Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
If you enjoy a blend of science fiction and horror, be sure to check out my other podcast, The SCP Experience. This podcast takes you on a journey through the SCP Foundation archives where strange anomalies, secret experiments and unsettling mysteries collide. Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. Be sure to search for The SCP Experience wherever you get your podcasts. Story 1.
Spellmaster. When the guy walks in, his face haggard, black bags under each of his drooping eyes, I still recognize him. He'd been into our franchise a few times with his son. Cute kid. Seemed like he had learning issues, I don't know. Welcome to Radio Shack, how can I assist you today? I ask from behind the counter.
The guy, the father, looks up from his shoe gazing and nearly pierces me to the wall with a look in his eyes. I need help, he says. Great, what can I help you with? The muscles next to his left eye twitch and his whole body tenses for a moment. Then he relaxes, but only slightly, and he walks all the way to the front counter.
He slips a backpack from his shoulder and unzips it as he sets it on the counter. Slowly, like he's handling a bomb or something, he pulls out one of our speak-and-spell knockoffs, the Spellmaster. Although it's not really a knockoff since Texas Microtech actually makes both. You wanted to take it apart and teach your son about the chipboard and the synth vocalizer and how to... It killed my boy!
He plops the red and orange plastic electronic toy onto the counter and roughly shoves it at me, either no longer afraid of the thing or upset enough that he doesn't care. I clear my throat, look about the store to see if any other customers have slipped in without my noticing, which would be impossible considering the annoyingly loud door buzzer we have. Then I return my attention to the guy.
I'm sorry, but did you say this killed your son? I ask, keeping my hands free of the toy. Yeah, it's possessed, and it talked him into doing something bad.
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Chapter 2: What is the premise of the first RadioShack horror story?
Very bad. It killed him, and you're going to make it right. A lump forms in my throat. Sir, this is a toy. You play spelling games on it, and yes, this model can be disassembled in order to study the components, but I believe I warned against that when you purchased it. His eyes bore into me. I doubt he's slept in days. He looks like it, and smells like it. He just stands there, staring at me.
I shuffle uncomfortably. I, um, am sorry to hear about your son, but I'm just a clerk here. I want to speak to the manager. He's out for the rest of the day. Just me, I'm afraid. I want to speak to corporate. We're a franchise, sir. Then get me the goddamn owner! Uh, the manager is the owner. And like I said, he's out today. The man shakes with frustration and rage.
I put my hand under the counter, ready to trigger the alarm if needed. Then his whole body deflates. He leans heavily on the counter. His eyes finally leave me and go to the toy. A spell master is orange and red, just like the more popular speak and spell. It has a large handle at the top, a monochrome LCD screen below that, and a full keypad below that.
There are close to a dozen word-based games you can play on it, or it can be used as a spell checker or even a calculator. It's a pretty cool thing when you're a kid, especially the electronic voice synthesizer. When you're young enough, you can almost believe it's talking right to you, and you alone. But as an adult, the voice can be grating and a little annoying.
We used to have a demo model out on the floor, but I turned it off after a week. The guy goes to tap the spell master, but holds his finger an inch above the toy. That, that thing is evil. You sold it to me. Tell me how to get my son back. Back? I thought he was dead. I hold up my hands in apology. Not to sound rude or anything, He is dead, or might as well be.
What speaks out of him now isn't my boy. His finger finally drops, and he pushes hard against the spellmaster. It's this. This speaks out of him now. I'm not sure what to say, so I grab up the toy, flip it over, and reach for the power switch. Well, okay, let's have a look. The guy grabs my arm and grips me tight. Are you mad? Don't turn it on.
Sir, I can't diagnose the problem if I can't turn it on. I told you the goddamn problem. It has my son.
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Chapter 3: How does the father describe the Spellmaster toy?
Yes, well, like I said, sir, I'm just a clerk. This may be an issue for the police. He barks a harsh laugh. The cops, they don't care. They think I'm nuts. I don't comment. What I do is lock eyes with the man and lean in close. Sir, what do you expect me to do here? You realize that what you're saying isn't exactly normal, right? He leans in to my lean in and asks, Did you know? Know what, sir?
What it would do. And what did it do? I'm still a little in the dark. It took his soul. I sigh, then shake my head. Um, no, sir. I didn't know. That's a little outside what we handle here at Radio Shack. You might want to speak to a priest or pastor about that sort of stuff. We're just an electronics store. His lip curls, and he scoffs at me, pushing away from the counter.
So, you're not going to help me? I'm not sure how I can, sir. I am sorry. Then give me a refund. I want my money back, and I want to be done with this thing forever. That I can do. I doubt you have the receipt, but that's not a problem. Like I said, I remember you. We do have a 10% restocking fee, but I'll waive that. Is cash alright, or would you prefer store credit?
I'm never coming back here again! Cash it is. I leave the toy there on the counter and go to the register. After pulling out his refund amount, I count it out for him and hand him the spare change with the bills. I am sorry to hear about your son, sir. I hope things work out. He snorts, snatches the cash from me, and storms out of the store, nearly knocking the door off its hinges as he leaves.
I wait a few moments, just in case he comes back. When he doesn't, and no one else comes into the store, I hurry to the door and lock it. Then I hurry back to the counter and grab my mini screwdriver set. Opening the back, I set the molded plastic aside and look at the electronics inside. Well, that's not true. I don't care about the electronics.
It's the glass vial with the swirling blue and white liquid inside it that matters.
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Chapter 4: What shocking claim does the father make about the toy?
I find my gloves under the counter, pull them on, then carefully extract the vial from the two clamps holding it steady. I set the vial to the side, fetch an empty from under the counter, and place the empty between the clamps. Then I screw the back on the toy and smile at the swirling vial sitting on the counter. Then I pick it up.
Like I am holding nitroglycerin, I slowly walk to the office door and give it a tap with my toe. Sir, are you in there? Enter, a deep voice says. I hold the vial in one hand and open the door with the other. I try not to gag on the sulfur smell and extend my hand with the vial into the room. Here you go, sir, fresh and ready.
The vial is snatched from my grip and I slam the door closed before I am forced to hear that awful slurping noise. Then I remove and store my gloves, grab my keys, and head to the front door. I have it unlocked and am not even back to the counter when the awful buzzing tells me I have a customer. I glance over my shoulder. Two customers. A mom and her daughter. Welcome to Radio Shack.
How may I assist you today? I ask, now back behind the counter. Ah, yes, thank you, the mom says. I am looking for something educational for my daughter. All the video games these days are nothing but violence, and they don't make anything age appropriate either. Do you have an electronic toy that isn't a gosh darn video game? Something that might actually teach my daughter?
I look down at the spell master on the counter. Well ma'am, you're in luck. I just happen to have what you are looking for right here. Have you heard of a spell master?
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Be sure to use promo code nosleep20 to get 20% off your first order. That's nosleepcoffee.com, promo code nosleep20. Story two, Best Buddy. I yank my hand back and stick my thumb in my mouth as I drop the soldering iron on the table, having burnt the crap out of myself, again. Some other bitch. I growl as the pain starts to dissipate.
Pulling my thumb from my mouth, I glare down at the quickly forming blister.
Crap.
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