Have you ever looked into someone's eyes and felt like nobody was home? Today we're exploring a chilling phenomenon from the American South about "soul-less" humans – and it's not what you might expect.
That's such an unsettling concept. What exactly do they mean by soul-less humans?
Well, we're not talking about supernatural creatures or horror movie monsters. These are everyday people who seem normal on the surface – they smile, they work regular jobs, they make small talk – but something fundamental is missing. In Southern folklore, they're known as "hollows" or "husks.
Hmm... so it's more about an inner emptiness than anything visibly wrong with them?
Exactly. Think about those times you've met someone who goes through all the right motions, but their laughter doesn't quite reach their eyes. According to the folklore, these people either lost their souls or — more disturbingly — were born without them.
You know, that reminds me of some research I read about emotional mimicry versus genuine emotion. Studies show about 7% of people consistently struggle to experience authentic emotional connections.
That's FASCINATING — and it ties perfectly into this story from Chatham County about the Devil's Pounding Ground, where nothing grows in this mysterious circle. But what does grow there are stories, particularly one about the Lady in Black.
Oh, tell me more about this Lady in Black. The way you're building this up is giving me chills.
