Chapter 16: One of Us
• As days pass in the strange town of Ardent Hollow, Kat is offered something she’s never truly had before: friendship, freedom, and the chance to experience a normal life. But beneath the town’s cozy rituals and small-town charm, something ancient and deeply unsettling waits under the surface.
While dangerous enemies continue circling the town’s borders, Kat finds herself drawn further into Princess Sophie’s world… one filled with buried hunger, ghoulish tradition, and promises that feel almost impossible to refuse.
As loyalties shift and long-suppressed power begins to awaken, Kat is forced to confront a terrifying question:
What if the monsters are offering her more honesty than the people trying to protect her?
Signed in Blood is a supernatural horror podcast set in early 2000s America, blending religious horror, dark fantasy, occult thriller, witchcraft, demon bargains, possession horror, small-town horror, cult horror, psychological suspense, and gothic Americana. Perfect for fans of serialized audio drama, paranormal fiction, slow-burn supernatural thrillers, folk horror, and emotionally driven dark fantasy.
CW: Psychological Horror, Occult Themes, Manipulation, Religious Horror, Grooming, Emotional Distress
Written, edited, produced, and performed by Evan O’Cuana
Intro: “Suspension” by Anna Dager & Hanna Ekström
Outro: “A Hundred Windows” by Back_Drop
Say Hi at evanocuana@gmail.com
If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, rate, and review — it helps the show reach more listeners.
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1 SPEAKER_00: Hello dear travelers.
Before we begin, I wanted to remind you that since we're at
the end of the month, following today's episode, there will be a
ritual of thanks honoring those who donated to the show's Buy Me
a Coffee link.
If you'd like to take part, feel free to stay after the credits
and share in the magic.
If you'd like to have your own name added to the spell, receive
our blessing, and support our growth, that link will be
waiting in the show notes for you whenever you're ready.
No gift too large, no gift too small.
That said, on with the show.
Signed in blood is a ritual offering to the keeper of
stories per the terms of our pact.
Let all parties be aware, these are tales of horror.
They may not be suitable for all audiences.
Listener discretion is advised.
The frigid air whips her face relentlessly as she's launched
upward and Kat screams.
For a moment she is weightless, her heart dropping into her
stomach as gravity pulls her back down to earth, slamming
into the snowy slope hard enough to make her teeth rattle before
continuing to rocket downhill.
The blades of the sled carve through the powder beneath her
as she laughs uncontrollably.
The ramp, probably crafted by board high schoolers, had come
out of nowhere and caught her by surprise, and she'd flown over
it headfirst.
Behind her, she can hear the cheers from Sophie and the other
girls as she finally slows to a stop at the bottom of the
massive hill.
They'd been at this all morning.
When Kat mentioned off-handedly that she'd never been sledding,
Sophie had practically dragged her out here and wouldn't take
no for an answer.
That was awesome! Sylvie calls from the top of the hill.
With her buzzed head and skater fashion, Sylvie is a
self-described tomboy, rife with the boundless energy of a golden
retriever puppy that's managed to slip the leash.
It's Kat's turn to use the vintage flexible flyer sled,
which means the rest of them are sporting plastic saucers.
Sylvie backs up, takes a running start, and launches herself off
the peak.
Where Kat discovered the ramp by accident, Sylvie seems to have
aimed straight for it, and the triumphant crowing that erupts
from her is cut short only by the impact of her ass making
contact with terra firma.
The oof that she makes is so loud it makes Kat snort with
laughter.
Sylvie's sled comes to a slow, spiraling stop some ten feet
away from where Kat is standing, and she topples off, a rictus of
pained laughter gripping her face.
My tailbone's broken, she gasps.
Has to be broken! I'm dying.
You're fine, Kat says as she joins her, hoisting the flexible
flyer under her arm.
You just ate shit is all.
A pleasant thrill runs up her spine.
She doesn't get to curse in front of her father, so the
words still leave a novel, peppery taste in her mouth.
Next in line is Danielle, who Kat was surprised to recognize
as the third girl from the Ascension, the one who hadn't
been considered at all.
If she held any sort of grudge at being passed over, the
dark-haired girl didn't show it.
She'd been overjoyed when Sophie and Kat had shown up on her
doorstep, though noticeably less enthused when she learned what
they'd be doing that day.
Unlike the first two girls, she avoids the ramp entirely,
coasting to a smooth stop nearby.
Serves you right, she says to Sylvie as she dismounts her
saucer.
That ramp is for snowboarding?
You're obviously trying to kill yourself?
Sylvie sticks out her tongue before grabbing a handful of
snow and chucking it at Danielle.
Kat watches as the fussy girl jumps away with a shriek.
Her new companions seem so different from each other that
she wonders if they're actually friends, or if they both came
simply to spend time with Princess Sophie, who at this
moment is rocketing towards the ramp in a lazy half-Lotus
position, doll clutched firmly in hand.
Without a word, she launches off of the ramp, her sled spinning
180 degrees in the air as she rockets upward.
Just before her sled crashes into the ground, however, it
slows mid-flight and rotates around to face them.
With a self-satisfied little grin, the redhead glides to a
comfortable stop right before them.
Danielle and Sylvie applaud, while Kat just laughs and shakes
her head.
You cheater.
She feels the other two freeze beside her, but Sophie shrugs as
she climbs to her feet.
It's not my fault.
You don't know how to float yet.
If you've got it, flaunt it.
I could teach you, if you ask nicely.
I bet I could figure it out, Kat says, trading the flexible flyer
for Sophie's disc.
You make it look easy enough.
Sophie curtsies, and Kat can practically hear the soft thud
of Danielle and Sylvie's jaws hitting the floor.
Well, I do have centuries of experience.
I could save you the time.
Kat shrugs.
I kinda like figuring it out.
Man, Sylvie says.
I wish I could do magic.
Well, how often do you practice?
Kat asks.
Sylvie looks like her wires just shorted.
Um wait, what?
How often do you practice?
Kat tries again.
Are you serious?
Um, yeah.
Anybody can do it.
It just takes a while.
Both Sylvie and Danielle look to Princess Sophie.
Your Highness, is that true?
Danielle asks, the hope in her eyes impossible to ignore.
Hmm?
Well, of course.
Wait, then why don't you teach us?
Sylvie blurts out, before adding, Highness, well, you've
never asked, Sophie comments casually as she takes the flyer
in hand and begins trudging up the hill.
Kat follows, and after a moment the two dumbfounded girls left
in their wake jog to catch up with them.
Kat's toes are beginning to ache with cold in her borrowed
fur-lined boots as she trudges uphill.
And at the same time she can't remember ever feeling so light.
So Kat, Sylvie says as she sidles up to her, what's the
deal?
Are you going to be coming to school with us after the break?
The question catches her totally off guard.
Oh, I Kat and her father are here on vacation, Sophie says.
We don't know how long they'll be staying.
Yeah, Kat says reluctantly.
We don't normally stay too long in one place.
Oh no, Danielle says, that's really too bad.
She doesn't do a very good job of hiding the relief in her
voice.
From the jealous glances she's been sending their way, it's
clear that if Danielle can't serve as host to Princess
Sophie, then she'll be gunning for a place at her right hand.
It really is, Sylvie says, either oblivious to the
emptiness of Danielle's sentiment or pointedly ignoring
it.
You're pretty cool.
I think you'd fit right in.
I thank you.
Thanks, she stammers, surprised.
She's often daydreamed of someone saying something like
that to her, but never expected to actually hear the words.
The sweet warmth in her chest mixes with a sad heaviness that
roots itself in her stomach, and she doesn't know what to say.
They reach the top of the large hill where Bert has been camped
out in the maroon Ford F-150 supercrew that brought them all
here.
The large man says very little, but his eyes are constantly
shifting and assessing the environment.
Even through the tint of the truck's windows, Kat can feel
their scrutiny.
She wonders how Sophie can stand his presence for long, or why it
would even be necessary given her power here.
But then again, if she's really a prisoner of this town like she
claims, it makes sense that she'd always be under a watchful
eye.
Sophie is staring quietly down the hill as the other girls join
her, a distant smile painted on her lips as she clutches her
doll.
Sylvie is about to say something when Sophie turns to them.
You two should go down first, she says to Danielle and Sylvie.
We'll join you in a moment.
Danielle looks for a moment like someone spit in her Pepsi, but
she doesn't argue.
As she daintily positions herself on her sled, Sylvie
shrugs and launches herself headfirst off the ledge,
dive-bombing the hill with a shriek.
Danielle follows a moment later, sparing one last bitter look
Kat's way before shoving off.
Kat watches them both as they shoot down the hill, then turns
to Sophie.
What's up?
The redhead doesn't answer immediately, her dazzling blue
eyes focused at the bottom of the hill, past where Danielle
and Sylvie are slowly coming to a stop.
On the road that runs parallel to the end of the hill, a beige
Lincoln Continental makes its way to a four-way intersection.
A local police car following close behind.
Do you see that car?
Sophie asks.
Yeah?
Why?
The people in that car are the ones who've been hunting you and
your father all this time.
Kat's stomach drops, and at the same time she feels the magic
within her begin to well up.
The Continental turns right at the intersection and begins to
climb the hill.
Would you like me to kill them?
Sophie asks, as casually as one would offer to split a sandwich.
What?
Do you want me to take care of them for you?
I I can't, of course, Sophie says, her eyes searching Kat's
face.
I offered them my protection as guests.
But you could.
You want me to kill them?
Why would I want that?
Sophie replies.
I want you to feel safe.
And I want you to be able to make choices for yourself.
Those two have been watching us for the last few minutes.
They've passed by multiple times.
Watching you.
So I'm letting you know, and I'm letting you know that you have
options.
Kat glances at the Continental, making its slow climb up the
hill.
It's not so close that she can see the faces of the Jamies
inside, but it's not too far off either.
I don't she starts and then quietly.
How would I even do that?
You can feel the power inside, right?
Just like you did yesterday.
It's the simplest thing in the world to take that, reach out,
and make something happen.
Sophie hasn't broken eye contact with her.
You don't need my permission, she says.
Kat looks at the car again, sees the vague outline of the people
within.
She thinks of the fear she saw in her father's eyes during
Ascension night, and the weariness that makes him feel so
far away, even when he's right next to her.
She can take that away.
She can keep them safe.
She's strong enough.
She reaches out, invisible fingers stretching lighter than
air.
Aunt Shanice had said that adults get bogged down with
shame, sorrow, and hatred, that it twists them up inside.
But she doesn't feel twisted up.
The magic within her is singing, freely moving outward after
being pushed down for so long.
She can feel the continental in her grasp, feel the engine
beneath the hood and the thousands of tiny explosions
happening every minute to power the rest of the car.
It could be so easy, she realizes, to make those small
pops into one big bang.
And afterwards, she could warm herself in the fire.
Warmth.
She remembers the warmth of her mother's arms then, the smell of
lavender shampoo.
She feels herself held the same way that she was that last
night.
And then she opens her eyes.
With a quick, almost imperceptible jerk of her head,
she shifts her focus.
A large clump of snow breaks free from the bow of a tree as
the Continental passes underway, and it slams into the windshield
with a thud that's audible even from where Kat and Sophie are
standing.
The car swerves slightly, the brakes screeching as the driver
frantically corrects their course.
The car continues on its way, and Kat turns back to see Sophie
watching her, amused.
You let them go.
I they don't get off that easy, she says, feeling embarrassed
but not certain as to why.
Hey, what gives?
Sylvie says as she hauls her sled up, Danielle puffing close
behind her.
I thought you guys were coming down.
We've had enough sledding, Sophie says with a smile.
I think it's time to show Kat the Morningstar.
Kat sighs in contentment, placing her empty mug on the
counter while gently swiveling side to side on the soda
fountain stool.
Mr.
Keeley, proprietor of the Morningstar sundry, leans across
the counter and takes the mug with a grin.
Another young lady?
Please, she says.
And can I get more of those little marshmallows?
They're so good.
He chuckles.
Well, of course you can.
Can't have cocoa without the marshmallows.
It's un-American.
She watches the portly man as he bustles behind the counter.
Despite his size and the whitening of his once sandy
blonde hair, Mr.
Keeley is spry and nimble, his hands flying out almost of their
own accord as they grab the ingredients for her drink while
preparing an ice cream soda for another customer.
Seated next to her, Princess Sophie takes a sip from her own
mug, the doll resting in her lap.
Those blue eyes travel from Kat to Mr.
Keeley and back again.
He looks like a spider, don't you think?
What?
A big bulbous spider in the center of his web.
She muses.
You're being weird.
Sophie giggles.
I suppose I am.
You really don't see it?
She looks at the man again and shakes her head before glancing
around the shop.
Assorted knick-knacks litter the walls.
Black and white photographs of happy children border a large,
hand-drawn map of Ardent Hollow as it was decades ago.
The sweet, sticky scent of pipe tobacco permeates everything,
though it's been years since a pipe was lit in the shop.
A few booths hug the walls, one of which is occupied by a gaggle
of high school kids laughing noisily.
In the corner, a pair of boys peruse a rotating rack of comic
books, scrutinizing the latest issues of Avengers and Sonic the
Hedgehog.
A girl, just a few years younger than Kat, stands in front of a
nearby candy display, deciding between the caramel turtles or
the peanut butter fudge.
Mr.
Keeley checks in with her as he places a newly filled steaming
mug in front of Kat.
He just looks like a nice old man, she whispers to Sophie.
The princess merely shrugs as if to say, give it time, but
doesn't comment.
Instead, she swivels in her stool to face Kat.
So what do you think of Sylvie and Danielle?
The girls in question had left just a few minutes ago, driven
back to their respective homes by Bert as the December sun was
beginning to set early.
Kat smiles.
I like them.
Sylvie's really cool, and Danielle she um she's got a
really nice sense of style.
Sophie laughs.
You can just say she's a petty little bitch.
It's not a secret.
Kat sighs in relief.
Okay, thank you.
I don't get what her problem is.
I don't think she does either.
But it's fun to watch her as she figures it out.
That's so mean.
Kat tries not to laugh, taking another sip of the cocoa.
Sophie shrugs again.
Maybe.
But most friend groups are like that.
There's always one person who doesn't quite fit that gets
teased.
That person's actually the most important, because they hold the
entire group together.
Without the Danielles of the world, we'd all be at each
other's throats.
But what if I'm a Danielle and I don't know it?
Kat says.
Seems cruel.
Sophie laughs.
I forget you haven't been to school yet.
Don't worry, Kat.
You'll realize pretty quickly that that's not something you'll
have to worry about.
You talk about it like you know I'm gonna say yes, Kat says
quietly.
I had fun today.
And I'm happy I got to do all this.
But I know what you're doing.
Sophie sighs.
And what am I doing?
You're trying to convince me to join with you.
You think that if you show me what it's like to have friends,
I'll do whatever you want.
Sophie doesn't say anything for a moment.
It's true, I brought you to the Morning Star for a reason, she
says.
There's something I think you should see.
But everything else today?
She pauses.
I've been a prisoner for a long time, cat.
Stay stuck in a situation long enough, and all you can dream
about is the things on the other side of the bars.
Even if you can't see the bars anymore.
You're a prisoner too.
You want things that most girls your age take for granted.
I have the power to give you some of those things, and I did
it because I wanted to.
Simple as that.
Why did you bring me here?
You'll see in a moment.
But for right now, I just want to ask would it really be so bad
for us to join?
For you to go to school, have friends, have a home?
Home where the Order of King James can't touch you?
I want all of those things, Kat says, an edge creeping into her
voice.
You know I do.
But I know you don't.
You told me all you want is to get out of here.
What stops you if I let you into my body?
Sophie nods.
It's true that I want to leave.
I won't deny it.
But I've been trapped here for two hundred years.
What's six or seven more?
There's so many beautiful things about this town that I haven't
shown you yet.
I don't mind waiting as you discover them for yourself.
You could build a real life here, Kat.
And when you're old enough, we could leave this place and see
what the rest of the world has to offer.
The two of us together, with our powers merged, you'd have
nothing to fear from demons or mortals ever again.
What about my dad?
He's welcome to stay here and rest too.
Build a life that doesn't involve running or selling his
soul pieces at a time.
We could give him that.
He could be happy here.
Can you remember the last time you saw your father happy?
Kat's gut feels like it's been turned to stone.
She takes another sip of cocoa to try and soothe the lump in
her throat.
As she does so, Mr.
Keeley approaches them while holding a Polaroid camera.
I'm sorry to interrupt, Your Highness, he says to Princess
Sophie.
But would it be okay if Ah, excellent timing, Michael,
Sophie says, seeming genuinely pleased.
It's fine with me, but you'll have to ask Miss Argyle.
Oh, of course, he says, turning to Kat.
I hope you don't mind, Miss, but there's a little tradition here
at the shop.
Could I get a picture with you?
Kat cocks her head in confusion.
Um sure?
I don't Oh, fantastic.
He interrupts her as he comes around from behind the counter
to stand next to her.
Jim, get up here.
A sullen teenager in an apron comes out from the back room and
walks up to them, arms crossed.
Jim, be a good man and take our picture, Mr.
Keeley says, handing him the camera.
The boy takes it and waits for Mr.
Keeley to lean down, placing his hand on Kat's shoulder as a
cheesy grin plasters his face.
Without bothering to give a count, Jim takes the photo and
hands the camera back to his boss before retreating to the
back room again.
unknown: Mr.
SPEAKER_00: Keeley takes the freshly printed photograph and
starts shaking it gently as it develops.
Thanks so much, girls, he says happily.
I'm sure this one will get added to the wall in no time.
Speaking of which, Sophie says, show Miss Argyll the wall, would
you?
Absolutely.
Right this way, young lady.
Kat looks to Sophie, who raises her eyebrows gently in the
direction Mr.
Keeley is heading.
Kat hesitates for a moment before following him to the back
of the shop, where a large poster board is mounted on the
wall.
Dozens upon dozens of Polaroids are pinned there.
Now, every young lady who enters this shop is a special guest, of
course.
Mr.
Keeley buzzes.
But our most distinguished guests of honor earn a place
here on the wall.
Take a look.
Mr.
Keeley, can I get a refill?
One of the high schoolers calls from the booth nearby.
Right away! Excuse me, miss.
As he bustles back to the counter, Kat stares at the
collection of photographs.
In the top left corner, he sees a young man with Mr.
Keeley's cheesy grin next to a young girl who smiles sheepishly
at the camera from her seat at the counter.
It's almost identical to the picture that follows it, except
the girl is different.
Her eyes follow the progression of photographs, watching as the
years pass by.
The man grows older, pudgier, more wrinkled, but the girls
stay young, vibrant, smiling.
Toward the bottom of the poster board, she sees the dark-haired
girl who had been Sophie's host when she and Jason had first
come to town, followed by a picture of Mr.
Keeley next to Katie, the redheaded girl who had just
ascended.
Katie has braces in the photo.
She must have just gotten them removed recently.
It's his own little tradition, Sophie says as she joins her at
the wall.
He takes a picture with every girl who comes in here.
The ones who ascend get put up on the wall.
I don't know if he throws the others away or keeps them for
something else.
Either way, this is his own little claim to fame.
Kat looks back at the man behind the counter.
The young girl from before has made her selection, and he's
busy stuffing a handful of caramel turtles into a small box
lined with parchment paper.
Kat sees it now, as clearly as Sophie described earlier.
A fat, bulbous spider with a distended yellow abdomen spins a
sticky, sweet web for a waiting butterfly.
She feels ready to vomit.
This is what I wanted to show you, Sophie says, placing a
gentle hand on Kat's back before turning her to face the wall.
The girls here are only from the last few decades.
There are so many more.
I wanted you to see their faces so you know what this means.
We could stop this.
You and me together, as one person, as a team, we could
break the cycle.
And when we're ready to leave this place, we could make sure
these people pay for what happened to these girls.
Kat takes a deep breath, once again tracing the progression of
years and stolen youth.
Her eyes sting as she watches, and from deep within her a
powerful anger blazes.
She turns to face Sophie, whose borrowed blue eyes have been
studying her.
I'm in.
Or will Kat slip forever beyond his reach?
Return in two weeks, dear travelers, to see if all roads
end in Ardent Hollow.
This episode was written, performed, produced, and mixed
by Evan O'Kuana.
Our intro music is by Anna Dagger and Hannah Ekstrom.
Outro music is by Backdrop.
You can find more at Signedandbloodcast.com.
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Until next time, keep your sled beneath you, your emotions
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If you're still here, fellow travelers, thank you.
This ritual is for those who help keep this show alive.
This show is a ritual offering, joyfully created and freely
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I know that there are plenty of things vying for your attention
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Andy, Mikein Bergland, Alicia Nevada, and James McClaskey.
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But I will say this: May the bonds of family and fellowship
hold fast and shelter you even in the darkest of times and the
most dire of storms.
May the treasure that has been prepared for you find you
easily, and may the seeds of your imagination bear the most
wonderful fruit.
May you always be held in love, never in possession, and may
that love enrich you for the rest of your days.
And so it is, and so it shall be, and so it is, and so it
shall be, and so it is, and so it shall be.
Thank you for listening, dear travelers.
May the road ahead deliver you safely until we meet again.