I'm just so glad you're here. This is Avery After Dark and I'm your host, Avery Ross.

Today's episode is very special. Out of all the stories on Avery After Dark, and I'm your host, Avery Ross. Today's episode is very special. Out of all the

stories on Avery After Dark, there is one in particular that I get messages about pretty much every

week, the most listened to episode on my podcast. It's spooky, it's mysterious, it's right up your

alley. And at the end of this episode, I'll share why this story has a

special place in my heart. Without further ado, this is my friend Mary. Since my parents' divorce,

my mom struggled to support us. My dad ran off and started another family, and he's dodgy with child support payments.

He's dodgy at even returning my phone calls, to be honest.

My mom does sales for a big company, but has to turn down some work trips because she

has to stay with me.

I'm 15, and she doesn't like to leave me alone for long.

So once summer came, my mom suggested I go and stay at my grandma's for a month.

This would give her a chance to travel, work, and save up some money for us.

I love my grandma.

And her health had been declining in the past couple months.

So I thought this would give me a great opportunity to spend some

time with her while I still had the chance. My grandpa passed a few years back and I'm sure she was

lonely. I could help take care of her, all while giving my mom a chance to catch her breath.

I would miss my mom, but a month is very doable. My grandma lived about an hour away from us. We lived in the

city, and she lived in a small rural town called Lockville. And not much goes on there. The town once had a

big car factory, but it shut down years ago, and slowly but surely, people moved on and left,

the way life goes, I suppose.

...