Halloween comes once a year, but there are haunted stories that last deep inside our souls all year long. This is one example of a spin-tingling story written by Wray Williams when he was a young man. Hollywood Entertainment News hopes you enjoy this story as much as we did.
Wharlon Notch was not known for its hospitality. Nor was it known for its scenery. Hell, Wharlon Notch wasn’t known at all. It had one policeman who was always on vacation, a general store with hardly anything in it, and a diner with bad food but drinkable coffee. The Notch, as the town folk call it, was a small, run-down, blink and you miss it hole in the ground. The only good thing about the town was that it was quiet. Not much went on there either. The only event was the season; Sinjin’s season.
The season came once every year at about the same time. Mid-Spring was usually normal. It lasted one to two weeks. Along with the season came one and only one rule: Never Leave Town Once the Season Has Begun. Today was the first. Everyone knew but tried to avoid it. Some people didn’t even change their daily calendars. No matter what they did, they knew what was upon them. Prayer was the biggest activity during the season. Everyone prayed not to die.
The season came about because of a demon named, of course, Sinjin. Long ago, he was promised certain people in the Notch and their names were all placed in a big book. Being a forgetful demon, Sinjin lost the book. This caused a problem of who was to go to him and who wasn’t. He decided to pick at random. No one knew who was going, but when they did, it was no secret.
Jacob Kranz was a crotchety old man who didn’t believe in the Sinjin. Or was he too old to remember that he promised himself like so many others? At any rate, he broke the rule. The rule protected the innocent from Sinjin. Jacob left town early that morning in hopes of seeing his brother. He never made it. On the road, Jacob grabbed his chest, trying to hold what was hurting him so much. It was his heart. The car he drove swerved in reckless abandon. Jacob screamed in utter pain and despair. There was nothing he could do and he knew it. The pain grew more intense and excruciating. Tears rolled down Jacob’s face but not from the punishment he was receiving. It was from fear of the punishment that was to come. Sinjin wouldn’t just stop at a heart attack. That was too dreadfully simple. More was on the way. Jacob’s chest heaved so violently, his ribs snapped into little shards. He could feel every splinter moving as he gasped for air. His eyes became light gray like a curtain over a movie screen.
The elders of the Notch were told by Sinjin himself that if he didn’t appear by the fourth day, there would be no season. He lied. Days passed. On the sixth day of the season, the whole town began to celebrate. There was singing, dancing, parties, and laughter. For the first time in a long time, the citizens were happy.
Suddenly, the sky darkened. The wind picked up speed. The trees and the ground shook. The Sinjin had returned. He was releasing an unbridled rage. A rage caused by defiance of his word: HIS LAW! The sky rained red: the red of blood: the blood of death: the death of those who believed: believed the Sinjin would not come.
People ran in all directions in hopes of escaping the wrath that was upon them. It was to no avail. Flesh and bone merged into wet, formless masses. Eyes exploded like so many kernels of popcorn. Limbs were twisted with the skill of a giant, maniacal puppeteer. Bodies were strewn all over, writhing in their pain and agony. The noise was that of a thousand demons screaming in unison. Chests filled and collapsed with dead air. It was as if a tremendous battle had taken place, but no one won. Sinjin blazed the law into the town hall doors as a reminder to those who entered Wharlon Notch.
NEVER LEAVE TOWN ONCE THE SEASON BEGINS
At the end of that season, the names of those who were taken were put on a cenotaph in the center of town. During the day, the names are invisible. But at night, when the sky is clear, the moon is full and the air is still, they glow. They glow with the glow of a demon. The demon is Sinjin and he has come and gone…
Pro Bono Publico Ora Oro Nobis
For the Public Good, Pray for Us
Written by Wray Williams
02-02-1988