A haunting Appalachian folklore tale about creatures that feed on secrets—and a woman who hears her name carried in the wind. Written by A.L. Childers.
The Whisper-Eaters of Black Hollow Ridge
People in the mountains don’t scare easy.
But there are things—old things, quiet things, hungry things—
that even the oldest souls won’t speak about above a whisper.
The Whisper-Eaters are one of them.
They live in the valleys where light never fully reaches.
They collect secrets the way others collect coins.
They soak up unsaid words like rainwater.
And if you lie too much?
They can smell you.
My grandmother warned me:
“Don’t go up on Black Hollow Ridge after dark.
The air ain’t empty up there.
It listens.”
Of course, like any Appalachian granddaughter with no sense of self-preservation, I went anyway.
The Ridge was quiet.
Too quiet.
No cicadas.
No crickets.
No wind.
Just that thick, strange silence—
the kind that presses against your skin like humidity,
except colder.
And then I heard it.
A whisper.
Not around me.
Inside me.
“Come back, child…”
I froze.
Because that voice—
that voice belonged to my mother.
Except my mother was dead.
Whisper-Eaters don’t speak in their own voices.
They speak in the voices you’ll listen to.
The air shifted.
A shadow stretched across the ground.
And something unseen stepped closer—
its presence bending the grass, warping the moonlight,
as if reality had to rearrange itself to make room for it.
“Come closer,” it whispered.
“I’m hungry.”
I ran.
And behind me, the Ridge exhaled—
a long, low, rattling sigh—
the kind you only hear when something ancient
just lost the meal it wanted most.
A.L. Childers (Audrey Childers) is a nationally emerging author known for blending humor, truth, social commentary, history, health, and metaphysics into powerful, unforgettable writing. With over 200 published books, she explores everything from government corruption to women’s empowerment, spiritual protection, thyroid health, Appalachian folklore, and the hidden mechanics of power.
Her work can be found on Amazon, TheHypothyroidismChick.com, and across social platforms where readers follow her for honesty, insight, and real-world wisdom.
A.L. Childers is the author of over 200 books spanning investigative nonfiction, history, spirituality, political analysis, women’s empowerment, and social commentary. Her writing blends deep research with lived experience, often exploring the systems that shape—and limit—ordinary lives.
Her bestselling titles include:
- The Hidden Empire
- The Forbidden Gospel of John: From Sinai to Nicaea and the Prison of Flesh
- Archons: Unveiling the Parasitic Entities Shaping Human Thoughts
- The Girl in the Mirror Is Thirteen Again
- A Woman’s Holistic Holy Grail Handbook for Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s
- The Witch’s Almanac Cookbook (2026 Edition)
- And more available on Amazon
If you enjoyed this piece, explore Audrey’s books and blog for deeper dives into power, policy, and the people caught in between.
Disclaimer:
Fiction inspired by folklore. Creatures are not responsible for your nightmares.
