The Nightmare Trials

S3E14: CognivarIn a reality where control is disguised as safety and freedom is quietly stripped away, Merrick finds himself face to face with something… new.Not a god of old.Not a creature born from chaos.But something far more familiar… and far more dangerous.As influence spreads and authority tightens its grip, a new entity emerges, one that doesn’t seek worship… only obedience.Meanwhile, the lines between power, identity, and control begin to blur as forces beyond comprehension continue to move their pieces into place.Because in a world where everything is watched…Nothing is truly your own.⚠️ Content Advisory: This episode contains graphic violence, disturbing themes, and intense psychological horror. Listener discretion is strongly advised.🎙️ Production Note: This episode may include AI-assisted voice modulation to enhance character immersion and storytelling.

“I Drive for CERBER is a supernatural horror comic series created by Shaun Barbour of InstInked Comics. It follows Jim, a driver for a ride-share service that doesn’t just pick up people… it picks up everything else. From cryptids and urban legends to things that should never exist, every passenger has a story—but not all of them are alive to tell it.Issues #1 and #2 are available now, with Issue #3 currently in production and an upcoming Kickstarter campaign on the horizon. You can grab the books, along with other horror titles like Belial and the Hollowed Universe novels The Treatment and The Hollowing, at www.instinkedcomics.com.Follow Shaun’s work on TikTok @instinked and on Facebook under Shaun Barbour to stay updated on new releases, behind-the-scenes content, and the upcoming Kickstarter.

S3E12: Thank You for HoldingSome calls… you can’t hang up from.What starts as a simple attempt to resolve an unknown charge quickly spirals into something far more disturbing. As Daniel waits on hold, reality begins to fracture, and the line between customer and product starts to blur.And once you’re connected…You may never disconnect.⚠️ Content Advisory:This episode contains themes of psychological horror, loss of identity, and disturbing audio elements that may be unsettling to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.🎙️ The Nightmare Trials PodcastWhere fear is not imagined… it’s experienced.💀 Want More?Unlock ad-free episodes and exclusive content by joining us on Patreon

S3E11: Everyone Dies TonightThis research file presents a contained incident. A single night. A single location. No escape.What begins as a celebration quickly unravels into something far more sinister as a familiar place becomes the stage for unimaginable violence. Beneath the surface of routine conversations, old wounds linger. Trauma festers. And something long buried begins to rise.As the night unfolds, a presence emerges. Methodical. Relentless. Personal.One by one, those within reach are pulled into a nightmare that feels both random and deliberate. But this is not chaos. This is not chance.This is something far more intimate. Memories blur with reality. Truth fractures under pressure. And the line between victim and perpetrator begins to dissolve in ways that cannot be undone.In this file, the past is not something that stays behind you. It waits. It grows. And eventually… it comes back.Everyone has a breaking point.Tonight… it is reached.⚠️ Warning: This episode contains extreme violence, graphic gore, psychological trauma, and disturbing themes. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

This research file forces a decision no one should ever have to make.As the situation surrounding Simon reaches a critical breaking point, Aubrey finds herself pulled into a confrontation with a force long buried but far from forgotten. The Vega has returned… not in body, but in consciousness. And with it comes manipulation, cruelty, and a test designed to break even the strongest will. Trapped within a constructed reality, Aubrey is given an impossible choice. Sacrifice one… or lose everything. With Earl and Mr. Fields caught in the balance, the illusion of control begins to shatter. Words become weapons. Promises become traps. And time itself becomes the enemy as Simon’s life hangs by a thread.In this file, loyalty is tested, sacrifice becomes inevitable, and the cost of hesitation is laid bare. Some choices define who we are. Others haunt us long after they are made.⚠️ Warning: This episode contains graphic violence, emotional trauma, psychological manipulation, and intense horror themes. Listener discretion is advised.

S3E9: Body AdsThis research file follows Daniel, a man given a second chance at life after waking from cryogenic suspension decades later than anyone intended. Once promised a cure for a terminal illness, he returns to a world that is medically advanced, economically efficient, and morally hollow. What begins as a miracle quickly sours into something grotesque. Guided through this new society by Dr. Corvex Finnegan, Daniel is introduced to a culture where the human body has become prime real estate. Flesh is bought, sold, branded, harvested, and repurposed in the name of profit. Advertising is no longer something people see. It is something they wear. Something they carve away. Something they become. As Daniel struggles to understand the nightmare he has awakened into, one truth becomes impossible to ignore. In a world driven by sponsorship and consumer hunger, untouched skin may be the most valuable commodity of all. In this file, survival, exploitation, and corporate horror collide in a vision of the future where the body is no longer sacred. It is inventory.Some people sell their image.Others are sold piece by piece.⚠️ Warning:This episode contains body horror, medical exploitation, disturbing social themes, and intense psychological dread. Listener discretion is advised.