Episode 305 | "There Was Never a Bomb." + 2 Other Scary Stories

Mr. Creeps (0:07)

Welcome to Creepscast.

Well, they used to be people.

My name is Danica Craven, and I've been an archaeologist for the past decade. Tantalizing opportunities often fall into my lap. Some drenched relic washes up on an Egyptian beach, or a lonesome fossil is uncovered. But I'm often beaten to the punch. That's the nature of the game. And as the years go by, fewer ancient gems remain undiscovered. Consequently, last December, I was dumbfounded by a lead in the Bavarian Alps. And I arrived first, and that was not a gift worth squandering. My team and I investigated a frosty nook near Zugspitz, Germany's mightiest mountain. Two days earlier, in the wake of a fearsome blizzard, a misshapen steel panel was found in the snow, halfway up a steep cliffside. Amir Leinten and I had suspicions regarding its origin. Suspicions confirmed when our team unearthed something at the site. Concrete. I told you, I gloated. Oh, I know you did, Amir laughed. But temper your expectations, Danny. We still don't know what we found. And an hour later, there came the satisfying clunk of metal against metal. And so Flores, our chief digger, had uncovered a lofty metallic door. Depleted by a day's work, he finally let his shovel fall into the snow. We followed suit, dropping our tools. Though I had been digging significantly slower than the burly laborers, I still felt a sense of achievement. A smile broadened across my cheeks.

Unbelievable, Amir whispered. You love that word, don't you? I smiled. Even when we get inside and see undeniable proof, you'll still call me delusional. Well, that's the thing, Amir said, scratching his neck. How will we get in there? Not with this measly equipment, Enzo said. We'll need something heavy-duty to breach the door. The man, a hulking figure with rosy frosted cheeks, let us out of the snow tunnel. Explosives, Enzo Becker suggested. Oh, calm down, kid. A hydraulic system should do the trick, Enzo replied. But we aren't opening it tonight. Snow's coming down and daylight's gone. Everybody's cold and tired. I huffed, but we... Not tonight, Miss Craven, Enzo insisted. Amir, I said, turning to my friend for assistance. My colleague shrugged. Sorry, Danica, we won't be able to do anything without Enzo and his men. But this is an undiscovered German stronghold, I said. In 24 hours, we won't be the only people here. You know that local will already have told everybody about the panel he found. We're going to pack up and head to town, Enzo said firmly. See you in the morning. An idea came to me. Amir, let's camp here. Guard the tunnels, take a claim. This is our site, and I don't want anybody to take it.

I would strongly advise against that miscraven. Enzo cautioned, rubbing a gloved hand against his red brow.

Other than tourists in the Igloo Resort, nobody sleeps in the mountain. Wild camping isn't safe. I'll leave a tent for us, we'll be fine, I promised. Amir, are you happy to stay with me? My partner nodded. Sure, Danny, this is our site. I don't want to lose it either.

Enzo growled, barging past us and beginning to pack his equipment. We do appreciate your help, Enzo, I said. You don't need to appreciate it. I don't get paid to be appreciated, and I sure as heck don't get paid to babysit.

And with that, Enzo Flores and his man began walking down the mountainous slope, heading towards the warm embrace of lights in the town below.

I'm sorry, Amir, I said as we tucked ourselves into our sleeping bags. He shrugged, smiling. I respect you, Danica. You're more dedicated to this line of work than anyone that I know. You deserve this find, so let's guard it. Oh, I'm being paranoid, I sighed. No doubt about that, Amir chuckled. But it doesn't hurt to be safe, does it? We would kick ourselves if somebody were to invade our freshly dug site. We've done the hard work. I smirked. I mean, it was mostly done by Enzo. No, it was mostly done by Enzo. Amir agreed, and we laughed. Thanks, I said. You're so level-headed. It's a talent of mine, he grinned.

As I dozed off, I had never felt safer in my life. Wrapped in a snug cotton cocoon, I was soothed by shrieking gusts and the rippling tent fabric. Our camp blocked the entrance to the snow tunnel. Guarding the gateway to Hitler's last uncharted shelter, it was the jewel of my career, my life.

That cozy feeling of accomplishment didn't last, however. Amir and I were awoken by a husky bellow in the early hours of the morning.

What was that? My friend panted, sitting upright. I don't know, I breathlessly replied, rubbing my eyes. It sounded. I was interrupted by the sound of snow crunching beneath immense weight. It must be an animal, Amir whispered. What animal would be caught in this blizzard? I asked. And it wasn't a person. Neither of us contested that. The footsteps were too thunderous.