Face of Many Beasts By ThornCreek Films

Atlanta Fringe Audio

"Face of Many Beasts" is an episode of the anthology audio horror series "Thorn Creek." It tells the story of Elizabeth, a young girl living in a puritanical village. At the age of 10, she witnesses a goat give birth to an offspring with three heads. Fearing it is an omen, her mother and father discard the creature in a river and swear her to secrecy. Years later, now 18, Elizabeth is betrothed to Jeremiah, a 40-year old polygamist landowner as part of a deal struck with her mother and father. She confides in her best friend, Sarah, that she would much rather flee the village than go through with the next day's wedding. Sarah jokingly suggests that she fake demonic possession in order to get out of it. Elizabeth wanders into the woods where she comes upon a now fully grown three-headed goat. She gets lost following the creature until Sarah finds her and takes her back home. The next day, the village gathers in the church for the wedding. Sarah accuses Elizabeth of being a witch, having seen her summon a three-headed creature in the woods. When Elizabeth claims it was just a goat born in the family barn years ago, her parents deny the story. Suddenly, Jeremiah collapses. The priest and various townspeople are absorbed into him through touch and the growing chunk of flesh and bone morphs into a hideous beast. Elizabeth runs home and hides in the barn, where the morphed beast finds her. She shoots the monster with her father's rifle. Elizabeth flees into the woods, and once again, finds the three-headed goat, whom she realizes is just a peaceful creature. She decides to follow the river, leaving the village behind into an uncertain future.

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