Defranto- A village horror legend

In Pangi Valley, night does not begin with darkness.It begins with silence.

Have you ever felt a place go quiet too suddenly?

As if the wind decided to stop breathing…

As if even the trees were listening?

That is how night arrives in this valley.

Before the sun fully disappears, doors are already closing. Wooden windows are locked from inside. Lamps are lit earlier than necessary. Mothers call their children home, not loudly—but urgently.

No one says why. They don’t need to. Because everyone here knows something you don’t.There is a rule in this village. After sunset, do not answer a voice that calls you from behind. Especially if it sounds like someone you love. And there is one name no one dares to say after dark.

Not because it is cursed. But because saying it feels like inviting something closer.

That name is—

DEFRANTO.

He was once a normal man—not cruel. Just a careless drunk who feared nothing. He wandered the village barefoot, sleeping by roadsides and temple steps. Children avoided him. Adults ignored him.

One cold evening, he staggered along the narrow cliff road.

Suddenly—

Headlights cut through the dark.

A vehicle rushed toward him. The driver couldn’t see him in the dark. The headlights hit his eyes.For the first time, Defranto felt fear.

He screamed.

The driver braked too late. The car skidded off the cliff.Defranto fell with it.

By morning, both bodies lay broken at the bottom of the valley.

Broken. Cold.

And one thing was missing was His tongue.

No blood.

No bite marks.

After that day, the village changed.

Arjun a 17 year old young man did not believe these stories.

One cold night, he sat outside his grandmother's house which was situated in pangi valley.he was scrolling on his phone. His ten-year-old sister, kritika, nudged him.

“Bhaiiii.” [ Brother!!! ]

“What?” he sighed.

“I need to go to the washroom.”

The washroom was outside, near the cliff. Not far—but far enough at night.

“Go,” he said casually.

“At night?” she frowned.

“You’re brave, aren’t you?”

She crossed her arms. “If a ghost takes me, I’ll tell him you sent me.”

Arjun smirked. “Yeah? Tell him. Not like I care.”

Kritika gasped dramatically. “Fine! Then I’ll tell Papa you left me alone and went out with your girlfriend!”

“What?! You wouldn’t!”

“Oh, I will. Every secret of yours,” she warned proudly.

Arjun groaned, grabbed the torch, and stood up. “Fine, you win. Let’s go. And don’t tell him anything.”

“Good boy,” she said with a smug smile. “As long as you obey.”

“Tch. What a headache,” he muttered.

They walked down the narrow path together. The mountains loomed tall and silent, their teasing laughter echoing louder than it should in the dark.

“Next time, don’t drink so much chai,” Arjun said.

“You’re the chai lover! You make it and force me to drink it!” Kritika shot back.

They both laughed.

Then suddenly—The wind stopped. The insects went quiet. Their laughter faded quickly, as if swallowed by the night.

Kritika stepped inside the washroom. Arjun waited outside and turned off the torch to save battery.

“Hurry up,” he called.

“Wait,” she answered from inside.

He leaned against the wall.

Then a voice spoke behind him.

“I’m done.”

He turned.

Kritika was standing there.

“That was fast,” he said.

She smiled.

“Time flies at night.”Her voice sounded normal.But something felt wrong.She wasn’t blinking.

“Why are you standing like that?” he asked.

“I like the air here,” she said softly.

She pointed toward the cliff.

“Many people die there; right brother?”

Arjun forced a laugh. “yah, Let’s not join them and u better step back it's dangerous.”

“Come closer,” she said.

“No.”

She stepped closer instead.

“What if I fall?” she asked.

“I’ll pull you back.”

Her smile stretched wider.

“What if I pull you?”

His stomach tightened.

“Stop joking kriti!”

Her voice changed. It became calm. Cold.

“Then should I pick you up… and throw you there?”

The air felt heavy.Arjun quickly tried to switch on the torch.

Click.

Nothing.

He clicked again.

“Why are you scared, bhai?” she asked gently. And start stepping towards him.

Click—

Still nothing.

She smiled wider than her mouth can even stretch. stretchnt worry it's cool down there".

He got so panicked that almost forgot to breathe and he started praying to God in his mind to save him and suddenly.

Clink-

The light burst on. He rotates it directly towards her.

She screamed.

Her face twisted unnaturally. Bruises spread across her skin. Her mouth opened wide—

And there was no tongue.

Only black emptiness.

The creature shrieked and covered its face from the light. Its skin flickered like melting wax.Then it ran into the darkness toward the cliff.

And everything again goes silent...

At the same moment, the washroom door creaked open.

“Bhai?” the real kritika said. “Why are you shouting?”

Arjun froze.

She stood there, confused. Normal.

Alive.

He grabbed her hand and ran home. They locked the door tightly. His grandmother saw him panicking so, she took him inside and let him drink water.

Inside, he told them everything. His hands were shaking.

Grandmother listens and grabs his hands. "Oh my son... it's a good thing that you got a torch at that time."

His sister got confused. Then grandma continued…

"what defranto feared the most is.... "

"THE LIGHT."

"Because it's the last thing he saw before he died."

                              ----The End----

Shared by Luca Levan — A True Horror Tale from Pangi Village, Himachal Pradesh.

Pangi Village is known among locals as one of the most haunted places in the region. Elders tell chilling stories of spirits said to roam the area. Stay with us for more terrifying tales!

( If you have any such stories to share then comment 'I have a story to share'. Our members will contact you.)

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***