The Town's Forgotten Curse
The tavern fell into a heavy silence as the rumbling outside grew louder. Lena's heart raced, her mind struggling to process the sight of Ethan. The man who had once been her closest friend now looked like a stranger—hollow-eyed and ghostly. But before she could say anything, the door behind him slammed open, and another figure emerged from the shadows.
This time, it was Ray, the tavern owner, but his face was pale, his hands trembling. He rushed to the door, pulling it shut with urgency.
"We have to go," Ray whispered, his voice barely audible, as though he feared the walls themselves might be listening. "Now."
Lena opened her mouth to protest, but her throat was tight, her words stuck. She glanced at Ethan, but his expression was unreadable, as though he hadn't heard her at all.
Ray (grabbing Lena's arm):
"You don't understand. We're running out of time. If we don't leave now, we're all dead."
Lena shook her head, trying to make sense of what was happening. She had questions, so many questions, but everything felt disjointed. Her childhood town, the one she thought she knew, was unraveling in front of her eyes, and no one seemed to care enough to explain why.
Lena (pleading):
"Ray, what's happening? What's going on here? Ethan, tell me—"
Ethan (his voice low, his eyes dark):
"You wouldn't believe us if we told you. No one ever does."
Before Lena could react, Ray pulled her toward the back of the tavern, leading her through a narrow, dimly lit hallway. The air grew colder the further they walked, and the sound of the rumbling outside seemed to grow louder, almost like a storm brewing beneath the earth.
They reached the back door, and Ray hesitated for a moment, looking over his shoulder.
Ray (whispering):
"It's not just the disappearances. The town… it's cursed. We're all cursed. We've been trying to escape for years, but the town won't let us."
Lena (breathing faster, her voice trembling):
"Cursed? What are you talking about? My father—he disappeared here! And my mother—what happened to her?"
Ray didn't answer right away. Instead, he grabbed her arm and pulled her outside. The fog had thickened, and the town seemed more like a shadow than a place—a dark silhouette against the backdrop of the sea.
As they made their way down the narrow street, Lena could see faint lights flickering in the distance. The townspeople, normally so reserved, were eerily absent. It was as though they had vanished into thin air, leaving only the heavy, oppressive silence behind.
Ethan followed them, his steps slow and measured, his eyes never leaving Lena's face.
Ethan (softly):
"Your father didn't just disappear, Lena. He uncovered something—something dangerous. And now it's after you."
Lena stopped in her tracks, her blood running cold. "What do you mean, 'after me'?"
Before Ethan could answer, the ground beneath their feet rumbled again, this time more violently. The buildings seemed to sway, the windows rattling.
Then came the scream.
It was a horrible, guttural sound, so full of pain and rage that Lena's blood froze in her veins. It echoed through the fog, reverberating in the streets, bouncing off the stone buildings.
Ray (urgently):
"We don't have time. They're waking up. The town can't keep them locked away much longer."