Submitted to: Contest #297

The witching hour

Written in response to: "Write a story with a number or time in the title."

Fantasy Horror Science Fiction

THE WITCHING HOUR


My name is Phillip Richter. I am that Investigator everyone hates. All in your busines type of guy. Not my problem. What is my problem is chasing the truth. No matter how Mundane, the Truth.


Let’s Talk about this society of witches and warlocks that rule the earth now. Me and Frederick are the resistance against these evil life draining creatures. How did they come to power you ask? It all started summer of 1982 with “project EGGO”. Yes you heard me correct. These sleazy old hags can only keep their Beauty on the souls of children.


So what is “project EGGO?” I will tell you the beginning then.


It was a Monday and my buddy Stephen just got new toy from HE-MAN. We watched the commercials everyday at 3:30 after school. All the new toys out but the cool commercials were the candy and snacks!


“ Hey billy leggo my eggo!” Eggo waffles at your local grocery store.


That’s what the ad said. When we saw this we immediately went to our Mom and Dads screaming.


“Can we get the Leggos!”


We were hooked those things were delicious! Little did we know they were a portal or the witches. Let's continue….


The new He-Man character Stephen got. The Dark dimension one. Skeletor had trapped He-Man in the dark dimension so the dark version was released, Rare toy and Stephen had it! The witches had to get the children to choose. Free will is a bitch, greed and lust are bigger bitches.


I'm telling this story to you as a “John Connor” resistance style story. If your reading this we are the last hope for the world and the worlds children. You, me, anyone reading or maybe if this is on audiobook hearing this, have to stand and fight these vile creatures.


Back to it, Stephen had gotten the evil He-Man. You are asking yourself what does He-Man, Eggos, Cartoons, and a resistance got to do with anything. Fucking look around in 1982 the world was a different time! No witches, No evil, only innocence and Nintendo! Now the world is just a slavery scene. We gotta stand up without us they will die and fade away. There was a time the witches hid in the dark corners. We have to send them back. Stop them from using us to breed their souls and feeding on our children. I will continue you’ll see we can win this war.


Stephen was a chubby kid they love that plenty of meat on the bones to put into their brew. Stephen was my best friend and he never deserved what they did to him. We must ignite the flame of freedom. O’lady liberty, like the 13 colonies, we gotta do it again! Instead of the king of England our time brings us to the warlocks and witches.


So Stephen ran to my house to show me, problem is he never made it. Weeks passed no Stephen. He became like so many from 1982, back of a milk carton. I knew he had to be alive but I was wrong he was a witches brew. Well I began to investigate his disappearance and the more I obsessed the less I watched and was subliminally taken over. I moved away from the lust for toys and quit watching the commercials. My eyes began to see their true nature.


I began to see a pattern. The kids that got the dark toys were weak to the evil becoming susceptible to being a milk carton child. I decided to confide in professor Billings, big mistake.


I thought professor Billings was a cool teacher I was mistaken. He was young and cool. Now I know why, witches brew. I felt I could trust him. What I didn’t realize was the witches and warlocks were everywhere. They were as old as time itself.


They have been feeding and growing under the skin of the world. Like a poison ivy rash. You don’t realize you have it till its too late and your body is covered in its terrible itch that cannot be stopped till its overtaken the entire body.


Professor Billings was the attractive ivy leaf. Like so many of them building the spread till the world was covered. They basically began their control in 1982. They were spreading their message and numbers till now. Now we are slaves to their rule. To produce more children for their brew. To be fed on by these evil creatures.


Well for me Stephen was my first tip to there sinister takeover. If they would have listened to me back in 1982 we could have stopped them. Who believes a kid saying witches are taking over the world? Now they know.


“STOP THE PRESS!” Where is this going?? Are you not listening again?? The witches and warlocks rule the world. We gotta stop their rule! They force humans to breed their fuel (children) build their technologies, and whatever other needs they have.


It's like a butcher serving up steaks. “Honey can you get me a 12 year old for dinner tonight?” Said the warlock.


Now how did this Happen? Thats where I’m going with this story. TIK TOK the clock is ticking. On with it.


As I looked in Stephens room I saw something the police missed. There was nail marks inside the tv monitor. I decided to tell professor Billings. He was done with class at 3:30 so I ditched in to tell him about what I discovered.


“Proffesor remember Stephen?” I said.


“ Yes Phillip what a tragedy.” He responded.


“ He was not abducted like everyone else thinks.” I said.


“ What do you mean Phillip?” He said in a weird tone.


“ I found something weird in his TV.” I said.


“ I’m listening.” He replied


Ok somethings up I thought. I just said some weird shit, thats his reply? He was in on it. I decided to lie.


“ Yea it had a princess sticker on it.” I lied.


“ Phillip you shouldn’t joke on this.” He said


“ I know, I am sorry.” I said.


Whew, dodged a bullet and I ran off. He knew, I had to act fast. I waited for him to leave and followed him. He left class and headed to the TV station headquarters. This is odd I thought then. Now I know why. Its where they pumped their subliminal signal from.


This is where my life changed to the present man. The leader of the witches resistance. Then my parents showed up? They were part of it too? I couldn’t go back home again. Where and what was the TV signal going? What was I too do. I went to the police station they laughed.


I followed them they went to the Eggo Factory. What did the eggos have to do with this? I would soon discover their entire operation.


“ The kid knows.” I could hear the professor say.


“ Kill him. No better yet get him and we will put him in her Brew.” Another man said.


“ OK.” Said the professor.



(He drove to my house next, fuck.)



“ You’re sons catching on handle him. Bring him for her brew.” Said the professor.


Ok, where or what had they done to Stephen? Who were these people? The TV station, Portal in TV, feed me to her? Something big was happening. I was going to get to the truth. I snuck into my room when they all left and grabbed cloths and my father's stash cash. I could never return. Hopefully Frederick was still himself.


“ Frederick!” I yelled into his window.


“ Phillip, What the hell?” He said


“ Hey get dressed gotta show you something.” I said


“ Whatever Phillip I am going back to studying. I got tests all week!” He said.


“ Get up and come on! Its important!” I yelled.


“ OK,OK.” He said


Lets fast forward to 1993. Me and Frederick were the resistance forming now. Once I showed him everything he joined me. We figured it all out about their operations. Too late though. In the 80s it was toys and food to suck in the children, 90s MTV and 90210, 2000s internet and porn hub. Always drawing the darker ones for the brew. Now it was all dark too easy for the witches.


They used to use spells and incantations. Now they fed off the greed and lust. All the kids fell right into their sinister plans. They controlled everything now governments, the population, the media. Humans never knew the ivy leaf had won.


I am the resistance our numbers are growing. Time to wake the world up and drive a dagger into her heart. Hope this finds you and you join the resistance. Tik Tok we are running out of time. Phillip Richter out!


Posted Apr 11, 2025
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39 likes 21 comments

Mary Bendickson
00:45 Apr 15, 2025

You're my He-man, Man.

Thanks for liking 1918.

Reply

Donald Haddix
01:17 Apr 15, 2025

Awww thank you. Always enjoy reading your stories.

Reply

16:17 Apr 16, 2025

This would make a pretty good script for a horror short film.
You might want to specify what this story is supposed to be. Is it the transcript of a YouTube video? An interview? a blog post? Cementing what your story is supposed to be makes it easier to follow. I suggest reading Slimebeast´s ¨A Few Suggestions¨ to get a general idea of what I´m talking about. There, you understand how we piece together the story. I also think you might need to get a good spell checker, cause there are some writing errors.
Overall, I see some potential in your story and your writing skills, you just need to fine tune some of your skills.

Reply

Linda Kenah
23:49 Apr 15, 2025

Very original…those nasty witches. I’ll never look at Eggo’s the same again! Fun read!

Reply

Donald Haddix
02:30 Apr 16, 2025

Yea people compare me to second grade writer so great compliment!!! Thanks Linda!!!!

Reply

13:54 Apr 14, 2025

Another great story from you. Love the narrative - edgy, slightly unhinged, twisting and turning - great stuff. Never had eggo in the UK but He-man, yes! How times change but the disturbing undertone of life continues. Great read!

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Donald Haddix
18:42 Apr 14, 2025

My dear Penelope! Pleasure as always. Slightly unhinged! That’s me🤪. I will pull you by your hair through a story. I put my foot on the gas peddle never letting up! Thanks Penelope

Reply

18:54 Apr 14, 2025

I'm glad you write that way! Look forward to your next one! 😃

Reply

Alice Allen
13:09 Apr 13, 2025

I can read so much symbolism between our current world situation and your fantasy. Good vs evil is always a great premise. Well done.

Reply

Donald Haddix
18:44 Apr 14, 2025

Thank you Alice. I aim to please!

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Marty B
21:57 Apr 12, 2025

Doh- I think the witches are winning! ;)
'always drawing the darker ones for the brew. Now it was all dark too easy for the witches.'
thanks!

Reply

Donald Haddix
23:46 Apr 12, 2025

I know. The terminators were Winning till Jon Connor.

Reply

Dennis C
18:16 Apr 12, 2025

Your story’s rebellious vibe and creepy Eggo waffle twist really stood out. Keep building this wild world!

Reply

Donald Haddix
01:18 Apr 15, 2025

Thanks Dennis!

Reply

Geertje H
16:48 Apr 12, 2025

Ah, my pretty. Your big mistake was to publish this before all the witches were defeated. (cackle, cackle)

Wonderful frantic pace. :-)

Reply

Donald Haddix
18:01 Apr 12, 2025

This is a beginning of a resistance😝

Reply

Geertje H
18:08 Apr 12, 2025

LOL. Well, good luck with that. :-)

Reply

Jim Parker
21:16 Apr 11, 2025

I'm in. The Witches are toast. Loved it!
Jim

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Donald Haddix
22:26 Apr 11, 2025

Yep Jon Connor is on it

Reply

Darvico Ulmeli
13:54 Apr 11, 2025

Never borning with your stories.
Can't go wrong writing about witches.
Way to go bro.

Reply

Donald Haddix
16:45 Apr 11, 2025

Haha my man! Congratulations to the wife!

Reply

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