To kick off the spooky season here at Mind on Fire Books, we’re diving into an original piece of flash fiction that explores a terrifying idea: What if the legend of a major horror figure began not during the dark, misty time of autumn, but on a bright, innocent spring night?
“Their First Time” tells the chilling origin story of The October People—a cult defined by their grotesque, autumnal calling card, even though their first, infamous act of violence occurred on Easter Sunday. Get ready for a short, sharp dose of dread that proves horror can happen anytime. Read on… if you dare.
Their First Time
The silent, open field was their sanctuary, a perfect, isolated theater for their first time. On Easter Sunday, the world was preoccupied, leaving the lonely stretch of farmland completely deserted. They had the nervous, breathless certainty of teenagers. Each movement inside the car was a hesitant step toward the moment they both desperately wanted.
He reached, fumbling for the lock on her door. She didn’t hesitate, shucking her shirt over her head and leaning back on the seat, exposing the pale, vulnerable skin of her collarbone. They were too focused on the closeness, on the rush of adrenaline and anticipation. As a result, they didn’t notice the unnatural silence of the night.
The disruption began not as a scream, but as a deliberate, slow rustle in the dark tree line. It was too steady for the wind, too heavy for an animal. She paused, her eyes wide with a confusion that curdled instantly into terror.
Then, the figures emerged: five, maybe six, moving with a silent, unnatural glide. They were draped in white sheets, completely faceless shapes advancing from the shadows. Their hands gripped lengths of pipe and crude, glinting machetes.
They weren’t looking for a secret; they were looking for a stage. Their sudden arrival wasn’t a warning, but the opening act of an execution meant to make an example. This violent act, carried out in spring, was the moment that would define their legend. It cemented their grim nickname: The October People—a name earned by the chilling, pulpy signature they left behind. It was a grotesque mix of warm, sickeningly sweet pumpkin guts and the blood of the slain.
This was their first.
We hope you enjoyed this flash fiction by Willy Martinez. Here is some more flash fiction, as well as our literature blog, The Ritual.
Image Posted by Cult Class on Instagram.
Folklore and Flesh: A Dark Folklore Collection by Willy Martinez
A haunting collection of horror stories and poetry where bees whisper betrayal, rivers drown regret, and folklore gets hungry.
Dive into the “Folklore and Flesh,” a chilling collection that masterfully intertwines the grotesque with the mythical. This anthology features Nine spine-tingling tales and Nine imaginative poems. These stories explore the dark intersections of body horror and folklore, where the human form and ancient legends collide in terrifying ways.
Pre-order coming soon – Expected October/November 2025
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