Many years ago, when this small town was settled, a stranger moved to the edge of the outpost. He tended to keep to himself and chose to live out by the swampt instead of living closer to the townsfolk. The old folks around town say that he was possessed by devils and practiced black magic. The stranger was fond of his drink and set up a still to make his own. When the stranger drank his homemade swill, he would get mean. During those times, he would come into town to steal from the locals. Rumor had it that he burned down the mayor's house just because of the way the mayor dressed.
The stranger took a liking to one of the local settler's daughters. After a night of heavy drinking, he slid into town well after the townsfolk had gone to sleep. The stranger broke into the house where the unexpecting maiden lived. He killed her family by slitting their throats while they slumbered in the safety of their beds. He dragged the screaming girl back into the swamp where he kept her in his ratty old shanty down by the water. The townsfolk discovered the grizzly murders and the kidnapping the next morning and organized a lynch mob to capture and bring to justice the old mysterious stranger. They agreed that they would sneak in at night and take him while he slept--just as he had attacked the poor family.
When the townsfolk finally tracked the stranger back to the swamp, they arrived too late to save the girl. When they found her in the old shack, her organs had been cut out. Her body was laying inside of some strange symbols made on the floor. The townspeople could hear the stranger crying out some strange words in a language they could not understand. As he cried all the louder, the lynchmob began to move towards the sound. They found the old stranger standing in the middle of the swampy water holding up the heart and brain of the young girl. As he yelled louder and louder, the moon disappeared behind the clouds and the torches of the townspeople went out. Suddenly, the stranger's voice stopped as the swamp was thrown into pitch blackness. The ground then came alive as snakes came from everywhere and began to strike the lynch mob. They were scattered as they tried to get away from the poisonous vipers. As the group was thrown into chaos, they scattered deeper into the swamp never to be seen or heard from again.
Many of the townsfolk believe that these people were killed one by one by that old stranger so many decades ago. But, some folks say that the lynch mob was killed by evil spirits that were summoned by the old stranger to feast on human flesh. No bodies were ever found.
Rumor has it that you can still hear the screams of terror as you drive by that old shack. Several people have tried to live there but have all disappeared suddenly and without a trace. The old shack still stands, and the swamp is almost gone. Occasionally, some people still go in there just out of curiosity. Most don't come back. So, enter at your own risk. Just beware of snakes....or whatever else awaits you in the depths of the swamp.
There is no need to enter the old shack. Stay in the woods. Some say that those evil spirits now reside in that old abandoned shack. I wouldn't want to find out.