Short Story: Viy

Introduction
"Viy", composed in 1835 by iconic Russian-Ukrainian author Nikolai Gogol, is a scary short story that explores styles of faith, worry, and the supernatural. The story is a prominent piece of Slavic folklore, embeded in the Ukrainian countryside and presenting readers to the terrifying creature known as Viy, the ruler of the spirits. Part of a collection, "Mirgorod", "Viy" stands apart as the most famous of Gogol's folktales.

Plot Summary
The story follows Khoma Brut, a young seminary student, and his journey into supernatural events. Khoma and his two buddies, Tiberiy Gorobets and Khaliava, become lost in the countryside after heavy drinking at a regional tavern. As night falls, they search for a place to remain and stumble upon an old, apparently abandoned house.

A mysterious old lady living in the house offers them shelter for the night. Exhausted, Khoma concerns an awareness and asks the female to bring over a bed so he can sleep. The old woman tells him that the only bed readily available remains in the stable. Khoma hesitantly agrees, however as he lies down, the old lady transforms into a young, stunning witch. The witch jumps on his back and demands that Khoma brings her to the church across the village. Entrusted no choice, he obeys and gallops off towards the church.

Upon reaching the church, Khoma senses an opportunity to escape and attempts to toss the witch off his back, however he struggles. Desperate, he starts to recite prayers. Miraculously, his prayers deteriorate the witch, permitting him to toss her and begin running. Offering chase, the witch grows weaker as Khoma crosses the churchyard limit. Prior to Khoma could see the witch's face, she reverses into an old lady and vanishes.

Menacing News and the Haunted Vigil
Khoma go back to the seminary and finds out that an abundant Cossack's child, Pannochka, is passing away. Having heard of his late-night church see, the villagers believe he has excellent spiritual power. The dying Pannochka demands Khoma specifically to pray over her body for three nights, believing his prayers will conserve her soul. In spite of his reluctance, the seminary rector forces Khoma to comply.

On the first night of prayer, Khoma satisfies Pannochka's disfigured and terrible corpse. As he begins to hope, the corpse comes to life and taunts him. Khoma quickly draws a magic circle around himself, which prevents the corpse from coming closer. When daytime comes, the remains returns to its initial state.

The second night is a lot more terrifying. Pannochka increases once again, summoning a horde of devils, goblins, and spirits to terrify Khoma. With the protection of the magic circle, he is once again unharmed.

The Arrival of Viy and the Climactic End
On the 3rd night, Pannochka summons the ruler of the underworld, Viy. He is an awful creature with a huge humanoid body, long rough hair, and eyelids reaching his knees. Viy at first appears defenseless, but he purchases his followers to raise his eyelids so he can see. As soon as Viy areas Khoma, he advises other satanic forces to break the circle. In spite of their efforts, the devils fail.

Khoma, on the edge of insanity, makes a deadly error by looking Viy in the eyes. Viy casts a spell, breaking the circle's defense. Pannochka and the devils attack Khoma, who dies while doing so. The story ends with Khoma's lifeless body lying in the church, surrounded by the remnants of a scary night.

Conclusion
"Viy" is a fascinating tale that brings Slavic folklore to life, emphasizing the power of faith and fear. Gogol masterfully combines scary and funny, developing an unique narrative that captivates and horrifies readers. Although first released in the 19th century, "Viy" endures as a classic and prominent operate in the realm of supernatural storytelling.