Real ghost stories from real people. This is Into the Paranormal with Tony Bruske.

The countryside is supposed to be a place of calm, a retreat from the chaos of the city.

But for one group of friends, a festive New Year's Eve turned into a nightmare they'll never forget. What began as a harmless

walk in the woods became a brush with something otherworldly, something that defies explanation

and haunts them to this day. Imagine celebrating with family surrounded by laughter and

fireworks only to find yourself lured into the darkest part of the forest.

For these teenagers, it wasn't just the stillness of the woods that unsettled them.

It was the feeling that something was watching, a presence lurking just beyond the light of

their single flashlight. What they encountered is the stuff of folklore, a creature that splits its body in half,

sprouting bat-like wings to hunt by night.

Some say it's a myth, a story to scare children.

But after that night, they no longer have the luxury of disbelief.

Let's get to the letter.

They write, Dear Tony, and I've always been one. Let's get to the letter. They write,

Dear Tony, and I've always been one of those people who loved the countryside. There's something about the fresh air, the open skies, and the way the stars seem to shine brighter than anywhere

else. Every year, my cousins and I look forward to New Year's Eve at my grandparents' old

house in the village, a tradition filled with food, laughter, and the thrill of being young and free.

This past New Year's Eve started out no different. The house was alive with the sounds of family chatter, music, and fireworks cracking in the distance.

My cousins and I decided to step away from the

adults and explore the village just for fun. There were four of us, myself, my cousin Mia, her younger

brother, Caleb, and our other cousin, Emily. None of us thought twice about venturing into

the woods at the edge of the village.

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