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There's a vile sickness in Abbesstown. You must excite it, dig into the deep earth, and cut it out by any means necessary. And if you see the devil walking around in sight of another man, be an enemy of your very own brother. If you see the blood pour forth from his flesh, you must cut out the very heart of him, burn his body, and scatter the ashes in the furthest corner of this town as a warning.
Jonathan Uh, my father. I've been to a lot of these for my grandfather, Bill Abbas, my grandmother Dottie a couple of years later, my mom too young. I've been a funerals for a lot of your families too. It's a small town. That's God, it's good and it's bad. And all of us, all the grieving ones, the ones left behind, we all say the same thing. Right. He was a complicated man, because how else do you sum up a person's life? Now, he lived here, His entire
life was born a County General. Went to school at Havoc Elementary and later Robert Frost High Go you Blue Devils. He didn't go to college, and a lot of us didn't. A lot of us stayed on at home after high school, got jobs at the mill or with the police department, raised families. That was Dad too. Met mom right out of high school, fell in love, made a few mistakes together, and boom took over Grandpa's bar, made it his own. He was a good dad. Not too harsh, No, maybe
not harsh enough. He always said he was proud of me mm pushed me to be my best, but never made me feel less than if I failed. Only only time I think I ever saw him disappointed in me was when I left college after a couple of semesters to help out at home. You know, my mom was sick.
He wasn't disappointed that I came home so much, but I think he knew that I wasn't going back, and I think I think that broke his heart, because he knew that I'd probably stay here in this place where we sometimes aren't just people who live here now, because they'd be thinking about the past, about who our family was, not who we are who we can be. And of course a lot of this is conjecture. He wasn't much of a talker, I'm sure you know, but you still
knew where you stood somehow. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, okay. Jim Avis was a good man. He was my dad. He loved the people, He loved fiercely. He got all of you drunk. There's no such thing as a curse. Come out to Dottie's after we'll drink to that first rounds on the house. Obviously, I'm not a public speaker, and I hate it. But more than that, I hate
a bit after the service. The line, the line, always the damn receiving line, people you barely know, offering their condolences, bar our patrons, strangely sober in daylight, blinking their eyes to adjust the occasional surprise he.
Laid me out.
Was you know, I've heard the story, never even saw it coming.
Your father wasn't what you call it bluesy.
You know, he was a sweetheart. O.
You just don't want to cross it deserves it.
Probably that was a prodigious drinker back then. See anyways, I'll see you at the bobbin. Thanks for coming, mister Stavino.
Thank you're old enough to call me Tom now.
Now, Tom, you're holding up the.
Line, all right, that Bob, you uh get my regards to Jimbo while he's hailing up.
We'll do. How is Jimbo barb you know.
Ornerie as hell? Yeah, he's been snippy with me, which isn't like him, but we can talk about him later. I'm so sorry about Johnny. You know, we used to work together at the bar when we were just out of school. Jimbo told me I had such a crush, but he only had eyes for your mom. Of course, then Jimbo came along brash.
We'll please send my love. Tell him first round is on me when he gets back on his feet. Oh my love, dear, Thanks Bob.
Hey, Hi holding up?
No, Sylvia, I need a drink. But this line seems to keep getting longer. Easy, All right, burners, it's time to wrap it up.
We're gonna go get pissed in Johnny's memory.
All right.
You can give her in your condolences while she's got a drink in her hand.
Let's move, Thank you, ride or die hun.
You know he happened to be walking by when I got a flat tire. He fixed it for me, but you never heard such swearing.
Just laid me out on the floor right over there. Didn't know what hit me, just sort of came to covering in bers, running by my buddies.
And just started laughing his ass off.
You heard him laugh, right. He didn't do it often, but the man cackled like a hyaena.
It was endearing, you know. This was what kept Dad going through the hard gears. This was a good and proper sent off friend or foe. Everyone was welcome at Dottie's, even the man who very timidly poked his head in at this moment. Brother Ken, our towns eminent scholar on sin and the wages thereof. Nobody was sure where he came from. Nobody was sure where he went each night after packing up his cardboard signs covered in prophecies and scripture.
But he always managed to be clean cut, and his khakis and navy's sport coat were always clean, even if a little threadbare in places. He was crazy, of course, you'd have to be to stand on a street corner and preached to deaf ears for so many years. But he was dedicated. Ken had never walked into this bar until this moment, and it's like it burned his lungs to breathe the air. But he stood up straight when he saw me and marched bravely across the bar, ignoring
the quiet chuckles and leering eyes that followed him. Hello, Ken, to what do I owe this honor?
Uh?
Your father? I wanted to pay my respects. Despite his vocation, I believe that he was a decent man. He was always very kind. He gave regularly so that I could keep up the services for my parishioners.
Who are your parishioners. Thus, poor people walking by on the street. Quiet, Tom, go on, ken.
He was very kind and very generous.
Hum I didn't know that he donated.
Well, that's the mark of a godly man. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your father who is in secret, And your father, who sees in secret, will reward you. That's Matthew he was good. I can see that he
instilled that in you. I was hoping that you would allow me to lead a prayer.
Ah. Well, Dad wasn't religious, but you know, given the circumstances, I think he'd happily accept that.
It is into your hands, Oh Lord, that we humbly entrust our brother Jonathan Abbys in this life. You embraced him with your tender love. Deliver him now from every worldly evil and bid him eternal rest. The old order has passed away. Welcome him into paradise where there will be no sorrow.
Jimbo, Oh my god, Jim, Hey, are you okay? You're bleeding.
I didn't want to miss it.
Barbes said, yeah, I know what she said. Jimbo, your eyes it's nothing now. I think you should go to the hospital. Jim, Jim, your eyes are bleeding.
What are you looking at?
Ken?
What's he saying?
What are you saying?
Against itself? Is brought to desolation?
What the hell are you on about?
If Satan also be divided against himself?
How shall his kingdom stand?
Shut him up?
Because you say that I cast out devils through beels above, and if I by beels above cast out devil's hair shut. Therefore shall they be your judges.
Suddenly Jimbo was hands in his hair, screaming and slamming his head on the counter. Ken managed to get up and swing, but jim tackled him to the ground and sunk to his teeth, right into Kim's shoulders.
She does not with me, it's against me.
She that gathered not with.
Damn called the cops.
It was horrible, all of it. The blood was everywhere. Jimbo Horn, a gentleman, raving and screaming as friends pulled him from a battered Brother Ken, who continued screaming Bible verses in his shrill, terrified voice.
But if I, with the finger of God cast out the devils, no doubt the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
By the time the authorities that arrived, both had been subdued. Brother Ken had a nasty bite mark on his shoulder and a broken nose. Jimbo was bleeding from everywhere, his eyes, nose, mouth. He was sweating it, just like Raymond Bachman had before him. But what struck me was the eyes. Brother Ken's fearful turned upward, looking for help from the Almighty to pull him through Jimbo's wild, almost feral, murderous Jimbo Horn who in decades on the force only discharged his firearm once
to save my life. A good gentleman, that's the word anyone would have used. Gentle now suddenly a slavering beast. They were taken to the hospital, Jimbo and handcuffs. Of the officers were apologetic about it. He'd trained them both. I'd called Barb to break the news. Hello, Barbs, it's Corinne. Oh yes, actually, what did you do?
Is it kill somebody?
Listen? It's best that you let the guys tell you the details.
Did he kill someone?
No?
Oh, thank god?
Did you think he would farm?
I'm so sorry. It's okay, I say old days for you to listen to me. Blubber is not.
What happened.
He came home from the hospital the other day and it's just well, he's he's not man himself.
It's it's like he's been possessed. In forty years of marriage, he's never once raised his voice with me, and suddenly he's screaming about everything. He's mad that I'm keeping him in bed, But Krinny, he's had this fever and I keep having to change the bedsheets because well they're red. And then and this afternoon, I get back from your father's service and Jim's taking a nap and I'm in the kitchen when I hear this, I don't know, this scream,
like like a baby screaming, but somehow worse. And I come up the stairs and he's sitting in the corner, faced away from me, hunched over something. And when I ask him what the hell happened, he.
Turns to me with this.
It was a snarl, crim like like a junk yard dog, and.
Arm what is it?
He's got the cat in his hands, and it's.
That he he killed the cat.
I didn't know what to do. I I should have run off or called somebody, his doctor, the chief, anybody, but I couldn't wrap my head around what was happening. So I just said, Jim, did you kill the cat?
And what did he say? He shrugged, He shrugged.
And dropped it on the carpet like I used towel, And he said he was going out for a drink and he left, Karen, his eyes were all bugged out and bloody.
Wait the cats or jimbows.
Jimbows, of course, Sampson. I mean, he was a good cat. He didn't deserve to be mingled. He loved Jim, he did. They were best friends. Sampson used to crawl into bed at night and crawl up the side jim shoulder, right in the curve of his neck. He flits there all night long, only getting up when Jim did.
I'm so sorry, Barb. I think you should go to the hospital. Okay, maybe you can tell the doctors all the details. It's not like Jim, of course.
I'm just so scared, Barb.
If you need any Barb, Barb. I'd come straight home to shower after everything, and to sit shell shocked by the violence and loss over the last few days. I barely had time to recover from one thing before the next barrel through. I'd barely had time to process my father's death. I'd spend so much time on his arrangements. I hadn't had time to grieve, to start to sift through the pieces, to process his last days. His last words.
Black wood black would box.
Shit. I hadn't thought of them since he died a few days previous. It must have been important if it was the last thing he'd said. Dad was never a man of many words. He was careful with them, used them sparingly, even occasionally to the detriment of our relationship. He said, I love you, and that stood in for a lot. We didn't talk about Mom much after she died. We didn't talk about feelings. We didn't talk about his
shortcomings or mine. So using up his last breath on these instructions, and of course my middle name must have some weight. He certainly didn't talk about the box that I found on the top shelf of his closet. He really buried the lead on that one. What in the hell a black wooden box with an old iron clasp, I mean antique the size of a bread box across and lay it on the lid. I was not prepared for what I found inside? What coming?
What the hell?
What the hell?
Hey, buddy, Sylvie, And look who I found pacing in front of your house.
Hi. Hi, It's Murray.
I was your father's nurse.
Oh yeah, I'm sorry. The last few days have been a little bit of a whirlwind.
I'd imagine. I'm incredibly sorry for your loss, and I am sorry.
To show up uninvited.
I just seen that you were you were the only one who came to visit your father in the hospital, and I don't know.
This was silly.
No, no, no, it's not. You thought I was alone. A lot of assumption on my part. What was kind of you? Come in? I rap bourbon, excellent, we'll get the glasses. Oh, none for me.
Thanks, I've got first shift tomorrow.
Boo Sylvie. No, Hey, how did everything go? After I left the bar?
I mean the cops hung around asking questions. I don't think they could believe that Jimbo would ever attack anyone over nothing much just bite a guy, I'm.
Sorry, what a regular at my bar? When berserk sounds like it?
Old Tom and Kit Baker were moaning that they got scratched up too trying to pull Jimbo off Ken, So I gave them a couple in the house to clear it up.
Hope that's okay.
Yeah, I trust your judgment, as you should.
But anyway, the mood changed.
Some of the old folks talking about winds shifting, signs of the times, normal shit.
But they were rattled courin.
Yeah I am too, right, so am I I mean, shit has been crazy, and with your dad dying in the middle of it, I don't know anyway to Jonathan, God love him, he'd have had all this shit.
Worked out quick.
Truth to dad?
So, uh, you're gonna keep us in suspense?
Or what?
What's in the box?
Answer the door, clutching it for dear life, and your eyes haven't left it since you put it down like you thought it might bite you.
Oh well, you're not going to believe this.
What the hell am I looking at?
Inside the box, lined with deteriorating red velvet, were the following items. A small crystal vial, a bible, its leather covered, dry rotted brass candlesticks, two half melted candles, a small crucifix, rosary beads, desiccated garlic, a small brass flask, two ornate matching pistols, the kind they used to use in duels, a wooden mallet, and finally, a simple wooden steak stained a dark brown on the sharp end. It had clearly been used at some point in the distant past. It's
for vampires, well, I figured, given the family history. Oh, it's just a long story that I guess I don't know in as much detail as I thought.
What's that?
Be careful, careful? Ah nah, I'll.
Be gentle it's a letter. It's signed by Josiah Abbis.
We'll read it aloud.
I will Jesus ahem, my dear grandson. There are many things between a parent and his progeny that go unspoken over the course of a lifetime.
My time grows short even now. I can sense a shift in the wind over this village. The blind will be approaching soon to cut out the good eye that has led them through the darkness thus far. There's a little time for apology, But I fear I must make one to you, to your brother, for I could not save your parents from their fates, nor could I keep this great burden from you, so young and alone in this world. These things shall torment me long after death, and I well deserve it. I shall leave you with
this sacred box. Hopefully, by the time that you receive this missive, its contents will no longer be necessary for peace, the Good Lord willing. But I fear, my good grandson, that the events which have unfolded in this town have not yet come to full fruition. And so it is with you I leave these holy artifacts, these histories, these
consecrated weapons against the inferno. It is time for you to take up the family's great cause in this ending battle between God's holy warriors and the horrors of the infernal. There's a vile sickness in Abbess Town. You must excite it, dig into the deep earth, and cut it out by any means necessary. And if you see the devil walking around in sight of another man, be an enemy of
your very own brother. If you see the blood pour forth from his flesh, you must cut out the very heart of him, burn his body, and scatter the ashes in the furthest corner of this town as a warning. You are God's warrior. Now they will not understand you. They will fear you. But this fear is your weapon as well. Wield it without mercy, and bring down its holy judgment upon any who stand in the way of your calling. God save this lineage. God save ABBA's Town.
God save my own wretched soul for what I have done in his service.
Wow, Shit, that's incredible. Was he insane?
I mean they didn't call him a mad preacher for nothing. If you see the blood pour forth from his flesh, shit, Jimbo, Yeah, I mean that that that can't be connected.
Why not?
I don't know. And Demerius, my father's very last word was Demerius. What do you think he meant?
I mean that's your middle name, right? Did he ever call you that?
No?
Oh, that's so weird.
What did he do to demerish? What?
I think?
I know someone who can help us, help us, what, Sylvie, help.
Us figure out how this is all connected?
Oh, Sylvie, don't be ridiculous.
No, come on, let me call.
The guy, Sylvie.
No, let me call him.
Who is this guy you speak of? You have a historian in your back pocket?
No, I wish.
No, he studies folklore and he's cute too, not that that is important. I went to a lecture with that guy I dated who was in a weird shit and we ended up.
Talking to him for a little afterward. I found his number a while back.
Are you stalking him? No?
Yes, but have the guts to call him, because just calling him out of the blue for no reason would be weird.
But calling him about an old vampire slaying kid is not weird.
Not for this guy.
I don't have the time to deal with this.
No, you have nothing but time. It's ringing. It's his office number, so he probably won't pick up this Late.
Professor Bradshaw.
Listen, if this is about the midterm, I've made it abundantly clear that I will not be grading on a curve.
Okay, nope, nope, not a student.
Sorry.
There's always a rush of them calling to beg or cajole this time of year.
Who is calling?
Hi?
You don't remember me. My name is Sylvie.
We met a while back after a lecture you gave at Concord Library about the you know, the Terror of Lake.
Right, yeah, the Lake member Magog.
Yeah, that's it.
I never remember that. Anyway, I was with a guy at the time, Michael. I am not seeing him anymore, to be clear. But okay, sorry, anyway, we have something you might like to see go on.
Havoctown was created by me Aaron Manke. The show was written and directed by Nicholas Takoski. This episode was edited
and sound designed by Rima Lkali. Starring Jewels State as Corene Abbas, Felicia Day as Sylvie, Harris ray Wise as Josiah abbas, Crystal Lee as Demeris, Robin Bludworth as jimbo'horn, David Calhoun as Jonathan abbas Charlie, David Newell as brother Ken Summer rain Menkey as Barbara Horn and Misha Collins as Professor Jeremy Bradshaw, with additional voice acting from Julian Graham,
Sasha Hatfield, Beverly Bremers, and Aaron Mankey. This season is directed by Nicholas Takoski with assistant directors Sarah Klein and Jake Diamond, casting by Sunday Bowling CSA and Meg Mormon CSA. Production coordinator Wayna Calderon. Our theme song was created by Chris Childs executive producers Aaron Manke, Trevor Young, and Matt Frederick, with supervising producer Rima Lkali and producers Nomes Griffin and Jesse Funk. Havoctown is set in the Bridgewater Audio Universe,
which includes the hit fiction podcasts Bridgewater and Consumed. Learn more about both shows, as well as Havoctown at grimandmild dot com, and find more podcasts from iHeartRadio by visiting the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.