"I Found a Door at the Bottom of a River" | CLANCYPASTA ORIGINAL

ClancyPasta | Internet Horror StoriesFebruary 05, 202400:47:4243.67 MB

"I Found a Door at the Bottom of a River" | CLANCYPASTA ORIGINAL

A local forum user made a post about finding a strange door handle attached to a camouflaged door at the bottom of a river. What happened after, was strange to say the least...

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CREEPYPASTA

► "I Found a Door at the Bottom of a River" written & narrated by ClancyPasta

► https://www.patreon.com/posts/i-found-door-at-97871495

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MUSIC

"Sunset at Glengorm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Lightless Dawn" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Ice Demon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Blue Feather" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

"Spring Thaw" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

[00:00.000 --> 00:03.840] Have you ever wanted to make a podcast but just didn't know where to start? [00:03.840 --> 00:07.520] Spotify's got a new platform that lets you do just that. [00:07.520 --> 00:13.360] Distribute it everywhere you listen to podcasts and even earn cash, all in one place for free. [00:13.360 --> 00:17.680] It's called Spotify for Podcasters. Let me tell you a little about how it works. [00:17.680 --> 00:22.080] You can record and edit podcasts straight from your computer and even on your phone. [00:22.080 --> 00:27.360] It doesn't matter if you have a studio set up with expensive microphones or just your phone's mic. [00:27.440 --> 00:31.920] Spotify for Podcasters gives you the tools to create a quality podcast, [00:31.920 --> 00:35.040] whether you're experienced or just starting out. [00:35.040 --> 00:38.800] After finishing the episode, you can distribute it straight to Spotify [00:38.800 --> 00:40.960] and everywhere else podcasts are heard. [00:40.960 --> 00:45.600] And on Spotify, you can even publish episodes in video podcast format, [00:45.600 --> 00:48.160] which I personally think is incredible. [00:48.160 --> 00:51.840] And believe it or not, they even give you the tools to engage with your audience [00:51.840 --> 00:54.640] in conversation via Q&A's and polls. [00:54.640 --> 00:58.160] And when it comes to earning revenue, there are a variety of options, [00:58.160 --> 01:01.040] including ads and podcast subscriptions. [01:01.040 --> 01:05.760] And again, and best of all, it's 100% free. Simple as that. [01:05.760 --> 01:10.480] Ever since I discovered and started using today's sponsor Spotify for Podcasters, [01:10.480 --> 01:15.760] it's been nothing but smooth and comprehensive in its ability to let me share my podcast. [01:15.760 --> 01:18.640] And I found the Q&A section to be particularly helpful [01:18.640 --> 01:21.600] in getting feedback and interacting with my audience. [01:21.600 --> 01:24.000] I highly recommend you give it a try. [01:24.000 --> 01:26.480] Download the Spotify for Podcasters app [01:26.480 --> 01:32.640] or go to www.spotify.com slash podcasters to get started. [01:39.200 --> 01:41.440] The official Red County forums. [01:42.480 --> 01:43.280] Post title. [01:44.240 --> 01:48.800] I think I found something strange in the river near Shine Forest. [01:49.280 --> 01:56.240] Red Door 43, March 2nd, 814 PM. [01:58.800 --> 02:02.960] I just got back from a little hiking trip down near the south of town, [02:02.960 --> 02:04.560] near the forest in the title. [02:05.600 --> 02:11.600] I was enjoying the view and as I'm sure you're all aware, it's been hot as hell lately. [02:12.560 --> 02:18.400] So I did what anyone in my position would do and ripped off my shirt and shoes and jumped in. [02:19.760 --> 02:23.680] After swimming or more like bathing in the river for a while, [02:24.240 --> 02:29.760] I noticed from the angle I was at this brief but bright glint in the rocks below, [02:30.320 --> 02:32.160] in a nook below the riverside. [02:33.440 --> 02:38.000] A bit curious, I tried to swim as close as I could without losing my view. [02:39.200 --> 02:41.680] The closer I was to land, the less I could see. [02:42.960 --> 02:46.560] I decided the only thing left to try was dunk my head [02:46.560 --> 02:49.440] under and survey the situation myself. [02:51.600 --> 02:56.880] I could definitely tell it wasn't part of the rock, but I couldn't get a good look at it. [02:58.560 --> 03:04.480] Once submerged, holding my breath and trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling of cold water [03:04.480 --> 03:10.960] against my bare eyes, I swam down as quickly as I could to get this over with. [03:10.960 --> 03:14.800] But what I found just simply confused me. [03:16.800 --> 03:22.160] Embedded in the rocks below was a small little handle, like the handle of a door, [03:22.800 --> 03:25.280] one of those lever-type ones you pull down on. [03:26.480 --> 03:31.120] The side of it was a bit shocking, and it took me another few moments for the next [03:31.120 --> 03:33.520] whammy to smack me across the face. [03:34.400 --> 03:41.120] The handle was attached to a door, fairly small but just big enough for an average-sized [03:41.120 --> 03:42.240] human to crawl through. [03:42.240 --> 03:48.640] You see, from above the water, looking into the current, it looked more or less like a bunch of [03:48.640 --> 03:49.120] stones. [03:50.000 --> 03:55.840] However, from underneath, you can notice a small indentation of the door against the perimeter [03:55.840 --> 04:02.560] of rocks, and what had appeared to be rocks across the door was actually a two-dimensional [04:02.560 --> 04:09.520] color graphic, a work of art either painted or printed and pasted digitally. [04:12.240 --> 04:16.000] The breath of air I had been holding in my lungs escaped me, [04:16.000 --> 04:18.720] and I quickly lifted my head back up to the surface. [04:19.760 --> 04:26.320] Breathing in a few fresh lungfuls of air, I tried to think about what the hell I had just seen. [04:27.280 --> 04:31.120] A little hatch door on the side of a river, under a rocky nook. [04:32.960 --> 04:37.120] I tried to think of what the reason for such a thing's existence could be, but [04:37.680 --> 04:39.200] I couldn't come up with anything. [04:39.200 --> 04:42.560] So, I take it to you. [04:43.760 --> 04:47.840] Do any of you know of any reason that latch door would be there? [04:48.560 --> 04:53.600] Could it have something to do with a city or some water filtering station or something? [04:54.640 --> 04:55.600] I don't know. [04:55.600 --> 04:58.000] Again, I'm just confused as hell. [05:03.600 --> 05:08.240] Retro Outlet, March 3rd, 506PM [05:10.160 --> 05:15.360] Hey man, I live near Shine Forest, and I think I know what you're talking about. [05:16.000 --> 05:20.560] It's that river that has that gigantic pine tree near the fork a bit downstream, right? [05:22.000 --> 05:27.040] Anyways, I worked for the city a few years ago, and still have a couple friends working there. [05:27.840 --> 05:32.480] I asked them if there were any sewer tunnels or waste-related things over there, [05:32.480 --> 05:33.360] and they denied it. [05:34.400 --> 05:38.880] I pressed them a little further, and they said they had nothing going on over there. [05:39.920 --> 05:43.360] After I got done reading your post and asking my buddies, [05:43.360 --> 05:46.880] I decided to walk out back there and see if I could find it myself. [05:48.160 --> 05:49.840] I walked up to where the trail is. [05:50.560 --> 05:55.280] I assume that's around the area you were, as most are, and snooped around. [05:56.160 --> 06:01.360] I did find some kind of shiny thing, right around where that bush with the bright red flowers are. [06:01.920 --> 06:02.800] Is that where it is? [06:04.080 --> 06:09.040] There's no way in hell I'm dunking my head into that bacteria stream without goggles. [06:09.040 --> 06:10.720] And the ear and nose plugs. [06:11.520 --> 06:13.680] So, I just went home after that. [06:15.280 --> 06:16.080] Pretty strange. [06:17.040 --> 06:18.480] Hoping I was at the right place. [06:19.520 --> 06:23.120] But yeah, I have no idea what the hell that could be. [06:28.320 --> 06:32.960] Red Door 43, March 3rd, 705pm [06:33.040 --> 06:35.040] Red Door 43, March 4th, 705pm [06:35.040 --> 06:41.120] Yes, you were at the right spot, and after swinging by there today, I'm 99% sure you saw it. [06:41.920 --> 06:45.840] When I arrived, I immediately spotted that bush you mentioned. [06:45.840 --> 06:49.520] And yep, after I crossed over a log to the other side, [06:49.520 --> 06:51.920] I could see from a distance that it was right there. [06:53.280 --> 06:56.880] I didn't really feel like changing my clothes when I got home, [06:56.880 --> 06:59.520] so I decided to stay out of the river this time. [06:59.520 --> 07:04.320] But I cannot believe that the city has nothing to do with this. [07:05.360 --> 07:10.240] How the hell would a door large enough for a human to crawl through just appear on the side of a riverbed? [07:14.800 --> 07:20.320] Retro Outlet, March 4th, 1248pm [07:23.040 --> 07:25.200] I'm glad to know I was at the right place. [07:26.080 --> 07:28.640] I'm going to go out there tonight when I get home from work [07:28.640 --> 07:33.120] with a flashlight and some swimming gear I borrowed from my cousin and check it out. [07:34.160 --> 07:38.000] Maybe I'll have a better idea of what it could be if I saw it up close myself. [07:42.080 --> 07:46.640] Red Door 43, March 4th, 602pm [07:48.880 --> 07:51.280] That's a great idea. Let me know what you think. [07:51.280 --> 07:59.680] Guac Flock 7, March 5th, 1202am [08:01.200 --> 08:03.600] Posting here to get notifications on updates. [08:04.160 --> 08:07.680] I live across town and I'm pretty interested to see what y'all find out. [08:12.160 --> 08:18.320] Retro Outlet, March 5th, 334am [08:21.280 --> 08:29.920] Guys, tonight was just… I don't even know how to get into it, but I'll try. [08:31.680 --> 08:37.040] When I got home from work around 4, I ate a quick snack and then changed into my swimming gear. [08:38.080 --> 08:43.120] I got on my swimming trunks, nose and earplugs, eye goggles, the works. [08:44.160 --> 08:48.560] I felt pretty geared up for what I thought was going to be a casual little evening. [08:48.560 --> 08:51.360] God, was I ever wrong. [08:53.840 --> 08:57.520] After finding that bush again and easing my way into the water, [08:57.520 --> 09:00.880] I found that glint in the water I'd spotted the day before. [09:02.160 --> 09:06.160] Then I took a deep breath and plunged myself under. [09:07.520 --> 09:15.200] I halfway bent, halfway swam over to the object, and sure enough, it's just as Red describes. [09:16.160 --> 09:21.440] A handle attached to an outrageously poorly disguised door. [09:23.440 --> 09:26.800] I quickly ascended back to the surface and caught my breath. [09:27.760 --> 09:31.120] I knew I could either head back down there and try to pry it open, [09:31.760 --> 09:38.880] or I could check it out for just a bit longer and then unceremoniously meander my way back to the [09:38.880 --> 09:46.560] house. But when I checked the sun's position in the sky, I was reassured by how early it was. [09:48.400 --> 09:51.280] I didn't end up needing to use my flashlight at all, [09:52.000 --> 09:56.640] though I kept the waterproof device clipped to my trunks for safekeeping. [09:58.960 --> 10:03.120] I decided to use the extra time to try to see if the latch could be opened. [10:04.080 --> 10:08.000] I ducked down into the water and reached out to grab the handle. [10:08.880 --> 10:14.160] It was much warmer than I had expected a metallic object and a cool river to feel. [10:14.880 --> 10:20.400] It was like it generated its own heat or something, and when I applied pressure to the handle, [10:21.200 --> 10:25.600] I was shocked to feel it move swiftly and easily all the way down. [10:27.280 --> 10:35.360] However, the door didn't budge an inch. I was confused by this, but then decided to pull [10:35.360 --> 10:42.480] up with the lever down and see if the door worked that way. And boy, did that do it. [10:44.560 --> 10:50.960] Immediately, I noticed the door lifting with enough brute force, and when I pulled it up enough, [10:50.960 --> 10:58.080] I realized water was flowing very quickly from the river to inside whatever the hell that door [10:58.080 --> 11:07.360] led to. The inside must have been dry. I dropped the door out of surprised fear [11:07.360 --> 11:10.640] and regrouped myself above the water for a moment. [11:13.840 --> 11:19.600] I was a bit wigged out by that. I mean, I don't know what I expected, really, [11:19.600 --> 11:25.120] but I guess it was just assumed that whatever it led to would also be filled with water, [11:25.120 --> 11:29.680] I guess. I mean, how the hell else could it even be built down there anyway? [11:31.440 --> 11:35.760] But regardless, that didn't seem to be the case. [11:38.800 --> 11:44.880] I wrestled with my thoughts for a while there. I didn't expect it to open so easily, [11:45.600 --> 11:48.800] and I wondered if it would really be smart to explore the thing. [11:49.280 --> 11:57.760] Well, with the sun still poised to hang in the sky for a few more hours, I decided to give it a try. [11:59.440 --> 12:06.960] I hyperventilated a bit, prepping myself for the attempt, and after one last deep inhale, [12:06.960 --> 12:11.200] the kind where you feel like you filled yourself up nearly to the bottom of your gut, [12:12.160 --> 12:19.760] I dived down. I grabbed a hold of the handle, and with my right foot against the side of the rock, [12:19.760 --> 12:28.720] lifted up with all my might as fast as I possibly could. When water is obviously flooding whatever [12:28.720 --> 12:35.760] interior this door leads to, time is of the essence. I was able to lift the door into a [12:35.760 --> 12:44.000] nearly 45 degree angle and took a glimpse down to see what it was, and what I saw was the very [12:44.000 --> 12:52.400] definition of abyss. Pure darkness, pitch black, shadow distilled into liquid. [12:53.600 --> 13:01.200] And that was the very moment a rock, presumably whisked by the current, slammed into my shin. [13:02.160 --> 13:09.520] It wasn't a very hard collision, really, but when lifting a very heavy latch, fighting an [13:09.520 --> 13:15.200] exiting flood current, and trying to balance all this in the side of a river while holding your [13:15.200 --> 13:26.320] breath, it's a little too easy to become unbalanced. My legs slipped directly into the current. [13:26.320 --> 13:33.040] I wasn't thinking in that moment. I believe things were moving too fast for me to think [13:33.040 --> 13:40.640] anyway, but at the same time, I already knew that with the suction current flowing so quickly inside, [13:41.280 --> 13:47.120] there was a good chance I'd end up trapped under the latch. The suction flow so powerful, [13:47.120 --> 13:52.320] I'd be unable to free myself, and drown there in a matter of minutes. [13:52.480 --> 14:04.000] So, with nearly half my body already inside the inky void, I curled myself inward and ducked. [14:05.600 --> 14:11.360] The whole ordeal from the first slip of my ankle into the current to the door slamming me into [14:11.360 --> 14:17.360] darkness from above all took place in the span of about half a second. [14:17.360 --> 14:26.560] And about another second later, shivering in the cool darkness, I had a sudden realization. [14:28.160 --> 14:37.440] I was breathing. After feeling my sopping wet shirt in contrast to the air around me against [14:37.440 --> 14:45.760] my body, I rediscovered my flashlight. I quickly turned it on and frantically waved it around, [14:45.760 --> 14:55.600] investigating my situation. And guys, do I mean it when I say, I just don't know I have the ability [14:55.600 --> 15:01.520] to do what I found justice in my description and recollection. It was just… [15:03.600 --> 15:13.280] Okay. So, I'm on all fours, and I turn my flashlight on. Immediately, I find myself in this [15:13.280 --> 15:21.520] long, nearly cylindrical tube. It's flat at the top, but curves down into a long, curved oval, [15:21.520 --> 15:27.360] the circular round being the floor I found myself on. And at the bottom of the tube, [15:27.920 --> 15:32.400] the area I just so happened to be aiming my light when I first turned it on, [15:32.960 --> 15:39.600] were hundreds upon hundreds of slits in the metal material. It was like a metal mesh, [15:39.600 --> 15:45.440] in a way, allowing liquid and fine material through, but holding just about anything else. [15:47.040 --> 15:51.920] This area of breathable flooring extended for about a six-foot long stretch. [15:53.360 --> 15:59.440] As I stared through the slits below me, into the infinite darkness that not even my flashlight [15:59.440 --> 16:06.240] could illuminate, I realized what had happened to the water. It had drained straight through the [16:06.320 --> 16:15.200] latch, down through the underside of this graded tube, and, well, presumably somewhere else. [16:17.200 --> 16:21.200] There was never any sound after the last drops passed through the slits, [16:21.920 --> 16:27.680] no sound of it ever hitting any kind of floor or splashing against anything whatsoever. [16:29.280 --> 16:34.000] I had the most eerie feeling that there was a ten thousand foot drop below me, [16:34.960 --> 16:37.760] and I wanted to get the hell out of there. [16:40.000 --> 16:46.160] I craned my neck up and around, searching for the knob. I scattered my flashlight around and [16:46.160 --> 16:53.520] eventually found the outline of the door, but to my horror, there was no knob on the inside. [16:54.640 --> 17:03.360] Nothing but the indentation of the exit. No way out. At least, not here. [17:04.560 --> 17:15.280] That's not to say I didn't try, though. I pounded, and pounded, and slammed my hand against the door, [17:15.920 --> 17:23.920] pushed as hard as I could. It didn't budge. The knob on the outside needed to be turned [17:23.920 --> 17:31.040] to leave it unlocked. Slouching back down onto the graded metal floor, I felt like I had just [17:31.040 --> 17:40.720] discovered the moment of my death, and that moment was impending. Beginning to feel exhausted and not [17:40.720 --> 17:48.480] knowing what else to do, I looked behind me, noticing the endless, as far as my flashlight [17:48.480 --> 17:55.600] would illuminate, tube in both directions. Not knowing which direction to go in, [17:56.240 --> 18:02.400] I chose the easiest route and crawled forward. As I write this now, [18:03.280 --> 18:08.400] I'm not sure if that was a good decision, or a bad one. [18:11.120 --> 18:17.600] I crawled on all fours, my flashlight in my right hands grasped to illuminate what was in front of [18:17.600 --> 18:25.680] me. For a while, I was in this solid metal, I imagined steel tube, with an occasional slit [18:25.680 --> 18:33.440] on the side. I imagined this was for air circulation, but this eventually began to change. [18:35.200 --> 18:42.240] After possibly a few seconds, or a few minutes, the metal of the tube changed to this [18:42.800 --> 18:50.480] polished dark wood in a shockingly abrupt transition. Before me, there lay a perfectly [18:50.480 --> 18:57.520] straight line going around, connecting from top to bottom in a ring, forming a distinct separation. [18:58.960 --> 19:05.840] On one side, steel tubing, and on the other, finished wood flooring from top to bottom. [19:05.840 --> 19:13.600] It was absolutely bizarre, but without much choice, I knew I had to keep moving forward. [19:15.760 --> 19:23.920] My hands passed the border, and the rest of my body followed. It wasn't long before this wooden [19:23.920 --> 19:29.840] part of the tube started widening, the ceiling rising higher and higher as it went along, [19:30.480 --> 19:37.520] before I was able to stand up, first on my knees, and then on my feet entirely. [19:38.800 --> 19:45.920] And then, as I walked forward on this very uncomfortable oval-shaped wooden hall, [19:46.880 --> 19:54.000] I encountered my first turn, and as I made the turn, I saw my first visible sight, [19:54.720 --> 19:57.200] without the need for the flashlight. [19:59.280 --> 20:05.840] Noticing a small light in the distance, I flicked off the flashlight and checked to make sure. [20:07.440 --> 20:12.320] Yep, I could see it. A small flickering blue light. [20:14.240 --> 20:21.520] As I got closer, I realized it was a small, circular, glowing button. [20:21.520 --> 20:28.400] Turning on the flashlight once again, I noticed it was actually just to the right [20:28.400 --> 20:34.480] of a little door, probably about the size of the latch I had fallen through to arrive there [20:34.480 --> 20:43.040] in the first place. However, instead of painted metal, this door was also made out of finished [20:43.040 --> 20:47.760] wood and had a proper doorknob instead of a steel handle. [20:48.480 --> 20:57.200] I just observed the sight for a moment, examining the door with my flashlight, [20:57.200 --> 21:02.560] but my curiosity wouldn't let me ignore the glowing allure of the blue button. [21:04.240 --> 21:10.640] I decided to press it, and I distinctly remember feeling uneasy before doing so. [21:11.520 --> 21:18.000] As my finger made contact with a cool glass of the transparent, glowing bulge, [21:18.720 --> 21:24.000] I heard a flute interpretation of a classic ding-dong sound. [21:25.440 --> 21:29.600] Immediately afterwards, I heard shuffling behind the door. [21:31.520 --> 21:38.400] Now this startled the hell out of me. I thought I was alone, so to hear somebody else down here [21:38.400 --> 21:47.600] was half exciting and half absolutely horrifying. Partly out of nervousness, I called out, [21:49.040 --> 21:54.080] Hello? Is somebody in there? No response. [21:56.240 --> 22:03.600] I fell down through this latch in the river, I said. I'm not sure how common that is. [22:04.480 --> 22:08.160] Still absolutely nothing. [22:10.640 --> 22:17.120] After waiting another thirty seconds or so, I decided to turn the knob I knew would be unlocked [22:17.120 --> 22:22.480] and slouching myself back into a crouch, waddled through the door. [22:22.480 --> 22:34.320] The moment I cracked open the door, light flooded out, but only dim light, like the kind produced [22:34.320 --> 22:41.520] by a fire. It was striking against my sensitive eyes as I had more and more been coming to the [22:41.520 --> 22:47.360] realization that my flashlight may not have been as waterproof as it had advertised, [22:47.360 --> 22:57.600] and was increasingly dimming as time went on. This only aided in my anxiety, as you can imagine. [23:00.240 --> 23:06.560] Once I crawled inside, I saw what looked like a little one-room log cabin, [23:07.120 --> 23:12.880] but just without windows. There was a little wooden desk on one side of the tiny room [23:13.520 --> 23:22.720] and a wooden bed on the other, a fireplace across the room, and I suppose the door I had come out of. [23:24.560 --> 23:30.480] Logs were burning in the fireplace, and I could smell a hint of smoke in the air. [23:32.320 --> 23:38.800] Once I had taken the place in, it hit me that everything was about two-thirds the size that [23:38.800 --> 23:46.080] they should have been. Everything is scale smaller. This being the case, I couldn't really [23:46.080 --> 23:54.240] stand up fully. Crouched around, I started checking the place out. I looked at the bed, [23:55.040 --> 24:01.440] even considered falling into its soft embrace for a split second, but ultimately decided against it. [24:01.440 --> 24:12.240] And then, after a brief pass of the fireplace, I was met with a table. It had an ink pen [24:12.240 --> 24:19.920] perpendicular to the edge and a pad of paper in front of the chair, and when I squint in my eyes [24:19.920 --> 24:27.120] to inspect it, the first thing my eyes read took the wind out of my gut. [24:32.240 --> 24:38.720] He has only a small flashlight, but even that won't last. [24:38.720 --> 24:51.680] My eyes read, widening with every passing word. My jaw dropped, and I quickly looked around the [24:51.680 --> 25:00.160] room paranoid. I didn't see anyone or anything, and given that the only entrance I could see [25:00.160 --> 25:08.080] was the one I entered through, I decided to crouch down to my knees and read a bit further. [25:08.880 --> 25:18.480] The handwritten scribble read, he fell through the opening and started on towards our direction. [25:19.600 --> 25:27.840] He seems tired, irritated, and somewhat frightened. He'll be to our space soon. [25:29.200 --> 25:36.560] I must hide this place. This cannot happen, and we must confiscate the flashlight. [25:38.880 --> 25:47.280] I read the paragraph a few times over. What in the hell did that mean? [25:49.360 --> 25:56.240] Almost as soon as the words could pass through my mind, the lights went out with a loud crashing [25:56.240 --> 26:03.680] sound in the distance of the hallway. I instinctively held my breath, my heart pounding [26:03.680 --> 26:12.080] in my chest, and after just a few moments, I heard and felt the most unnerving, [26:12.880 --> 26:22.000] whispery voice in my right ear. Didn't your mother ever teach you not to snoop? [26:24.240 --> 26:30.160] I could feel its breath on my ear, and shivers began to work their way up my spine. [26:30.160 --> 26:39.200] Still within the darkness, I didn't move a muscle, and didn't say a word. [26:42.080 --> 26:50.160] In just a moment, the voice returned. I suppose I know the answer. [26:52.560 --> 26:58.800] There were some strange skittering sounds like a bunch of dogs running across tile flooring, [26:59.760 --> 27:07.120] and then the voice came back, though this time a bit farther away, and no longer breathing into my ear. [27:09.760 --> 27:12.480] And I suppose you're confused. [27:15.520 --> 27:22.080] I waited, the words falling from the air back into silence while I fought lightheadedness as [27:22.160 --> 27:29.120] I continued to hold my breath. Second stubbled, and my tension grew. [27:31.840 --> 27:40.720] And afraid, it hissed. I heard it move around behind me, [27:41.280 --> 27:47.360] hearing it shuffling and seeming to rummage through something. And then it said, [27:47.680 --> 28:00.560] but of what? In an instant, the light returned following what sounded like two claps of the hands. [28:02.560 --> 28:08.800] I slowly turned to the right, first noticing the fire blazing once again [28:09.440 --> 28:14.320] before my eyes settled on the creature about twelve feet away from me. [28:14.320 --> 28:24.240] As I did so, the butterflies absolutely losing their minds in my stomach froze up a bit, [28:25.200 --> 28:28.240] and I raised my eyebrows in confusion. [28:30.800 --> 28:41.920] Standing before me, and somewhat below me, was, as far as I could tell, an elf of some kind. [28:42.880 --> 28:51.120] Like as in fairy tales and fantasy stories. There was what appeared to be a very old man, [28:51.680 --> 28:58.000] though only about four foot tall. He was wearing this long, thickly woven hat that, [28:58.560 --> 29:04.320] perhaps today would have been called a beanie, connected at the tip to a little pinecone. [29:04.320 --> 29:12.960] He had two bushy eyebrows, brown eyes, skin as white as snow, and a beard just [29:12.960 --> 29:18.080] gray enough to make out against his face grown all the way down to the floor. [29:19.600 --> 29:24.960] He seemed to be wearing red overalls and two thick boots. [29:24.960 --> 29:38.160] As my eyes wandered back up, I noticed the thing's ears. They were pointed at the tops, like an elf. [29:41.360 --> 29:48.800] Still afraid, the thing asked, with a smirk nearly hidden entirely by his facial hair. [29:48.800 --> 29:54.880] I… I began. [29:56.800 --> 30:00.560] Well, I'm definitely a bit confused. [30:02.560 --> 30:07.120] Uh huh. The thing said, turning around towards the fire. [30:09.120 --> 30:11.040] Not the first time I've heard that. [30:12.960 --> 30:17.760] He began rummaging through a small bin I hadn't noticed besides the fireplace. [30:18.560 --> 30:24.800] It eventually pulled out a small but very nice looking stick, probably about 12 inches. [30:27.280 --> 30:29.520] The first time in a while, though. [30:32.560 --> 30:37.680] Are you a… an elf? Or something? [30:39.520 --> 30:43.840] The creature stopped and turned around to look at me straight in the eye. [30:44.160 --> 30:53.680] An elf? The man shouted. He then looked around and patted himself on his overall straps as if [30:53.680 --> 30:56.880] shocked by the ferocity the phrase came out with. [30:59.200 --> 31:01.760] I'm not an elf. I'm a gnome! [31:04.400 --> 31:10.080] He then plopped a marshmallow on the end of his stick and shoved it into the roasting fire. [31:10.240 --> 31:19.360] I nearly collapsed into laughter, but caught myself just before the first giggle escaped me. [31:20.240 --> 31:26.400] This would be kind of hilarious if it made sense, but it didn't. [31:27.360 --> 31:33.600] And as I took in the sight before me, a concern began to grow for my safety. [31:33.600 --> 31:45.600] Well, um, Mr. Gnome. Sorry about the mistake. You see, I came in through a latch and, uh, [31:46.640 --> 31:50.000] I think I'd like to leave now. Again, sorry. [31:52.320 --> 31:58.880] He turned his head, marshmallow still blazing in the flames, an eyebrow raised. [31:59.600 --> 32:07.200] You want to leave so soon, do you? After all the trouble you've brought me. Geez. [32:08.240 --> 32:10.880] It whined, turning back around. [32:13.600 --> 32:19.280] What do you mean, the trouble I've caused you? As far as I can tell, I'm the one who's gotten [32:19.280 --> 32:22.960] lost in here, man, and I just want to get the hell out of here. [32:22.960 --> 32:30.400] I was taken a little aback at the gnome's attitude. Then again, I'm currently a little [32:30.400 --> 32:38.880] taken aback that I ended up getting sassy with a gnome. I heard him chuckle, and a moment later, [32:38.880 --> 32:49.600] he said, you really are ignorant, aren't you? How the hell am I supposed to respond to that? [32:49.920 --> 32:57.440] I asked it dryly. He started walking towards me, and I tensed in response, [32:58.080 --> 33:04.320] but he started waving his hand around. I gotta get in that drawer. Can you step aside? [33:07.120 --> 33:13.840] I relaxed and did as he asked. He pulled out this book about the size of a Bible [33:14.800 --> 33:21.840] and slammed it down onto the table. In one fluid series of motions, he tossed the book [33:21.840 --> 33:26.560] open to a seemingly random page and touched his finger to the page. [33:28.800 --> 33:38.320] It reads here, the gnome said, that upon discovery by a human or any other material consciousness, [33:38.880 --> 33:45.280] the gnome is required to decommission the area and start anew after consultation with a brotherhood. [33:47.120 --> 33:50.960] After reading the line, he looked up at me with an expectant look. [33:53.200 --> 33:59.760] I opened my mouth and shook my head slightly as in, huh? [34:01.520 --> 34:05.680] He quickly looked away before locking eyes again and berating. [34:06.640 --> 34:11.760] It means I have to close up shop, buddy. I have to get rid of everything I've been working on here [34:11.760 --> 34:17.920] for the past three years and start this whole process over again. Are you happy about that? [34:19.760 --> 34:27.200] What? No. I said defensively. Listen, I already told you I got lost, [34:27.200 --> 34:31.280] but I am really sorry about all this. I guess. [34:31.280 --> 34:40.160] The last two words were said only in my head. I still barely believed what was happening. [34:42.320 --> 34:50.080] Is there anything I can do? I offered. The man had waddled back over to the fireplace, [34:50.080 --> 34:55.920] roasting his marshmallow some more. It was beginning to look like a chunk of coal. [34:56.160 --> 35:06.000] I'll tell you what you can do, it whispered. Why don't you lay down in that bed over there? [35:06.880 --> 35:14.080] Take a load off. I looked over to the mattress and then back to the gnome. [35:16.560 --> 35:25.440] Really? I asked. He turned back around and stared me deep in the eyes with an undeniable sense of [35:25.440 --> 35:33.200] annoyance. I sat down on the bed. As I felt the soft cushion below my legs, [35:33.920 --> 35:43.600] I realized just how exhausted I was. Man, this bed is really comfy, I said, [35:44.400 --> 35:48.640] feeling the exhaustion I'd already been dealing with coming to a head. [35:48.640 --> 36:00.160] Feel free to lie down, he spoke. I think my head hit the pillow before the last word left his mouth. [36:02.320 --> 36:09.280] As I lay there, trying to keep my eyes open, I saw the gnome go about his business. [36:10.480 --> 36:16.240] He finally took the marshmallow out from the fire and squeezed it between two crackers. [36:17.040 --> 36:25.120] He then walked over and crouched beside the bed, his eyes meeting mine as I lay on my side. [36:27.040 --> 36:34.720] Finally relaxed, staring at this unbelievable sight I would have thought impossible just an [36:34.720 --> 36:43.600] hour before. I finally lost it. I started giggling to myself and that giggling gave way to belly [36:43.600 --> 36:49.520] laughs before I coughed out, oh my god nobody's gonna believe this. [36:51.760 --> 36:58.240] At this, the gnome smiled, the first genuine smile of joy I'd seen, [36:58.960 --> 37:03.760] though I felt as though there was something unspoken behind his lips. [37:06.000 --> 37:08.480] He looked at me straight and said, [37:09.440 --> 37:17.440] Of course they won't, because this never happened. [37:20.240 --> 37:27.120] He grabbed my hand with his left and curled my fingers around the stick he'd roasted the marshmallow [37:27.120 --> 37:33.840] on. Now close your eyes and count to three. [37:34.160 --> 37:44.480] I was so dazed and giggly, I obliged without thinking. I closed my eyes, the warm fire [37:44.480 --> 37:52.160] wafting towards my legs, the soft pillow beneath my head, and the stick tight in my grasp. [37:52.160 --> 38:05.280] One, I spoke. Two, came next. And then I conjured, three. [38:08.160 --> 38:12.000] I waited and was met with complete silence. [38:12.000 --> 38:23.520] Hello, I asked. After another few moments of silence, I realized I no longer felt the warmth [38:23.520 --> 38:31.600] of the fireplace, and the silence was slowly giving way to a low hum. The all too familiar hum [38:32.480 --> 38:42.800] of an A.C. I opened my eyes into my absolute disbelief, found myself back in my own bed, [38:43.600 --> 38:52.160] in my own home. The clock read two in the morning. I've been typing this out since then. [38:55.200 --> 39:01.520] Now, obviously, I know what you're thinking, and it's exactly what I thought for the briefest [39:01.600 --> 39:14.160] of moments. Wow, I can't believe that was a dream. But then I felt it, the stick still in my hand. [39:15.760 --> 39:23.040] I jumped out of bed and ran to the nearest lamp. I switched it on and examined the wood. [39:24.240 --> 39:30.400] It was the exact same twelve-inch stick I'd seen the gnome use to burn the marshmallow. [39:31.120 --> 39:41.440] One tip still singed with a gooey, sugary char. My jaw just about dropped to the floor. [39:44.400 --> 39:50.960] I feel sick right now, to be honest. I feel like I've been through a straight-up ordeal, [39:51.760 --> 39:55.200] and I don't know if I'll be feeling up to going to work tomorrow, [39:55.200 --> 39:59.280] let alone going back to the forest and going through all that again. [40:01.120 --> 40:08.480] But I have the stick to prove it, that I'm not crazy, and that all of this still happened. [40:10.160 --> 40:14.560] If any of you can go back there tomorrow and check it out, go for it. [40:15.520 --> 40:23.200] But I must warn you to not do what I did. Don't go through that door. Please. [40:23.200 --> 40:32.160] Now, I'm very exhausted, so excuse me while I pass out. [40:38.640 --> 40:45.360] Red Door 43, March 5th, 4.23 PM [40:45.360 --> 40:51.120] 3. Sweet Mother of God, Man [40:51.920 --> 40:55.920] When I read your post this morning, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. [40:57.120 --> 41:02.880] I've been in a shocked day since, and with the day being rather slow anyways, [41:03.520 --> 41:08.160] I decided to sneak out of work a bit early, and the first thing I wanted to do [41:08.960 --> 41:12.720] was, of course, check on the discovery. [41:13.040 --> 41:20.480] I don't really know what I was planning. I understand you advised against visiting the [41:20.480 --> 41:26.000] gnome you claim to have encountered, but a large part of me just couldn't believe it to be real. [41:27.600 --> 41:30.320] But it wouldn't turn out to matter anyways. [41:32.960 --> 41:36.720] When I got there and crossed to the other side to get a good view, [41:37.520 --> 41:40.880] the glint in the water was nowhere to be seen. [41:41.040 --> 41:48.240] I checked to make sure I was near the right red-flowered bush, and I was. [41:49.280 --> 41:55.440] But for some reason, there was no metallic shine. I was feeling rather curious, [41:56.000 --> 41:59.840] so I did what got me into this entire strange mess to begin with, [42:00.720 --> 42:04.560] and I ripped my shirt off and jumped into the water. [42:04.720 --> 42:13.760] I acclimated to the chilly river for a moment before lining myself up with where I knew the door to be, [42:13.760 --> 42:22.000] and dunked myself under. I swam away as towards it, before confusion and curiosity [42:22.640 --> 42:27.600] turned to just confusion and then a lightning shock of terror. [42:27.760 --> 42:34.480] I swam back to the surface and caught my breath saying to myself, [42:35.440 --> 42:40.320] it can't be, it can't be, in an incessant loop. [42:43.280 --> 42:49.760] Where there was once a door handle attached to a door that had obviously been painted to [42:49.760 --> 42:57.120] camouflage itself as a collection of rocks from a distance, was simply a real collection [42:57.120 --> 43:04.720] of rocks. There was no handle, and the two-dimensional pictures had been turned into real, [43:04.720 --> 43:10.160] three-dimensional stones. There was no outline of the door either. [43:12.160 --> 43:17.360] I double-checked this about three or four times, each time not believing what I'd seen. [43:19.040 --> 43:21.280] But I eventually came to terms with it. [43:21.280 --> 43:32.720] I don't know how or why, but somehow in this little river, a door that was built into the [43:32.720 --> 43:39.360] side and had been there up until the day prior was now nowhere to be found. [43:42.320 --> 43:48.960] Eventually, I meandered my way out of the river and sat on a rock near the edge. [43:48.960 --> 43:58.720] I dried out before eventually sliding back into my shirt, and after a while longer after that, [43:58.720 --> 44:07.120] I decided to head home. I decided to walk a different way back to my car than I had before [44:07.120 --> 44:14.560] and went a bit off the trail. It actually got so dense and dark in some places, I took out my [44:14.560 --> 44:21.680] flashlight to illuminate the way, and it was as I was walking through this rough terrain [44:22.400 --> 44:28.160] that I noticed a sparkle, a glint on the forest floor in the distance. [44:30.160 --> 44:39.600] Curious, I decided to run up to investigate. When I got close enough to crouch down in front of the [44:39.600 --> 44:48.880] object, I found it partially covered under loose leaves. I parted the debris and found before me [44:48.880 --> 44:56.560] the very handle that had, up until yesterday, taken up residence on the door of a secret [44:57.120 --> 45:07.120] below the river. I picked it up and noticed where it would be attached to the door. It had been [45:07.120 --> 45:16.720] horribly singed, but the sight and structure was undeniably familiar. It was the exact handle I [45:16.720 --> 45:25.120] discovered just a few days ago. I just got home a few minutes ago, [45:25.760 --> 45:34.720] and I've been typing in a mad frenzy ever since. I don't know what there is to take away from all [45:34.800 --> 45:44.560] of this, but at this point I definitely believe retro on his experience. I mean, if my experience [45:44.560 --> 45:51.680] with all of this is true, and it wasn't some kind of strange hallucination, then I think just about [45:51.680 --> 46:02.560] anything is possible. Perhaps that was always the case to begin with. Perhaps that's the takeaway. [46:04.720 --> 46:27.760] Okay. Thank you for listening to tonight's episode of Clancy Pasta, written and narrated [46:27.760 --> 46:32.160] by yours truly. I really hope you enjoyed. I would love to hear what you thought of the [46:32.160 --> 46:38.960] story and the production in the comments below. And if you would like to get things like ad-free [46:38.960 --> 46:46.480] episodes, bonus episodes, access to a series where I read through a book and talk to you guys about, [46:46.480 --> 46:51.920] it's kind of like a book club. Get access to the text of my original stories and much, [46:51.920 --> 46:59.040] much more. You can go to Patreon.com slash Clancy Pasta. And speaking of which, I need [46:59.040 --> 47:04.960] to give a huge, huge thanks to last month's patrons. Since it's the beginning of the year, [47:04.960 --> 47:10.640] I actually decided I'm just going to go ahead and thank all of my $2 and up patrons, because [47:10.640 --> 47:16.560] I really appreciate you guys. And I really just can't thank you guys enough for continuing to [47:16.560 --> 47:23.920] support me on here. So thank you so much to David L, erect ostrich 87, Inklamania, [47:23.920 --> 47:30.800] dweller, Shannon M, David L, Nordraven, Quiet Calamity, tumultuous Teh, [47:31.440 --> 47:45.440] Ali K, King Deset, Thea, James W, Eli 131, Vaish, Cody H, Awbunny, Jess R, Lulu R, Sarah S, [47:46.160 --> 47:59.120] Captain M, A. Rodko, Vanessa, Angelo L, Amara, Monica A, Stephen W, Folar, Goober, Jessica D, [48:00.000 --> 48:12.160] Death Metal, Todd B, Lydia P, Vision of Oblivion, Catman Drinks Coffee, Leia S, Jared B, Dar, [48:12.880 --> 48:24.080] David L, Ninja Dad, Obsidianblade87, Pamela P, Dexter D, Genex Josh, Iless Jack, [48:24.880 --> 48:34.160] and the oligarch of the chamber, Gabrielle B. So thank you all very much. Thank you to all of my [48:34.160 --> 48:39.760] $2 and up supporters across the board. And you know, even lower than that, but those are the [48:39.760 --> 48:44.960] names I read out today. And just thank you, everyone who supports me on Patreon or YouTube [48:44.960 --> 48:52.560] members really can't thank you enough. Okay, I think that's about it. Whether you're listening [48:52.560 --> 49:00.080] on YouTube or on a podcasting service, I appreciate your viewership and support listenership and support [49:00.080 --> 49:14.640] very much. And I will talk to you all very soon. Have a great night, everyone. Take care. Transcription results written to '/home/forge/transcribe3.sonicengage.com/releases/20240204160217' directory