Helltown

Back in the past

"Okay, who do you..." she yelled quickly opening the door. The hallway was empty.

Confused, the lonely girl took a step out into the hallway. A sudden pain in her foot made her flinch. It was a thin nail, no larger than a needle. Cursing, the girl picked it up and placed it in the jacket on the coat hanger. "Probably fell from one of the fixtures. I should put it away so others don't get hurt," she thought, returning to bed. She checked one more time if there was someone there. Not a chuckle, not a single sound could be heard. She closed the door angry, double-checking if it was locked.

The next morning, a line of sleepy high schoolers slouched next to a bus drowsy. Tiffany walked past their yawning friends, cool and refreshed.

"So did you accomplish your master plan?" she smirked watching them leaned their heavy heads on each other's shoulders. 

"Oh buzz off!" Regina blurted.

With a superior smile, Tiff turned to Tina. "What happened?"

"The boys got some cheap wine," she said, grabbing her head.

"Such a shame," Tiff spoke, glancing at Regina discretely.

"We'll do it on our next stop," she frowned spiteful.

Tiff let out a long moan. She stood straight and declared. "Well, I'll tag along."

The girls looked at her in disbelief.

"I thought you said it was a crazy idea?" Jenifer said.

"No, I said you were crazy. That is why I am going. You need someone to make sure you don't get into trouble," Tiff said in a strict voice. 

The three girls looked at each other and smirked. They knew their friend too well. "Fine," Regina said, hiding a chuckle.

The trip was long, and by the time they reached the next stop it was late afternoon. As the group was visiting some historic buildings, Regina nudged her friends. They followed her to a rustic-looking church. With tall constructions from both sides and an inconspicuous facade, it could be easily overlooked.

"This is the perfect spot," Reggie whispered seeing the interior.

"Yeah, it's completely empty," Tina uttered looking around.

"Groovy, huh? Took me a while to notice it," Regina stated proud.

"Okay, does everyone have their wish ready?" Jenifer said. All four girls got out a small piece of paper. Pulling the paper from her jacket, Tiff felt the tiny nail she almost forgot about.

"Great, let's do this," Regina said with glee. The girls scattered, seeking a perfect spot. 

Tina went to a wooden carving of the Virgin Mary. Jenifer and Reggie tiptoed next to the altar, while Tiffany looked around the pew. She leaned down, below the rows of chairs. Nervous, she pondered how to make it stick. 

How to place it so no one will see? Remembering the nail, she quickly laid down and placed the piece of paper on the side part of the wood. Putting the nail in its middle, the trembling girl tapped it in with her hairbrush. The blows pounded in her head like dynamite.

"Do you need something, girls?" a short and thinly man said. He entered through the side door and was calmly observing them. The girls flinched, their heads popping like prairie dogs.

Tina gulped. "We're sorry," she blurted. "We..."

"We got lost," Jenifer interrupted, nervous.

"Oh, can I help you in any way?" the priest said wholeheartedly.

"No... no need," Regina faked a smile, ushering the girls. 

"We'll be right out," Tiffany said politely as she pushed the girls out the door. Before leaving, she smiled one more time. Regina was the last in line, she turned and put two fingers out. "Peace out," she said, leaving the priest to scratch his head.

Embarrassed, the girls quickly found their group, acting as if nothing happened. They took a break soon after.

"Wow that was close," Jenifer said, once they sat down. Tiffany was not with them.

"Yeah, I almost shat my pants," Regina added, checking if no one is listening. "Did you do it?"

Tina nodded. "Yes. I put my wish in a donation box. I even added a few coins in it."

"You idiot. The whole point was for others not to find it!" her friend puffed unhappy. "Jenny, what about you?"

She crossed her arms, antsy. "No, it's still in my back pocket."

Regina grunted, shaking her head at them.

"Oh, like you did any better," Jenny complained. 

"At least I hid mine," Regina spoke with an angry whisper. "I stuck it under the altar. I just couldn't find a nail, so I used gum," she whispered.

"That is disgusting!" the other two added. Tiffany walked over humming a happy tune. Approaching, she flaunted a glossy bag under their noses. Her friends looked at her confused.

"Where did you get that?" Tina asked amazed.

Tiff ordered a cappuccino and said calmly, "From the store."

Her friends continued to stare. "Is that Gucci?" one asked, baffled looking at the shiny logo.

"How could you afford-"

"I didn't buy it. I asked and the woman in the store politely gave it to me," Tiffany added with a smirk.

Her friends stared at the bag with their mouths wide open.

"You're kidding us, aren't you? Why would they give you something for free?" Regina said.

"It's simple," her friend replied. "I came in and told them I want a nice present to remember my trip, and they humbly obliged."

"But how?" Tina added, looking at her intensely.

Tiffany shrugged. "Don't know. Must have had something to do with my wish," she said pleased.

Her friends' curiosity peaked. They all leaned towards her. "What was your wish?" Regina whispered.

Returning her cup, the smirking girl leaned back with confidence. "I asked to have the power to get anything I want."

"What?" her friends uttered. "Anything, really?"

"Anything," she replied happy.

"And it came true?" Regina widened her eyes in awe. Tina and Jenifer glanced at each other, gasping. "What did you get? Show us!"

Tiff took the bag and opened it. Their smiles quickly disappeared seeing that the bag was empty. 

"I asked for the bag," the mischievous girl chuckled at her friend's reaction.

They scoffed, pouting. "You're horrible," the girls muttered, disappointed.

"Did you really buy all that?" she teased. The still laughing Tiffany, put her bag down and finished her coffee, triumphant. She kept carrying it with her the entire day just to mock them.

That late afternoon, once back at the hotel. Tiff laid on the bed content. Her roommate and best friend Regina went into the bathroom, still mad at her. Despite the slight hiccup, Tiffany considered this a great trip.

Smiling, the teen glanced at her bag again. Only this time. There was something inside. Something made of silk.

Stunned, she took the fabric out and looked at it curious. It was a nicely decorated headscarf, similar to the ones high-class society women would wear for a ride in the convertible.

The teen gulped, and pushed it back into the glossy bag. She side-glanced her friend who came back. Reggie was mean, but she was not evil. And besides, she did not have that much money to spend on a prank.

"Anything wrong?" she asked innocently.

"No, everything's groovy," Tiffany replied hiding the bag with the strange gift. Her friend shrugged and laid down.

Covering herself with the blanket, Tiff could not sleep. She thought about her actions, ridden with guilt. The feeling would follow her from hereon end. To her, this was a clear sign she did something wrong. Somebody was watching her, and was not pleased.