S15E19 - "Voracious" - Horror Hill

Erik Peabody (0:02)

Chilling Tales for Dark Nights.

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Hello, listeners, and welcome back to Horror Hill. I'm your host and narrator, Erik Peabody. This evening, we continue our descent into madness with author Micah Edwards. We're in the middle of running a series of stories of his, which will continue until mid-October. As I mentioned before, there's a special announcement once we finish, so be sure to stick around. Tonight's story is titled, The Pitiful Orphan. Pascal Millikin is a man living the American dream. It's the late 1920s, and Pascal seems to have it all. A loving wife, a beautiful daughter, and a good job as a banking manager in New York City. And even with all of that success, he still does what he can to improve the lives of others. One day, Pascal sees a young boy getting tossed from a moving vehicle, and his philanthropic heart can't help but lend a hand. Sometimes, one act of kindness is all it takes to set a course for disaster. And when you're done with tonight's episode, I'd recommend checking out my new show, Degenerated, a horror fiction podcast. I know you're always looking for more scary stories, good listeners, so go indulge yourself.

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And now, from author Micah Edwards, I give you The Pitiful Orphan.

Pascal Millikin considered himself a good man. He was a loving husband and father, a generous friend, and kind to strangers. He felt that the world was a generally good place, and why not? It had always been very good to him. He and his wife Sophie had moved to New York City in 1922 In the seven years since, life had steadily improved in every way imaginable. He had gotten a job as a bank teller on the strength of a firm handshake, a strong smile, and an innate affinity for sums. The pay was good, and the hours were reliable. Pascal excelled in his new life, working his way up to branch manager. Regular promotions and yearly bonuses had left Pascal with a nice amount in savings, which he had invested well and which was now earning money of its own. He was far from miserly, though. He wore the expensive suits befitting his job and made sure that Sophie had equally nice outfits for their frequent evenings out. He had an automobile, a brand new Chevrolet 6, more because it was the thing to do than for any real need. He enjoyed fine dining and the arts. He patronized both live theater and the picture palaces on regular occasions. Pascal's daughter Marie had been born in 1923 He was deeply proud of the fact that she'd never known any life but that of the big city. She had just started kindergarten at the prestigious Nightingale Bamford School for Girls, and Pascal could not believe how she'd blossomed. It seemed that every day he came home to find her brimming with new words, new stories and new skills. Sophie too thrived in the city. She echoed Pascal's transformation from bumpkin to banker, growing from a shy young country girl to a sharp, sophisticated woman. The city was fast paced, action-filled, and packed with rewards for those ready to reach out and grab them. Pascal and Sophie had grabbed all they could hold.

Unlike so many in his class, though, Pascal did not turn a blind eye to the less savoury side of the city. He saw the grit and the grime beneath the glitz. He saw the people who the city chewed up and spat out. His heart ached for them when he saw them on street corners or in subway stations, especially this time of year as winter was setting in. He always had coins and a kind word to spare, but it hurt him that he could not do more.