Autumnvale

There's just something about small towns, bathed in innocence and quietly sequestered off from greater society as a whole. I was never able to put my finger on it, but my whole life I found the idea of the idyllic and picturesque small town to be extremely alluring. It was this almost supernatural allure that brought me to Autumnvale, New York. Autumnvale was a happy place, full of smiling faces and a carefree all-American feel. The town certainly earned it's name as well, having the most beautiful falls in all the North East. A vast amount of deciduous trees and thick untamed forests all around made Autumnvale the place to be to get that New England autumn experience without going there. From the outside, Autumnvale seemed like a good wholesome place where you could settle in and really plant some roots. That was what I wanted. Back then, I was young and fresh out of the college machine with a degree in business and a passion in my heart to start a toy shop. I wanted to bring back the craft of real toy making, not that mass-produced, money grabbing monster that seemed to grip the markets of the world. I was naive and thought there would be a market for handmade woodcrafts. So, I bought a store in town and began my humble trade.The great natural beauty all around me inspired me and I knew that things were perfect. However, things were not as lucrative as I had envisioned and I was barely staying afloat.
"Things will get better" I told myself. "Customers will come."
Around this time I began looking for a church, but the town only had one: The Church of Starry Wisdom. It was a strange denomination that I had never heard of before and haven't heard of since. It seemed that the entire town was in attendance there. I had only visited once, but I was met with many dirty looks and little to no teaching from the Bible. The next nearest church was over an hour away, so I had to make do on my own. The church became a matter of interest to me though, I was very curious as to its theology. But, the townsfolk were very tight-lipped about the whole thing and some seemed almost hostile. One day a man stumbled into my shop. I watched him as he perused the toys. He was old, disheveled, and had the distinct smell of alcohol about him. He then turned towards me and half stumbled to the counter.
"Can I help you sir?" I asked doing my best not to be rude.
"I heard you've been askin' about the church." He slurred, leaning against the counter.
"I will admit I've been curious." I said to him trying to disguise how repulsed I was by his breath. His lips pulled back revealing long, yellowed teeth in a Cheshire smile that sent a shiver down my spine. "I'd stop doin' that right quick if I was you." he said. "No good ever came from that place."
"What do you mean? Why are there no other churches in town?" This was the first person I'd run into who hadn't shied away from the topic of the church as soon as I brought it up.
"I'm just warnin' ya, some people might notice if ya keep it up. I'd hate to see another one go." He looked down as if terribly saddened. Then, as if startled he fixed his eyes to mine and said. "But, I didn't say that. I wasn't here." He began to stumble towards the door.
"No wait!" I  yelled. I wasn't going to let someone tell me I was in danger and not get as much information about it as I could. " You can't just come in here and imply I might be in danger and not give me any information about it." I came out from behind the counter and caught him before the door.
"I've said too much already let me go." He said intending to leave. He tried to wrench his arm away from me but was too intoxicated to keep his balance. There were no other customers in the store, so I shut and locked the door, flipping the open sign to closed.  I then turned to the drunk man on the floor. "What do you know old man?" I asked pulling him up from the ground.
" I know it wasn't always like this." He said taking out a flask from his' pocket. We moved to some chairs and I sat him down where he began to talk. " When I was young there was still only one church in town. It was called the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Autumnvale. My father and the pastor, Pastor Laestad, were good friends and often went on hunting trips. I was too young to go with them at the time having just turned six. One autumn they went out to hunt deer and did not return for three weeks. In this time many search parties left and returned empty handed. Then one Sunday Pastor Laestad returned. He burst through the front doors of the church and sent the whole town in an uproar." He paused. "My father wern't with him. Laestad wasn't the same after that. He claimed he'd had a new revelation in the wilderness and started preachin' on what he called 'sacrificial living.' He claimed it was through this 'sacrificial living' that true salvation was obtained and knowledge untold awaited those who practiced it. Lots of folks left the church after this, my mother included and, by extension, me. The church's name changed real quick after that, it did. But, something still wasn't right.  As time went on those who had left the church stopped showin' up anywhere. Enough people out of the church went missin' that most of who was left went back. I guess it was just easeir to be a member than to be worried all the time. But, not my mama she said that Laestad had the devil come over him and wouldn't go near him. I think she thought he killed my father in the wilderness. One day when I was sixteen I woke up and my ma was gone. It was that church. I know it was. They took her and they killed her just like my pa. Laestad is still there preaching in that church, somehow he's outlived just about everyone from back then. Now you know the truth. Stay away from that church. It's no place for any wholesome folk." He finished. I just sat in my seat contemplating what he told me.
"I think you should go now." I told him showing that I was skeptical about his' drunken story. I lead him to the door as he raved about the evils of the church and let him out. "Hey, what's your name?" I asked him.
"I'm John Lars. You can find me at the leek and bong." He said. Of course he would be found at the local bar. I wasn't sure what to think about his' story. I had visited the church and, while the message was on sacrificial living, the head pastor had been a young man. No one I had met in town seemed particularly sinister to me either. I figured there was only one thing to do. There are two sides to every story, so I was going to visit the church again.
I put on my Sunday best and walked toward the the church that Sunday.  The Church of Starry Wisdom was a beautiful piece of architecture. It's stunning Byzantine design seemed almost out of place in the town but, somehow also right at home. I couldn't help but notice all the same dirty looks and strange remarks from the first time I visited, but I didn't care. I was on a mission. I sat on the back set of pews to avoid the glares of as many towns people as possible. The message was preached by the same pastor as my last visit. The pastor was older than I had thought, but still far too young to be older than John Lars. John looked to be in his late fifties early sixties. This preacher could not have been a day over forty-five and that would be a stretch. After the sermon I approached the front of the church. I walked up to the pulpit and tapped the pastor on the shoulder. he jumped slightly as if startled and turned around quickly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." I said as he set his gaze on me.
"It's no problem." He said. "Say, your that new toy maker aren't you? I think I've seen you here before."
"Yes I came once before, but I didn't feel very welcome, so I didn't come back for a while." I told him.
"I'm sorry to hear that. All are welcome here at the Church of Starry Wisdom. All that matters is that you are here now. I'm Pastor Laestad. I'm the head pastor here. "
"Oh," I said. "was your father a pastor here before you?" I asked trying to sound casual.
"Why yes. why do you ask?" He inquired.
"I was talking with some townspeople about the church's origins and they mentioned a Pastor Laestad as well." I said and immediately regretted it. Pastor Laestad's countenance changed.
"Who would be talking to you about that?" he asked. Something about the way he said it made me wary to answer.
"I can't really say I remember. It was a while ago." I lied.
"It was John Lars wasn't it?" he asked as if he knew the answer already.
"I really don't know." I said worried John may have been right.
"It's a sad story, his. He couldn't handle his' parents abandoning him so he blames my church. I wouldn't put much stock into anything that drunkard says." Laestad said, his' words almost dripping with malice.
"I should get going." I said wanting to get away from the conversation. Laestad seemed to catch himself. "I'm sorry." He said." I don't mean to seem spiteful. I've just heard his' ramblings and accusations a few too many times. I hope we can see you here next week." He said gaining back his' composure. I left quickly without another word. I went quickly home and did not leave the rest of the night.
The next day I decided to go to the Leek and Bong to find John Lars. I was surprised to find he was not there. I asked the bar tender if he had seen him, but he didn't want to be very helpful and eventually told me he hadn't seen John in weeks. This made no sense as John had specifically said he would be there. The barkeep had to be lying. What if John was right about the church? What if talking to me was the final straw? I didn't trust the townspeople enough to ask around for John Lars. John had warned that asking questions could get you killed. There was only one thing I could think of to do: stake out the church. The Church of Starry Wisdom made an imposing figure on the horizon and as the sun set it's dark spires rose to meet the sinking sun. I found a spot in the nearby woods where I could watch the comings and goings at the building. As night time approached many church members gathered inside it's halls. I began to think that this was no more than an innocent meeting and that I had wasted my time when out from the back of the church a procession of figures in dark robes left the church. Several were carrying torches and the rest were carrying a large bundle between them. The procession was lead by a figure in a blood red robe with golden trim. This figure had it's head cast upwards towards the stars and walked with it's arms outstretched. The procession headed towards the woods and I began to follow. As I drew closer I noticed the robes of these men, as all of them seemed to be men, had long over large hoods and and were covered in strange symbols that made my head ache dully. They walked deeper and deeper into the wilderness. A light misty fog settled among the trees as darkness seemed to envelop the forest. Finally, we approached a small clearing. A very small clearing. In the center of the clearing was a large slab of rock.  It had stairs carved into the sides and the procession proceeded up them. Atop this "stage" was another smaller slab. upon which the bundle was placed. They placed the torches in holders along the outside of the slab. The figures surrounded the bundle and the red robed figure began to speak. The voice was unmistakably that of pastor Laestad, but I couldn't make out what he was saying.I slowly and quietly crept to the edge of the clearing where I could hear more clearly.
"And it was there deep in the wilderness that it was revealed to me that true wisdom does not come but through Sacrifice. After that first sacrifice, the stars prescribed this place as holy ground for their pleasure and worship. The stars have revealed to me the secret of eternal life, and not only eternal life, but eternal youth. This has come with many years of devoted sacrifice, brothers. Do you want the gifts the stars can offer?" Laestad spewed in a strange alluring way. The hooded figures in the circle all expressed a desire to learn from the stars. "Then tonight," Began Laestad. "I invoke the stars to bless this sacrifice and all who partake in it!" The figures let out a cry and began an eerie chant in an unknown language. The figures unwrapped the bundle and out tumbled an unconscious John Lars. They tied him to the slab. I watched in horror as all those present pulled  long blades from their robes and the chant intensified. They began raising their daggers all in unison. The higher the daggers the more intense the chanting. Higher and higher they rose the daggers. It sounded less like chanting now and more like crazed screaming. Then silence as they all at once plunged their blades into Lars' body. I involuntarily gasped, perhaps louder than I thought because Laestad's head shot right to my direction and our eyes met. He pointed at me and screamed.
"There! The toy-maker seize him!" I took off running as quickly as my feet could carry me. The sounds of pursuers right behind me. I had to get away. The rustling behind me began to fade I looked over my shoulder to confirm that I had gotten away. I turned my head back just in time to see a massive branch. WHAM. I was out cold. As I came to, I realized I was being dragged. I was still too groggy to put up any resistance. I could hear Laestad talking ahead. " We are very fortunate indeed. The stars have provided for us another sacrifice, and so soon.Truly we are blessed." As he spoke they took me up the stairs of the stone slab. Realizing where I was I began desperately struggling. I wasn't going to die without a fight. They were carrying me from the arms, so I began wildly kicking. As we reached the top of the stairs I saw Lars' cold, lifeless body, his' blood spilled all about the slab and dripping onto the ground. In a final gambit I managed to kick over one of the stands holding the torches. It fell and landed directly on Laestad's robes. They caught fire and the fire quickly spread to Lars' alcohol rich blood. The entire slab was soon engulfed in flames and in the confusion I managed to wrench myself away from my captors. I fled, this time without pursuit, as the cultists tried in vain to put out Laestad's burning frame. His screams echoed through the forest as I tried to find my way out of the thick repetitive wilderness. By some miracle I made it it out. I quickly ran home, packed a bag, and left Autumnvale forever.
I had made it out alive, although barely, and I didn't plan on being drawn in by small towns ever again. I moved to a large city on the west coast where I opened a successful toy shop.
Sometimes though, in the middle of the night, I think about what Laestad said about the stars and wonder if I too could benefit from some sacrificial living.
Fin

The Church of Starry Wisdom

 Laestad

Altar









Believe it or not, this was based on a true story.