It’s funny how tales like this cling to you, worming their way into your mind, gnawing away, festering like a wound. They say truth is stranger than fiction, but sometimes the stories we pass down—the ones we whisper in shadowy corners or over drinks at seedy bars—are more chilling and grotesque than any proven fact. This is one of those tales. A fable, sure, but one that sits far too close to reality. Told by those who find comfort in the macabre, and believed by those who understand that the scariest monsters are always human. Ever heard of Helen? The lonely, gaunt old woman who ran that ramshackle diner out on Highway 22—the one no one seems to remember until…

A young man named Canes was on the verge of graduating, but his life was cut short. Devastated by his passing, Canes’ parents departed, forsaking his items, and moved elsewhere. Right after they moved out, a parent and son made themselves at home in the same small apartment that had once belonged to the deceased teenager’s maternal and paternal figures. Once settled in, Seren stumbled upon a container of outfits among the remaining items. His mom, Leda, was overjoyed because she no longer had to get new ones. She had to make these adjustments herself so that they would fit Seren. He put on the uniform once the school started. The unusual sensation of the material on Seren’s skin unsettled…

It’s funny how tales like this cling to you, worming their way into your mind, gnawing away, festering like a wound. They say truth is stranger than fiction, but sometimes the stories we pass down—the ones we whisper in shadowy corners or over drinks at seedy bars—are more chilling and grotesque than any proven fact. This is one of those tales. A fable, sure, but one that sits far too close to reality. Told by those who find comfort in the macabre, and believed by those who understand that the scariest monsters are always human. Ever heard of Helen? The lonely, gaunt old woman who ran that ramshackle diner out on Highway 22—the one no one seems to remember until…

A young man named Canes was on the verge of graduating, but his life was cut short. Devastated by his passing, Canes’ parents departed, forsaking his items, and moved elsewhere. Right after they moved out, a parent and son made themselves at home in the same small apartment that had once belonged to the deceased teenager’s maternal and paternal figures. Once settled in, Seren stumbled upon a container of outfits among the remaining items. His mom, Leda, was overjoyed because she no longer had to get new ones. She had to make these adjustments herself so that they would fit Seren. He put on the uniform once the school started. The unusual sensation of the material on Seren’s skin unsettled…

It’s funny how tales like this cling to you, worming their way into your mind, gnawing away, festering like a wound. They say truth is stranger than fiction, but sometimes the stories we pass down—the ones we whisper in shadowy corners or over drinks at seedy bars—are more chilling and grotesque than any proven fact. This is one of those tales. A fable, sure, but one that sits far too close to reality. Told by those who find comfort in the macabre, and believed by those who understand that the scariest monsters are always human. Ever heard of Helen? The lonely, gaunt old woman who ran that ramshackle diner out on Highway 22—the one no one seems to remember until…

A young man named Canes was on the verge of graduating, but his life was cut short. Devastated by his passing, Canes’ parents departed, forsaking his items, and moved elsewhere. Right after they moved out, a parent and son made themselves at home in the same small apartment that had once belonged to the deceased teenager’s maternal and paternal figures. Once settled in, Seren stumbled upon a container of outfits among the remaining items. His mom, Leda, was overjoyed because she no longer had to get new ones. She had to make these adjustments herself so that they would fit Seren. He put on the uniform once the school started. The unusual sensation of the material on Seren’s skin unsettled…