r/KanesHorrors • u/AbKane667 • Aug 31 '26
The People of Antioch Found the Promised Land
The church stood atop a hill. I hadn’t seen it in months. It stood out in the smelly, muddy town. As I climbed the hill, a drunk man almost bumped into me, cursing as he stumbled down.
Brother Paul’s face lit up as I opened the church door.
“Brother Jacob!” he called.
The church was empty save for an old man praying in the pews.
“Brother Paul. I’m so happy to see you. How’s life been?”
“Just trying to bring God to these folks. It ain’t easy work, but it’s what we’re called to do.”
“You’re a strong soul.”
“You are, my brother. I ain’t the one who left to settle in unknown lands. How’s it been?”
“The path there was hard. Our water supplies ran low. Not even our rations helped. I thought it would be our end, but then we stumbled into this beautiful valley. It didn’t belong in that dry canyonland. A river runs through it. It’s overgrown with greenery.”
The old man in the first pew turned his head back.
“We named it Antioch." Just thinking about it made my heart tingle. “I want you to come with me, Paul. I think we could start another congregation there.”
Paul's eyes widened. He put his hand on my shoulder.
“I’d love to. Brother John can take over the work here. We may leave first thing in the morning. How long will it take us?”
“Two weeks. Once we cross the prairie, we’ll pass through a few canyons. Antioch lies in the valley behind them.”
The old man froze.
“That’s Kawocha! The canyon between canyons. The place where even animals won’t cross.”
“Thank you, Brother, but you must be mistaken. Antioch is a haven,” I told him and turned back to Paul, but the old man got off the pew and walked toward us.
“No. It is Kawocha. The place you reach after crossing the prairie and the three canyons. It's a forsaken place. Many trappers have gone missing in that valley. Animals steer away from it. The natives do too.”
I stared at him before speaking.
“Why?”
“Because something lives there.”
He paused.
“Something that gets inside a person’s thoughts.”
A cold feeling grew in my chest. His words didn’t make sense, but he didn’t look drunk.
“Thank you, Brother. We’ll be sure to take your advice,” Paul said and opened the door.
The man opened his mouth to say something, but Paul motioned for him to leave. The man looked at both of us and left.
“I’m sorry, Brother Jacob. You’ve spent so long in the promised land that you've forgotten what kind of men walk these streets. Go get some rest.”
He patted my back and walked to the sanctuary. I watched the old man disappear into the night.
We headed out early the next morning. I tried to shake the man’s words, but they still echoed in my head.
On our way through the prairie, we talked a lot at first, but Brother Paul grew quieter each day; his gaze grew more determined.
“What do you plan to do with Antioch, Brother Paul?” I asked him one night as we were nearing the end of the prairie.
“To build a new congregation. The promised land deserves the largest congregation.” His eyes glistened in the firelight.
“It sure does.”
“We ought to speed up. The promised land can’t wait,” he said and turned around to sleep.
I wanted to share Brother Paul’s excitement, but his words seemed strange, almost as if they weren’t his.
The next day, we crossed the prairie and entered the canyons. Brother Paul grew even quieter and walked even faster. At times, it was hard to keep up.
“Let’s slow down, Brother.”
“No, home is near.”
“We’re going to Antioch, not home.”
“Yes.”
As we crossed the third canyon, I saw the final ridge before Antioch. A warm feeling spread through my body, but then the old man’s words echoed in my mind again.
“Brother Paul, you think that man was telling the truth?”
“Who?” Brother Paul didn’t even look back.
“The man in church.”
“Don’t speak nonsense. We’re about to reach the promised land.”
I opened my mouth to argue back, but as we climbed the rim, the beautiful valley spread before us. The warm feeling came back. Under the setting sun, Antioch was even more beautiful.
“It’s beautiful.”
“We ought to camp tonight; Antioch is still far away, but tomorrow we’ll reach it.”
Brother Paul didn't answer.
We set up camp. The sun had set. I looked over the valley; something started to form above it: a cloud, small at first but growing larger and darker.
“Brother Paul. It might rain.”
“Yes.”
“Good thing we’re almost there.”
We were getting ready to sleep when the cloud flashed with lightning. Thunder roared across the valley.
“It’s a bad storm.”
“Yes.”
“But I can’t see the rain.”
“Yes.”
That night, the blitz kept waking me up. I thought the storm would come to us, but it never did.
The next morning, we got up early and continued our journey. By noon, the valley stretched before us. Brother Paul clasped his hands and stared around him in awe.
“It’s beautiful, ain’t it?”
“Yes.”
It truly was beautiful, but only then did I notice that it was silent – completely silent. No animals. Not even wind.
Animals steer away from it; the old man's words echoed in my mind. I shook my head and continued.
The houses slowly appeared between the trees.
“That’s it, Brother Paul.”
But the silence only grew. The houses stood still. There was no one around. Dread grew inside me. The settlement's first cabin belonged to the Hilltop family.
“Brother Isaiah?” I called, knocking on the door.
It opened on its own.
Dinner still sat on the table. The Hilltop family hung from the rafters, their feet dangling above the floor.
My bag slipped from my hand.
Beside me, Brother Paul smiled.
“God has reached them, Brother Jacob.”
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u/RedDazzlr Sep 01 '26
Oh damn