MrBallen

But his mother and his brother were in danger. So he swallowed his fear, pushed through all the coats, and stepped out. The house was silent and still. No broken furniture, no blood. At least, until he reached the bedroom. There was a figure on the bed, and the sight was too much to process for the seven-year-old. And so he just immediately looked away.

His gaze fell on a phone lying on the blood-soaked sheet, its screen still glowing. Then a voice rose from the phone's speakers. Someone was still on the line.

His gaze fell on a phone lying on the blood-soaked sheet, its screen still glowing. Then a voice rose from the phone's speakers. Someone was still on the line.

His gaze fell on a phone lying on the blood-soaked sheet, its screen still glowing. Then a voice rose from the phone's speakers. Someone was still on the line.

But before we get into that story, if you're a fan of the strange, dark, and mysterious delivered in story format, then you've come to the right podcast because that's all we do and we upload twice a week, once on Monday and once on Thursday. So if that's of interest to you, please change the follow buttons keyboard settings to another language so their typing makes no sense.

But before we get into that story, if you're a fan of the strange, dark, and mysterious delivered in story format, then you've come to the right podcast because that's all we do and we upload twice a week, once on Monday and once on Thursday. So if that's of interest to you, please change the follow buttons keyboard settings to another language so their typing makes no sense.

But before we get into that story, if you're a fan of the strange, dark, and mysterious delivered in story format, then you've come to the right podcast because that's all we do and we upload twice a week, once on Monday and once on Thursday. So if that's of interest to you, please change the follow buttons keyboard settings to another language so their typing makes no sense.

Okay, let's get into today's story.

Okay, let's get into today's story.

Okay, let's get into today's story.

Nikki Halpin couldn't believe how well things were going. On January 8, 2004, the 32-year-old single mother was at a pizzeria in Safety Harbor, Florida, enjoying a night out with her boyfriend Chris and her sons, 7-year-old Drew and 9-year-old Max. Nikki had only been seeing Chris for a few months, and he hadn't had much interaction with her boys yet.

Nikki Halpin couldn't believe how well things were going. On January 8, 2004, the 32-year-old single mother was at a pizzeria in Safety Harbor, Florida, enjoying a night out with her boyfriend Chris and her sons, 7-year-old Drew and 9-year-old Max. Nikki had only been seeing Chris for a few months, and he hadn't had much interaction with her boys yet.

Nikki Halpin couldn't believe how well things were going. On January 8, 2004, the 32-year-old single mother was at a pizzeria in Safety Harbor, Florida, enjoying a night out with her boyfriend Chris and her sons, 7-year-old Drew and 9-year-old Max. Nikki had only been seeing Chris for a few months, and he hadn't had much interaction with her boys yet.

But so far tonight, he was nailing it, chatting easily with Drew about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and also making sure to include Max, too. When Nikki heard Max start to giggle over something Chris had said, Nikki suddenly felt this spark of happiness. She liked Chris, but until tonight, she really hadn't been convinced that their relationship had long-term potential.

But so far tonight, he was nailing it, chatting easily with Drew about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and also making sure to include Max, too. When Nikki heard Max start to giggle over something Chris had said, Nikki suddenly felt this spark of happiness. She liked Chris, but until tonight, she really hadn't been convinced that their relationship had long-term potential.

But so far tonight, he was nailing it, chatting easily with Drew about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and also making sure to include Max, too. When Nikki heard Max start to giggle over something Chris had said, Nikki suddenly felt this spark of happiness. She liked Chris, but until tonight, she really hadn't been convinced that their relationship had long-term potential.

They'd met online, gone on a few dates, and it had been fine. Not exciting, but fine. But maybe that was okay. Chris was about her age, and he was an engineer with his life together. He checked the boxes, and maybe that was all she needed. Somebody who was solid, simple, and stable, who could make her boys laugh. I mean, that kind of relationship would certainly be a big change for Nikki.

They'd met online, gone on a few dates, and it had been fine. Not exciting, but fine. But maybe that was okay. Chris was about her age, and he was an engineer with his life together. He checked the boxes, and maybe that was all she needed. Somebody who was solid, simple, and stable, who could make her boys laugh. I mean, that kind of relationship would certainly be a big change for Nikki.

They'd met online, gone on a few dates, and it had been fine. Not exciting, but fine. But maybe that was okay. Chris was about her age, and he was an engineer with his life together. He checked the boxes, and maybe that was all she needed. Somebody who was solid, simple, and stable, who could make her boys laugh. I mean, that kind of relationship would certainly be a big change for Nikki.

Her ex-husband, Donald, had been the opposite of Chris. He was an imposing prison guard and former boxer, built like Arnold Schwarzenegger, and was almost twice her age. They met when Nikki was just 22 and Donald was 41. Her family had thought he was too old for her, but she had fallen in love with his rugged good looks and charm. But then life got complicated.