9 | Demaris, Part Two

Summary

Havoc Town – Episode 9 | Demaris, Part Two

Release Date: October 7, 2025
Host/Production: iHeartPodcasts, created by Aaron Manke

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Episode Overview

In this tension-filled installment of Havoc Town, the mysterious affliction striking Abbesstown continues to unravel, blurring the line between historical curse and present-day horror. Corinne Abbas, together with her loyal friend Sylvie, navigates chaos in the streets as the vampire plague escalates, uncovering ancient truths and dark family ties along the way. This episode masterfully weaves suspense, dark humor, and lore, drawing direct connections to the town’s sinister history and hinting at the secrets behind Jury Havoc’s sudden involvement.

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Key Discussion Points & Story Beats

1. Opening Reflections & Ominous Narration

• 00:00–01:23
  • Reverend Josiah Abbas’ Journal: Josiah recounts a night of horror.
    • “This town is cursed, and I will not survive to see dawn.” (Josiah, 00:26)
  • Sets a foreboding backdrop tying past and present.

2. Corinne and Sylvie Join Forces Amidst Chaos

• 01:23–07:05
  • Corinne’s Decision: Instead of fleeing, she retrieves Sylvie.
    • Vivid descriptions of the town in crisis: emergency vehicles, violence, National Guard.
  • Corinne’s Revelation: Shares the supernatural truth with Sylvie.
    • “He was not dead or alive.” (Corinne, 04:15)
    • “Fine. He was a vampire. I knew it.” (Corinne, 04:26; Sylvie, 04:31, humorously triumphant)
  • Moral Conflict: Corinne is shaken after killing a vampire.
    • Sylvie consoles Corinne: “No, honey, honey, honey, no, it’s okay.” (Sylvie, 05:52)

3. On the Road: Confronting Danger and Distrust

• 06:07–10:22
  • Discussion of Jury Havoc:
    • Sylvie’s suspicion: “He was preoccupied with business. During a vampire outbreak?” (Sylvie, 07:13)
    • Corinne describes his house as museum-like and Jury himself as “squirrely” (Corinne, 07:23)
  • Tense Encounters:
    • Navigating National Guard checkpoints with humor and subterfuge:
      • “Have you come in contact with anyone displaying any strange behavior?” / “Always.” (National Guard Officer/Sylvie, 08:02-08:07)
    • Drive-by shooting: Sylvie is grazed by Bill Braden, adding to the sense of escalating violence and mistrust among townsfolk.

4. The Toll of the Plague: Loss, Guilt, and Determination

• 10:22–11:11
  • More Death: Corinne and Sylvie witness another casualty as Barb’s body is taken from her home.
    • “She didn’t deserve this.” (Corinne, 10:04)
    • Corinne questions what’s next: “How long until this town is completely consumed?” (10:16)
  • Resolution: Corinne insists on investigating Jury, feeling events “all started with him”.

5. Historical Flashback: The Roots of the Curse

• 11:17–13:52
  • Past Tragedies Resurface:
    • Josiah confronts Damaris and Corinne in anguished, overlapping voices.
    • Accusations of madness, and the killing of a family member marked by despair and blame.
    • “What kind of monster are you? Your grandsons will now grow up without a father.” (Josiah, 12:50)
    • “She was dead already. You foolish girl.” (Damaris, 13:02)
  • This haunting dialogue bridges the old vampire panic with current events.

6. The Havoc House Heist

• 13:52–18:25
  • Snooping for Answers:
    • Corinne and Sylvie arrive at Jury Havoc’s house under the pretense of tending Sylvie’s wound.
    • Comic respite: “Can’t believe you wore cashmere on a vampire hunt.” (Corinne, 13:59; Sylvie’s quip: “The breakdown of society is no excuse to look sloppy.”, 14:03)
    • Corinne investigates Jury’s office, finding normal business records—until she discovers an ancient ledger.
    • Her hand falls on Damaris Abbas’s journal entry, a tangible connection to the past crisis.

7. Damaris Abbas’s Journal: The Vampire Origins

• 18:25–24:37
  • Narrative Layers Deepen:
    • Damaris recounts following Josiah into the night, describing a dramatic confrontation between Josiah and Sophia Havoc (a vampire consuming a boy).
    • Vivid, chilling ritual and violence as Sophia is staked:
      • “Your God holds no sway here, priest.” (Sophia Havoc, 19:36)
      • Damaris’s prayer over Sophia’s dying body, blending faith with horror.
    • Aftermath: Josiah incites the wrath of Jury (Journey) Havoc, resulting in more violence, trauma, and the stark warning that the Abbas bloodline is destined to fight.

8. The Ledger: Evidence and Escape

• 24:37–28:00
  • Proof of the Supernatural:
    • Corinne examines the ledger documenting Sophia Havoc’s death every year, dating back to 1610—a chilling, obsessive record.
    • Corinne steals the ledger by tossing it out of a window, confirming Jury Havoc’s possible centuries-long connection to the curse.

9. Confrontation Wrap-Up: Tension with Jury Havoc

• 28:00–28:45
  • The group fabricates a story about needing to check on Corinne’s cousin; Jury insists on helping but Corinne resists, feeling revulsion at his touch.
    • “He touched my shoulder, and I couldn’t hide the sudden shudder of revulsion.” (Corinne, 27:29)
  • Corinne and Sylvie retrieve the ledger and escape.
    • “You need a wingman. It’s not safe.” (Sylvie, 10:47) — and later, their partnership again proves essential.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “He was not dead or alive.”
  Corinne describes her first-hand encounter with what she’s become convinced is a vampire. (04:15)

• “Fine. He was a vampire. I knew it.”
  Sylvie’s humorous relief at being right about supernatural suspicions. (04:26–04:31)

• “I didn’t want to kill him. He attacked me, and I…”
  Corinne’s guilt and trauma after staking Jimbo. (05:47–05:55)

• “Can’t believe you wore cashmere on a vampire hunt.”
  Dark humor lightening a tense moment. (13:59–14:03)

• Damaris Abbas’ journal:
  Poetic, haunting message to her children, merging faith and duty.
  “Be brave, my children, and know that you come from a line of holy warriors. I wish you well.” (23:50–24:37)

• “Yes, and he’s been keeping it for a long, long time.”
  Corinne reveals the significance of Jury’s secret ledger, hinting at centuries of involvement. (28:23–28:26)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:26: Josiah’s opening journal, anchoring the tone
• 04:26–05:52: Corinne and Sylvie’s raw, emotional exchange about vampires and self-defense
• 07:05: Suspicion cast on Jury Havoc
• 08:02–09:09: The National Guard checkpoint and shooting incident
• 11:56–13:52: Historical flashback—Damaris, Josiah, and the origins of the curse
• 15:55–18:25: Corinne’s discovery of the ancient ledger and Damaris’s journal
• 19:27–24:37: Vivid retelling of 1817 confrontation between Josiah, Sophia, and Jury (Journey) Havoc
• 24:37–28:00: Corinne’s theft of the ledger and escape from the Havoc house
• 28:18–28:26: Realization that Jury’s diary spans centuries

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode balances a grim sense of apocalypse with gallows humor, deepening the lore and raising stakes (literally and figuratively). Dialogue is fast, warm, neurotic, and closely felt, especially in the exchanges between Corinne and Sylvie, who keep each other grounded even as their world is collapsing.

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Flow & Usefulness

This episode is unmissable for fans of gothic horror, folk tales, and contemporary supernatural drama. It skillfully links Abbesstown’s bloody history with the present catastrophe, using artifacts and family secrets to suggest a curse that’s never truly ended. If you missed the episode, this summary will help you understand the narrative stakes, emotional weight, and humor—all crucial as Corinne and Sylvie take on a centuries-spanning evil, unsure who or what Jury Havoc really is.

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The story continues, as ancient evil and everyday courage collide in the cursed streets of Abbesstown.

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 and Grim and Mild from Aaron Manke. Headphones recommended. Listener discretion advised.

[Josiah Abbas]

I do not have time to properly relay the horrors of this night, nor is there a likelihood that they will be read by friendly eyes. But I write these last words in the hope that they may, at some point in the future, be of service to someone else. What I have seen, this night defies sense. It strains belief. This town is cursed, and I will not survive to see dawn.

[Corinne Abbas]

Instead of taking the left turn to safety, when I reached the intersection, I turned right. I wonder now how things would have ended if I'd just driven toward Maine instead of turn back toward Sylvie. Between her house and mine lay downtown, where the lights from emergency vehicles made the world seem ghostly, unreal. I couldn't run that gauntlet, so I took all the little side streets and alleys to get around it. I was in shock. I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know what I was gonna do after. But I knew I wanted Sylvie to ride shotgun.

[Sylvie Harris]

Hey, this is Sylvie. You know what to do.

[Corinne Abbas]

Sylvie. Hey, I'm. I'm coming to get you. If you could just be home when I get there. There's something really messed up happened, dude. And the woman who appeared in front of my car was completely naked. She was covered in that blood, sweat, her eyes and nose and ears all leaking dark red. Jesus. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[Josiah Abbas]

Hey.

[Corinne Abbas]

Hey. Get away. Get away. Jesus.

[Josiah Abbas]

Jesus.

[Corinne Abbas]

She wasn't the only one out either. The police, the National Guard, the occasional gunshot ringing out, another neighbor taking a bullet, or maybe trying to take down an infected family member or former best friend. I had no way of knowing how far this thing had spread, how close I was to the end of the world. Sylvie's street was pitch black, foreboding. Not a light on anywhere. Sylvie. Sylvie, it's me. Let me in. God damn it. Sylvie, Please get in here.

[Sylvie Harris]

Are you crazy?

[Corinne Abbas]

I've been calling you.

[Sylvie Harris]

Phone's dead.

[Corinne Abbas]

How long has your power been out?

[Sylvie Harris]

All evening. Had the National Guard here earlier? A guy claiming to be a medic took my temperature and asked a lot of questions about who I came in contact with. You still have power at your place?

[Corinne Abbas]

No, we. We can't go back there tonight.

[Sylvie Harris]

Why not?

[Corinne Abbas]

Okay, I'm. I'm going to tell you something, and you're not going to believe me, but I. I need you to trust me. I'm not lying, and I'm not crazy and just out with it.

[Sylvie Harris]

Jesus.

[Corinne Abbas]

Jimbo came to see me before he died. Nope.

[Sylvie Harris]

Go on.

[Corinne Abbas]

When I got home from Jury Havoc's house this evening, Jim Bohorn was waiting for me.

[Sylvie Harris]

Go on.

[Corinne Abbas]

He was not dead or alive.

[Sylvie Harris]

Explain.

[Corinne Abbas]

Don't make me say it.

[Sylvie Harris]

Yeah, no, say it.

[Corinne Abbas]

Fine. He was a vampire. I knew it.

[Sylvie Harris]

I knew it. I didn't mean to gloat, but I knew it, so. Okay. I'm sorry. What. What happened to Jimbo?

[Corinne Abbas]

Well, he tried to kill me.

[Sylvie Harris]

What? Oh, my God. Wait, wait. How did you get away?

[Corinne Abbas]

I. Well, I put a goddamn stake through his heart.

[Josiah Abbas]

Jesus.

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah.

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, my God. So he's just lying on the floor at your house, dead?

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah, I mean. I mean, I think so. Marie happened to come check on me and told me about his escape from the hospital, how he killed a mortician.

[Sylvie Harris]

Wait, Marie, the. The nurse who helped your father?

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah.

[Sylvie Harris]

I. I don't. I don't know what to say.

[Corinne Abbas]

Oh, and Ken, he's a vampire, too.

[Sylvie Harris]

What, the street preacher?

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah.

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh. Oh, the poor guy.

[Corinne Abbas]

And he told Marie I'd know what to do because of my family.

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, you're supposed to. To.

[Corinne Abbas]

To kill vampires, I guess.

[Sylvie Harris]

Well, you're off to a good start. Oh, no, no, honey, I. I'm. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[Corinne Abbas]

I didn't want to kill him. He. He attacked me, and I. I.

[Sylvie Harris]

No, honey, honey, honey, no, it's okay.

[Corinne Abbas]

Come here. I'm sorry. I'm just. I'm very.

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, traumatized. Yeah. Yeah. Who wouldn't be?

[Corinne Abbas]

Oh, my God. Barbara. Barbara. We need to check on her.

[Sylvie Harris]

No, Corinne. Corinne, I hate to tell you this, but I think it might be dangerous to go outside now and.

[Corinne Abbas]

No, Jimbo left her there in the house. He said he attacked her.

[Sylvie Harris]

Well, Corinne, if that's true, she may be beyond our help.

[Corinne Abbas]

Sylvie, that's no excuse not to help her. God damn it, Corinne. I'll drive.

[Sylvie Harris]

No, no, you're in no shape to drive. I will drive. God damn it, Corinne.

[Corinne Abbas]

We were back on the streets, and the tension was palpable as we barreled toward Jimbo and Barb's house.

[Sylvie Harris]

Should I take Main street or cut over to Third?

[Corinne Abbas]

You think I. I'd stay off the main drag. The National Guard is crawling all over. It must be their base camp. Smart.

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, you never told me how I went with Jury. You saw him earlier, right?

[Corinne Abbas]

Strange. He was. I don't know, he was out of sorts. He seemed to be dealing with some business Stuff that didn't make him terribly happy.

[Sylvie Harris]

He was preoccupied with business. During a vampire outbreak?

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah.

[Sylvie Harris]

Weird.

[Corinne Abbas]

Yep.

[Sylvie Harris]

What was the inside of the house like?

[Corinne Abbas]

I mean, it felt like a museum. He has a portrait of his great, great great grandmother that is clearly haunted. I don't know. He's. He's squirrely.

[Sylvie Harris]

Dude, do you think he has anything to do with all of this?

[Corinne Abbas]

Who's to say? Shit. Roadblock.

[Sylvie Harris]

I'll make short work of these boys. Try not to act like you've been infected with vampirism, though.

[National Guard Officer]

See your I.D. ma'?

[Jerry Havoc]

Am.

[Sylvie Harris]

Sure thing, handsome.

[National Guard Officer]

What's your business tonight?

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, just driving to see a friend who lives down this way.

[National Guard Officer]

Are you aware there's a curfew?

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, I. I was not.

[National Guard Officer]

Have you come in contact with anyone displaying any strange behavior?

[Sylvie Harris]

Always.

[Josiah Abbas]

Tonight?

[Sylvie Harris]

No. No.

[National Guard Officer]

Have you exhibited any signs of fatigue, fever, nausea, or bleeding from your eyes or nose or ears?

[Sylvie Harris]

Ew. No. Can I go now?

[National Guard Officer]

Not this way. This road is shut down.

[Sylvie Harris]

Well, our friend lives here, so.

[National Guard Officer]

Well, ma', am, pray for her. Now, please turn around and return to your residence until curfew is lifted in the morning.

[Sylvie Harris]

Are you sure we can't just go. Oh, my God. Are you okay?

[Corinne Abbas]

What was it? What the hell was that?

[Sylvie Harris]

That was Bill Braden from the hardware store.

[Josiah Abbas]

Why was that son of a bitch shooting at me?

[Sylvie Harris]

After making me serve him those ridiculous drinks all these years with a straight face. Wait, wait. Are you.

[Corinne Abbas]

Did you get hit?

[Sylvie Harris]

Wait, could you look at my arm?

[Corinne Abbas]

Jesus. Yeah, yeah, you. You got grazed.

[Sylvie Harris]

What? The sweater is cashmere.

[Corinne Abbas]

Are you hurt? Can you drive?

[Sylvie Harris]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Corinne Abbas]

I am. Oh, I am.

[Sylvie Harris]

I'm vibrating with adrenaline.

[Corinne Abbas]

Oh, you. You should probably get that bandaged. Honey, we should go to the hospital.

[Sylvie Harris]

No, no, I. I'm not going to the hospital for a graze.

[Josiah Abbas]

I just need to.

[Sylvie Harris]

To bandage it up.

[Corinne Abbas]

Okay. Maybe we'll find something at Jimbo and Barb's. It's just left.

[Sylvie Harris]

I know. I know.

[Corinne Abbas]

Oh, no.

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, no.

[Josiah Abbas]

Barb.

[Corinne Abbas]

The horn house was taped off, and a couple of officers were standing on his front porch smoking. As we sat in the car watching, a cart was pushed out. A body in a bag.

[Sylvie Harris]

Okay, we should go.

[Corinne Abbas]

She didn't deserve this.

[Sylvie Harris]

No.

[Corinne Abbas]

Neither did Jim or Ken or old Tom Stabenow or Bill Braden.

[Sylvie Harris]

I mean, Bill did just shoot me.

[Corinne Abbas]

What's next, Sylvie? Like, how. How long until this town is completely consumed?

[Sylvie Harris]

I. I don't know.

[Corinne Abbas]

I have to do something.

[Sylvie Harris]

Well, like what?

[Corinne Abbas]

I'm going back to Juri's house.

[Sylvie Harris]

Wait, wait. What?

[Corinne Abbas]

Well, this all started with him, and no one is even casting him a second glance.

[Sylvie Harris]

What if he attacks you?

[Corinne Abbas]

I don't know. I'll. I'll, I'll fight back. I. I'm new to this.

[Sylvie Harris]

I'm going with you. No, no.

[Corinne Abbas]

You need a wingman. It's not safe.

[Sylvie Harris]

Look around, Corinne. Nowhere is safe. I just got shot by a guy who always orders his bourbon mixed with Sprite.

[Corinne Abbas]

I have pepper spray. Okay, fine.

[Sylvie Harris]

Okay. What's the plan?

[Corinne Abbas]

No clue.

[Sylvie Harris]

Great.

[Corinne Abbas]

Great.

[Sylvie Harris]

I love it. I'm in.

[Corinne Abbas]

All right, let's go get murdered at the Havoc house.

[Sylvie Harris]

Yeah.

[Josiah Abbas]

I do not have time to properly relay the horrors of this night, nor is there a likelihood that they will be read by friendly eyes. But I write these last words in the hope that they may, at some point in the the future, be of service to someone else. What I have seen. This night defies sense. It strains belief. This town is cursed, and I will not survive to see dawn.

[Jerry Havoc]

Damaris, how could you allow this?

[Corinne Abbas]

Father, please.

[Damaris Abbas]

Damaris, please.

[Corinne Abbas]

Wait. No. No.

[Sylvie Harris]

No.

[Josiah Abbas]

No.

[Corinne Abbas]

I suppose I'll see you both in.

[Sylvie Harris]

Amen.

[Josiah Abbas]

What have you done, Josiah?

[Corinne Abbas]

What have you done?

[Damaris Abbas]

He was dead already.

[Josiah Abbas]

He was your son. You couldn't look past your own madness.

[Corinne Abbas]

To try to save him.

[Josiah Abbas]

What kind of monster are you? Your grandsons will now grow up without a father. You have destroyed their future with a single blow.

[Damaris Abbas]

She was dead already. You foolish girl.

[Josiah Abbas]

Where are you going? Come back here and face me.

[Corinne Abbas]

I'm going to end this once and for all.

[Josiah Abbas]

Josiah. Come back here and face me. Go ahead. Josiah has gone up the hill. He has the stick. He is going after. Ha.

[Corinne Abbas]

He is mad.

[Josiah Abbas]

I will stop him.

[Corinne Abbas]

Okay. Careful, careful. The steps are steep.

[Sylvie Harris]

I'm not dying, Corinne. My legs work fine. My shoulder is bleeding.

[Corinne Abbas]

Can't believe you wore cashmere on a vampire hunt.

[Sylvie Harris]

The breakdown of society is no excuse to look sloppy.

[Corinne Abbas]

Well, play up your injury, okay? Keep him occupied. I'll. I'll snoop.

[Sylvie Harris]

Great. Airtight plan. Nothing can go wrong.

[Corinne Abbas]

Nope. We're guaranteed success.

[Josiah Abbas]

Okay.

[Corinne Abbas]

Here goes nothing.

[Jerry Havoc]

Jesus.

[Corinne Abbas]

I'm sorry. We didn't mean to scare you.

[Jerry Havoc]

No, it's fine. It's fine. I wasn't. My God. You okay? You're bleeding.

[Corinne Abbas]

It's hard to describe what happened to his face. In that moment, surprise flickered into something unreadable, a fiery intensity, before shifting back to concern, as if a mask slipped. It did not inspire confidence in our decision to come here.

[Jerry Havoc]

Quickly, come in here, please.

[Corinne Abbas]

I, I. I wouldn't intrude but.

[Jerry Havoc]

Well, it's nonsense. Sir, please. I was just about to call you and tell you to come back up. It's. It's pandemonium down there. I mean, have you seen it? It's all over the news. People have gone completely insane. Come into the kitchen. Gotta have something in here to patch you up.

[Sylvie Harris]

Thank you.

[Corinne Abbas]

You were gonna call me? Why?

[Jerry Havoc]

You're the only person I know here in town. I figured I'd rather have you here and alive than elsewhere and dead.

[Sylvie Harris]

That is the sweetest thing I've ever heard.

[Jerry Havoc]

Here, sit. Sylvie, was it?

[Sylvie Harris]

That's what they call me.

[Jerry Havoc]

Oh, I. I don't know how this kitchen is set up. Hobson usually deals with this sort of thing and he went down to keep watch for looters at the mill.

[Corinne Abbas]

Can I use your restroom? I'm having. I'm having stomach problems.

[Jerry Havoc]

Down the hall, next to the office, second door on the right.

[Corinne Abbas]

Thanks. Be right back.

[Sylvie Harris]

So, is there a Mrs. Jury? Havoc the 14th?

[Jerry Havoc]

There is not.

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, and why is that?

[Corinne Abbas]

I crept down the hall and found the bathroom, shut the door loudly enough for them to hear in the kitchen and continued on to the next door to the dark office. Not sure what I was even looking for, or even if there would be any evidence of anything, let alone proof that this seemingly normal billionaire business tycoon was a bloodthirsty ghoul bent on my town's destruction. It did cross my mind to ask why he would come to Havoc a town named for him to destroy it. And what I could see on his desk only supported my doubts. Spreadsheets on earnings, a mock up of the Havoc Mills project. An insane number of post it notes with all sorts of figures, phone numbers, emails. I mean, if anything, this was just proving how dedicated he was to building this place. I think I was feeling something near to relief when my fingers brushed it. The ancient leather bound ledger cover, cracked from age, but patched with great care. A sign of its tremendous value to its owner. I'd touched it earlier in the evening only to receive a swift rebuke.

[Jerry Havoc]

Don't.

[Corinne Abbas]

Maybe it was just a precious family heirloom. Maybe it was just a very old book that he treasured. But something about his earlier reaction rang an alarm bell in my mind. And as my fingers trailed over the ancient leather, the book called to me. A couple of loose leaves of old paper stuck out of it, as if saving a place in a novel. I reached out and very carefully flipped open to where it was bookmarked and to the floor fluttered one of the sheets of paper. Oh, shit. As I reached down to pick it up, my blood froze in my veins. On a sheet dated 10th October, 1817, a page dense with information torn long ago from its original binding, and written in a rushed but now familiar handwriting smeared with old ink, was an entry of Damaris Abbas's journal.

[Josiah Abbas]

My time is short. Dawn is coming soon. But I do not believe that I will live long enough to see it. Whomever finds herself reading this, please get a message to my children. Tell them their mother loved them, their father loved them, and to forgive the actions of their grandfather, who was doing what he believed needed to be done. I followed him into the night, hoping that I would be able to stop his madness before he killed another. I could not have imagined what I would find. Even in the dark, I knew the direction of the Havoc house, high on the hill. And had I not, I could have located it by the firelight still flickering in its windows. Even at that late hour, though I moved quickly, I did not overtake Father Josiah. But it would not have mattered. As I came to the far edge of the forest, I saw him standing stock still in silhouette against the light thrown by a large bonfire in front of the house. And before I saw her, I heard.

[Damaris Abbas]

Him bellow the name Mrs. Havoc. In the name of the Holy Father, I command you to release the boy.

[Josiah Abbas]

And then I saw her in the flicker of the firelight. Sophia Havoc, dressed in a white nightgown, a dark stain covering her breast and spreading all the way down her belly. In her arms, she held another form, not much smaller than herself, a boy, limp, lifeless. She seemed frozen in place for a moment. Moment surprised to have been found in such a position. I thought it guilt for a moment before I heard it, laughter, deep and chilling. Your God holds no sway here, priest.

[Damaris Abbas]

I say again, Mrs. Habat, release the boy.

[Josiah Abbas]

She seemed to consider this a more before tossing the boy like a rag doll onto the fire beside him. I have never seen a man move faster than Josiah did toward the child in the fire. He dove headlong toward it, grunting as he grabbed the prone form and tossed it aside in a blur. Sophia Havoc was upon him. I rushed forward to help, but as I cleared the tree line, I heard an unholy wail, and Sophia Havoc rolled off him, clawing desperately at the wooden stake embedded below her sterner dark blood pulsing forth as she scrabbled at it.

[Damaris 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.

[Josiah Abbas]

And then, finally, she was dead.

[Damaris Abbas]

Amen.

[Josiah Abbas]

With that, Josiah rushed to the boy's side once more. Once more hunched over the crumpled, smoldering form. I did not hear what he whispered, but by his slumped shoulders I could tell that the boy had passed. I was frozen to my spot by the horror I witnessed, but I was jolted out of my stupor when he stood defiant and looked up at the large house before him.

[Damaris Abbas]

Journey, Havoc. Come out and face me, vile devil.

[Josiah Abbas]

Before the echo of his cry dissipated, the door to the Havoc house opened and dreary Havoc filled its frame. Disheveled in shirt sleeves and barefoot, he took in the bloody scene before him, his eyes landing on his wife's body beside fire. He wailed as he rushed down and fell upon her. Josiah gave him his moment of grief. He was himself no monster. It was a grave mistake, for when Havoc's eyes were once again raised, it was not grief that burned in them, but an intense hatred. Before Josiah could take in his position, Havoc sprang up and into him, the both of them toppling hard and landing on the ground with a sickening Havoc's hands were around Josiah's neck, and he howled as Father Swift struggled against him. I was compelled then to rush to his aid. He who I had cursed mere hours before. What could I do? Meek Damaris. Damaris the sheep. Damaris the cat. Stop. And miracle of miracles, he did. His eyes found mine immediately, and his gaze chilled my blood. He stood slowly as Father Josiah gasped and flailed beneath him. Release him in the name of the Father.

[Damaris Abbas]

Damaris. You foolish girl. Run.

[Josiah Abbas]

And with that, Josiah buried his bloody stake in Havoc's thigh.

[Damaris Abbas]

Run, Damaris.

[Josiah Abbas]

This time I listened. I ran blindly back through the floor, us back to this house. I do not know how the scuffle ended. I do not know if I will survive this night, and if I do, I do not know where to run to next or for how long I would need to run. Someone approaches outside. I do not know if it is Father Josiah or the devil himself. I suppose I will find out soon enough. Be brave, my children, and know that you come from a line of holy warriors. I wish you well.

[Corinne Abbas]

Shit. And there it ended. I quickly thumbed through the large ledger itself. In it, neat script, tiny pages and pages deep, dense with it, and every couple of pages a sketch of a familiar face, the one from the portrait in the living room. Sophia Havoc. Lovingly drawn. Each signed with a date. October 10th. The anniversary of her death at the hands of Josiah Abbas. The portraits went back one year through the pages. 1970-1955-1890-1818. And beyond that handwriting going further, all the way back to the first entry, 1610. I didn't have time to know if this was my proof, but it seemed pretty compelling. Oh, my God. I do not know what came over me in that moment. Maybe it was something in my veins, my DNA programmed to fight. I knew I had to take it. And so, as quietly as possible, I went over to the window, gently opened it, and dropped the ledger out onto the bushes below. I snuck back out of the dark office and into the hall, making sure to once again slam the bathroom door before returning to the kitchen, where Jerry Hathek was washing up after patching up Sylvie, who was chattering like a nervous bird.

[Sylvie Harris]

At any rate, it never really came to fruition, so I was stuck with all of this patio furniture and no one to sit in it.

[Jerry Havoc]

Hmm.

[Corinne Abbas]

Ah.

[Jerry Havoc]

I was worried. You've fallen in.

[Corinne Abbas]

Are we. Are we all wrapped up, so to speak. Oh, wonderful. Thank you so much for having us.

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, no. So soon? We were just getting friendly.

[Jerry Havoc]

You're leaving with the town, burning down, the army taking over.

[Corinne Abbas]

Yes, I. I realize in the bathroom that I need to check on Sarah Beth.

[Jerry Havoc]

Sarah Beth?

[Sylvie Harris]

Oh, my God. Sarah Beth? Yeah. She must be terrified.

[Jerry Havoc]

It's pandemonium out there, ladies.

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah, well, that's why I have to check on her. She can't always help herself.

[Jerry Havoc]

Who is she?

[Corinne Abbas]

My cousin.

[Jerry Havoc]

Your cousin?

[Corinne Abbas]

Yeah.

[Jerry Havoc]

Well, family first, I guess. Obviously. I can drive you. It really is incredibly dangerous out there, as evidenced by your best friend being shot in the shoulder.

[Josiah Abbas]

Tis but a flesh wound.

[Sylvie Harris]

Thanks for patching me up, Doc. I feel good as new.

[Corinne Abbas]

Thank you again. The hospital was unreachable.

[Jerry Havoc]

Well, your cousin maybe, too. I wish you'd reconsider.

[Corinne Abbas]

No.

[Jerry Havoc]

Thank you, Corinne.

[Corinne Abbas]

He touched my shoulder, and I couldn't hide the sudden shudder of revulsion. And I could tell that he felt it because he let go immediately.

[Jerry Havoc]

Be safe out there.

[Corinne Abbas]

We will. Thank you, jury.

[Jerry Havoc]

Of course.

[Corinne Abbas]

We walked down to the car in silence, praying that he would shut the door so that I could steal into the bushes and retrieve the journal. Come on, come on.

[Josiah Abbas]

Oh, thank God.

[Sylvie Harris]

I guess you really. What are you doing?

[Corinne Abbas]

Corinne, what the hell are you doing? Come on, come on, come on.

[Sylvie Harris]

Ah. Got it.

[Corinne Abbas]

What are you.

[Sylvie Harris]

Wait, wait. Is that the.

[Corinne Abbas]

Get in the car. I'm driving.

[Sylvie Harris]

Okay.

[Corinne Abbas]

Here, hold this.

[Sylvie Harris]

Wh. What is this?

[Corinne Abbas]

I think it's a diary.

[Sylvie Harris]

He keeps a diary?

[Corinne Abbas]

Yes, and he's been keeping it for a long, long time.

[Aaron Manke]

Havoc Town was created by me, Aaron Manke. The show was written and directed by Nicholas Takosky. This episode was edited and sound designed by Rima El Kayali. 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 with additional voice acting from Hannah Fearman, Summer Rain Menke, Daniel, Abe Sarkis 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 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 town [e-mail] and find more podcasts from iHeartRadio by visiting the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Valspar Ad Narrator]

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[Josiah Abbas]

A little.

[Corinne Abbas]

A little.

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[Corinne Abbas]

This is an iHeart podcast.