Death village
★★★★★★
Isabella felt the fear was still gripping her heart as she entered the bathroom. It was the same tub where she fought to survive. She couldn't have words to explain what she had encountered last night.
She believed it was a dream, but a dream can't frighten one's core. At that time, she faced death. She understood what actual fear was, after opening her eyes.
She jerked her shoulder to forget everything and took a quick bath. Nevertheless, her gaze was still on that tub. Bella was filled with complicated thoughts. She didn't know if she could forget this dream easily.
Half an hour later, Bella went downstairs. She wore a black dress, pretty contrasting with her skin and hazel eyes. She looked beautiful.
Her face cracked into a smile upon seeing everyone smiling. Bethany and Danny showed something to her father on the phone and they were talking about it. When they noticed a figure coming down the stairs, they turned their attention to her and smiled before praising her beauty.
"Bella, you look beautiful," exclaimed Bernard. Her father praised her first, defeating Danny and Bethany.
"Thank you, Dad," Bella said and came over to her father and added, "What are you guys laughing at?"
"Nothing, a meme," Bernard said and brought his daughter's hand to his lip and kissed her on the palm.
"Let's go," Danny said, signaling her to come outside as she and Bethany go out first, waving their hand to Bernard and Merry.
"Take care, and call me," Bernard said when Merry asked Bella to come to her.
"Have fun and call any of us, once you get there," Merry said and kissed Bella on the forehead.
"Yep, don't worry," Isabella answered and went out. Both Bernard and Merry stood outside until the car was out of sight.
★★★
Danny was driving because she was the most skilled driver among them and also knew several famous resorts. However, this time they needed to open Google Maps, as the resort chosen by Casey was a bit out of town.
Furthermore, they would have to drive through the Woods, because it was the only shortcut that would take them straight to that resort or they would have to cross two towns to get there and it could take five hours.
"I didn't know why Casey chose this resort," Bethany began complaining because she hated bumpy roads and it would start after a few minutes.
"I think she wanted adventure," said Bella. She also didn't know the resort was in the middle of the woods. She didn't have a problem with the bumpy road or anything but had one thought.
Will they get the network to call their families?
"O, then she can go on a hike and celebrate her birthday on the top of the cliff," Bethany complained when everyone smiled because they knew Bethany would get sick whenever she encountered uneven roads.
"I have a polythene bag, don't worry," Danny answered as their car entered the bumpy road.
Bella stuck her head out of the window to look outside. The wet and woody scent loomed the place, giving the atmosphere a rich and comfortable orgone.
She closed her eyes, her hair blew by in the air as her head was outside. But in the next moment, the same image which was of that dream suddenly reflected in her mind.
Insidiously, her heart shook, and she opened her eyes. Considering the atmosphere pleasant a few seconds ago, now she was frightened.
She put her head in the car and looked ahead.
"Hey, did you know there's a deserted village near this resort called Death Village," said Danny. Bethany was in no mood to ask questions, but Bella asked, "Scary name, but why is it deserted?"
"I did not know, but the surrounding villages said that one day a woman prayed to the devil to have a child, but after the birth of the child, the entire village was drowned in disease. And they burnt that mother and child alive, claiming to be the reason. After a long time, everyone died of the same disease in their respective homes," Danny concluded with a heavy sigh. She read it on Wikipedia and at that moment something crawled through her body.
"How can they believe in this thing? They murdered that innocent child and the mother. They didn't care to think about how the devil could give someone a child. It's all nonsense," Bella conversed in astonishment. How pitiful the mother and the child would be that they died cruelly when they were innocent.
"Superstition can do anything with the mind. Their generation was the perfect example of a superstitious generation," said Danny, and Bella agreed. Now they didn't have that problem, but they were facing racism that was equated to superstition.
"But guys, I've heard that there is a village called Blackhound. They are still performing rituals to get Devil's child," Bethany's sick voice told as she listened to their conversation. She thought of telling them what she knew about the matter.
"Where?" Danny asked.
"I don't know where the village is situated, but I heard outsiders weren't allowed in that village," Bethany answered, but she felt like throwing up as her stomach churned. She shut her eyes to stop this feeling, but she couldn't. The very next moment, she cried, "Stop the car! Stop the car!"
Her calling was abrupt for Danny to halt the car immediately. But she did, taking the car to the side of that bumpy road with a loud curse, "Fuck, Bethany. My heart almost leaped out from my chest."
Bethany didn't care, she just opened the door and ran to a tree. Danny and Bella followed her and came outside.
"How far is the resort?" Bella asked, stretching her arms. Although they didn't ride long. Yet the road pretty much exhausted them.
"I don't know. Maybe fifty minutes more," Danny answered. Just then, a grumble following a complaint echoed in the Woods:
"Fuck the resort. I don't want to go anywhere."
"We don't want to get bitten by snakes and bees. Just lay in the backseat. Bella will sit in the front seat," Danny was tired too and started to feel sick seeing Bethany. She frowned and got inside while Isabella helped Bethany to rest in the backseat.
At that juncture, Bella felt someone's eyes on them. She immediately shifted her gaze to that way behind the car. She became cautious, and her eyes prowled in search of that eyes.
Without rustling leaves, there was no sign of a figure. However, Bella wasn't satisfied, so walked ahead, gathering her courage.
Isabella took her steps a little ahead when something hit her leg and she screamed at the top of her lungs. Danny came outside.
"What happened?"
"Nothing, it's a rabbit," Bella answered, squatting with the rabbit.
"Damn, Bella. You fucking scared me. Let's go," Danny irritatingly said, and turned back. Bella kissed the rabbit and put him on the side of the road carefully, then returned to the car. This time Danny sped up the car as she was tired of the road and Bethany's groaning. Now she wanted a fucking drink.
Within fifteen minutes, their car reached that resort. It was the middle of nowhere, surrounded by woods, a perfect place for horror movies. It was all just their impression of the place. They hadn't yet seen the resort from inside, so they would talk about it later.
Danny was searching for the parking area. Suddenly, they saw a guard trotting toward them.
"Ladies, give me the car key. I will Park the car."
"Thank you, Mr. gentleman," Danny said and handed the car key when the guard smiled awkwardly. Three of them stood outside the resort. Casey decorated the resort nicely. She rained hella money on this resort, one could tell.
They walked inside, and immediately loud noises and songs reached their ears. It was almost 2 o'clock in the meridian and they arrived at the perfect time.
Between them, Bethany decides to take a rest for an hour while Bella has to go to the washroom to urinate. Lastly, Danny will go for a drink right away, for sure.
As they took their entry, they were greeted by Casey and her group.
"Finally, the most awaited person has come to the party. I am waiting for you, Bella," Casey said and hugged Bella. A sly smile appeared on the birthday girl's face as the time had come for her to play, the way Bella had played with her heart.
"Thank you, you look beautiful, Casey," Bella told, completely unaware of the danger.