Welcome, dear listeners, to scary stories told in the dark.

I'm Malcolm Blackwood, your host and storyteller.

And you know where I'm from, we don't do bedtime stories.

So, if that's what you're expecting, you're in the wrong place. If it's

terrifying tales you're after, well, then I've got just the thing. So, get comfortable,

settle in, turn off the lights, if you dare.

Your night is about to get a whole lot darker.

Besides, who needs sleep anyway?

Good evening, listeners, and welcome back to scary stories told in the dark.

I'm your host, Malcolm Blackwood.

Tonight marks the close of season 18.

And while it may seem unusual to end a season in early February with a Halloween tale, there's something fitting about it. The year has only just begun, yet already we find ourselves looking ahead to autumn,

to lantern light glowing against farmhouse windows, to quiet roads under October skies, to the long shadows that wait patiently for nightfall.

Sometimes the dark doesn't need the calendar's permission.

Tonight's story reminds us that deception rarely arrives as a threat.

More often, it comes gently, comfortably, wearing a familiar face.

Dim the lights, settle in, and steal yourself for a tale of grief, persuasion, and the most

dangerous lie of all, the one that makes you feel better.

Before we begin, a brief word of thanks to those who support this show through our patrons

area. For just $7.99 a month, our patrons gain early access to episodes, add free

listening, and entry into a growing archive of exclusive content, all while helping us continue to produce

and share stories like tonight's. While this episode stands alone is our season 18 finale,

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