CHOKED BY "SEJTAN" 👿😈🎃 - SPOOKY BEAVER COUNTY 🦇👻🧟

(This tale is told in various versions among the old women of Beaver County of Eastern European descent. This particular version is how I remember my Grandmother telling this chilling story!)

Deep in the countryside of Croatia, hidden by a pall of thick and black woods, was a tiny village of superstitious Christians who lived in fear of ‘Sejtan.’ This was the name he was known by; we call him The Devil. Over the years, surprisingly, I got numerous versions of this story told to me. Apparently, this was quite a local and popular tale among the villagers who were born in Serbia/Croatia, and when they came to the United States and settled here in Beaver County, this tale went with them. For the sake of this post, I will relate what I feel is the scariest flavor of this creepy legend; however, most of the old ladies who terrified me with this story swore to Jesus Christ that the events of what had happened were as true as God himself. To the best of my recollection, this is how this eerie tale was told.

In a small Croatian village, there was a bad little girl who was always teasing other girls about how they looked and dressed; she never did nice things for anyone. She would treat the boys of the village with the same degradation; even the adults she did not respect. One day, while mocking an old woman because of the way she walked, a ghastly turn of events unfolded. The old woman stopped her walking, pointed her knotted cane at the little girl, and recited something dreadful. Something of the villagers who were standing nearby heard her secret words that was dressed in a secret language. When she finished what she was reciting, the nearby folks froze like statues, right in the place they were standing, from fear. Their eyes grew black and they all began to cross themselves in a furry. They begged the little girl to take back what she had said to the old woman, lest something terrible and deathly should befall her. The little girl laughed at their warnings and did not take heed. Instead, she began to mock the people who warned her and boasted that she did not believe in God or their silly superstitions. After some badgering and a few laughs at the people, she went home. Although unbeknown to her, her trouble was just beginning.

In order to get home quickly because the setting sun was darkening the countryside, she had to cut through a tiny old graveyard where the elders of the village rested in the ground. She did not care for graveyards, even though she had teased others in the past about it; but now, she was alone and a little afraid; her only comfort was knowing there was no one else around to see her in this state. She walked slowly and carefully, scanning each tombstone and reading a name as if she had known who they were. A mural of bluish gray clouds gathered directly over her head; a roaring lightning bolt violated the outer pink summer sky that she could only squint at in the darkened distance. Her heart was racing as the ground was pulsating under her feet. It was a strange feeling, like any moment, it would give way and she would sink in the slimy earth. Her throat was as dry as cotton and she felt the loathing presence of someone or something else there with her, although she could not see who or what might be gazing at her. The tearing sound of the thunder grew fiercer and the wind began to bite at her face; the transfiguration was horrifying. Swirls of purple and green light painted the landscape of the graveyard into congested shades of phantasmic apparitions that could only be seen from the corner of her eyes. She still was unable to see exactly what was taunting her. Then she started to hear the sounds of wailing and name calling. The sound grew with the lightning and thunder as she desperately attempted to think of what to do next! She couldn’t think. All she felt was fear. Then, as if by something supernatural itself, a hot wind hit her back with such violence, she was almost knocked down. When she regained her composure, she was compelled to adjust her eyes to see what was standing a few yards in front of her, underneath a dying oak tree. It was a strange and grotesque looking man.

The figure was cloaked in black and painted with ghost white skin and his eyes were as red as cherries. It wore a strange hat on the top of its had; it was thin and a bit torn on the sides. The center of the hat was cone shaped and a glow of blood red light emanated from its top. It stood in cold silence and stared right into her soul. It still spoke not a word and continued the freezing stare. The little girl was in utter disbelief. She did not dare take one step toward the creature. Realizing her duel with her own fear, this grotesque thing commenced its approach towards her. She attempted to run, but her feet would not permit her to move. As the apparition stood within a foot from her, a bloody smile dripped from the lips and it extended claw-like hands towards her neck. All she could do was now watch and welcome what fate might have upon her. The ‘devil’ put his claw-like hands around her neck and began to choke the life out of her body. With each squeeze, her face was turning a dark red then flashy white; just as she was nearing death, he let go. She fell to the ground freely. The creature roared a few words at her, laughed in a volcanic tone that shook the icy white tombstones behind him, and with a flash of angry lightning, it vanished.

It was said the little girl had laid there for a few days until she was found. But a horrifying change of appearance was on her. When they took her back to the village to be examined, they noticed that she had embroidered handprints all over the front and sides of her neck. Did as they tried, with soap and oil and other remedies, they were unable to remove the marks on her neck. She would have them forever. However, the most frightening aspect of the ordeal is that the little girl was never able to speak again. She related her account by writing it on paper and claimed it was the Devil who did this to her. For the rest of her days, the little girl always wore a scarf around her neck when she was out in public and only nodded when you passed her buy. She became friendly and warm, but no one ever really got close to her. It was said among the villagers that the Devil had made her his disciple and he was preparing her to be a witch.

As time went on, they saw less and less of the little girl or her parents. It is claimed that the little girl disappeared, deep into the soul of the forest and casting out the wishes of the devil. We are told she killed her family and swore in blood, by writing it on one of the doors of the church in the village, where she was born would be cursed forever. To date, her whereabouts are unknown; but you can hear eerie laughter and see dancing light coming from the forest each night.