I’m sure you have all heard of the Appalachian Rules:
If you see something, no you didn’t.
If you hear something, no you didn’t.
If something whistles at you, you don’t whistle back.

But what happens if you ignore the rules? What will happen if you whistle back or interact with the so-called “wildlife” in the Appalachian Mountains? This is the legend of the Birthday House located in Chilhowie, Virginia. 

The legend starts as one of pure innocence: a young girl was celebrating her sixteenth birthday. However, she had ulterior plans for celebrating her birthday. Instead of cake and candles and presents, this young lady wanted pain, suffering, and an absolute bloodbath to denote her special day. 

As her family began preparing her party–table set, cake ready to eat, candles ready to blow out–she struck. 

Neighbors reported that they never heard anything other than joyous laughing the entire evening until around midnight when everything went quiet. No screaming, no crying, no pleading for mercy, just laughing. 

The girl had slaughtered her entire family, leaving them slumped over their plates of cake, candles still aflame. After she had finished, she calmly walked upstairs to her bedroom and took her own life. 

The family was found by police days later, the girl being deemed as the culprit on account of one line, scrawled onto the wall in candle wax, “They didn’t want me to grow up.’’ So, she didn’t, and she took the rest of her family with her. 

The current homeowners claim to be terrified at night, saying the paranormal activity runs rampant when the sun goes down, haunting their home and leaving them shaking. They claim to hear screaming, footsteps, and… laughter. 

So be warned, my dear readers, as you or your child blow out the birthday candles, remember to be grateful for the mess of wax and streamers and icing, because the seemingly sweet sixteen-year-old of Chilhowie will make it known, that growing up isn’t really worth it, and she may just swoop in and take your birthday away herself.

Edited and reviewed by Clarence Clark