4 | Demaris

Summary

Havoc Town – Episode 4: Demaris

Podcast: Havoc Town
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Date: September 2, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this gripping fourth installment, “Demaris”, the narrative toggles between Abbesstown's haunting past and its present-day echoes. Corinne Abbas and Sylvie Harris embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind a mysterious plague; a story that traverses 19th-century vampire panic, personal family histories, and a diary that may hold vital answers. The episode delves into the terrifying symptoms of the so-called “blood fever”, the superstitious frenzy it sparked in the past, and unsettling parallels with the contemporary outbreak gripping modern-day Havoc (formerly Abbesstown).

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Plague’s Superstitions and Reality

• Rumors and Fears (00:26)
  Damaris Daniel Ernesto recalls rampant rumors: townsfolk speaking in tongues, children acting feral, and whispers about demonic influences. Ordinary skepticism gives way to genuine dread as events intensify.
  • Quote:
    “Even the hardest skeptic in Abbesstown turned violently toward a horrible sort of belief that we were at long last coming to the very end of days.” — Damaris Daniel Ernesto (00:26)

2. Corinne and Sylvie’s Quest: Meeting the Academic

• En Route to Professor Bradshaw (01:54–04:27)
  Corinne and Sylvie, playfully bantering, travel to consult a folklore scholar about a recently recovered box of vampire-hunting tools and disturbing events in town.
  • Notable Exchange:
    • “You do not see a lot of these in the wild.” — Professor Bradshaw, on the vampire kit (05:05)
• The Vampire Panic, Explained (05:10–07:47)
  Professor Bradshaw contextualizes the New England vampire panic, debunking myths linking it solely to tuberculosis while highlighting the unique, more violent symptoms in Abbesstown’s outbreak.
  • Quote:
    “It was something else. Victims experienced disorientation and fever, then sudden, violent rages, and finally...bleed from the eyes and nose and even the pores. It more closely resembled Poe’s Red Death…than TB.” — Professor Bradshaw (06:49)

3. Uncovering the Past: The Diary of Damaris Abbess

• Discovery & Significance (08:10–09:18)
  Bradshaw produces “A Terrible Thirst”, the lost diary of Damaris Abbess, a rare first-hand account of the Abbesstown Vampire Panic.

  • Quote:
    “It’s all the more chilling because of how it...abruptly ends.” — Professor Bradshaw on the diary (09:18)

• Context: Vicious Family History (09:28–10:12)
  Corinne learns of her ancestor, Josiah “the mad preacher” Abbess, associated with infamous local violence and suspected murder.

• A Scholar’s Caution (10:12)
  Bradshaw offers a parting insight:

  • Quote:
    “From personal experience, I’ve found that sometimes that’s where the truth lies.” — Professor Bradshaw, on the value of myth (10:12)

4. Reading the Diary: 1817’s Fall into Panic

a. The Arrival of Jury Havoc

• Atmosphere and Introduction (11:06–14:30)
  • The church's first service is interrupted by Jury Havoc, whose unsettling arrival—despite courteous words—immediately unsettles Father Josiah.
  • Quote:
    “His bright eyes shone as he took in the house of worship…They so thoroughly seemed to find the center of me.” — Damaris Daniel Ernesto, on Jury Havoc (13:09)

b. The First Attack and the Escalation

• Violent Onset (17:50–18:56)
  A young boy, Nathaniel, suddenly attacks Mrs. Harris in a blood-fueled rage, exhibiting disturbing symptoms and leading to a town-wide crisis.

• Symptoms and Death (19:22–22:58)
  Detailed account of Nathaniel’s frenzied illness, imprisonment, and death: sudden onset of fever, bleeding from orifices and pores, fits of rage—so extreme that the clergy suspect supernatural evil.

  • Modern Parallels:
    Corinne and Sylvie note eerily similar symptoms occurring in the present day (23:02).

c. The Outbreak Spreads

• Contagion and Desperation (23:19–25:54)
  The affliction spreads to Mrs. Harris and Constable Fellows, both bite victims, sparking widespread fear and a call for communal religious fortitude.

  • Quote (Sermon):
    “Do not walk in fear, my friends. Put your faith in him and his light will banish the darkness…” — Father Josiah Abbess (24:15)

d. Secret Measures & Superstition

• Practical Exorcisms (25:54–27:21)
  Father Josiah, joined by his son Noah, secretly conducts aggressive nightly exorcisms on the afflicted—blurring lines between spiritual discipline and violence.

• Rising Paranoia and Curfews (27:21–29:51)
  The town imposes curfews and retreat into prayer, while Josiah rallies his flock to resist the “devil” and avoid further contamination.

• Desecration at the Grave (29:51–32:22)
  Damaris discovers disrupted earth at Nathaniel’s grave; Josiah and Noah exhume the body.

e. The Uneasy Corpse

• Discovery (32:22–34:00)
  The body, far from decomposed, appears lifelike: flushed cheeks, red lips—fueling suspicions of vampirism. Josiah prepares to destroy the corpse, echoing New England vampire folklore.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Diary:
  “I didn’t know there’d been a diary.” — Corinne (08:39)

• On the Fever:
  “He set upon the bars with a sort of madness that Noah described as inhuman, even infernal.” — Damaris Daniel Ernesto (21:34)

• On Faith vs. Fear:
  “We must remain vigilant, yes, but we must also retain our faith as our strongest defense.” — Father Josiah Abbess (24:15)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:26 — Damaris introduces the town’s descent into panic
• 05:10 — Professor Bradshaw explains the vampire panic
• 08:31 — The diary of Damaris Abbess is revealed
• 10:12 — Bradshaw: “Myth is where the truth lies”
• 11:06–15:17 — First entries of the diary read aloud; Jury Havoc’s arrival
• 17:50–18:56 — The Chandler boy’s attack at the market
• 21:34 — The boy’s inhuman turn in the jail cell
• 24:15 — Father Josiah’s sermon to reassure—and warn—the townsfolk
• 29:51 — Corinne finds Nathaniel’s grave disturbed
• 32:14 — Opening Nathaniel’s coffin: uncanny signs of vampirism
• 34:00 — Josiah readies to destroy the corpse

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Final Segment: Present-Day Tensions

• A call from modern-day Jury Havoc interrupts the diary reading (34:08), inviting Corinne to the famous Havoc house—suggesting the intertwining of past and present is far from over.

  • Quote:
    “That’s not too forward, is it? I promise I’m not gonna murder you in the bathtub. Like to put that chapter of our family's shared history behind us, yes?” — Jury Havoc, lighthearted yet portentous (34:50)

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Tone and Style

The episode balances eerie historical detail with lively, often darkly humorous interactions between Corinne and Sylvie. The historical narrative is somber and intense; the present-day tone feels skeptical yet increasingly unsettled as past horrors resurface in the modern town.

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Takeaways

• “Demaris” intensifies the series’ central mystery, heightening parallels between past and present outbreaks.
• Listeners are left with chilling accounts of mass hysteria, supernatural suspicion, and the lengths to which decent people will go when gripped by fear.
• The allusion to the present-day epidemic suggests history may be repeating itself—or that darker forces are at work in Havoc Town than anyone dares to admit.

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Transcript

[Corinne Abbas]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Sylvie Harris]

IHeart 3D audio for full exposure. Listen with headphones.

[Aaron Manke]

Havoc Town is a production of iHeart podcasts in Grim and Mild from Aaron Manke. Headphones recommended, Listener discretion advised.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

The rumors, which had largely been unsubstantiated but had seemed to spread of their own accord, took on flights of incredible fancy. Mr. Matthews was heard to have been speaking in tongues. The Johnston boy went feral and was seen wallowing with the hogs. It was whispered around the mill that the devil himself had come to Abbas town and was slowly seeping into the cracks of our everyday lives. These were all things that could be dismissed as superstition children's tales. But today's events caused even the hardest skeptic in Abbesstown to turn violently toward a horrible sort of belief that we were at long last coming to the very end of days.

[Corinne Abbas]

Sylvia and I set out just after dawn on Saturday. Deciding to keep to the back roads, I was in no rush to get to our destination. I found the whole thing rather silly, to be honest. Rousing an academic from his dusty slumber to ask him to make sense of a dying man's words and a macabre little box of vampire hunting tools. Then I found everything a little silly. In that moment, nothing I could do would feel otherwise. And so, afoot and light hearted, we took to the open road, swearing to kill time at scenic overlooks and roadside apple stands on the way to bone up on a little family lore. Now explain to me why you were at a lecture about the Terror of Lake What?

[Sylvie Harris]

The Terror of Lake Mega?

[Corinne Abbas]

Uh huh.

[Sylvie Harris]

Something like that. Yeah, it was. It was when I was dating Patrick. He was into all that weird shit.

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah, right.

[Sylvie Harris]

He watched every unsolved mystery show out there.

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah, I didn't see the appeal of.

[Sylvie Harris]

Unsolved Mysteries of Patrick. Yeah, well, he was a way to pass the time. I wouldn't have gone to that thing myself, but Professor Bradshaw was very cool and very attractive.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Holy.

[Sylvie Harris]

Yeah, impolite. He ended up talking to us for an hour after the lecture. Patrick wouldn't stop asking him questions. He was such a nerd.

[Corinne Abbas]

So what was the Terror of Lake Memphrog?

[Sylvie Harris]

Mama. Mama Frog of frog of frog. I don't know. I don't know. It was like an alligator with a cow head. I don't. I have no idea. It's not real anyway. But Dr. Bradshaw is an expert in things that aren't real.

[Corinne Abbas]

Like vampires.

[Sylvie Harris]

Like vampires.

[Corinne Abbas]

And this is a serious scholar.

[Sylvie Harris]

Yeah, just wait until you meet him.

[Corinne Abbas]

Whoa. Yeah, I Haven't stepped into a college building since I dropped out.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Oh, why do I feel like I'm.

[Sylvie Harris]

Gonna get in trouble?

[Corinne Abbas]

I don't know. I don't know. Like, should I have a hall pass or something?

[Sylvie Harris]

We're goddamn adults here. Come on.

[Corinne Abbas]

Okay.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Shh.

[Corinne Abbas]

Don't be weird. You're being weird. You're being weird. Okay, just walk normally. It's okay for us to be here.

[Sylvie Harris]

We are bringing an interesting artifact to an expert in the field. Okay, here it is.

[Corinne Abbas]

Well, knock.

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, yeah, Right. Sorry.

[Corinne Abbas]

Oh, God. I'll do it.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Okay.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Yeah, come in.

[Sylvie Harris]

Professor Bradshaw?

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

That's me.

[Sylvie Harris]

Hi. Yeah. I'm Sylvie Marcus.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

We spoke on the phone.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Oh, yes. Yeah. Come in, come in. You can just call me Jeremy.

[Sylvie Harris]

Jeremy, this is Corinne Abbas. She is the one I was telling you about.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Yes. And I assume that this is the.

[Sylvie Harris]

Yeah, the vampire kid.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Wow.

[Jury Havoc]

May I?

[Corinne Abbas]

Oh, yeah, of course.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Oh, wow. Wow. You do not see a lot of these in the wild.

[Corinne Abbas]

Have you seen others?

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

I actually did. They're more common in New England than you'd think due to the vampire panic.

[Corinne Abbas]

I'm sorry, the.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Oh, is this the letter?

[Corinne Abbas]

Yes, it's from.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Wow.

[Aaron Manke]

Yes.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

This is from Josiah Abbess. Wait a minute. So that makes you his great, great, great. Is it great granddaughter. Is that right? You've heard of Josiah the mad preacher? The most prolific vampire hunter of them all.

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah, I'm sorry, there's a lot to unpack in that statement.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

I'm sorry, this is just. This is very exciting for me. Okay, I'm assuming that based on the gobsmacked look on your face right now, that you are unfamiliar with the New England vampire panic.

[Sylvie Harris]

Yeah, let's pretend we're not familiar.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Okay. Well, there were a number of tuberculosis outbreaks in the region throughout the 19th century. And it was common for the disease, of course, to spread through families due to the close quarters. So someone would die and then be buried, and then shortly thereafter, another member of the family would get ill. And because many people at that time were very, let's say, superstitious, it was believed that these subsequent illnesses were because the dead were coming back and stealing the life force of their still living family members. And so it led to no small amount of mayhem and paranoia and bodies being, you know, as you do, exhumed and relieved of their hearts.

[Sylvie Harris]

Jesus.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Yeah, that was one thing. But then Abbas town was a whole nother animal. How so? Well, a couple of things. For one, the symptoms reported in that epidemic were just, you know, totally different from tuberculosis. Tuberculosis takes a Long time to kill, right? Its victims slowly waste away. That's why they gave it the nickname consumption. But the illnesses in Avistown, whatever that was, it was something else. Like, victims experienced disorientation and fever, and then they flew into these sudden, violent rages, and finally they. They would bleed from the eyes and the nose and even the pores. It was like a terrifying, terrible way to go. I think it more closely resembled. I don't know, like, Pose Red Death or something more so than tb.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Oh, God.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Is everything all right, Sylvie?

[Sylvie Harris]

Yeah, we've seen something like that recently this week.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Well, let's hope it's something else. I guess on the upside, there have been advances in medicine since the early 19th century.

[Corinne Abbas]

You said there were a couple of differences. What was the other?

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Turns out that there was a very interesting account written of the Abbestown Panic in Morgan Perkins. A Terrible Thirst. Which is. It's about the panic.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Hold on.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

It's a diary written by none other than. Ah, look here.

[Corinne Abbas]

The diary of Damaris Abbess.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Holy shit.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

That's what I said when I first read it.

[Corinne Abbas]

I. I didn't know there'd been a diary.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Well, it was probably confiscated when they arrested Josiah. It was found decades ago when the old Coos county courthouse in Lancaster was retired and it made its way into this publisher's hands. There are plenty of written accounts of the larger Vampire Panic, but besides a mention of it here and there in larger texts, the Abbesstown Panic has very little in the way of any firsthand accounts. And this one, Boy, let me tell you, it's all the more chilling because of how it. It abruptly ends.

[Corinne Abbas]

Because the good reverend murdered her.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Yeah, along with a woman by the name of Sophia Havoc, the wife of a wealthy merchant jury.

[Corinne Abbas]

Yes, we live in Havoc, formerly Abbas Town. My family is quite famous there for its misdeeds. Small town and all.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

You don't have to tell me.

[Corinne Abbas]

Hey, do you mind if I borrow this book?

[Sylvie Harris]

Uh, I promise to bring it back and I'll buy you a drink.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

That's not strictly necessary. I. Okay, sure. Yeah. Take the book. And I would love to talk to you further about your family lore sometime.

[Corinne Abbas]

Absolutely, yeah. Although I'm afraid I can't really give you much more than legend and myth.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Well, from personal experience, I found that sometimes that's where the truth lies.

[Sylvie Harris]

So. So. So what did you think?

[Corinne Abbas]

Oh, I mean, there's a lot to absorb.

[Sylvie Harris]

Well, I mean, at least now you've got the diary.

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah.

[Sylvie Harris]

Yeah. Well.

[Corinne Abbas]

Well, well, what?

[Sylvie Harris]

Well, freaking read it. Corinne.

[Corinne Abbas]

We Have a long drive home. Oh, yeah. Okay.

[Sylvie Harris]

Out loud.

[Corinne Abbas]

No.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Fine.

[Corinne Abbas]

Okay. An F. First entry. Here we go. 6th of September, 1817.

[Jury Havoc]

Wow.

[Corinne Abbas]

Noah and Father Josiah have laid the final stone at the front step of the new church, and Father Josiah invited Noah to consecrate the church with the Lord's Prayer.

[Sylvie Harris]

I can tell this is going to be exciting.

[Corinne Abbas]

Okay, hush. 8th of September, 1817. An exciting day. All right. The congregation gathered in the new church building for the very first time, with Father Josiah speaking.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

After reading from First Timothy, Father spoke about the importance of continuing the tradition of reading Scripture aloud, and the congregation nodded quietly, content in the knowledge that they were in the hands of the wisest of shepherds.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, the they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. And they said to each other, come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly. They used brick instead of stone and tar for mortar. And then they said, come, let us build ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

A tall, wiry figure opened the door to the church then, and the cold rain and wind of September entered behind him as if he had brought with him the first chill of the coming season vanquishing the long summer. At last. He wore the black of morning, and his bright eyes shone as he took in the house of worship, the congregation, the pastor, to whom he gave a nod and a gesture of his hand that the man should continue. I would come to find out later that this was the merchant Juri Havoc, who was building his home up the hill from the village.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Yes, please come in. You know the rest of the story. The people of Shinar built their great tower, and the Lord Almighty saw their hubris and saw fit to punish them with his mighty hand. It is hubris that we speak of today. A poison that festers in the soul.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

It was in the reception line after Father Josiah's sermon that we met him officially for the first time. He stood at the very back of the line and kept his eyes on the ground until he reached the great door. When finally he looked up and met my eyes, they were set deep, deep, and were dark and sharp. They nearly stopped my heart For a moment, they so thoroughly seemed to find the center of me. But before I could find another breath, he was upon us.

[Jury Havoc]

Reverend Abbas. I apologize for interrupting your sermon, sir.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Well, do not be. The Lord brought you in his own time. Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?

[Jury Havoc]

My name is Jury Havoc. I came to the country from London by Way of Boston harbor and recently begun construction just north of here.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

And what is your business, sir?

[Jury Havoc]

I'm in the shipping business, sir. My firm earns a fleet harbored throughout the world.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

You're a long way from the ocean, young man.

[Jury Havoc]

You have caught me out. I have come here to take good country. Here my bride has been been suffering from an illness. And I believe that this part of the world would do her good. I'm not a man to ignore the caller of opportunity. Especially when it also involves the health of those I love.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Well, we welcome you into our town and into our congregation. And to your wife as well. Please wish Mrs. Havoc well for us. We will pray for her full recovery.

[Jury Havoc]

I thank you. And this is your family?

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Yes, this is my son, Noah.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

A pleasure, Mr. Havoc.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

And this is his wife, Mrs. Abbess.

[Jury Havoc]

Madam, a pleasure.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

The pleasure is mine, sir.

[Jury Havoc]

Well, I must bid you adieu, Abbesses. Construction on my house is well underway and requires my eye.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Yes, we have eagerly watched from afar. It looks to be quite large. Have you a family to match it?

[Jury Havoc]

I'm afraid that it is just so fair.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

And I. I see. Well, I am sure the town will appreciate the business you bring.

[Jury Havoc]

I pride myself on creating honest work for honest men.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Good. We look forward to welcoming you into the fold.

[Jury Havoc]

Yes, thank you. A good day to you all.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

And to you. Services begin at 7am sharp, sir.

[Jury Havoc]

I shall try to remember.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

I watched him walk north toward the wood, toward the timbers of the great house rising above it on the hillside. Builders swarming upon it as ants on spilled sugar. And then I witnessed Father Josiah's face move through a series of disparate emotions. Confusion, curiosity, a quiet anger. All before going blank, as if a great hand swept across the table of his mind. I do wonder what he was thinking. I do know that he immediately distrusted Jury Havoc, because Father Abbess trusted no 1. 12th of September, 1817. Ill omens Noah and Father Abbas have been busy with the new church. As the Lord's business is never done, Noah insisted that the boys be tutored in maths and scripture, so that church business may be passed on to them in the future. Though I miss the boys during the day, I know that this is best. It allows me more time focused on the house. In the course of cleaning ash from the hearth this morning, I knocked the kettle and bent the kettle hook so that it could no longer do its duty. And so it was off to the blacksmith to repair it. Good day, Mr. Smith.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Ah, Mrs. Abbas. Good day.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

I seem to have bent this kettle hook while cleaning the hearth this morning. I wonder if you have the time to set it straight.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Well, just let me give it a look. Ah, yes. I can take care of this straight away.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Thank you, sir.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Fine sermon that the reverend gave the other day.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

It was one of his finest.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

The new church is a beauty.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Yes. And may I say, the iron work on the doors is perhaps one of its finest features.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Oh, well. Well, thank you.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

It was then that it happened. A scream across the street. What the devil? A young man my own William's age, perhaps 10, had set upon Mrs. Harris, fists flying, knocking over chicken crates on the market's edge. Two men pulled him off and my blood ran cold. The boy was wild eyed and literally blood poured from his mouth as he raved.

[Sylvie Harris]

Ah. She crossed me her eyes.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

She cut me with her eyes, the old witch.

[Sylvie Harris]

I will plug them from your skull.

[Jury Havoc]

See to her wounds and get the boy to jail.

[Sylvie Harris]

Help me.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Good God. I had seen the boy about. His father owned a farm nearby and regularly brought the boy to market. He seemed to go good child. Dutiful, quiet. He had gone quite mad and did not stop shouting until he was cuffed across the temple, putting him out. I ran to the church as quickly as I could. Noah and Father Josiah were deep in conversation when I arrived.

[Jury Havoc]

Good heavens.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Damaris.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

What is it?

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Mrs. Harris attacked at market. By the Chandler boy. What?

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Is she all right?

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

He bit her face. There was quite a lot of blood.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Noah, go and fetch the boy's father. I'm gonna go to Mrs. Harris's side. Are you well, daughter?

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Yes, sir.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

We will return.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

They have not returned this evening. 13th of September, 1817. Father Abbas and Noah returned early this morning, and both men were rattled by their experiences. Father Abbas in particular seemed troubled, though would not speak of it, and retired to his room. Noah spoke at greater length, explaining the situation. First, a visit to Mrs. Harris's to pray with the family and speak to our town's physician. Dr. Bright, who attended. The bite mark on the cheek was angry, but Noah promised me not as terrible as I'd imagined. After seeing the attack, the good doctor was able to easily staunch the blood and applied a healing poultice. Afterward, Father Abbas had joined the Noah to see into the matter of the boy who had attacked and met with his father, Mr. Satterwhite, who owned a small farm on the west of the village. The boy, Nathaniel, was still in the jail and had calmed himself somewhat, in the words of the jailer, Constable John Fellows, who had himself suffered a small bite in getting the boy situated in the cell under lock and key. Nathaniel himself had a high fever and had begun to bleed from the eyes and nose. He even, Noah said with a shudder, seemed to sweat blood from his pores. His father was in a terrible state. He said that his son, who was normally of a sweet disposition, had begun to act strangely in the previous days, until finally, in a fit of rage, turning over the family's table and running out of the house. The next he was seen was in the market. In the attack on Mrs. Harris, which I have described, Noah described the boy's demeanor when they first entered. Calm, but watching his visitors through the bars with a wary eye. He remained that way, quiet and watchful, as they spoke to him about what had caused his behavior. Father Abbas told him that it was only Christian to make full apology and advised him that he may be able to avoid trial if he showed himself to be penitent. He began to pray over the boy. It was then that it happened. Nathaniel bolted upright and began screaming curses at Father Abbas, flecks of blood and foamy spittle flying from his lips. He set upon the bars with a sort of madness that Noah described as inhuman, even infernal. They spent the night in a back and forth, Father praying and the boy cursing him, his ancestors and progeny. It took weary hours and all of Father's strength to match the boy's fury with God's love. But in the end, it was fruitless. The boy dropped in the early hours, dead in the middle of the floor. They had lost him. Noah believes that the devil is at work in Abbess Town, and it is up to us, the family who gave the town its name, to fight it.

[Sylvie Harris]

That feels eerily familiar.

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah.

[Sylvie Harris]

Do you think that and Jimbo and the ax guy are related?

[Corinne Abbas]

I mean, it seems absurd.

[Sylvie Harris]

Does it? Keep reading.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Yeah.

[Corinne Abbas]

Okay. 15th of September, 1817. The news has made not been good. Both Mrs. Harris and Constable Fellows have fallen ill. Both have suffered from fevers and strange bleeding. Both have exhibited signs of the type of volatility that plagued poor Nathaniel, though neither so far have become violent. Dr. Bright has given both a tincture of medicinal herbs in cod liver oil, and to Mr. Fellowes, who has a stronger constitution, he has applied leeches for the purposes of bleeding. We pray throughout the day for their full recovery. There are whispers in the town of great evil settling in with us. It is for this reason that Father.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Abbas addressed the congregation on the matter in today's service.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty, I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions and under his wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. I have had many in this congregation who have come to me with their worries in the matter of Nathaniel Satterwhite and his illness. It is true that his end was violent and terrible. It is true that there is evil on the land and here in Abbas Town. But it is also true that the Lord is our shepherd. We must remain vigilant. Yes, but we must also retain our faith as our strongest defense. Redouble your prayers. The Lord will strengthen the walls of your home against evil. Do not walk in fear, my friends. Put your faith in him and his light will banish the darkness. Let us pray. O God, may your spirit speak in me that I may speak to you.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

But in private, his faith is taking a more practical form. Under cover of night, Father Abis and Noah have traveled to the afflicted. For three nights. They have gone quickly in the darkness so as not to arouse alarm in the village. They go not to pray, but to fight. For hours they shout and taunt whatever demon has entered the poor victims. And the demon fights back, hurling epithets most obscene and cursing the Lord. Noah comes home exhausted, shaken. I fear he is losing faith. 17th of September, after days of affliction, Constable Fellows passed. 18th of September. Mrs. Harris has passed. 22nd of September, another case of the blood fever and resulting possession, this time in a young girl, Annabelle Leary, who had no known contact with any of the three previous victims. Walking into town yesterday morning to purchase flour, I heard the whispers. They say that the devil walks in Abyss Town. You could sense the simmering services this morning.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Visit. O Lord, we beseech thee, this habitation and creature of Thine, and remove far away from him all the snares and assaults of the devil. Let thy angels, Michael, Raphael and Gabriel dwell therein to preserve it in peace and from all unclean spirits. And let thy blessing be always upon us. Master Abbess. What is being done, my friend? We're communing with our father. Ask of him.

[Jury Havoc]

Three have died and my Annabelle is.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Biting and scratching like an animal.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Calm, calm. She raves all night, saying horrible Things about her mother.

[Jury Havoc]

Even you have been unable to save her.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

With your Mr. Larry, you will listen. I have called on other men of God throughout the region, have sent missives near and far, so far as writing to England for counsel on the matter. Dr. Bright, Noah and I are working in tandem to discover the true root of this sickness and cut it out entirely. We will continue the fight. I have been told that many believe that the devil is in Abyss Town.

[Sylvie Harris]

It's Jerry Havoc. He appeared out of nowhere.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Now Mr. Havoc is not here to defend himself. We will not cast aspersions. But the devil is here. While Dr. Bright works to cure the symptoms of this sickness, my boy Noah joins me each night in pushing back against him. We will cut him out of Abbas town. We will send him back to hell. But I need your help. I call for a curfew. Self imposed, of course. We are free men, but we must be on our guard. We must be responsible for our own families. So at sundown go indoors, lock yourself away, Sit at your tables or around the hearth. And fathers, read aloud from your family Bible. It matters not where you start, though the beginning is as. As good. Good as any place. Put all of your heart into these recitations. And wives, make sure that the children pay heed to them. Do not open your door to the devil. He will be all too happy to come in.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

The mood was greatly changed after the service. The congregants treated Father Josiah with a certain awe that surpassed even the normal respect shown him for his station. It seemed roundly agreed upon that a curfew was in order and families rushed home to do the day's business ahead of sunset, leaving Father Abbas and Noah to close the church. The boys and I waited for them as we did each Sunday in the churchyard, where they could play amongst the tombstones and I could sit with my thoughts. My parents are buried in the Abbesstown churchyard, as well as my brother who died in childbirth. I frequently visit with them. But today I was drawn to a fresh new grave, that of poor Nathaniel Satterwhite, taken so soon and so violently from his father. As I walked up, I noticed something strange. The dirt. It had been disturbed. No, no, not disturbed. It looked as though much of it had been scattered and there was a deep divot in the center of the grave, as if someone had been digging. I called out to Noah, who was just exiting the back door of the church with Father Abbas right behind to lock up Noah.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

What is it, dear?

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Come and look, both of you. Here, Nathaniel's grave. It Looks to have been desecrated.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Noah, fetch two shovels from the caretaker shed. Do not allow he or anyone else to know why you're taking them.

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Yes, Father.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Shall I take the boys home?

[Father Josiah Abbess]

No, no. Stay here. We're tucked away out of sight behind the church, but I need for you to keep watch and to let us know if anyone approaches. I do not want a single soul within our congregation to witness their pastor digging up a former member. Don't allow the boys to get too close.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Noah returned, and they began to dig. Both men were hale and hearty, and they struck the wooden lid shortly.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Well, in for a penny, in for a pound, I suppose.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

God have mercy. The boy lay in his coffin in just the position that he had been laid to rest, arms crossed over his chest. But his features. He had been wasted by his illness, I had been told. His eyes sunken and his skin worn, he was nearly skeletal. But the body that lay in the grave retained that flush of youth in the cheeks, and his lips were ruby red. He could have been sleeping. He looked so horribly alive. Not a one of us moved for a long moment until Father Abbas, still standing in the grave, inclined his head toward Noah.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Noah, hand me your knife.

[Jury Havoc]

Yes, sir.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Thank you. Look away, Damaris.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

But I could not. I watched as he bent low until he was right above Nathaniel's prone form. I watched as he whispered a quiet prayer over the boy. And I watched as he slowly brought the knife up, clasped the handle between both hands, looked up to the blank, white autumn sky in search of God's grace. Take a deep breath and.

[Corinne Abbas]

Oh, shit.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Shut up.

[Corinne Abbas]

Shut up. Shut up. What?

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

What?

[Sylvie Harris]

Who is it?

[Corinne Abbas]

It's Juri.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

What?

[Sylvie Harris]

Yeah, answer it, dummy.

[Corinne Abbas]

Right.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Okay.

[Sylvie Harris]

Duh.

[Corinne Abbas]

Hello?

[Jury Havoc]

Hello, Mrs. Corinne.

[Corinne Abbas]

Mr. Havoc. To what do I owe the pleasure?

[Jury Havoc]

Well, I don't know if I'm remembering this correctly or if I imagined it, but do you believe that we. We agreed to meet up?

[Corinne Abbas]

I think I recall something of that nature.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Wonderful.

[Jury Havoc]

You?

[Professor Jeremy Bradshaw]

Yeah.

[Jury Havoc]

How'd you like to come by the house, say, tomorrow night? I'm having some updates made to the place where I could actually use a second opinion.

[Damaris Daniel Ernesto]

Oh.

[Corinne Abbas]

Sure.

[Jury Havoc]

That's not too forward, is it? I promise I'm not gonna murder you in the bathtub. Like to put that chapter of our family's shared history behind us? Yes.

[Corinne Abbas]

Well, that sounds great. I'll bring a bottle of wine.

[Jury Havoc]

Oh, no need to. No need. I'm well stocked up on wine. Yeah. Tomorrow night? Unless that's too short notice.

[Corinne Abbas]

That's perfect.

[Jury Havoc]

Wonderful. Great. And, you know, where it is.

[Corinne Abbas]

Big house on the hill. The famous one?

[Jury Havoc]

Yeah, that's the place.

[Corinne Abbas]

I think I'll be able to find it.

[Jury Havoc]

See that?

[Sylvie Harris]

Hot damn. I've always wondered what the inside of that place place looks like.

[Corinne Abbas]

Well, I guess I'll report back to you.

[Sylvie Harris]

You better get pictures.

[Corinne Abbas]

You are so weird.

[Sylvie Harris]

Now, where were we?

[Corinne Abbas]

Oh, I think my great grandfather was about to stab a corpse.

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, like I said, I love story time.

[Aaron Manke]

Havoc Town was created by me, Aaron Manke. The show was written and directed by Nicholas Takoski. This episode was edited and sound designed by Gnomes Griffin. Starring Jewel State as Corrine Abbas, James Callis as Jerry Havoc, Felicia Day as Sylvie Harris, Ray Wise as Josiah Abbess, Crystal Lee as Damaris Daniel Ernesto, unknown as Noah Abbas and Misha Collins as Professor Jeremy Bradshaw with additional voice acting from Gina Rikiki, Dick Terhune, Jack Lafferty, Stephen Manley, Darren Hems, Daniel, Abe Sarkis and Aaron Manke. This season is directed by Nicholas Takoski with assistant directors Sarah Klein and Jake Diamond. Casting by Sunday Bowling, CSA and Meg Moorman, CSA production coordinator Wayne Calderon. Our theme song was created by Chris Childs executive producers Aaron Manke, Trevor Young and Matt Frederick, with supervising producer Rima El Kiali and producers Nomes Griffin and Jesse Funk. Havoc Town is set in the Bridgewater Audio universe, which includes the hit fiction podcasts Bridgewater and Consumed. Learn more about both shows as well as havoc [e-mail] and find more podcasts from iHeartRadio by visiting the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite show.

[Father Josiah Abbess]

Foreign.

[Corinne Abbas]

This is an I Heart podcast.