You're walking through the woods.

Tall dark trees line up around you,

disappearing with a quickly fading sun.

You know you shouldn't be here,

and you know that you shouldn't be walking alone.

You brought your cell phone? Of course you did. That's the reason behind this whole thing.

As your second thoughts race through your mind, you begin to hurry back to the trailhead.

You don't notice it at first, but you've been speedwalking for the past five minutes, deciding when you should go for it.

The darkness is coming, so you take your shot.

Aiming your iPhone toward the silhouette of the trees, you begin to shoot.

Blurry footage. Deep and uneasy breathing. And finally, you add a scream.

And today I'll tell you about a famous internet character who was involved in some sinister real-life events.

The following story contains descriptive scenes of violence.

Listener discretion is advised.

The internet has helped the spread of many stories.

The one you're about to hear was born out of a forum for fans of horror.

More specifically, it came from a contest.

In 2009 on the forum Something Awful.com, a posting showed up asking for submissions of a paranormal photoshopped image that seemed real.

User Victor Surge got to work on what would later result in an internet viral story meme

that years later would end up in video games, movies,

cosplays, and countless fan art and fan fiction stories.

And much later, it would take an important role in a true life, horrifying event.

...