Speaker 1: Calarogu Shark Media, Hello and welcome to ghost Scary Stories.
This episode is titled The Pumpkin Patch Haunting, Part two,
The Jack o' Lantern's Revenge.
Speaker 2: The sun rose on October thirty first, casting long shadows
across Thornwood Pumpkin Patch, Emily hadn't slept a wink, her
mind racing with the events of the previous night. As
she stumbled out of her farmhouse, she was greeted by
an unwelcome sight. Sheriff Mark Hawkins's patrol car pulling up
the gravel driveway morning, Emily, Hawkins called out as he
stepped from the vehicle, thought I'd check in on you
any more ghostly visitors. Emily's laugh was hollow. You wouldn't
believe me if I told you. Hawkins's expression softened. Try
me over strong coffee. Emily recounted her midnight encounter with
Jack o Lantern's spirit and the flying pumpkins. To her surprise,
Hawkins didn't immediately dismiss her story. I did some digging
after I left yesterday, he said, his voice low. You
were right about Jack's death being suspicious. I found some
old case files that were supposed to have been destroyed, Emily,
I think Jack was murdered. Emily's mug clattered against the table.
Murdered by whom? That's the thing, Hawkins said, leaning in
the prime. Suspect was a Thornwood, your great grandfather. To
be precise, the color drained from Emily's face. That's impossible.
My family's not even from here. I only bought this
place because of the name coincidence, Hawkins shook his head.
Your grandmother left town young, changed her name, But the
Thornwoods were a founding family here, and they had a
long standing feud with the land over this very patch
of land. Emily's mind reeled. Could it be true? Was
she somehow connected to this century old murder? Before she
could process this revelation, a scream pierced the air. They
rushed outside to find Emily's farm hand, Tony, backing away
from the pumpkin patch in terror that the pumpkins. He stuttered,
pointing a shaking finger toward the field. Emily and Hawkins
followed his gaze. There carved into the side of every
pumpkin in sight was a single word, revenge holy shut.
Hawkins began, but he was cut off by a rumbling sound.
The ground began to shake, and pumpkins started to roll
of their own accord, gathering in the center of the field.
It's happening again, Emily whispered. As they watched in horror.
The pumpkins piled atop one another, forming a massive, vaguely
humanoid shape. A sickly orange glow emanated from within, and
two fled aimes burst to life where eyes should be.
The pumpkin colossus raised an arm, pointing directly at Emily.
When it spoke, it was with jack O Lantern's other
worldly voice magnified a hundredfold, Emily Thornwood, It boomed, your
blood must pay for the sins of your ancestors. Panic
irrupted as the creature began to move, its steps shaking
the earth. Farm hands fled, screaming, and even Hawkins took
a step back, his hand instinctively moving to his holstered gun.
We need to evacuate the town, he said, his voice shaky.
Whatever this thing is, it's not stopping here. Emily stood
rooted to the spot, her mind racing. No, she said, suddenly,
I need to end this now. She turned and sprinted
toward the old barn, Hawkins, calling after her Inside, she
rummaged through a box of old documents she'd found when
she first bought the property. There at the bottom was
what she was looking for, a small bound journal. As
she flipped through the pages, her eyes widened. It was
her great grandfather's diary, and there on the final page
was a confession. Emily ran back outside, clutching the journal.
The Pumpkin Monster was lumbering toward the town, leaving a
trail of destruction in its wake. Jack, She screamed, Jack O'Lantern,
I know the truth. The creature paused, its flaming eyes
turning toward her. My great grandfather, he he did kill you,
Emily continued, her voice breaking. But it was an accident.
You were arguing about the land and he pushed you.
You fell and hit your head on a rock. He panicked,
covered it up, but he never meant for it to happen.
The Pumpkin Colossus stood still, as if processing this information.
He was sorry, Jack, Emily pleaded, so sorry that he
spent the rest of his life trying to make amends.
This journal, it's full of his guilt, his plans to
make things right. He left the patch to your family,
and his will but they'd already moved away. That's why
it's changed hands so many times.
Speaker 3: No one knew.
Speaker 2: For a long moment, nothing happened. Then slowly, the massive
pumpkin figure began to crumble. As it fell apart, a
spectral shape emerged from within Jack O'Lantern, looking more human now,
the anger gone from his translucent features. I I didn't
know Jack's ghost, said, his voice softer now, all these years,
I thought. I'm so sorry for what happened to you,
Emily said, stepping closer. Can you forgive us? Can you
finally rest? Jack's form flickered, a sad smile crossing his
face forgiveness. Yes, perhaps it's time, He looked at Emily curiously.
You know you have his eyes, kind eyes. With that,
Jack's ghost began to fade, the oppressive atmosphere lifting from
the pumpkin patch as he disappeared entirely. A warm breeze
swept through the field, carrying the scent of autumn leaves
and faintly candy corn. Hawkins approached Emily, his eyes wide.
I've been sheriff in this town for twenty years, and
I've never seen anything like that. Are you okay? Emily nodded,
suddenly feeling exhausted but relieved. I think it's over, really over.
As they stood there surveying the mess of pumpkin carnage,
Hawkins chuckled. You know, the Halloween festival is supposed to
start in a few hours. What are we going to
do about? He gestured at the decimated patch. Emily looked around,
a slow smile spreading across her face. You know what,
I think I have an idea. That night, Thornwood Pumpkin
Patch hosted the most spectacular Halloween festival the town had
ever seen. The smashed pumpkins were repurposed into a massive
Jack O' lantern display, telling the story of Jack o
Lantern and the patch's haunted history. Children squealed in delight
at the spooky tale, while their parents marveled at Emily's creativity.
As midnight approached, Emily stood at the edge of the
field watching the festivities. She felt a presence beside her
and turned to see Sheriff Hawkins. Quite a day, he said,
offering her a cup of hot cider. Emily took it gratefully.
Quite a century more like. They stood in comfortable silence
for a moment before Hawkins spoke again. So, Miss Thornwood,
think you'll be sticking around or is one haunting enough
to send you packing like the others. Emily looked out
over the patch at the laughing families and glowing pumpkins.
In the distance. She could have sworn she saw a
familiar spectral figure smiling and nodding at her, before vanishing
into the night. Are you kidding, she said, grinning After
all this, I'm just getting started. As the town clock
began to chime midnight, Emily raised her cider in a toast.
Happy Halloween, sheriff, Here's to new beginnings, and somewhere in
the cool autumn breeze, she could have sworn she heard
a friendly whisper. Happy Halloween, Emily Thornwood and Thank.
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hosted by Alexander Ian McIntyre, produced by Mark Francis. Executive
producers Mark Francis and John McDermott. Portions of this podcast
may have been created with the assistance of AI.
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