The Summer Effigy

Every Summer Solstice, the insular town of Oakhaven sinks a meticulously crafted, life-sized effigy into the deep quarry to ensure a bountiful harvest. This year, the task fell to Arthur, a special effects artist who had briefly returned from the city. His creation was terrifyingly lifelike. At the climax of the festival, the townsfolk cheered as the heavy effigy was shoved over the quarry's rocky edge. Yet, the moment it struck the dark water, a blood-curdling, unmistakably human scream echoed from the splash. The next morning, the town elders casually mentioned to anyone asking that Arthur had packed up early and driven back to the city.