genuine silver coin. A devilish Jack grasped the now-transformed Satan and placed him in his coat pocket besides a conveniently placed crucifix. Satan had been fooled and could not escape his current form unless he escaped the company of the crucifix. Jack informed the Devil that he would grant him his freedom in return for a deal against his soul, in that Satan would be unable to claim it for himself until ten whole years had come to pass. With little to wager in his defence, the Devil agreed to Jack's terms at which point Jack removed the crucifix from his coat pocket, allowing Satan to once again take the form of a man. Ten years came to pass and on the anniversary of their first encounter, Jack once again found himself bestowed into Satan's company. On this occasion, Jack acknowledged that his time had come and was willing to accompany the Devil to the Gates of Hell. Before attempting the descent into Hell Jack asked the Devil if before he was to surrender his soul for good he be allowed to enjoy the sweet taste of Earth's harvest one last time. Satan foolishly agreed to Jack's demand and lead him to a nearby apple tree. Jack instructed the Devil to produce for him the apple which grew amongst the clouds at the very top of the tree. Eager to claim Jack's soul for himself the Devil began to climb the tree's branches. Whilst doing so, a wicked Jack surrounded the base of the apple tree with numerous crucifixes thus preventing the Devil from returning to the ground. Frustrated once again that he had been tricked by a mere mortal, the Devil demanded that he be released. Jack agreed, but only if his soul should never again be claimed by Satan until the end of time. The Devil reluctantly agreed and thus returned to the Earth unable to claim Jack's soul for himself. As mortal life breathed its life Jack's soul departed from his body once he reached a particular age. Upon attempting to enter through the Gates of Heaven Jack was halted by St. Peter who denied Jack access to God's benevolent Kingdom. As a result of his heinous crimes as a mortal, Jack was unfit to enter under God's roof and instead sought to seek refuge in the afterlife in Satan's own Kingdom. Upon reaching the Gates of Hell, Jack was once again denied entry. Satan informed Jack that he could not break his prior obligations and thus could not allow him sanctuary into Hell. Pitiful of Jack's current situation, however, the Devil removed a fiery ember from the pits of Hell and gave it to Jack to behold. A fruit of the Earth, in the form of a Pumpkin, was obtained by Jack's wandering spirit to hold the ember that Satan had bestowed upon to him. For the rest of eternity, Jack was doomed to wander the realms between all that was good and all that was evil with only the light of a single ember to guide him on his way…

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 30

Hell Night & Mischief Night

The creation of Halloween owes itself to many cultures and time periods who each put aside a day to celebrate the transition of life into death and the memory of all those who had passed before them. The folklore and traditions of the Old World travelled across the Atlantic to Americas during the 19th and 20th Centuries birthing the contemporary Halloween that we know today, however, a more rambunctious night was soon to develop as the energies of Halloween began to converge and swell in preparation for a much beloved holiday. In some Anglo-sphere countries, specifically, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the night before Halloween is known as Mischief Night, although it has also been known to go by the names Hell Night, Devil's Night, and Trick Night also. On the night of October 30th, numerous towns and cities have been plagued by tricks and pranks often carried out by seemingly innocent children and adolescents wishing to get a kick out of causing havoc and mass destruction. Popular tricks often include the toilet papering of houses and buildings, the egging of passing cars and windows, the smashing of pumpkins, and sometimes the creation of fires. In the United Kingdom specifically, Mischief Night may also fall on the 4th of November, the day before Bonfire Night, whereby a lot of similar themes and energies mingle with the previous Halloween festivities. Over the decades, local authorities have sought to combat the mischievous and destructive nature that surrounds the eve of Halloween but even to this day the pranksters and trickers of Mischief Night will not have their energies quashed. The 30th of October will no doubt remain the domain of pranksters and jokers for many years to come.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 29

The Babysitter and The Man Upstairs

At some point during our adolescent lives, we may have all found ourselves playing the role of a babysitter for the younger and more vulnerable of our species. Whether it be watching over younger siblings, the children of a neighbour or a close family friend, the connotations of a babysitter remain the same, a guardian figure whose only role is to watch over, provide, and protect the younger children from coming to any harm. This being said, however, what if the children in this situation are not the only ones that need protecting from the dangers of the outside world…

A teenage girl finds herself babysitting two children during the evening. She knows the children well, they are the children of a close family friend, hence the reason for her current situation. The children's parents are expected to be out for the majority of the evening and are most likely, at best, to return home close to midnight. The girl understands but realises that she can make great use of the time by studying whilst the children are asleep. To the girl's surprise, the children fall asleep earlier than she had anticipated and so she decides to spend her time productively by revising in the living room downstairs. An hour passes and the girl is startled by the sound of the phone ringing. The girl picks up the phone to answer and is greeted with the following message:

“Have you checked the children?”

The girl assumes the call to be a prank call and immediately hangs up. Out of curiosity the girl contemplates checking on the children but reconsiders when she realises that her presence upstairs may wake them. Another hour passes when the phone rings again.

“Have you checked the children?” a similar gruff voice asks from the other end of the line. This time the girl does not hang up the phone immediately which prompts the caller to repeat their question:

“Have you checked the children?”

The girl swiftly hangs up the phone and calls the police to express her concern, curious to know how the caller knew that she was currently babysitting. Perhaps the caller had been a friend or a family member wanting to scare her, but she wished to put her mind at ease nonetheless. Acknowledging the girl's distress, the police officer agrees to trace the call if the perpetrator should call again and report back to the girl once the matter had been cleared up. The girl thanks the officer for their help and hangs up the phone. Another hour passes when the phone rings for the third time. The girl is hesitant to pick up, but she knows that in doing so the police may be able to identify the potential prankster. Upon placing the phone against her ear the familiar gruff voice snarls down the phone:

“Have you checked the children?”

The girl does not hang up immediately as she had done previously as to establish a connection long enough so that the officer would be able to trace the call. The girl questions the caller by asking them why they continued to ring her. The caller remains silent for a while before shouting one final message down the phone:

“Why haven't you checked the children?”

Upon hearing this the girl shudders which causes her to drop the phone thus terminating the call. Almost instantly the phone rings again and the girl answers solely to rebuke the assailant. This time, however, the girl is not confronted by the mysterious perpetrator but instead by the police officer from her previous call. The officer instructs the girl to collect the children and evacuate the home as quickly as possible. They traced the call and it was found that the call was coming from inside the house. Upon hearing this message the girl remains frozen in fear as she hears heavy footsteps descending the staircase.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 28

The Dybbuk Box

In Jewish folklore, there exists an unusual and malevolent entity known as a Dybbuk that has the ability to possess the body of a living host. The naming of this wicked spirit can trace its etymology to the Hebrew word 'dāḇaq', meaning 'to adhere' or 'to cling', as such those possessed by a dybbuk may find it difficult to rid themselves of their supernatural parasites. The dybbuk themselves are believed to be the wandering souls of the departed who are bound to this world with the sole purpose of completing an objective or fulfilling something that they may have been unable to accomplish during their mortal life. Taking this knowledge into consideration one would not wish to find themselves encountering a dybbuk should the misfortune ever arise.

Let me take you back to the days of World War 2 when a young woman by the name of Havaleh fled her native Poland to escape the atrocities enacted out on her country by the invading forces. Upon fleeing westwards towards the Iberian peninsula our young protagonist resided briefly in Spain before immigrating to the United States where she lived out the remainder of her life. Whilst in Spain, Havaleh purchased a Jewish wine cabinet which would later accompany her on her journey across the Atlantic. The cabinet would remain in her possession until her death where it would find a new owner having been sold by her Granddaughter at an estate sale. The buyer of this war-time curiosity enticed the attention of a man by the name of Kevin Mannis. Havaleh's Granddaughter informed Mannis that the box had been purchased in Spain after the Holocaust and had been in her Grandmother's possession for the majority of her adult life. Upon hearing that the box had previously been a family heirloom, Mannis attempted to return it to its original owners with little success. The Granddaughter insisted that she no longer desired the company of the box, believing that inside resided a malevolent spirit known as a Dybbuk. Havaleh had never once opened the box through fear of unleashing the evil that lay dormant deep inside and as such, it remained closed as the decades passed. Intrigued by the box's history, Mannis opened the box to discover what truly resided inside. Within the box resided numerous small items: a golden wine goblet, a lock of dark hair, two pennies dating back to the 1920s, a dried rosebud, a small statue with the Hebrew word 'Shalom' engraved onto its surface, and a single candle-holder. Despite this, however, Mannis found no reason to question the supernatural residency of a malevolent spirit as suggested by Havaleh's Granddaughter. Days later Mannis would find himself plagued by numerous paranormal occurrences which he eventually owed to the opening of the box. Mannis would later sell the box on eBay with the hopes of escaping the curse that he had unleashed on himself. Subsequent owners of the box would all report similar stories of hauntings and unrest that would force them into selling the box to a new intrigued owner. It has been reported that many Dybbuk boxes are currently in circulation across numerous shopping sites, although the credibility surrounding their authenticity will forever remain unknown. The only true method to discover their authenticity would be to open the sealed box and set free its Dybbuk prisoner, at which point your sate may already be sealed.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 27

Freddy Krueger & Killer Nightmares

Dreams. They're a mysterious and abstract concept that we all experience on a day to day basis. Sometimes we remember our dreams, the characters, the narrative, the emotions, whereas at other times we may wake under the impression that we had not dreamt at all. Humans have been dreaming since the dawn of time, yet despite this, even to this day, we are still unaware of what secrets lie behind them. Our dreams represent a transition between states, from the familiar realms of consciousness and self-awareness to an unconscious realm where we are no longer in control. It is in this unconscious state that our body and mind grow and heal in equal measure, it is a time when we can process all that has happened over the course of the day, but in some respects, it is also the time when we at our most vulnerable. Whilst we dream we are not consciously in control of our surroundings, we can not control the outcome of the dream, we can only experience what is yet to happen, whether it be good or bad. Dreams that we perceive as being good are often still referred to as dreams, but those that cause us anxiety and fear are given a different name of folkloric origin. It is possible for any person who dreams to suffer from a nightmare. Their causes are mysterious in nature but some have suggested that their occurrence may be as a direct result of traumatic events that happen in one’s conscious state. In more fictitious terms, a gardener-come-serial killer would prove to be more fatal when exacting torment on those who were unable to defend themselves in an unconscious state of being, but perhaps Freddy Krueger was not the first to do so. In historic times, nightmares were thought to have been caused by demonic entities, known as mares, that took a hold over their host whilst they slept at night. They would sit on their victim's chest as they slept and place their hands over their face. This, in turn, would induce heavy breathing and often cause their victims to gasp for breath. The demons were known to plague the minds of their victims with hideous thoughts and ghastly apparitions for their own amusement, the more fearful their host became the most pleased they would be with their accomplishments. The only natural way to rid oneself of a mare was to wake with a start and thus dispel the demon from your presence, however, producing such an effect without the aid of conscious decision making is easier said than done.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 26

The Flannan Isle Lighthouse Mystery

In the remote north of the British Isles on the fringes of Scotland's outer lying territories lies a barren and windswept archipelago known as the Flannan Isles. The small group of islands, which lie North West of the more prolific Outer Hebrides have been devoid of any permanent residents since the 1970s, although the isles were often frequented previously by lighthouse keepers who would remain on the island for short periods of time to attend to the lighthouse and lead passing ships safely away from the jagged shores of the isles. A small, barren and somewhat isolated archipelago under normal circumstances would not gain the attention of the populous of its much larger neighbour in Great Britain, but against all odds, that's exactly the popularity that these small islands managed to attain after a series of rather bizarre events. This tale begins in the year of 1900, the dawn of the 20th Century, and also the first step into a mysterious tale that to this day casts an eerie mist over an otherwise barren landscape, shrouding the islands in both secrecy and intrigue. Three men, Thomas Marshall, James Ducat, and Donald MacArthur, were tasked with manning the lighthouse that fateful December of 1900, with a rotating fourth man who spent his time at the shore. The first to detect something untoward concerning the islands was the steamer Archtor who had been making her voyage from Philadelphia to Leith by movement of passage close to the isles. The crew of the steamer noted that, rather unusually, the light of the lighthouse was not operational despite the bleak weather, and thus reported their findings once they docked in the port of Scotland's historic capital. Acknowledging the strange circumstances surrounding the isles, a relief vessel was dispatched to investigate and reached the remote archipelago eleven days after the first initial sighting. Upon reaching the isle's waters, a relief keeper ventured to the eerie shores to investigate further. Rather bizarrely, the keeper had not been welcomed ashore by the lighthouse keepers upon his arrival. The keeper thus ventured up to the lighthouse alone where he discovered an ominous scene. The interior of the lighthouse did not raise any suspicion regarding the strange circumstances, but the lighthouse keepers themselves were nowhere to be found inside, nor were they located anywhere on the small island. The clocks in the lighthouse had all stopped and a single chair lay knocked over. The island had suffered dearly at the hands of a ferocious storm as documented in the logs of the missing keepers, but this occurred before their disappearances and hadn't contributed to their current situation. No bodies were ever found on the island, leading to some speculation that something paranormal may have been at work. Others have suggested that one of the keepers may have murdered his fellow men and disposed of their bodies at sea before befalling a similar fate himself in the harsh weather. Whatever their fates may be, no evidence has ever arisen to definitively confirm what happened to the three lighthouse keepers on that fateful December of 1900.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 25

The Killer in the Back Seat

Have you ever driven alone on a long and winding country road late at night? When inside your vehicle there would be no reason to ever assume that any danger would befall upon you, right? There may be a chance that your curiosity may have you inspect your surroundings before stepping into your vehicle, simply to reassure yourself that no one is watching you from beyond the cover of the trees or lurking within the shadows behind you, but have you ever stopped to check the back seat of your car? If you ever do, it may just save your life!

On a dark and stormy Autumn evening, a young woman found herself driving along a long and winding country road. Realising that she was running low on fuel the woman realised that she would need to fill up at the first service station that she would encounter. The road, for the most part, had proven rather unforgiving in regards to rest stops since leaving the closest town over an hour ago. The severity of the rainfall had steadily worsened as the journey progressed and the woman knew that if she didn't reach a service station soon then she would find herself stranded. With luck, the woman noticed a service station up ahead and swiftly turned off the road to fill up her vehicle, relieved that she would not, in fact, find herself stranded on such a creepy and desolate road. After filling up her vehicle, the woman entered the service station to pay the attendant and to pick up some supplies for the rest of her journey. The woman noticed that the attendant, an older man, initially appeared well-mannered and talkative upon serving her but his approach swiftly became more irate and anxious once the woman attempted to leave the station. He insisted that she remained inside a little longer as her card payment had been rejected. Confused, the young woman hesitated before walking back towards the counter. She knew very well that her payment had been accepted. The woman slowly walked up to the counter as the attendant picked up the phone and held it to his ear. The attendant informed the woman that she had forgotten to lock her vehicle and that a man had entered her car and hidden behind the passenger seat. He asked the woman to remain by the counter until he had rung the police. The police arrived not too long after the phone call had been made and the man was escorted out of the woman's car and lead away in handcuffs. In his possession, they found a rope, cable ties, and a large knife.

This tale has circulated numerous times on contemporary mediums such as social media, emails, and text messages as a cautionary tale to family members and close friends to inspect their vehicle before driving away. Although variations of the tale exist in certain circles, some have the woman escape with her life at the aid of a friendly service attendant, others have the woman found dead the following day, the moral behind the tale always remains the same. When driving alone, one should always check the back seat of their car.

This is probably one of my favourite urban legends solely for the twist in direction at the end. The service station attendant is often perceived to be the threat at hand but is later revealed to be the hero of the tale. I find the variations between this tale most interesting, if the woman chooses to trust the attendant then she will leave unharmed, but is she is threatened by his strange behaviour then she often meets a gruesome end.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 24

The Will-o-th'-Wisp

The majority of the urban populous of the twenty-first century no doubt give little thought to the folkloric and mystical dangers of the past that were once thought to haunt the night and secluded locations such as caves and forests. The line between the previously interchangeable fields of science and folklore have over the past few centuries cemented themselves deep into the surface of the human mind and its comprehension of the world in which we live. Otherworldly entities, supernatural beings, and exquisite worlds inhabited by fair people, to name but a few, have since traversed the realms of various folklores, free from the objective measures of science. Of these supernatural entities there is but one which appears of little danger to those who perceive it, but fatal to those who wish to follow in its lead. Lone travellers who traverse swamps, wetlands, and dense forests at dusk or during the dead of night are notably the most susceptible to encounter the atmospheric fire that is the will-o-th'-wisp. The ghoulish light's Medieval Latin name, ignis faatus, literally meaning 'foolish fire' is a clear indication to the entity's devious intentions. The light cast by the will-o-th'-wisp allures all those who it appears before, presenting itself as a fantastic bright orb of gas that illuminates an otherwise darkening landscape under the guise of aiding those who look upon its magnificent flames. The light of the will-o-th'-wisp is said to lure travellers to their deaths under its hypnotic and alluring fiery dance, drawing them from the safety of the beaten track to a dark an unforgiving landscape. Those who choose to follow its magnificent light are lead to a watery grave unable to prevent their eventual fate. Lone travellers were often advised to carry a flame of their own when traversing the dark landscape at night as to not draw the attention of the will-o-th'-wisp. As the will-o-th'-wisp secretly wished to draw the gaze of many a traveller so that it could claim their soul for itself...

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 23

The Cycles of the Moon

No project into the world of horror would be complete without the looming celestial body that hangs in the night sky. Although the Moon may be our closest celestial neighbour, we still know precious little about the true secrets behind her origin and the mysteries that she holds. As you are probably already aware, the moon goes through four distinct phases as it completes a single orbit around the Earth. These in order being, New Moon, Waxing Moon, Full Moon, and finally Waning Moon. In technicality the moon actually passes through eight phases along its orbit, the remaining four allocated to the quarter phases between each of the four main phases but these are seldom acknowledged on a day to day bases. In addition to the 27.32/29.53 day orbit of the moon, in reference to the Sidereal and Synodic orbits of the moon respectively, the moon further completes a more lengthy cycle every nineteen years. This cycle, known as the Metonic cycle, which owes its name to the 5th Century Greek astronomer who researched into the Moon's cycles, is comprised of 235 lunations, or synodic months, which once completed reset the nineteen years cycle to the exact day. This means that if a full moon were to occur tonight, then in exactly nineteen years time a full moon would fall on exactly the same day. In the same manner, the cycle of the moon follows an eleven-day leap whereby a full moon will always fall eleven days before the date of the previous year. For example, as I write this, tomorrow night will host October's full moon on the 24th day of the month. This therefore means that October's full moon in the year to follow will fall eleven days earlier on the 13th day. The reason for this leap is due to the difference of eleven days between the twelve lunar months and the twelve Earth months which only realign after every nineteen years. Cycles aside, the phases of the Moon themselves have been known to influence life here on Earth more than we often give credit. The difference is most noticeable between the contrasting phases of the New Moon and the Full Moon. In many religions, the New Moon is considered holy and hosts many religious festivals, often marking the start of a particular religious period or event. In contrast, the Full Moon is acknowledged for its bestial effects on the human mind and is considered to be dangerous in folkloric tales. The term 'lunacy' or 'lunatic' has been used to describe an individual in a state of insanity or mania, the term itself finds its origins in the Latin word for the moon, 'luna'. Research into the extent of crimes and homicides has proven that acts of violence are more likely to occur on or around nights that host a Full Moon, perhaps drawing a sinister correlation between the two. Although the link between human violence and the Full Moon is not concrete and therefore open to further research and discussion, it should be noted that a correlation does, in fact, exist and that it far exceeds the boundaries of coincidence alone.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 22

The Kidney Heist

The majority of the population are quite attached to their internal organs, just as I imagine they are very attached to you, too. The consequence of losing just one organ may prove fatal to one's existence, dependant on which organ is in question that is. Regardless, the thought of losing an organ, for whatever reason, may prove to be a traumatic and daunting experience for those who have to undergo such an operation. For most people, the loss of an organ may arise in an attempt to save one's own life or to prolong the life of another. Bearing this in mind, the loss of an organ is often conducted with the individual's consent. Imagine then a situation whereby you may have an organ removed by force, without consent, and most importantly without prior knowledge to the event of occurring.

A young man finds himself in the company of a bar after a long day's work. After consuming a couple of drinks he is approached by a rather young and attractive woman who asks if she can sit beside him. Charmed by the young woman's character, the man eagerly agrees and the two begin to talk over numerous drinks. An hour passes and the girl indicates that she is staying at the hotel just across the road for the night. The man follows in the girl's lead and the two leave the bar to walk over the road to the hotel on the opposite side. The next morning, the man awakes to a sharp pain in his side stretching towards his back. His begins to shiver, and upon opening his eyes completely he realises that he is in a bath full of ice. On a small table beside him, he finds a note and a phone. The note reads that the man should call the police if he wished to remain alive. The man is taken to the hospital and assessed. The doctor reveals that one of the man's kidneys had been removed and had he not called for help when he had then he may not have lived to tell the tale. He recalls that he had witnessed a number of patients who had all been admitted to the hospital with similar scars. The doctor believed that the man was likely to be the victim of a kidney heist operation conducted by a criminal organisation known to operate in the area. Young men and woman were lured by attractive strangers from bars in the city under false pretences so that their organs could be freshly harvested to be sold on the black market.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 21

Shadow People

"Have you ever seen shadows darker than shadows?"

Well, have you?

A taxi driver once posed this question to my friends and me on a sleepy taxi journey through Portugal's Algarve region. Although I was far too sleepy to respond at the time given my lack of sleep the night before, I did later begin to think deeper about the words behind his question. A shadow, by definition, is light's inability to pass through an opaque object, resulting in a dark area that extends as far as the light can not. In theory, this would mean that nothing can be physically darker than a shadow, because a shadow can only come into existence when there is a lack of light. To put this into perspective, once the sun sets behind the horizon and the day transitions into the night, all those present within the darkness exist within one giant shadow, the Earth's to be precise. Without any light to illuminate a darkened world, the night is a dark place, to say the least. Without the aid of artificial lighting and the light of the Moon, navigating in this dark would be near to impossible aided by sight alone. This then begs the question, how can something be darker than something that you can't see? Unfortunately, the English language is at fault here, often times the word 'dark' is interchangeable between many different meanings, whether it be in reference to light, colour, morality, emotion, or intention. Let's assume then, for argument's sake, that there is, in fact, something darker than the shadows. Have you ever awoke in the middle of the night for reasons that you cannot explain? This in itself is not unusual, many people have been pulled from their dreams rather suddenly whether it be at the hands of a nightmare or stress, but have you ever awoke in a state of paralysis? You are well aware that you are awake, in fact, you are almost certain that you are. You can hear the world around you, you can even feel it as you try to move your arms, only this time they won't. Sleep paralysis is a strange concept, it clearly emphasises the difference between body and mind and the relationship between the two. The mind is active and very much awake, but the body is not and you have lost your control over it. It is often in this state of vulnerability that those suffering from sleep paralysis witness a strange shadow approaching them as they lie unable to move. Folklore often recalls upon dark humanoid figures, darker than the shadows themselves, who are often seen dwelling in an individual's peripheral vision or before those who suffer from sleep paralysis. They often appear to lack any physicality, seemingly formed from the shadows themselves and able to move unhindered through solid objects. These paranormal entities are often referred to as shadow people and are believed to be linked to nightmares and deep, negative emotions. The certainty behind these entities remains as clear as their shadowy nature but all that being said, I hope you sleep well tonight…

I've only ever suffered from sleep paralysis twice, both occasions being close together back in my college days. The only difference here is that on both occasions I distinctly remember facing the wall, not getting much of a view for potential shadows there! And the sun had already risen meaning that my bedroom was by no means dark either.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 20

Vampirism & The Blood Countess

Let me introduce you to Countess Elizabeth Báthory, a Hungarian noblewoman of grandeur by day, alleged serial killer and habitual torturer of young woman by night. Amongst one of the most prolific female serial killers throughout all of history, it has been hypothesised that throughout her murderous killing spree, the Countess may have claimed the lives of over 600 individuals whom she had enticed into the alleged sanctuary of her castle. The daughters of local peasants were the first of Báthory's victims who were offered well-paid work inside the castle either as maids or servants to the Countess herself. Joyous to accept such well-paid jobs the girls did not require much enticing, but little did they know that that upon passing beyond the castle's walls they would never lay eyes on their families again. Báthory's methods into the torture and violence exerted on her victims were inhumane and atrocious, to say the least. Some tales recall that the girls were mutilated by having pieces of their flesh torn from their bodies via the aid of hot knives, metal tongues, and even teeth. Other stories tell of the insertion of pins under the fingernails to exact excruciating pain. Severe beatings were not too uncommon either, accompanied by periods of starvation that may have lasted for days on end. Once the Countess had exhausted the local supply of peasant girls her eyes fixated on the abduction of young girls further afield. Eventually it became clear that a sizeable portion of the female youth were all disappearing at the hands of the Countess and thus Elizabeth was convicted and found guilty of the heinous crimes that she had committed. Her final years of life were lived out in a windowless room of her castle in solitary confinement whereby she was not permitted to leave under any circumstances. After four years of imprisonment, Elizabeth died inside the same castle where she exacted her fury on over 600 young women and girls. Although Countess Elizabeth Báthory may present all the traits of a sadistic serial killer who expressed no gratitude to the life of another, contemporary folklore has cast a rather different spotlight over the noblewoman. Legend recalls that the Countess bathed in the blood of her victims to enhance her physical beauty and to remain youthful even in her older years. She would sometimes consume the blood of her innocent victims as a way to preserve their life force within her own, similar as to how the vampire must extract the blood from a living host in order to preserve their energy and continue to roam the Earth without the aid of a soul. In more recent years the tale of The Blood Countess, as she often regarded, and her native homeland of Hungary has merged with other tales of Vampiric folklore to present the Countess as less of a noblewoman and more of a murderous vampire who would prey on the youth and innocence of young girls and women alike. Bram Stoker's fictitious character Dracula, from the gothic horror of the same name and the namesake of the Prince of Wallachia, hails from the Transylvanian plateau of modern-day Romania, a territory that was once occupied by the Kingdom of Hungary. It seems clear that this gothic region of the Balkan peninsula has influenced greatly the folklore of the vampire and had incorporated the residents of its rich historic lands into the folds of its vivid lore and narratives.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 19

Bloody Mary & Catoptromancy

“Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary.”

I'm sure you all know how this one goes,

but what happens next no one truly knows…

One of the most popular urban legends amongst children and teenagers, the ritual surrounding Bloody Mary is often recited in school bathrooms or at home alone if one is more daring to encounter such a spirit. The folklore surrounding this tale has changed over the years, however, it is clear that certain tropes remain a constant stitch sewn deep into the fabrication of the narrative at hand. Individuals or groups of people who wish to summon the spirit of Bloody Mary will find themselves standing before a mirror in a darkened room lit solely by the burning embers of a candle's flame. All participants must stare at their reflection in the dimly lit mirror and recite 'Bloody Mary' thrice making sure not to tear their gaze from the mirror. Any distraction will result in an immediate failure to invoke her spirit. Upon calling Bloody Mary for the third time, it is alleged that the spirit of a woman will appear within the mirror. Sometimes she may appear so that her spirit replaces the reflections in the mirror of those who stand before her, at other times she may simply appear directly behind so that her being can be seen standing behind you as you gaze hypnotically into the mirror. Folklore remains unclear as to what happens next, some stories state that Bloody Mary will instantly kill those who summon her spirit, draining her victims of their blood before then retreating back into the mirror from whence she came. Other tales state that Bloody Mary seizes her victims and pulls them into the mirror where they are to remain trapped for all of eternity. Sometimes these individuals can be seen briefly when passing by the mirror in which they were trapped, that thing that had caught your eye may not have been your own reflection as you may have thought. Whatever truth lies behind this campfire tale, one unanswered question still remains unclear: If those who summon Bloody Mary successfully all meet a gruesome end, then where do the stories originate?

I remember feeling far too scared to ever try this ritual when I was younger, I often placed too much truth into supernatural tales than I do today. I was that kid who believed every urban legend to be true and to be treated with caution. It's due to this trauma as I child that I still do not keep a mirror of any sort in my bedroom. Who knows what things might catch your eye when you happen to notice it in the dark…

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 18

Kuru, Cannibalism, Zombies & The Fore People of Papua New Guinea

Situated in the dense jungles of Papua New Guinea's Eastern highlands there exists a tribe known as the Fore that have been known to suffer from a rather peculiar disease native exclusively to the region and its inhabitants. Ritualistic cannibals, the Fore people have been documented to devour the flesh of recently deceased relatives as a means of respect and mourning. Other sources claim that the devouring of a deceased family member's flesh will bestow onto the consumer the qualities and traits of the recently deceased. The consumption of human flesh in this ritualistic procedure presented the Fore people with more profound instabilities than they could have previously come to comprehend, in such a way that those who had recently consumed the flesh of their dead relatives often found themselves dying at a remarkably young age. Referred to as 'Kuru', a word derived from the Fore language meaning 'to shake', those who suffered from the disease were known to exhibit severe trembling accompanied by frequent bursts of uncontrollable laughter. The specific cause of the disease, in regards to the ritualistic cannibalistic acts committed, was found to be as a direct result of the presence of abnormal proteins found in the body. These abnormal proteins, known as prions, could be found throughout the body but were most concentrated in the brain. Those who then ate the flesh of a deceased relative infected by the prions would inadvertently infect themselves upon consuming their flesh, thus contributing to an endless cycle whereby the flesh of the infected deceased would be eaten by the living only for them to die prematurely themselves as a result. The women and children of the tribe were most at risk of contracting the disease as they were the most likely to consume the brain of the deceased relative. The first reports surrounding Kuru began to circulate in the early 1950's but in more contemporary times Kuru has witnessed a decline in fatalities as a direct result of the abstinence expressed by the Fore people in relation to ritualistic cannibalism and the consumption of cooked human flesh. In recent years comparisons between the mysterious disease and the fictitious character that is the zombie have been drawn to acknowledge their rather peculiar mutuality. Kuru may often take the name of 'The Zombie Virus' and it is clear to see why some may regard it in this manner. In a similar fashion to those suffering from Kuru, zombies may appear to manoeuvre themselves in a peculiar way as if stumbling and fumbling to get to their final destination, which in most common accounts is likely to be a human brain. Those suffering from Kuru also devour the brains of their fellow humans for reasons of their own, but is one of those reasons for the benefit of their survival? Who knows?

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 16

The Vanishing Hitchhiker

Ghost stories are most popular in rural and isolated areas where the local people are naturally more superstitious than there urbanised city folk. It is for this reason that the majority of ghost stories and tales of old find their setting in abandoned houses by the forest's edge and quiet, twisting country roads. It is in the latter that we discover an urban legend that has, by most accounts, been in circulation around campfires and at sleep-overs since the 1950s.

A lone traveller is driving along a quiet and eerie country lane as dusk prepares for the night ahead. The sun's dying rays disappear being the thick canopy above, the trees seemingly reached over the road to touch their brothers and sisters on the opposite side with their elongated and spindly arms. The darkening landscape cast a foreboding presence deep within the man's minds he travelled further into the night. He hadn't seen a single car on the road since he had left the previous town over three hours ago, the sense of loneliness had hung over him like a thick fog ever since. Only the light of the car's headlights illuminated the road as the lone traveller ventured further on his way. All that was situated along the road's periphery exhibited a pale hue under the intensity of the headlights. Twigs and plants and rocks, all glowing in comparison to the darkness that surrounded. That was when he noticed the girl. She stood motionless in the centre of the road, he had to break hard to avoid ploughing her down, but she did not react to this presence or the blinding light, not even the slightest hesitation. She wore a long, white, flowing dress, almost ghostly in appearance, seemingly an apparition of sorts, but she couldn't be, she was all too real! Who was she? How had she gotten here? But most importantly, why was she alone on a dark and isolated road a way from the nearest town? Although apprehensive of the situation at hand, the man felt an expression of calmness wash over him as the young girl approached the car. She asked the man if he would be kind enough to escort her back to her house which he would find a few miles further down this very road. Feeling a warmth from the young girl's gentle voice and fair face, the man was more than willing to comply to her request. The young girl took her seat in the passenger seat and the two ventured along the dark road, both glad to be in the other's company. The man asked the girl why she had been alone on the road this late at night but she appeared hesitant to answer. Eventually, the girl recalled that she had attended a dance and was on her journey back home. The man tried to understand why he had found the girl alone if she had attended a dance, surely she would not travel back home alone on a darkened road without her date to accompany her. The girl refused to answer any further questions and the two remained in silence as they continued on their journey. A few minutes passed when the girl asked the man if he could come to a stop. The man complied with the girl's request and the car stopped beside a graveyard not a great distance from the road. Here the trees had parted and a thin sliver of silver moonlight rested over the graves so that their shapes could be witnessed clearly. The man shifted his curious gaze towards the graveyard and then back at his young passenger, but she had vanished. The man stepped out of his car to search for the girl, but he had not heard the passenger door open once. Regardless, the girl was nowhere to be seen, nor was she anywhere in the car. Confused and a little spooked as to what had just happened, the man got back into his car and drove away slowly, the faint sight of the graveyard quickly becoming a distant memory. A few minutes further along the road the man approached a solitary house that he remembered to be the house that the girl had mentioned to be her own. Wishing to gain some answers as to what had just occurred, the man parked in front of the house and walked up to the front door. He knocked thrice upon the heavy wooden door and was immediately greeted by the face of an older man. The man explained that he had picked up a young girl a way back along the road and stated that this was the house that she gave as her address. Behind the old man, the traveller noticed a picture of the same young girl that he had found alone on the road. The old man sighed and invited the traveller into his home, explaining that he had a rather strange story to tell. As it happened, the old man recited that the man had not been the first to appear on his doorstep in the middle of the night with a similar tale. Eleven young men over the past eleven years had arrived at his door with the same tale to tell, that of a vanishing hitchhiker who materialised as a young girl. The young girl was, in fact, the old man's daughter, and she had died on that very road twelve years earlier after attending a dance. She had gotten into an argument with her date whilst the two were leaving the dance and the girl was forced out of the car to walk home alone. Due to the lack of lighting on the dark road, a passing car failed to notice the girl and ploughed her down, she died upon impact. Every night on the anniversary of her death, the spirit of the girl would appear to young men travelling alone on the road late at night asking for a ride. She would accompany them on their journey until they reached the graveyard where she had been buried, where her spirit rest until another year came to pass.

[thememoriesofthedead]

31 DAYS OF HORROR: CHAPTER 15

The Suicide Forest, Aokigahara

Not many enter a forest with the intention of never returning home. To some, forests are often perceived to be peaceful hideaways free from the busy urban commotion of everyday life. A chance for one to reconnect with nature and to admire all that her green fingers have touched. To others, the ideology surrounding a forest may appear more malevolent in nature. Survival instinct alone cautions us against trespassing into the dark and the unknown, a forest may seem to portray both of these characteristics to those who may wander close to its perimeter. Even in the daylight hours, a forest canopy may conceal hidden groves and undiscovered treasures where the sun's rays are unable to reach. Medieval folklore often calls upon beats of the night that lurk deep in the forest where they are able to conceal their beings from prying human eyes. In Medieval European folklore, tales surrounding the supernatural often recalled that the Devil often took another name, the Lord of the Forest, and would appear to those seeking revenge and the power to commit heinous crimes in return for their souls. Forests across the globe often predate the cities and settlements that encircle them, and as such the origins of their histories and the intrigue surrounding them can be dated back centuries. It is no coincidence, therefore, that we often perceive forests by their double-edged nature. Tales of apparitions, murder, the sound of disembodied voices and will-of-th'-wisps are all commonly associated with numerous forests across various countries, but none are more daunting than the Aokigahara Forest situated at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan's Yamanashi Prefecture. Also known as the 'Sea of Trees', Aokigahara stands as a reminder of the fragility of human mortality at a time when the world may seem darker than it actually is. Those who enter the wooden landscape do so willingly with one intention in mind. The forest of Aokigahara may appear serene and alluring to those who are unaware of its dark secret but clues to its sombre side can be found if one looks a little closer. Personal belongings belonging to the departed can be found beneath the foliage if one knows where to look. Signs decorate the perimeter of the forest encouraging happy thoughts and to instruct lone wanderers to turn back. Needless to say, Aokigahara will forever remain shrouded in mystery and the reasons surrounding its deathly allure will remain unknown to those who remain alive.

I can't get enough a good forest! They're great to walk around in, amazing for taking photographs, and if you're anything like me and usually always wear green, pretty easy to hide in too! I've never witnessed anything creepy or otherwise supernatural in any forest that I've ever visited but I do find it interesting that so many people choose a forest, of all the different terrains this planet has to offer, as a location for the final resting place.