Into the Abyss
A short horror story fictional audio podcast where in each episode the Shadow Dweller spins a new tale of horror, creepy stories and twisted tales to keep you company until you are swallowed by the Abyss.
Into the Abyss
Morbid Morsals Season 2. Episode 4. To Grandmother's house we go
Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and tradition. For the Tate family, it’s an annual pilgrimage to Karen’s parents' cozy cabin nestled deep in the Smoky Mountains—a place brimming with memories of warmth, laughter, and holiday feasts. But this year, as the snow blankets the woods and the fire crackles invitingly, something feels...off.
The woods are too quiet, the air too heavy, and the warmth of family tradition soon twists into a chilling fight for survival.
This Thanksgiving, the question isn't what you're thankful for—but if you'll live to tell.
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This episode contains mature language and adult situations. Listener discretion is advanced.
SPEAKER_07:Hello, my friend. And how is it that you stumble into my hands? I am ancient. I am friends. I am ancient of all.
unknown:I believe for years and collecting stories.
SPEAKER_07:I will tell you the tales of last time. Short stories of horror. Tiny tales of the creepy. I will show you by the end you'll be screaming with madness. Morbid Morsels is a new chapter of terror. A shorter tale of madness. To let's just say, carry your tremendous suffering over to the longer, fuller episodes. Your torment endless suffering has helped me go stronger. To reunite my brothers once again to open the portal for here, the nether realm to your. To release darkness and chaos upon all mankind. We have grown stronger by passing these tales of madness onto you. Not only will we feast on your souls, but we will unleash hell on earth. We'll be seeking new, unfortunate souls to torment, new chapters of fear, tales of the unbelievable, and more skin to the episodes. Remember, your dark thoughts lead you to me. I won't have to find you. It will be you that seeks me out.
SPEAKER_04:Thanksgiving. A time for family. A time for gratitude. A time to reflect on the things that we're grateful for. The Tate family, for the past five years, have celebrated Thanksgiving at Karen's parents' cabin in the woods, a wood cabin that Karen's father Nathan built in the Smoky Mountains for him and his wife Betty. Nathan was an old retired man who loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, living off his land, and going into town only for supplies when needed. Betty liked to sew by the fireplace, cook amazing home cooked meals, and liked to play bingo with her friends in town on Wednesday nights. Nathan would take her there and drop her off and then spend the rest of his night in the woodshed, skinning deer, rabbit, or squirrel, and making sure he had at least emptied a 12-pack of Miller High Life. Betty got rides from her friends on those nights. Sometimes he passed out next to the wood stove in the shed till morning.
SPEAKER_08:Does she have to live in the middle of nowhere? God, why can't they just sell this old cabin and move somewhere nice and warm? Like Florida?
SPEAKER_01:It's tradition. Over the river, through the woods, to grandmother's house we go. Besides, we lost my parents about seven years ago, and I really don't feel like spending the holidays with the bells. Sure, they're great neighbors and all, but your parents are the closest thing I have to parents.
SPEAKER_08:Something stinks. Probably just a dead deer or something. Don't worry about it, honey. Hunters probably left a carcass somewhere.
SPEAKER_02:But it smells like grandpa.
SPEAKER_01:What the hell does that mean, Lucy? That's not a nice thing to say about grandpa.
SPEAKER_08:It's probably just mom cooking or dad started drinking early. You know how he loves his drink.
SPEAKER_01:Karen, that was not cooking. That sounded like. Yeah, you're probably right. It wouldn't be Thanksgiving if your dad didn't get shit-faced watching the game. Chalk this up to yet another wonderful family event.
SPEAKER_08:Hey, now let's be nice, Eric. Give my dad a break. It's the holidays after all.
SPEAKER_04:Karen, Eric, and their 10-year-old daughter Lucy made their way up the steps to the front porch. They stomped the snow off their boots and knocked on the door. A mixture of the fireplace, fresh baked pies, and a wonderful feast that they would soon all be eating.
SPEAKER_00:Come in, come inside. It gets dreadfully cold up here in the smokies. Take off your coats and boots and get warm. Dinner's almost ready.
SPEAKER_04:Betty kissed and hugged Karen and Eric. Then she bent down and pinched Lucy's already red cheeks and closed the door behind them and went into the kitchen. She handed her daughter a glass of wine.
SPEAKER_00:Karen, honey, you've gotten so thin. Aren't you eating? You'll need a big plate tonight. Doesn't that husband of yours feed you?
SPEAKER_08:Stop bussing about me. I eat just fine. What can I help with? Where's Dad in the shed again? Lucy, honey, why don't you go into the living room and colour in your colouring book? Me and Grandma have some catching up to do.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, okay, Mom. It smells yummy in here, Grandma. I'm starving. I'm gonna have so much turkey, I'm gonna bust at the themes.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, you'll see him soon enough. Hello, Eric. Hope the drive up wasn't too bad. Grab a nice cold beer from the fridge. Or would you rather have something to warm you up? We have some rum and coke, be a deer, and give Nathan a hand. Could you help him with the turkey in the basement?
SPEAKER_01:Roman Coke sounds great, thanks, Betty. The basement? Don't you mean the woodshed?
SPEAKER_00:The basement.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, no problem. I'll leave you two at it to catch up. Wouldn't mind having some guy time with your dad.
SPEAKER_04:Eric walks toward the basement door. The handle creaks, and the door swings open. From the darkness below, there's a wet sloshing sound.
SPEAKER_01:Nathan, hey Nathan, you down there? Betty said to give you a hand with the turkey. Did you get a big one hunting this morning?
SPEAKER_04:Eric's hesitant footsteps creak on wooden stairs. The sloshing grows louder, now accompanied by a faint, muffled groan.
SPEAKER_01:Nathan, you okay? Have one too many? You didn't fall, did you?
SPEAKER_04:Eric made his way down the steep wooden steps to the basement. His feet hit the dirt floor. He hit his head on the dangling light. God damn it.
SPEAKER_05:Over here, Eric. Why, yes, I did get a big one.
SPEAKER_04:Nathan was wearing a leather apron covered in blood. A flickering light bulb revealed a grotesque sight. Animal carcasses hung from the wall. The smell hit him immediately. Eric gagged. As Eric's vision began to adjust to the dimly lit basement, he noticed something hanging from a big meat hook. Nathan had his back towards Eric as he was skinning what appeared to be a deer.
SPEAKER_01:Hey Nathan, I thought we were having turkey. I didn't know we were having venison too. But I do love the way your wife cooks it just right.
SPEAKER_04:As Eric came closer to see what Nathan was doing, he slowly realized that it wasn't a buck after all.
SPEAKER_01:Oh my god, what the fuck is that? That's not a deer.
SPEAKER_04:That's a it was a hunter wearing a red and black checkered flannel. His mouth was gagged and he was suspended from a meat hook. He was making muffled screams and his eyes meet Eric's with absolute terror. Nathan was shaving muscle and tendons off the man's arms and legs. He was still alive. Nathan was putting bits of bloody flesh in his mouth, chewing and gnawing on the man as he hung from the hook.
SPEAKER_05:So fresh, so tender, better than any venison or turkey. It's going to be a wonderful Thanksgiving, Eric.
SPEAKER_04:Eric screamed as he felt something sharp cut into his chest. He looked down to see a meat cleaver sticking out. Blood began trickling down, staining his shirt, a crimson red. Nathan hit him over the head and dragged Eric into the darkness. The sound of bones snapping and flesh tearing filled the air. Upstairs, Karen and Lucy sit awkwardly at the dinner table. The table looked amazing. China plates and name cards. Candles flickered as Betty placed a basket of fresh hot rolls down. There were bowls of mashed potatoes and gravy, corn on the cob, cranberries, all the holiday delicacies.
SPEAKER_08:Where's Eric? Mom, what's taking him so long? He's been down there a long time.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, he's helping your father with the turkey. Boys will be boys. They're probably having some drinks and just lost track of time.
SPEAKER_02:Mom, I'm hungry. Is Daddy and Grandpa coming back up soon?
SPEAKER_00:You love the stuffing.
SPEAKER_04:It's special this year.
SPEAKER_08:What's that, Mom? I thought we were having turkey.
SPEAKER_04:Just then the basement door opens. Eric missing part of his lower jaw and covered in blood and gore, stumbles into the kitchen. Karen and Lucy scream at the disgusting sight, seeing Eric dripping blood all over the floor.
SPEAKER_02:Daddy, you're scaring me. Daddy, what's wrong?
SPEAKER_04:Lucy said, horrified. Run, Karen get Lucy and get the hell out of here. Eric said, gurgling. Karen grabbed Lucy, knocking over the chairs as they bolted toward the front door.
SPEAKER_00:We haven't had our Thanksgiving dinner yet, Karen. And you can't leave before dessert.
SPEAKER_02:Mom, what's happening?
SPEAKER_04:Betty took a handful of the raw flesh from Eric's arm and ripped a big chunk from it. Blood trickled down her cheeks as she chomped on it. She picked up the carving knife, running her fingers down the blade. Eric winced in pain as blood splashed to the hardwood floors.
SPEAKER_08:Run, baby. Don't look back. But what about Daddy? I want Daddy. I'm sorry, Baby, but it's too late for him. We gotta get to the car. We need to get far away from here as possible.
SPEAKER_04:Nathan came up from the basement chewing on something that looked like fingers. He was still wearing the blood-soaked apron.
SPEAKER_05:Delicious! Fresh game is always the best, sweetie. You and Lucy will be begging for seconds.
SPEAKER_04:Karen and Lucy bolted out the door and down the steps. They were about 100 feet from their car.
SPEAKER_08:Mom, I'm scared. I know, baby, I know. Just keep going. We're almost to the car.
SPEAKER_04:Karen said as she picked Lucy up and carried her. The snow was deep and cold.
SPEAKER_05:Don't look back. Karen, baby, come back to the table. Your mother spent all day prepping this wonderful meal. Where's your manners? You need to show some respect to your parents.
SPEAKER_04:Nathan picked up the longbow that was leaning against the porch and loaded an arrow. Karen was only a few feet from the car. Her feet were pins and needles because she left without her boots. Her breath came out in puffs of white. That's when she felt it. A shooting pain in the back of her leg. She cried out. Karen trips, sending Lucy sprawling forward. She looked back to see an arrow sticking through the other side. The white snow was now stained with a crimson patch, like a deer trailing blood after a hunt.
SPEAKER_02:Mommy, grandpa's coming. Hurry, why'd you stop? Get in the car, Mommy.
SPEAKER_04:Nathan looms over his daughter, drooling blood in her face.
SPEAKER_05:He leans in closer and says, I hit your ephemeral artery, Karen. You know I'm a good shot, and soon you'll bleed out.
SPEAKER_04:Lucy's hysterical and screaming, but manages to get in the car and locks the door.
SPEAKER_05:Come now, sweetheart. It's not polite to leave the dinner table. We've got plenty to eat, so let's go back in where it's nice and warm. Grandma will make you a nice hot cup of cocoa with marshmallows. After all, you know it's tradition to go around the Thanksgiving table and say what we're thankful for.
SPEAKER_04:This Thanksgiving. Be thankful. Be thankful for your family. And be thankful for your life. And remember, sometimes family traditions are best left in the past. Especially when going over the hill and through the woods to grandmother's house, you go.
SPEAKER_07:Your dark thoughts always lead you to me.
unknown:So, my friends, until next time, I look forward to tasting your fear.
SPEAKER_03:Hi, I'm Troy Birsch, creator and producer of the short horror story audio podcast Into the Abyss. If you like what you're hearing so far, please consider leaving me a five-star rating review wherever you can. This helps get my show out there to listeners just like you. Also, uh like, subscribe, download, and uh hit the notification bell. That way you'll get a heads up every time a new episode drops. Thanks to everyone who listened so far, and um I'll have my information in the show notes. Thanks. Hey guys, be sure to check out my new website, Into the Abyss Podcast73.com. There you'll find episode blogs, breakdowns, character discussions, topics for upcoming shows. Uh I also have a merch store. You can buy yourself some dope stickers, so you're suffering support to the Shadow Dweller. Uh and I also have some dope ass beats that I make uh called DJ Trillum Tracks. Or go ahead and shoot me an email. Troy at IntoTheabysPodcast73.com. When you're checking out the website, be sure to check out DJ Trill'em Tracks. These are most of the songs that I make up to put in the show's outros. These are sick dope beats to keep your heads ringing. If you'd like to support the show, you can go to buymeacoffee.com forward slash the shadow dweller73. This is a one-time donation and will be greatly appreciated. Any donations that I receive will go directly to the show, better equipment, and to put out the best product out there for you guys to enjoy. So that's buymeacoffee.com forward slash the shadow dweller73. And anything helps. Thanks guys. Follow me on Facebook or Instagram. Facebook is into period the period abyss period podcast. Instagram is into underscore the underscore abyss underscore podcast.
