Beyond the Legends Series

A Jersey Devil Origin Story

Whoever dares run into the pine barrens is a fool. I should know, I’ve been surviving it for years and years. This place has swallowed me whole like a hungry animal, reeking of death. This place is cursed, and I know how it all started. Because I was also a fool.

It’s been so long ago since everything changed. It feels like an eternity.

I was married and blessed with beautiful children. Twelve beautiful children and my loving husband who started our marriage well. Living in a beautiful ranch house he built on top of some private lands buried away from everything. But we should’ve known better. The land was cursed…

We tried everything to grow into that soil. The only way we could eat was from walking miles into the local town. We tried everything, but the land was like acid, burning and killing everything we planted. We were losing hope with no vegetation. The animals didn’t dare to walk in the pines. Something frightened them and even the locals didn’t dare to walk where we were.

They thought we were fools for building a property there. But we thought it was all useless superstition. It wasn’t until my husband John and I were rummaging the grounds that we knew how dire this land was becoming. Everything was dying or rotting under our feet.

I watched as my husband picked at every scrap looking for anything to eat.

“Oh no…rotted…rotted, rotted,” John groaned as we stepped around the carcasses of hollowed out vegetables. The crops had no chance. Even their roots looked unholy. The smell made my insides turn.

He bent down, observing one of the crooked carrots that were pulled from the ground. “And…eaten?”

I furrowed my brows in confusion. No animals lingered here. It had to have been a mistake. But John’s eyes gleamed at the carrot as I observed over his shoulder, the food was clearly bitten into. Part of me wondered if the poor thing was starving as much as we were.

“John what is it?” I asked. A faint smile curved on his lips. Even at our worst he was a steady soul.

“Would you like the good news or the bad news?” he asked holding out the dead carrot in his grip.

“Good news?” I repeated in disbelief. “What good news could be found in this wreck?”

“Something ate this poor excuse for scraps,” John explained, tossing the carrot back into the pile.

“So?” I insisted.

“So it means it can’t be far away,” John smirked as he started out of our garden and headed back into the house.

When he returned, he came out with his hunting rifle and a pack of supplies.

“Wait you’re leaving?!” I screeched. He wouldn’t leave us here all alone. There’s no way the animal could possibly be still within reach. He started past me before I grabbed a hold of his arm. “John…John please.”

“I have a family to feed Olivia,” John reassured. “What would you do in my shoes?”

He was right, but my gut clenched. Something about it this time felt wrong but I couldn’t place it. It’s not like we haven’t been alone before.

I couldn’t stop my heart from racing as he started walking away.

“John!” I pleaded, my voice sounding more desperate than I wanted to admit.

John turned, walking back over to me, hovering with eyes just as pleading as mine. They were beautiful blue eyes that contrasted his dark brown hair. He hadn’t changed that much over the last decade we spent together. But there was comfort…care.

“I will return to you. This I swear,” he promised. He moved a strand of hair away from my face, leaned down, kissing me gently, giving me some form of comfort in my panic. When he parted I felt the chill of his absence already. It made my body scream in alert but I had to be brave.

He turned a heel and started walking away from the house and into the deepened woods.

“What should I tell the children?” I asked my voice struggling.

“That I always come home.”

And just like that, I watched him walk and disappear into the pines. And that’s when everything changed.

When the strange man came…the one that sent chills down my spine.

***

It had been a few days since John had left. It felt like an eternity being in isolation. I kept myself busy around the house. I used what I could of our resources in our pantry. I was rummaging every idea of how to get out. Maybe we should move. Or at least the older children could perhaps have better opportunities into town. My mind was scrabbling to protect my family.

My eyes glanced as I watched the children were playing amongst themselves, feeling the beginning of the season change from spring to summer. Perhaps the change would be good for us. Any change. As the mindless sound of the broom filled my mind, my mind suddenly alerted to the sound of footsteps into the still dry earth.

Maybe that was John?

I turned, only to find a stranger approaching the house, slowing his pace as he approached the porch, his voice rested under our roof. I continued about my business as my eyes darting towards my children. Something in my soul was screaming to protect them.

“Fine children you have,” he greeted, his voice smooth as he grinned, glancing over to them playing not far from our wooded border. Something about the man’s demeanor set off alarm bells without me even looking at him. “Would be a shame if something were to happen to them.”

The hair on my neck stood, I didn’t look at the man as I opened the door, staring down my children. My older ones were inside as the younger ones were making castles in the dirt and sword fighting with sticks.

“Children!” I called out trying my best to hide any panic in my voice, their eyes shot up up at me and stopped anything they were doing in mid-play. “Get inside!”

They dropped everything. I could tell by their eyes that they were not favoring this strange man that came to our doorstep.

Their footsteps rushed into the house as I whispered to the oldest one. “Lock the door.”

She nodded, glancing at the man.

He smiled a toothy grin at her. I shivered as I finally turned to face him.

The stranger was a unusually tall lanky man, wearing a rather well fitted suit and a hat. His shoes muddied from the trek to our house. His eyes a bright amber, an unusual shade. Perhaps he was from the town, but something about his features gave me the chills. And John wasn’t here to protect us.

I straightened as I held onto the broom, my knuckles whitening as the man stepped welcomed himself onto the porch. He closed the distance between us, a smile creeping onto his lips.

“I’m sorry did I-?” he started. My mind was fuming as I aimed the hard tip of the broom at him. He put up his hands, but seemed rather amused.

“A stranger comes to my house and looks at my children, how should I not feel threatened?” I asked, my tone calm but harsh.

He grinned, he eyed me with his amber eyes. Something wasn’t right and something screamed deep within my soul.

“Olivia, isn’t it?” he asked. I swallowed.

“I’m sorry have we met?” I spat back. I gave him a once over. I would’ve remembered someone like him.

“I have a proposition for you,” he stated smoothly.

I rolled my eyes, I was trying to find anything to get this man off my porch as I swept harshly along the wooden floor.

“Rumor has it that your land is cursed,” he commented. I scoffed in amusement. “Maybe…I can help with that.”

The man was idiotic. Thinking he could waltz onto my property and prey on a family who was nearly starving.

I used all my energy to slam my broom on the porch, my anger flaring.

“Get off my property. I won’t ask you again,” I threatened. But he just smirked, seemingly unmoved by my anger. Unfortunate for me.

“Does he know?” he asked. I furrowed my brows in confusion.

“Who know?”

“Your husband…does he know you’re carrying his next child,” the man replied.

I swallowed. My body shivered from the accusation and I felt my mind go numb. No way this man would know something so intimate. I refrained from touching my body. I noticed a few weeks ago…and my anxious behavior of John leaving was heightened from it.

But how would this man know. My own husband didn’t know yet.

“I must’ve guessed right then?” he questioned. He seemed amused as I felt my face grow more and more heated.

“You’re crossing a dangerous line,” I whispered back to him, my voice refusing to sound as threatening as I would’ve liked. My mind was swirling trying to figure out who this man is. Where in the world did he come from?

“I’ll make you a deal,” he insisted. “I give you help on your “cursed” land, and you give me something in return.”

“How stupid do you think I am? What could you possibly help with?”

He laughed and my body chilled to the core. But then…I heard footsteps approaching the house.

“I could give you everything,” he grinned, approaching me and hovering over. “You name it…and it’s yours.”

“Olivia! Dinner!” John’s voice came from behind the man. John…thank God. The man turned, grinning in greeting as we both walked off the porch.

“Heat up the-”

And he stopped, noticing the man as he was walking towards him.

“Ah…the man himself arrives,” the stranger grinned at me. I swallowed as John approached us with the dead deer.

“May I help you?” John asked, his voice was uncertain. I watched as his eyes examine our guest.

“Oh me? I was just leaving. Your lovely wife was just giving me directions back to town,” the stranger answered, winking at me. I swallowed, my eyes widened in panic. He lied so smoothly and John didn’t even seem to flinch.

“John we need to talk…” I insisted. John moved away from the stranger as we left within earshot. “I think we should move.”

“What? Why?” John protested as he held the deer over his shoulder.

“Maybe we should consider what’s best for the children,” I replied. He furrowed his brows. “Our harvest it got me thinking…”

“Sweetheart, it was a bad year. I’ll talk to the locals and see if we can get this place in shape.”

“John…we can’t keep living like this. Maybe we should move into town where it’s safer for the children.”

“Olivia…nothing is safer than here. I’ve been to town,” John objected. “Some rather suspicious characters there.”

I felt my fingers fidget as I glanced at the man. He just stood there watching us.

John must’ve noticed my unease, I felt his fingers to my face, leading me back to him.

“What’s wrong? You’re not acting yourself,” he mentioned. I hesitated, biting my lip.

“I’m expecting…” I whispered. He froze, looking down at my stomach and swallowed and then smiled.

“Well that explains a lot,” John smirked, kissing my cheek. “I assure you, you have nothing to fear by staying here. We’ll make the crops work, I’ll work harder I promise. We are in this together.”

I swallowed as he shifted the weight of the deer on him.

“But-”

“I should get working on this,” John mentioned, showing the deer that he was carrying to me and our guest. “Good day to you sir.”

“Wait John!” I called desperately.

The stranger just grinned at me as the door shut behind my husband. My husband has been in denial about this place for so long…and our children were suffering. I almost felt as if the man was painfully optimistic or in total denial. But I needed to protect my children.

I swallowed looking at the stranger who just…smiled at me. I felt my stomach grumble and the children’s eyes were peeking through the windows on the lower level of the house. I couldn’t let them suffer anymore.

“What kind of deal?” I asked, my stomach clenching at the question. The stranger walked up to me, keeping his voice low.

“I’ll come to you when the time comes. Until then, what do you say? Do we have a deal?” he asked, reaching out his hand.

I glanced at the house. I could smell the burning of the wood stove starting and I looked at our poor excuse for farmland that was rotting with death and broken promises. We’d be lucky if we made it to the winter.

“If it helps you save my family…yes,” I whispered. I reached out my hand, gripping onto his. His grip was cold but firm. No calluses, just smooth fair skin from his palm to his fingers. What did he do for a living where his hands were untouched by labor?

“Then I grant you everything,” he leaned in whispering into my ear as he gripped onto my hand.

Then…warmth shot through me. I winced but as I pulled my hand back with such force. He winked at me as he turned a heel and headed away from the property. I looked at my hand…it was glowing through my veins and immediately disappeared.

What did I just agree to?

I went to the earth of placing my hand down into the dirt. The rotted vegetables disappeared, turning to ash. I gasped and stared in awe as new growth formed with life beautiful life. I watched as the sprouts formed all along the garden. I fell back, tears in my eyes. Impossible.

The man granted me magic.

***

It had been months since the man appeared on our doorstep. And the magic made us flourish. I don’t know how or why but it gave us everything. The crops grew and tasted heavenly unlike anything we had ever planted. The rain came as I sat on the porch dreaming of it during the worst draught of summer. The children…they were happy and healthy. I could heal them with the palm of my hands as they slept in their beds. So little effort and we were living again.

John called it a miracle and we never spoke of moving again. We were proving the locals wrong that this place would no longer be cursed.

And my newborn came with no complications and was a happy cooing child in my arms when he finally came.

How foolish I had been. My guard was down, and we were reaping the treasures that I created. But at what price?

Then that night came, not long after my boy was born. The man…he came back.

I remember that night, the clapping of thunder and heavy rain surrounded us that cold winter night. The rain was pounding along the roof and the children were sleeping soundly. But my baby…my baby was crying. And I was soothing him as best I could.

There was a knocking on our door. My husband got up from bed, groggy miserable.

“Oh God…Who the hell would be up at this hour?” he groaned as I rocked the baby. I could hear the door open down the hall as I leaned against the doorframe of our bedroom.

“Can I help you sir?” he asked. I couldn’t hear the reply, but there was silence for a moment outside of the child crying.

“Olivia…someone’s here…for you,” John called out quietly as I dared to come out of hiding. The baby boy was still swaddled in my arms as John backed away from the door. I glanced noticing the children were peeking from their rooms. Then…I felt my heart stop.

The stranger from months ago, was standing there…grinning at me. My heart was pounding, my skin turning ice cold.

“Congratulations are in order,” he remarked, and looked at my son in my arms.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered, my voice trembling at the sight of him. The baby wailed in my arms as I shushed him. Even my own babe cried louder at his presence. It wasn’t like him to be this upset. He only just started the night before. And it felt like an unbelievable warning.

“I came for my favor,” the stranger replied smoothly. I swallowed. The price.

“Favor what favor?” I asked, my voice becoming desperate. I could hear my children whispering behind me. The man’s face turned from impatient to anger.

“Looks like these months have been horrible to your memory,” he commented, his tone irritable and bored. “I came for my repayment.”

His eyes darted at the baby in my arms. My eyes widened in horror.

The deal. He came to take my baby. For the sacrifice I made to save our family.

I pulled the crying infant closer to me.

“No,” I whispered firmly. Then a horrible hissing came from the man’s mouth his amber eyes turning dark and red as if inhumane. His voice spat out a demonic tone.

“Give him to me!” he growled. I fought back, but my fear was impossible to hide.

“No! Now you get out of my house!” I whispered back.

“FINE! You won’t give him to me, I’LL JUST TAKE HIM FROM YOU!” the strangers voice switched between whatever human voice now fully replaced by this demonic monster.

“NO!” I screeched but the baby left my arms as a red beaming chain surrounded him. The stranger forced the chains back as the infant flew into the air. And my child changed before my very eyes.

That’s when I saw it, the hideous thing I created.

Hooves, batwings, talons for hands, a horse’s head with horns. I had made a deal with something evil. My poor son…

What happened to him? What have I done?!

My mind was racing as the rest of my children screamed behind us at their brother turned into the hideous monster. John grabbed my arm.

“Olivia, get the children!” John demanded as the monster formed in front of us. My husband grabbed the fire poker from the fireplace as a weapon of defense. “Get them and get out.”

There was a howl and a dark growl from the creature as the stranger just stood there, talons of his magic surrounding my child. The children were wailing.

“May your family be cursed, along with your land,” the stranger announced, his voice in a human form for a short time. “Forever be running from the beast, you created.”

John looked at me protectively as the monster before us was getting ready to pounce.

“Just take them and go, now!” John begged, readying himself for the fight. I couldn’t believe it.

“Kill them!” the stranger demanded and our monster lunged at us. The stranger disappeared in a puff of smoke before our eyes. And now I was dealing with this hell.

“Olivia! GET THEM AND GO NOW!” John demanded.

My feet ran to the children down the hall hearing John’s efforts of keeping them back. I could hear him screaming and the clang of the metal on the creatures talons.

I grabbed who I could, the children running out the back door with such speed. I rushed them out.

“Go!” I demanded. They all ran as hard as they could, but we split up in the chaos of the darkness and the rain. One by one, they were separated from me, screaming, crying and all I could hear was the rain and mud under our feet. We escaped further and further into the trees as the darkness enveloped us. After a few minutes…I was alone. All I could hear was crying, monstrous roars or screaming. And I couldn’t save any of them.

One by one…they were picked off by this thing. My husband was dead. My baby turned into an evil beast. What have I done…

This was my punishment.

I felt my feet flying, my tears mixing in the rain and the mud. I couldn’t see anything in the dark. None of my children. How was I to save them?

My breath was catching as I finally found a place to hide behind a caving boulder under the hill. I wept. My children. I couldn’t find any of them.

“You won’t escape,” the demon’s voice appeared above me. I gasped at his presence. His amber eyes were now darkened into a coal black but still shown in the night. It made me shiver.

“It won’t stop until your entire family satisfies its hunger.”

“Get away from me demon!” I whispered harshly, my breath shaking. “Get out of my life…now.”

He clicked his tongue at me. “You should’ve thought about that before making a deal with a stranger wandering this barren forest,” he sang.

The monster’s growling echoed through the woods. Did he get another child? I gasped at the sound. He then grinned at me. His teeth were sharp…feral.

“And one more thing. That magic will keep you alive as long as that thing still roams in this forest,” the demon stated smoothly. “Nothing you do will stop it.”

I cried. I was trapped and there was nowhere to go. He grinned at me.

“Good luck,” he sang his voice turning again. “Mrs. Leeds.”

A black mist surrounded him and he disappeared into the night. The sound of the rain the only thing keeping me company.

“Wait! Wait! Don’t leave me here,” I begged. The monster’s growls took over the pines.

***

That was the last time I saw him. The man who cursed my family. When the rain cleared, I dared to venture to find my surviving children.

There was no sign of the beast in the daylight. Only bodies of those who didn’t make it. My husband was torn apart. My mind…my body went numb at the sight.

Only four children remained…four survived that beast.

I had to keep them away. I found them refuge into the town where they could be hidden away from the beast. They begged me to stay…but I had no choice. I had to keep them safe.

And with me standing alone, I found the courage to go back home.

I lured the beast into the house, and trapped him in our basement. My magic formed a hardened iron chain that wrapped around the door, keeping the beast from clawing his way out. As much as he tried. I used whatever magic to keep that thing away from me.

I’ve been living with this for three centuries, cursed with this thing.

This beast.

I will find a way to kill it, once and for all. For my children, for my husband and I may have found my first subject.

A man named Adam Weiss who stumbled upon my doorstep. The poor fool. He has no idea what he’s getting into…