The WillowBend Glitch — Chapter 1: Hall Passes & Smudge Sticks

Send us Fan MailWillowBend High feels wrong.The hallways are packed with band kids, human clouds of Axe body spray, reheated tater tots, vandalized motivational posters, and teenagers pretending they have everything under control.But beneath the ordinary high-school chaos, Ava Perez senses something else.Something heavy.Something electric.Something waiting.After a painful collision with her locker, Ava finds herself cornered by Hannah Whitman—the designer-clad Alpha Brat who has turned tormenting “Eco Bitch” Perez into a recreational activity. Fortunately, Ava isn’t alone. Madison arrives with combat boots, leopard print, and absolutely no patience for Hannah’s bullshit.Later that night, Ava, Madison, and Olivia experiment with a smudge stick in Ava’s bedroom. When the unmistakable clack of Lacey Perez’s cane approaches, their spiritual cleansing becomes a frantic attempt to hide the smoke and convince Ava’s mother that nothing suspicious—or remotely sniffable—is happening.Lacey is more amused than angry, but she leaves the girls with one strangely specific instruction:Crack a window.Spirits need a way out.The girls follow her advice.Unfortunately, opening a way out also creates a way in.Episode CreditsWritten by Rudy StankowitzRead by TessaNarrated from the perspective of Ava PerezFrom the novel The WillowBend GlitchContent AdvisoryThis episode contains bullying, strong language, implied teenage drug use, supernatural themes, and references to spirits and ritual cleansing.Introduced in This ChapterAva Perez — environmentally conscious, sarcastic, and increasingly aware that something is wrongMadison — Ava’s fearless and fiercely loyal friendOlivia — anxious, observant, and always within reach of emergency FebrezeHannah Whitman — WillowBend High’s designer-dressed Alpha BratLacey Perez — Ava’s mother, who may understand far more about spirits than she admitsFeatured ThemesHigh-school bullying, teenage friendship, social pressure, smudging, spiritual cleansing, haunted spaces, protective rituals, parental secrets, shadow phenomena, and the danger of opening doors without knowing what is waiting outside.Episode Quote“We cracked it open, giving whatever imaginary spirits weren’t haunting us a way out. But in doing so... we let something in.”KeywordsThe WillowBend Glitch, Rudy Stankowitz, Tessa, Ava Perez, Hall Passes and Smudge Sticks, supernatural thriller, YA horror, speculative fiction, paranormal fiction, smudge stick, spiritual cleansing, haunted window, shadow figures, high school horror, serialized audiobook, fiction podcast