Nobody Says It's Easy

6

Hadley didn't notice the gate until they got to the top of the stairs, and she almost ran into Beanie's back. It was ancient – wrought iron with a massive stone archway overhead. 

The craftsmanship was masterful. Hadley marveled at the intricacy and delicate lines. The artist had managed to breathe lightness into cold heavy metal.

Beanie reached into his pocket and brought out a ring of keys. He grabbed the thick chain that wrapped around the gate and pulled up a heavy lock. Inserting the key, he twisted it. There was a loud click, and the lock released. Unwinding the chain, he placed it carefully on the ground.

He bowed his head.

"What are you doing?"

"Praying," he said.

Beanie's face was pallid in the dim light. Pointing up, he whispered, "I told you this was a bad place."

She followed the direction of his finger and could just make out the letters "CURST" faintly carved in the curving stone of the arch. She shivered. That name sounded too much like cursed.

He inhaled deeply. She watched him grab one side of the gate and push. The iron hinges opened without one screech of resistance.

Beanie's mouth cracked the slightest grin.

"Bet you thought they'd squeak up a storm, didn't you? Hah. Not these hinges. I keep them oiled and greased. Why would I want to wake up the ghosts that live here?."

"Amazing," Hadley softly said. "I never knew this place existed."

"Right, and nobody else better find out about it, either. I mean it. Harvey will have my hide if word of this place gets out."

"Relax, Bean," Hadley said as she looked on this scene that was right out of a dream. "A blueberry pie promise. Remember? Nobody will ever find out. I think you might be right, though. Someone funneled a fortune into this place."

"This place is spookier than a dark alley at night."

"Cursts. That's a strange name. I don't remember ever hearing of any family by that name around here. Has Harvey ever said anything about them? Who they were? Where they came from?"

The place looked mysterious, magical, and even a little terrifying all at the same time. The rock walls were covered with moss and lichen that gave off an eerie green and purple glow. 

Tiny streams of water bled from the walls, trickling down and filling the tunnel with sounds of dripping and splashing. Sparkling white mushrooms grew in grottoes like fanciful houses for fairies and elves.

They moved slowly and carefully. The stepping stones were uneven, and the light and dark rocks wove a herringbone pattern beneath their feet. The tunnel opened onto a huge valley filled with monuments.

"Incredible. Who were these people?" Hadley asked.

"Well," Beanie began, "Harvey said they were some of the first settlers. They seemed to like only their own kind."

"Beanie, are you talking about inbreeding?"

"Well I can't say for sure, but Harvey said all the Cursts' clan looked mighty similar. Dark-eyed and brooding. Bible thumpers, Harvey says. He called them a cult. He said they were smart at making a dollar, and they kept it in the family."

"From the looks of this place, they must've made tons of money. I don't think I've ever seen such elaborate memorials. That one looks like some kind of castle. Over there looks like a granite sailing ship. They must have had someone in the family who was a stone mason."