The Curse of the Hexham Heads Christmas tale by AI

The Hexham Heads were a pair of small stone heads, about 6cm high, found in 1971 which became an icon of paranormal phenomena following sightings of mysterious werewolf figures and poltergeist activity.

AI technology has advanced hugely in recent years and there are signs it is set to transform a large number of industries. But should storytellers be worried?

Here is AI's attempt at 'The Curse of the Hexham Heads'.

IT was a cold and snowy Christmas Eve in Hexham, Northumberland. The town was quiet, with most people gathered around their fireplaces, enjoying the warmth and festive cheer. But in a small, old house on the outskirts of town, something sinister was stirring.

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The house belonged to the Thompson family, who had recently moved to Hexham. They had heard the local legends about the Hexham Heads—two stone heads discovered in a garden in the 1970s, said to be cursed. But they dismissed the stories as mere folklore.

The actual Hexham Heads were photographed when they were discovered in the 1970s (Image: Hexham Courant) That evening, young Sarah Thompson found the heads while playing in the garden. Intrigued by their eerie appearance, she brought them inside and placed them on the mantelpiece. As the family gathered for Christmas dinner, strange things began to happen.

The lights flickered, and a cold draft swept through the room. The heads seemed to glow with an unnatural light, and the air was filled with a faint, ghostly whisper. “Return us… or suffer the curse…”

The Thompsons laughed nervously, thinking it was just their imagination. But as the night wore on, the whispers grew louder, and the temperature dropped further. Shadows danced on the walls, and the heads seemed to move on their own.

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Suddenly, the fireplace roared to life, and a figure appeared in the flames. It was a ghostly apparition of a druid, his eyes burning with anger. “You have disturbed the sacred relics,” he intoned. “The curse of the Hexham Heads is upon you.”

Terrified, the family tried to flee, but the doors and windows slammed shut. The ghostly druid raised his hand, and the room was filled with a blinding light. When the light faded, the Thompsons found themselves in a dark, ancient forest, surrounded by towering stones.

The druid’s voice echoed through the trees. “To break the curse, you must return the heads to their rightful place and perform the ancient ritual. Only then will you be free.”

Desperate to escape, the family searched the forest and found a stone altar. They placed the heads on the altar and recited the ritual words inscribed on the stones. As they finished, the ground trembled, and the heads glowed with a brilliant light.

The druid’s spirit appeared once more, his anger replaced by a look of peace. “You have done well,” he said. “The curse is lifted, and you are free to return home.”

In an instant, the Thompsons found themselves back in their living room, the fire crackling warmly in the hearth. The heads were gone, and the house was filled with a sense of calm. They knew they had narrowly escaped a terrible fate.

From that night on, the Thompsons respected the legends of Hexham and never spoke of the heads again. And every Christmas Eve, they would gather around the fire, grateful for their safety and the lesson they had learned about the power of ancient curses.

Any similarity to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.