I’ll add something good here eventually.

Alice Mae and Heather had been friends since they were in diapers. So it was hard to turn away her best friend when she got some crazy idea in her head. However, going to Shadyside to explore their graveyard was on a new level of craziness, even for Heather. It wasn't until they were already there and getting out of the car that Heather revealed the real reason why they were there. “Are you kidding me?” Alice Mae stopped in her tracks. As much as she hated to admit it, Alice Mae believed in the curse; too many awful things happened to Shadyside over the last five or six decades not to believe it. She’d always been grateful to live in Sunnyvale. “You’ve fucking fallen and bumped your goddamn head, haven't you?” Alice Mae added in disbelief as she watched Heather pull out a map. She raised one of her hands and placed it on her forehead as she glanced around at her current surroundings. This isn’t fucking happening right now. Her hand fell back down to her side, “Oh my fucking God,” was all Alice Mae could continue saying.

Heather continued to the graveyard, following wherever the map told her to go. Alice Mae’s body tensed up, and she felt a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach as she watched her. Alice Mae grabbed Caleb’s arm, pulling him as close as possible. “We’re going to fucking die,” she mumbled as they followed. “She’s going to get us fucking murdered,” She continued to rant, looking down at where she stepped. “Lemme see your phone,” she held her hand for Caleb. “I left mine in the car.” She wanted the flashlight to see the ground better. The last thing Alice Mae needed was to step into a ditch and twist an ankle or something. If she’d known they’d be having a field trip to a graveyard in the middle of the night, she would’ve worn better shoes.

Suddenly she felt herself being pulled back. Caleb stopped her from running straight into Heather's back since she’d been too preoccupied looking down. She sighed, wondering why they stopped. Heather murmured something, only half underwing what she said. “What? You found what?” Alice Mae looked around, and if it hadn’t been for Caleb pointing it out, she would’ve never seen it. She pointed the flashlight towards an entrance hidden nicely by overgrown brush and vines. “Is… is that what I think it is, Heather?” Ever since true crime documentaries and tv shows became a thing, Heather had been obsessed with the horror stories from their backyard. “Why? Just fucking why?” Alice wanted to be mad and stomp away, but she knew that wouldn’t stop Heather from exploring. “Heather, come on, this is a terrible idea,” Alice Mae said, trying to convince her friend to turn back.

Heather was obsessed! There was just something so fascinating about Sarah Fier and the curse that plagued their neighboring town. True Crime in general was a big interest for her but the fact that the Shadyside murders happened so close to her made it all the much more interesting and real. It gave her the boost of adrenaline that was very much lacking in Sunnyvale. Heather knew that her best friend didn't necessarily have the same passion for it as she did, but she really didn't want to go alone so she was thankful when she agreed. Plus, she was bringing Caleb. After all, nothing bad ever happened to those from Sunnyvale and there was safety in numbers. "So... I've got this map, and we are going to find the 'X'. And there we'll find treasure... or, maybe, the witch. I don't know, but that's part of the fun!"

"I most certainly am not kidding." Heather muttered as she dug around her bag and pulled out the map she'd found online. There was a whole website for people like her, and yes there were a few creeps on there, some of them definitely seemed normal and it was one of them who'd sent her the map. A map that could potentially hold some important information about the curse. The stranger claimed to have family from Shadyside, and they'd found it in their belongings after their death. Sure, they kind of went MIA after that but still, Heather was determined to turn over every stone she could and see if she could figure out what it was making Shadysiders go crazy, even if it was just polluted water or something. What they were going to find at the 'x' marked on the map, she honestly wasn't sure, but a little birdie told her it would be important.

"Come on, this way." She directed them as trotted forward, fully expecting them to just follow behind her. The graveyard felt extra creepy and dark as Heather tried navigating the map, but she was a woman on a mission, and nothing was going to stop her from seeing if this was real. It wasn't as if this was something they could do in broad daylight with people all around. "There's the mausoleum... the road... angel tombstone..." Heather mumbled to herself as she matched up certain images on the map. "That means... it should be right..." She shone her phone's flashlight ahead of them and saw it. "here. Oh my god, I did it. I actually found it!" Heather shoved her phone in her pocket while she folded the map up and shoved it back in the bag, to be replaced by a hammer. It was the first thing she found that could be used as a weapon yet still easily fit in her purse. Also, it the claw part worked wonders on removing the overgrowth so she could open the door.

Turning to finally face them, Heather nodded excitedly when Alice Mae asked about the tunnels. "Everyone said they were a myth! Just part of the 'urban legend' but look! There they are. They're fucking real, Alice Mae!" Heather used her free hand to point at the entrance before turning back to her friend and crossing her arms. She felt like a kid on Christmas day and there was nothing that was going to stop her from opening her present. Even if she had to do it alone. "Listen, I get it. Thank you for coming with me, and I totally get if you two want to stay here but me? There's no turning back for me. I'm going in there. I have to." Pulling her phone back out, Heather walked through the door and down into the tunnels, relaxing slightly once she realized her friends had in fact followed her again.

Caleb really had no idea what they were doing here, he just wanted to spend some time with Alice Mae and if he was lucky, get a little action. Granted the graveyard wasn't exactly the romantic type of scenery but it was spooky and that meant more chances for them to cuddle up close. Caleb had a reputation for being a ladies' man, but he didn't really see the feel to feel ashamed of that. That was the past and all his experience just made him a better lover. Alice Mae never needed to worry about him cheating either because she was the only girl that he had eyes for anymore.

"We're not gonna die, babe." Caleb tried to reassure her. In his mind, Heather was simply sending them on some wild goose chase, or it was all some elaborate prank. Either way, he just figured she was bored and trying to find something fun to do. "It'll be okay, I've got you." He grabbed his phone and handed it to her. "Here you go." While Alice Mae focused on not tripping and Heather buried her face in the map, Caleb eyes moved around the graveyard keeping an eye out for security or anyone who might get them in trouble. Something he continued to do even once they reached the entrance, only stopping to point it out to Alice Mae.

The tunnels were primitive and dirty and definitely not the type of place that Sunnyvale teens belonged in, yet here they were. Caleb followed behind the two girls, trying his best not to look back into the darkness that trailed on forever behind them. He was the man, he needed to be able to protect these girls, if the situation should arise, and he needed to be brave if he was going to do that. "So, yeah, quick question. Do you have any idea where we are going or far this goes?" He'd heard many stories over the years, but that's all they were, stories. They couldn't possibly be real. Witches didn't exist. Shadyside was just a shitty place and shitty people lived there; case closed.

Despite not knowing what they were actually going to find, they continued on until Alice Mae had finally had enough. While the two girls were going back and forth, something in the distance caught Caleb's eye. It was too dark to be sure what it was, but it seemed worth investigating. "Time out!" he called out over them and threw his hands up into the shape of a 'T' to get their attention. Grabbing Alice Mae's hand that held his phone, he guided the light up ahead in the tunnel. "You see that. Wayyy down there. It looks different." It wasn't easy to see but, in the distance, the tunnel ended, and a larger darker cavern awaited them.

Alice Mae wanted to believe Caleb when he said he’d protect her, but he was going to need more than just his good looks and basketball skills to save her. “I know, baby,” she forced a small smile while giving his arm a gentle comforting squeeze.

Alice Mae was annoyed when Heather ignored her and continued breaking into the mausoleum like a common criminal. “That doesn't mean you go out and prove them wrong. You’re going to get yourself arrested or worse, fucking murdered,” Alice Mae responded a bit more aggressively than intended, but she couldn't help it. She was so angry with her best friend right now.

“Ask Dora the fucking Explorer up there,” Alice Mae muttered in response to Caleb’s questions. As much as she enjoyed listening to her boyfriend talk, right now was not the time. She tried hard not to take her frustration out on him. It wasn’t his fault they were exploring a smelly, gross cave. She shrugged, “I don’t know, Caleb, The Crucible was based on real people and actual events,” she answered. “Massachusetts isn’t that far from us,” she reminded looking over at him.

Once Caleb shined the flashlight down on the channel, Alice Mae freaked out. She passed him back his cell phone, no longer wanting to be in charge. She slipped behind him, so he was now in front of her. He said he was going to protect her, so now was his big chance.

The closer they got to the end of the tunnel, the flickering light became more apparent. Alice Mae hugged tighter onto Caleb, afraid if she let go of him, something was going to come out of the darkness and snatch her away. Her mind was currently going through many scenarios. “I… I… I… I don’t like this you guys,” she stuttered. The light led them into a room, with multiple tunnels connected. On the ground, there was what looked like a large cult carving with red liquid running through, and a single flame lit in the center of it. “Is that blood?” It was more of a rhetorical question. That couldn't possibly be blood. Could it? Alice Mae wanted a closer look, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

Alice Mae had always believed in the stories, but this was more than she bargained for. She was so distraught and didn't want to stray too far away from Caleb. Her eyes scanned across the small room, still trying to take everything in. ”Hey babe,” she said, tugging at the back of his jacket. “What's that?” It clearly looked like a wall with a bunch of words carved into it, but she wanted him to come with her. Once they got closer, the names became easier to read. She gasped when she recognized a few, “Heather!” Alice Mae called out. “Look!” She said as she gestured to the concrete wall. “You don’t have to be a Shadysider to know those names. And,” she finally let go of Caleb’s hand as she leaned down, “Mitchie Lopez.” He had been the last Shadysider to have been processed by the witch. “We have to get out of here,” she said as she stood upright. “This is more than just finding the stupid X on the map, Heather.”

Heather was the first to admit that she was a bit of an adrenaline junkie and she put herself in a lot of stupid situations but something about coming back at the tunnels just felt severely wrong to her. Last time she'd felt so brave and confident and now she was terrified. She stared at the entrance, glad to see that the branches they'd used to conceal it were still there. What they'd seen and heard down there was enough to not want anyone else to find them, so they blocked it long before they'd even realized that Alice Mae was going to have lasting consequences from going down there.

"I just want to make it known again that I think this is a really bad idea. Like a really really bad idea." Heather told him with a serious look before helping him move the debris out of their way, so the door was visible. She'd only known Benji for a short while now and she did not want to be responsible for something happening to him, she already felt bad about dragging her best friend into this. He was a man of his own free will and he seemed pretty dead set on seeing it for himself. Benji had already helped her in more ways than one and she kind of figured she owed it to him. Plus, Heather wasn't exactly going to turn down spending more time with him.

Heather debated staying behind one last time but after imagining him never making his way back up the tunnels and her having to go down alone to save him, she decided to go with him. Turning on her phone's flashlight while he opened up the door, she looked up at him and took a deep breath. "I'll go first, and you try not to get too distracted by my ass. I need you focused." she teased trying to calm herself while also trying to remain serious enough to let him know that she meant the second part. Not that anything was going to pop up behind them but better safe than sorry. With her free hand, she linked hands with him and entered the tunnels once more.

At first, all Benji was trying to do was get to know Heather. Maybe take her on a few dates, get her into bed, he didn’t know. At the time, all Benji knew was that she was fucking hot. He never thought they’d be hunting one of Shadyside’s oldest legends.

“Awh, c’mon, you’re the one who started this,” Benji reminded her. “Heather, babe, I know you were just fucking around with her friends, but unfortunately, you may have uncovered something authentic,” he shrugged his shoulders apologetically at her. “Just don’t touch anything,” Benji reminded her. “You said Alice Mae was touching things.” He honestly didn’t know if that caused her friend's symptoms, but he was trying to reassure Heather the best he could.

After helping her clear the doorway, he pulled a flashlight out of his back pocket. He flicked it on, lighting up the tunnel ahead of them. Benji looked over and smirked, “Really, you didn’t come prepared? That light is nothing.” It was probably not the best time to poke fun at her, but he couldn’t help himself. She was so easy to get riled up. Benji loved it.

He nervously chuckled at Heather’s comment about her ass. “W- what, no, never. I’d never do that,” Benji shook his head, letting his eyes drift down to her behind while Heather led the way. After about five minutes or so, Benji finally saw with his eyes what Heather had been trying to explain to him. “This is what Mary Lane found in 1978,” he shared. “I thought it was just a myth because no one has been able to find it since Deena and Samantha.” He dropped her hand so he could explore. He found the bookcase he remembered reading about on Max’s blog. “Here, hold this,” Benji said, handing the flashlight to Heather so he could move the structure. Once he did, it revealed another opening. Along with flies buzzing, he could hear his name called in faint whispers. “Holy fuck!” Benji exclaimed before stepping back.

Heather thought about the possibility of Alice Mae's actions being the reason she was having the side effects. It made her feel slightly better, but she couldn't be for certain that it was the true cause, and that fact still worried her. Fighting the urge to make a joke about boys and their desire to always play 'mine is bigger/better than yours', Heather simply smirked up at him before glancing down at his crotch then back up to his eyes and finally away from him all together. Sometimes silence and a judgy once over was the best response. He didn't have anything to worry about, she was crushing on him hard, but she still had to play a little hard to get to keep him in line.

It felt like her heart was racing as she led them down the tunnel, not minding at all if Benji was checking her out. She was much better to look at than this musty corridor. Once they reached the room with branching tunnels, Heather gulped nervously when he dropped her hand and began giving a history lesson of the tunnels. Shoving her phone in her jacket pocket, she took his flashlight and held it on him while he moved the bookcase. "Weren't you the one just preaching that we shouldn't touch anything?" she finally poked back at him as he freaked out over his discovery.

Heather not only felt her heart beating like crazy but now it was almost as if she could hear it now as well. "What is it? Did you hear something?" she asked moving in closer and passing him back the light back so that he could shine his light in the new opening. She half feared there would be a witch staring back at them, so she didn't want to be the one to do it. Had he heard the same weird voices that they had last time? All she could hear was what she thought was her heart, but now it almost sounded like it was coming from the opening he'd just discovered.

Before she even fully comprehended what she was doing, Heather brushed past him and went toward the sound. She must have figured that if Sarah had been in there, he would have already been booking it for the exit, but he wasn't. They were already down here; they might as well explore more of it to make it worthwhile. Heather really needed to learn to quit while she was ahead though. She didn't even know how the hell it was even possible but there was a dirty, gross beating heart sitting there in front of her and she was oddly entranced by it. So much so that she found herself reaching her free hand out to touch it.

It happened so quickly that he didn’t initially know what Heather was doing when she brushed passed him. It took his brain a moment to comprehend everything before he followed after her. “Heather! Stop!” He called out to her. His voice echoed through the cave. The further he wandered in, the louder the flies and sounds became. He kept hearing his name, causing him to look over his shoulder. It was then that he realized they were probably not alone. He immediately felt like someone or something was watching him.

When he approached Heather, she already had her hand reached out to touch the heart-beating goo with flies buzzing around it. “No!” Benji wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her away. “I told you not to touch anything!” Benji looked at the goo, horrified at what they had just discovered. “Come on; I have to call Eli.” Benji tried to pull Heather away, but it was like she was in a trance. Benji stepped back, clapping his hands in front of the redhead's face. “Heather! Hello?!” After a few moments of trying to get her attention, he moved on to the next option. Benji picked her up, placing her over one of his shoulders before trying to manage to get both of them out safely.

When they finally made it out, Benji didn’t stop. He carried Heather to his car. He sat her on the trunk and stood in front of her. It finally seemed like she was coming around. He placed his hands on the sides of her face, holding it still, trying to get her to look at him. “Heather? Can you hear me?” Her eyes finally moved, her gaze meeting his, and Benji sighed in relief. “Jesus Christ. What the fuck were you thinking? He questioned, confused.

'Thump, thump... thump, thump... The beating sounded so loud at this point, she couldn't hear or focus on anything else around them. Up until now, everything they experienced had been weird, but she could easily come up with logical explanations for everything that had happened. Weird tunnels system? Excellent way to smuggle booze or people back in the day. The voices? Maybe there were unseen vents somewhere and they were simply hearing sounds of the people above them. The names carved onto the wall and cult like symbols on the floor? A fucked-up prank. This heart though? It looked way too real and Heather figured if she could simply get closer then maybe she could have a better idea of how it worked.

The closer she got to it, the more fixated she found herself becoming with it. The room and Benji faded away from her focus into nothing more than a black blur and suddenly all she could see was the heart beating before her. It felt like it was calling to her; begging to be touched by someone... anyone. And there she was willing to do so until Benji pulled her away. It was as though she was semi-aware of what was happening in the moment yet still, all she could see was the heart. Heather could hear his voice, but it seemed distant and hard to comprehend. Even when he tossed her over his shoulder and carried her out, all she saw was the beating organ even when it was no longer in her actual frame of sight.

It wasn't until they were out of the tunnels and back in fresh air that the spell it had over her started to weaken. Finally, the heart vanished from her sight and suddenly sitting on a car, staring Benji dead in the eyes with his hands cupping her face. "I... I... I don't know. I just wanted to get a closer look, see if I could figure out how it worked or something. Like... I think that's an actual fucking heart! It's out of a body... and it's still beating!? How is that even possible?" Heather was still very confused and terrified by what the hell had just happened. Slapping his chest, she continued, "I told you this was a bad idea!" Heather finally assessed her surroundings and realized where they were now. "Wait. How the hell did we get out here?"