5 | The Mad Preacher

Summary

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Havoc Town

Podcast: Havoc Town
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode: 5 | The Mad Preacher
Date: September 9, 2025

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Episode Overview

This chilling episode of Havoc Town plunges listeners into the historical depths of Abbesstown, NH, as a devastating and mysterious plague—marked by fever, vomiting blood, and nightmares—ravages the village in 1817. Reverend Josiah Abbess, gripped by a belief that something infernal is at work, enacts brutal rites to combat what becomes the “Abbesstown Vampire Panic.” Through the eyes and voices of Damaris, Noah Abbas, and Father Josiah, listeners are brought face to face with acts of desperation: grave desecration, the burning of hearts, and community hysteria.

Meanwhile, seeds of the present-day storyline are planted with the entrance of Jury Havoc, who challenges the violently superstitious methods of the past, raising questions about the fine line between faith, madness, and leadership in crisis. The episode is immersive and atmospheric, full of moral tension, horror, and the cracks in faith during calamity.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. The Horrific Rites Begin (02:58–07:25)

• Damaris narrates the evisceration of a corpse under the direction of Father Josiah, who is convinced that burning the hearts of the dead will stop the blood fever.

  • She describes Father Josiah’s resolve and its cracks:

    “Noah had gone quite pale, and even Father Abbas seemed for a moment to doubt his decision.” (03:20)

  • The ritual is both brutal and bizarrely tender:

    “He carefully wrapped the slick red heart. It was careful, loving, almost a tender moment from a man not usually prone to tenderness.” (05:30)

• The burning of the heart by the church’s hearth is witnessed as an act of supposed cleansing, infusing the episode with tension between faith and horror.

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2. Doubts, Fear, and Secret Wars (07:25–11:20)

• Over dinner, Noah expresses trepidation about their actions and confronts his father:

  • Noah Abbas: “How did you come to the conclusion that desecrating the Satterwhite boy’s body was the correct course of action?” (08:35)

  • Josiah alludes to correspondence with another priest about vampirism, refusing to elaborate in front of Damaris.

• The town’s illness seeps into every home. Mrs. Harbour arrives seeking help for her fever-crazed husband, and Josiah and Noah prepare for another dread-laden night.

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3. The Village Descends—Death, Madness, and Murder (11:20–21:12)

• Damaris records the deepening of the plague and the growing graveyard, as local superstition and fear rise:

  • “One could indeed believe that creatures stalk the night. The air is so thick with suspicion.” (12:15)

• An especially gruesome scene unfolds as Noah recounts the Satterwhite family murders:

  • “There, naked and huddled over a carcass, was James Satterwhite… pulling out and eating his entrails.” (16:48, Noah Abbas)

• Noah struggles with the morality of his actions—whether mercy, punishment, or survival—as Father Josiah insists on disposing of the bodies by fire, not burial, and rebuffs the idea of seeking outside help.

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4. Public Reckoning—Spectacle and Showdown (24:56–31:47)

• Damaris witnesses the grim spectacle outside the jail: the crowd, the hanged and mutilated body of James Satterwhite, and Father Josiah addressing the people:

  • Father Josiah Abbas: “Friends, friends. Let us remain level headed… It is the bite of the infected that causes the blood fever. Should you be bitten… turn yourself in. And if you see someone who is infected, turn them in.” (26:35)

• Jury Havoc confronts Father Josiah, igniting a debate over religion versus medicine:

  • Jury Havoc: “Is that common enemy Madness, Reverend, how dare you?” (29:35)

  • “None of the angels in heaven intervened on this night. The Lord himself turned a blind eye.” —Noah Abbas (19:38)

  • The town is split between science and superstition, with Josiah threatening Jury should evidence of evil lead back to him.

• Damaris sums up the tension:

  “These two men… stood face to face, eyes full of malice, and the world ground to a halt around them.” (30:23)

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5. The Church Becomes a Hospital for the Condemned (31:47–35:57)

• The church is repurposed into a macabre sanctuary—now housing the bound and raving sick, cared for by exhausted townsfolk.

  • Damaris: “Noah has been relegated to disposing of their emaciated corpses, driving a stake through their hearts before burying them in a common grave that grows larger and larger, as if it is hungry.” (33:04)

• Damaris’s compassion for Noah is palpable as he shoulders the town's suffering and guilt.

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6. Infection Strikes Home—Personal Horror (35:57–38:06)

• In a moment of ultimate horror, a supposedly dead child attacks Noah, biting him.

  • Damaris: “The small body… became suddenly animated, thrashing like a wild animal, and sunk its teeth right into Noah’s neck.” (35:57)

• Noah, resigned to his fate, prepares Damaris for the worst:

  • Noah Abbas: “Damaris. It is already done. You are going to need to be brave now. You are going to have to take the boys and go far away.” (37:35)

• Damaris refuses to leave him, stating her intention to remain to the bitter end.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• “Noah had gone quite pale, and even Father Abbas seemed for a moment to doubt his decision.”
  —Damaris (03:20)

• “He carefully wrapped the slick red heart. It was careful, loving, almost a tender moment from a man not usually prone to tenderness.”
  —Damaris (05:30)

• “How did you come to the conclusion that desecrating the Satterwhite boy’s body was the correct course of action?”
  —Noah Abbas (08:35)

• “There, naked and huddled over a carcass, was James Satterwhite…”
  —Noah Abbas (16:48)

• “Friends, friends. Let us remain level headed… Should you be bitten, it is your moral responsibility to turn yourself in. And if you see someone who is infected, turn them in.”
  —Father Josiah Abbas (26:35)

• “Is that common enemy Madness, Reverend, how dare you?”
  —Jury Havoc (29:35)

• “Noah has been relegated to disposing of their emaciated corpses, driving a stake through their hearts before burying them in a common grave that grows larger and larger, as if it is hungry.”
  —Damaris (33:04)

• “The small body… became suddenly animated, thrashing like a wild animal, and sunk its teeth right into Noah’s neck.”
  —Damaris (35:57)

• “Damaris. It is already done. You are going to need to be brave now. You are going to have to take the boys and go far away.”
  —Noah Abbas (37:35)

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Atmosphere, Tone, & Engagement

• The episode balances period-accurate superstition and faith with an unyielding, grim realism—despair, hysteria, and rare threads of tenderness are palpable.
• Tension builds through contrasting perspectives: Father Josiah’s religious zeal, Noah’s anguish and doubt, Damaris’s empathy, and Jury Havoc’s challenge of reason.
• Memorable moments include graphic descriptions of ritual violence and the confrontation between Josiah and Jury, as well as the deeply personal moment when Damaris realizes her own husband is now at risk.

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Key Segment Timestamps

• Evisceration Ritual: 02:58–07:25
• Noah Confronts Father Josiah: 08:25–09:15
• Satterwhite Family Murders: 13:32–21:12
• Public Hanging & Town Address: 24:56–31:19
• Church as Hospital for the Condemned: 31:47–35:57
• Noah Bitten, Final Scene: 35:57–38:06

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For New Listeners

This episode is a showcase of historical horror storytelling, blending small-town dynamics with supernatural panic and moral ambiguity. Listeners are drawn into both individual tragedy and unfolding mass hysteria, setting the stage for present-day echoes and mysteries in Abbesstown.

Expect:

• Graphic, atmospheric narration
• Complex familial and community relationships
• Explorations of faith versus science in crisis
• Haunting questions about the origins—and cost—of evil

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Transcript

[Noah Abbas]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

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[Damaris]

Audio for full exposure. Listen with headphones.

[Aaron Manke]

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

[Father Josiah Abbas]

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. God save your soul. Amen.

[Damaris]

Now, where were we? Oh, I think my great grandfather was about to stab a corpse.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

I loved story time.

[Damaris]

Are you okay? Why do you ask? Is it because I'm finally getting a bloody first hand account of the depravity of my forebears? Something like that. No, this is. Well, it's not fun exactly, but I mean, it's fascinating. Okay, good.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Now keep reading.

[Damaris]

Where was I? Okay, here. 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 as he slowly brought the knife up, clasped the Handle between both hands, looked up at the blank white autumn sky in search of God's grace, took a deep breath and plunged the knife deep into the sadder white boy's chest. Jeez. Yeah. That is so messed up, huh? Keep going, okay? I grew queasy, and I do not believe that I was alone. Noah had gone quite pale, and even Father Abbas seemed for a moment to doubt his decision.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses.

[Damaris]

He prayed feverishly, as if using the words to fortify his resolve. And then, with a final word, Amen. He began to feverishly saw at the flesh until the bright red blood poured from it. He paused to look to Noah.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Ghost had a fire in the hearth.

[Noah Abbas]

Yes, Father. Boys, with me.

[Damaris]

Before redoubling his efforts. Finally, he finished his terrible sawing, looked up once more into the blank white sky, and plunged his hand into the boy's chest. Wincing and grimacing, he proceeded to pull Nathaniel Satterwhite's heart from his body.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Damaris, give me your shawl.

[Damaris]

But I was frozen in place by terror.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Damaris.

[Damaris]

Yes, sir.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Thank you, Donar.

[Damaris]

I handed it to him, the cold wind cutting through my clothes, and watched as he carefully wrapped the slick red heart. It was careful, loving, almost a tender moment from a man not usually prone to tenderness.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Help me up, daughter. I apologize for the blood on my hands. We will buy you a new shawl.

[Damaris]

I lent my modest strength to him, and somehow we managed to extract him from the grave.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Come.

[Damaris]

And then together we walked into the church building and into the back conclave where Noah had lit the fire, staring into it, his face wan.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Boys.

[Damaris]

Father Abbas then fed the bloody package into the fire. We watched silently as the flames licked at it, unsure at first, before greedily lapping at it, eventually consuming it entirely. We sat that way for some time, mesmerized by the cleansing fire and the horrible work which had preceded it.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

We shall not speak a word of this to the congregation. Noah, with me. We must fill the grave immediately. Damaris. It has been foul work today, and I thank you for your assistance. Go home and pray. The Lord will see fit to forgive us. We are doing his will.

[Damaris]

It was strange to go about my duties that afternoon. The washing, the cooking. Knowing what I had witnessed. I felt like a spirit haunting my own house. And as evening set in, I felt a growing sense of dread that I had not seen the Last great horror. Boys, to bed now. When the men returned home, the air was tense. In silence, they washed their filthy hands in the basin and sat stoically down to be served their supper. They ate in the grim manner of men condemned to death. Father Josiah staring into the fire as if he wished it to burn the day's work away. Noah seeming to strain under a heavy burden. I began to believe that we would pass the entire meal in silence. When finally Noah spoke.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Father, what is it?

[Noah Abbas]

I feel a certain trepidation concerning our actions.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Go on, then.

[Noah Abbas]

How did you come to the conclusion that desecrating the Satterwhite boy's body was the correct course of action?

[Father Josiah Abbas]

I have been in contact with a childhood friend in Providence. He, too, is a man of the cloth and has written extensively about vampirism.

[Damaris]

Vampirism?

[Noah Abbas]

Damaris.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

I do not wish to continue this conversation in Damaris presence.

[Noah Abbas]

She was witness to today's events. I believe it wise for her to understand today's actions. I very much wish to be enlightened as well.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

We will not have this discussion in front of demerits.

[Damaris]

I will answer. Mrs. Abbas. Mrs. Harper. I apologize for disturbing you so late in the evening. Is the Reverend here?

[Father Josiah Abbas]

What is it, Mrs. Harbour?

[Damaris]

Well, sir, it's. It's Mr. Harbour. He's come down with a fever, I believe.

[Noah Abbas]

The.

[Damaris]

The one that's taken the others. Mrs. Harper, please come in. I don't know what to do. He tore apart my kitchen, tried to burn down the house before my screams. Brought Dr. Bright to my aid.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Is the doctor still with him?

[Damaris]

He gave Mr. Harbour a sleeping draft, but said there was little else he could do tonight. Useless.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Noah, grab your coat and my Bible and clean under your nails. I'll go ahead with Mrs. Harbour. We've more work to do tonight. Come, Mrs. Harbour.

[Damaris]

Noah.

[Noah Abbas]

He's no more capable than a witch doctor.

[Damaris]

Noah.

[Noah Abbas]

I have to clean the grave dirt from my nails.

[Damaris]

Yes, love, your hands are clean.

[Noah Abbas]

Nothing in this town is clean. I must follow Father.

[Damaris]

Husband, please.

[Noah Abbas]

What?

[Damaris]

Your father has left. You may speak freely.

[Noah Abbas]

I will not trouble you with this.

[Damaris]

I am already troubled. Noah. You have sought my counsel before.

[Noah Abbas]

Noah, I. I'm sorry, Damaris, I. Sh.

[Damaris]

My love, this is a terrible time, and terrible times sometimes call for terrible actions. Yes, it is all terrible.

[Noah Abbas]

I apologize for losing my temper. It is nothing I must follow. Father. I fear our country doctor is not proving up to the task. Bar the door after me.

[Damaris]

September 29, 1817. This last week has proven to offer nothing but bloody work for the family each evening after the day's work was done, but before the sunset, Father Josiah and Noah have slipped behind the church to dig up a fresh corpse, hoping to catch culprits before they're able to spread the infernal disease, only to find later that another neighbor has fallen ill with the blood sickness. Anyway, Dr. Bright attends now these rights. Has taken the ashes of burned hearts to make tinctures, which he gives to new victims. But I don't know that even he believes in his cures. Rumors abound. People claiming to see the departed in the streets at night, hunting for a fresh victim. Livestock behaving strangely, watching with infernal intensity as the farmers went about their daily work. Children make up rhymes. And Father Abbas has had a box made in which he keeps his tools, tools that he has kept hidden from the townsfolk as he continues his secretive war against a devil he cannot seem to keep pace with. One could indeed believe that creatures stalk the night. The air is so thick with suspicion. However, the animals have remained animals. The rhymes are just rhymes. And as for the dead stalking our people in the night, well, I have seen firsthand how that wasn't possible. A dozen bodies now lay in the churchyard. Without hearts, they will not trouble the living. But the blood sickness is persistent and real. And the father Josiah may have prevented the dead from stalking the living. He cannot seem to stop with a steady trickle of disease that permeates our village. Last night, Noah came in late, stumbling in the d. Noah.

[Noah Abbas]

No. No. Wife, do not light the lamp. I. All is well.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Go.

[Noah Abbas]

Go back. Sleep. Damaris.

[Damaris]

Noah, have you been drinking? Noah, what's the matter? What happened? Where's your father? Husband, speak to me. What's going on?

[Noah Abbas]

We were called back to the Satterwhite farm tonight. The boy we'd buried and then desecrated, his father has fallen ill. Oh, no.

[Damaris]

Oh, no. The poor family.

[Noah Abbas]

Yes, we were busy with another family and so did not come right away. And when we did, the door to the house was ajar when we arrived.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Hello, James. Mrs. Satterwhite.

[Noah Abbas]

A fire still burned low in the hearth. Supper was laid on the table, untouched, despite the late hour, as if everyone had disappeared before. Given the chance to eat. It would be understandable that James Satterwhite would not eat if ill. But besides the dead child, the family had two more girls and Mrs. Satterwhite beside. Something was terribly amiss. It was then I saw it on the floor. Blood all across the kitchen floor. And in the corner, a human Tooth with me, Noah. We followed a trail of blood into the bedroom to find a massacre. Dear God in heaven. It was Mrs. Satterwhite. She lay peacefully across the narrow bed as if she had laid down for a night's slumber. But her entire person was covered in blood. When we approached the bed, we saw her face, her skull caved in, her jaw crookedly hanging open. The one eye left her staring horribly up into heaven. And then the corner. They were just tossed there so carelessly like ragdolls. They. James was nowhere to be found. We searched half heartedly to be sure, perhaps hoping that we wouldn't find him at all. But find him we did. In the barn. It was the sound. First I thought of the grumblings of a dog busy at his his supper in a corner stall in the barn. There, naked and huddled over a carcass, was James Satterwhite.

[Damaris]

A carcass?

[Noah Abbas]

Dr. Bright. Satterwhite was pulling out and eating his entrails. His skin shone, he was so completely covered in blood. And on the ground beside him, the fireplace poker he had used in the murders of the last of his family and the poor doctor. He had not yet noticed me, so busy was he with his meal. And so I picked up a hammer on a nearby workbench. I crept up behind him and I brought it down on the back of his skull. I'd have done it again and again and again and again if Father hadn't entered the barn at that moment and seen me standing there, poker raised.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Noah. Is he still breathing?

[Noah Abbas]

I studied his face as he stood, thinking, gazing down at the murderer who had once been James Satterwhite. And I stood there dumbly poker raised above my head, awaiting the word to finish the bloody deed. But the word did not come.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Son. Lower your arms.

[Noah Abbas]

Father.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

We are not murderers. Noah. Find me a length of rope.

[Noah Abbas]

Father.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

A length of rope.

[Noah Abbas]

And so I did as I was bidden. We sat him up, bound his hands and feet, and together we threw him over Father's horse. Sh.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Sh. Good boy. We'll be free of this load soon enough. I'm going to take him to the jail and place him in the cell. And there I'll try to do the work of saving his and sit with him until dawn when we can pull in men to watch him.

[Noah Abbas]

And what am I to do in the meantime?

[Father Josiah Abbas]

I want you to say final rights over the sadder white women and Dr. Bright and then burn everything to the ground.

[Noah Abbas]

Father.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

What is it?

[Noah Abbas]

We need assistance.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Are you not able to start a fire.

[Noah Abbas]

We need assistance with the spread of the blood fever. We need doctors. We need soldiers.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

We had a doctor, a country doctor.

[Noah Abbas]

Who was old and set in his ways.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Doctors could do nothing to prevent what happened here tonight. And we have the Lord's soldiers on our side.

[Noah Abbas]

None of the angels in heaven intervened on this night. The Lord himself turned a blind eye.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

You had best tread lightly, my son. Burn the house.

[Noah Abbas]

Should we not give them a Christian burial, Father?

[Father Josiah Abbas]

The Lord will find them wherever they are.

[Noah Abbas]

I returned to the house. Walked towards the bedroom. I could not. I could not look at them. Damaris. I stood in the doorway, eyes closed. And I prayed as I have never prayed before. Forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Father.

[Noah Abbas]

Plant eternity on my island. I cannot see beyond the evil of this world. Amen. And then I close the door on the horrible scene once and for all. It is no secret that James Satterwhite was a fan of brandy. In the cupboard I found a bottle with which to help spread the fire and a second to dull the edges of the images carved in my mind.

[Damaris]

Noah. But he would speak no more that night. I could not follow him into sleep, so vivid were the images in my head. The Satterweight girls had been my own children's ages. Catherine Satterwhite had been in the pews for each Sunday service that I could remember. Next to James, a doting father. I could not comprehend the evil, nor could I see a way to fight against it. I wondered what Father Josiah was thinking that night, watching over the beast that James had become. I did not have to wait long to find out. Just before dawn, I gave up on sleep entirely and quietly pulled myself up and out of bed. I dressed in the dim blue light.

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[Damaris]

Without quite knowing why, I was drawn out of the dark house and into the morning. The wind was chill and the gray skies portended rain or snow. My feet carried me into town through the bleak morning and there I found horror almost unspeakable. A large crowd stood in front of the jail. The people in it all carried signs of mourning activity. A boy carrying sacks of flour stood dumbly next to the butcher who still wore his dirty apron. All stared at the front of the building where Father Abbess stood still as stone, and beside him, hanging from the porch rafters of the town jail, was the body of James Satterwhite, shirtless and covered in blood, a sucking hole in his chest where once his heart had been. It seems that I had arrived just in time for Father Abbess raised his hands, hushing the crowd.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

It is time, my Friends. To bring to light the truth of our situation, which, despite my best efforts, is dire. The whispers are true. The devil walks among us here in Apostown. Friends. Friends. Let us remain level headed.

[Damaris]

What is this? What has become of James? Their family house has burned down. With no sign of Martha or the girls.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

James turned down a dark path, I'm afraid to say. And like many, he succumbed to the blood fever. But he did not go peacefully. He took the lives of his wife and daughters, knowing I had to subdue him and bring him to justice. He died a mere hour ago, cursing his God and his family. He was no longer James Satterwhite. He was an agent of Satan. The curfew has not been enough. And prayer is a useful tool, but is not the only tool we have at our disposal. Henceforth, we shall take all of the afflicted into the church where we will bind them and work exorcisms as needed. It has become clear that it is the bite of the infected that comes causes the blood fever. Therefore, should you be bitten, it is your moral responsibility to turn yourself in. And if you see someone who is infected, turn them in. The church will do its best to reclaim those who fall ill. And should we fail, the bodies will be disposed of in the manner of James Satterwhites. The heart shall be removed and burned. And Dr. Bright has mentioned that a tincture may be made of the ashes that will stave off the illness. We shall attempt to use this remedy when available. What is the meaning of this? Reverend Abbess, what have you done to this man?

[Damaris]

It was Jury Havoc who dismounted and marched into the the crowd who parted way for him as the Red Sea parted for Moses. I watched Father Abbas for a response. In his eyes I saw something frightful, an intensity that I could only describe as hatred.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Mr. Havoc, this is butchery. What crime does this man commit to.

[Noah Abbas]

Earn him such a savage fate?

[Father Josiah Abbas]

And at the hands of a man of the cloth, no less. This man murdered his family. He was found eating the raw entrails of Dr. Bright.

[Damaris]

Dr. Bright is dead.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Murdered, attending to James. James murdered as a result of this blood fever. This possession which we must now fight.

[Noah Abbas]

And so you defiled his corpse and.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Hung it up in the town square. What?

[Noah Abbas]

To what?

[Father Josiah Abbas]

To teach the illness a lesson? I have done this to illustrate that all here have a common enemy that must be dealt with severely. Is that common enemy Madness? Reverend, how dare you?

[Noah Abbas]

What? Of medicine? Of sound science? This is a sickness of the flesh, is it not? With corporeal roots? I Am personal friends with Nathan Smith.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Who founded the medical academy at Dartmouth.

[Noah Abbas]

I'd wager he could help find the real root of this.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

This is a church matter now, Mr. Havoc. I do not doubt the ability of the church, sir, but evidence suggests that.

[Noah Abbas]

Its leader has lost its way.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

The evidence suggests that this blood curse began when you first arrived, Mr. Habakk. How dare you, sir. And I will make sure that if any further investigation on the loss of life and cross corruption of spirit leads back to your house. If you do in fact walk with the devil, sir, I will see you hung.

[Damaris]

These two men, Abbas and Havoc, stood face to face, eyes full of malice, and the world ground to a halt around them. I saw in that moment that both were capable of killing.

[Noah Abbas]

This is madness.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

The Reverend Abbess will see this town burn.

[Damaris]

And then he was gone. And with him, all of the sound and fury of the morning. The crowd dispersed quickly then, afraid to remain in the presence of Sadderite's corpse and the mad preacher who had hung him up. When Father Josiah turned his eyes to me, they had also drained of their wrath. I saw instead a man defeated, exhausted.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Damaris.

[Damaris]

Father Josiah. I did not mean to intrude. I.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

No, no, no, no, dear. Of course not. I am sorry that you have had to bear witness to all of this, Nora. Did he return home?

[Damaris]

Yes, sir.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

And did he rest?

[Damaris]

Yes, sir. He was asleep when I left.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Return to the house and rouse him, please. And tell him to meet me at the church. An ill wind blows, my dear.

[Damaris]

Yes, sir. And with that, he departed. I wish to believe that these events are at a turning point. That the side of the angels will regain its advantage. I wish to believe that this will end. 3rd October, 1817. My worst fear has been realized. The church has become a sort of hospital for the condemned. Over the previous days, all able bodied men not working the harvest have been enlisted. A dozen poor souls have been brought in, bound and raving. They are tied down to whatever furniture is available and taken care of to the best of anyone's ability. Father Abbess sees to their salvation, while Noah has been relegated to disposing of their emaciated corpses, driving a stake through their hearts before burying them in a common grave that grows larger and larger, as if it is hungry. As if it will devour us all. I have witnessed the horror inside the sanctuary. The curses from madmen, the stench of their bodies in excrement. The dead eyes of the men who nurse and feed the them, their neighbors and friends. I cannot imagine that damnation falls far from this scene. It was in this mire that our family's fate was sealed. I had come to bring dinner to Noah and Father Abbas. I was crossing through the churchyard, where men were busy at work digging the large hole in the ground that was consuming more and more of our people. I had paused to say a brief prayer when Noah exited into the yard, a small body slung over his shoulder, a child's. He stopped in his tracks when he saw me, a look of deep shame on his gaunt face, as if it were his fault that this child had passed, as if he bore the guilt of all of the death and misery that had befallen us. As if there was something, anything, that could be done. My Noah. My poor, sweet Noah. Gentle and kind, thoughtful and good. I wished I could relieve his burden. Damaris, he said, and took another step toward me when, horror of horrors. The small body hanging over his shoulder became suddenly animated, thrashing like a wild animal, and sunk its teeth right into Noah's neck. The gravedigger sprang into action, helping Noah to pull the feral child off of him, pinning it to the ground and standing there in awe, struck terror as it thrashed and cursed beneath them. I ran to Noah, who was clutching his neck, a look of panic in his eyes. It was then that Father. I was burst from the church, alerted by the screams. In his hand, he clutched the stake he'd used so often in previous days. He took stock of the scene, and before approaching Noah, he considered the small body writhing on the ground, slick with bloody sweat, its eyes wild with hatred. He stepped between the two men holding the child down, raised the stake and plunged it through his heart.

[Noah Abbas]

Forgive me, Father. I thought. I thought the boy was dead. I could not feel the blood pulsing. I. I'm just. I'm sorry. I. I'm so sorry.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Your throat. Remove your hands from your neck, Noah.

[Damaris]

Noah did as he was told, revealing an angry red bite mark from which a small trickle of blood had flowed.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

All will be well, lad. We're in the hands of the father now. Damaris. Take him home and wash his wound. Please. Please.

[Damaris]

Yes, sir. Come, husband. And so we walked the road home that we had taken so many times over the years. Past the familiar fields, houses of neighbors, the tree under which Noah had composed a terrible poem to woo me. In our youth, we saw none of it. We saw only the shadows that surround us. We saw only the great black unknown ahead. After a time, Noah spoke in a whisper.

[Noah Abbas]

Damaris.

[Damaris]

Come, darling. We must get home. We must wash the wound before it becomes infected.

[Noah Abbas]

Damaris.

[Damaris]

No. Please. Please. Noah, we must hurry. Walk.

[Noah Abbas]

Damaris.

[Damaris]

No, no, no. I won't hear it. I won't.

[Noah Abbas]

Damaris. It is already done. You are going to need to be brave now. You are going to have to take the boys and go far away.

[Damaris]

But I cannot leave him. I cannot leave. I will not. I will see this to its end.

[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 Rima El Kayali and Jesse Funk. Starring Jewel State as Corrine Abbas, James Callis as Jerry Havoc, Felicia Day as Sylvie Harris, Ray Wise as Josiah Abbas Crystal Leigh as Damaris Daniel Ernesto, unknown as Noah Abbas with additional voice acting from Summer, Rayne Menke, Sasha Hatfield, Beverly Bremers and Erin 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 Wayna Calderon. Our theme song was created by Chris Childs, executive producers Aaron Manke, Trevor Young and Matt Frederick, with supervising producer Rima El Kayali and producers Gnomes 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 shows. Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast is now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus. Join host Michael Searle Creighton behind the Scenes to Talk All Way the Things Arconia with Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez and more. Actors, writers and crew from season five. Watch and listen to the new podcast series Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast now streaming with new episodes Tuesdays. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and don't miss Only Murders in the Building Streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney plus for bundle subscribers terms apply.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

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[Aaron Manke]

Terms apply.

[Father Josiah Abbas]

Thursday Night Football is back, and it's only on Prime Video. Breaking your tackle touchdown. This Thursday, the Washington Commanders take on the Green Bay packers, both ready to come out strong. Coverage begins at 7pm Eastern with football's best party, TNF tonight presented by Verizon. Not a Prime member? Not a problem. Simply sign up for a 30 day free trial. Today, it's the Commanders and the Crackers. Thursday at 7pm Eastern, only on Prime Video. Restrictions apply. See Amazon.com amazonprime for details.

[Noah Abbas]

This is an iHeart podcast.