News

31 Scary Story Nights: October 8th “Head Count”

Published

7 years ago

September 17, 2017

Hello readers and welcome back for another Scary Story Night! I’m not sure where I first encountered this story. I know I remember being entirely creeped out by it and that there was a campfire involved the night I heard it.

I’ve done some research and found some interesting variations on it, but this is the tale that I remember. So go outside, light a campfire, and settle in for a tale simply called “Head Count”.

***Writer’s Note: We here at iHorror are big proponents of responsible parenting. Some of the stories in this series may be too much for your little ones. Please read ahead and decide if your kids can handle this story! If not, find another story for tonight or simply come back to see us tomorrow. In other words, don’t blame me for your kids nightmares!***

Head Count as retold by Waylon Jordan

The Boy Scout troop had been hiking all day, and if the Troop Leader had been honest, he would have admitted he was lost over an hour ago. They were somewhere in the Smoky Mountains but their maps had failed them somewhere along the way.

“All right, troops, let’s take a breather,” he called over his shoulder. “Everyone settle down. Mr. Jones is going to take a head count while we rest up a bit. We aren’t far from the campsite, now.”

“You’ve been telling that lie for over an hour, now, Ralph,” Mr. Jones said as he brushed by the troop leader to go make the count.

It was just dark enough to need a flashlight as he stared down at the map.

“We have to be close,” he muttered. He’d led this trip many times before and he couldn’t say why he had suddenly lost his way this time.

He was still staring down at the map when Jones walked up behind him.

“Twenty kids. Just like there’s supposed to be, Ralph.”

“Good.”

Jones stared at him expectantly. “Well?”

“Won’t be long now,” the troop leader responded, not waiting for whatever comment Jones might have.

“All right, Scouts, let’s move out!”

The boys fell in behind their leader and he continued to lead the way. The scenery might have been familiar if it hadn’t gotten so dark. A couple of the boys pulled their flashlights out.

“Turn those lights out, now,” the leader barked. “You boys take turns pointing out the constellations. You can hardly see them in the city.”

It didn’t take long before the boys ran out of constellations and Jones was just running out of patience in general.

“Where are we, Ralph?”

“Almost there. I know I said it before, but we really are almost there,” Ralph replied. “Can you get a head count while we’re walking?”

“Sure…sure, Ralph…” Jones turned back to count the kids, but when he returned he had a spooked look on his face.

“What is it?” the troop leader asked.

“It’s…it’s nothing, Ralph…except that I counted 21 this time.”

“We only have 20 campers, Jones.”

“I know! But I swear it. I counted twice and there were 21.”

Ralph called a halt to the hike and stood staring over the group. He counted slowly to be sure, and there were indeed 21 head in the count this time.

Who was the extra? He didn’t want to start a panic among the campers.

“Well?” Jones asked.

“There’s 21 all right. Hold on.”

The troop leader pulled out his own flashlight and shined it through the group, counting once more. Though none of the faces seemed out of place, there was definitely one more boy than should have been there. The problem was, he couldn’t name which boy was out of place.

He turned back to Jones.

“Let’s keep going,” he said. “I’m sure it’s just a trick of the light or something…”

It wasn’t long before the troop leader found the trail he was supposed to be following all along and in less than half an hour they had arrived at their appointed campsite.

Grateful to be where they should be, the troop leader ordered the boys to start setting up their tents and asked Jones to do one last head count. The troop leader had finished setting up his own tent by the time Jones returned. The man was obviously agitated and his eyes were wide in terror.

“What’s wrong?” Ralph asked.

“…19…there’s only 19…”

The troop leader and his faithful chaperone ransacked the campsite and spent most of the next day looking but Matthew, the 20th camper, was never seen or heard from again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, that’ll make you think twice about hiking in the mountains, won’t it? Makes me glad I was never a Boy Scout! Good night, readers. Join us again tomorrow evening as we continue our countdown to Halloween with another scary story!

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Related Topics:Head Count Scary Stories Waylon Jordan

Movies

’47 Meters Down’ Getting Third Movie Called ‘The Wreck’

Published

6 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Deadline is reporting that a new 47 Meters Down installment is heading into production, making the shark series a trilogy.

“Series creator Johannes Roberts, and screenwriter Ernest Riera, who wrote the first two films, have co-written the third installment: 47 Meters Down: The Wreck.” Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine) will direct.

The first two films were a moderate success, released in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The second film is titled 47 Meters Down: Uncaged.

^{47 Meters Down}

The plot for The Wreck is detailed by Deadline. They write that it involves a father and daughter trying to repair their relationship by spending time together scuba diving into a sunken ship, “But soon after their descent, their master diver has an accident leaving them alone and unprotected inside the labyrinth of the wreck. As tensions rise and oxygen dwindles, the pair must use their newfound bond to escape the wreck and the relentless barrage of bloodthirsty great white sharks.”

The filmmakers are hoping to present the pitch to the Cannes market with production starting in the fall.

“47 Meters Down: The Wreck is the perfect continuation of our shark-filled franchise,” said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “This film will once again have moviegoers terrified and on the edge of their seats.”

Johannes Roberts adds, “We can’t wait for audiences to be trapped underwater with us again. 47 Meters Down: The Wreck is going to be the biggest, most-intense film of this franchise.”

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News

‘Wednesday’ Season Two Drops New Teaser Video That Reveals Full Cast

Published

9 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Cameron McFarland

Netflix announced this morning that Wednesday season 2 is finally entering production. Fans have been waiting a long time for more of the creepy icon. Season one of Wednesday premiered in November of 2022.

In our new world of streaming entertainment, it isn’t uncommon for shows to take years to release a new season. If they release another one at all. Even though we will likely have to wait quite a while to see the show, any news is good news.

The new season of Wednesday looks to have an amazing cast. Jenna Ortega (Scream) will be reprising her iconic role as Wednesday. She will be joined by Billie Piper (Scoop), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Evie Templeton (Return to Silent Hill), Owen Painter (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Noah Taylor (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

We will also get to see some of the amazing cast from season one making a return. Wednesday season 2 will feature Catherine-Zeta Jones (Side Effects), Luis Guzman (Genie), Issac Ordonez (A Wrinkle in Time), and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Devs).

If all of that star power wasn’t enough, the legendary Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas) will be directing the series. As a cheeky nod from Netflix, this season of Wednesday will be titled Here We Woe Again.

Jenna Ortega Wednesday — Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams

We don’t know much about much about what Wednesday season two will entail. However, Ortega has stated that this season will be more horror focused. “We’re definitely leaning into a little bit more horror. It’s really, really exciting because, all throughout the show, while Wednesday does need a little bit of an arc, she never really changes and that’s the wonderful thing about her.”

That’s all the information that we have. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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Movies

A24 Reportedly “Pulls Plug” On Peacock’s ‘Crystal Lake’ Series

Published

10 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Film studio A24 might not be going forward with its planned Peacock Friday the 13th spinoff called Crystal Lake according to Fridaythe13thfranchise.com. The website quotes entertainment blogger Jeff Sneider who made a statement on his webpage through a subscription paywall.

“I’m hearing that A24 has pulled the plug on Crystal Lake, its planned Peacock series based on the Friday the 13th franchise featuring masked killer Jason Voorhees. Bryan Fuller was due to executive produce the horror series.

It’s unclear whether this is a permanent decision or a temporary one, as A24 had no comment. Perhaps Peacock will help the trades shed more light on this project, which was announced back in 2022.”

Back in January 2023, we reported that some big names were behind this streaming project including Bryan Fuller, Kevin Williamson, and Friday the 13th Part 2 final girl Adrienne King.

“‘Crystal Lake info from Bryan Fuller! They officially start writing in 2 weeks (writers are here in the audience).” tweeted social media writer Eric Goldman who tweeted the info while attending a Friday the 13th 3D screening event in January 2023. “It will have two scores to choose from – a modern one and a classic Harry Manfredini one. Kevin Williamson is writing an episode. Adrienne King will have a recurring role. Yay! Fuller has pitched four seasons for Crystal Lake. Only one officially ordered so far though he notes Peacock would have to pay a pretty hefty penalty if they didn’t order a Season 2. Asked if he can confirm Pamela’s role in the Crystal Lake series, Fuller replied ‘We’re honestly going to be covering it all. The series is covering the life and times of these two characters’ (presumably he’s referring to Pamela and Jason there!)'”

Whether or not Peacock is moving forward with the project is unclear and since this news is secondhand information, it still has to be verified which will require Peacock and/or A24 to make an official statement which they have yet to do.

But keep checking back to iHorror for the latest updates to this developing story.

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