Nightmare Gallery: A Treasury of Twisted Terror Tales

The Last Broadcast

On a chilly autumn evening, when the leaves crunched underfoot and the sun set earlier than usual, a small radio station in the heart of Pine Hollow prepared for its annual Halloween special. WZMH, a local AM station, had developed a reputation for its chilling ghost stories, urban legends, and community lore. This year, the station manager, Max, decided to take it up a notch.

"Let's do something different this time," Max proposed during a staff meeting. "We'll invite listeners to call in and share their own ghost stories live on air. We'll make it a contest—the best story wins a cash prize!"

His colleagues, initially skeptical, warmed up to the idea as the excitement built. They decorated the station with cobwebs and fake spiders, transforming it into a haunted haven. As night fell, they prepared the equipment, waiting for the phone lines to light up with calls from eager listeners.

At 9 PM sharp, the broadcast began. The host, Jenna, a young and enthusiastic radio personality, welcomed everyone. "Welcome to WZMH's Halloween Spooktacular! Tonight, we want to hear your ghost stories. Our first caller is Rick from Oakville. Rick, you're on the air!"

"Hey, Jenna! Thanks for taking my call!" Rick's voice crackled through the speakers, full of excitement. "So, my story happened a few years ago at my old high school. We had this urban legend about a ghost that haunted the gym. They say if you walk in alone at midnight, you can hear the sounds of basketballs bouncing and see a figure in a letterman jacket. I went in one night with a couple of friends, and..."

As Rick detailed his eerie encounter, Jenna felt a chill run down her spine. The air in the studio grew heavier, almost electric. The night progressed with more stories—some humorous, others genuinely unsettling—but nothing prepared Jenna for what was to come.

Around midnight, just as the atmosphere turned ominous, the phone rang again. Jenna answered, her heart racing in anticipation. "Welcome to WZMH, you're on the air!"

A voice, distorted and raspy, filled the studio. "I have a story for you."

"Great! What's your name?" Jenna asked, her voice steady, but she felt a sense of foreboding creeping in.

"Call me Sam."

"Okay, Sam, where are you calling from?"

Silence.

"Sam?" Jenna prodded, her pulse quickening.

"Do you believe in ghosts, Jenna?" Sam replied, their voice laced with an unsettling calm.

"Um, well, I think there's a lot we don't understand about the world," Jenna responded, unsure of where this conversation was headed.

"Let me tell you about the ghost that haunts this station."

Jenna's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean?"

"Years ago, a DJ went missing during a Halloween broadcast. He was never found. They say his spirit still wanders these halls, waiting for someone to tell his story."

Intrigued and frightened, Jenna glanced at her co-workers, who exchanged nervous glances. "Is that true?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure. "What happened to him?"

"His name was Danny. He was obsessed with the supernatural. He used to broadcast live from haunted locations, trying to capture evidence of the paranormal. But one Halloween, he vanished without a trace. The last thing anyone heard was his frantic voice on the radio, begging for help."

The studio lights flickered, and Jenna felt a shiver run down her spine. "What happened next?" she pressed, her curiosity overpowering her fear.

"No one knows. They say if you listen closely, you can hear him in the static."